Tag: Agriculture

Philippines’ Congress to prioritize EPIRA changes as Senate junks ‘Cha-cha’

Tina Marie (Ms. Cat)

Congress to prioritize EPIRA changes as Senate junks ‘Cha-cha’

THE PHILIPPINE Senate would put proposals to change the 1987 Constitution on the back burner and would instead focus on measures to boost the military amid growing tensions with China, according to the Senate president.

The chamber would also pass bills that seek to boost healthcare and jobs while easing hunger, Senate President Francis “Chiz” G. Escudero said in a speech as Congress resumed sessions on Monday.

…

At the weekend, he said they would tackle a proposal to amend the Electric Power Industry Reform Act (EPIRA) amid blackouts.

The Senate will also push changes to the Corporate Recovery and Tax Incentives for Enterprises (CREATE), particularly lower taxes on domestic and foreign companies.

Mr. Escudero said Congress should go beyond laws that only benefit big business, and find solutions to problems with healthcare, joblessness and poverty.

“We will take peaceful measures to defend our people’s right to sail in our seas and fish in our waters, as what our ancestors had done, and what our children and grandchildren shall do,” he added.

The Senate in December passed a bill that seeks to boost the country’s defense program through investments in local defense equipment manufacturing. The measure will give the Department of National Defense P1 billion in seed funding.

…

Also on Monday, Speaker and Leyte Rep. Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez said the House of Representatives would also seek changes to EPIRA.

…

He said changes to EPIRA, which liberalized the power industry, would bring down electricity prices and ease inflation.

…

It would now fast-track changes to EPIRA and a bill that seeks to extend the lease period for foreign investors. Other pending measures include amendments to the Agrarian Reform law and another that will modernize national defense.

“We have to continue building roads, highways, ports, school buildings and climate change-proof structures to maintain and expand economic growth,” Mr. Romualdez said. “I emphasize our commitment to pass the remaining priority bills before the end of the third regular session.”

…

Jose Enrique “Sonny” A. Africa, executive director of think tank IBON Foundation, said it is wrong to equate economic progress with growth given the increasing number of poor Filipino families.

“Most Filipinos haven’t become better off because of this growth,” he told BusinessWorld. “The number of self-rated poor families has soared by 3.4 million since the start of the Marcos administration from 12.6 million in June 2022 to 16 million in June 2024.”

Related:

Read More »

After leaving Congress early, Mike Gallagher joins Packers-Microsoft venture capital firm

Tina Marie (Ms. Cat)

After leaving Congress early, Mike Gallagher joins Packers-Microsoft venture capital firm

Gallagher’s move comes after media reports initially linked Gallagher to the data analytics company Palantir after he announced in late March he would leave Congress in mid-April — before the end of his current term. But when asked by the Journal Sentinel last month about the Palantir rumors, Gallagher dismissed them as “propaganda.

Related:

TitletownTech: Welcomes former U.S. Representative Mike Gallagher as senior strategic advisor

Agenda of lies: PM slams groups creating false narratives to sabotage Funan Techo Canal project (Cambodia)

Tina Marie (Ms. Cat)

Prime Minister Hun Manet has lashed out at anti-government groups which are creating false narratives to sabotage the Funan Techo Canal project.

Agenda of lies: PM slams groups creating false narratives to sabotage Funan Techo Canal project (VIDEO)

Related:

US-Funded Radio Free Asia: Cambodia’s canal project would link its coast with the Mekong River

Stimson Center Funding Sources

Viet Ecology Foundation Tax Filings (only one from 2007)

Kim Sok

The Chinese ‘Debt Trap’ Is a Myth

The BRI is Not a Debt Trap!

Baltimore Bridge Fallout to Extend Coast-to-Coast in Cargo Shift

Tina Marie (Ms. Cat)

The bridge collapse Tuesday that shut the Port of Baltimore and closed a major highway will cause weeks or months of transportation disruptions in the Mid-Atlantic region and accelerate a shift of cargo to the US West Coast as importers and exporters try to avoid potential bottlenecks at trade gateways from Boston to Miami.

Baltimore Bridge Fallout to Extend Coast-to-Coast in Cargo Shift

Philippines, Vietnam seal deals on South China Sea security, rice

Tina Marie (Ms. Cat)

The Philippines and Vietnam agreed on Tuesday to boost cooperation among their coastguards and to prevent untoward incidents in the South China Sea, in an announcement during a state visit by Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

Philippines, Vietnam seal deals on South China Sea security, rice

Previously:

Vietnamese Poachers using Cyanide and Dynamite Fishing in the Philippines’ EEZ