Japan is still the number one export market of the Philippines and posted $8.87 billion merchandise trade last year, or an increase of 13.14 percent compared to the 2010 with only $7.84 billion.

Norma Quilantang, Chief, Japan/Australia Division, Bureau of Export Trade Promotion, who was in Bacolod City for the information campaign on “Doing Business in Free Trade Areas – Focus on the Japan Market” in partnership with the Department of Trade and Industry, said yesterday.

She said the Philippines exports construction materials, homestyle furnishing and decorative products, food, electronics, chemicals, minerals, motor vehicle parts, and electrical materials to Japan but the bulk comes from construction materials that comprise 31 percent of the total exported products.

NFA grains inspection ongoing

The Regional Enforcement Task Force of the National Food Authority in Western Visayas has started inspecting and apprehending grains sellers violating its regulations, Cynthia Luz Chua, NFA senior grains operations officer, said yesterday.

The inspection and apprehension started August 6 and will end Friday. The task force seeks to enforce the provisions of the Presidential Decree 4 as amended by PDs 1485 and 1770, that broadens the function and powers of NFA, Chua said.

The team is led by Porferio Lesidan, Jr., NFA-6 Supervising Enforcement and Investigation Officer; and Antonio Medoza, NFA-6 Supervising Grains Operations Officer; The senior enforcement and investigation officers and Isagani Perez (Iloilo), Silvino Misajon, Jr. (Antique), Hector Barcena (Capiz), and Rodrigo Macaya (Negros Occidental) with Grace Hope Parreño, NFA clerk.

Kiwis pledge support for
dairy production

The New Zealand partners in the dairy project of Negros Occidental will give about 200 cattle for free for the improvisation and technology sharing for dairy production and development of the province.

The province and New Zealand dairy farmers Petrus Nicolaas Smit and Evan Gregory recently signed a memorandum of agreement to help develop the dairy industry in Negros. Part of the agreement is to bring five veterinary technicians to their country for training in dairy production.

Rachelle Smit, wife of Petrus, who is from Sagay City, said she and her husband want to improve the dairy industry of the province that resulted in their partnership with Gov. Alfredo Marañon, Jr.