Agriculture Secretary Luis P. Lorenzo, Jr. has called on international donor agencies, like the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the World Bank, to increase their funding in agricultural research and development (R&D) in order to stave off massive hunger and poverty, especially in developing countries.

In his speech at the Ministerial Conference and Expo on Agricultureal Science and Technology held recently in Sacramento, California, Lorenzo said that international funding for agriculture, including R&D, began to decline in l981.

"I find this ironic because if we want to ensure food security in the next century, continuous sustained scientific activity must be supported. After all, it is the accumulation of knowledge that accounts for the timely advances in innovation sustaining increased agricultural productivity," Lorenzo said.

Lorenzo said that ensuring a food supply in a sustainable manner to feed what he described as "a galloping world population" is long overdue and, if further delayed, "could bring humanity to its last mile."

He said that there is an urgent need to leapfrog agricultural productivity, improve nutrition and quality of life, terminate hunger and alleviate poverty around the world.

Lorenzo said the world’s population, which was six billion in l999, could shoot to nine billion in 2050. "Worse, the greater increase in population will happen in developing countries where poverty and hunger are commonplace and agricultural productivity is low," he said.

"We all know that conventional crop improvement alone will not double food production in the next five decades," Lorenzo said.

He said that experts have agreed that the solution to this dilemma can only come from increased yields from the same land area on less water, noting that arable land per capita of 0.45 hectares in l966 dwindled to 0.25 in l998 and will only be 0.15 by 2050.

Lorenzo said that last year’s statistics indicated that only one-third of developing countries saw a reduction in hunger incidence. He said that some even showed no improvements while others even experienced a reduction.

"To arrive at permanent solutions, science and technology must not hobble its wonders behind the walls of laboratories away from the reach of farmers and fisher folk," Lorenzo said.

He also told researchers and the academe not to rest on their laurels following the publication of their papers but actualize the marketability of their recommendations and proposed reforms.

"Every day great technological advances are prevented from being used by the supply chain and translated to the benefit of commerce from seed to shelf, we delay permanent solutions for mankind," Lorenzo added.

He also expressed concern that developing countries cannot catch up with developed countries in scientific innovations as he noted that the widespread adoption of Green Revolution technologies has not been sustainable.

He cited the Philippine example where the adoption of certified and hybrid rice and hybrid corn seeds remains low at 25 percent, even if this has already increased by 50 percent in the last two years.

Lorenzo also noted that the application of fertilizers is unusually below recommended rates and that publicly-funded irrigation systems are suitable only for paddy rice and services only about one-fourth of the total area planted to rice.

The President met with Mr. Cojuangco very briefly in Villamor Air Base between her arrival from Marawi and her speaking engagement with the Air Force the other day.

The President took up the vital issue of public interest involved in the stability of the administration coalition in the House of Representatives, which is important to the passage of key bills in her national agenda.

The President frequently meets with political and business leaders to hammer out matters of national interest.

She did not discuss any other matters of personal, partisan or commercial nature with Mr. Cojuangco.

Australian Prime Minister John Howard will undertake an official visit to Manila from July 14-15 upon the invitation of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

Prime Minister Howard will arrive in the evening of July 13 and, following his official visit to Manila, will proceed to Japan and South Korea.

The Prime Minister will be accompanied by Mrs. Janette Howard.

The President and Prime Minister Howard are expected to discuss ways to enhance bilateral relations between the Philippines and Australia, particularly with respect to strengthening cooperation in combating international terrorism and transnational crimes.

The Philippines and Australia signed a Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation to Combat International Terrorism on March 4, 2003 in Canberra.

The two leaders will also exchange views on pressing regional and international concerns.

The government will continue selective punitive actions against terrorists in Mindanao as well as the comprehensive measures against the resurgent threats of the New People’s Army.

Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Eduardo Ermita said that the government is continuing its efforts of back-channel negotiations with the National Democratic Front/Communist Party of the Philippines/New People’s Army (NDF/CPP/NPA) that will lead to formal peace talks, hopefully at the end of this month.

At the Ugnayang Pambansa program of Channel 4, Social Welfare and Development Secretary Corazon Soliman also disclosed that out of the 80,000 displaced families staying in evacuation centers in the conflict areas, 31,000 have returned to their homes.

"More than 48,000 families have been helped by the DSWD and other concerned government agencies," she said.

Soliman said that some 5,000 houses so far have been repaired and constructed for the returning evacuees. One model unit was visited by the President the other day.

Secretary Ermita also said that for the GRP-MILF peace talks to progress, the leadership of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) should consider what the Philippine government is asking for, a declaration of permanent ceasefire.

Ermita said the government has not declared a stop to the punitive actions against terrorists. "In fact selective punitive actions continue because we have not arrested those who bombed Siocon and Maigo in May this year," he said.

Ermita also confirmed the existence of a tactical alliance between the MILF and the NPA. Reports said the NPA allowed the entry of the MILF in their area, "a common border," and gives guerilla warfare training to MILF youth.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo announced today the appointment of former Congressman Dante Tinga of Taguig-Pateros as the 15^th member of the Supreme Court.

Tinga is currently the dean of the College of Law at the Polytechnic University of the Philippines.

The other top nominees for the position were Court of Appeals Justice Ruben Reyes, Sandiganbayan Associate Justice Gregory Ong, University of the Philippines Law Dean Raul Pangalangan and Court Administrator Presbitero Velasco.

Tinga is the seventh member of the High Court appointed by President Macapagal-Arroyo. The six others are Justices Adolfo Azcuna, Romeo Callejo, Antonio Carpio, Renato Corona, Alicia Austria-Martinez and Conchita Carpio-Morales.

ANTIPOLO CITY --Around 80 young leaders of a coalition of religious groups today committed to become catalysts for national moral recovery and nation-building to help attain President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo's vision of a strong Republic.

At the last day of their two-day leadership training at the Paenaan Camping Farm in Barangay Paenaan here, the young leaders expressed their commitment to help the President transform the nation by being a model of integrity to set a good example to others, serve the poor, live a simple lifestyle, fight social injustice, corruption and patronage politics.

"We also commit to help the government in the development and betterment of this nation and restore the dignity of every Filipino," the young leaders said during their oath-taking.

In their action planning session witnessed by the President, the young leaders said a strong Republic is anchored on good governance run by righteous officials and leaders.

They said the problems the country is encountering, among them drug abuse and graft and corruption, can be remedied if it has enough God-fearing and righteous people.

"The heart of the problem lies in the heart," the leaders said.

The group later gathered together, held each other's hands, and prayed over for the President's protection from "intrigues, bad advice, and courage to stand up for her conviction for righteousness to rule in this nation."

The training, whose theme was "Rediscovering the Best in the Filipino Youth Leader," was convened by the Samahang Itinatag ng mga Kabataang Lingkod na Aangat sa Bayan (SIKLAB), a coalition of major evangelical Christian groups.

Among its members are the Youth for Christ, Youth on Fire, Alliance Youth of the Philippines, Campus Crusade for Christ, Inter-Varsity Christian Fellowship, El Shaddai Youth, and the Kristiyanong Kabataan Para sa Bayan Movement.

The group has conducted trainings since October last year to some 70,000 young leaders nationwide, including Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) members, on the topics of moral transformation and good governance.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo today showed how tough and uncompromising she could be when it comes to instilling conscientiousness and morality in public service.

The President ordered a thorough investigation on how pirated pornographic video compact discs (VCD) found their way into the office of Senior Superintendent Rosendo Franco, chief of the Central Police District’s Station 7 in Cubao, Quezon City.

In a surprise visit to the police station, the President blew her top when she found the lewd VCDs in the station chief’s office.

The discs were near the desktop computer of Franco, who was on leave and out of the country.

"Terrible!" she exclaimed.

She said the low moral foundation of police officers would reflect on his men when they perform their duties.

This was not the only time the President caught government officials and police officers remiss in their duties during unscheduled visits.

Less than a month ago, the President gave Land Transportation Office (LTO) chief Roberto Lastimoso a severe tongue-lashing after she discovered irregularities at the LTO in a surprise visit to one of its offices.