THE Senate and the House of Representatives on Tuesday adopted a concurrent resolution that will request the President to recall the coconut levy trust fund bill to the bicameral conference committee so they could introduce major amendments to the bill.

THE National Food Authority (NFA) Council has agreed to introduce a rice and corn mix as staples in NFA outlets by the end of 2018.

THE HOUSE COMMITTEE on Economic Affairs on Tuesday consolidated bills institutionalizing the National Economic Development Authority but deferred approval to include amendments giving the body stronger coordination at the local level.

THE PHILIPPINES can achieve fish sufficiency after President Rodrigo R. Duterte’s term ends, with the protection of the 24 major fishing grounds as well as promotion of aquaculture and maintenance of 60% local fish production, according to Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources National Director Eduardo B. Gongona.

THE Department of Agriculture (DA) ordered a temporary ban on importation of domestic and wild pigs including pork meat and semen from Belgium, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Moldova, South Africa and Zambia due to reported cases of African Swine Fever (ASF).

GOVERNMENT agencies will implement a suggested retail price (SRP) for all varieties of rice starting the last week of October, Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel F. Piñol said on Monday.

THE Federation of Philippine Industries (FPI) has called for the “immediate” construction of new power plants to ensure ample long-term supply of electricity while the government embarks on its massive infrastructure program.

THE PHILIPPINE and Japanese governments signed on Monday the supplemental loan agreement for the ongoing New Bohol Airport expansion project on Panglao Island.

INTERNET advocacy group Better Broadband Alliance (BBA) said the draft rules limiting the proposed cell-tower industry to two companies should include performance commitments.

ONLINE recruitment activity in the Philippines grew 18% year-on-year in August, with most industries showing double-digit growth, research firm Monster.com said.

THE House Ways and Means Committee approved on Monday a substitute bill imposing a variable royalty on mining margins of 1-5% for firms outside designated mineral reservations, softening the Department of Finance’s (DoF) draft bill which had called for a 5% royalty on gross output on miners everywhere.

THE Employers Confederation of the Philippines (ECOP) warned that a minimum wage increase will only benefit about 7-8% of the work force and subject them to a greater risk of layoffs from small firms that cannot afford to pay higher salaries.