Category: General

KOTA BHARU, The announcement of a RM20 million allocation by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim for the provision of 20 units of water pumps to the Kemubu Agricultural Development Authority (KADA) area is expected to solve the water supply problems faced by farmers over the past 30 years.

Kelantan Padi Farmers Association chairman Zuha Ismail said the availability of these 20 new units of pump, will launch rice planting in the coming season which is expected to start in June thus increasing rice production.

He said sufficient water resources is the main factor that determines the yield of padi which contributes to the country’s food security.

“The approval is good news for more than 7,000 KADA farmers as it solves the long-standing problem of water sources in padi fields.

“We are all very grateful to the Prime Minister who is concerned and understands the constraints faced by farmers by quickly approving the allocation,” he told Bernama today.

Zuha said most of the more than 26,000 hectares of KADA
‘s padi fields were damaged and could not be harvested this season due to water supply problems following the severe drought which began in February.

He said, the problem caused farmers to bear a loss of about RM1,500 per hectare including the cost of seeds, fertilizers and pesticides.

“I understand that each new pump that will be installed in the Kelantan river is capable of supplying water to about 300 hectares of padi land. If these 20 pumps work well, we expect farmers will no longer face irrigation problems,” he said.

Meanwhile, KADA chairman Muhammad Husin, when contacted by Bernama, said that a special meeting was held yesterday to discuss the overall work in preparing the pumps involved.

He said, KADA has prepared a paper on the matter and will submit it to the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security to be examined and approved.

“KADA has made thorough preparations and has listed a number of pump options as well as methods on how to manage the allocation to immediately overcome the problem of w
ater shortage during the dry season,” he said.

On May 2, Anwar ordered that the purchase of 20 water pump units worth RM20 million for use in Kelantan be expedited.

He was reported as saying that Kelantan is now facing the problem of a prolonged dry season which requires immediate action

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

HONOLULU: Flores de Mayo (Flowers of May) is a month-long festival unique to the Philippines, embodying the deep devotion of Filipino Catholics to the Blessed Virgin Mary.

More than 5,000 miles from home, Filipinos living in the Hawaiian island of O’ahu keep this tradition alive, compressed in a day-long affair that serves both as a get-together and a platform to showcase the heritage of the country.

Like the original Flores de Mayo back home, the Filipino Community Center (FilCom) in Hawaii staged a Santacruzan as the highlight of the feast.

The Santacruzan traces its roots back to 326 A.D. when St. Helena, the queen mother of Emperor Constantine, traveled to the Holy Land in search of the True Cross and the Holy Sepulcher or the location of Christ’s crucifixion.

In O’ahu, the Filipino community added a touch of their second home by having a ‘Reyna Hawaii’ in the parade of queens to represent the Virgin Mary in her different titles, majority of whom are teenagers.

The event, held simultaneously with the
flagship ‘Filipino Fiesta’ in Hawaii on May 4, also featured performances, cultural villages that represented different regions in the country, and a traditional clothing exhibit by Filipino designer Iris Viacrusis.

‘Every school, high school and college, there is a Filipino organization. But this Filipino Fiesta is the day when everybody comes together,’ Dr. Eva Rose Washburn-Repollo, vice chairperson of the FilCom Board of Directors, said.

The Philippine Consulate General in Honolulu said events such as this also reflects the resilience of Filipinos in Hawaii, staging it successfully months after the devastation of the Lahaina wildfire in Maui in August 2023.

‘This is one of the events that the Filipino community organizes and it is a great way to develop camaraderie and support one another,’ Consul General Emil Fernandez said.

‘Events like this unify the community and enable us to be closer to one another, promoting our interest and also helping the development of the Philippines back home,’ he added.

Source: Philippines News Agency

Incumbent and former Party and State leaders paid respect and laid wreaths in commemoration of martyrs at the A1 National Martyrs Cemetery in the northwestern mountainous province of Dien Bien on May 6 on the occasion of the 70th anniversary of the Dien Bien Phu Victory (May 7, 1954-2024).

Source: Vietnam News Agency

MANILA: Senator Sherwin Gatchalian on Monday called for a Senate investigation into the reported growing presence of foreign nationals in upscale gated subdivisions.

The foreigners are suspected to be working in Internet Gaming Licensees (ILGs), formerly called Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGO).

The senator cited the concerns of homeowners in Multinational Village, Paranaque City about a supposed enclave catering exclusively to foreign nationals in their subdivision.

‘This is something worthy of attention. We need to ensure that any significant gathering of foreign nationals is not for the purpose of engaging in illegal activities given the trend of rising criminality attributed to these individuals involved in the industry,’ Gatchalian said in a news release.

The lawmaker cited a raid by the National Bureau of Investigation at a residence in Ayala Alabang Village, Muntinlupa City in November 2023, which led to the arrest of 11 Chinese nationals allegedly conducting illegal online gambling activ
ities.

“Nakakabahala na maaaring mga pugante na galing sa ibang bansa ang mga nakatira sa mga subdivision na ito. Alam nila kung paano gumalaw at kung sino ang kakausapin dahil pinag-aaralan ng mga sindikatong ito ang galawan dito (It is cause for worry that the people living in these subdivisions may be fugitives from other countries. They know how to move and who to talk to because these syndicates study the movement here),” Gatchalian said, adding that foreign syndicates may be enjoying protection from high-ranking officials.

Gatchalian is one of the senators advocating for the termination of ILG operations in the country, saying that the social costs of allowing them far outweigh the economic gains.

Source: Philippines News Agency

A lighting system for Muong Thanh bridge of the northwestern province of Dien Bien funded by the French Development Agency (AFD) was inaugurated on May 5, as part of activities to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the Dien Bien Phu Campaign. As part of activities in celebration of the 70th anniversary of the Dien Bien Phu Campaign, the project was handed over to the Dien Bien province Relics Management Board for management and operation.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

MANILA: Romblon province’s Bonbon Beach has earned a spot in the prestigious 2024 World’s Top 50 Beaches list, the Department of Tourism (DOT) has announced.

Joining the province was another Mimaropa destination, the Entalula Island in El Nido, Palawan, placing fourth out of 50 and further positioning the region as a premier beach destination.

The list hailed Bonbon as a “laid-back paradise” with a unique natural sandbar that stretches out to Bangug Island.

“The beach itself is undeveloped, preserving its serene and unspoiled charm. The sand is fine and white, while the water is incredibly clear, providing lovely swimming conditions without big waves,” its description of Bonbon read.

“As a lesser-known destination, Bon Bon Beach offers a quiet retreat compared to more tourist-heavy spots, so much so that often you could have this beach all to yourself,” it added.

The less frequented Entalula, on the other hand, was described as Palawan’s “overlooked slice of heaven”.

“Loved for its amazing seclusion, En
talula Beach in Palawan, Philippines, impresses with its striking limestone cliffs that provide a stunning and dramatic backdrop to its white, sandy shores,” its description read.

“The water is remarkably clear, providing excellent conditions for both swimming and snorkeling, where visitors can explore vibrant coral reefs just a short swim from the shore,” it added.

El Nido”s Hidden Beach, meanwhile, cemented its place in the recognition site’s Hall of Fame for beaches, having consistently ranked among the top beaches, globally.

The 24 World’s Top 50 Beaches list is based on the votes of more than a thousand travel professionals.

According to the list’s website, the voters were not given any specific criteria as to what makes a beach the best but were asked to describe why they think it is the best.

Each vote was accompanied by a compelling description, adding depth to the selection process and making sure extra thought was put into the vote, it said.

Source: Philippines News Agency

DAVAO CITY: Davao Oriental province is among the 10 fastest-growing economies in the country, according to the report from the Philippine Statistics Authority’s (PSA) 2022 Economic Performance of Provinces and Highly Urbanized Cities (HUCs) in the Philippines.

PSA said the list consists of provinces and HUCs in regions outside the National Capital Region (NCR), with the results based on the Provincial Product Accounts (PPA) in 16 areas of the country.

The result highlights the economic performance of all provinces and HUCs included in the PPA compilation, particularly the Gross Value Added (GVA) of major industries and various services.

The industries and services include wholesale and retail trade, motor vehicle and motorcycle repair, transportation and storage, accommodation and food service activities, and information and communication.

Also included are financial and insurance activities, real estate and ownership of dwellings, professional and business services, public administration and defense; com
pulsory social security, education, human health, and social work activities.

The report showed that in 2022, the province of Aklan was the fastest-growing of all the areas the PSA evaluated, with its service industry growing by 29.2 percent compared to the previous year.

Other areas, such as Lapu-Lapu City, Puerto Princesa City, and Tacloban City, also grew by 22.3 percent, 16.7 percent, and 14.8 percent, respectively. The province of Davao Oriental garnered 13.8 percent growth.

“Our hard work can be translated into things that are useful to raise the quality of life of our people. Because I believe that one measure of every leader and the success of an administration is the happiness of our people.” Governor Niño Uy said in a statement Monday.

Source: Philippines News Agency