The National Economic and Development Authority yesterday said it expects a lower inflation rate this year.

In a statement, the NEDA said that inflation for 2012 was likely to settle within the Philippine Development Plan 2011 to 2016 target of 3 percent to 5 percent.

“Even with this benign inflation outlook, the government should remain vigilant to abrupt shocks caused by weather-related disturbances as well as wage and oil price increases,” Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Cayetano Paderanga Jr. said.

87 grains dealers caught
violating NFA regulations

Out of 1,840 grain establishments inspected in Negros Occidental, 87 were apprehended for violating the regulations on selling and retailing grains last year, Rodrigo Macaya, National Food Authority senior enforcement and investigation officer, said yesterday.

Macaya said grain establishments composed of retailers, wholesalers, and millers were apprehended for non-compliance of regulation like, license display and renewal, putting the price tag and signboard, and securing the grains retailing license, aside from their business license.

Grains retailers who failed to comply with the requirements pay the administrative fine.

Sell palay to gov’t,
improve coop fund

Four registered farmers’ organizations in Negros Occidental have increased the amount in their Cooperative Development Incentive Fund with the National Food Authority through selling their palay produce to the agency, Cynthia Luz Chua, NFA senior grains operations officer, said yesterday.

Chua said the monetary incentive is given to FO’s which sell their produce to the NFA. This is meant as a revolving fund for the acquisition or rental of post harvest facilities, production facilities, purchase of production inputs, and as subsidy for their training expenses.

The four FOs are the San Isidro Farmers Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries-Multipurpose Cooperative, San Enrique Multipurpose Cooperative, Inayawan Part Farmers Association, and the United Negros Occidental Rice Retailers Multipurpose Cooperative.