Red Cross, PBCC exceed blood collection target
in 2013
By David M. Suyao
PROSPERIDAD, Agusan del Sur, Feb. 26 (PIA) – The
Philippine Red Cross Agusan del Sur (PRC-AdS) Chapter with the Provincial Blood
Coordinating Council (PBCC) has exceeded its blood collection against its
expected usage in 2013, according to report by the PRC during the PBCC meeting
here.
According to PRC-AdS administrator Darwina
Ligan, blood collected got a total of 3,161 bags of 500 cc in 2013 while record
also shows only 2,311 were used.
Ligan said blood donation during the 146 mobile
blood donation trips conducted by the provincial blood team got the highest
number of bags with 2,880, followed by walk-in clients with 148 bags, blood
replacement from patients with 87 bags and from patients directed with 46 bags.
“Because our refrigerator can no longer
accommodate the number of bags with blood we collected, we sent some of them to
PRC Butuan City so that they will not be spoiled. But we can take them out upon
our needs because we have arrangement with PRC Butuan,” Ligan said.
Registered as the highest number of bags used
was the D. O. Plaza Memorial Hospital in Patin-ay with 1,877 bags followed by
the Bunawan District Hospital with 110 bags. In October last year, PRC-AdS sent
to PRC Butuan some 80 bags, PRC Surigao del Sur 16 bags, while the rest of the
users were from various hospitals in Caraga Region and one from Compostela
Valley.
“But blood collected were not all healthy blood.
As per our record, we have reactive blood totaling to 369 bags. These blood are
reactive of Hepatitis B, Syphilis, Hepatitis C and malaria. We have also
unsuccessful bleed of 149 bags and three bags expired blood,” Ligan said.
Ligan said the record that Agusan del Sur
maintained in blood collection is one of the main factors why PRC AdS was
awarded for its meritorious performance for two consecutive years (2012 –
2013), among 45 chapters by its class (class IV) nationwide in recognition for
its best performance by “turning in impressive overall results in Blood
Collection that exceeded its annual goal. (DMS/PIA-Agusan del Sur)
17th CRAM: Agusan del Sur outplays Tandag City
By T. Bandoy and T. Espadero
SURIGAO DEL SUR, Feb. 26 (PIA) – Agusan del Sur
kept championship hopes alive, after winning over Tandag City in Basketball on
63-31, during the 17th Caraga Regional Athletic Meet (CRAM) on Tuesday, Feb. 25
at the Surigao del Sur Sports Center in Tandag City.
The thrill began when Tandag City almost took
the lead over Agusan del Sur in 21-19 in the second quarter.
Agusan del Sur’s best player, six footer Noel
Yubuco, Jr. proved them wrong despite his weight when he grabbed the attention
of everybody with his low-post move and consecutive 2-point shots that made
their team lead again in the 3rd quarter.
Upon the start of the 4th quarter, Mikko Perez
of Tandag City Division lifted up his team’s hope with his jaw-dropping three
point shot, which boasted the spectators excitement.
However, Agusan del Sur did not let Tandag City
raise their confidence as they continued to dominate at the 4th quarter with
their strong defense and at the last minute of the final quarter.
Agusan del Sur’s confidence was at its peak at
the last seconds of the game when they threw a 32 point lead against Tandag
City ending the game with a score 63-31.
“It was quite hard for us during the first half,
but because of our teamwork and focus, we were able to strengthen our defense
and offense,” said Yubuco, the star of the game. (NGBT/JPENHS/PIA-Surigao del Sur)
AgNor commemorates 28th EDSA anniv
By Brian Jay Ceballos
BUTUAN CITY, Feb. 26 (PIA) - The Provincial
Government of Agusan del Norte joined the whole nation in commemorating the
28th Anniversary of the People Power EDSA Revolution at the capitol grounds,
Tuesday.
The simple program kicked off with the
traditional flag raising ceremony led by the Philippine National Police
(PNP) Agusan del Norte and wreath-laying
of flowers to the Philippine Flag led by governor Ma. Angelica Rosedell M.
Amante-Matba together with the provincial officials and heads of offices of the
provincial government and national government agencies in attendance.
The Buenavista Special Education (SPED) -
Integrated School Students (Elementary Department) performed a ceremonial
dance, portraying the struggles of the Filipino People to fight for freedom and
oppression thru peaceful means.
Vice Governor Ramon AG. Bungabong and Provincial
Dir. Romeo A. Solis of the Dept. of Interior and Local Government (DILG) -
Agusan del Norte both gave their recollection about EDSA in 1986.
Gov. Angel, in her speech, also recalled the
hardships she and her family endured during those times and emphasized how
fortunate the new generation is for enjoying the freedom to express and elect
leaders because of EDSA.
The employees of the provincial government
together with the elected officials participated in the singing of Ang Bayan
Ko, one of EDSA’s Theme Song, to formally end the program. (NCLM/LGU-Agusan del
Norte/PIA-Agusan del Norte)
DAR holds orientation to CARP advocates in
SurSur town
By Myra Yu
TANDAG CITY, Feb. 26, 2014 (PIA) - The
Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) Surigao del Sur legal officers and development
facilitators are conducting an orientation on agrarian matters to several
Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP) advocates in the municipality of
Tagbina, Surigao del Sur.
The activity, which started on Feb. 25 until
March 1, aims to disseminate the important provisions of the Memorandum
Circular No. 5 series of 2010 on the guidelines on the formation,
operationalization and strengthening of the Barangay Agrarian Reform Council
(BARC); features of the Republic Act (R.A.) 6657 or the Comprehensive Agrarian
Reform Law as amended by R.A. 9700; rules on R.A. 3844 also known as
Agricultural Land Reform Code as amended by R.A. 6389 and dispute on Agrarian
Conflict and Conflict Management.
The orientation is beneficial especially to
those who are members of the Barangay Agrarian Reform Council who will do the
screening of qualified agrarian beneficiaries and will serve as paralegals in
resolving tenancy issues.
The activity is also a good avenue for the
implementers to be refreshed on the existing laws of the Comprehensive Agrarian
Reform Program, it was learned.
Participants in the orientation are agrarian
reform beneficiaries and officials from barangays Sayon, Batunan, Magsaysay,
and Poblacion of the said municipality. (NGBT/DAR/PIA-Surigao del Sur)
17th CRAM medical team: No major injuries among
athletes so far
By Nerisa Espinosa
SURIGAO CITY, Feb. 26 (PIA) - The medical team
of the 17th Caraga Regional Athletic meet (CRAM) here in Tandag City reported
that since day one of the games, there were no major injuries brought in their
medical station located in different playing venues.
Records show that since Monday, February 24
until Tuesday, February 25, there were about 78 athletes, including some
officiating officials that were given medical attention either because of minor
wounds to hyperventilation.
However, few of them were brought to the Adela
Serra ty Memorial Medical Center for further treatment and observation.
According to Orland Villarica, member of the
team, there were two taekwondo athletes that are still confined at the said
hospital due to hyperventilation when they were hit by their opponents at the
private parts of their bodies during their match last Tuesday.
Among the events that posted many minor injuries
are athletics, taekwondo, swimming and basketball.
The 17th CRAM is now on its 4th day and the
medical team is hopeful that no major medical problems will arise until
tomorrow, the last day of the regional meet. (Radyo ng Bayan Tandag/PIA-Surigao
del Sur)
AgNor congressman files Comprehensive Civil
Registration bill
QUEZON CITY, Feb. 27 (PIA) - Agusan Norte First
District Representative Lawrence “Law” Fortun has authored House Bill No. 4014,
otherwise known as “The Comprehensive Civil Registration Act of 2014” in the
House of Representatives.
The bill, which seeks to establish a
comprehensive and more responsive civil registration system in the country,
provides for mechanisms for standardization and modernization of civil
registration procedures to ensure timely, efficient and accurate registration
of vital events in the life of each Filipino individual. Among the salient provisions of the bill are:
a) prohibition of any individual or hospital or clinic from withholding the
release or refusing to issue birth/death certificates or documents relating
thereto by reason of non-payment of financial obligations with the
hospitals/clinics, b) setting up of a comprehensive Barangay Registration
System, c) free delayed birth registration for reason of poverty, distance
and/or literacy issue, d) free delayed birth registration for indigenous
peoples (IPs).
Fortun said “civil registration is necessary as
it provides the means for the establishment of the identity and the recording
of the vital events in the life of a person which are vital in the recognition
and protection of his civil rights. It
is an essential system by which the citizenship of a person is established and
his or her inherent rights as a person are respected.”
The young solon added that “civil registration
affords accurate demographic data and other vital information that are crucial
to the government’s planning and policy decisions as wells as the delivery of such
basic services as health, infrastructure, education and social services."
Because of its enormous importance, Fortun said
there is a pressing need to introduce and implement a comprehensive and truly
responsive civil registration system. He expressed concern over “the sad fact
that our current civil registration system suffers from deficiencies and flaws
that deprive individuals of their inherent right to identity and recognition as
citizens, thereby denying them also of their civil rights.”
According to Fortun, estimates have it that
presently the births of over 2.6 million Filipino children have not been
registered, not to mention the millions of Filipino adults, including a
significant number of indigenous peoples, whose births have also not been
registered.
“The reasons in most of these cases have
consistently been due to poverty, distance and lack of literacy,” the solon
said.
Fortun likewise assailed the practice of some
hospitals and similar facilities in denying the underprivileged of their
fundamental right to identity. The young solon asserted that “the situation is
exacerbated by some individuals and medical institutions tasked to register or
facilitate registration of births but delay or refuse to do so because of
unpaid financial obligation on the part of the family of the new-born child. This is also true in the case of deaths of
persons whose families could not immediately settle in full their obligation to
hospitals or clinics. These are effectively deprivation of their rights by
reason of poverty.”
The house bill thus provides for, among other
mechanisms for comprehensive and responsive civil registration, a Barangay
Civil Registration System, Free Delayed Registration Program for unregistered
births due to poverty and Free Delayed Registration for Indigenous Peoples.
It also prohibits and penalizes deliberate delay
or refusal to deliver certificates of live birth or certificates of death and
related documents to the office of the local civil registration for reasons of
failure to settle hospital bills. “There
are other ways by which a hospital, clinic or medical facility can legally seek
payment from the family of the newly-born or the deceased, but not by detaining
documents required in the issuance birth or death certificates,” Fortun said.
“That is utterly unjust to the less-privileged,”
Fortun added.
“As civil registration is critical in the
recognition and protection of the civil rights of individuals, it should be
made available to every Filipino,” the Agusan solon said. (LAWig
Katawhan/PIA-Agusan del Norte)
News Feature: FNRI develops sweet potato fries
technology
By Jund Rian A. Doringo
MANILA, Feb. 26 (PIA) - Rootcrops are generally
rich in complex carbohydrates and dietary fiber. Starchy roots and tubers are
mainly used as human food, animal feed or manufactured to produce starch and
alcohol.
According to the Food and Agriculture Organization
(FAO) of the United Nations (UN), root and tuber crops are a staple food and
main source of calories for an estimated 700 million poor people in Africa,
Asia, and Latin America.
The National Nutrition Survey (NNS) conducted by
the Food and Nutrition Research Institute of the Department of Science and
Technology (FNRI-DOST) in 2008 revealed that starchy roots and tubers are
consumed at 17 grams daily or about two percent of the total food intake of
Filipino households.
The NNS found that there is a decreasing trend
in consumption of starchy roots and tubers among Filipino households from 1978
to 2008. Sweet potato is one of the commonly-consumed starchy roots and tubers
in the Philippines, along with potato, taro or gabi, and cassava. Around four
percent of Filipino households eat sweet potatoes regularly.
Sweet potatoes or locally known as kamote, a
seasonal root crop grown in tropical and subtropical regions like the
Philippines, is rich in beta-carotene, vitamin B6, manganese, and potassium. In
impoverished families in the provinces and in some parts in the metro, sweet
potatoes are an important food crop for they are much easier to cultivate and
more affordable than rice, hence an excellent source of energy and nutrients
for the entire family.
Sweet potatoes, though often eaten as is after
boiling or baking, are common ingredients in some Filipino delicacies such as
sinigang or sour soup, ginataan or sweetened coconut milk dish with various
root crops, jackfruit, and glutinous rice balls, and kamote-cue or sugar-coated
sweet potato slices fried and skewered on thin bamboo sticks.
Seeing the potential goodness of sweet potatoes,
the FNRI-DOST developed frozen, ready-to-fry sweet potato fries using food
extrusion technology.
Food extrusion is a very important food
processing operation. Extrusion is a process in which the food ingredient is
pushed through an orifice or a die of a given shape. It mixes and shapes foods
such as biscuit dough and pasta without cooking them, using cold extrusion,
while producing a wide range of products such as crisp snack foods and sugar
confectionery using hot extrusion.
After a series of sensory evaluation from
panelists, the ready-to-cook sweet potato fries were found acceptable and safe.
It contains 505 calories of energy, 1.8 grams of protein, 4.7 grams of dietary
fiber, and 854 micrograms (Β΅g) of beta-carotene per 100 grams, thus a good
source of vitamin A.
With appropriate packaging strategies and
shelf-life studies, the ready-to-cook sweet potato fries extrusion technology
can be transferred to interested small and medium businesses or local
government units for their livelihood or social projects.
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.
(FNRI-DOST S&T Media Service/PIA-Caraga)
Solon pushes for Dairy Cow Research Center in
Caraga
By Aimee B. Sienes-Sajor
AGUSAN DEL NORTE, Feb. 26 (PIA) - Representative
Erlpe John M. Amante of the second district of the province is pushing for the
creation of a Caraga National Dairy Cow Research Center to be housed inside the
Caraga State University (CSU), Ampayon Campus in Butuan City.
Amante is lobbying for this in congress so that
there will be a research facility for the raising, reproducing and milking of
Dairy Cows in the said region.
The creation of this facility is in connection
with the Philippines’ Dairy Road Map 2010-2016 which is projecting the rise of
the local dairy industry, which will provide affordable milk and jobs to the
people, and make an impact in the agricultural sector.
In a recent research, the National Dairy
Authority (NDA) also projected that in 2014 there will be a demand of 98.02
million liters of ready-to-drink milk, but the existing supply is only 89.10
million liters with 59.08 Million of this is imported from other countries
amounting to Three Billion and Nine Million Pesos (P3.9 B).
According to Amante, in order to achieve a
sufficient supply of local milk in 2016, "we need to raise more funds for
the milking herd and push for the expansion and growth of the dairy production
enterprises thru research and development."
Amante added that the CSU Campus is the best
place to house the facility given their expertise regarding the matter and the
abundance of space in their campus. (NCLM/LGU-Agusan del Norte/PIA-Agusan del
Norte)
