IT’S TIME TO PATRONIZE NATIVE PRODUCTS. This is the message of Presidential Assistant for Bicol Tomasito B. Monzon (center) in response to this year’s projected global economic crisis and global warming, as he visited the province of Catanduanes last February 18-19, 2009. Monzon believes that patronizing and supporting the fiber industry in Catanduanes, one of the major sources of income among the residents there, would help boost the country’s economy and reduce environmental degradation. He said buying native picture frames, paper bags and other native home decors (right) is the best thing that Filipinos could do this time. He stresses that buying paper bags in lieu of plastic bags, for instance, would help de-clog canals, rivers and other bodies of water and reduce greenhouse effect. Also in photo is OPAB Director Jovie O. Morata (left).