US Secretary of State Kerry assures Yolanda
victims of more humanitarian aid
By Jennifer P. Gaitano
TACLOBAN CITY, Dec. 18 (PIA) – During his visit
here on Wednesday, United States (US) Secretary of State John Kerry assured
Typhoon Yolanda victims of more humanitarian aid to pour in the city.
Kerry visited the city to personally witness and
assess the post-typhoon recovery efforts.
On his speech at the Tent City near the Daniel
Z. Romualdez Airport, Kerry announced that United States is providing
additional $24.6 million in humanitarian aid to the storm-stricken region of
the country.
"I'm proud to announce here in Tacloban
today that the United States through the United States Agency for International
Development USAID is providing an additional $24.6 million in humanitarian aid.
Now, this is on top of $62 million that we already provided," Kerry said.
Kerry also emphasized that the US government
will continue to work closely with the Philippine government to speed up the
rehabilitation efforts for the affected communities following the devastation
of super typhoon "Yolanda".
He also stressed that victims will continuously
have access to clean water, food and shelter, among others.
“We should feel responsible for each other,”
highlighted Kerry. (JPG/PIA-Caraga)
MSF inflatable hospital caters Yolanda victims
in Tacloban City
By Venus L. Garcia
TACLOBAN CITY, Dec. 18 (PIA) – The independent
humanitarian organization called Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF), also known as
Doctors Without Borders, has offered free medical services to tyhoon victims
who need proper medication and treatment at its inflatable hospital pitched at
the grounds of Bethany Hospital in this city.
There are four tents inflated for the
in-patients, intended for males and females in distinct areas. Only one
caretaker is allowed to stay to watch over the patient with free access to
potable water and meals served for free.
Adjacent to it is the emergency room and
pharmacy area where the usual immediate attention is given to patients by
certified nurses.
Initial patient assessment, checking vital
signs, and laboratory tests are just among the process performed in the
out-patient department. More or less 300 patients are accomodated daily with
sickness of hypertension, diabetes, asthma attacks, chronic disease, anfected
wounds, among others.
“We are here bringing along all our equipment to
provide emergency assistance, surgery, hospitalization, and deliveries. Our
medical staff composed of competent international and local doctors and nurses
are very well trained with exceptional skills and dedication to their job,”
said MSF project coordinator Natalie Roberts.
Aside from medical assistance, MSF offered
family planning services and counselling/debriefing.
Roberts said that Tuberculosis (TB) cases are
being referred by them to the Department
of Health (DOH) to be included in the government’s TB program. They are also
coordinating with the Phil. Red Cross for blood donations.
“We are an independent organization so we work
in an independent assessment and operation. The funds that we generate from
private donors are best utilized in our humanitarian efforts in more than 70
countries,” mentioned Lee Pik Kwan, MSF regional communications coordinator.
As to security of their temporary hospital, they
have hired security guards but “if people are aware of the kind of services
that we offer, I suppose no one would attempt to steal anything from us,” she
said.
“We’ll see how long we need to stay, depending
on our regular sitution validation. True service is counting not the days of
our deployment here, but it’s actually the satisfaction we get when we serve
the community and made them feel relieved from illnesses,” added Roberts.
(VLG/PIA-Caraga)
DOH 13 warns public to avoid firecrackers during
holiday season, cases of injuries for year 2012 reached 29
By Nora L. Molde
BUTUAN CITY, Dec. 18 (PIA) – The Department of
Health (DOH) Caraga region warns the public especially in celebrating the
holiday season to avoid/not to use firecrackers to avoid injuries.
DOH Caraga said injuries of firecracker during
the period of December 21, 2012 up to January 2, this year reached to 29
cases. All injuries are related with the
holiday celebration.
As of January 3, DOH record as reported by the
sentinel hospitals in the region shows a
total of 29 cases of injuries related with the holidays. Twenty-seven of these
related to fireworks while two are cases of stray bullets.
DOH Caraga also said, among the firecracker
related injuries, 17 of these cases are active – they are the ones who lighted
the firecracker and 10 are positive cases – either onlookers or bystanders).
Majority of the injuries are burn/blasting and
lacerations, DOH reported.
Most of the cases (27 cases) were treated at the
Emergency Rooms/Out-Patient Department (ER/OPD) in hospitals and Rural Health
Units and were sent home. However, one victim of stray bullet is referred to
higher facility for further management.
Victims of firecrackers injuries, age ranges
from as young as 2 years old to 63 years old.
The types of firecracker used are Piccolo (22),
Bawang (1), Flying Tiger Dragon (1), Triangle (1), Plapla (1), and unidentified
(1).
Most of the cases happened in Agusan del Sur
with a total of 10 cases, Surigao City – 8, Surigao del Norte and Butuan City
with four each, and one case each for Surigao del Sur, Tandag City and Bislig
City. (NCLM/PIA-Caraga)
DENR 13 reaches target in NGP
By Eric F. Gallego
BUTUAN CITY, Dec. 18 (PIA) - New areas for tree
seedlings planted by the entire personnel of the Department of Environment and
Natural Resources (DENR) in Caraga Region under the National Greening Program
(NGP) have reached a total of 12,146.15
hectares as of November 30, this year, according to DENR 13 Regional Executive
Director (RED) Nonito M. Tamayo.
RED Tamayo made this announcement following the
evaluation and assessment conducted recently by several evaluation teams tasked
to evaluate all target areas that were set aside for seedling plantation at the
start of 2013.
He said the accomplished planted area is about
102 percent over the target of 12,112 hectares.
The DENR Central Office, in addition to the
regular target, the DENR 13 has likewise accomplished another 2,240 hectares of
areas target that was required as
additional area for tree seedling plantation.
“We have reached our goals owing to the support
of the DENR’s partners including the Department of Education, the Philippine
National Police, Philippine Army, other national government agencies and the
private sectors,” RED Tamayo said.
Director Tamayo has commended the more than 50
extension officers hired by the DENR for the NGP who made great contributions
in accomplishing the target. “These
officers though simple as they are, have braved all weather conditions, hunger
and exhaustions and physical pains to bring those seedlings to the uphill,
planted and monitored its
survival growth," Director Tamayo said.
In a report submitted to DENR Secretary Ramon JP
Paje, the DENR 13 NGP Regional Operations Center disclosed a total of 5,944,182
seedlings have been produced by the Ecosystem Research and Development Service
(ERDS) which is 103 percent over the
regular target. An additional requirement of 1,126,000 seedlings set by the
Central Office have also been produced.
The local government units have also
participated in the NGP and contributed a total of 2,499,808 seedlings
productions which is 94 percent accomplished of the target of 2,660,808 pieces
of seedling production.
Director Tamayo said he immediately issued
instructions to the field offices shortly after months of waiting for the rains
in November to intensify tree planting activities to cope up with the delayed
planting season. “I am happy we made it through,” Director Tamayo said.
Director Tamayo has likewise reported the contribution of the private sector in the NGP through the development of a total of 4,068 hectares planted with tree
seedlings over 11 months period since January.
The holders of the Integrated Forest Management
Agreement have developed and planted seedlings on a total area of 622 hectares,
SIFMA, 92.0 hectares, mining companies 3,201.27 hectares and exploration
companies 151.47 hectares. (NCLM/DENR-13/PIA-Caraga)
City Health Office conducts one-month Filariasis
Mass Drug Administration
By Albert L. Lancin
SURIGAO CITY, Dec. 18 (PIA) – The City Health
Office here is currently conducting a month-long Filariasis Mass Drug
Administration that started on November 18, 2013 and would end on December 31,
2013 in the 54 barangays of the city.
The activity involves the giving of free
anti-helminthic drugs (Diethylcarbamazine Citrate (DEC) 50mg and Albendazole
400mg) as a prophylactic dosage to all residents aged 2 years old and above.
The activity primarily aims to eliminate or if
not reduced the cases of filariasis and elevate the health and well-being of
all Surigaonons.
The month long activity is initiated through the
effort of the City Health Officer Dr. Emmanuel A. Plandano with full support of
City Mayor Ernesto T. Matugas and the health workers in general.
Filariasis is a parasitic disease transmitted to
man by a vector Anopheles flavirostris mosquito. The disease is common in
tropical countries like the Philippines. To control its transmission the
Department of Health (DOH) has designed programs such as mosquito net
impregnation, case finding including the mass treatment of potential carriers
and infected persons. (SDR/City Health Office/PIA-Surigao del Norte)
Tagalog News: Sineguro ng pamahalaan sa biktima
ng Yolanda na sapat ang pagkain sa pasko
Ni David M. Suyao
AGUSAN DEL SUR, Dis. 18 (PIA) - Muling nagbigay
ng kasiguruhan ang pamahalaan noong Sabado sa mga biktima ng bagyong “Yolanda”
(Haiyan) na magkaroon sila ng sapat na pagkain mula sa pamahalaan kahit
hanggang Pasko.
Sinabi ni Presidential Communications Operations
Office Secretary Herminio “Sonny” Coloma Jr. na ang nangunguna para sa mga
biktima ng bagyo para kay Pangulong Aquino ay masegurong may sapat silang
pagkain.
"Patuloy ang daloy ng relief goods sa
kanila ... Sa pagkaroon ng sapat na pagkain, determinado ang pamahalaan na
siguraduhing may sapat silang pagsasaluhan sa Pasko,” sabi ni Coloma sakanyang
pakipagpqanayam sa mga mamamahayag.
Marami pa ring mga pamilya ang hindi naisaayos
mula ng sumalakay ang bagyong “Yolanda” nagwasak ng Visayas at Southern Luzon
at nag-iwan ng higit 6,000 na namatay.
Sinabi ni
Coloma na ang mga pamilya, lalo na iyong grabeng naapektohan na lugar, ay
patuloy na makakatanggap ng nakabalot na pagkain.
"Hindi natitinag ang commitment na ito
(That commitment of the President has not waned)," sabi ni Coloma. (PIA-Agusan
del Sur)
Cebuano News: Mga bag-ong lawak-tulunghaan
gidawat sa DepEd Butuan
Ni Lyka Quinto
BUTUAN CITY, Dis. 18 (PIA) - Sa pakig-alayon sa Filipino-Chinese Chamber of
Commerce and Industry, Inc. (FCCCII) pormal nang gipahigayon ang Turn-over and
Breaking Ceremony sa mga Lawak-tulunghaan, buntag sa Disyembre 11, 2013.
Upat ka mga bag-ong lawak-tulunghaan ang gitunol
sa FCCCII kang Mayor Ferdinand M. Amante, Jr. nga gitunol gilayon sa halangdong
Mayor ngadto kang Department of Education (DepEd) Schools Division
Superintendent Josita Carmen.
Nahibaluang ang 4 ka mga lawak-tulunghaan anaa
nahimutang sa Brgy. Kinamlutan, Brgy.Bancasi, Brgy. Baobaoan, ug Brgy.
Bayanihan. Kini proyekto sa FCCCII isip tabang ngadto sa lokal nga panggamhanan
sa pagpalambo sa matang sa edukasyon ning dakbayan.
Subay sa maong aktibidad gipahigayon usab ang
ground breaking sa itukuray nga ikaduhang lawak-tulunghaan sa Brgy. Bayanihan
ug ang paglunsad sa DepEd Computerization Program.
Gipangunayan
ni SP Member and Chairman on Committee on Education, Science and Telechnology
Hon. Ramon Carampatana ang pagplastar sa aktibidad.
Samtang gipadayag ni Mayor Amante ang iyang
dakung pagpasalamat sa FCCCII sa pakigtimbayayong niini sa Lokal nga
Panggamhanan sa Butuan ilabina sa matang edukasyon.
“Ang Lokal nga Panggamhanan sa Butuan padayon
ang paningkamot aron nga makabaton ang atong mga kabataan ug maayo nga mga
tulunghaan alang sa ilang pagkat-on. Magtinabangay kita in the spirit of
convergence in this big challenge ahead of us,” gipadayag ni Mayor Amante. (LGU
Butuan City/PIA-Agusan del Norte)
DOST-FPRDI scientist hailed outstanding Filipino
for 2013 PDF Print E-mail
By Mary Charlotte O. Fresco
MANILA, Dec. 18 - Forester Arsenio B. Ella, a
scientist conferred under the Scientific Career System and based at the
DOST-Forest Products Research and Development Institute (DOST-FPRDI) was chosen
as one of the three Outstanding Filipinos (TOFIL) for 2013, a prestigious award
co-established by JCI Senate Philippines and Insular Life Assurance Co. Ltd.
Forester Ella was awarded under the
Environmental Conservation and Sustainable Development category.
A respected wood taxonomist, Forester Ella’s
research focuses on the study and promotion of proper tapping of trees such as
almaciga and pili to optimize resin production without damaging the tree. The
resin of the almaciga tree is a high-priced export commodity which is used in
the making of varnishes, lacquer, soap, paint, printing inks, linoleum, water
proofing materials, among others.
Much of Forester Ella’s scientific works are
geared towards promoting livelihood programs among indigenous communities
through lectures and hands-on training on proper tapping of trees. One of his
notable researches is the promotion of improved tapping of almaciga tree for
sustained yield that is concluded to prolong the life span of almaciga tree,
increase the quality of the tree’s resin production, increase the income of the
tappers and help in the conservation program of the government since using almaciga for timber and lumber production is
banned.
Forester Ella is a conferred scientist with a
rank of Scientist III in the Scientific Career System, a reward and recognition
program of the DOST and Civil Service Commission for highly productive
scientific personnel in the government service.
Alongside Forester Ella, the other two awardees
are Dr. Alfredo Mahar Francisco A. Lagmay from UP Diliman and DPWH Secretary
Rogelio L. Singson, who joined the roster of 120 other Filipinos who have been
previously recognized as Outstanding Filipinos since 1988.
The Outstanding Filipino (TOFIL) Awards is a
joint project of the Insular Life and the JCI Senate Philippines to honor the
country’s men and women who have made significant contributions to the
advancement in his/her field of expertise, public welfare and national
development. The TOFIL Awarding Ceremony is scheduled on January 29, 2014. (S&T Media Service, DOST-NAST/PIA-Caraga)
Local researchers develop high-yielding,
disease-free abaca hybrids
By Arjay C. Escondo
MANILA, Dec. 18 - Pacol, a wild variety of
banana and a close relative of saging na saba, was used to create a
disease-free breed of abaca.
In a project dubbed “Production of High Yielding
and Virus-resistant Abaca Hybrids”, experts were able to do this by using
molecular markers in a biotechnology process called genetic engineering. This
collaborative project among agencies such as the Department of Science and
Technology’s Philippine Council for
Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development
(DOST-PCAARRD), University of the Philippines Los BaΓ±os (UPLB), Institute of
Plant Breeding (IPB), and Department of Agriculture-Biotech
The project is part of the DOST’s commitment to
provide S&T solutions that will address gaps in the major stages of
production.
According to the project leader, Dr. Antonio
Lalusin Jr. of IPB in UPLB, the project worked on the development of molecular
markers to assist in the hybridization of bunchy top virus free abaca.
Dr. Lalusin said that the pacol variety, endemic
in the Bicol region, has been used by breeders for hybrid purposes. Lalusin’s
team made use of the resistant gene marker of pacol by cross breeding it with
abaca and then breeding it back to pure-bred abaca.
“Through the use of gene markers, the selection
process for the bunchy-top resistant genes of pakol was significantly reduced,”
said Dr. Lalusin. “While the conventional breeding takes 10 years or so, we
were able to produce resistant abaca in about five years or less using modern
genetic technologies.
The bunchy top virus is the most injurious among
the three diseases that affect abaca in the country. Aside from lowering the quality
of harvested fibers, this virus also hinders the growth of infected abaca,
resulting in no harvest at all.
The project also aims to increase good quality
fiber yield by about 0.2 MT/hectare through the use of hybrid abaca plants.
This translates to an additional 14,488MT of good quality harvest or roughly
Php 579.5 million in revenues.
The team also targets to mass produce 2.5
million hybrid plantlets through tissue culture by 2014. Currently, the project
houses about one million tissue cultured plantlets in different stages of
growth in their laboratory, greenhouse and field trial station.
The top ten abaca producing regions, most of
them hit badly by typhoon Yolanda, will be given planting materials to revive
the industry.
Currently, the local abaca industry holds 85
percent share in the world market, with the Bicol region contributing about 36
percent production.
Abaca, commonly known as Manila hemp, the
country’s premier fiber, is known worldwide for its incomparable tensile
strength. Commonly used as clothing and footwear materials in the past, abaca's
application has expanded to sophisticated industries such as production of pulp
for specialty papers such as currency notes, stencil papers in addition to
textiles, handicrafts. Today, abaca fibers are being used by car manufacturers
as automobile composites.
However, there is an increasing threat of
disease incidence in the country, in addition to losses due to typhoons and
other natural calamities. Viruses such abaca bunchy top, abaca mosaic, and
abaca bract mosaic are the top three being studied on. Millions of pesos are lost to said diseases,
with as much as 23 million pesos in Bicol alone. (S&T
Media Service, DOST-STII/PIA-Caraga)
