CEBU CITY, Philippines — An official of the Department of Energy (DOE)-Visayas Field Office has urged the public especially drivers of public utility vehicles (PUVs) to patronize Caltex stations in purchasing fuel because the company is giving out huge discounts of gasoline and diesel prices that started last Feb. 15 until March 31.

DOE-Visayas Energy Industry Management Chief Engr. Rey Maleza said Chevron Philippines Inc. (CPI), which operates the Caltex stations nationwide, is giving out discounts of P3 for every liter of gasoline and P1.50 for every liter of diesel that will last until next month. “This is the first time that an oil company gives out such big discounts for every liter of fuel bought in their stations and to last more than a month at that,” he said. (Phoebe Jen Indino)

Achievement Test

ILOILO CITY (PIA) — The Department of Education 6 (DepEd) is now in the thick of preparation for the conduct of the 2012 Regional Achievement Test (RAT) for Grade 6 and fourth year high school Wednesday, Feb. 22, and Thursday, Feb. 23.

DepEd 6 Quality Assurance and Accountability Division Chief Dr. Donato Delgado said test materials were readied Tuesday for distribution to the different school divisions in Panay and Negros areas. Delgado said an orientation was also conducted earlier on testing rules, guidelines, norms, and procedures to ensure the smooth conduct of the RAT.

NBI Chief

BACOLOD CITY (PNA) — The new chief of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) in Negros Occidental was formally installed in a simple turnover ceremony here Monday. Lawyer Ferdinand Lavin took over the NBI-Bacolod chief post from Atty. Jose Hermie Monsanto.

Lavin warned unscrupulous individuals who pose as agents or drop the name of the agency for their personal interest. Lavin assured that the NBI office in Bacolod will be open to the media but, however, asked for some consideration and confidentiality on sensitive cases the agency is investigating. Lavin was formerly assigned at the NBI central office.

Workers' Benefits

TACLOBAN CITY, Leyte (PIA) — The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE 8) is using its visitorial power to private establishment to ensure that the workers in the private sector are properly protected under the labor standards.

According to Exequel Sarcauga, Regional Director, DOLE 8, social welfare benefits (such as remittance for Pag-IBIG, PhilHealth, and SSS contribution) should be the prime concern of the employer considering that the output of the workers can be attributed as one source of having free labor disputes.

Sarcauga further said that if the workers are properly compensated they have no reason to complain which in turn benefits the workers and the employers directly or indirectly.

Alternative Foods

ILOILO CITY (PNA) — Filipinos are encouraged to consume alternative staple foods instead of purely relying on rice. Juvy Gaton, chief of the Department of Agriculture Regional Agri-Fishery Information Division (DA-RAFID) here, said the department’s Food Staple Self-Sufficiency Program is giving importance to other crops as staple foods.

These include among others white corn and root crops like sweet potato and ube as well as bananas, particularly the saba variety. She said they are urging the public to lessen their dependence on rice as they geared towards promotion of root crops.