PhilRIce Opening in Batang, Ligao City

PhilRice to open branch in Ligao City

The government’s Rice Research Institute, (PhilRice) will open its 7th branch station in Ligao City on March 25.

PhilRice which has made a name in rice research especially in irrigated rice lands aims to serve the major rice-growing zones of the Bicol Region and Eastern Visayas.

The 7th PhilRice branch station will be put up in Barangay Batang, Ligao City on the day that Ligao City will be highlighting Farmers’s Day as part of the celebration marking the 10th founding anniversary of Ligao as a chartered city from March 17 to 26.

Congressman Fernando V. Gonzalez of the third district of Albay welcomed the setting up of the rice research station in Ligao saying that it will “significantly contribute to the substantial increase in better methods of production which shall give rice farmers substantial increase in production and income.”

Gonzalez together with PhilRice officials and the city government of Ligao has worked hard so that this 7th rice research station will be put up in Ligao City, dubbed as Albay province’ rice granary.

The idea of putting up a branch station in Ligao City was initially presented for consideration to the PhilRice board of trustees in October 2006. This was after the so-called “Task Force Branch Stations” of the Institute saw that a PhilRice Bicol was “reasonable and justified.”

In approving the Ligao PhilRice branch, the board of trustees of the same agency have considered that Bicol is big and too far from PhilRice Los Banos to be effectively served.

Gonzalez stressed that the opening of the PhilRice station in Ligao City will serve not only as a boon to rice farmers but will redound to the overall economic upliftment of Bicol and Eastern Visayas regions.

Palarong Bicol Closing Ceremony

Congressman Fernando V. Gonzalez of the third district of Albay drew praises from Asst. Secretary Tonicito M. C. Umali , legal affairs and administrative head, of the Department of Education and Culture's task force on school sports after the latter pledged his all out support to sports development in his district.Gonzalez, a sports buff himself handed trophies during the closing rites of the Palarong Bicol 2011 at the Albay Provincial Sports Center in Guinobatan, Albay.Winners in the regional sports meet will compete in the forthcoming Palarong Pambansa in Dapitan, Zamboanga del Norte.

Gonzalez cites AFP achievements in securing stability of the country's democratic process

Congressman Fernando V. Gonzalez of the 3rd district of Albay  underscored the many achievements of the armed forces in securing the stability of the country against forces that seeks to undermine the Filipino way of life.

Addressing the Philippine Army's 9th Infantry (Spear) Division based in Camp Elias Angeles, San Jose, Pili, Camarines Sur, where he was the recipient of a plaque of appreciation, Gonzalez at the same time expressed his sentiments to the family and the officers and men of the armed forces for the demise of former defense secretary and former  Chief of Staff, Angelo Reyes.

For the many achievements of the armed forces in "securing the stability  of our democratic process and guarding our Filipino culture and way of life against intrusion from foreign ideologies," Gonzales stressed that the armed forces should be provided with sufficient funding to be able to meet their sworn and solemn duty as protector of the Filipino people.

Gonzales is a member of the Committee on National Defense tasked to oversight the welfare of the individual Filipino soldier.

Gonzalez was cited by the 9ID under the command of Major General Ruperto R. Pabustan for his, "invaluable contributions to Internal Security Operations (IS0) and peace and development efforts of the command contributing immensely to the accomplishments of the 9ID.:

Gonzalez expressed his grateful appreciation to  the award  given by the 9ID saying  that the military honors by the men and women of the 9ID is  a  big honor to him.

Opening of Palarong Bicol 2011

Some photos during the opening of Palarong Bicol 2011 in Travesia, Guinobatan, Albay.

Cong Gonzalez bats for approval of House Bill 1115

Congressman  Fernando V. Gonzalez, third congressional district of Albay, and vice chairman of the house committee on transportation yesterday batted for the approval of House Bill 1115 to further develop the growth of  the Philippine maritime industry.

Presiding over  the  house committee on transportation, Gonzalez at the same time acknowledged that the maritime industry is highly privatized, and therefore he said, it is important that this sector should actively participate in the deliberations leading to the final approval of the bill.

He also asked his peers in congress to fully support the bill for the improvement of the maritime industry.

"The bill, (House Bill No.1115) is an essential bill for the growth of the maritime industry. There is the need to pass it, " Gonzalez said.

He stressed that  there is a general consensus from private and government sector who attended the committee hearing that the bill should be passed.

He asked the representatives of the committee on transportation that they submit their individual position papers regarding the bill adding that maritime laws covers a broad range of subjects.

For one, Coast  Guard Commandant, Wilfrido Tamayo stressed the importance of maritime security during the meeting.

House Bill  1115 was authored by Congressman Rodolfo. G Biazon of the lone district of Muntinlupa City.

It seeks to modify  maritime laws that has been in use for more than two decades.

"There is therefore a compelling need to codify and upgrade Philippine Admiralty Law in order to keep in tune to current situations, circumstances and business practices  of the maritime industry, " said Biazon in an explanatory note preceding the bill.

Biazon lamented the fact that while the maritime laws of other countries are dynamic and attuned to the need of the times, the development and growth of admiralty and maritime law is almost static if not eroded.

"There now a need for all stakeholders, particularly admiralty lawyers, shipowners and those who are involved in the shipping industry to help reform and update the country's shipping laws, " Biazon stressed   adding that this bill seeks to update and reform the shipping laws of the Philippines and codify the same into one code, "The Maritime Code of the Philippines."

Gonzalez as vice chairman of the  house' transportation committee is no stranger to maritime laws.He has been operations manager-lighterage of Luzon Stevedoring Corp. operations manager of the Jeddah Port in Saudi Arabia, and among others as consultant of   Razon International Stevedoring.