Meat suppliers in C. Visayas assure of stable meat
prices despite frequent bad weather conditions
by Amor Saludar
CEBU CITY October 13 (PIA) -- The group of local meat suppliers in Central Visayas assured there will be no increase in the prices of meat in the market despite the frequent occurrence of bad weather conditions that hit the agricultural sector the most.
Roland Tambago, president of the Central Visayas Pork Production Cooperative (CVPPC) said they also get directly affected when there are extremely bad weather occurrences because of the supply of animal feeds of which corn is the main ingredient in producing the feeds.
Although the past two typhoons “Pedring” and “Quiel” that recently entered the country castigated Luzon area the most, but according to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council it left an estimated damage of more than P12 billion in the agricultural sector. This has affected the supply of animal feeds in the Visayas which are sourced from Luzon and Mindanao, this is said.
Tambago said he sees a likely increase in the cost of animal feeds because of the disastrous effects of the typhoons but added that they will not pass on the increase to the consumers but would just shoulder it.
“Because of the possible problem on corn supply, eventually there will be a minimal increase of the feeds’ prices sold in the market here in the Visayas but we, as producers will have to shoulder that increase and will not pass it to our consumers and let them suffer for it,” Tambago said.
He also admitted that even if local feed producers are prioritizing the products of the local farmers, imported products like wheat from Russia counts a lot as an alternative ingredient that can also be used to make flour and hog feeds. (FCR/AS/PIA-Cebu)
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DOE gives 5-star grade to gov’t offices for
complying with energy efficiency program
By Fayette C. Riñen
CEBU CITY, Oct. 13 (PIA) -- National government offices got a five-star grade for its compliance in adopting measures in the judicious use of energy consumption, according to the Department of Energy (DOE).
Joan Sotelo of the DOE-Energy Utilization Management Bureau said that all national government agencies are required to submit a quarterly report on their energy consumption where compliance to the directive can be determined.
“We are also regularly doing spot checks on government offices in the national level. And we have seen that there really was an action on the part of government offices to bring down consumption level on power and fuel,” Sotelo said.
Sotelo added that the number one energy saver among all government offices is the Department of Budget and Management. She however, did not cite how much savings in power and fuel were made by the department.
The DOE official added that they will again conduct spot checks to include the regional and provincial offices of national agencies.
Administrative Order 126 of the previous administration called for strengthening measures to address the extraordinary increase in world oil prices and directing the enhanced implementation of the government’s energy conservation program. The directive mandates government offices to adopt austerity measures including the reduction of at least 10 percent in the costs of fuel, power and other utilities.
Under the order, air conditioning units in government offices must be switched on not earlier than 9:00 a.m. and should be switched off not later than 4:00 p.m. and to discontinue the use of air conditioning units when there is adequate ventilation and especially during the cooler months from August to February.
Likewise, the order also directs government offices to change their lights from incandescent to compact fluorescent lamps, this is learned.
“We are happy to report that government offices are complying with the order,” Sotelo said.
Meanwhile, local government units are not included in the spot checks by the DOE, and they are not mandated to comply with the AO 126, according to Sotelo but added that “they (LGUs) are just urged to adopt energy efficiency and conservation measures.”
DOE-7 Regional Director Antonio Labios on the other hand, said that there was a resolution from the Regional Development Council (RDC) 7 before to encourage LGUs to take action relative to energy efficiency and conservation.
“Even if they are not covered with the order, it is simple common sense for LGUs to adopt measures on the judicious use of energy and fuel consumption because it benefits them. When they save on power and fuel costs, the savings can be spent more on services and projects that would redound to their constituents,” Labios said. (PIA-Cebu)