Entrepreneurial Farmer

Ambrosio R. Villorente

Meals Leading To Obesity

In Kalibo, Aklan, there is a newly opened restaurant which advertisement states “unlimited rice”. This advertisement is sending the message to would be customers to eat in that restaurant with unlimited quantity of rice to eat without additional charge.

Well and good! It favors its customers to eat more rice. However, this is leading to more health problems. While a person who dines in that restaurant may save on food, he will spend more for the physician, for medicine, for hospital stay, pain and loss job opportunity.

Eating more rice is prone to more illness such as diabetes, obesity; it leads one to being malnourished. One must eat a balance diet to stay healthy. It must be a wise policy of owners and management of restaurants and other eateries to prepare a one dish meal even a budget meal but nutritionally complete.

Some five (5) years ago, the rice per capita consumption was 98 kilograms. It increased by 21 kilograms or 21.4 percent today. Filipino intake of vegetables, fruits, meat and milk have drastically decreased brought about by lack of information on nutrition and due to inflation. Filipinos tend to eat more rice because it is highly subsidized by the government unlike other food commodities which prices are governed by market forces.

Government officials concerned in regulating the operation of restaurants and other eateries must not only look on sanitation but also the quality and quantity of food made available, sold and served to customers.

P800 M Aklan Budget

Aklan’s 2009 budget is approved in a special session of the Aklan SP on Dec. 23. Provincial Governor Carlito S. Marquez lauded the Aklan SP members lead by Vice Governor Billie V. Calizo as presiding officer.

The 2009 Aklan provincial budget is designed and approved to generate jobs both in agriculture and tourism. It prioritizes investment and infrastructure projects such as the Caticlan and Cagban Jetty ports. Less that 45 percent of the P800 million appreciation will be for personal services.

Along with the 2009 budget, the Investment Code is also approved. The Tourism Code of Aklan however, is held pending until next year.

Car Damage

A vehicular accident occurred at Roxas Avenue corner A. Mabini Street, Poblacion, Kalibo at about 8:30 in the morning, Monday, December 29. It involved a Toyota Corolla car, a tricycle, and a sand and gravel truck.

According to some eyewitnesses, it was “stop” at Roxas Ave. while “go” at A. Mabini. Suddenly, a sand and gravel truck came and bumped the Toyota car owned and driven by Mr. Ros Relis. As a result, the Toyota car was badly damaged in its front and rear sides.

According to Ronie, driver of the truck, the brake of his vehicle failed when he applied the brake to stop his truck.

Vehicle accidents due to vehicle instrument failure such as the brake system will be minimized if not totally stopped if vehicle owners and drivers will just maintain their respective vehicles in an excellent operating condition before taking out to the road. The driver also must drive carefully following all the traffic laws, rules and ordinances. They must adjust their driving to the road condition and observe strictly road courtesy.

If not, the law must be applied strictly without fear and favor. /MP