Wednesday, January 08, 2025

Tag: PGB

PGB releases food, cash aid to beneficiaries

Posted on by cmn

MALAYBALAY CITY (April 8) – The Provincial Government of Bukidnon (PGB) has released the entire food and cash aid to beneficiaries from the province’s 20 towns and two cities amid coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19 Pandemic).

Mr. Hansel Echavez, supervising administrative officer of capitol’s Public Affairs and Information Assistance (PAIA) in a statement on April 7, confirmed that the PGB has released on April 2, the total balance of the food and cash aid to all towns and two cities.

The province of Bukidnon has been declared under General Community Quarantine through and Executive Order issued by Gov. Jose Ma. R. Zubiri Jr. on March 17 to “prevent the spread and contain the transmission” of COVID-19. On the same day, the Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) of Bukidnon declared Bukidnon under the State of Calamity.

Previously, Gov. Zubiri said the PGB has allocated a total of P700 million for the food assistance to 100,000 identified “poorest among the poor families” and those affected by ‘no work, no pay” scheme in the province. The PGB had initially released the food assistance to some towns in the province.

Each family beneficiary was given a sack of rice and assorted canned goods worth P6,250.

However, in the last meeting with some mayors, local government units urged the Governor to double the number of the beneficiaries, or from 100,000 families to 200,000 families.

Zubiri lastly decided to divide the P6,250 allocation per family of food assistance or cash aid into two and ordered the mayors to release it to the beneficiaries.

Of the province’s 20 towns and two cities, eight of them were given cash aid instead of food aid and use it to buy food assistance to be given to the beneficiaries in their respective barangays.

These are the towns of Baungon, Libona, Malitbog, Manolo Fortich, Sumilao, Talakag, and the cities of Malaybalay and Valencia.

Echavez clarified lately that “generally, the poorest among the poor and poor families in Bukidnon (specifically those listed at the city/town Social Development Office) are given priority to receive the assistance coming from the provincial government not only the “no work no pay” workers as previously reported in this paper.

He also clarified that Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps), MCCT-IPs, UCT, and those who are receiving a social pension are not included in the program because they are already receiving assistance from the national government through the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Office. 

Bukidnon implements P25K minimum annual land rental per hectare

Posted on by cmn

MALAYBALAY CITY (Mar. 03) – Governor Jose Ma. R. Zubiri Jr. has announced that effective this month of March, the Provincial Government of Bukidnon (PGB) will begin implementing the P25,000 minimum annual rental for all agricultural lands in the province that are leased by banana and pineapple plantation entities.

The Governor conveyed the information through a Facebook post this week from the Capitol’s Public Affairs and Information Assistance (PAIA) Division.

Gov. Zubiri is basing the newly approved “Agricultural Rental Law 2020 of the Province of Bukidnon.”

Zubiri said those with contracts will amend the rental agreement by following the new rates of not less than P25,000 per year. 

He also encouraged the landowners to come to his office for assistance should they met problems with it.

The Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) of Bukidnon recently passed the amended version of the proposed ordinance No. 11-2019 (25th SP). Fixing the minimum rental rates for all agricultural lands in the province that are leased by banana and pineapple plantation entities, also known as “The Agricultural Rental Law 2020 of the Province of Bukidnon.”

The Ordinance authored by all SP Members covers all agricultural companies, whether operated as sole proprietors, partnerships, or corporations that are engaged in the business of pineapple or banana in the province.

All subsisting contracts with a rental base below P25,000 shall be deemed amended upon the effectivity of the Ordinance but shall cover only the unexpired term of the contract.

Any agricultural plantation firms undertaking business in the province without complying with the prescribed minimum rental rate shall be recommended for non-issuance of local business permits, revocation of its Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC), and be declared persona non grata.

The Provincial Agriculture Office is the lead agency in implementing the ordinance. This is in collaboration with the Municipal and City Agriculture’s Office in the province. It shall likewise act as a monitoring body and shall render a report of violations to the office of the Governor and the SP.  

Engr. Alson Quimba, Provincial Agriculture Officer, manifested earlier that the minimum rental rate of P25,000 is just enough. And that beyond that amount, the landowners of other crops might be tempted to lease their lands to banana and pineapple plantation firms, thus, endangering the stability of food security.

In a joint committee report of the committees on laws, and rules and privileges, banana and pineapple firms Unifrutti Tropical Philippines, Inc., Manupali-Agri-Development Corp. (MKADC), Mt. Kitanglad Agri-Ventures, Inc. (MKAVI), Dole Philippines, Inc., Del Monte Fresh Produce (Phil), Inc., Davao Agricultural Ventures Corp., Agrinanas Development Co. Inc, and Mindanao Agritraders, Inc. have submitted their position papers and manifested that they are already compliant of the P25,000 minimum rental. 

By: Mel B. Madera

Capitol opens National, Provincial offices

Posted on by cmn

MALAYBALAY CITY (Jan. 28) – The Provincial Government of Bukidnon (PGB) has formally opened the rehabilitated Old Hospital Building that will house National and Provincial Offices on January 27.

Gov. Jose Ma. R. Zubiri Jr. led PGB officials in the Blessing ceremony held after the flag-raising ceremony of the Capitol.

Engr. Albert Yulo, the provincial engineer said earlier that 16 provincial offices will occupy the rehabilitated Old Hospital.

He added that 12 national offices will also occupy the building.
Among of the national offices are the Provincial Prosecutor’s Office, Public Attorney’s Office, Bureau of Fire Protection, Social Security System, Philippine Information Agency, Fertilizer and Pesticide Authority, PNP Cyber Crime Division, Department of Health, Pag-Ibig Fund, Philhealth Corporation, Department of Social Welfare and Development Region X and Clerk of Court.

The City Prosecutor’s Office and Bukidnon Tagoloanon Mulahay ha Kabukalagan Agriculture Cooperative o BUKTAMACO will also be housing the Old Hospital Building.

Gov. Zubiri clarified earlier that occupants can utilize the building for free.
But Echavez pointed that occupants will shoulder the expenses for the furniture and fixtures, air-conditioning units and utilities such as water and power bills.
The Governor said that the building has a parking area at the back that can accommodate 142 4-wheel vehicles and 117 motorcycles for the clients and employees.

Based on data, the ground floor has 13 offices, 15 on the second floor and two on the 3rd floor.

The PGB has allocated P46.79 million in rehabilitating the Old Hospital Building. (Mel B. Madera).