Gov’t readies ‘targeted assistance’ as oil prices rise By Chino S. Leyco Amid calls to suspend taxes on petroleum, President Duterte’s economic managers announced that the government will instead provide targeted relief assistance and support to sectors affected by the skyrocketing oil prices.
File photo MANILA - Economic managers have vowed continued measures to help sectors affected by the rising fuel prices, including the PHP2.5-billion fuel subsidy program. In a statement Thursday, the inter-agency Development Budget Coordinating Committee (DBCC) said the fuel subsidy will be released through the Department of Transportation (DOTr). "This aims to provide fuel vouchers to over 377,000 qualified PUV (public utility vehicle) drivers who are operating jeepneys, UV express, taxis, tricycles, and other full-time ride-hailing and delivery services nationwide," it said. Prices of crude oil in the international market have reached around USD92 per barrel as of this week, thus, the rise in domestic oil prices. The DBCC said as of February 17, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) forecast Dubai crude oil price for this year to average at USD83.3 per barrel but prices were "expected to decelerate to USD 79.0 by the end of this year based on the latest oil futures.&qu
SUPPORT NEEDED. Five bills that support the strengthening and expanding of the country's livestock sector are now being proposed with the strong backing of the Department of Agriculture. DA Secretary William Dar said the country needs to secure food resources and one way to do this is to motivate livestock investors. (Photo courtesy of DA) MANILA - The Department of Agriculture (DA) has expressed its support for the passage of Senate Bill 139, known as the Philippine Livestock Industry Development Act, and four other bills geared to boost the livestock sector. In a statement on Thursday, DA Secretary William Dar said he is thankful for the efforts to help buoy the agriculture sector while citing other areas that needed attention. "With the right budget allocation and support from (the) government, the livestock industry will bounce back, contributing its share in total agriculture sector growth," Dar said. SB 139, authored mainly by Senators Cynthia Villar and Nancy Binay
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Pangilinan: Use pork import tariffs to fund pig repopulation and ASF control efforts
AS the African swine fever (ASF) continues to cost the local industry billions of pesos in lost livelihoods, Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan wants to use pork import tariffs to fund pig repopulation and other efforts to control ASF.
Pangilinan on Wednesday filed Senate Bill 2176 or The Affordable Pork Act of 2021 which seeks to create what is to be called The Swine Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (SCEF) to help curtail the spread of ASF and contribute to the recovery of the industry. Kung ano ng taripa ang makuha sa pag-angkat ng baboy sa ibang bansa, gamitin sa pagsugpo ng ASF, subsidies para sa pag-transport ng mga baboy mula sa pig farms patungo sa merkado, pagpapautang at insurance sa mga magbababoy, sa repopulation, sa pangkalahatang pag-unlad ng industriya, said the former food security secretary.