The country’s emerging farm tourism sector gets another major push as a driver of inclusive economic growth at the 5th Farm Tourism Conference and Festival set at the Grand Xing Imperial Hotel in Iloilo City, Oct. 2-4.

SEAFDEC in Tigbauan

Themed “Improving Farm Tourism through Enrichment of Local Products and Culture,” the gathering will be attended by farmer-entrepreneurs, local government executives, tourism and agricultural officers, and community stakeholders. The event is organized by the International School of Sustainable Tourism (ISST), the Department of Tourism (DOT) the Tourism Promotions Board (TPB), Province of Iloilo, City of Iloilo, and the Department of Agriculture.

According to ISST president and event director Mina Gabor, the Conference will focus on the unique fusion of farming and tourism that will empower local communities, provide diversified income for farmers, and encourage sustainable practices for food security. “Farm Tourism attracts visitors and travelers to farm areas, generally for educational and recreational purposes that encourage economic activity to provide farm and community income. It is one of the country’s sunshine industries which can be developed because of the agricultural nature of the economy,” she said.

There will also a Farmers’ Market where fresh and locally-grown agricultural produce will be on sale.

Delivering the keynote addresses are guests of honor Tourism Undersecretary Silvino Tejada and Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Undersecretary Eduardo Gongona. Tejada heads DoT’s newly-created Ecotourism, Farm Tourism and Faith Tourism Advocacy portfolio which puts emphasis on the new industry sectors.

Major topics in the confab include climate change and agriculture by International Institute of Rural Reconstruction country director Emilyn Monville Oro, preserving natural and cultural heritage by Lucia Catanes of the Winaca Eco-Cultural Village, opportunities in farm tourism by Damires Hills Tierra Verde manager Paolo Lorenzo Tirador, marketing and trading by Jonathan Canuto of the Ephrathah Farmers Union, product innovation by “Dragonfruit Lady” Edith Dacuycuy, and food security by Food and Agriculture Organization Philippine Representative Jose Luis Fernandez.

Ephrathah Farm Resort in Badiangan

Other themes are urban farm technology by SIBAT deputy director Shen Maglinte, Perfect Go-To Mushroom by Perfect Mushroom founder John Regie Jimanal, and Instant Grow Kits by MNL Growkits CEO Arsenio Sumaoang. Moreover, Pandurag Taware, India’s father of agri-tourism, and Jemy See, managing director of Taiwan’s Global Travel Management and Consultancy, will share best practices in farm tourism in their countries.

Gabor said that this year’s conference will put the spotlight on coffee, the world’s second most traded commodity. Topics include the 7 Steps in coffee planting by Philippine Coffee Board Director Dr. Andy Mojica, coffee cloning and demonstration by Albert Tabanggay of Pavia Orchard Valley, coffee roasting by La Roasteria proprietor Bodi Mijares, and coffee trade by Biscocho Haus owner Genevieve Bionat.

There will also be talks on the Sulu Royal Coffee by Kumalah Elardo and Coffee Bag by Steep Coffee Bags CEO Justin Bereber.

The three-day event will also visit successful establishments in Iloilo such as Damires Hills, Midway Hills, Ephrathah Farm Resort, Garin Farm, the Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center (SEAFDEC), the Regional Agro-Industrial Center and the Rice Granary Center.

The 5th Farm Tourism Conference and Festival is supported by Petron Corp., Philippine Airlines, Land Bank of the Philippines, Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA), Automobile Association of the Philippines, Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority, Central Philippine University, John B. Lacson Maritime University, the Department of Trade and Industry, and the Department of the Interior and Local Government.

For details, contact ISST at (02) 832-0996, mobile 0905-4049086, email courses.isstphilippines@gmail.com or follow them on Facebook ISST Philippines.

Source: choosephilippines.com

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Hundreds of government employees from Olongapo gather together at Parola, Kalaklan to plant more than 500 seedlings of fruit bearing trees in support to Executive Order 193 signed by former President Benigno Aquino III last 2015 or expanding the coverage of the National Greening Program of Department of Environment and Natural Resources.

The goal of Executive Order 193 is to cover all the remaining unproductive, denuded and degraded forestlands from 2016 to 2028.

According to CENRO-Olongapo there are more than 5,000 seedlings need to be planted on a unproductive, denuded or has been degraded forestland which can contribute to environmental-related risk such as soil erosion, landslides and flooding.

This annual event is held every month of September, which coincide with the local governments Making Riverth Possible which aims to spread awareness amongst the residents by way of different activity such as environmental school tours, a river run (fun run), recyclable regatta (recyclable boat race), eco art contest and a citywide cleanup drive on September 23.

Olongapo has been active in environmental awareness program, since the start of the Making Riverth Possible program 4 years ago the city manage to increase the volunteers from 7,000 to more than 26,000 last year.

Among the fruit bearing trees that was planted by the city government were guyabanos, cashew, mangos and others during the said tree planting activity.

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Three Olongapo Athletes shine and bring pride to the city during the recently finished South East Asian Games held in Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia.

Samuel Morrison, John Leerams Chicano, Eric Cray

Samuel “Butch’ Morrison, a native of Barangay Sta. Rita in this city kicked his way to the finals to take home the gold in the Men’s Taekwando while Eric Cray run is way to take the Gold in the 400-meter hurdles and also took silver in the 100-meter event, and joining the two Batang Gapo is John Leerams Chicano who is a known tri-athlete in the city finished the tri-event with a silver medal.

Olongapo city Mayor Rolen Paulino who is known for his love of sport have setup up several grass roots program for local athletes and a yearly free sports clinic ranging from basketball, volleyball, athletics, gymnastic, taekwando, boxing, swimming and other sports disciplines. His support for athletes competing in the regional, national and international level has been all out.

Philippines ended the SEA Games with 24 Gold, 33 Silver and 64 Bronze.

Akian Manald Tuzonin his recognition during flag ceremony last September 4, 2017

Meanwhile another young athlete was awarded 2 gold medals in the recently concluded 11th Wolrd Taekwando Expo held at Taekwandowon Muju in Saouth Korea. Akian Manalad Tuzon, an 8-year-old student from Quiz Bee School also took home cash prize.

Half of his winning cash prize and other assorted sports goods was donated to the city by the family.

“We are glad and happy that the city fully supports our young athletes and as a gesture to that, we decided to donate 20,000.00 pesos and other sports wear to the city so it can be used to further support our sport community,” Normal Tuazon, father of Akian said.

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Two Koreans have sought the help of the Alyansa ng Manggagawa ng Organisadong Pilipino (Amapo)-Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP) in filing a case of illegal dismissal and other complaints against Hanjin Heavy Industries Philippines based in Subic, Zambales.

Patrick Roxas

Kim Namhoon, 40, and Kim Gapsung, 51, both working as foremen at Hanjin, said their work at the Korean shipbuilding facility was cut short in June this year even if their contracts were supposed to be in effect until next year.

The two also complained of unfair labor practices by Hanjin, like being asked to pay 30 percent tax for their wages and not given their 13th month pay, contrary to their income tax statements prepared by Hanjin.

Amapo-TUCP assisted them in going to the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority Labor Department to file a SENA (Single Entry Negotiation).

Romy Caoile, Amapo-TUCP vice president, said SENA is required before they can file a labor case before the National Labor Relations Commission.

Speaking to The Manila Times, Namhoon from Pusan, South Korea, said Hanjin terminated his employment contract last June while Gapsung, who is from Seoul, said his contract is supposed to end in May next year but his employment was terminated also in June this year.

The Koreans were recruited initially under S. H. Enterprises and later under Asian Ocean Core Inc.

They already filed a case in a South Korean court but also want to file a complaint with the Labor department here.

Namhoon has worked for 10 years at Hanjin and brought his South Korean wife and two children in the Philippines but claimed he does not get any tax exemption.

Gapsung said he has been working in Hanji Subic for five years and has married a Filipina living in Castillejos town.

There are over a hundred South Koreans working at Hanjin, according to the two complainants but others do not want to come out and complain.

The Manila Times, tried to get the side of Hanjin officials but a source in the company said the issue involving the two Koreans can be easily explained except that the company is busy with union issues and could not comment on the complaints.

About 30,000 workers of the shipbuilding giant are poised to go on strike if an agreement to hold a certification election for the recognition of the union fails.

First Published: manilatimes.net

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SUBIC BAY FREEPORT—Senator Richard Gordon has called on the Subic Bay Freeport business community to support his proposal to establish an investment corridor in Central Luzon that will encourage more business and livelihood activities and spur further development in the area.

Senator Richard Gordon

Speaking during the North Luzon Business Conference here last week, Gordon said he has filed Senate Bill No. 1325, or “An Act Creating the Regional Investment and Infrastructure Corporation of Central Luzon,” to facilitate the creation of an investment corridor in the region.

The senator explained that the proposed Regional Investment and Infrastructure Corp. aims to attract more foreign investors by way of providing for a road network system that will interconnect airports and seaports in Luzon.

He added that the proposed legislation will provide tax incentives for companies and will utilize the area to help ease the traffic currently weighing down the Metro Manila area. This will further ease the congestion of the seaports and airports in Manila, he said.

Gordon, who served as the first chairman of the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority, also pointed out that Central Luzon is the only region in the country that has three airports like New York, referring to Manila, Clark and Subic.

“Central Luzon also has three seaports—Subic, Mariveles and Manila, and four if we include Batangas—which are complemented by a network of highways,” said Gordon.

He said the country needs to optimize the use of its infrastructures and pointed out that the Central Luzon area is connected by major highways: The North Luzon Expressway, the Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway, the Tarlac-Pangasinan-La Union Expressway, and the Olongapo-Gapan Highway.

Central Luzon is also connected to various industrial zones managed by the Export Processing Zone Authority and the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority.

In response, business leaders from the Metro Olongapo Chamber of Commerce Inc., the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and other business groups attending the conference pledged their support to Gordon’s bill.

Gordon’s bill had earlier found resonance during the Philippine Investment Promotion Plan Investment Roadshow to Taiwan, when SBMA Administrator and CEO Wilma Eisma urged businessmen in Taipei and Taichung City to consider the so-called Central Luzon Manufacturing and Logistics Zone as a prime investment destination.

Eisma said the CMLZ, composed of Clark Freeport, Subic Bay Freeport, and the Freeport Area of Bataan, has strategic location, ample space for manufacturing, developed infrastructure support, and generous tax and fiscal incentives.

The area has ample supply of talented and skilled labor, service utilities for industries and businesses, secured corridor without traffic congestion, and enviable live-work-play environment, Eisma added.

Eisma also said that Central Luzon is perfect for targeted key industries like electronics, automotive parts and aerospace products for Clark; shipbuilding and maritime industries, including cruise ships for Subic; and high-end garments manufacturing for Bataan.

Source: manilastandard.net

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