The National Food Authority in Negros Occidental has collected P2,294,060.47 from its licensing fees, surcharges, and fines from 1,437 applicants from January to July, Cynthia Luz Chua, NFA senior grains operations officer, said yesterday.

The NFA also issued licenses to 53 grains businessmen who are qualified grain retailers, wholesalers, and millers generating a total revenue of P49,483.57. The agency also conducts apprehension and surveillance on all its members to avoid violation of the selling and retailing of NFA grains, Chua also said.

All grains establishments are subject to apprehension and fines for non-compliance of regulations like license display and renewal, putting the price tag and signboard, and securing the grains retailing license, aside from their business license, she said.

Negrense clinches silver
in int’l culinary challenge

Negrense Reyna Myra Villan won the silver medal in the Dress the Cake Competition of the Philippines Culinary Cup 2012 at the SMX Convention Center at SM Mall of Asia in Manila recently, a press release from BongBong’s Piaya and Barquillos, said.

Reyna Myra is the daughter of BongBong owners Reynaldo and Lomer Villan, the press release said.

Villan, who ranked number one in the silver medal award, is a pioneer student of the Alain Ducasse Formation 15-month Culinary Certificate Program of Enderun Colleges in McKinley Hill, Taguig Manila, the press release said.

Former PDB now
Security Bank Savings

Premiere Development Bank has been renamed as Security Bank Savings after receiving recently approval from Securities and Exchange Commission and the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, a press release from the bank said.

PDB, recently acquired by SBS, now aims to expand its loan portfolio and attract more client, the press release said.

SBS is expected to provide a wider range of consumer and retail products and a new enhanced level of customer service, it added.