DTI warns vs overpricing of Christmas food products

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by Ferliza C. Contratista

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THE OFFICIAL E-NEWSLETTER OF THE PHILIPPINE INFORMATION AGENCY-7 | WWW.PIA.GOV.PH VOL. 2 | NO. 39| December 19, 2012

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CEBU CITY (PIA) -- Overpricing of Noche Buena products will be dealt with accordingly, warned the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) as it advised buyers to carefully check labels of Christmas food products. DTI recently released a Holiday Supplement dated Dec. 4, 2012 bearing suggested retail prices of popular food products served during the traditional Noche Buena. These include prices of hams and ingredients for pastas and salads. For hams, one kilo of all types of hams ranged from P185 as the cheapest price to P804.75 as the highest. Purefoods Jamon de Bola, 1 kilo, is priced P317 and Fiesta cooked ham, P493. The prices of King Sue Ham and Sausage Co. Inc. 1-kilogram hams are: Hawaiian, P222; Cooked Sweet Ham, P360; Smoked

PnP gun-muzzle taping for the holidays: 89 new police officers downloaded from the regional office and the organic staff of Camp Dagohoy in Bohol lined up to

voluntarilly have their service fire-arms taped and sealed for the holidays.

Pina Style Cooked Ham, P410. On the other hand, for Visayas and Mindanao, the cheapest Swift Ham is the Noche Buena with P199 per kilo; Swift’s Jamon de bola, P322.50; Festival Ham, P514; Deboned Ham, P571.25 and the most expensive is Swift Bone in Ham, P804.75. The prices of cheese range from P38 to P52 for every 200 grams; Ques-O Cheese Food costs P38.80; Che-Vital Cheese Food, P52; and Che-Vital Quickmelt at P54.75. Kraft Cheddar Cheese costs P65.25 and Eden Original at P40.50 for every 180 grams of cheese. Prices of Lady’s Choice and Best Food Mayonnaise 220 milligram size range from P40 to P83.50. For fruit cocktail salads, three kilogram can of Del Monte Fruit Cocktail in Heavy Syrup is priced at P194; Today’s Mixed Fruit Stock is P164; Dole Tropical Fruit

Cocktail, P197; and Seasons Tropical Fruit Mix is P161.50. For Queso de bola, prices range from P132 to P340. For spaghetti/pasta products, the prices for one kilo are: Sunshine Spaghetti, P61.50; Ideal Gourmet Spaghetti, P89; Del Monte, P102;and Knorr Royal Spaghetti P102. Elbow and salad macaroni prices: Del Monte, P119; Fiesta, P79; Ideal Elbow, P99.75 and Sunshine Elbow Macaroni at P68.50 for every kilogram pack. A pack of 200 grams spaghetti sauce ranges from P14-P18. Creams packed in 250 milligrams are priced P37.50 for Alska Crema and P44 for Nestle All Purpose Cream. For milk, condensed milk will not go beyond P50 and evaporated milk not beyond P34.75. Furthermore, DTI advised the consumers to check on the labels for expiray dates and exact weight. (rmn/FCC/PIA7)

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during the DILG-7 evaluation and conference and awarding ceremonies f o r t h e To b o y 2 0 1 2 , L u p o n g Tagapamayapa Incentives award, and the Gawad Pamana ng Lahi awards on December 14 at the Cebu Grand hotel, Cebu City. "The DILG policy is to continue the legacy of secretary Robredo and try to improve on it," Fernandez said. He added that under the leadership of Secretary Manuel Roxas, the DILG today is very decisive in its action against illegal gambling, jueteng, illegal possession and unlicense f i rearms, and a comprehensive inventory of the programs, services and policies of the BJMP, BFP, PNP, and the local government units. "We are carefully looking at the department's bottoms-up planning and budgeting as well as moving toward multi-stakeholders' participation in projects implementations at the LGU levels," Fernandez said. Fernandez underscored the important role of the LGUs in disaster management that includes risk reduction and waste management; identification of projects that will involve the informal sectors and civil society specifically in the implementation of poverty alleviation programs. "The local government units should take a vibrant role in the development of our nation!" Fernandez concluded. (PIA 7)

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DILG official challenges LGUs to play vital role to sustain

economic growth in the countryside CENTRAL VISAYAS (PIA) -- A cabinet official challenged all local government units (LGUs) to play an important role in the country's economic growth and development specifically

NCCA to hold writers festival and sayaw Pinoy in Dumaguete

DUMAGUETE CITY (PIA) -- The National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) will hold its writers festival and sayaw Pinoy early next year in Dumaguete City. Acco rd ing to S t . Pau l University-Dumaguete (SPUD) director of external affairs Raffy Arbon Duhaylungsod, the SPUD is one of the primary venues of the Taboan: The Philippine Writers Festival slated on February 7- 9 in Dumaguete, a project of the National Committee on Literary Arts, and the Sayaw Pinoy of the National Committee on Dance scheduled on February 16. The Taboan will bring in 100 writer-delegates from all over the country with a few coming from

by Minerva bC newMan in the countryside and to sustain this growth and make it inclusive. Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Undersecretary Francisco "Bimbo" Fernandez issued this challenge in his keynote message

by JenniFer C. tilos

(R-L) Municipal Mayor Enrique Gonzales together with GIZ Chief Advisor Olaf Neussner Provincial Administrator Arnel Francisco, Dumaguete City Administrator William Ablong, and Provincial Richard Enojo signed a MOA for the establishment of Local Flood Early Warning System (LFEWS) in Negros Oriental on November 29 at the Provincial Convention Center.

NEGROS ORIENTAL

abroad. Lectures and forums will be offered to students and teachers from the various educational institutions in the city and province for free. This will also provide them the opportunity to be exposed to Philippine Literature. The students will also have an opportunity to interact with the writers behind the bylines of poetry, fiction and drama published in textbooks and other publications. The event is an annual project and forms part of the Philippine International Arts Festival. Meanwhile, the Sayaw Pinoy is a touring dance performance which features the different dance forms – folkdance, traditional dance, ballet,

neo-classical, modern & contemporary and hiphop dance participated by top dance companies in the country with the local dance troupes in the city and province. The Sayaw Pinoy program a ims to make qua l i t y dance performances accessible to the different audiences in the different parts of the country and providing opportunity for emerging dance groups to showcase their talents. (FCR/JCT-PIA7, Negros Oriental)

CEBU CITY (PIA) -- The province of Bohol walked away with the plum award 'Most Outstanding Province' during the recent Gawad Pamana ng Lahi 2012 conducted by the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Region 7. Bohol Governor Edgar Chatto received, in behalf of the province, the

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plaque of recognition and a cash award of P3 million during the DILG 7 Evaluation Conference and Awarding Ceremony held Dec. 14, 2012 at the Cebu Grand Hotel, Cebu City. T h e G a w a d P a m a n a n g Lahi Award is annually given to the best municipality, city, and province in the region that showed exemplary performance and exert extra ordinary effort in rendering public service in the

BOHOL

INFOBYTES is a weekly electronic newsletter produced by the Philippine Information Agency-Region 7 with stories submitted by its Provincial Information Centers in Cebu, Bohol, Negros Oriental and Siquijor.

aMorganda a. saludar aspect of good governance valuing the environment, development of the people and transparency in the service and information needed by the public. Under the same award category, the city of Dumaguete, Negros Oriental was also recognized as outstanding city. On the other hand, the municipality of Jagna, Bohol bagged the award as outstanding municipality in Central Visayas. Dumaguete C i ty and the municipality of Jagna received a plaque of recognition and a cash award of P2 million and P1 million, respectively. Basak Badian, Cebu was declared winner for Lupong Tagapamayapa Incentives Award under the 1st to 3rd municipality while Saavedra, Moalboal, Cebu were also declared winner in the same category this time under the 4th to 6th class municipality. Under the same category for the component city, Valladolid Carcar City, Cebu was declared winner while Mabolo, Cebu City was chosen as winner for the highly urbanized city. Overall the province of Cebu received a total of 14 awards; Negros Oriental got five awards while the province of Bohol bagged three awards. A total of 35 public servants in various municipalities, cities and provinces in Central Visayas were finalists for the Lupong Tagapamayapa Incentives Award, Outstanding Barangay Officials of the Year (TOBOY), and the Gawad Pamana ng Lahi Award. Award categories include Best 1st to 6th Class Municipalities, Best Highly Urbanized City, and Best Component City for the Lupong Tagapamayapa Incentives Award. For the Outstanding Barangay Officials of the Year (TOBOY) category, awards were handed out for outstanding barangay SK Chairman/Chairwoman, outs tanding barangay t reasurer, outs tanding barangay secretary, outstanding barangay kagawad, and outstanding punong barangay. Each winner was given a certificate/ plaque of recognition and a cash award in which millions worth of cash awards were given to the winners of the Gawad Pamana ng Lahi. The awarding was graced by DILG -7 Assistant Regional Director Elias Fernandez, DILG-7 Regional Director Ananias Villacorta, Bohol Gov. Edgar Chatto and DILG Undersecretary Francisco Fernandez. (rmn/AYS/ PIA-7, Cebu)

Bohol bags 'Most Outstanding Province of Gawad Pamana ng Lahi 2012

DTI reminds motorists of helmet validation deadline

CEBU CITY (PIA) -- Motorcycle riders here are advised to have their helmets validated with the Import Commodity Clearance (ICC) sticker at the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) this week to avoid the deadline rush. Zaide Bation, chief of the regulatory division of DTI here, urged Cebuanos to have their helmets validated already with the ICC stickers considering that there are only less than two weeks prior to the full implementation of the Motorcycle Helmet Act. In the next two weeks, Bation warned that there will be less personnel in the DTI offices because most of them will already be on leave for the Christmas holiday. “We do have a skeletal force but it means only one or two, but what can they do if there will be plenty of motorists beating the deadline,” Bation said. The Motorcycle Helmet Act will take full effect on January 1, 2013. After that, there will already be no more validation with ICC stickers. When that time comes, the Land Transportation Office (LTO) will already go full force in apprehending motorists wearing helmets without the ICC stickers. “We would like to reiterate that we are not validating helmets of sellers but riders. After December 31, there will no longer be any validation,” Bation said. So far, Bation said they already validated over 25,000 helmets. Under R.A. 10054 or the Motorcycle Helmet Act, all motorcycle riders and back riders are required to wear standard protective helmets while driving motorcycles whether long or short distance in any type of road and highway. As provided under Section 7 of the same Act, any person caught not wearing the prescribed standard protective helmet will be imposed with the following fines: P1,500 for the first offense; P 3,000 for the second offense; P5,00 for third offense; and P10,000 and confiscation of license for the fourth and succeeding offenses. According to reports, six out of 10 vehicular accidents worldwide are by motorcycles. Majority of the motorcycle accidents resulted to deaths and reportedly due to non-wearing of the prescribed helmets. (rmn/FCC-PIA7)

by Ferliza C. Contratista

CEBU

Negros Oriental Provincial Schools Division Superintendent Dr. Salustiano Jimenez addressing concerns affecting the public school teachers and the delivery of public education in the province during its Division Executive Conference held Nov. 27 at the Negros Oriental Convention Center, Dumaguete City. The conference was attended by almost 600 schools supervisors in the province. (RMN/PIA NEGOR)

SIQUIJORCOMMUNITYNEWSINFOBYTESPablo's damage to Siquijor over P50M, claims one life

Power is back,nomal life anew

SIQUIJOR (PIA) -- Typhoon Pablo that also hit Siquijor province on December 4 this year resulted in over P50 million in damages to the province’s crops, livestock, houses, and other infrastructure, a report obtained from the provincial and municipal Disaster Risk Reduction Management Centers (DRRMCs) said. Of the six towns in the province, Siquijor was reported to be severely affected with a total estimated cost of damage at P19,482,697 including the almost 1,000 households wrecked by the typhoon and more than 50 percent of its crops and agricultural products damaged. Maria town comes next with a total damage of P15,217,737; Enrique Villanueva, P9,361,331; Lazi, P4.5 million; and Larena at P1,453,165. San Juan town has reported a damaged of P2,460,000 to crops and houses alone. Siquijor province was placed under typhoon Pablo signal no. 3 on December 4. Power lines especially in the mountain barangays and other infrastructure bogged down causing a total blackout for two days. Uprooted and falling trees were everywhere and the sound of chainsaws reverberated in the muted aftermath. A Delta boat sunk with its six crews missing for several hours but were luckily rescued the following day.

by rizalie a. Calibo

MGA KATANGIAN NG MGA KARAPAT-DAPAT NA LINGKOD BAYAN

Mga katangiang dapat makita sa isang karapat-dapat na Lingkod Bayan ay ang mga sumusunod: • Dapat ay may hangaring tapat at mahusay sa kanyang paglilingkod sa publiko. • Dapat ay may pantay at makatarungang pakikitungo sa sinumang lumalapit sa kanyang tanggapan. • Dapat ay may integridad at walang hangaring gamitin ang kanyang tungkulin sa kanyang pansariling kapakanan. • Dapat ay may integridad at paninindigan na hindi tatanggap ng anumang uri ng suhol o lagay. • Dapat maka-Diyos at may damdaming pagserserbisyo lalo na sa mga mahihirap. —

Siquijor opens coastal resource management center

SIQUIJOR (PIA) -- Siquijor has been one of the strongest supporters of marine management and the first island in the Philippines to create and implement a marine protected area network, Coastal Conservation and Education Foundation Inc. (CCEF) board secretary and co-founder Evangeline White reported during the inauguration of the Provincial Coastal Resource Management (CRM) learning in center in Larena, Siquijor recently. White said that with her husband CCEF president, Dr. Allan White, the foundation is very proud to work with the leaders of Siquijor in bringing marine conservation issues to the forefront. Siquijor has been a partner of CCEF since 2002 when coastal resource management efforts were introduced in the island. Since then, blast fishing has gone down to zero and there has been no reported cases of illegal fishing in the waters surrounding the island. The learning center is a joint project of the Siquijor provincial government, CCEF, and the Deutsche Gesselscaft fur Interntionale Zusammenarbeit to serve as the venue for discussion on marine and coastal conservation efforts of the island. It was built on a lot donated by the province and funded by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), US Department of State, Deutsche Gesellschaft für internationale Zusammenarbei t or German Development Service (DED) and the David and Lucile Packard Foundation. “This is the only Learning Center for the Coastal Resource Management (CRM) Project in the Philippines that is foreign-funded through CCEF,” Atty. Rose-Liza Eisma Osorio, CCEF executive director said. Osorio said the learning center is the best symbol of strong implementation of all CRM projects in the island for the last 10 years. “It is with this pride that Siquijor has this center to benefit not only students, farmers and fishermen but some local government units as well,” she added. (mbcn/RAC-PIA 7, Siquijor)

by rizalie a. Calibo

PagIbig assures no hike in membership

CEBU CITY (PIA) – The top official of Pag-Ibig Fund – Visayas has assured its 1.2 million members that their agency has no plans of hiking membership contributions amid the increase in SSS and PhilHealth membership contributions. Pag-Ibig Vice President for Visayas Victoria de la Peña said this during the recent PIA Kapihan that highlighted the 32nd year anniversary celebration of the Fund. “Just recently, the SSS and PhilHealth increased their fees for membership contributions. Pag-Ibig however, does not want to further lessen the take home pay of the members, so the Board decided not to hike membership contributions,” bared De la Peña. Although De la Peña stressed that this does not mean the agency would no longer increase its membership contributions, but merely guaranteed of no hike in the near future. The Pag-Ibig official declared that the Fund is “already a P300 billion corporation” and that “the savings of the members are spent wisely.” “The Board is very strict in how to use the savings of the millions of members nationwide. What is foremost in mind is to give the dividends of their savings to the members, which is done every first quarter, and we add this every year to the contributions of each member, so when they loan, the amount gets bigger year after year” said De La Peña. A large chunk of the Fund’s assets are poured into its major housing loan programs as the very objective of the agency is to provide affordable shelter to all its members. Another significant amount is also allotted to the multi-purpose loan for it members. Out of the 1.2 million members in the Visayas, Cebu had the highest share of membership volume with 733,000. (PIA-7)

by Fayette C. rinen

A fishing boat reportedly capsized in the middle of Bohol and Siquijor seas and passengers Ayte Almani, 17, and Banjeing Dumay Yankee Hapay, 38, both from Tutolan, Dauis, Bohol were able to swim their way to the shore of Enrique Villanueva town in Siquijor, a report from P/Insp. Vincent Dumaguing to the town’s DRMMO said. Typhoon Pablo however, claimed one Helbert Daniel, 25, who was dead on the spot while riding a motorcycle. He was hit by a fallen coconut tree in Lazi, Siquijor. MV Euro 3 of Villa Shipping Lines, with a crew of 16, was pushed off the coast in Maria town. One crewman who was reported to be missing was found floating, 300 meters from its aground. The provincial government, in a resolution, declared on December 6 the island-province of Siquijor under state of calamity due to severe damage to houses and crops, said PDRRMC executive officer Arturo Pacatang. “It is our response to the effect of Pablo to Siquijor's business, infrastructure, agriculture, and the people in general,” Pacatang said. To date, electrical power has been restored to most of the island and things are getting back to normal. (mbcn/RAC-PIA 7, Siquijor)