DepEd-Caraga all set for Monday’s Balik Eskwela
By Robert E. Roperos
BUTUAN CITY, June 1 (PIA) -– It’s all systems go
for Caraga Region’s Department of Education (DepEd) as classes for school year
2012-2013 will open on Monday.
According to Prof. Carol Niepes, DepEd-Caraga
regional information officer, all the nine divisions of the region are ready
and prepared for the opening of classes this Monday since the conduct of
Brigada Eskwela last week was considered successful.
To ensure an orderly opening of classes, Niepes
said that a master list of officially enrolled pupils or students are already
posted at the door of every classroom.
The official also said the education department
is installing information and action centers in every school to attend to
whatever complaints or problems that the pupils, students, and even their
parents will encounter during the first week of the class.
Niepes also reiterated that the “no collection”
policy is still implemented in the region as it is mandated by the education
department.
She reiterated that based on the department’s
order, pupils and students must be enrolled and parents should not worry on the
financial obligations during the enrollment period.
However, she said for those miscellaneous fees
such as the Boy Scouts of the Philippines (BSP), Girl Scouts of the Philippines
(GSP), and Parents Teachers Community Association (PTCA), this can be paid
within the school year but on a voluntary basis.
Niepes explained that for those parents who want
their children to join the BSP and GSP, they will pay for the registration fee,
aside from the fact that if they will be registered, they will automatically be
insured. “Thus, if they will allow their children to register, then they will
also be benefitted because of the insurance,” she said.
Further, Niepes said enrollment is still
on-going until the first week of the class. She added this cannot be avoided
since there are still enrollees during this period. However, school principals
and teachers were instructed to do overtime and accept enrollees this Saturday
and Sunday to accommodate late enrollees. (RER/PIA-Caraga)
.
Environmental bureau eyes declaration of Taguibo
river as water quality mngt. area
By Robert E. Roperos
BUTUAN CITY, June 1 (PIA) -- The Environmental
Management Bureau (EMB) of Caraga Region is batt ing for the declaration of
Taguibo river here as water quality management area.
Lesley Garcia of EMB-Caraga planning division
said Engr. Ester Olavides, environmental bureau’s director of the region was
able to present the idea to the members of the Sangguniang Panlungsod (City
Council).
Garcia said during the presentation, Olavides
discussed the importance of declaring the said river into a water quality management
area.
The official further said the EMB chief of the
region is set to present the proposal to the City Council’s Committee on
Environmental Protection on June 8, 2012 during the regular session of the
Sangguniang Panlungsod.
According to Garcia, this aims to get the
support of the council’s committee and likewise make a recommendation to
Secretary Ramon Paje of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources
(DENR).
In an article written by Garcia, she emphasized
that EMB Caraga proposed Taguibo River as the Water Quality Management Area
(WQMA) for Caraga Region being the main source of potable water for Butuan City
and neighbouring municipalities of the Province of Agusan del Norte and some
areas in Agusan del Sur Province.
She added because of this, a stakeholders’ forum
was held in October 2011, attended by representatives from the different
stakeholders within Taguibo Watershed wherein traverses the Taguibo River that
consisted of Barangay Officials, representatives from national and local government
agencies, private establishments and others sectors such as Indigenous Peoples
(IPs). (RER/PIA-Caraga)
.
RAFI offers kayak program
By Haidee Emmie K. Palapar
CEBU, June 1 (PIA) -- The Ramon Aboitiz
Foundation Inc. (RAFI) Kool Adventure Camp (KAC) offers a kayak program that
aims to develop and enhance leadership skills.
The program is open to both corporate
professionals and youth groups.
“This is not just a recreation program. This is
a leadership development program using kayak as a tool. With all the beautiful
and rich marine biodiversity and potential islets in Cebu, there is no reason
for us not to have this kind of water activity,” Anthony Terence Ocampo, KAC
deputy director for Professional Programs, said.
A kayak program will last for three to four
days, wherein participants will be navigating and paddling to the sites covered
by the route, like the islands of Olango, Pandanon, Caohagan, Banakon, and
other islands between Cebu and Bohol.
The program will test the endurance, patience,
teamwork, and communication and planning skills of the participants, as well as
how they respond to changes in the environment.
The 52 tandem kayaks donated by Outward Bound
Singapore will be utilized in the kayak program, which is preferably conducted
during the second or third quarter of the year to avoid bad weather conditions
such as typhoons and monsoons.
The head facilitators of the kayak program are
Ocampo and Sheerene Abrea, KAC Professional Development Programs facilitator,
who are both certified with Kayak Coach Level 1 by the Singapore Canoe
Federation.
To ensure the safety of the participants, the
KAC facilitators conduct Risk Assessment and Management System (RAMS) before
every expedition. They follow operating procedures and standards from medical
to rescue and program design, which are internationally benchmarked.
The program’s pilot group is RAFI’s
Micro-finance team, who kayaked from Om Shanti, Cordova to Shalala Beach,
Pangan-an and Caohagan Island last July 14-17, 2011.
“The program helped strengthen our teamwork as
we cooperate with each other and focus to reaching our destination. I felt
secure with several colleagues who know how to handle the kayak and the KAC
team boat that followed us along the way,” Nineveh MascariΓ±as, finance
supervisor of RAFI Micro-finance, said.
KAC is one of the programs under RAFI’s
Leadership & Citizenship focus area, where future leaders are nurtured to
prepare them to take an active role in affecting change. RAFI’s other focus
areas are Integrated Development, Micro-finance & Entrepreneurship, Culture
& Heritage, and Education.
KAC is currently building the Philippines’ first
outdoor experiential center at Barangay Cansomoroy, Balamban Cebu, which is set
to open in 2013.
For more information about the kayak program and
KAC, please call 418-7234 local 406 and look for Totits or Sheerene or e-mail
at totits.ocampo@rafi.org.ph, or visit www.rafi.org.ph or
www.facebook.com.ph/rafi.org.ph. (NCLM/RAFI/PIA-Caraga)
.
DA chief to grace farmers' forum in Dinagat
Islands
By Rosario Roxas
SAN JOSE, Dinagat Islands, June 1 (PIA) --
Department of Agriculture (DA) Sec. Proceso Alcala will meet and listen to the
problems of local farmers and fisher folks and, at the same time, distribute
various projects that his agency to the people of Dinagat Islands.
The secretary will arrive today in the capital
town of San Jose after his two-day visit to the provinces of Biliran and
Eastern Samar to grace the Farmers and Fisherfolks’ Forum at Aurelio Gym.
During the forum, Alcala and his party will be
briefed in some issues and concerns of the Dinagatnons farmers.
Part of his visit is the turn-over ceremony of
various projects and distribution of interventions of agriculture in the
province. (FEA/PIO-PDI/PIA-Surigao del Norte)
.
Overweight children steadily increasing –
FNRI-DOST
By Jund Rian A. Doringo
MANILA, June 1 (PIA) -- The 7th National
Nutrition Survey (NNS) by the Food and Nutrition Research Institute of the
Department of Science and Technology (FNRI-DOST) revealed that 4.3 percent or
about four in every 100 newborns to five year-old children are overweight for
their age.
A child is overweight-for-height if the weight
is much greater than that of normal children of the same height.
Although the prevalence of overweight children
belonging to this age group is still low, it has been steadily increasing since
1989.
Some of the highest prevalence of overweight
children five years and below include Ilocos (or Region 1) with 6.3 percent,
National Capital Region (NCR) with 6.2 percent and CALABARZON (or Region IV-A)
with 5.9 percent.
Unused calories from excessive eating and
sedentary lifestyle result to being overweight. Overweight is one of the
leading causes of lifestyle-related diseases such as hypertension, diabetes
mellitus, strokes, muscle and bone disorders, and certain cancers.
A study published in the American Journal of
Nutrition in 2010 showed that 43 million children, 35 million of which are in
developing countries, were estimated to be overweight and obese, while 92
million were at risk of being overweight.
Worldwide prevalence of childhood overweight and
obesity increased from 4.2 percent in 1990 to 6.7 percent in 2010.
The tenth statement of the Nutritional
Guidelines for Filipinos (NGF), “For a healthy lifestyle and good nutrition,
exercise regularly, do not smoke and avoid drinking alcohol beverages”, focuses
on behavior modifications for a healthy lifestyle. The NGF are primary
recommendations to achieve good health and proper nutrition of Filipinos which
were developed by a team of experts led by the FNRI-DOST.
This guideline aims to encourage people, as well
as children, to engage in physical activities through brisk walking, jogging or
playing sports, and to turn away from unhealthy vices such as smoking and
excessive alcoholic beverage consumption.
For more information on food and nutrition,
please contact: Dr. Mario V. Capanzana, Director, Food and Nutrition Research
Institute, Department of Science and Technology, Bicutan, Taguig City;
trunkline: 837 2071 local 2296 or 2287; telephone/fax no.: 837 3164, email: mvc@fnri.dost.gov.ph
or mar_v_c@yahoo.com; website: http://www.fnri.dost.gov.ph. (NCLM/FNRI-DOST
S&T Media Service/PIA-Caraga)
.
More babies breastfed at longer duration
By Mildred O. Guirindola
MANILA, June 1 (PIA) -- To achieve a child’s
optimum nutrition, the global recommendation is to breastfeed the child
exclusively from birth up to six months and to provide safe and appropriate
complementary foods starting at six months with continuing breastfeeding up to
two years and beyond, if possible.
Based on the 2011 survey conducted by the Food
and Nutrition Research Institute of the Department of Science and Technology
(FNRI-DOST), there is a marked improvement in breastfeeding practices among
mothers of children 0-23 month old.
According to the survey, the number of children
0-23 months old who are exclusively breastfed increased from 8.6 percent in
2008 to 11.8 percent in 2011.
Among the 0-5 month old children, the number of
exclusively breastfed continuously increased from 29.7 percent in 2003 to 35.9
percent in 2008 to 46.7 percent in 2011.
Similarly, the number of children who are
breastfed and given complementary increased from 29.9 percent in 2008 to 45.2
percent in 2011.
The duration of breastfeeding improved from 4.9
months in 2008 to 7.7 months in 2011. Likewise, the exclusive breastfeeding
duration also increased from 2.3 months in 2008 to 3.7 months in 2011.
With the encouraging results, what remains to be
done is sustaining and strengthening the gains on the implementation of infant
and young child feeding programs of the different stakeholders to reap more
positive results.
For more information about food and nutrition,
write or call: Dr. Mario V. Capanzana, Director, Food and Nutrition Research
Institute, Department of Science and Technology, General Santos Avenue,
Bicutan, Taguig City. Email: mvc@fnri.dost.gov.ph, mar_v_c@yahoo.com; Tel/Fax:
837-2934, 837-3164, 837-2071 local 2296; or visit our website at:
http//www.fnri.gov.ph. (NCLM/FNRI-DOST S&T Media Service/PIA-Caraga)
.
Mindanao envi-econ summit slated
BUTUAN CITY, June 1 (PIA) -- A Mindanao-wide
summit of government, private and civil society and non-government organizations
is set here to come up with integrated and harmonized efforts to manage the
island-region’s watersheds and river basins.
The Mindanao Economy and Environment Summit
slated on June 4-5 will serve as a venue for Mindanao stakeholders to discuss
key steps to protect ecological integrity and strike a balance with sustainable
economic development.
The Summit is part of the roll out activities of
the MindaNOW: Nurturing Our Waters, a flagship program of Mindanao Development
Authority (MinDA) that aims to achieve an island-wide convergent approach to
watershed and river basin management.
Among the Summit highlights is the presentation
of workshop outputs from the delegation grouped according to the river basin
they belong, identifying and streamlining strategies and initiatives in the
production, settlement, and protected areas.
“We need to work together to address
environmental concerns that confront Mindanao as it affects us in several other
aspects including the island-region’s power supply,” said Secretary Luwalhati
Antonino, MinDA Chairperson.
Antonino stressed that one of the strategic ways
to ensure sustainability of hydro power generation in Mindanao is the
restoration and better management of major watersheds and river basins where.
She added that the proposed Mindanao Power
Corporation shall allocate P200 million from its annual budget for watershed
restoration.
The Mindanao 2020 Peace and Development
Framework Plan or Mindanao 2020 adopts an ecosystem-based approach in achieving
sustainable economic development in Mindanao, highlighting food security and
environmental integrity.
“Economic development and responsible
stewardship of environment are mutually reinforcing objectives. One without the
other is short-sighted and of limited benefit,” Antonino said.
The Summit will also be highlighted with the
signing of agreements of participating agencies and organizations on MindaNOW
Program, launching of the MindaNOW website and portal and launching of Mindanao
Environment Experts Forum.
The two-day event is also slated in cognizance
of the global celebration of the World Environment Day on June 5, and June as
Philippine Environment Month. (NCLM/MinDA/PIA-Caraga)
.
Tagalog News: Itutuon sa mga kwento ng tagumpay
ang selebrasyon ng 24th CARP anniversary sa CARAGA
Ni Danilo S. Makiling
BUTUAN CITY, Hunyo1 (PIA) -- Handa na ang
Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) sa rehiyon sa nalalapit na selebrasyon ng
ika-24 anibersaryo ng Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP).
Ayon kay DAR-Caraga information officer Joie
Ceballos, itutuon ang selebrasyon ngayong taon sa mga kuwento ng tagumpay at
kaunlaran ng mga benepisyaryo ng programa sa rehiyon.
Sinabi rin ni Ceballos na ang isang buwang
paggunita ay bubuksan ngayong Hunyo 15 sa pamamagitan ng motorcade na
nagpapakita ng mga aktibidad ng kaunlaran na na-implementa ng DAR dito.
Samantala, isa namang media fusion ang gaganapin
ng nasabing ahensiya kung saan ay ipe-presenta nila sa grupo ng media dito ang
kanilang mga ulat ng mga proyektong naisasakatuparan.
Ang CARP ay isang Philippine state policy na
nagtataguyod sa mga kaunlaran ng mga walang lupain na magbubukid, pati na rin
ang pagpapalaganap ng social justice sa lahat ng rural areas.
Ito ay binuo sa pamamagitan ng Republic Act No.
6657, o ang Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Law of 1988 na may layunin ng isang
bansang may patas na pagmamay-ari sa lupa at pagpapalakas ng agrarian reform
beneficiaries.
Ang batas ay ginawa ng dating Pangulong Corazon
C. Aquino sa pamamagitan ng Presidential Proclamation 131 at Executive Order
229 noong Hunyo 22, 1987. Ang batas ay naaprubahan ng kongreso at pinirmahan ni
Aquino noong Hunyo 10, 1988.
Sa ilalim ng RA 6657, nilinaw nito na polisiya
ng estado ang pagtataguyod sa CARP. Ang kaunlaran ng mga walang lupain at mga
magbubukid ay makakakuha ng mataas na konsiderasyon sa pagpapaunlad ng social
justice at ang hakbang ng bansa sa pagpapaunlad ng rural at industriyalisasyon,
at ang pagtatayo ng owner cultivatorship sa economic-sized farms bilang basehan
ng Philippine Agriculture.
Isinasaad din sa batas na kikilalanin ng estado
ang karapatan ng mga magbubukid at mga landowner, pati ang mga kooperatiba at
ibang independenteng organisasyon ng mga magbubukid, pamamahala sa programa, at
magbibigay din ng suporta sa agrikultura sa pamamagitan ng tamang teknolohiya
at research, tamang pinansyal, produksyon, marketing at ibang serbisyong suporta.
Hinihingi rin ng batas na ang estado ay
magbibigay ng incentives sa mga landowners para mag-invest upang
maipagpapatuloy ang agrarian reform program para sa pagtataguyod ng
industriyalisasyon, trabaho at privatization sa public sector enterprises. Ang
instrumentong pinansyal ay ginagamit bilang isang kabayaran para sa mga lupa na
nagtatampok ng mga kaunlaran sa negotiability at acceptability sa pamilihan.
Kabilang sa mga aktibidad na inihandad ay isang
fellowship night na gaganapin pagkatapos ng media fusion na dadaluhan ng mga
broadcasters at journalists sa syudad.
Napag-alamang ito ay ang pangalawang media
fusion na pinasisimunuan ng DAR-Caraga na layuning kilalanin ang mga
kontribusyon ng lokal media sa paghahatid ng balita at impormasyon ng
DAR-Caraga sa publiko. (RER/PIA-Caraga)
Tagalog News: NFA namigay ng organic fertilizers
sa mga magsasaka
Ni Danilo S. Makiling
BUTUAN CITY, Hunyo 1 (PIA) -- Dahil sa patuloy
na pagtaas ng presyo ng synthetic fertilizers at sa epekto nito, ang National
Food Authority (NFA) kasama ni Administrator Lito Banayo ay namigay ng organic
bio-fertilizers sa mga magsasaka ng palay, galing sa iba't-ibang barangay na
ginanap kamakailan lang sa Libertad National High School Covered Court ng
siyudad.
Ang mga benepisaryong magsasaka ng barangay
Dumalagan, Pinamanculan, kinamlutan, Bancasi, San Vicente, Bit-os, Villa
Kanangga, Bonbon, Doongan, Ambago, Bayanihan, Nongnong, at Bitan-agan ang
nakatanggap ng “Nitro-Fix” organic bio-fertilizers.
Ayon kay Banayo, ang pagsasaka ay importante sa
bansa. Ang organikong pagsasaka ay isa rin sa mga prayoridad na programa ng
Pangulong Benigno S. Aquino III.
“Ito ang dahilan kung kaya’t dapat nating bigyan
ng kalinga ang ating mga sakahan. Hinihimok din namin ang ating mga magsasaka
na gumawa ng organikong pagsasaka,” ayon kay Banayo.
Binigyang diin din ni Banayo na ang paggamit ng
organikong fertilizers ay makakatulong sa mga magsasaka na makatipid kaysa
paggamit ng synthetic fertilizers.
“Kung tataas ang presyo ng gasolina, tataas din
ang presyo ng synthetic fertilizers at maaapektuhan nito ang pagsasaka,” aniya.
Maliban sa pamimigay ng bio-fertilizers sa mga
magsasaka ng palay, binigyan din ang mga magsasaka ng panahon na sabihin ang
kanilang mga problema sa pagsasaka kay Administrator Banayo, kasama ng mga
opisyal ng National Irrigation Administration (NIA) Caraga, at ang Suma
Biotechnologies Incorporated.
Dadaluhan din ni Banayo ang distribusyon ng
bio-fertilizers sa mga magsasaka ng palay sa Barangay ng Baobaoan, Taguibo,
Sumilihon, Ampayon, Antongalon, Baan, Banza, Mahogany, Maug, Bobon, Cabcabon,
at Tiniwisan. Ito ay gaganapin sa barangay Los Angeles sa umaga at sa Barangay
Sto. NiΓ±o sa hapon ng Hunyo 1.
Nagyong Hunyo 6 naman si Banayo ay muling
mamimigay ng bio-fertilizers sa mga magsasaka sa barangay ng Aupagan, Mahay,
Salvacio, Pigdaulan, Camayahan, Buhangin, Taligaman, Basag, at Lemon, at ang
distribusyon ay gaganapin sa barangay Tagabaca.
Samantala, nagpasalamat si Vincent Rosario,
barangay captain ng barangay Libertad kay Banayo dahil sa pagsisikap nitong
mabahagi-an ang mga magsasaka ng bio-fertilizers sa iba't-ibang barangay ng
syudad.
“Siguradong makakatulong ito sa mga magsasaka
upang mapaunlad nila ang kanilang sakahan at mapalaki ang kita nila dahilan sa
magandang ani at dekalidad na produksyon. (RER/PIA-Caraga)
Tagalog news: Environmental bureau, kinumpirmang
maraming establismiyento ang nabigyan ng compliance certificates
Ni Danilo S. Makiling
BUTUAN CITY, Hunyo 1 (PIA) –- Kinumpirma ng
Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) kamakailan lang na maraming
establisimiyento sa rehiyon ang nabigyan na ng Environmental Compliance
Certificates (ECC).
Bagama't, sinabi ni EMB Caraga Regional Director
Engr. Esther Olavides na nagpalabas din ng isang notice of violation ang
kanilang tanggapan sa ilang establismiyento na lumabag sa mga kundisyong
nakasaad sa ECC.
Ayon sa Philippine Environmental Impact
Statement System, ang ECC ay isang patunay ng Environmental Compliance
Commitment na kung saan ang mga nasasailalim dito ay kailangan sumunod.
Ito ay isang dokumento na inilabas ng DENR-EMB
matapos ang isang positibong review ng ECC application, na nagpapatunay na ang
mga sumasailalim dito ay sumunod sa lahat ng mga alintuntunin ng EIS System at
nagpapatuloy sa pag-implementa ng naaprobahang Environmental Management Plan.
Ang ECC din ay nagbibigay ng gabay sa ibang
ahensya at sa mga LGUs sa EIA findings at rekomendasyon na kinakailangang
ikonsidera ng kanilang sariling proseso ng paggawa ng desisyon.
Ang ECC ay mayroong kaukulang sukat at kundisyon
na ang mga sumasailalim dito ay kailangan mag-umpisa bago o habang sinasagawa
ang operasyon ng proyekto, at sa ibang kaso naman ay habang sa antas ng
pag-aabandon upang paikliin ang napag-alamang environmental impacts.
Sa pangkalahatan, ang sumusunod ay ang mga
napag-alamang tampok ng ECC: 1) Scope of project or undertaking; 2) Conditions
conformed with by the Proponent to implement the mitigation measures for
potentially negative impacts and/or enhancement measures for potentially
positive impacts as identified in the EIA Report; and 3) Suggestions or
recommendations to assist LGUs and other agencies of the government to
incorporate the EIA Results in their decision-making process. (RER/PIA-Caraga)
Cebuano news: Palasyo mianunsyo sa pag-arubar sa
duha ka dagkong mga proyekto
By Fryan E. Abkilan
SURIGAO CITY, Hunyo 1 (PIA) –- Giaprubahan na
niadtong Miyerkules sa National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Board
alang sa implementasyon sa duha ka dagkong mga proyekto, ang MalacaΓ±ang
mianunyo kagahapon.
Ang NEDA Board, nga gipangulohan ni Pangulong
Benigno S. Aquino III nag miting niadtong Miyerkules didto sa MalacaΓ±ang.
Atol sa regular press briefing didto sa
MalacaΓ±ang, si Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte miingon nga sa
lima ka mga proyekto nga gituki sa maong miting duha lamang ang giaprubahan sa
board.
Ang unang proyekto mao ang Ninoy Aquino
International Airport (NAIA) Expressway project, ang Phase 2 sa Expressway project
nga adunay total project cost nga mokabat sa P15.8 bilyon.
Ang ikaduhang proyekto mao ang National Sewerage
and Septage Management Program, usa ka proyekto nga pilot phase pa lamang, nga
adunay kinatibuk-ang capital cost nga mokabat sa P26.3 bilyon.
Niadtong milabayng semana, giaprubahan sa
Investment Coordination Committee-Cabinet Committee (ICC CabCom) NEDA Board ang
lima ka mga proyekto sa transportasyon, infrastructure ug health worth nga
mokabat P32.67 bilyon gitumong aron pagtukod og pagrehabilitar sa importante
nga mga imprastruktura sama sa mga dalan, tulay ug mga hospital.
Ang NEDA Board, nga gipangulohan sa Pangulo,
maoy pinakataas nga development planning and policy coordinating body sa nasod.
Ang board gilangkoban sa nagkalain-laing mga sekretaryo sa Kabinete, mga
president sa Union of Local Authorities of the Philippines, governor sa
Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao ug deputy governor of the Bangko Sentral
ng Pilipinas (BSP) dinhi sa nasod.
Ang ICC, nga usa sa interagency committees sa
NEDA Board, maoy mo evaluates sa fiscal, monetary ug balance-of-payments
implications sa dagkong national projects. (PIA-Surigao del Norte)
