The Negros Occidental Provincial Price Coordinating Council convened yesterday to put in place measures that will  prevent price manipulation and hoarding that could further drive up the prices of rice and other basic goods.

The National Food Authority   assured the PPCC that it  has more than  enough rice to meet the needs of  Negros Occidental, with supply good for a month in its warehouse, on top of 88,000 bags or 4,400 metric  tons of Vietnam rice that arrived at the BREDCO Port in Bacolod City Monday, Board  Member  Salvador Escalante said.

NFA rice is being sold at P27 per kilo and P32 per kilo for regular and well-milled varieties, respectively, and prices above that is overpricing, said Escalante, who presided over the PPCC meeting in behalf of its chairman   Gov. Alfredo Marañon Jr.

The Office of the Ombudsman in the Visayas has ordered former Mayor and now Bacolod Rep. Evelio Leonardia, and others to file their counter-affidavits and other controverting evidences to the criminal and administrative complaints filed against them by a media man, claiming that they awarded several contracts to two suppliers from 2007 to 2008 within 10 days.

The criminal complaint was filed by Franklin Villanueva in 2008 against Leonardia, City Agriculturist Goldwyn Nifras, former City Budget Officer Luzviminda Treyes, former City Administrator Rogelio Balo, former assistant City General Services Officer Nelson Sedillo, City Planning and Coordinator Lemuel Reynaldo, former City Treasurer Annabelle Badajos, City Accountant Eduardo Ravena, Department of Public Services officer-in-charge Josephus Serna and Edwin Tan and Jose Plomantes, proprietor of Wener General Merchandise and Jardine Ent., respectively.