Former Sen. Juan Miguel Zubiri has urged the National Food Authority to identify the 19 traders that will each be allowed to import duty-free 10,000 metric tons of rice to the country, a press release from his office said.

“It would be in the public’s best interest for the names of the 19 entities to be fully disclosed, along with their controlling owners,” Zubiri said.

He said this will ensure transparency in the NFA’s plan to allow a new round of private sector-financed rice importation, which we presume are required to secure the country’s supply of the staple.

Capitol to give out agri,
service awards

The Province of Negros Occidental is giving out 30 major awards and special citations for the Pasidungog sa Panguma, Pangisda, kag Pagsagod Kasapatan and Pasidungog sa mga Manug-Sagud Sapat at the Panaad Festival that will open today at the Paanad Park and Stadium in Bacolod City.

The Office of the Provincial Agriculturist and the Provincial Veterinary Office will determine the winners from the agriculture and livestock and poultry offices.

OPA will give out 15 awards including Outstanding Young Farmer, Outstanding Agricultural Extension Worker, Outstanding Vegetable Farmer, Outstanding Rice Farmer, Outstanding Corn Farmer, Outstanding Home Maker, and Outstanding Organic Farmer Association.

Safety testing lab
to open in Iloilo

The School of Packaging Engineering at Iloilo’s Central Philippine University is opening a packaging center that is expected to give the local packaging field a well-needed boost, a CPU press release said.

In partnership with the Department of Science and Technology, CPU-SPE’s packaging center is a value- added service that will offer technical consulting and testing services for both the domestic and international packaging industry.

“The CPU-SPE is the first institution of its kind in the country ,” CPU President Dr. Teodoro Robles, said.