Category: General

SAN PASCUAL: A facility for processing fresh fruits into preserves and dried fruit is being built here to provide local mango farmers with a steady source of income even during times of the year when their crops are out of season.

The PHP2-million mango processing plant will be the fruit of a partnership between the Department of Agriculture in Calabarzon (DA-4A) and the municipality.

In an interview on Friday, Glenn Alianza, mango focal person of DA-4A, said the project will help the local mango industry by minimizing their loss during the peak season, when prices are low but there is a surplus in supply.

He noted that a substantial quantity of the mangoes harvested goes to waste through spoilage or are left unsold.

‘By processing surplus, it will give farmers an alternative on how to market their produce and thereby providing value adding to the commodity,’ he told the Philippine News Agency.

He said the facility will be turned over to the Batangas Mango Growers’ Association once completed.

San Pascua
l municipality provided the land where the facility will be built while the DA will provide the technology and related equipment, he said.

He said training and inputs to farmers is also set to be conducted through the mango rehabilitation program under the High Value Crops Development Program (HVCDP)

The HVCDP, which was created under Republic Act 7900, the High Value Crops Development Act, aims to deliver appropriate services, promote access to local and international markets, and ensure proactive management actions on the demand and supply situation.

This effort will help mango growers to process, preserve, and prevent the wastage of excess mango harvest.

Meanwhile, other interventions to be provided include processing equipment, pasteurizers and juicers valued at PHP288,000.

DA-4A OIC-Regional Executive Director Fidel Libao underscored the project is not only for San Pascual mango growers but for the entire province.

‘The department is ready to help as much as possible to further develop the said ind
ustry,’ he said.

Source: Philippines News Agency

PAGUDPUD: This town finally has its own sea ambulance for faster assistance during emergencies and calamities.

Funded under the Department of Health’s (DOH) Health Facilities Enhancement Program, the ambulance is equipped with a stretcher, automatic external defibrillator, nebulizer, portable suction machines, oxygen cylinder, and other accessories.

“There have been cases of drowning incidents in Pagudpud. This will speed up rescue operations and save lives,’ said Rose Salvador, a resident of Barangay Saud, on Friday.

The ambulance was turned over Thursday while the local government units of Pasuquin and Laoag received one unit each earlier in the week.

In a statement Friday, Pagudpud mayor Rafael Ralph Benemerito thanked the DOH, Ilocos Norte 1st District Rep. Ferdinand Alexander Marcos and Senator Sonny Angara for helping the municipality achieve its medical and healthcare needs.

‘The municipality of Pagudpud is beyond grateful for our new sea ambulance. This is very important to address medical emerge
ncies in the coastal areas,’ he said.

Source: Philippines News Agency

KOTA KINABALU: A total of 7,065 5G sites have been completely developed throughout the country as of April this year, Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil said.

The total brings the 5G network availability to 81.5 per cent coverage in residential areas while current subscription stands at 11.9 million or 35.4 per cent.

“The implementation of 5G, originally planned under the National Digital Network Plan (JENDELA) 2023-2025 has been brought forward to the end of 2021 for Phase One, and is now on tract to achieve its targets,’ he said during his speech at the 2024 World Telecommunications and Information Society Day celebrations here today.

He said 5G coverage for residential areas in Sabah has reached 68.4 per cent in the first half of this year, with 545 out of 595 5G sites completed, while 4G coverage in residential areas has expanded to 96.92 per cent, exceeding the target of 96.9 per cent.

A total of 839 Orang Asli communities in Sarawak, Sabah and in Peninsular Malaysia have received Broadband Wireles
s Acess (BWA) via satellite, he added.

Fahmi also told reporters that 647 new towers have been allocated for Sabah, including 398 towers that are expected to be completed end of this year under JENDELA Phase One, and noted that the delays in completing the towers were caused by several issues, including lateness by contractors and approvals by the state authorities.

He said that the ministry and the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) would monitor the JENDELA project from time to time to ensure that it is completed properly.

“I have met with all the parties involved and they have informed me that almost all of the 400 towers will be completed by year’s end,’ he added.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

PUTRAJAYA: The proposed privatisation of Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd (MAHB) will boost the company’s efficiency through swift strategic decision-making and facilitate its way forward, said Transport Minister Anthony Loke.

He said the Ministry of Transport (MOT) supports Khazanah Nasional Bhd’s proposal to restructure MAHB.

‘It was Khazanah’s decision (to propose), not the ministry’s decision. It decided to take MAHB private from the share market. Of course, the ministry is aligned with what Khazanah has proposed.

‘When MAHB becomes a fully private entity under Khazanah and the Employees Provident Fund (EPF) as a strategic asset of the government and the country, I am confident that various strategic decisions can be implemented swiftly,’ he told reporters after chairing the National Logistics Task Force meeting here today.

Loke said this when asked about MAHB’s proposed restructuring measures and allegations that Khazanah is selling the company off to foreign entities.

On May 15, Gateway Development A
lliance and its shareholders announced a pre-conditional voluntary offer to acquire all the shares in MAHB not yet owned by the consortium at an offer price of RM11.00 a share.

The consortium is led by two Malaysian government-linked investment companies — Khazanah via its wholly-owned unit UEM Group Bhd and EPF.

The consortium’s shareholders also comprise a wholly owned subsidiary of the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority (ADIA) and funds managed by Global Infrastructure Partners (GIP), one of the world’s premier infrastructure investors and an experienced airport owner and manager.

The offer price of RM11.00 implies an equity value of RM18.4 billion, which translates to a price-to-earnings ratio of 37.7x MAHB’s audited consolidated earnings per share for the financial year ended Dec 31, 2023.

As of May 14, 2024, the consortium and their respective holding companies collectively own 41.1 per cent of MAHB’s issued shares.

Upon full completion of the offer, Khazanah will be increasing its ownership in MAHB f
rom 33.2 per cent to 40 per cent and EPF from 7.9 per cent to 30 per cent.

Collectively, Malaysian investors would own 70 per cent of MAHB, while ADIA and GIP will hold the remaining 30 per cent.

Meanwhile, in response to the allegation made by Machang Member of Parliament, Wan Ahmad Fayhsal Wan Ahmad, regarding the government’s purported sale of a portion of MAHB shares to foreign entities, Loke asserted that the assertion was unfounded.

‘His information is inaccurate. He said we are disposing of it, but we are not. Khazanah is not disposing MAHB. On the contrary, through this proposal, Khazanah and EPF will further increase their stakes in MAHB,’ he said.

At lunch break, shares of MAHB rose by one sen to RM10.14 with 7.8 million shares transacted.

— BERNAMA

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

KOTA KINABALU: The empirical study of the separation of powers of the Attorney General (AG) and the Public Prosecutor (PP) is expected to be completed this year, says Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Law and Institutional Reform) Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said.

She said the study had been conducted in Canada earlier this month and was expected to continue in Australia in June before concluding in the United Kingdom, with the cooperation of several universities.

“The in-depth study on the states and the comparisons within Malaysia might extend to 2025 because our commitment to Parliament is to try to find a comprehensive solution within two years… to obtain a report to be submitted to the Cabinet meeting for evaluation,” she said when asked to comment on the progress of the study after a working visit to the Kota Kinabalu Court Complex here today.

On May 8, Azalina led the Malaysian delegation to conduct an empirical study of the separation of powers of the AG and PP in Ottawa, Canada, to iden
tify a suitable model for Malaysia.

In August last year, Azalina announced that the government would undertake a comprehensive empirical study within a year before finalising the proposal for the separation of powers between the AG and the PP.

She said about 19 existing laws as well as the Federal Constitution would need to be amended to implement the separation of powers.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

KUALA LUMPUR: His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim, King of Malaysia has extended his deepest condolences to the families of two policemen killed in an attack at the Ulu Tiram police station in Johor early today.

“Al-Fatihah for the two national heroes who perished in this tragedy. May they be placed among the believers and the martyrs,” said His Majesty in a Facebook post today.

In the 2.45 am incident, three people were confirmed dead, namely two 22-year-old police personnel and a 21-year-old suspect shot dead on site, while another policeman was injured.

The Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM), through a post on its official Facebook page, confirmed that the two policemen were Constable Ahmad Azza Fahmi Azhar and Constable Muhamad Syafiq Ahmad Said.

The late Ahmad Azza Fahmi and Muhamad Syafiq were attached to the crime prevention patrol unit at the police station and had served with the force for about two years, according to the post.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

MANILA: A bettor from Cavite bagged the PHP74.7 million jackpot during Thursday night’s Lotto 6/42 draw.

The winning number combination 11-23-05-22-24-03 carried a jackpot prize of PHP74,759,118.80 and was won by a bettor who bought a ticket in Dasmariñas City, the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) said in an advisory on Friday.

The check can be claimed at the PCSO main office in Mandaluyong City upon presentation of the winning ticket and two identification cards. The bettor has one year to claim the prize.

Lotto winnings of more than PHP10,000 are subject to a 20 percent tax under the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion law.

Meanwhile, 129 others won PHP24,000 each for guessing five of the six winning digits; 4,687 will get PHP800 each for four correct digits; and 62,002 will settle for PHP20 each for three correct digits.

The 6/42 Lotto is drawn every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday.

The PCSO urges the public to patronize the games as a large portion of the revenues goes to the gover
nment’s charity programs.

Source: Philippines News Agency