NFA assures stable rice supply for Central Visayas
By Amorganda A. Saludar
CEBU CITY July 18 (PIA) --The National Food Authority (NFA) Cebu Provincial Office assured that Cebu and the rest of the provinces in Central Visayas have stable rice supply.
NFA Cebu Provincial Manager Nestor Rey Alcoseba said in a recent AGIO -7 forum that the NFA rice stocks plus those of commercial rice dealers are sufficient to meet the demand of the consuming populace throughout the region.
“Daghan ang bugas, unlike several years ago, walay tay problema sa bugas karon. In fact, the problem is how to sell the NFA rice,” (There is much rice unlike several years ago. We have no problem with rice supply),” Alcoseba said.
Alcoseba said one of the basic programs of the agency is the Palay Procurement Program where the government undertakes the initiative to buy bags of rice directly from farmers at P17 per kilo.
But Alcoseba admitted there is a deficiency in the total rice production in the region versus consumption of the total population. But this is not a cause for worry since NFA and commercial rice dealers have sufficient stocks available to meet consumption demand, Alcoseba said.
Central Visayas has a daily rice consumption record of 37,640 bags while Cebu province alone consumes 20,100 bags every day, he said.
Alcoseba also assured the public there will be no hike in rice prices since there is enough supply and that Cebu is a premier market for rice suppliers and traders to sell their rice products.
“Never will it happen that there will be no supply of rice in Cebu as all suppliers merge in Cebu. This is actually a blessing for the province due to its strategic location,” Alcoseba added.
The NFA official here said their agency fully supports the program of the Department of Agriculture (DA) on attaining food self-sufficiency which includes sufficient rice and other food supply. (FCR/AYS/PIA-7)
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DOST 7 urges MSMEs to avail of SET-UP
By Fayette C. Riñen
CEBU CITY, July 18 (PIA) -- The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) 7, though its Small Enterprises Technology Upgrading Program (SET-UP), urged all Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in Central Visayas to avail of its financial assistance in order for them to be globally competitive.
DOST 7 Regional Director Engr. Rene Burt Llanto said the program was able to help over 1,000 MSMEs in Central Visayas since its launching in 2002.
Only those MSMEs that need science and technology (S&T) interventions and S&T solutions can avail of the SET-UP, Llanto said during this morning’s Kapihan sa PIA that kicked off the Regional Science and Technology Week celebration in Central Visayas.
Llanto said there are priority sectors that are seen to have a huge potential for success which includes food processing, gifts, toys and housewares, furniture and home furnishings, aquaculture, health and pharmaceuticals and information and communication technology or ICT.
“In order to avail, these enterprises must be Filipino-owned with a total asset of not more than P60 million and that in order to be competitive requires science and technology solution,” said Llanto.
The MSMEs are the focused market of the program as 99 percent of the country’s business industry belongs to micro, small and medium scale which is the backbone of the country’s economy.
“The SET-UP is a holistic assistance provided by our agency to micro, small and medium enterprises from the start of consultancy, product development, product packaging and labeling to connecting them to entities for marketing and access to raw materials from DOST beneficiaries,” DOST 7 Supervising Science Research Specialist Engr. Jesus Zamora disclosed.
Llanto said the SET-UP budget for this year is P800 million nationwide P50 to P100 million of which is allocated for Central Visayas.
“So far, we have only used up P25 million. There is still enough budget for those who are interested to avail of our technology upgrading program,” said Llanto.
Llanto said the budget allocation for the SET-UP is increasing as this has been proven to be effective in helping MSMEs. “Last year, the budget allocation for the program is only P300 million which was increased to P800 million this year. By next year, there are plans to raise it to P2 billion,” the DOST 7 chief said.
The DOST 7 director said, however, that he can only approve of one million for financial aid while beyond that needs the approval of their Central Office.
“There is no barrier now for MSMEs to undertake concepts reacted to science and technology in order to fully develop their product and make them more competitive,” Llanto added.
Meanwhile, Llanto stressed that the financial assistance under the program is not free and that these MSMEs must also pay back the government. He added further that “There must also be a return of investment because the money will also be significantly used to help other companies in need,”. (FCR/PIA-Cebu)
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DENR-7 grants fund to an eco-tour association
By Hazel F. Gloria
CEBU CITY, July 19 (PIA) -- The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) 7 will give nearly P300,000 to the Olango Island Eco-Tour Association or OIETA as part of the Integrated Coastal Resources Management Project’s (ICRMP) financial assistance on enterprise development and income diversification program.
DENR-7 Regional Executive Director Dr. Isabelo R. Montejo said the program intends to provide alternative and complementary livelihoods to OIETA as Olango Island is one of the frequently-visited tourism destinations.
“This is a manifestation of maintaining a strong partnership and collaboration between the DENR and the local coastal communities in Region 7 to promote coastal resources management and at the same time providing feasible livelihood opportunities to the group,” Montejo said.
Montejo added this program will open up new activities like snorkeling, paddling and other reef discoveries to attract more tourists to visit the area.
With more than 30 members, OIETA already operates a souvenir shop and plans to offer different tour packages that will include meal arrangements.
Meanwhile, the P300,000 grant will be used to capacitate women in cooking to provide catering services, purchase appropriate equipment for the snorkeling guides and purchase of paddle boats that will be used for the bird watching tours in the mangrove areas.
To ensure good overall management of enterprise, the members will undergo a series of lectures, capability building seminars and workshops under the DENR Ecotourism Enterprise Development Team.
“By providing alternative means of livelihood to our coastal communities, we would be able to advocate and promote the responsible management of our coastal and marine resources with them so that exploitation and unwise utilization of these resources would be minimized,” Montejo said.
This year, ICRMP allocated P1.4 million in four coastal areas in Central Visayas.
ICRMP is being implemented by the DENR with funding from the Asian Development Bank and the Global Environment Facility.
ICRMP has four project components, namely: policy and institutional strengthening and development; ICRM and biodiversity conservation; enterprise development and income diversification; and social and environment services and facilities.(DENR 7/RMN/HFG/PIA-7)