ILOILO CITY (PNA) — The price of corn has now bounced back to P9 a kilo from its recent slump of P7-P7.50 during the peak of the harvest season in the last two months. National Food Authority (NFA) Iloilo Provincial Director Heddy Jardeleza, in an interview disclosed that the increase in the price of corn is really a welcome development for the Ilonggo farmers who have shifted into corn farming from the more popular palay because of the prolonged dry season. She said that NFA-Iloilo, as part of its initiative to help corn farmers, is still offering free storage to their cooperatives for two months until they can find buyers for their products. Jardeleza also said that through the agency’s market-matching, the Christian Multi-Purpose Cooperative in Sara, Iloilo was able to sell their corn production to the San Miguel Corporation (SMC). The same cooperative has likewise received approval from NFA Administrator Gregorio Tan Jr. on its P3.4-million soft loan for the establishment of Grains Services Marketing Center.

‘Food for School’ plan

CEBU CITY (PNA) — The Cebu City Council has approved the R31.06-million bird flu fund to be used in the renovation of the city-owned condominium, which will be converted into a quarantine center. Of the amount, at least R6.27 million will be used to buy medical equipment and hospital beds that will be used in the quarantine facility. Dr. Nestor Alonso Jr., consultant to the mayor and head of the city’s preparedness campaign, justified the amount before the council, saying that Cebuanos have yet to fully understand avian flu and its fatal effect on animals and humans. He explained that the local government has to prepare for bird flu to avoid an outbreak of diseases although there has been no recorded bird flu case in the country yet. "We have learned our lesson from history when the entire Cebu was hit by foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) in 1974 because of government inaction. We have a greater threat now because bird flu not only affects poultry but humans, businesses and the economy as well," he told the council.

CEBU CITY (PNA) — Two of the three men who robbed the Aspac Bank of some R489,636 in Tabogon town, Cebu have been arrested by the police. The duo, identified as Jose Roy Quemada, 33, said to be Limotan’s right-hand man, and Quemada’s nephew, Earl Allen Mondarte, 22, were intercepted by the police in San Remigio town through a checkpoint. They were identified as remnants of the Danny Limotan robbery gang. Authorities found only R20,900 cash in the pocket of one of the suspects and checks worth R104,568.09 in the getaway car but no firearms were recovered from the suspects. Reports said bank manager Arlene Tolsedas locked the glass door of their establishment to have her lunch when three men, wearing polo shirts and denim pants, knocked on the door. Tolsedas opened the door because the bank does not close for lunch when one of the suspects grabbed her by the hair, poked a .45 pistol at her head and declared a holdup. The other suspects also pointed their handguns at security guard Larry Nuneza, who was stripped of his .38 service firearm. The cashier was ordered to open the vault where the money was being stacked before the suspects fled aboard an Aura motorcycle.