PhilRice Agusan to hold annual Farmer’s Field
Day
By Venus L. Garcia
BUTUAN CITY, Oct. 1 (PIA) – The Philippine Rice
Research Institute (PhilRice), Agusan Experiment Station is set to hold an
Annual Farmer’s Field Day and Forum on October 16, 2014 at the station in
Basilisa, R. T. Romualdez, Agusan del Norte.
According to PhilRice Agusan branch manager
Abner Montecalvo, the event is chiefly focused on the promotion of profitable
and market-driven enterprises in the rice environment.
“We have field set-ups that that feature
location-specific technologies and multi-media presentations that will surely
enrich and delight our participants. We have invited 1,000 stakeholders
composed of students, farmers, project implementers, and policy-makers from the
three regions under our area of coverage,” bared Montecalvo.
A press conference will be held at 8:00 to 9:00
a.m. and national and regional officials from the Department of Agriculture
(DA) and its line agencies will share their initiatives. DA Asec. Edilberto De
Luna, national coordinator for rice and corn program will also grace the event.
Included also during the event is an information
clinic on new technologies released by PhilRice Agusan followed by an open
forum.
“This year’s affair is anchored on the theme,
‘Sa Integrated Rice-Based Agri-Biosystem (IRBAS) Milyonaryo Ka, Sakay Na!’
Agriculture and fisheries specialist Wilfredo Santander of DA will give his
keynote address,” said Montecalvo.
The IRBAS program being carried out by PhilRice
will create farm employment in rice areas aside from increasing the income of rice
farmers.
PhilRice was established to develop and promote
the use of knowledge and technologies to ensure rice self-sufficiency and food
security. It advocates policies favorable to the rice industry; enhances
location-specific integrated crop management practices; develops production
management technologies and machinery to increase yield, reduce cost and
losses, protect the environment; and promotes the use of these knowledge and
technologies. (VLG/PIA-Caraga)
TESDA personnel renews pledge of commitment
By Robert E. Roperos
BUTUAN CITY, Oct. 1 (PIA) - In time with the
114th celebration of the Philippine Civil Service, personnel of the Technical
Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA)-Caraga Region and the
provincial office of Agusan del Norte recently renewed pledge of commitment to
serve public.
This, after the regional office of the Civil
Service Commission (CSC) in Caraga sponsored the Renewal of Pledge (Panunumpa
ng Lingkod Bayani) of all government workers held recently at Guingona Park,
this city.
In his speech, CSC-Agusan del Norte Provincial
Director Christopher Mabale emphasized that all state workers must at all times
committed and dedicated to their work in the service of the general public.
Dir. Mabale also underscored that commitment and
dedication is not a hard thing to do “as long as you love your work and you
love what you are doing.”
Prior to the pledge of commitment and
dedication, a mass was held at the Saint Joseph Cathedral attended by state
workers coming from the different agencies.
Meanwhile, TESDA-Caraga personnel visited Por
Kristo Foundation, a home for the abandoned elderlies; and the Gesu Eucaristiko
Children's Foundation, a non-government organization that is catering children
subject to violence.
The personnel headed by Regional Director Dr.
Florencio F. Sunico, Jr. donated goodies such as foods, 2 sacks of rice, canned
powdered milks, diapers, and disinfectants to the management of Por Kristo
Foundation.
Also, the regional office handed-in a cheque
worth P10,000 to Gesu Eucaristiko Children's Foundation Home Director Sister
Marilou Besere.
The 114th Philippine Civil Service Month is
anchored on the theme: “Tapat na Serbisyo Alay Ko, Dahil Lingkod Bayani Ako” (I
offered honest service because I am a Public Servant).
The month-long anniversary celebration aims to
promote, showcase, and celebrate heroism in public service. It also serves to
encourage and inspire state workers in their journey as servant heroes or
lingkod bayani. (TESDA-13/PIA-Caraga)
Joint motorcade to mark opening day of October’s
triple celebration in SurSur
By Greg Tataro Jr.
TANDAG CITY, Oct. 01 (PIA) – A joint
motorcade spearheaded by three government agencies mark the opening day of the
month of October in Surigao del Sur for the triple celebration of the
month-long activity for Consumer Welfare, Cooperative, and National Statistics
month.
The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), the
Cooperative Development Authority (CDA), and the National Statistics Office
(NSO), now known as Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), have two things in
common—a celebration that falls on the same month and the same opening
salvo—but with separate and different activities to pursue ahead.
Likewise, each agency has different themes
governing their occasion: “Sapat na
Impormasyon: Susi sa Wastong Paggamit ng Enerhiya,” “Kooperatiba: Maaasahan sa Pagsulong ng Kabuhayan at
Kapayapaan ng Bayan,” and “Ang NSM sa Ika-25 Taon at Higit: Matatag at Nakatutugong Sistemang
Pang-estadistika ng Pilipinas bilang Pagtaguyod sa Globalisasyon at
Integrasyong Pang-ekonomiya ng Rehiyon”—for the DTI, CDA, and PSA-NSO,
respectively.
Moreover, the respective chiefs of said
agencies, DTI Officer-In-Charge (OIC) Provincial Director Romel Oribe, CDA
Chief Angeles Canda, and PSA-NSO Chief Ruel Dres said that they are all set for
the occasion. (NGBT/Radyo ng Bayan/PIA-Surigao del Sur)
DPWH gives ultimatum to slow-moving contractors
BUTUAN CITY, Oct. 1 (PIA) – “Give ultimatum to
slow-moving contractors.”
This is the marching order of Department of
Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Caraga Regional Director Danilo E. Versola to
the Construction Chief after observing the alarming negative slippages incurred
in project implementation.
Versola said that it is not enough to accept
their words of reason but that they should have a workable catch-up plan to
augment their negative slippages.
“I have observed that they are not working
during holidays, Saturdays and Sundays.
Remember that our contract states calendar days and not working days,”
stressed Versola.
Monitoring report also revealed that certain
contractors have incurred big negative slippages that pull down accomplishments
and might affect target completion dates.
Relatively, RD Versola has created a committee
that will serve as Task Force for Time Suspension and Extension headed by
Assistant Regional Director Wenceslao M. LeaΓ±o, Jr. which is tasked to verify
in the field whether requests for Time Suspension and Extension should be
granted. RD Versola and ARD LeaΓ±o,
agreed to strict the granting of time suspension/extension as this has been
gravely abused by contractors to escape penalty.
With this development, Versola is optimistic
that an ultimatum will deter contractors in dilly-dallying implementation as
this will be considered in them getting another contract with the office.
(JPG/DPWH-13/PIA-Caraga)
AFP, PNP laud SurSur for holding Peace Summit
By Greg Tataro Jr.
TANDAG CITY, Oct. 01 (PIA) – Both the Armed
Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) have
highly regarded the successful conduct of the Peace Summit in Surigao del Sur
to have lasting effect.
The occasion was held in Tandag City on
September 29 as culmination activity for the month of September, which is
celebrated as the National Peace Consciousness Month by virtue of Proclamation
675 series of 2004 with the theme “Nagkakaisang Bayan Para Sa Kapayapaan.”
Spearheaded by the province of Surigao del Sur
through Governor Johnny Pimentel in coordination with the Office of the
Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP) represented by Assistant
Secretary Jennifer Oreta, the well-attended event, even by regional directors
of line agencies of government, caught the attention of not only the AFP and
the PNP but of the cross-section of society here as well.
Army 401st Infantry Brigade Commander Col.
Gregory Cayetano described the affair as good venue for threshing out problems
in the locality instead of using arms.
“Napakaganda pong venue ito na napag-uusapan
‘yung mga problema sa lokalidad kay sa mga problema na ito ay idaan sa armadong
pagtutunggali.”
Moreover, the brigade commander said that there
was even a “way ahead” discussion during the affair, which he explained further
as “continuous negotiation on unresolved matters.”
“Nagkaroon pa ng ‘way ahead—‘ ibig sabihin ‘yung ‘di pa nare-resolved ay patuloy pang
pinag-uusapan.”
But while, on the one hand, Cayetano
acknowledged that attendees came generally from government sector, on the other
hand, he stressed that there were also others who are neutral or sympathizers
with the “left,” implying about their Communist Party of the Philippines-New
People’s Army-National Democratic Front (CNN) inclination during their
participation.
During
the summit, Col. Cayetano was tasked to discuss the topic on “Peace and Order:
Beyond Crime and Insurgency.
In like manner, before the event proper, PNP
Officer-In-Charge (OIC) Provincial Director P/SSupt. Narciso Verdadero said
that such undertaking is going to pave the way for peace and development,
citing the importance of initiating “local talks” for mutual understanding
among fellow citizens.
A day before, Verdadero just came from a related activity held in
Carrascal town on September 28—Peace Consultation Dialogue with Indigenous
Peoples (IPs) of Carrascal—where he delivered the closing remarks. (NGBT/Radyo
ng Bayan/PIA-Surigao del Sur)
SK registration in SurSur goes well
By Greg Tataro Jr.
TANDAG CITY, Oct. 1 (PIA) – Atty. Ernie Palanan,
Commission on Elections (COMELEC) provincial election supervisor (PES) in
Surigao del Sur, said that, generally, the 10-day Sangguniang Kabataan (SK)
registration in the entire province went well.
Based on the official “Consolidated Report of SK
Registration” that he released, the total number of applicants have been posted
at 9,167.
Arranged in alphabetical order, the report went
as follows: Barobo-970; Bayabas-144;
Bislig City-647; Cagwait-352; Cantilan-497; Carmen-166; Carrascal-416;
Cortes-379; Hinatuan-689; Lanuza-333; Lianga-509; Lingig-392; Madrid-370;
Marihatag-427; San Agustin-394; San Miguel-463; Tagbina-647; Tago-606; and
Tandag City-766.
Surigao del Sur is comprised of 19 election
offices, each located in all its 17 municipalities and two cities.
Meanwhile, Palanan claimed that alleged reports
of “double registration” have reached his office, explaining that after having
been registered in one place, the registrant, still, went to another to be
re-registered.
However, he said that such registration
conducted on September 20-29 will still be subject to “scrutiny” during the
Election Registration Board (ERB) meeting on October 20.
Consequently, the COMELEC provincial chief
warned that raps may be filed against those who violated the governing laws,
citing in particular COMELEC Resolution No. 9899. (NGBT/Radyo ng Bayan/PIA-Surigao
del Sur)
Feature: Cigarette smoking is a preventable
habit, disease
By Ma. Susana O. Encarnacion
Tobacco dependence or smoking is classified as a
disease by the World Health Organization (WHO).
It has been identified as a major preventable
cause of human death in the world, the WHO also stated.
Knowing that such a deadly disease is preventable
gives hope to smokers hooked on the bad habit.
Recognizing the alarming diseases associated
with smoking and not to mention the increasing number of young people who are
starting the habit, efforts are being explored to address this life-threatening
problem.
Smoking is dangerous to health because it is
associated with different kinds of cancer, such as cancer of the mouth, tongue,
throat and lungs.
It is the major cause of chronic bronchitis,
emphysema, ischemic heart disease, hypertension, and other deadly diseases.
Even those who do not smoke but are exposed to
cigarette smoke can also acquire the diseases associated with it.
Moreover, smoking can also cause malnutrition
because of decreased appetite, deteriorating health and unhealthy lifestyle.
What are the harmful substances found in
cigarettes and cigar that cause these diseases?
Harmful substances in cigarettes include carbon
monoxide which destroys the ability of the blood to supply oxygen to the vital
organs of the body.
Nicotine causes addiction to cigarettes and
raises blood pressure and heart rate.
Tar, the brownish viscous substance in cigarette
smoke causes lung cancer, emphysema and chronic bronchitis.
The prevalence of current smoking has gone down
from 31.0 percent in 2008 to 25.4 percent in 2013 according to the Food and
Nutrition Research Institute of the Department of Science and Technology’s
(FNRI-DOST) 8th National Nutrition Survey (NNS).
The latest FNRI survey further revealed that the
percentage of those who never smoked increased from 54.3 percent to 59.1
percent, and former smoking from 14.7 percent to 15.4 percent.
The peak prevalence among age groups occurs at
40-49 years old.
Tobacco dependence is classified as a disease
but is preventable.
Smoking is indeed a hard habit to break, so the
best rule is never to start smoking because giving it up is not easy once a
person is already addicted to it.
For those who have already formed the habit,
decide when to quit and how to do it best are the initial steps.
One can win over the habit of smoking by
remembering to love oneself by not starting the habit. Thinking of one’s family
and getting their support means a lot in winning over this hard habit to break.
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. E-mail: MVC@fnri.dost.gov.phThis e-mail address is being
protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , Telefax:
837-2934 and 827-3164, or call: 8372071 local 2296 or visit our website:
http://www.fnri.dost.gov.ph. (FNRI-DOST S&T Media Service/PIA-Caraga)
Lathalain: Pag-eehersisyo, paano ba sisimulan?
Ni Ma. Idelia G. Glorioso
Sa panahong ito, dumarami ang mga Pinoy na
health-conscious.
Kahit saang dako ng Pilipinas ay uso ang
wellness run, wellness walk, fun run at marami pang iba na may kaugnayan sa
healthy lifestyle.
Maari kayong sumali sa mga ganitong gawain
ngunit ang simpleng pag-eehersisyo ay mas madaling gawin.
Paano ba magsisimula sa pag-eehersisyo?
Una, kumonsulta sa doktor. Ito ay lalo na kung
matagal nang hindi aktibo, maysakit, buntis o may edad na.
Ikalawa, simulan sa sampung minutong magagaan na ehersisyo gaya ng brisk
walking araw-araw.
Ikatlo, dahan-dahang bilisan at habaan ang
pag-eehersisyo sa mga susunod na mga araw.
Ayon sa 2012 Nutritional Guidelines for
Filipinos (NGF), maging physically active, pumili ng masustansyang pagkain,
i-manage ang stress, iwasan ang 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).
Di ba madali lang magsimula sa pag-eehesisyo?
Mag-ehersisyo tuwing umaga para lumusog
ang katawan at isip.
Para sa karagdagang impormasyon tungkol sa
pagkain at nutrisyon, lumiham o tumawag sa Food and Nutrition Research
Institute-DOST, Bicutan, Taguig, Metro Manila, Tel. No. 837-29-34 or 837-20-71
loc. 2287, FNRI-DOST website:http//www.fnri@dost.gov.ph (FNRI-DOST S&T
Media Service/PIA-Caraga)
