TACLOBAN CITY — The Department of Agriculture (DA), through the Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization (PhilMech), in partnership with Governor Harris Ongchuan, turned over P17.4 million worth of rice farm machinery to RCEF-accredited farmers’ cooperatives and associations in Northern Samar.

The ceremonial turnover benefited four farmer organizations from the province’s major rice-producing municipalities of Las Navas, Palapag, and Laoang. Each group received one four-wheel tractor and one rice combine harvester.

Recipients included the Laoang Mainland Farmers Organization, Brgy. Talolora Farmers Association, Robasan Farmers Irrigators Association, Inc., and Bobolosan Multi-Sector Kilusang Pagbabago Organization.

The initiative is part of the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF) Mechanization Program, which aims to modernize rice farming, improve efficiency, and reduce postharvest losses.

Governor Ongchuan said the equipment will help boost production and farmers’ incomes, while the provincial government remains committed to supporting local agriculture.

A demonstration and orientation on the use of the machines followed the turnover ceremony, which was attended by DA-PhilMech officials, provincial agriculture officers, and local leaders.

(ROEL T. AMAZONA)

TACLOBAN CITY — Authorities seized an estimated P6.7 million worth of suspected shabu and arrested two alleged high-value individuals during a buy-bust operation along the seawall of Barangay 66, Paseo de Legaspi, at around 12:15 a.m. on Tuesday, September 16.

The operation was jointly conducted by the Tacloban City Police Office (TCPO) Station 2 Drug Enforcement Team (SDET), the Regional Provincial Drug Enforcement Unit (RPDEU-8), and the Regional Special Operations Unit (RSOU-8).

PMajor Sheena Layog, chief of Police Station 2, identified the suspects as alias “Topi,” 35, self-employed, and alias “Mamak,” 33, a driver—both residents of Tacloban City.
Recovered from the suspects were two large sachets containing white crystalline substances believed to be shabu, initially purchased by an undercover operative for P34,000.

A subsequent search, conducted in the presence of law-mandated witnesses, yielded a black backpack containing 13 knot-tied transparent plastic bags and eight more sachets of suspected shabu, a digital weighing scale, and a sling bag.

Authorities also confiscated 35 pieces of cash, consisting mostly of P1,000 bills and two P500 bills, one of which was court-subscribed buy-bust money used during the operation.
TCPO Director PCol. Noel Getigan said the operation dealt a significant blow to the illegal drug trade in Tacloban.

“The arrest of these two high-value targets disrupts a major drug network and sends a clear message that we will not tolerate illegal activities in this city,” he said.
The two suspects were informed of the nature of their arrest and apprised of their constitutional rights in a language they understood.

Charges for violating Republic Act 9165, the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, have been filed at the City Prosecutor’s Office. The suspects are temporarily detained at Police Station 2.

(ROBERT DEJON)

GCash and InvestaTrade launch an upgraded GStocks platform for an easier investing experience within the GCash app.

Redefining how first-time investors enter the market, GCash upgrades its GStocks feature with new partner InvestaTrade, the stock trading arm of Investa, known for its beginner-friendly approach to financial education and stock market awareness.

While the level of Filipinos’ interest and adoption toward investing has grown in recent years, participation in the stock market is still not widespread. According to the Philippine Stock Exchange (PSE), the number of stock market accounts in the PSE reached 2.86 million, with 99% belonging to local investors as of June 2024. For perspective, this represents only about 4.1% of the country’s roughly 70 million adult population.

The new partnership aims to change that. Powered by InvestaTrade, GStocks introduces a simplified investing experience within the GCash app, allowing Filipinos to easily register, fund their accounts, and start investing in local stocks—all in just a few minutes.

The upgraded GStocks experience also aims to drive stronger literacy and ease stock selection with a more intuitive platform that features built-in educational content. The platform is also designed to be as user-friendly and accessible as possible, even to first-time investors.

“Financial tools only work if people actually feel ready to use them. This partnership is about meeting people where they are and giving them room to grow at their own pace,” General Manager for Wealth Management at GCash, Arjun Varma, said.

The partnership with InvestaTrade brings additional credibility and community-based learning to the platform. Since 2015, Investa has built a reputation for offering accessible tools, market insights, and educational content aimed at helping everyday Filipinos make sense of the stock market.

“We’ve always believed that investing should be made accessible for every Filipino. This has been our mission since day one. This collaboration allows us to take what we’ve built at Investa—tools, education, and a supportive community—and make it available to a wider audience through GCash,” Investa CEO and co-founder JC Bisnar said.

“This collaboration also highlights the importance of technology in making investing more accessible. By leveraging the seamless experience and advanced features of the InvestaTrade platform, in synergy with GCash, we aim to simplify the learning curve and equip first-time and experienced users alike with reliable tools,” said Investa CTO and co-founder Airwyn Tin.

The new GStocks PH powered by InvestaTrade officially launches September 15 as part of GCash’s broader mission to make investing a stronger habit and a part of everyday life for all Filipinos.
Through this, GCash is helping turn what was once an intimidating topic into a practical step toward financial growth, empowering more Filipinos to build a stronger, more secure future.(PR)