TESDA-AgNor spearheads abilympics, PWD forum
By Gervacio C. Dauz, Jr.
BUTUAN CITY, Aug. 2 (PIA) - A number of eager
Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) from the different municipalities and lone
city of Agusan del Norte got a heyday of their lives showcasing what’s up and
on their sleeves when they joined a one-day Abilympics or Provincial Skills
Competition held recently at the Capitol Compound and at AMA Computer Learning
Center in this city, and, the following day, it was followed by a forum for
PWDs and the awarding ceremony for winners at the Provincial Training Center
here.
Spearheaded by the provincial government of
Agusan del Norte and supported by Technical Education and Skills Development
Authority (TESDA)-Agusan del Norte Provincial Office and the AMA Computer
Learning Center, the Abilympics rolled out with at least four trade areas or
categories being competed upon in line with the National Disability Prevention
Week and in preparation for the regional, and hopefully national, competition.
Declared winners for Creating Web Pages were
Michael Dominise of Cabadbaran City who got the 1st Place, while Salvador
Aquino, Jr. of Jabonga secured the 2nd Place.
For the Desktop Publishing, Jesus Lelis, Jr. of
Cabadbaran City landed 1st Place; Christopher Saubon of Jabonga snatched the
2nd Place; and Cristina Sarte of Las Nieves got the 3rd Place.
For the English Text Processing, Francisco B.
Gumapac, Jr. of RTR municipality heralded the 1st Place; Matlin C. Esma of
Kitcharao, 2nd Place; and Jessie T. Dominise of Cabadbaran City, 3rd Place.
For Photography, on the other hand, Joebert
Tapales of Magallanes took the 1st place, while Mylyn Junio of Las Nieves
gained the 2nd Place.
All winners of the Abilympics got trophies and
were given the following prize money respectively: P1,000.00 for 1st Place; P750.00
for the 2nd Place; and P500.00 for the 3rd Place.
The first two enumerated competitions were held
at the AMA CLC campus at the J.C. Aquino Avenue here, while the other two were
slated within the premises of Capitol Compound here.
During the forum – an Orientation on National
Agencies’ Programs and Services for PWDs – held on the second day, at least
three agencies were invited to share about inputs that could help alleviate or
ease the plight of the PWDs and these were the Department of Transportation and
Communication, Department of Health, and TESDA.
Provincial Board Member and Committee Chair on
Social Services Elizabeth Marie R. Calo, who keynoted the event was glad to
note that the PWDs had really found the time and effort to show their skills
and talents, so that they will be mainstreamed into the society.
Representatives from DOTC and DOH likewise
shared about their agencies’ respective services for the PWDs, while TESDA, on
the other hand, egged the PWDs, who were present, to not only settle for
capability building and enhancement, but to really organize themselves and
secure a legal personality, so that they will have the currency and face value
to transact business with legitimate organizations and agencies that could help
them through provision of seed capital and other intervention package. (TESDA-Agusan
del Norte/PIA-Agusan del Norte)
DOH Caraga teams up with BJMP for ‘Belly Gud for
Health’ program
BUTUAN CITY, Aug. 2 (PIA) - The Department of
Health (DOH) Caraga regional office and Bureau of Jail Management and Penology
(BJMP) Caraga team-up in the launching of "Belly Gud for Health" for
the staff and personnel of BJMP Caraga held recently at Doongan Covered Court,
this city.
“Belly Gud for Health” is a six-month long
challenge designed by the DOH where executives and staff undergo nutrition and
physical activity, counseling, healthy diet, aerobic and isometric exercises
and stress management activities aimed towards optimum wellbeing. The
participants of the challenge with a belly measuring above the desirable waist
circumference (35 inches for men and 31 inches for women) and have undergone
risk factor assessment (glucose, cholesterol, blood pressure, body mass index)
are automatically targeted as participants for the six-month long program.
Participants are expected to work on their own
interventions in accordance to their preference, schedule and convenience.
However, they are expected to apply only healthy and natural interventions. The
use of slimming drugs or herbal products and other formulations, including
liposuction or other artificial interventions are prohibited.
The BJMP regional office will ensure that the
staff enrolled in the program will be supplied with the needed information to
guide and help them during the course of the program. Inputs on nutrition,
exercise and stress management will be provided. Also, the said office, through
its one hour of athletic time every Tuesdays and Thursdays will ensure that the
staff can have their needed regular physical fitness activities and exercises.
BJMP Caraga regional director J/SSupt. Dennis
Rocamora said during the launching that those targeted to reduce their
waistline will be monitored on a monthly basis. "Staff in jail offices
throughout the region will be monitored by their respective Jail Health
In-charge. A certificate of commendation and a commendation medal, together
with an additional cash prize will be given to the biggest weight looser.
However, there will be a corresponding administrative penalty for those who
will fail in the annual physical fitness test and medical exams,” Rocamora
said.
Meanwhile, DOH Caraga regional director Minerva
Molon said that obesity and being overweight are proven factors in the
development of non-communicable, debilitating, lifestyle related diseases such
as hypertension, diabetes – to name a few. "We need interventions; cost
effective, efficient and result-oriented interventions to prevent these said
diseases that are affecting more and more Filipinos," she said.
Molon said physical exercise, proper nutrition,
stress management and adequate rest periods contribute to the total wellbeing
of a person. "We, at the DOH Caraga regional office, enjoin everyone to
practice healthy lifestyle habits to prevent lifestyle-related diseases. We
will also launch the Belly Gud for Health program in our office during the
culmination activity of our month-long anniversary celebration,” said Molon.
(DOH-Caraga/PIA-Caraga)
