ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines – The National Food Authority (NFA) has asked the full support of local NFA retailer stores here to help them sell Iron Fortified Rice (IFR) to local residents in an effort to help them alleviate iron deficiency of their children.

Local NFA Manager Guadencio Nuega Jr. said they have asked local traders to display and sell the IFR at their stores, citing it is good for the health, and can help prevent anemia especially among children, pregnant and lactating women. Nuega appealed to the people to patronize the IFR in order for them to have a healthy family. (Nonoy Lacson)

Transparency, accountability

BUTUAN CITY – The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) in the Caraga Region strengthened its Projects, Programs and Activities (PPAs) in an effort to achieve the Aquino administration’s Transparency and Accountable Governance (TAG) agenda.

In fulfilling the TAG, the DILG lined up assemblies to make all Local Government Operation Officers (LGOOs) familiar with the guidelines.

“Our PPAs serve as the cornerstone of this administration so we should institute ownership of functions when it comes to their implementation in the city/municipal level,” DILG-13 Director Rene Burdeos said. (Mike Crismundo)

R-12 canned tuna export plunges

GENERAL SANTOS CITY – The Region 12 office of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI-12) reported that the sale of canned tuna, the export earner product of the region, has plunged by about seven percent last year.

The DTI-12 export performance report showed canned tuna only posted $189 million in export sales last year as compared to 2009 were it posted a total of $204 million.

Stakeholders in the local tuna industry earlier predicted a lackluster performance after the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission imposed a two-year banned to purse-seine fishing method in tuna-rich pockets of the Pacific Ocean. (Nonoy Lacson)

Naval mission for Languyan Villages

LANGUYAN, Tawi-Tawi – Members of the Naval Forces Western Mindanao, in support of the local government unit here, conducted medical and dental activities in the three depressed villages in the municipality.

Lt. Colonel Gamal S. Hayudini of the 4th Civil Relations Group, Civil Relations Service, said the recent activity benefited hundreds of indigent families in the serviced villages.

He said the activity is part of a series of activities lined up for the forthcoming 113th anniversary of the Philippine Navy on Friday. (Nonoy Lacson)

Brake system of bus breaks

BUTUAN CITY – A 60-year-old woman was killed while 15 other passengers were injured, eight of them in critical condition, when the passenger bus they were riding in accidentally turned-turtle after its brake system malfunctioned while on its way to Surigao City from this city over the weekend, police reported Monday.

Initial report received by the Police Regional Office 13 (PRO 13) said the passenger bus was traveling along the national highway at Purok 20 Alviola Village, Kilometer 3, Baan, this city, when its brake malfunctioned and the driver, identified as Roelito S. Pareja, 42 of Binan, Laguna, was unable to control the bus causing it to roll over and fell on its right side. (Mike Crismundo)