2 VCO producers in NegOr now BFAD accredited
by Jennifer Catan-Tilos
DUMAGUETE CITY, Dec. 12 (PIA) Two producers of Virgin Coconut Oil (VCO) in Negros Oriental now registered by the Bureau of Food and Drugs (BFAD).
Provincial Manager Brendan Trasmonte of the Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA) said the Barangay Liptong Small Coconut Farmers’ Association (BLISCOFA), Valencia and a private-individual from the municipality of Vallehermoso were recently accredited by BFAD.
According to Trasmonte VCO producers in the country are required to register to ensure safety and quality of product standards be followed in the process of making VCO.
PCA is careful in ensuring the quality standard of VCO because of the possible alteration in the process that might sacrifice its quality, said Trasmonte.
Under VCO Standards, it is mandated that correct and complete labeling be used in manufacturing, to place a date produced and its expiry period, and the trade and brand name.
PCA official said the growing market for VCO is a big opportunity for the coconut industry, including small and medium enterprises.
From June to November this year, the BLISCOFA has produced at least 675.8 liters of VCO in order to cope with the present demand.
The Valencia VCO is not only supplying in the local market but also outside the province to Cebu and Manila during Coco Week Exhibit every August.
Meanwhile, the BLISCOFA has received a check worth of P760,000 for the purchase of coconut coir machines or decorticator from the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE).
The farmer organization aims to expand a new technology through the DOLE fund assistance using the machine to separate the coir or coco husk which is source of natural dye for textile industries, PCA Manager said. (PIA/JCT)
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NORECO 2 ups collection drive for delinquent power consumers
By Rachelle M. Nessia
DUMAGUETE CITY, Dec. 12 (PIA) --- The Negros Oriental Electric Cooperative 2 (NORECO 2) based in Dumaguete City, Negros Oriental is now implementing “Operation Collection,” a massive campaign to ensure the payment of unsettled electric bills among power consumers in their coverage area.
The operation runs from Dec. 7 to 22, 2011, said NORECO 2 Information and Communication Officer Beverly Gonzalez.
The electric cooperative earlier pulled out most of its field workers to augment the team of NORECO 2 employees who are sent to disconnect the electricity of delinquent household consumers.
“Before disconnecting, we give the consumers time to settle their unpaid power bills in our office,” said Gonzalez in an interview with Philippine Information Agency here.
The NORECO 2 disconnection teams visit the homes of consumers with delinquent power bills, during which the home owners are asked to pay their bills at the NORECO 2 office until the afternoon.
“If by the afternoon they still haven’t paid up, the team goes back on the same day to disconnect their power service,” explained Gonzalez.
Power consumers are considered delinquent if they have two or more overdue electric bills.
Records show that in Dumaguete City, Brgy. Banilad holds the most number of delinquent power consumers with 695, of which there are 2,026 power bills amounting to P3,408,732.52 that NORECO 2 needs to collect.
“There are some consumers who have around two to four unpaid power bills,” said Gonzalez.
This is the second time NORECO 2 imposed “Operation Collection” this year, the first of which was back in May 2010.
“We launched this drive primarily to accumulate funds to meet our obligations with our power suppliers,” said Gonzalez.
She urged NORECO 2 consumers to settle their overdue electric bills to avoid disconnection of power service.
One of the two electric cooperatives distributing power to households in Negros Oriental, NORECO 2 sources its power supply from KEPCO-SPC, Green Core Geothermal Inc. (GCGI) and National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP).
Its coverage area spans 14 local government units, starting from Pamplona to Basay towns. (RMN/PIA Negros Oriental)
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NOPPO reports 144 drug personalities arrested
by Jennifer Catan-Tilos
DUMAGUETE CITY, Dec. 12 (PIA) A total of 144 drug personalities were arrested in an intensified campaign as reported this week by the Negros Oriental Provincial Police Office (NOPPO) in a year-end conference of the Negros Oriental Drug Abuse Prevention Council (NORDAPC).
The number of apprehension of illegal drugs conducted between January to November this year is higher as compared to the same period last year, said Provincial Police Director P/SSupt. Edward Carranza.
The accomplishments of the combined enforcement agencies were broken down into 107 drug pushers, 36 drug users and one marijuana cultivator were apprehended.
Col. Carranza said shabu is still the number one popular choice among users in the province which resulted in the confiscation of 122.604 grams higher than of last year with 26.30 grams only.
The NOPPO also seized 7,531.39 grams of marijuana leaves before this year ends higher by 7,471.40 grams compared to previous year which confiscated only 59.99 grams.
In his record, Col Carranza reported of the drug individuals arrested, 170 cases were filed in Regional Trial Courts for violation of Republic Act 9165 while, 81 number cases filed for the same period of last year.
The police official said the Philippine National Police (PNP) is now validating the 390 identified personalities involved in illegal drugs in Negros Oriental.
The total individuals in the watchlist, 273 are identified as illegal drug pushers and 117 known as users, while there are 16 newly identified drug personalities.
PNP records show that out of 557 barangays in the province, a total of 101 barangays have been identified as slightly affected; eight were moderately affected; and two seriously affected barangays Looc and Calindagan in Dumaguete City and nine classified as drug liberated barangays.
In pursuit of the provincial government’s goal, Governor Roel Degamo pushed for 100 percent drug-free Negros Oriental as he expressed support to NORDAPC’s efforts to intensify its campaign for the reduction of supply and demand of illegal drugs.
For Col. Carranza, the drug problem in the province is still controllable with vigorous drug-law enforcement reduces the availability of illicit drugs, and with the cooperation of many sectors in the community may be achieved the objective of drug free society. (PIA/JCT)
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NegOr police believes achieving a drug-free society is ‘just a matter of time’
by Jennifer Catan-Tilos
DUMAGUETE CITY, Dec. 12 (PIA) --The Negros Oriental Provincial Police Office [NOPPO) recently declared that the drug menace in the province is still controllable and with the vigorous drug-law enforcement and multi-sector cooperation, availability of illicit drugs can be reduced and achieving a drug free society is ‘just a matter of time’.
NOPPO provincial director P/SSupt. Edward Carranza stated this during the year-end conference of the Negros Oriental Drug Abuse Prevention Council [NORDAPC) recently.
Carranza in his report said that through the combined efforts and intensified campaign of various drug enforcement agencies conducted between January-November this year, the Police arrested 144 persons that included 107 drug pushers, 36 drug users and one marijuana cultivator.
According to Carranza the Police had filed 170 cases this year compared to 81 cases filed in 2010. Most cases filed at the Regional Trial Courts in the province are in violations of RA-9165 or the Anti-Drug Law.
The police added that shabu is still the number one popular drug choice among users in the province that resulted in the confiscation of some 122.604 grams of shabu in 2011 from a mere 26.30 grams last year.
The NOPPO also reported that in 2010, it has confiscated nearly 60 grams of marijuana leaves but before 2011 ends, it has already seized over 7,531 grams of dried marijuana leaves.
The Police said that it is currently validating reports of 390 identified persons in Negros Oriental that are reportedly involved in the illegal drug trade.
“In our watch list, we have identified 273 illegal drug pushers, 117 known users and 16 newly identified drug personalities,” Carranza bared.
PNP records show that out of 557 barangays in the province, 101 barangays were identified as slightly affected; eight were moderately affected; and two seriously barangays—Looc and Calindagan in Dumaguete City are slightly affected and nine are classified as drug liberated barangays.
Meanwhile, Negros Oriental governor Roel Degamo is pushing for a 100 percent drug-free Negros Oriental as he encourages and supports the NORDAPC in its efforts to intensify its campaign to reduce supply and demand of illegal drugs in the province. [mbcn/jct/PIA-NegOr)