NFA guards Pampanga markets vs fake rice

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO--In a bid protect consumers from fake rice, the National Food Authority (NFA) Pampanga Branch conducted a random inspection among grains retailers at the old public market here. 

Provincial Manager Elvira Obaña led a team that swept thru the public market where both commercial and NFA rice are being sold to ward away the possible entry of the fake rice known locally as "China rice."

Government officials have warned the public about the bogus rice which is said to be a mixture of ground potato and resin, a chemical component of plastic. 

Ingestion of fake rice could render a person ill or may lead to death. 

Obaña said as early as last month, NFA has already been on the lookout against fake rice.

In response to the intelligence report about fake rice, NFA has intensified its monitoring, putting under the microscope grains retailers that are not accredited by the agency. 

In yesterday's inspection at the old public market, a grain retail store doing business allegedly had been found operating without the required NFA accreditation. The shop was given warning to secure pertinent documents or face possible revocation of its business permits. 

"We will coordinate with the local government unit concerned to revoke the permits of this retailer if it continued operating without our office's accreditation," Obaña said.

Aside from yesterday's inspection, NFA has two roaming teams inspecting the whole province while grains retailers organization in every towns and cities are also policing their ranks to prevent the infusion of fake rice. 

Obaña said the inspections also intend to ensure the availability of NFA rice in the market though commercial stocks are still abundant. 

NFA rice is intensively infused in the market whenever there is shortage of commercial stocks to prevent the retail price of the staple from skyrocketing. 

As of the start of the month, the province has abundant supply of rice with a total rice potential of 1,067,437 bags that could last up to 63 days based on the daily consumption of 17,060 bags. 

Total rice potential refers to the estimated volume of rice in NFA warehouses, household and commercial stocks. 

-end-

Caption:

NFA Pampanga Manager Elvira Obaña, along with fellow NFA officials Rosita Suy, Irineo Bundalian and Julieta Ordoñez, inspect rice being sold at a retail store at the old public market in the City of San Fernando

Bishop: Imitate Dealco’s move vs. water pollution

Edpam committed to saving environment

By Joey Pavia

ANGELES CITY – “It’s a good first move against pollution.”
Thus said Pampanga Auxilliary Bishop Pablo Virgilio “Ambo” David after leading a mass for the inauguration of the P2 million wastewater treatment facility at the Angeles City slaughterhouse in Barangay Pampang here recently.
David said the operator of the slaughterhouse, Dealco Farms Inc. (DFI), had applied “corporate social responsibility” in using the facility designed to stop the release of harmful waste at the Sapang Balen Creek. The auxillary bishop earlier cast a curse on polluters of the creek affecting the city and nearby towns.
David urged other private firms to follow suit and help the government apply the law on the protection of the environment.
“As I have said, the private plays vital role in ensuring the success of the government,” said David.
Mayor Edgardo “Ed” Pamintuan, for his part, said his administration had been
committed in the protection of the environment. He added that they “need the
support and cooperation of the public in the battle against pollution.”
Pamintuan said they had started to aggressively inform the public about the
importance of protecting the environment.
“Our administration is new and therefore we must first educate the people,”
said Pamintuan, who attended the inauguration with Vice Mayor Vicky
Vega-Cabigting and Councilors Edu Pamintuan and Alex Indiongco.
Joyce Alcoreza, DFI executive vice president, described the government of
Pamintuan “as very cooperative.” She added that they “remain committed like
Pamintuan in the protection of the environment.”
Alcoreza said Dealco had operated the facility “only this time because the
slaughterhouse had been severely dilapidated when they arrived.” Dealco had
won the rights to operate the city’s slaughterhouse in December 2007 for 25
years.
“We really intended to operate with the anti-pollution facility but we have
to do the other things before that,” said Alcoreza, whose family-owned firm
also operates the slaughterhouse in Sta. Rosa, Laguna.
David expressed gratitude Dealco for the waste water facility.
“But we will not put our guards down and see to it that Dealco operates the
slaughterhouse using the facility,” said David.