NFA Negros Oriental welcomes new manager
by Rachelle M. Nessia

DUMAGUETE CITY, August 24 (PIA) -- The National Food Authority in Negros Oriental recently welcomed its new manager, Dr. Carlos S. Cortes, who officially assumed office on August 11, 2011.

During a turnover ceremony held at the NFA office in Dumaguete City, Cortes accepted a symbolic key from outgoing Officer-in-Charge Francisco Lorico, Jr. who is now assigned at the NFA regional office in Cebu City.

Prior to his assignment here, Cortes was the manager of NFA Biliran, Leyte. 

A native of Bogo in Cebu, Cortes expressed his pleasure to work in Dumaguete City. "I am back to the region where I came from," he said. 

Cortes earned his Bachelor's Degree in Accounting at the University of Visayas, where he also completed his Master of Science in Business Administration and Doctor of Management degrees.

He has been with NFA since 1987, starting out as an accounts examiner then field clerk and later as senior grains operator, a rank he currently holds. 

On August 23, Cortes made the rounds in Dumaguete City as he paid courtesy visits to high-ranking local government officials. (RMN/PIA Negros Oriental with reports from Salvacion Uy)

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New potable water source springs in Sibulan
by Rachelle M. Nessia

DUMAGUETE CITY, August 24 (PIA)--- A water project now nearing completion in Sibulan, Negros Oriental will soon yield a new source for safe, potable water for Sibulanons. 

This after the Local Water Administration (LUWA) and the Sibulan Water District (SIWAD) set out to implement the "Guintabon Water Supply Project" which sources potable water from Guintabon Spring in Sibulan.

The water project sweeps across Maningcao Road to Tulak, Cang-ipos connecting to the current water pipes of SIWAD.

Sibulan Information Officer Connie Rosales said the project, undertaken by contractor Uy Condev, is about to be finished with only a 1.4-km stretch of construction work left to be done.

"The new water lines from the spring are made of 10-inch PVC pipes," she added. 

SIWAD Manager Engr. Teresita Mendez disclosed that the water project's total cost is pegged at P26,507,286 allocated through a regular loan from LUWA. 

LUWA earlier secured said funds from KFW, a German funding agency, said Mendez in a statement released by the Sibulan Information Office. 

The project also received an additional P10 million from the office of former First District Cong. Herminio Teves, which was used to develop the water source before the project started. 

The new water project is in line with the four critical areas earlier identified by the Sibulan Millennium Development Goals (MDG) Technical Working Group as among the targets they intend to address in response to MDG. 

"Access to safe, potable water tops our list of critical areas that we are addressing," said Rosales in an interview.

The other three areas are environmental preservation, secondary education and economic enterprises. (RMN/PIA Negros Oriental)

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New NFA NegOr manager vows to promote I-Rice

By Rachelle M. Nessia

DUMAGUETE CITY, August 23 (PIA) --- The new manager of the National Food Authority (NFA) in Negros Oriental has vowed to aggressively promote the I-Rice or Iron Fortified Rice launched by NFA to address iron deficiency among Filipinos.

During his courtesy visits to local government officials today, Dr. Carlos S. Cortes expressed his intention for the agency to undertake a massive advocacy campaign for the I-Rice or the Iron Fortified Rice which was launched by NFA to address iron deficiency among Filipinos.

Dr. Carlos S. Cortes, who formally assumed office on August 11 this year, paid courtesy calls today on Gov. Roel Degamo, Dumaguete City Mayor Manuel Sagarbarria and the three Congressional representatives in the province.

“It’s important for the Negrenses to understand how important the I-Rice is. It’s rich in micro-nutrients and it’s especially good for lactating mothers,” said Cortes during his courtesy visit at the office of the Philippine Information Agency (PIA) here.

The I-Rice is an enriched grain made from a blend of pre-mixed iron-fortified rice grains with well-milled rice.

“The iron is actually bought from outside the country yet we are selling the I-Rice at a lower cost compared to commercial rice,” said Cortes.

The fortified rice is sold at a government-subsidized cost of only P27 per kilogram.

Cortes observed that the public has yet to fully embrace I-Rice into their daily diet due to the various misconceptions over the fortified rice and with most Filipinos preferring the polished quality of commercial rice.

When cooked, the I-Rice has been noted to turn slightly grayish in color due to the iron premix but NFA assured that this does not affect the taste or smell of the fortified rice.

Rice fortification is in line with Republic Act No. 8976 or the Food Fortification Act of 2000 which mandates the fortification of mandatory staple foods.

Cebu-born Cortes was the NFA manager in Biliran province where his wife, two daughters and grandchildren currently reside. (RMN/PIA Negros Oriental)