MANILA – The Food Staples Sufficiency Program between the Department of Agriculture and the International Rice Research Institute was finalized recently for long-term rice breeding programs, a government press release said.

The DA’s Agri-Pinoy strategic framework on food security and self-sufficiency, the FSSP, aims to meet the domestic requirement for rice by next year and to ensure the country’s self-sufficiency in rice and other food staples, the press release said.

However, DA secretary Proceso Alcala said the program is only one way of further increasing rice production in the country but is not “a cure-all program.”

‘Local meat
stakeholders competent’

Negros Occidental Provincial Veterinarian Dr. Renante Decena rated the level of competitiveness of hog raisers and local meat producers in the province nine for stabilizing its production despite the influx of imported meat and its by-products.

Decena said the province is now looking at selling its local meat produce outside Negros Occidental to expand and establish a new market.

The PVO has organized hog raisers associations and small producers to supply the meat consumption of the province, while competing with the commercial market, he said.

Bacolod continues
gas pump checking

Checking on compliance by gas stations with Bacolod’s calibration ordinance is ongoing, a press release from the city said.

The calibration team looks into compliance of the stations with the exact calibration requirement of the city mayor’s permit, Department of Trade and Industry requirements, fire extinguishers, intact gas pumps’, city seal, and their compliance to the National Water Resource Board requirements, the press release said.

Four gas stations were inspected: Total’s GT Gas Station, Sea Oil’s KRP Petroleum, Petron’s Jekake Enterprises and Shell’s PJL Gas Station.

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