00:00The Department of Agriculture or DA is actively focusing on potential smuggling and price
00:05manipulation in agricultural products and implementing a temporary ban on bird imports
00:11from New Zealand following an avian influenza outbreak. These and other stories in tonight's
00:17business news wrap up by Kate Renya. The Department of Budget and Management or
00:24DBM announced that all congressional insertions in the 2025 General Appropriations Act or
00:29GAA will need a special allotment release order before funds can be released. According
00:35to the agency, this measure adds a layer of protection against budget misuse, ensuring
00:40that increases or new items introduced by Congress aligned with government cash programming
00:45adhere to fiscal management, receive presidential approval, and comply with budgetary regulations.
00:52The German Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry or GPCCI reported that business
00:58optimism regarding Berlin-Manila economic ties has improved as reflected in the Fall 2024 AHK
01:05World Business Outlook Survey. The survey revealed a rise in positive business condition outlook,
01:11increasing to 58% from 50% in the Spring 2024 report. GPCCI attributed this improvement
01:18to enhanced investment in hiring plans in the country, which climbed to 55% and 44% respectively.
01:26The Department of Agriculture continues to focus on potential smuggling and price
01:30manipulation, particularly in agricultural products. This comes amid the rising tomato
01:35prices in some markets in Metro Manila. According to DA Spokesperson Assistant Secretary Arnel
01:41De Mesa, this could be a case of profiteering since most tomatoes are locally produced.
01:46However, De Mesa explained that based on the reports they received, the high prices may
01:50persist until the end of January. Additionally, a command center will be established by March
01:55for a national database together with regulatory agencies such as B4, BAI, BPI, and others to
02:02properly study when and how much to import in order to avoid both shortage and excess supply.
02:09The Department of Agriculture has imposed a temporary ban in the importation of both
02:13domestic and wild birds from New Zealand due to reports of an avian influenza outbreak.
02:19Secretary Francisco Chu Laurel Jr. stated that the ban, which includes domestic and wild birds,
02:25eggs, day-old chicks, human, and poultry meat, is essential to prevent the spread of highly
02:29pathogenic avian influenza into the country and protect the health of the local poultry industry.
