Secretary Proceso Alcala of the Department of Agriculture is calling for rural banking innovations that will help the agri-fishery sector reduce its estimated P252-billion financing gap and improve its access to credit, a government press release said.

He expressed the urgency for such innovations and expressed concern that the sector had less funding sources, noting that Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas data show that the number of rural banks nationwide has declined to 607 in December 2010 from 631 institutions the year earlier.

Citing the latest available Agricultural Credit Policy Council  data, Alcala said estimated total credit requirement for palay, corn, coconut, sugarcane, fisheries and other local priority commodities already hit P359 billion in 2010.

Creation of business
events body ok’d

An ordinance creating the Business Events Council of Bacolod was approved on first reading yesterday by the Bacolod Sangguniang Panlungsod.

The ordinance, authored by Councilor Carlos Jose Lopez, said tourism is one of the largest industries of the world today and has become a major global economic, social and cultural force.

Tourism today and the tourism market is no longer limited to the leisure and adventure tourists but also encompasses groups travelling for specific purpose such as education, culture exchange, family visits, religious experience and business, it said.

PVO turns over
P3M in livestock

The Provincial Veterinary Office in Negros Occidental recently turned over P3 million worth of boars and gilts to the Hog Raisers’ Association, local government units, and satellite breeding centers in the cities of Kabankalan, Victorias, and Sagay.

Provincial Veterinarian Dr. Renante Decena said yesterday that five boars and 155 gilts were given to the beneficiaries for the Provincial Animal Genetic Improvement on Swine, Decena said.

He said the province needs to improve swine production to address its meat deficit, provide livelihood assistance to stakeholders, and have a better and competitive produce.