Tanauan, Leyte -- The League of Municipalities of the Philippines Leyte Chapter meets today with the representatives of the various national agencies in the Region 8 to once and for all tackle the issues on rice and other economic concerns in the Province of Leyte.

Tanauan Mayor Roque A. Tiu informed that the League has invited the representatives of the Department of Agriculture, the Department of Trade and Industry, the National Food Authority, Philhealth and the Philippine Information Agency.

Governor Carlos Jericho Petilla of the Province of Leyte is scheduled to be with the Municipal Government Executives in the meeting which will be held at the Leyte SMED Center at the Capitol Grounds. Also expected to be around is PAGCOR Vice President Remedios L. Petilla.

Mayor Tiu said that the meeting hopes to know the situation in the various municipalities of Leyte and directly inform the same to the national line agencies. This will once and for all clear the varying information as to the rice situation which the mayors believe only sow doubts and fears on the public. This is the reason why the National Food Authority representative has been invited, Mayor Tiu disclosed.

Mayor Tiu said that there is no rice shortage in the various municipalities of Leyte. In fact, the rice retailers are even complaining that few people are buying rice from them these days because there is much rice in the barangays.

This is the reason why people in the province are shocked when they see in the media that people are queuing in long lines just to buy rice.

The LMP members will also discuss with the Department of Trade and Industry, the revitalization of the Local Price Monitoring Council in the municipalities, and the situation of prices of commodities as monitored by the DTI.

The Department of Agriculture will shed light on the various programs of the national government in line with President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo's strengthened food production program, Mayor Tiu added.

Philhealth is expected to enlighten the mayors especially those who are in their first term, on its various packages or program and on the importance of enrolling their constituents to the government's health insurance program.

The local government executives must realize the importance of communicating to the constituents the real situation and the various development programs of the national government down to the provincial, municipal and barangay levels, Mayor Tiu said. That is why the Philippine Information Agency was invited.