SurSur guv thanks ‘TreeVolution' participants;
breaks good news on setting a new record
By Greg Tataro Jr.
TANDAG CITY, Sept. 29 (PIA) – Aside from
breaking the good news that the Philippines was able to set a new record for
the most trees planted in an hour in multiple locations, toppling down India’s
feat in 2011, of which Surigao del Sur was one of the provinces in Mindanao
that took part in the bid, Governor Johnny Pimentel extended his thanks and
gratitude to all capitol employees who took time out to plant trees on
September 26 for the “TreeVolution: Greening MindaNow.”
“First and foremost, I would like to thank the
employees who participated during last Friday’s “TreeVolution” project of the
Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA),” he stressed on Monday’s flag ceremony
program.
“The project was a total success although the
island of Mindanao was not able to achieve its set objective of planting
4,600,000 trees; however, we were able to surpass the record of India, of which
they planted 1,933,000. As of today, the
total trees that we have planted for the entire Mindanao is 3,200,000 trees,”
he went on saying.
But, reportedly, based on Guinness World record,
India was able to plant 1,945,535 in 408 locations across their country in one
hour.
Pimentel said, “So, daghang salamat. . . and
Surigao del Sur was able to contribute to that figure.”
Citing 1,825 people who participated in the
endeavor, for Tandag alone, Gov. Pimentel also stressed that Tandag City Mayor
Roxanne Pimentel “was able to plant 20 trees in one hour.”
Meanwhile, Adelfo Luengas, DENR planning
officer-designate, here, set right the report that reached Governor Pimentel,
who, earlier said that Tandag was not able to hit its target of planting 37,500
trees.
Instead, the DENR officer bared that Tandag was able
to plant 37,647, a figure more than the set goal.
However, Luengas admitted that overall, Surigao
del Sur was not able to hit its target of planting 142,000 trees, saying that
only a total of 136,125 trees was attained or short of 5,875.
It was learned that the deficit was caused by
Community Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO) in Bislig City that
failed to deliver its commitment of bringing in 1,200 participants to
supposedly plant 36,000 trees.
The said office was only able to produce 1,029
planters for 29,766 trees in an enrolled area of 72 hectares but has planted
only 59.53 hectares. (NGBT/Radyo ng Bayan/PIA-Surigao del Sur)
Feature: Malunggay jumpstarts good nutrition for
better health
By Noelle Lyn C. Santos
Are you missing your kids riding a bike, running
around, dancing and jumping during playtime lately?
It is usual to see children tired after doing
vigorous activities. But, what if their energy is always on the slump, the
sparkle in their eyes disappears and their boisterous laughter starts to wane?
Should you take it as ordinary mood swings or
should you start to worry?
Neglecting these “low-batt” signs can possibly
lead to serious nutrition problems.
Weakness, fatigue, poor vision and lack of
concentration may indicate that your kids are experiencing hidden hunger.
Hidden Hunger: Modernized Micronutrient
Deficiencies
Relatively new to the ears of most, hidden
hunger has been a persistent antagonist in the public health sector.
Hidden hunger is the modernized term for
micronutrient deficiencies that affects infants and children in the country.
According to the 2008 National Nutrition Survey
of the Food and Nutrition Research Institute (FNRI), micronutrients like iron,
vitamin A and iodine are commonly lacking in the diet of Filipino children.
These micronutrients, if not supplemented
adequately in your child’s diet, may eventually delay normal growth, mental
development and overall health.
How will parents protect children from hidden
hunger?
Though the government actively supports programs
alleviating hidden hunger through food fortification, supplementation and
nutrition education, practical solutions that can done at home still need to be
developed.
FNRI-DOST’s Plan of Action
Related to this researchers from the FNRI of the
Department of Science and Technology (DOST) led by Miss Leah A. Perlas
evaluated the consumption of vegetables widely available in the country.
Malunggay: The Wonder Gulay
Moringa oleifera, locally known as malunggay,
easily grows in the backyard and is economical.
Often added in soupy Filipino favorite dishes
like chicken tinola and chicken binakol, malunggay has evolved in form and use.
Leaves may be served raw or dry.
Packed with iron, vitamin A, B-vitamins, calcium
and other micronutrients, malunggay is recognized as a potent food source that
can help ease micronutrient deficiency.
Thus, malunggay is gaining popularity as the
“wonder gulay”.
MLP Fortification
The malunggay leaves powder (MLP), as used in a
study by the FNRI, can easily blend with various dishes without affecting
overall flavor.
The study included 121 school children 8 to 12
years who are underweight, anemic or both. The subjects were then divided into
two groups.
For 120 days, half of the group was fed with
snack foods containing 3 grams of MLP while the other group was given non-MLP,
fortified preparations.
Arroz caldo, ginataan mais, macaroni soup,
pancit canton and polvoron were the selected snack foods fed to children under
the supervision of the researchers to ensure validity and accuracy of feeding.
All foods were weighed before serving.
Those with additional 3 grams of MLP were
individually mixed onsite, while polvoron was prepared ahead of time.
After 3 months of feeding, children who consumed
MLP fortified snack foods recorded an increase in their vitamin A intake,
height, weight, hemoglobin levels and serum and red cell folate compared to
those who consumed non-MLP fortified snacks.
Both groups had increased retinol levels while
no effect was observed in terms of their riboflavin and calcium parameters.
Retinol is pre-formed vitamin A. present only in animal foods.
Nonetheless, more than half of the MLP group
that were classified as severely thin improved in nutritional status compared
to the non-MLP group.
JUST Add 3 Grams!
The findings of the study support malunggay’s
potential in improving the micronutrient levels in a child’s diet.
With malunggay, parents now have a better choice
of an additional ingredient in enhancing their child’s health and nutritional
well-being.
Just by adding 3 grams of malunggay leaves
powder, we can help our children pave the way to a better future.
Of course, it is still best to feed them with a
variety of nutritious foods with lots of tender loving care as they grow up to
become healthy adults.
For more information, contact: Dr. Mario V.
Capanzana, Director, FNRI-DOST, General Santos Avenue, Bicutan, Taguig City;
Telefax Numbers: 837-2934 and 837-3164; email: mvc@fnri.dost,gov,
mar_v_c@yahoo.com; website: http://www.fnri.dost.gov.ph. (FNRI-DOST S & T
Media Service/PIA-Caraga)
Lathalain: Paano mababawasan ang pag-inom ng
alak?
Ni Ma. Idelia G. Glorioso
Ang pag-inom ng alak ay nakaugalian ng mga Pinoy
tuwing may pagdiriwang ng iba’t-ibang okasyon. Magarbo o simpleng okasyon man
ay kakikitaan ng alak sa mesa.
Mahirap iwasan ang pag-inom ng alak sa ganitong
mga okasyon, lalo na kung ang kasama ay ang mga kabarkada, kaopisina o
katrabaho.
Ngunit maaaring
mabawasan ang pag-inom ng alak. Narito ang ilang payo:
-
Uminom ng mas maraming tubig habang umiinom ng alak.
-
Lumipat sa low alcohol beer o low alcohol wine.
-
Uminom sa mas maliit na baso ng alak kaysa dati.
-
Magdagdag ng mas maraming non-alcoholic mixers tulad ng juice o
kalamansi.
-
Uminom ng fruit juice o non-alcoholic wine.
Ayon sa 2012 Nutritional Guidelines for
Filipinos (NGF), maging physically active, pumili ng masustansyang pagkain,
i-manage ang stress, iwasan ang sobrang pag-inom ng alak at huwag manigarilyo
para maiwasan ang mga lifestyle-related non-communicable diseases
Ang NGF ay binuo ng Technical Working Group
(TWG) sa pamumuno ng Food and Nutrition Research
Institute ng Department of Science and Technology (FNRI-DOST),
Sa pag-iwas sa alak, maiiwasan din ang
gastos, sakit at iba pang panganib sa buhay.
Para sa karagdagang impormasyon tungkol sa
pagkain at nutrisyon, lumiham o tumawag sa Food and Nutrition Research
Institute-DOST, Bicutan, Taguig City, Tel. No. 837-29-34 or 837-20-71 loc.
2287, email: mvc@fnri.dost.gov.ph;
FNRI-DOST website:http//www.fnri@dost.gov.ph. (FNRI-DOST S&T Media
Service/PIA-Caraga)
