The Times

PMC to submit bills drafted by students to Senate for evaluation. The Philippine Model Congress, an institution which simulates the Philippine government’s legislative process, acknowledged five bills to be presented to the actual senate. The five namely,  Department of Planning, Transportation and Infrastructure act of 2018, Bayanihang Pabrika Program,  Standard First Aid Integration Act of 2018, Children in Nation Building Act,  and Mental Health Integration Act of 2018. This annual invitation to aspiring student leaders around the country aim to not only promote the awareness of the youth but to also become a stage for what the youth thinks its government should prioritize be heard. This year, Vice President Leni Robredo, graced the ceremony and welcomed more than 200 participants saying events such as this instills the value of diplomacy and discourse. Niel Cauyao, who submitted the Bayanihang Pabrika Program, shared why students from different li

NFA "can't compete with local rice traders", imports rice instead. The National Food Authority insists it cannot buy rice from local farmers higher that P17 because the Department of Agriculture forbids them to,March 10,2018. According to   Lucia Balayon, NFA provincial manager for Davao del Sur and Davao Occidental, private traders force the NFA out of competition by buying rice for P19 from local farmers. Compared to the prices offered by private traders Balayon said  "It’s sad to note that we could not directly compete with traders, the fixed budget for NFA is way too low compared with farm gate prices”. . This difference in buying price and budget allotted for buying rice locally was meant to be amended October last year when Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel Piñol recommended an increase in the NFA’s buying price by at least P3 per kg to be more competitive. But the NFA Council turned this down saying raising their budget to compete with traders

by Patricia Morales, Clarenz Manag, Vhal Manansala It was in 2012 when rumors first flew around town that a part of the agricultural land in Marungko, a small barangay in Angat, Bulacan, will be converted into a private cemetery after being purchased by the former PAGCOR Chairman of the Arroyo administration, Mr. Efraim Genuino. While the controversial name might ring a bell on people’s ears, there is a much bigger issue that is being enveloped by the piling blocks of the perimeter of the lushland-turned-necropolis-in-the-making, which might be the cause a huge threat to the lives on the other side of its walls.  The Story The residents were already having an idea that the initial plan of the developers will be resumed, since the fencing was built according to the former structural plan. They have also talked to the contractors and the workers and they learned that the cemetery, in fact, will continue. Worried about the effects shall a cemetery ever take place

Under Construction: Residents call for action on SJDM bridge Hexter Pagayonan and Miguel Maghinang In a day, tricycle driver, Roldan Gregorio can earn up to 800 pesos, but today, with the Dulong Bayan-Poblacion closed, his income is halved. This has been going on for months, like Roldan, jeepney operators and commuters are also affected by the government's lack of action. Built in 1974 the Dulong Bayan- Poblacion bridge has been in service to the community for 44 years. And on February 12, 2018 the loacal government of San Jose Del Monte has officially declared the bridge unpassable because of the huge cracks and damage. For 44 years the bridge has not undergone any kind of strengthening program. The engineering office of Bulacan found no reason to since the bridge’s weight limit was only 15 tons. However, unknown to them dump trucks and other industrial sized machineries regularly pass the bridge. Roldan Gregorio, 32 years old has lived near the bridge for

Dwindling Industry of the Jewelry Capital by: Mary Mica Derutas, Deb Domingo, Jamie Karen Hernandez OLD BUT GOLD. Alaheros on their daily routine inside June and Rosie Acero Jewelry Shop. Photo by: Deb Domingo Who would have thought that the lost goose who lays the golden egg has been residing in the premises of Meycauayan City in the province of Bulacan since early 16th century. Jewelries is the source of livelihood and as the time pass luster starts to appear. According to Bulacan government website, the Philippines is considered as one of the leading producers of gold in Asia and has been identified among the emerging profitable business in the country. Meycauayan City-dubbed as the ‘fine jewerly capital of the Philippines’ is rich in stones and expensive metals, there are 2,000 establishments that belong in the jewerly industry   and most of them are found in the streets of Brgy. Calvario. One of them is the Jewelry shop owned by Hernanie “Aga” Adina who ha

Ferrer, Guerrero, Valmadrid The iconic karatig jeepney in Malolos City. Source:   http://kameranijuan.weebly.com/articles/malolos-little-adventurer Your Malolos tour will not be complete if you do not experience riding the mini version of typical jeepney roaming around the streets of Malolos. Karatig, which literally translates to ‘nearby’, accommodates commuters who wish to reach short-distance travels that are within the barangays of Malolos. According to City Administrator Attorney Rizaldy Mendoza, karatig has almost 4,000 of its kind, as it has been a convenient transportation in the city. The Karatig jeepney started touring the streets of Malolos after Second World War ended. In history, it is a product of Filipino innovation, which is a longer version of the three-meter surplus war vehicles left by the Americans that were used in fighting with the Japanese. “It’s an imitation of the World War II jeepney, ginawang venture, nagkaroon ng pagkakataon kumita na ‘yan ang

The Gap built by the broken bridge of San Jose Del Monte Hexter Pagayonan and Miguel Maghinang Built in 1974 the Dulong Bayan- Poblacion bridge has been in service to the community for 44 years. And on February 12, 2018 the loacal government of San Jose Del Monte has officially declared the bridge unpassable because of the huge cracks and damage. (walkthrough video) For 44 years the bridge has not undergone any kind of strengthening program. The engineering office of Bulacan found no reason to since the bridge’s weight limit was only 15 tons. However, unknown to them dump trucks and other industrial sized machineries regularly pass the bridge. Roldan Gregorio, 32 years old has lived near the bridge for 18 years and now works as a tricycle driver, he witnessed how the weight limit for the vehicles are ignored on a regular basis. “10-15 tons lang dapat ang nakakaraan diyan pero yong mga trailer umaabot ng 60 tons nakakaraan diyan. Matanda na yong tulay mahina nay an, lalo na kap

Emmanuel Raymond Ferrer, Maricris Guerrero, Gijo Valmadrid Rain or shine, Pekto San Diego who drives a karatig jeepney for almost 25 years will pass the Spanish architectural design of the narrow streets of Malolos four times a week just to earn money. In the morning, he will start gambling on the road, trying to survive the heat and endure the cold trying to earn higher than 350 pesos to surpass the boundary needed for the day. As the karatig gets longer in size, the boundary for the vehicle gets higher too . With the jeepney, the distance from Lugam to these places does not require too much when it comes to fare rates; 8 pesos a ride, which would have cost at least 20 pesos on tricycle. In his 25 years of driving, he raised his two children, trying his best to support their studies and their everyday needs. His oldest child helps him to support the studies of his younger children. “Naku, kung tutuusin mo e, kami hindi nga kami makaahon e. P350, minsan tatlong daan [a