Former Agriculture Secretary Leony Montemayor is raising alarm over the quality of farm machinery being distributed to Filipino farmers, saying a decision to relax supplier pre-qualification standards six to seven years ago has left farmer cooperatives with tractors that break down easily and no reliable after-sales support. Montemayor, now head of the Federation of Free Farmers (FFF), expressed his concern in an…
Former Agriculture Secretary Leony Montemayor is calling on the Department of Agriculture (DA) to explain why participation in its procurement bidding process for fertilizers, seeds, and farm inputs appears to be limited — raising concerns that qualified suppliers may already be excluded before bidding even begins. Montemayor, who now heads the Federation of Free Farmers (FFF), aired the concern in an interview…
Following the Energy Regulatory Commission’s (ERC) order to accelerate Meralco’s release of a ₱14-billion refund, many customers have been asking the same question: how much will they actually save? Meralco Vice President and Spokesperson Joe Zaldarriaga, interviewed on DZRH News program Special on Saturday on April 25, put a concrete number on it — residential customers will receive a refund of 43…
Following the Energy Regulatory Commission’s (ERC) order to accelerate Meralco’s release of a ₱14-billion refund, many customers have been asking the same question: how much will they actually save? Meralco Vice President and Spokesperson Joe Zaldarriaga, interviewed on DZRH News program Special on Saturday on April 25, put a concrete number on it — residential customers will receive a refund of 43…
With the perceived ouster of career health officials, Malacañang now stands accused of putting institutional stability and expert leadership at risk for political convenience. The uproar follows the exit of Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Singh-Vergeire and other veteran DOH officials in what appears to be a politically motivated shake-up. About 55 professional medical groups signed a joint statement expressing concerns of what…
The Laguna Lake is fast deteriorating into the country’s “biggest septic tank,” Biñan City Rep. Walfredo “Arman” Dimaguila Jr. warned on Saturday, August 2. In an interview on DZRH News’ Special on Saturday, Rep. Dimaguila urged the Marcos Jr. administration to take urgent and science-based action to rehabilitate the vital water body affecting millions across Southern Luzon and Metro Manila. “Magkakaroon na…
The Iran war is showing why the Philippines can’t afford to neglect its farmers
A war thousands of kilometers away is beginning to ripple through something as basic as the Filipino dining table. The conflict involving Iran has pushed oil prices higher, disrupted key shipping routes, and strained global supply chains—especially for fertilizer, a critical input for food production. Farmers are already feeling the pressure. Fertilizer prices have surged by as much as 30% to 40%,…