NEGROS OCCIDENTAL, Philippines (PIA) — The National Food Authority (NFA) in Negros Occidental has made assurances of enough rice supply in the province during the holiday season. NFA-Negros Occidental Assistant Provincial Manager Jobe Chua said there is no problem in terms of supply of NFA rice this holiday season.
“We have enough rice. Looking at daily requirement here, we can last up to 12 days even if it were only the NFA that is going to supply rice for the entire province,” Chua added. Based on current NFA daily distribution of NFA, its stock inventory can last up to 172 days as against the average daily purchases at NFA.
PNP-6 alert
ILOILO CITY, Iloilo (PIA) — The Philippine National Police (PNP) in Region 6 is warning the public to exercise caution in buying imported firecrackers.
Police Superintendent Ledon Monte, chief of the Firearms and Explosives of the PNP 6 said Section 6 of RA 7183 (which regulates the sale, manufacture, distribution and use of firecrackers and other pyrotechnic devices) prohibits the importation of finished firecrackers and fireworks.
Monte said finished firecrackers entering Region 6 will be confiscated and the corresponding penalty charged against violators.
Children survey
ROXAS CITY, Capiz (PIA) — Some 399 households in the province were sampled by the National Statistics Office (NSO)–Capiz in a recent Survey on Children (SoC). SoC is a nationwide survey collecting data on the demographic and socio-economic characteristics of working children aged five to 17 years old.“
Some 220 households from the total sample have children five to 17 years old,” said a NSO-Capiz press release, which also informed that “145 children from the household samples were identified as working children.” The recent SoC is third in a series of surveys undertaken by NSO-Capiz as part of the International Programme on the Elimination of Child Labor.
PhilHealth gifts
CEBU CITY, Cebu (PIA) – Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth)-7 employees, led by PhilHealth-7 Christmas Committee chair and planning officer, Ma. Cristina Ramos, visited the children confined in the pediatric ward of the Cebu City Medical Center (CCMC) recently to distribute gifts and milk packs to some 80 young patients.
The children also snacked on arroz caldo and spaghetti with their parents and guardians. PhilHealth also brought gifts of joy with balloon makers clad as Santa and Santa dwarves to entertain the kids spending this Christmas in a hospital. As a special treat, the little ones got to have balloons shaped the way they want it.
18-day truce
TACLOBAN CITY, Leyte (PIA) – Military operations against members of the New People’s Army (NPA), the armed wing of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CCP), are suspended in observance of the 18-day Christmas truce declared by President Benigno S. Aquino III. Suspension of military operations starting December 16 through January 2, 2012 is in observance of the Christmas season and as “demonstration of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) commitment, sincerity and support to the primacy of the peace process,” said Lt. Colonel Niceforo Diaz, chief of the civil military operations of the 8th Infantry Division.
Diaz clarified, however, that the military would remain on red alert against possible attacks by NPA members and that the military would respond accordingly especially if the rebels use force.