Manila Offers Healthy Valentine’s Gift Options with Veggie Bouquets and Fruit BasketsComelec Targets 100,000 for Election Offenses Over Multiple Registrations

MANILA – In a refreshing departure from traditional Valentine’s Day gifts, the Department of Agriculture’s (DA) Central Office Kadiwa Store is offering veggie bouquets and fruit baskets as healthier alternatives. This initiative aims to promote local produce while providing an innovative way to celebrate love.

According to Philippines News Agency, Jefferlyn Obillo, a 41-year-old seller at the Kadiwa store, highlighted the option for consumers to gift their loved ones with locally-produced vegetables arranged as bouquets at an affordable price. Obillo mentioned that for PHP100, customers could purchase a bouquet featuring broccoli, chayote, carrots, and beans, offering a unique and healthy gift choice for Valentine’s Day.

Juliet Labrador, a 51-year-old representative of the farmers’ association at the Kadiwa store, encouraged customers to opt for these “healthier and more practical” gifts over the usual flowers and chocolates. She pointed out the longevity of such gifts, as unlike fresh flowers that wither, these vegetable bouquets and fruit baskets can be cooked and enjoyed even after the holiday.

Customers have the flexibility to customize their gifts with a variety of local fruits such as banana, pomelo, mango, and pineapple. Additionally, the store offers the option to include organic eggs and shrimp paste in the “healthy love baskets,” with prices ranging from PHP395 to PHP700.

The DA also promoted a novel idea for the occasion: giving rice instead of roses. DA Undersecretary Roger Navarro emphasized the sweetness of rice over flowers, suggesting it as a more meaningful and practical gift. Vice President and Education Secretary Sara Duterte echoed this sentiment in a TikTok post and interviews, playfully advocating for rice as a priority over traditional romantic gestures.

This initiative not only offers a unique way to celebrate Valentine’s Day but also supports local farmers by encouraging the purchase of local produce through the Kadiwa stores. The DA’s campaign aims to blend the spirit of love with the promotion of healthy living and support for local agriculture.

MANILA – The Commission on Elections (Comelec) announced plans to charge around 100,000 individuals who were found to have registered to vote multiple times.

According to Philippines News Agency, during a Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon briefing, this figure represents a portion of nearly half a million duplicate registrations detected in 2023.

Laudiangco highlighted that the move to file charges against those with multiple registrations is a measure to curb the practice of “flying voting,” an election offense punishable by one to six years in prison, disenfranchisement, and disqualification from holding public office. The Comelec’s efforts to enforce this comes with a stern warning to potential offenders, bolstered by advanced detection capabilities through automated fingerprint identification for new applicants.

Furthermore, the Comelec has received significant interest in the voter registration process for the upcoming May 2025 midterm elections, with some 175,000 applications submitted on the second day of registration. Comelec Chair George Erwin Garcia reported a promising start, with plans to utilize various venues, including religious establishments and areas under the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), to facilitate broader participation.

In Western Visayas, regional elections director Dennis Ausan encouraged early registration to avoid the rush before the September 30 deadline, emphasizing the registration’s importance for new voters, transfers, and corrections. The Comelec aims to register approximately 3 million new voters during this period, with registration available on weekends and holidays to accommodate more applicants.

A National Voters Day is scheduled for February 21 at the West Visayas State University cultural center, marking a concerted effort by the Comelec to ensure broad and inclusive voter participation in the electoral process.