VIGAN CITY — The National Food Authority (NFA) assured Wednesday the continued availability of affordable rice supply for sale in its accredited retail outlets in Ilocos Region and some provinces in the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) even beyond the lean months of this year. “NFA rice is still available at P25 per kilogram. The high volume of rice in the market brought about by the agency’s stock positioning and the flooding of rice in the market has created an ample supply and provided affordable rice that is available in consumer markets,” NFA Region 1 Director Efren J. Sabong said. “It is the onset of the lean months when the price of rice is expected to rise because farmers are still in the thick of tending their farms but the NFA guarantees the public the availability of affordable rice sold at P25 per kilogram in all accredited outlets,” he added. Sabong disclosed that it is during the months of July to September that prices of rice in the market become jittery because of speculations on production and the availability of stocks to meet the demands of the consumers. He explained that the early stock positioning and the procured palay from the farmers during the summer cropping season are keeping the prices of rice at bay. (Freddie Lazaro)

RIZAL LAUNCHES ‘YNARES BAZAAR’

ANTIPOLO CITY — Small entrepreneurs based in the province of Rizal have something to be thankful for, after the provincial government provided them with a venue for their products with the recent opening of the bazaar – a yearly event that has been attracting thousands of bargain hunters and families who want to treat their children to the various kiddie rides at the Ynares Center compound here. The Governor Ynares Tiangge, a yearly bazaar showcasing the entrepreneurship of the people of the province from tasty delicacies to assorted dry goods, is one of the livelihood programs of Rizal Gov. Casimiro “Jun” Ynares III. Several businessmen who owns stalls at the bazaar said that he and their fellow provincial-based entrepreneurs are thankful that the provincial government has been continuing the previous program of Governors Casimiro Ynares Jr. and Rebecca Nini Ynares, the father and mother of the incumbent governor, in providing an affordable venue for their sector at least once a year, specially during the Christmas Season. The yearly tiangge started during the incumbency of Gov. Nini Ynares. (Nel Andrade)

CAVITE PREPARES FOR VILLAGE POLLS

IMUS, Cavite — Cavite officials are now preparing the activities for the synchronized barangay (village) and Sagguniang Kabataan (SK) elections set next month. This developed after the Commission on Elections (Comelec) here under Lawyer Juanito V. Ravanzo Jr. and Police Provincial Office (PPO) led by Senior Supt. Danilo L. Maligalig are all set to impose the 45-day gun ban in the province as preparation for the twin elections scheduled on October 25. Comelec Resolution 9019 said that the police and military will enforce a nationwide gun ban from September 25 to November 10, or 30 days before and 15 days after the elections. During the period, law enforcement agencies will also establish Joint Security Coordinating Centers at the national, regional, provincial and municipal levels to ensure police-military inter-operability and coordination in operations against private armies or partisan armed groups and other election law violators. (Anthony Giron)