AT FOOD SUMMIT
We’ll tap into P48.7B
agri-package – Zayco 
BY CARLA GOMEZ

Gov. Isidro Zayco said Negros Occidental will tap into initiatives under a P48.7-billion package outlined by President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo at the National Food Summit at the Clark Freeport Zone in Pampanga yesterday to stimulate agriculture in the face of a looming food crisis.

The governor said he brought Provincial Agriculturist Igmedio Tabianan to the summit so they could immediately take steps to avail of programs offered by the national government to also boost food production in Negros Occidental.

As this developed, 120,000 bags of rice from Vietnam arrived at the BREDCO port in Bacolod City yesterday to augment the buffer stock of Negros Occidental, NFA Bacolod Assistant Manager  Manuel Castañares said.

Police units in Western Visayas have been alerted to assist the National Food Authority and the Department of Trade in running after rice hoarders and illegal traders diverting government-subsidized rice to the commercial market.

Region 6 police director Isagani Cuevas yesterday confirmed the order of Camp Crame, but said they will only play a support role in the campaign against the hoarding of rice, corn, grains and other food items.

In a memorandum circulated to all PNP units, Chief Supt. Silverio Alarcio, PNP Director for Operations, said police action is being initiated to preempt the possible impact on peace and order of the increase in prices of rice and other basic commodities..

One person died and 22 were injured when the jeepney they were riding rammed into the fence of the Philippine National Oil Co.-Energy Development Corp. post in Bacolod City yesterday, the police said.

The victims were brought to the Corazon Locsin Montelibano Memorial Regional Hospital but Nida Nibla, 36, of Brgy. Bunga, Don Salvador Benedicto town, Negros Occidental, died of multiple wounds hours.

The canter-type jeepney crashed into the fence of the PNOC-EDC in Manayao Sayao, Brgy. Mansilingan, Bacolod, when driver Dante Bacarro lost control of the vehicle when the drag link of its steering wheel malfunctioned, PO2 June Garong of the Traffic Management Unit, said.