Insect-infested

He said they were also anxious that imported galunggong being sold in the market were laced with formalin.

- certain organs for educational purposes.

The ALU-TUCP also urged employers to provide cash and non-cash assistance to help their employees cope with the rising cost of living and maintain productivity in the workplace.

Malacañang also on Friday took the NFA to task that it earlier said were infested with rice weevils.

was not immediately given [because] there were rice weevils [in them]. But they should prevent this from happening because we do not want this to citizens. Maybe the citizens would not want to eat

The state-run NFA also on Friday sacks from Thailand infested with weevils were undergoing fumigation before distribution in the market.

NFA spokesman Rex Estoperez told TheManila Times two ports in the country were being quarantined and later would undergo the agency’s “strict” laboratory analysis to ensure that they pass NFA standards.

Fumigation is a method of pest control that

fumigants to poison pests within.

because heavy rains and bad weather stopped unloading of the rice from the ports.

- mon” so “there is no need for the public to panic” as the NFA was taking action to ensure that the rice would not be infested by insects before they reach the market.

collected samples of galunggong from three public markets in Manila had tested negative for formalin.

DA Undersecretary for Fisheries and BFAR National Director Eduardo Gongona told TheManila Times - Fish Port on Wednesday contained no formalin and were “safe to eat by the consuming public.”

levels of formaldehyde [formalin] were detected.”

Formaldehyde is a chemical compound that

injected with formalin when it is “strangely hard and rubbery with very reddish gills and eyes so white.”

galunggong is expected to arrive by September 1 DA’s preparation to stabilize price and supply of the starts in November and ends in March next year.