BAGUIO CITY, (PIA) — Department of Trade and Industry (DTI)-Cordillera Regional Information Officer Art Tibaldo said the agency is monitoring prices of basic commodities as well as Christmas lights and decorations and other Christmas- related products. He said the agency will soon release a suggested retail price (SRP) of Noche Buena products. Aside from checking the SRP of food products, he said the public should also check the expiration date and the nutritional content of the products they are buying. On electronic products or gadgets such as Christmas decorative lights and other electronic gadgets, Tibaldo reiterated the advisory to the public to check for the Import Commodity Clearance (ICC) stickers for imported products and Product Standards (PS) mark for locally produced products.

YOUTHS BENEFITED 

SAN FERNANDO CITY, La Union (PIA) — Over 800 disadvantaged youths in La Union will enjoy this year’s Cash for Training Program (CTP) of the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority 1 (Tesda-1) and the Department of Social Welfare Development 1 (DSWD-1). Tesda La Union Information Officer Criselda Gugol said these beneficiaries were recently determined as eligible under the expanded Government Internship Program of the DSWD-1. The CTP aims to deliver training programs for the youth for gainful employment where it has two major components to include Training for wage-employment (Trabaho) and Training for Self-Employment (Hanapbuhay).

LESS RICE

SCIENCE CITY OF MUÑOZ, Nueva Ecija (PIA) — The Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) will roll out its campaign designed to inculcate among Filipinos the importance and value of eating less rice and preventing its wastage. A PhilRice study shows most Filipinos consume more than the average rice requirement for nutrition and worse, some are wasted, thereby contributing to the rice shortages. Dr. Karen Barroga, chief of PhilRice’s development communications division said rice sufficiency in the country can also be best addressed and sustained with the practice of responsible rice consumption among Filipinos.

B.S.P. ACTIVITY

TARLAC CITY, Tarlac (PIA) — The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) conducted a two-day economic and financial learning activity in Tarlac City to promote awareness of economic and financial issues Entitled “Be up to SPeed on BSP”, the activity covered topics on the latest economic developments and role of BSP in the economy with emphasis on the three pillars of central banking namely price stability, financial stability, and efficient payments and settlements system as well as a brief discussion on the New Generation Philippine Currency.

CENRO APPEAL 

VIGAN CITY, Ilocos Sur (PIA) — Vigan City Environment (CENRO) Officer Florencio Soliven, Jr. has appealed to residents to help save the mountains of the province and to immediately report illegal cutting of trees. “We need the help of residents to protect the environment by immediately calling us when they see illegal cutting of trees within the area,” said Soliven. Earlier this week, the CENRO and military men stationed here confiscated four pieces of narra logs in Brgy. Maratudo, Magsingal town.