Moroni Maniego Grade 7 Science Class

Bongbong Marcos on agriculture: ‘Our soil is

under threat’
.MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. on Wednesday
gave a grave description of the overall state of agriculture in the country and what he
intends to do about it.

The Chief Executive currently serves as the Department of Agriculture (DA) secretary.
He reported 11 to 13 million hectares of land across the nation are considered degraded.
He also said 2.2 million hectares of soil are infertile.
“Making matters worse is the improper use of fertilizers and pesticides that pollute and
acidify our soil,” he observed.
He made these statements as he spoke at the First National Soil Health Summit at the
Diamond Hotel in Manila.
“Needless to say, our soil is under threat, and to continue to neglect this vital
agricultural component will lead to an even worse crisis in the future,” Marcos warned.
The President is proposing a 5-point agenda on soil
This includes the National Soil Health Program and the implementation of sustainable
land management.
“This will ensure the proper use and management of soil resources, address land
degradation, enhance crop productivity, and, hence, improve farmers’ income,” Marcos
said.
Then, he announced, “the administration shall empower the Bureau of Soil and Water
Management to achieve these goals, especially through capacitating soil laboratories
across the country to yield better data.”

My Reaction: The remarks made by Bongbong Marcos regarding the state of

Philippine agriculture serve as a sad reminder of the pressing need to address the
threats to our soil. He made the point that the soil is the basis of agriculture and that
its deterioration can have negative effects on the environment, human livelihoods,
and food security.
The Philippines is an agricultural nation, and maintaining our food supply and
assisting our rural communities depend heavily on the condition of our land. Soil
erosion, nutrient depletion, and soil contamination have been caused by elements like
deforestation, poor land use, and the use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides.
Degradation of the soil has effects outside of agriculture as well. Climate change,
biodiversity, and water quality can all be impacted by it. Taking care of this issue
Moroni Maniego Grade 7 Science Class
Ancient Maya city discovered in
Mexican jungle
MEXICO CITY — A previously unknown ancient Maya city has been
discovered in the jungles of southern Mexico, the country’s anthropology
institute said on Tuesday, adding it was likely an important center more than
a thousand years ago.
The city includes large pyramid-like buildings, stone columns, three plazas
with “imposing buildings” and other structures arranged in almost-concentric
circles, the INAH institute said.
INAH said the city, which it has named Ocomtun – meaning “stone column”
in the Yucatec Maya language – would have been an important center for the
peninsula’s central lowland region between 250 and 1000 AD.
It is located in the Balamku ecological reserve on the country’s Yucatan
Peninsula and was discovered during a search of a largely unexplored stretch
of jungle larger than Luxembourg. The search took place between March and
June using aerial laser mapping (LiDAR) technology.
The Maya civilization, known for its advanced mathematical calendars,
spanned southeast Mexico and parts of Central America. Widespread
political collapse led to its decline centuries before the arrival of Spanish
conquistadors, whose military campaigns saw the last stronghold fall in the
late 17th century.
The Ocomtun site has a core area, located on high ground

My Reaction: A significant feat that provides light on the outstanding urban

planning and construction of the ancient Maya civilisation is the discovery of
a Maya city in the Mexican forest.

Modern technology, such as LIDAR (Light Detection and Ranging), enabled

researchers to map the jungle's topography and find the city's concealed
structures, which led to the discovery of this metropolis.

The results imply that this city was a flourishing hub of trade and business,
with an intricate web of streets, squares, and structures. The Maya people's
intelligence and imagination are demonstrated by the sheer size of the city,
which spans an area of more than 22 square kilometers.

This finding is