MALACAÑANG said on Thursday that while it is “naturally concerned” about the P266-billion deficit in October, it remains optimistic the government would not breach the worst-case scenario of a P300-billion deficit by year-end.

Deputy Presidential Spokesman Gary Olivar said in a statement the situation “is mainly the result of downward pressure on fiscal revenues by the global recession, on one hand; and higher government spending this year for economic stimulus and disaster recovery, on the other.”

THE Bureau of Customs (BOC) has allowed the importation of millions of kilos of chicken and other poultry products starting later this month through January next year in order to solve the impending shortage issues in the market in the coming holidays.

BOC Commissioner Napoleon Morales said the first shipment of chicken goods will arrive on November 30 onward but it will not go beyond January 31, 2010. There will be 8 million kilos of poultry and poultry products to be imported during the said period in order to arrest the growing shortage of the product in the market, as demand is expected to rise during the Christmas season.

THE expected showdown between proponents of the mass-rail transit and bus rapid transit (BRT) projects in Metro Cebu at the Regional Development Council (RDC) meeting will not happen, as the two projects have not been lined up for discussion.

National Economic and Development Authority (Neda) Central Visayas director Marlene Rodriguez told the BusinessMirror that the two projects have not been scheduled for discussion in the council’s infrastructure development committee and could not be taken  up in the full council.