FORT BONIFACIO, Taguig City—The Philippine and Australian Armies conducted the 8th Philippine Army-Australian Army Staff Talks to expand their cooperation in regional defense and security on April 7-8, 2025, at the Headquarters Philippine Army, Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City.

Maj. Gen. Ferdinand B. Napuli, the Acting Chief of Staff Philippine Army and Maj. Gen. Chris Smith, the Deputy Chief of Army of Australian Army headed the Philippine Army and Australian Army delegations respectively during the discussions aiming to enable further developments in the armies’ relationship. The Defense Attache of Australia to the Philippines Capt. Emma McDonald-Kerr and representatives from the Philippine Marine Corps also attended the two-day Staff Talks.

The activity included plenary sessions on the PA-AUSA Engagements, Australian National defense strategy, Philippine Army’s strategic direction, key leaders engagement activities, and a review of the activities conducted for the year 2024. The delegation leaders also discussed the 2025-2026 PH-AUS Army activities to enhance the countries’ interoperability and capacity through combined arms training.

In his closing remarks, Maj. Gen. Napuli expressed his gratitude to Maj. Gen. Smith and the attendees and organizers of the activity for the productive conduct of the Staff Talks. He also added that the activity’s outcome reflects both armies’ shared commitment and collaborative efforts and will serve as a powerful reminder of the importance of regional unity in ensuring security and stability.(PR)

TACLOBAN CITY – The Barangay Binalayan East Fisherfolk Association in Maripipi, Biliran, has achieved its first successful Lambaklad harvest under the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources – Special Area for Agricultural Development (BFAR-SAAD) Phase 2 program.

On their initial haul since the project’s full installation on April 4, 2025, the group yielded 410 kilos of assorted fish, including giant trevally, diamond trevally, Indian mackerel, queenfish, and red big eye.

From this total, 264.8 kilos were sold locally at P120–P180 per kilo, generating P41,000 in revenue. The sales not only benefitted the association financially but also provided island residents with affordable, locally sourced seafood.

To ensure sustainability and member participation, the group agreed to equitably share a portion of the daily catch among active members for household consumption. The remaining harvest is sold, with 50% of the income distributed weekly to members and the other 50% deposited into the group’s savings account. Minor operational expenses are funded through monthly member dues.

The Lambaklad project stems from the association’s active participation in the 2024 Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA), which identified their specific livelihood needs.

This led to the awarding of a P2.6 million livelihood package, which covered the installation of the Lambaklad gear, necessary equipment, and capacity-building training.

Further support is on the way in 2025, with BFAR-SAAD set to provide a chilling/harvesting tank, chest freezer, 15 fishing crates, and two weighing scales to further strengthen the association’s post-harvest operations.

This marks a promising start for the fisherfolk of Binalayan East and a testament to the effectiveness of the SAAD program in empowering grassroots communities through sustainable and inclusive livelihood support.

(ROEL T. AMAZONA)

TACLOBAN CITY– The Philippine Statistics Authority – Regional Statistical Services Office VIII (PSA – RSSO 8) implements the quarterly livestock and poultry surveys (LPS) in all provinces nationwide with the new survey titles.

Livestock and Poultry Survey Household (LPS:H), formerly Backyard Livestock and Poultry Survey (BLPS), generates estimates on inventory, number of animals disposed, average farmgate price, egg production of poultry animals, milk production of dairy animals, and other related data of livestock and poultry commodities at the household level. The unit of enumeration is the household with livestock and/or poultry raising activities.

The commodity coverage includes carabao, cattle, swine, goat, sheep, chicken, duck, horse, rabbit, quail, turkey, goose, and other animals tended by the household.

Livestock and Poultry Survey Establishment (LPS:E), formerly Commercial Livestock and Poultry Survey (CLPS), generates data on the supply and disposition of livestock and poultry commodities from establishments.

The units of enumeration are livestock and poultry establishments that raise/tend livestock and poultry animals intended for breeding/propagation, and for food consumption. The commodity coverage includes carabao, cattle, swine, goat, sheep, chicken, duck, and other animals tended/raised by the establishments.

The schedule of field data collection for LPS:H is every first seven (7) days of the month after the reference quarter. Whereas, the schedule of data collection for LPS:E is during the last ten (10) days of the reference quarter. However, data collections during the fourth quarter is done one month earlier to comply with the Philippine System of National Accounts calendar.

The mode of data collection is CAPI, a face-to-face data collection method in which the interviewer uses a tablet or mobile phone to record answers of the respondent.
This year, the livestock and poultry survey instruments are enhanced and revised to be relevant to the current statistical needs of the livestock and poultry industry. It records and consolidates various auxiliary information for the conduct of review, validation and analysis of livestock and poultry estimates.

This include farmgate and retail prices from other data sources such as Department of Agriculture (DA) and private sector, commodity flow and number of deaths due to African swine fever.

The data generated from LPS are inputs to the valuation of production of Philippine agriculture and fisheries, and to the computation of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
The survey supports the needs of planners, policy and decision makers, and other stakeholders particularly National Economic Development Authority (NEDA), DA and its attached agencies such as Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI), Philippine Carabao Center (PCC), National Dairy Authority (NDA), National Meat Inspection Service (NMIS), Philippine Council for Agriculture and Fisheries (PCAF), and the general public.

These statistical activities were reviewed and cleared for conduct by the Statistical Survey Review and Clearance System (SSRCS), a mechanism prescribed by
RA 10625 or the Philippine Statistical Act of 2013 to ensure sound design for data collection; minimize the burden placed upon respondents; effect economy in statistical data collection; eliminate unnecessary duplication of statistical data collection efforts; and, achieve better coordination of government statistical activities.

In line with this, PSA enjoins all sample households and establishments to support the survey by providing truthful information to authorized PSA Statistical Researchers who will visit them to conduct the interview. The Office adheres and commits to the confidentiality of information as stipulated in Section 26 of RA 10625 and Section 8 of RA 10173.

All data obtained herein shall be held strictly confidential, and will not be used for taxation, investigation or law enforcement purposes. Survey results will be released in the form of summaries or statistical tables.

For inquiries and further information, please contact our office with telephone number (053) 839-1884 and email address rsso08socd@psa.gov.ph. (PR)