DOH gives financial assistance to fight TB
By Mary Cherly S. Monoy
BUTUAN CITY, Feb. 27 (PIA) – The Department of
Health through the Center for Health Development (DOH-CHD) is giving financial
assistance in the amount of P300,000 to the province of Agusan del Norte to
fight Tuberculosis (TB).
The amount will be used to support to the
External Quality Assurance/TB-Directly Observed Treatment Short-Course
(TB-DOTS) Program of the province.
The said program aims to improve the capability
of the laboratories in the province to ensure the right treatment for the
people who are positive with TB - Case Detection of 90% and Cure Rate of 95%.
A memorandum of agreement (MOA) will be signed
by governor Ma. Angelica Rosedell M. Amante-Matba and DOH-13 OIC regional
director Dr. Minerva P. Molon to formally enforce the implementation of the
said program thru Sangguniang Resolution No. R-025-2014. (NCLM/LGU-Agusan del
Norte/PIA-Agusan del Norte)
17th CRAM: Butuan City clinches Bislig City
By Elwin Sanchez and Guen Silverio
TANDAG CITY, Feb. 27 (PIA) – Despite the
sizzling heat, Princess Ebaso of Butuan City kept her control to take over
Bislig City’s Jea Dano in a nerve-wracking tie breaker championship game in
girls singles held at the JTP Tennis court, this city.
Princess Ebaso, now an upcoming five-time
“Palaro” player, fed her opponent with her veteran skills.
Dano continuously dominates the first 3 sets as
she threw her forceful service aces leaving Ebaso in the score 0-3.
However, the defensive Ebaso took charge of the
next set as she ignites offensive drop halls to Dano, 1-3.
Before the start of the next set, Ebaso’s side
took a medical timeout due to abdominal pains.
As the game continues, the crowd grew intense
pressure as the players exchanged numerous rallies. In the following sets,
Ebaso grew aggressive and show-cased her blazing smashes that resulted to the
score into 5-all.
Dano has a hard time to score against the firm
Ebaso but she managed to kept along the track of the game and both stuck at
7-all. Again, making them proceed at the tie-breaker.
At the clinching moments, both exchanged heir
unique attacks on each other until Ebaso boosts all her techniques and clinches
the tie at 7-4.
“It was a challenging game, yet it was amazing,”
Ebaso said. (NGBT/PIA-Surigao del Sur)
SCCI implements Coordinating Road Investments
project
SURIGAO CITY, Feb. 27 (PIA) - The Surigao
Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Inc. (SCCI) continues its implementation of
the Coordinating Road Investments project for local economic development and
poverty reduction in the province of Surigao del Norte.
SCCI Consultant Alice V. EuseΓ±a said during the
Provincial Development Council meeting held recently here that since July 2012
the SCCI has implemented the coordinating road investments project under the
supervision of The Asia Foundation (TAF) with financial support from the Agency
for International Development (AusAID) under the Coalition for Change Program.
“The project aims to facilitate the
identification of priority road network and roads within the network of roads
in Surigao del Norte, mobilize support and resources for identified priority
road network and priority roads, and sustain innovations in decision-making and
implementation in roads development,” she said.
EupeΓ±a also said that the reform agenda of the
project has been developed such as Digital Roads Database Map; Provincial Road
Investment Coordinating Committee (PRICCOM) and Coordinated Road Investments.
“In order to greatly promote coordinated road
investment in the province, the SCCI is proposing a Coordinating Road Investments
Development (CRID) which includes creation of roads database for Siargao Island
municipalities, coordinating road investment planning system (CRIPS) and
enhancement of roads database with Global Positioning System (GPS),” EupeΓ±a
added. (SDR/PIA-Surigao del Norte)
Agusan del Sur Pablo victims get Salintubig
project
By Melody E. de Vera
VERUELA, Agusan del Sur, Feb. 27 (PIA) - More
than a year after Typhoon Pablo hit Agusan del Sur and its neighboring
provinces leaving hundreds of fatalities and many Agusanons particularly in
Veruela, Sta. Josefa, Loreto and Trento towns without homes and livelihood, the
provincial government is relentlessly providing rehabilitation assistance and
the most recent are the “Salintubig” or the TINA Project.
During a recent meeting of the League of the
Municipalities of the Philippines (LMP) provincial chapter held here, Governor
Eddiebong Plaza and Veruela Mayor and LMP president Salimar Mondejar formally
handed-over to typhoon victims in eight affected barangays rain water
collectors and upgraded biosand filter facilities.
The recipient bargays are Katipunan with 25 rain
collectors; Sta. Cruz, 20; Sisimon, 15; Anitap, 20; San Gabriel, two and La
Fortuna, one while Sawagan and Sampaguita each got one biosand filter facility.
Respective barangay chairmen formally received the projects and committed to
sustain the facilities.
According to Mayor Mondejar, residents of these
barangays and the neighboring barangays will now be assured of a steady supply
of clean and safe drinking water while possibility of contracting water borne
diseases will be eliminated.
The Provincial Engineering Office implemented
these projects sourced out from the Department of the Interior and Local
Government’s (DILG's) Performance Challenge Fund.
Speaking before the mayors, Governor Plaza said
that he prioritized the projects in said areas considering their need for
potable drinking water as they try to recover from the damages brought by the
disaster.
Mayor Mondejar also said these barangays are
gradually recovering from the recent calamity and in fact are already
recipients of DILG’s Seal of Good Housekeeping.
The Tubig Imnunon Natong Agusanon (TINA), a
project started in 2009 by then Governor and now 2nd District Rep. Maria
Valentina Plaza is now pursued by Governor Eddiebong Plaza whose aim is to
provide Agusanons in remote areas potable water sources. (DMS/PIA-Agusan del
Sur)
NBI District Office in Cabadbaran pushed
By Aimee B. Sienes-Sajor
AGUSAN DEL NORTE, Feb. 27 (PIA) - A bill was
recently passed by Second district representative Erlpe John M. Amante, House
Bill No. 3733, which aims to put up a National Bureau of Investigation (NBI)
District Office in Cabadbaran City.
The NBI office provides technical assistance for
efficient investigation of crimes and coordination among national and local law
enforcement agencies to maintain the peace and order of the area. It also
provides issuance and renewal of NBI Clearance which is essential for employment
(local or overseas).
At present, there is only one NBI office in
Caraga Region located in Butuan City. Because of this, Cong. Amante saw the
need to put up another office to cater the needs of more people, not only from
Agusan del Norte, but also from neighboring provinces such as Agusan del Sur,
Surigao del Norte and Surigao del Sur.
Amante added that Cabadbaran City, being the
capital of the province, is the most ideal location of the said office.
Effective, good and quality service will be provided by the NBI when its
district office will be established. (NCLM/LGU-Agusan del Norte/PIA-Agusan del
Norte)
Food fortification alleviates malnutrition
By Imelda A. Agdeppa
MANILA, Feb. 27 (PIA) - Eating a variety of
foods in adequate amounts provides the necessary nutrients needed by the body
to function normally. However, a balanced diet is seldom attained since healthy
foods, such as fruits and vegetables, are mostly not affordable, not always
available and some need time to prepare.
Prevalence of specific micronutrient
deficiencies, as revealed by the 2008 National Nutrition Survey (NNS) by the
Food and Nutrition Research Institute of the Department of Science and Technology
(FNRI-DOST), still poses possible health implications. Anemia prevalence is at
19.5 percent, vitamin A deficiency (VAD) is at 5.9 percent and deficiencies in
other nutrients such as zinc and iodine are also prevalent in specific age
groups such as the pre-school and school-age children, elderly, lactating and
pregnant. Chronic specific micronutrient deficiencies lead to a vast number and
variety of disorders like blindness due to VAD, mental retardation (because of
iodine deficiency disorder, and poor growth caused by anemia.
Effective and long-term strategies to address
micronutrient malnutrition being implemented in country include
supplementation, nutrition education and food fortification. Republic Act 8976
or the Philippine Food Fortification Act of 2000 provides for the establishment
of the Philippine Food Fortification Programs and its implementing rules,
regulation and guidelines.
Food fortification is the addition of nutrients
to processed foods or food products at levels above the natural state. As an
approach to control micronutrient deficiency, food fortification is the
addition of a micronutrient deficient in the diet to a food which is widely
consumed by specific at-risk groups.
The Food Fortification Act targets addressing
specific micronutrient deficiencies by mandatory fortification of staple food
items such as rice with iron, wheat flour with vitamin A and iron, refined
sugar with vitamin A and cooking oil with vitamin A and voluntary fortification
of other food items. Fortification of staples, as a long-term solution to
micronutrient deficiencies, is easier to administer and promotes participation
from a greater number of beneficiaries.
In accordance with RA 8976, the Sangkap Pinoy
Seal Program awards recognition to fortified food products. The seal is seen in
food packages and serves as a guide for consumers to make a healthier choice.
The Diamond Sangkap Pinoy Seal is awarded for staples while the Sangkap Pinoy
Seal is awarded to voluntarily-fortified food products.
Among households interviewed in the 2008 NNS,
77.5 percent purchased food products with Sangkap Pinoy Seal. A study by
Angeles-Agdeppa in 2010 among school-age children showed alleviation of anemia
in approximately 50% of the population after drinking ready-to-drink fortified
juice for 120 days.
The Philippine Food Fortification Act of 2000 is
a giant leap towards alleviating micronutrient deficiency in the country. Continuous
promotion, advocacy and consumption of fortified food products may be a small
step but a good start in eradicating micronutrient malnutrition in the country.
For more information on food and nutrition,
contact 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. Telefax: 837-2934 and
827-3164, or call 837-2071 local 2296 or visit our website:
http://www.fnri.dost.gov.ph. (Ph. D., FNRI-DOST S & T Media
Service/PIA-Caraga)
Tagalog News: Embahada ng Pilipinas sa Malaysia
pinauwi ang libo-libong Pilipino sa pamamagitan ng boluntaryong repatriasyon
Ni David M. Suyao
AGUSAN DEL SUR, Peb. 27 (PIA) - Libo-libong mga
hindi dokumentadong Pilipino sa Malaysia ang nagsamantala sa programang
boluntaryong repatriyasyon at umuwi sa Pilipinas, ayon sa ambassador ng bansa
sa Malaysia.
Sa isang pakipagpanayam noong Miyerkoles, sinabi
ng Embahador ng Pilipinas sa Malaysia na si Eduardo Malaya na mahigit 7,000 na
walang dokumentong mga Pilipino ay sinamantala ang naisaayos na boluntaryong
repatriasyon. May higit-kumulang mga 8,000 hanggang 10,000 na mga Pilpino ang
nagtatrabaho o naninirahan sa Malaysia na illegal.
Ang embahada ay nakipagtulungan sa mga otoridad
ng Malaysia sa pagsaayos ng mga imigranteng Pilipino sa halip na silang mga
Pilipino ay punahin, pagdadamputin at piitin sa mga pasilidad ng immigration,
sila ay boluntaryong magsisuko at pauwiin, sabi ni Malaya.
“Sila ay pumunta sa amin, sinubukan naming
magkaroon sila ng exit permit, magbayad ng pinababang bayarin, at pagkatapos ng
ilang araw o kaya isa o dalawang linggo, sila ay makakabalik sa Pilipinas at
umaasang hindi sila titigil sa kulungan kahit isang araw man lang,” sabi ni
Malaya.
“Kaya naiisip ko, ito ay napaka-makahulugan at
sa bilang naming, umaabot sa 200 na mga Pilipino ang naapektohan ng crackdown
na inilusad kamakailan sa taong ito,” dagdag ni Malaya.
Ang bilang ng mga hindi dokumentadong Pilipino
ay napakaliit kung ikumpara sa mga taga ibang bansa tulad ng Indonesia, na sa
tantiya ay aabot ng dalawang milyon. Sabi pa niya na ang pagtrato sa 8,000
hanggang10,000 ay madali lamang.
Karamihan sa 200 na mga Pilipino na naantala sa
kanilang trabaho ay nagmula sa sektor ng maliit na tindahan at plantasyon.
Ang mga otoridad ng Immigrasyon mula sa Malaysia
ay iba kung ikumpara doon sa mga otoridad ng Immigrasyon sa Sabah at pati sa
Sarawak, paliwanag ni Malaya, na alam na may magkaibang batas ng Immigrasyon sa
mga nasabing teritoryo.
Pero partikular sa Sabah, sinabi niya na ang
embahada ay palaging nagpapadala ng koponan na binubuo ng pitong miyembro para
magsilbi sa mga Pilipino doon. Bumibisita sila sa Sabah ng hindi bababa
buwan-buwan at titigil doon ng isa o dalawang linggo.
Si Pangulong Benigno S. Aquino III na darating
doon sa araw na ito para sa dalawang araw na pagbisita ay makipagkita sa
komunidad ng mga Pilipino sa Kuala Lumpur. (PIA-Agusan del Sur)
Cebuano News: Edukasyon ug pagbansay, yawi sa
usa ka malambuong mamumuo – DDG Pascua
By Robert E. Roperos
DAKBAYAN SA BUTUAN, Peb. 27 (PIA) - Dungan ang
pagbutyag sa kamahinungdanon sa pag-ugmad sa mga mamumuo sa nasud, gisaysay ni
TESDA Deputy Director-General for Field Operations Atty. Teodoro C. Pascua nga
ang usa ka paagi aron makab-ot ang kalambuang pang-ekonomikanhon mao ang
tukmang edukasyon ug pagbansay sa mga magtutungha.
Kini ang gibutyag sa ikaduhang pinakataas nga
opisyal sa nahisgutang ahensiya atol sa bag-ohay pa lamang natapos nga 2nd
Caraga Regional Conference on Renewable Energy kung diin kini nahimong usa sa
mga mamumulong sa nahisgutang kumperensya.
Matud ni DDG Pascua, tungod kay nakita sa
panggamhanan ang pagkamahinugdanon sa edukasyon ug ang de kalidad nga pagbansay
sa mga magtutungha, giduso gayud ang pag-implementar sa K to 12 curriculum kung
diin kini nahimo na’ng kabahin karon sa Bag-ong Sistema sa Edukasyon sa nasud o
ang gitawag nga “Philippine Education System.”
Gidugang sa opisyal nga ubos niini nga sistema,
ang nasud nakabaton na karon og talagsaong tri-focalized education system nga
gilangkuban sa basic education, technical-vocational education, ug higher
education.
Tungod niini, dugang sa opisyal nga tulo usab ka
mga ahensya sa gobyerno ang gitahasan nga mupanday sa mga polisiya ingon man
ang pagdumala o pag-administer sa pormal nga edukasyon: Ang Department of
Education o DepEd alang sa basic education; ang TESDA alang usab sa
technical-vocational education and training, ug ingon man ang Commission on
Higher Education o CHED alang sa tertiary ug higher education.
Sa pag-implementar sa K to 12 nga programa,
gipasabot ni Pascua nga ang basic education naglangkob na karon og unom ka tuig
dugang sa gimandatong programa sa Kindergarten sa elementarya.
Dugang niini, ang sekundarya naglangkob og upat
ka tuig sa Junior High School ug duha ka tuig usab alang sa Senior High School.
Sa ikatulong ang-ang mao ang tertiary education u gang gitawag nga post
secondary schooling. Ang higher education gibahin-bahin ngadto sa
baccalaureate, masteral ug doctorate nga ang-ang sa nagkadaiyang programa o
disiplina.
Bisan og adunay compartmentalization sa sistema
sa edukasyon sa nasud, si Pascua miingon nga masiguro gihapon ang dekalidad nga
edukasyon pinaagi sa standards ug accreditation nga sistema nga gi-adopt sa
basic ug higher education nga mga tulunghaan. Kini usab makab-ot pinaagi sa hini-usang
rehistrasyon ug accreditation nga sistema nga gisubay sa tanang
technical-vocatonal nga mga tulunghaan.
Tungod sa maong kalambuan, si Pascua nagbutyag
nga kinahanglang ipatuman sa tulo ka mga edukasyong ahensya sa panggamhanan ang
dekalidad nga edukasyon ug pagbansay aron maka-kumpetensya ang mga
kabatan-onang Pinoy sa gikinahanglan sa pangkalibutanong merkado kung ang
kakapas sa mga mamumuo ang pagahisgutan.
Ang 2nd Caraga Renewable Energy Forum
gipangunahan sa Caraga Foundation for Science and Technology, sa pakig-alayon
sa Tennessee Renewable Energy and Economic Development Council (TREEDC),
Renewable Energy Association of the Philippines (REAP) ug ang Philippine
Electronics and Communications Institute of Technology (PECIT). (TESDA-13/PIA-Caraga)
