Cebu Province News May 2013

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Province of Cebu - Archived News

Wars of ancient history were about possessions, territory, power, control, family, betrayal, lover's quarrel, politics and sometimes religion.

But we are in the Modern era and supposedly more educated and enlightened .

Think about this. Don't just brush off these questions.

  • Why is RELIGION still involved in WARS? Isn't religion supposed to be about PEACE?
  • Ask yourself; What religion always campaign to have its religious laws be accepted as government laws, always involved in wars and consistently causing WARS, yet insists that it's a religion of peace?

WHY??

There are only two kinds of people who teach tolerance:
  1. The Bullies. They want you to tolerate them so they can continue to maliciously deprive you. Do not believe these bullies teaching tolerance, saying that it’s the path to prevent hatred and prejudice.
  2. The victims who are waiting for the right moment to retaliate. They can’t win yet, so they tolerate.
Cebu metro.jpg
Aerial View of Metro Cebu

Dietary supplement is a product that contains vitamins, minerals, herbs or other botanicals, amino acids, enzymes, and/or other ingredients intended to supplement the diet. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has special labeling requirements for dietary supplements and treats them as foods, not drugs.

Manufacturers and distributors of dietary supplements and dietary ingredients are prohibited from marketing products that are adulterated or misbranded. That means that these firms are responsible for evaluating the safety and labeling of their products before marketing to ensure that they meet all the requirements of DSHEA and FDA regulations.

Gotianuy appointed Norwegian Honorary Consul for Cebu, NegOr

By John M. Destacamento (The Freeman)

CEBU, Philippines - With the appointment of a Cebuano as Norway’s newest honorary consul, the Philippines expects to further strengthen the bilateral relations between the two countries citing the academe and business as focus sectors.

On last Wednesday’s formal rites at the Marco Polo Plaza, Norway’s ambassador to the Philippines His Excellency Knut Solem represented the Royal Norwegian Consulate in Cebu in appointing Yvette Candice G. Gotianuy, the incumbent chancellor of the University of Cebu (UC).

Gotianuy, who concurrently holds an executive function at the Cebu Technical School, also heads UC’s medical arm consisting of the St. Vincent General Hospital in Barangay Sambag 2, Cebu City and the would-be UC Medical Center at the North Reclamation Area in Mandaue City.

Solem revealed that it did not take long before the Norwegian government approved the appointment of Gotianuy, who is also the daughter of UC President Augusto Go.

The ambassador said that the installation will further expand the scope of foreign service to areas other than key provinces since aside from Cebu, Gotianuy will also serve as the consul for the province of Negros Oriental.

Solem also highlighted his support on a values-oriented type of service aside from one which promotes business and diplomatic ties, saying the values of honorary consuls constitute an essential part of the Norwegian foreign service.

The political title consul is used for the official representatives of the government of one state in the territory of another, normally acting to assist and protect the citizens of the consul's own country, and to facilitate trade and friendship between the people of the two countries.

As an honorary consul, Gotianuy will be closely working with the Norwegian government in extending assistance to its nationals here in the country, particularly those residing in the Visayas.

In addition, her office will also provide information to Filipinos wishing to travel to Norway, access to Philippine-Norwegian business opportunities and support in the processing of consular requirements such as passports, visas and maritime certificates.

Aside from helping expedite visa applications to Denmark, Iceland, Sweden, Estonia and Finland, the consulate will also facilitate the processing of Norwegian passports, “legal capacity to marry” and other related services.

Free web-based network Wikipedia says that a consul is distinguished from an ambassador, the latter being a representative from one head of state to another.

There can be only one ambassador from one country to another, representing the first country's head of state to that of the second, and his or her duties revolve around diplomatic relations between the two countries.

However, there may be several consuls, one in each of several main cities, providing assistance with bureaucratic issues to both the citizens of the consul's own country travelling or living abroad and to the citizens of the country the consul resides in who wish to travel to or trade with the consul's country.

Currently, Norwegian shipping principals are actively involved in financing the education of 1,000 Maritime students in UC. This unique exchange program includes sending the students for apprenticeship on their third year on-board shipping vessels owned by Norwegian companies.

The Royal Norwegian Consulate in Cebu is located at the 2nd Floor of UC – Banilad Campus Building along Gov. Cuenco Avenue, Barangay Banilad, Cebu City.

Cebu’s PCOS machines ready for Monday's vote

By Peter L. Romanillos with Gabriel C. Bonjoc (Correspondents) and CNU Intern Allet Mary Teves

“Almost 100 percent successful.”

This was the assessment of Cebu Provincial Election Supervisor Eddie Aba of yesterday's final testing and sealing (FTS) of the Precinct Count Optical Scan (PCOS) machines in the province of Cebu and Cebu City.

It was not perfect though as six out of the 3,169 PCOS machines tested in Cebu province malfunctioned and would have to be replaced.

Bogo and Compostela each had a defective PCOS unit while the towns of Bantayan and San Fernando had each had two apiece.

Aba said the Comelec will immediately send replacements for the defective PCOS machines.

He said that despite the setbacks, the operations were still fairly successful as Alcoy, Aloguinsan, Asturias, Balamban, Barili, Boljoon, Carcar, Carmen, Catmon, Ginatilan, Lapu-Lapu, Medellin, Oslob, Moalboal, Pinamungahan, Poro, Ronda, Samboan, San Remigion , Santa Fe, Santander, Tabogon and Tabuelan already finished the FTS.

The other cities and municipalities are expected to complete their respective FTS tomorrow, Aba said.

In Talisay City, Efren Arnejo Jr., assistant election officer said that they encountered some minor mechanical problems on the PCOS machines, but these were fixed immediately.

In one of Cebu City's biggest polling centers, the Guadalupe Elementary School where 22, 238 voters are set to cast their votes, the final testing and sealing started late due to the insufficient number of PCOS technicians for each polling precinct.

School principal Nestor Arandia said they instead had to alternate testing in every room.

He said the PCOS machines arrived around 9 a.m. However, it took them sometime to set up and distribute the units to the precincts.

Closed circuit television cameras that can rotate 360 degrees and can zoom up to 200 meters were installed around the school vicinity.

Board of Election Inspectors (BEI) chairman of GES precinct 336 Olivia Empales said the exercise yesterday was like a “refresher course” for BEIs who already served in the first nationwide automated polls in 2010.

She said they will set up an express lane for senior citizens, pregnant women and persons with disabilities.

Members of the media were also able to try the voting process using the PCOS machines.

At the Abellana National High School, Cebu Normal University and City Central School, final testing and sealing started around 11 a.m. as the Comelec prioritized the rural polling centers in the delivery of the PCOS machines.

Interest in Cebu culture thrives

By Raffy Cabristante (BANAT NEWS, The Freeman)

CEBU, Philippines - Despite today’s technological advancements, the executive director for culture and heritage of the Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc. does not believe that Cebuano traditional art and culture is dying.

In a press conference at the Casa Gorordo Museum yesterday, Dr. Jocelyn Gerra said that the yearly “Gabii Sa Kabilin” event has seen “a lot of youth participation,” citing big attendance turnout from the youth of the Iglesia Filipina Independiente.

She also pointed out that this year’s “Gabii Sa Kabilin” has partnerships with architecture students from the University of the Visayas.

“I think at some point in time, our traditional culture seemed like dying, because [the youth] didn’t really know what they had,” said Gerra, adding that with the help of elder members in the community, young people are getting more interested in learning about their heritage.

Since its conception in 2007, “Gabii Sa Kabilin” has featured different cultural sites from all over Metro Cebu. This year, 33 museums, cultural centers, and heritage sites will be open to the public on May 31 from 6 p.m. to 12 midnight, surpassing last year’s 22.

Participants also get to watch cultural shows and taste local cuisine at very affordable prices.

Gerra added that although they have printed about 7,000 tickets at P150, they expect more people to come to the event.

City Traffic Operations Management head Rafael Christopher Yap said that motorists should expect changes in the flow of traffic during the Gabii Sa Kabilin as they will implement road closures that evening.

Major roads such as Colon St. and Osmeña Boulevard will be closed on the night of May 31, Yap said.

“In Colon, roads will be closed from Jakosalem St. to Mabini St., and in Osmeña, from Jakosalem St. to M.J. Cuenco Avenue,” Yap said.

He added that car owners who wish to join Gabii Sa Kabilin can park their vehicles in gateway areas such as Plaza Independencia.

Shuttle buses and horse-drawn carriages or tartanillas will be available to participants for free as they travel from one museum to another.

Gabii Sa Kabilin is organized by RAFI and is inspired by Germany’s Lange Nacht der Museen, or Long Night of Museums. It is the only event of its kind in the Philippines and the Asia-Pacific.

DTI-Cebu: Prices of school supplies stable

By John M. Destacamento /JOB (The Freeman)

CEBU, Philippines - Early shoppers might want to take advantage of the so far stable prices of school supplies in Cebu about three weeks leading to the opening of classes on June 3, a trade official noted in an interview.

Zaide Bation, chief of consumer welfare and business regulation division of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Cebu Province, told The FREEMAN that they continue to monitor the prices of basic school items in the province and are so far seeing no prominent price increase or decrease.

She said as the new school year draws near, DTI-Cebu is keeping a close watch on the prices of school supplies among business establishments specifically within the months of May and June.

Agency officials visit malls, public markets and educational supply stores to inquire on the prices and then make a report showing the prevailing market price of pad papers, notebooks, ballpens, pencils and crayons, she said.

Bation, however, clarified that their price watch does not include high-end commodities.

“Sa pagkakaron, stable man ang mga presyo kay wa may gi-ingon nga naay shortage sa supply (As of yet, the prices remain stable since there are no reports saying there is any shortage of supply),” she said.

In their first weekly report on the prevailing prices of basic necessities and prime commodities for May, a grade one pad paper with 80 leaves still has a prevailing market price of P9, the same price that the report showed one year ago.

An 80-leaf composition notebook so far costs P13.75 to P15.50 in supermarkets and grocery stores while an 80-leaf spiral notebook is selling at P10.00 to P14.75 depending on the brand.

The prices of other common school items have not also moved to this point with the cheapest pencils pegged at P9.50, ballpens at P5.75 and eight-piece box of crayons at P11.

Traders are not prevented from increasing their prices, however, the DTI official said they will determine the reasonableness of the price hike citing traders to present papers to support their bids.

Bation also said that establishments would normally announce first that they intend to make price hikes prior to their effectivity.

“I doubt pud if naay mupataas pag-maayo sa presyo kay daghan pud raba kaayo’g manindahay (If there would be price increase, I don’t think it will be that much since competition is very alive),” she said.

The DTI in Manila will be issuing suggested retail prices (SRPs) for school supplies ahead of the opening of classes, which DTI-Cebu expects to receive in a few days.

Earlier, trade undersecretary Zenaida Maglaya said they will monitor whether the SRPs are reflected in school supplies being sold in the market, adding that retailers have committed not to raise prices until the end of June.

“Anyone found selling above SRP will get a show cause letter to explain why they can’t sell within SRP levels,” she added. “If found to have no justifiable reason, (they) may be charged for overpricing with fine up to maximum of P150,000.”

Consumers are also encouraged to compare the quality of the products by checking the label of school supplies before purchase.

The DTI said labels of school supplies should have the brand name as well as the name and address of the manufacturer.

Labels for pencils should indicate the hardness symbol, while labels of ballpens should identify the tip classification.

Cebu needs to strengthen culture of tourism

By Ehda M. Dagooc /JMD (The Freeman)

CEBU, Philippines - While Cebu is gaining attention as a tourist destination in the Philippines from both domestic and foreign travelers, it has to trail blaze in implementing developments to accommodate the growth and expectations of the tourists.

Tourism advocate Bobby Lim Joseph said that Cebu’s culture of tourism still has to be strengthened, making residents be part of Cebu’s tourism promotion, saying “to make every Cebuano an ambassador for tourism.”

Joseph, who put his strong confidence on Cebu’s success to seize the multi-million-peso tourism industry, said that aside from strengthening the culture of tourism in Cebu, stakeholders, including the local government units (LGUs) should strive harder in developing more attractions to sustain Cebu’s “magnet” as a vacation haven.

What Cebu is offering now, he said, is not enough, considering that tourists from all over the world, including the domestic travelers, expect so much from Cebu.

Bringing the “culture of tourism” program to the barangay level is very important, Joseph said. Although Cebu has improved a bit in terms of the development of tourism culture, the orientation should go farther to the grassroots.

This is why Cebu needs a long term tourism roadmap to identify the priorities and concerns of the industry. No doubt, he said, Cebu has arrived as a tourist destination; however, if it would to be complacent, its potential will be corrupted due to lack of planning and development programs.

When culture of tourism is already established, Joseph said Cebu should also work in expanding the choices of its night-life and shopping options and strengthen the promotion of food culture while creating big events aside from Sinulog.

Likewise, Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI) chairperson for tourism committee Milagros Espina emphasized Cebu’s need to strengthen the tourism support services, such as infrastructure.

“We should increase budget for services and infrastructure and human resources by cultivating further the culture of tourism in Cebu,” Espina said.

On the other hand, Department of Tourism (DOT-7) regional director Rowena Montecillo said that more than beaches, cultural heritage, shopping and night life, Cebu is now moving to intensify its niche in adventure tourism and other outdoor and nature activities.

Montecillo announced that the tourism office is now adding up more activities to offer to the growing tourists and respond to the demand for outdoor events.

According to Montecillo, there are a lot of municipalities in Cebu that offer adventure tourism related activities like trekking, biking and zipline, among others.

In United States alone, adventure tourism is a US$450 million industry. The Philippines, which has ample of sites that can be developed for this type of activity can generate good tourism revenue, while providing local residents, especially rural people, livelihood.

While Bohol is known for its attractive eco-tourism, agri-tourism and adventure tourism advantage, Cebu is seen to also leverage on these as there are growing investors who want to build adventure tourism facilities within the province.

3 poor families are Gawad beneficiaries

By Flor Z. Perolina (The Freeman)

CEBU, Philippines - Another three poor and deserving families in Mandaue City have become beneficiaries of the Gawad Kalinga project, which is in partnership with a donor company and the city government.

Last Friday morning, Mayor Jonas Cortes and representatives of the Gawad Kalinga, Fluor Corp, the donor company and the people’s organization broke ground for the three additional houses intended for the Balaon, Barino, and Aldea families.

Fluor Corp., one of the world’s leading engineering, procurement, construction, maintenance, and project management company offered to construct three houses. Last year they built two houses.

During the program preceeding the groundbreaking ceremony, Cortes lauded the employees of the company for their spirit of volunteerism.

The mayor emphasized the value of giving especially to the less fortunate.

“This is part of our social corporate responsibility,” said German Camigla, general manager of Fluor Corp.

The beneficiaries said they have realized their dreams to have their own houses.

Ernesto Gamboa, coordinator of Gawad Kalinga in Mandaue said some 54 houses were completed so far since the start of the project in 2007, adding there are 13 others under construction.

Gamboa, the founding president of San Miguel Urban Dwellers Homeowners Association said the donors included alumni of Ateneo de Cebu, Ramon Aboitiz Foundation, among others while volunteer workers included some foreigners.

“This is a product of bayanihan and cooperation,” he said.

The site in Sudlon, Maguikay, Mandaue City, built in 2007 by the local government unit, a people’s organization, and a non-government organization, is one of the 16 Gawad Kalinga community housing sites in Cebu.

World Fair Trade Day events slated this month

By Grace Melanie I. Lacamiento /JOB (The Freeman)

CEBU, Philippines - With its continued thrust to promote fair trade and campaign for the Social Enterprise Bill, the Southern Partners and Fair Trade Center (SPFTC) will organize two major events in celebration of the World Fair Trade Day this month of May.

These activities will be conducted in partnership with the Foundation for a Sustainable Society (FSSI) and St. Theresa’s College (STC) and Cebu Fair Trade Network (CFTN).

With the theme ”Strengthening Fair Trade Standards”, this year’s celebration of the World Fair Trade Day aims to encourage the public in supporting and buying goods from fair trade producers and social enterprises.

The month-long celebration urges Cebuanos to support the institutionalization of the fair trade community in Cebu and the establishment of socially-responsible enterprises by small producers and grassroots organizations.

The local events are designed to inform, expand and strengthen people-to-people relationship that is necessary to bring about change for a sustainable community in the society.

It shall also promote fair trade awareness and information on the Social Enterprise Bill to the public, supporting the signature campaign and demonstrating concern for the marginalized communities, farmers and women.

During the global celebration of the World Fair Trade Day which falls on May 11, event organizers shall hold “Tianggehan sa Fair Trade and Social Enterprise” at the Fair Trade Shop Cebu.

It will serve as a marketing and advocacy event featuring food products and crafts, natural and organic goods of SPFTC, various social enterprises in Cebu and Central Visayas, members of CFTN and World Fair Trade Organization - Philippines and organic practitioners in the Region 7.

Apart from the engagement on the Social Enterprise Bill, the Friends of Fair Trade Card will also be launched to provide incentives and freebies for loyal customers of the Fair Trade Shop Cebu.

A solidarity dinner will serve as a culminating event on May 25 at Lakwatsa Resto Lounge that is intended to gather representatives and members of development organizations, church, academe, government, private sector, women, youth, and civil society communities.

It will provide an avenue for the presentation of the Social Enterprise Bill, a sharing on Fair Trade, and a treat of Filipino culture offering with a delicious treat of fair trade goodies.

It will also serve as a fund-raising event for the benefit of the Fair Trade Country Network, development programs of SPFTC and community partners.

Aloguinsan profits from rich ecotourism

By Grace Melanie I. Lacamiento /JMD (The Freeman)

CEBU, Philippines - Along with their thrust to preserve the abundant natural resources present in their locality, the townspeople of the municipality of Aloguinsan felt fortunate to have found an additional source of income from the rich ecotourism in the midwest part of Cebu province.

Bojo Aloguinsan Ecotourism Association (BAETAS) vice president Jomelyn Manigos said that the local community aims to promote ecotourism and conserve the environment in Bojo.

She shared that residents have recognized the beauty of the town’s ecological pride, decided to promote it as a tourist destination and eventually gained added livelihood means for the community particularly for fishermen and their families.

Founded on June 14, 2009, BAETAS is responsible for overseeing and protecting the Bojo River Nature Reserve that covers the 1.4-kilometer Bojo river and its riparian zone which is home to about 60 bird species and native flora.

Bojo is a river village that is situated two kilometers from the central point of Aloguinsan.

Aloguinsan town, with a population of about 27,000 residents, is located on the western seaboard of Cebu, facing the island of Negros.

According to Manigos, the local organization that is mostly composed of fishermen was appointed by their local government unit to run the operations and maintenance of the Bojo River project.

With the cooperation of the government sector, the Department of Trade and Industry and the local community, Bojo River has been renowned as a developed ecotourism destination in the region.

To date, BAETAS has a total number of 44 members of which 13 work as river tour guides.

These tour guides have undergone a four-month training on tour guiding and ecotourism with biologists from the University of San Carlos.

Other members are responsible for housekeeping and accommodation of guests.

Manigos said that the local community of Bojo regularly entertains customers with more than five to 10 persons in weekdays.

For peak seasons like weekends and summer, she cited that they cater to more than 20 to 60 tourists daily.

Majority of the guests is comprised of locals, particularly students, who come to visit Bojo for educational tours and field trips while 15 percent of the tourists are foreign nationals.

She emphasized that the ecotourism project has served as the main source of livelihood for locals.

She said that a tour guide could earn P150 to P400 everyday depending on the tourist traffic during lean and peak seasons.

Jamaila Alvarado, 29, who has worked as a tour guide for three years pointed out that even if the public sector provides 100 percent funding for the project, BAETAS members claim the Bojo River project as their own taking into account their commitment and efforts to maintain it.

Earnings during the tour sessions will help fund environmental projects, income for the families, subsidy for their children’s education and funding for basic services in the community.

Alvarado explained that local guides tour the guests through a river cruise by riding a boat while the former narrates the river’s natural and cultural heritage, and orients them on the rich mangrove and wildlife ecosystem.

It will also feature a mat-weaving demonstration, special cultural performance upon request and a buffet lunch.

Tour packages are either priced at P300 for every walk-in guest with river cruise, swimming and boardwalk or P600 per head for a minimum of five persons that is inclusive of lunch, river cruise, boardwalk and bird watching.

To sustain the project, Alvarado said that BAETAS has tapped the younger generation of Aloguinsan to take active participation in the preservation of the ecotourist destination.

The local organization also conducts tree planting and river clean-up every month.

Apart from Bojo River, the town of Aloguinsan boasts of its green culinary adventure at the Farmhouse and the Hermit’s Cove which are also both run by local organizations in the area.

JCI Mandaue supports Startup Weekend Cebu

By Grace Melanie I. Lacamiento /JMD (The Freeman)

CEBU, Philippines - With its thrust to strongly promote business development among the youth, the Junior Chamber International (JCI) Mandaue Chapter will support the 3rd Startup Weekend Cebu (SWC) for the first time and will initiate to endorse the global event to the national level.

JCI Mandaue is an organization of young entrepreneurs and business executives with the aim to create positive change in their communities. To date, the local chapter has 46 members.

It provides its members with the necessary contact, leadership and personal business growth through fora and programs that help develop their skills as entrepreneurs.

SWC, on the other hand, is intended to enhance the Cebuano startup community, develop local technical talent and promote technopreneurship.

Paul Winston Villacorta, executive vice president for external affairs of JCI Mandaue, expressed that their national office will consider their proposal to organize the same in their different chapters across the country to establish more synergy among young entrepreneurs and support the startup community in the Philippines.

“I am optimistic, given the impact of SW to the community. It is just a matter of convincing them with the value and benefits of the event. It won’t be hard since we are supporting business opportunities here and this is part of the thrust of the organization,” he said.

He added that JCI Mandaue shall submit the proposal of endorsement on the third week of September this year.

Once approved, he noted, they would be able to organize SW events four times a year.

For now, he encouraged members of the 11 local chapters of JCI in Cebu province to participate in the third leg of SWC to increase their awareness on startups and technopreneurship.

Since most of the JCI members are business-oriented people, Villacorta said that they would be able to share their ideas and experiences on how would-be entrepreneurs could develop a startup and support pitches during the event at the same time.

He also cited that event organizers of SWC could expect further support from JCI Mandaue in the years ahead.

Villacorta, who served as a mentor during the 2nd leg of SWC last year, is also a member of TechTalks.ph.

TechTalks.ph serves as the lead organizer of SWC 3 that is expected to gather 150 attendees on June 7 to 9 at the University of San Carlos Main Campus.

The three-day event is also part of the celebration of Cebu Business Month 2013 which is hosted by the Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

TechTalks.ph founder Tina Amper described the activity as an avenue for a “participatory, experiential learning workshop to start a business”.

“SWC will serve as a platform for skilled and successful players in the business community to share their knowledge and expertise to the next generation. It will also show them how they can start a business using the Internet and other mobile technologies,” she stated during the press conference last Tuesday.

Apart from having new mentors and past winners to take active involvement in SWC 3, she said that the continued support from the government and business community could be highly observed this time.

Through the Department of Science and Technology - Information and Communications Technology Office, the public sector pledged to offer financial support for this leg.

The second leg of the global event was conducted last November 16 to 18 of last year at the Eduardo Aboitiz Development Studies Center, following the success of the inaugural SWC on May 11 to 13, 2012 at the University of the Philippines – Visayas Cebu College.

Cebu looks at a bright rice-sufficient future

By Ferliza C. Contratista (rmn/FCC/PIA7)

Stronger ties forged between DA and Capitol

CEBU CITY, May 1 (PIA7) --- Cebu is not far from being rice sufficient this time with the Cebu Provincial Capitol behind.

This was the statement of Angel Enriquez, Department of Agriculture 7 Officer in Charge Regional Director, in the recent launching of the International Rice Year in Cebu.

In her speech, Enriquez thanked the Provincial Government including the mayors of the local government units for a good performance in rice production which eventually contributed to Central Visayas’ ranking among the Top 5 Rice Producing Regions in the country.

Enriquez said the Region had an increase of 1.32 percent growth in rice production from 2011 to 2012 from the 2,470 rice lands in the four provinces in the region.

Covering the same year, Cebu produced an average of 3.21 MT of palay per hectare.

There are 5,280 rice producing areas in the province.

Cebu, for now, is 2.65 percent sufficient.

“I know we can do more specially now that we had renewed our ties, coordination with Cebu Province. I just hope that soon they can appropriate enough budget for agriculture,” Enriquez said.

Cebu Acting Governor Agnes Magpale, for her part, said she was amazed with the performance of rice farmers in the province.

“I never thought that Cebu was a rice-producing province and so now I stand corrected. As a legislator, I do hope and I will work hard for the appropriation of a bigger budget for agriculture because this is actually good news,” Magpale said.

Magpale said the International Year of Rice advocacy is timely as it does not only promote optimization but also in the control or minimizing consumption.

She recalled former DA Secretary and then Congressman Sonny Escudero who told her and her husband that if only Filipinos will lessen two to three tablespoons their consumption of rice, it will already be a big help to attaining rice sufficiency.

“And now I see the same figures, that Filipinos waste 2 to 3 tablespoons of cooked rice daily, so my pledge is to maintain just 3 cups of rice daily,” Magpale said.

In a presentation made by Tomasita Cadungog, regional technical director for Operations in DA-7, it was learned that rice losses also take up a large part in the rice sufficiency problem.

Rice losses on the table means the wastage of an average of 2 to 3 table spoons of cooked rice daily.

Cadungog said Filipinos usually consume four and a half cups of rice instead of the recommended three cups of rice.

In terms of post harvest wastage, around 15 to 20 percent of the total production is lost. Considering that there are 16,935,000 kilograms of palay produced, around 3,300,000 kilos are lost during post harvest.

But because of the application of post harvest technologies, DA had managed to reduce losses by 5 percent or by 846,750 kilos of palay or rice equivalent to 550,387.5 kilos.

Considering that an average Cebuano consumes 83.98 kilos annually, there are about 6,000 more Cebuanos that can be fed with the savings.

In the said event, the different local government units signed their pledge in achieving rice sufficiency as well as hoist their respective banners for support.

The International Year of Rice logo was also unveiled and it will be displayed at the Cebu Provincial Capitol Social Hall.

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