RDC Trains, Organizes Speakers Bureau On Food, Energy Security

by Venus G. Villanueva

A capability – building training of Speakers’ Bureau on Food and Energy Security was held recently at the Renewal House in Lapaz, Iloilo City by the Regional Development Council (RDC) and the National Economic Development Authority (NEDA).
According to Hon. Salvacion Z. Perez, governor of Antique and chairperson of RDC 6, the training is necessary to equip the members of the speakers’ bureau with in-depth knowledge on the content of the information that will be disseminated.
The training is one of the specific tasks of the Sub-Committee on Information and Advocacy of RDC 6 Development Administration Committee in undertaking communication activities on food and security.
Participants came from the provinces of Aklan, Antique, Capiz, Iloilo, Negros Occidental and Guimaras, Report VI. They were from the offices of the Provincial Planning and Development Office (PPDO); Office of the Provincial Agriculturist (OPA); Department of Trade and Industry (DTI); National Food Authority (NFA); Philippine Information Agency (PIA) and Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR).
“Times are bad and things are expected to be harder with the coming of the American Financial crisis that could affect the Philippines. There are hosts of other problems – high food prices, the changing prices of oil and oil products. There is a need to inform the people why these are happening and to tell them what the government is doing to surpass the crisis”, said Atty. Ma. Janet C. Mesa, PIA 6 Regional Director. She welcomed the participants and gave the lecturette on Communication Advocacy Plan and also spearheaded the workshop on local communication advocacy plan.
The activity, according to Director Mesa, is expected to have a cascading effect to the provinces, municipalities and barangays upon the participants’ return to their respective provinces.
Topics discussed at the training included Current Issues on Food and Energy Security by NEDA VI Regional Director Ro-Ann A. Bacal; Basic Economic Theories and Concepts by Atty. Raul S. Anlocotan, NEDA VI; Food Situation, by Regional Technical Director Remelyn Recoter of the Department of Agriculture (DA) VI, Robert G. Espinosa of BFAR 6 and Assistant Regional Manager Vilma H. Zarraga of NFA VI.
Engr. Generoso P. Ardelez of NPC 6 also spoke on Energy Situation while Ms. Nona Grace D. Bermejo of DTI VI spoke on Price Act.
According to NEDA 6, workshop outputs from the provinces will serve as the basis of the participants’ activities upon their return to their respective areas.

Kalibo’s Stores Yield Negative
of Milk & Milk Products From China

Big stores in Kalibo yielded no milk and milk products from China suspected to be contaminated with melamine according to the municipality’s Inter-agency Council for Public Safety, Peace and Order. The conclusion is based on their recent ocular inspections in these establishments.
According to the office of Kalibo Mayor Raymar A. Rebaldo, the inspections were made in compliance with memorandum dated Sept. 25 from the Department of Health (DOH).
Based on the observation of the council members, there are no melamine infected milk and milk products sold at big stores in Kalibo.
Gaisano Capital, on the other hand, displays of fresh milk products from Hong Kong under the importation of Fly Ace Corporation. RC Marketing, on the other hand, is selling cottage milk, sweet cream butter powder and SMP milk powder spring with Farmland label. The said products had no details of ingredients and the manufacturer.
Because of this, the members of the inter-agency recommended that the products should undergo testing through the Bureau of Food and Drugs to determine if these are contaminated or not with melamine. /MP