Friday, October 18, 2024

Lalaking naghasi gitigbas sa uyoan

Isa ka 45-anyos nga lalaki kinsa naghasi ang gikatahong gidunggab patay sa iyang 79-anyos nga uyoan sa Flores Village, Purok 2, Brgy. Linabo, Malaybalay City gabii sa Agosto 16, 2024

Ang biktima kinsa ubos sa impluwensya sa ilimnong makahubog, naglasong samtang nagbitbit og sundang ug giguba ang koral sa suspek, sumala sa report ni Police Lt. Col. Virgilio Cruz, OIC sa Malaybalay City Police Station.

Gisuwayan pa unta sa pagpakalma sa suspek ang iyang pag-umangkon apan niresulta kini sa init nga panaglalis.

Dugang pa, ang suspek nibalik sa iyang balay ug mikuha og kutsilyo ug gidunggab ang biktima makaduha ka higayon nga naigo sa walang bahin sa liog ug walang gusok nga nakaingon sa iyang hinanaling kamatayon.

Ang nirespondeng Barangay Public Safety Officer (BPSO) sa Linabo nakasaksi sa hitabo ug nasikop ang suspek.

Gibira sa suspek ang kutsilyo sa liog sa biktima ug boluntaryong gi-turn over kini ngadto sa BPSO. (Omar Rashid Z. Abdullah)

Awareness seminar on food safety, regulations held

MALAYBALAY CITY, Bukidnon — The Department of Agriculture – Regional Field Office 10 (DA-10), through its Agribusiness and Marketing Assistance Division (AMAD), staged an awareness seminar on food safety and regulations on August 15 at the Northern Mindanao Agricultural Crops and Livestock Research Complex (NMACLRC), in this city

During this time, the agency apprised almost 50 local farmers and agri-enterprises from the provinces of Bukidnon, Misamis Oriental, and Lanao del Norte on key concepts and relevant laws on food safety.

On behalf of DA-10 Regional Executive Director Jose Apollo Y. Pacamalan, AMAD Assistant Division Chief Ferdinand F. Caraballe emphasized its importance for local stakeholders engaged in producing agricultural commodities and food products.

“[The DA] conducts this seminar annually because we handle food, and therefore, it is our commitment to our consumers that what we deliver is safe and free from foodborne diseases,” Caraballe said.

Through Republic Act No. 10611, otherwise known as the ‘Food Safety Act of 2013’, the DA and its attached regulatory agencies, bureaus, and corporations are identified as food safety regulatory agencies (FSRAs) responsible for the implementation of laws, standards, and programs on food safety in the primary production and post-harvest stages of the food supply chain.

Said regulatory agencies include the Bureau of Animal Industry, National Meat Inspection Service, Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, Bureau of Plant Industry, Fertilizer and Pesticide Authority, Philippine Coconut Authority, Sugar Regulatory Administration, and the National Dairy Authority.

Underscoring the role of the local government in the implementation of food safety laws, Andrew M. Calimutan of the Office of the DA Assistant Secretary for Policy and Regulations said that the Department, through the aforementioned regulatory agencies, continues to engage and assist LGUs in the formulation of local ordinances on food safety.

Further, he said that the agency is presently revisiting its regulatory policies to ensure that they are retrofitted to current industry and trade standards and remain in service to consumer and food safety interests.

Under RA 10611, DA conducts training for local producers and food business operators on food safety to ensure their compliance with industry standards, including the Code of Good Agricultural Practices (GAP), Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP), Code of Good Animal Husbandry Practices (GAHP), and Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP).

Market Specialist IV Irish O. Ativo from the DA-Agribusiness and Marketing Assistance Service said that these standards and compliance certifications provide a competitive advantage for food business operators, as they allow for market expansion and build consumer trust and confidence in their products.

During the session, the farmers were also kept abreast of practical food handling practices for agricultural produce, salient information on the Participatory Guarantee System, and a comprehensive review of the activities and services offered by the Food Safety Operations Unit of the BPI-Plant Product Safety Services Division.

They were also briefed on the strategies for marketing GAP-certified products through the Department’s KADIWA marketing program.

In closing, Caraballe urged the participants to apply what they had learned throughout the session to their respective enterprises and agricultural production, highlighting its implications in building public trust, consumer safety, and food quality and nutrition.

The said activity is in line with the Department’s refined thrusts toward a ‘Masaganang Bagong Pilipinas’ under the leadership of Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel, Jr. and President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. (GDA)

Hedcor gives P3.2-M shares to Manolo Fortich, Bukidnon

MANOLO FORTICH, Bukidnon (July 16, 2024) – Mayor Rogelio N. Quiño receives the municipality’s community shares from Hedcor represented by External Relations Manager for Mindanao David Tacder and Assistant Vice President for External Relations John Michael Rico

The local government plans to allocate the shares to priority projects widening healthcare service access to remote barangays, enhancing support for early childhood education, and improving safety and security through the installation of additional solar street lights.

Broken down, P1.59 million in community shares and P1.63 million in ER 1-94 funds were sourced from the operation of Hedcor’s two hydropower plants in Manolo Fortich, covering the period of July to December 2023.

ER 1-94, a policy of the government, was enacted to ensure that host communities get a reasonable share of the profit from power plants operating in their area. It states that these communities will receive one centavo for every kilowatt hour (P0.01/kWh) generated.

“Thank you very much, Hedcor family, for the significant amount received by the local government. Thank you also for your help to Manolo Fortich. It has been our great dream that a company investing in our town can assist our fellowmen, especially those in need,” said Quiño.

During the 107th Charter Day celebration of Manolo Fortich, the local government recognized Hedcor as one of its top taxpayers for fiscal year 2023, commending its support for the municipality’s programs.

“We are grateful for the opportunity to support the municipality of Manolo Fortich in its efforts to improve the community’s quality of life. We are aligned in our efforts to foster sustainable growth and make a positive difference in the lives of the residents,” said Hedcor President and Chief Operating Officer Rolando Pacquiao. (Manila Bulletin)

MVP buying out dairy farm in Bukidnon for P700 million

MANILA, Philippines (July 11, 2024) — Business titan Manuel V. Pangilinan is dipping further into the dairy business as he will buy out for around P700 million a Bukidnon-based milk company to increase the supply of his ice cream venture

Pangilinan confirmed to The STAR that he will be acquiring Bukidnon Milk Co. to raise the dairy supply for premium ice cream brand Carmen’s Best of The Laguna Creamery Inc., where he has a controlling stake.

“Sales of our ice cream products have been growing exponentially and we are slowly running out of milk supply from our dairy farm in Bay, Laguna,” Pangilinan said.

“We are buying another dairy farm in Bukidnon to supplement the supply. Maybe we could ship some of the milk to Manila because we want to expand our fresh milk supply and we want to get into yogurt and cheeses,” he added.

Sources privy to the buyout told The STAR that the transaction is estimated to cost at least P700 million. This would make it larger than Pangilinan’s P198 million acquisition of a majority stake in The Laguna Creamery in 2022.

Sources said Metro Pacific Agro Ventures (MPAV), a subsidiary of Metro Pacific Investments Corp., is wrapping up negotiations with Bukidnon Milk with the goal of closing the deal this July, in time for Pangilinan’s birth month.

Pangilinan said Bukidnon Milk has a capacity three to four times bigger than MPAV’s dairy farm in Bay, Laguna.

Based on data from the US Department of Agriculture’s Foreign Agricultural Service in Manila, the Philippine market for ice cream products is estimated to reach $408 million, of which $105.3 million is imported.

Pangilinan made his first dip into the dairy business in 2022 when MPAV took on a 51-percent share in The Laguna Creamery, the maker of Carmen’s Best. Pangilinan views his entry into the dairy industry as another step toward food sufficiency.

Apart from this, MPAV partnered with Israel’s LR Group Ltd. to put up the Metro Pacific Dairy Farms through a 60:40 sharing in favor of the Metro Pacific Group. The facility can produce as much as 6.5 million liters of milk every year once it begins operations in 2025.

MPAV hopes to grow the revenue of its dairy business to P500 million by 2025 and P1 billion by 2027.

In earlier interviews with reporters, Pangilinan aired his frustration over the dairy supply in the Philippines, lamenting that 99 percent of the demand is served by imported milk and 70 percent of the supply is powdered, not fresh.

Pangilinan said this import dependency is caused by low yields in dairy farming, as farmers are unable to go beyond traditional practices.

This is where Bukidnon Milk pours into the glass. The company runs a 460-hectare grazing farm in Maramag, Bukidnon—the first and biggest of its kind in Mindanao—where cows are allowed to wander freely.

Bukidnon Milk practices a kind of dairy farming that gives cows a stress-free landscape, as opposed to the usual confined animal feeding operations method. The company also boasts that it neither enriches nor fortifies its milk products, doing nothing more to them than light pasteurization and homogenization to retain their natural nutrients.

In its facility, Bukidnon Milk uses RFID readers and automated sensors for safety and sanitation, and it also employs indigenous peoples in the community to provide them with jobs.

To date, Bukidnon Milk sells its milk products in select outlets of Balai ni Fruitas, Landers, S&R, and SM, and supplies dairy items for coffee shops in Mindanao.

Bukidnon Milk takes care of around 2,000 cows in its land and the company supplies to at least 50 businesses nationwide. (Jasper Emmanuel Arcalas, Elijah Felice Rosales /The Philippine Star)

Pagplastar sa Cultural Monuments sa Kaamulan Park, gisugdan na

Gisugdan na sa Provincial Government sa Bukidnon ang pagmontar sa Cultural Monuments sulod sa Kaamulan Park niadtong Miyerkules

Sumala sa kasayoran sa PGB, ang kalihokan gipangunahan sa Provincial Engineer’s Office.

Gipahigayon ang Panandig Ritual sa Intersection Road sa Brgy. 6 sa Malaybalay City, diin itindog ang monuments.

Ang mga monumento gi-disenyo ni Kublai Millan, isa ka artist sa Lawig-Diwa, kinsa nagsiguro nga safety kini sa kalamidad sama sa linog.

Iplastar sa dapit ang tulo ka major designs nga mao ang shield ug spear, eagle, eagle’s nest.

Ipahimutyang sab sa dapit ang uban pang desinyo nga magrepresenta sa pito ka tribu sa Bukidnon. (Omar Rashid Z. Abdullah)

DOLE-Bukidnon updates over 300 entrepreneurs on labor laws

MALAYBALAY CITY (May 27, 2024/PIA) – To stay informed about the most recent labor laws, more than 300 small business owners in Malaybalay City participated in the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE)-Bukidnon’s TAV (Technical and Advisory Visit) program on May 17

The labor department conducted a series of TAVs to assist small business owners with self-evaluation and compliance with documentary requirements.

These sessions provided valuable insights and guidance, offering a platform for business owners to voice their concerns and engage in face-to-face discussions with DOLE representatives.

Key topics included statutory monetary benefits, types of leave, social welfare, and Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) programs.

Video presentations explained various aspects of labor laws, such as the General Labor Standards and the TAV Action Plan.

Ma. Elna Seguiro, a senior DOLE-Bukidnon labor officer, emphasized that the TAVs align with DOLE’s new developmental approach outlined in Department Order No. 238. This approach underscores the enforcement of labor standards mandated by the Philippine Labor Code and Republic Act No. 11058.

“The TAVs mark an impactful step towards engaging with a wider range of establishments, from small businesses to larger companies, fostering a culture of compliance, and promoting fair and ethical labor practices,” Seguiro said.

Niña Cosmod, a supervisor at Biaños Pizza Bukidnon, expressed her gratitude for the initiative.

“We thanked DOLE for conducting this TAV orientation. It allowed us to review what is lacking in our establishment that we must comply with and follow,” she said.

Through these initiatives, DOLE-Bukidnon prioritizes workers’ safety and fair treatment by supporting local industries and ensuring their adherence to labor laws, benefiting both workers and businesses.

“The TAVs go beyond educating business owners. It encourages implementing best practices that create a win-win situation for employees and employers, ultimately enhancing Malaybalay’s overall labor landscape,” Seguiro explained. (BGEpan/PIA 10-Bukidnon)