Nationwide search is on for sustainable, eco-friendly
schools of the year
By Remelie V. Cedro
BUTUAN CITY, Jan. 19 (PIA) – The Department of
Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) is now accepting nominations for the
"2015 National Search for Sustainable and Eco-friendly Schools." The
search is open to all public and private elementary and high schools, colleges
and universities nationwide.
The competition for the most environment-friendly
and sustainable schools seeks to encourage schools to become more actively
involved in environmental issues at the local level. It will also recognize
academic institutions with best-eco-friendly programs and activities.
The deadline for the submission of nominations is
on April 10, 2015 and the winners will be announced In November.
The national search was organized by
DENR-Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) in cooperation with the Department
of Education (DepEd), Commission on Higher Education (CHED) and other private
partners.
The search was launched in 2009, in response to
Republic Act No. 9512 or the Environmental Awareness and Education Act of 2008.
Interested participants must register on-line at
www.sustainableschools.ph and submit their entry in three card copies to their
respective DepEd Division Offices for public elementary and high school
categories, and to EMB regional offices for private elementary, high school
entries, and higher education category.
For more information, visit http://www.emb.gov.ph
and/or http://www.sustainableschools.ph. (DepEd Butuan City Division/PIA-Agusan
del Norte)
News Feature: Nutritious food blends, snacks for
young children up for grabs
By Kristian Jebsen B. Bandong
MANILA, Jan. 19 (PIA) - The Food and Nutrition
Research Institute of the Department of Science and Technology (FNRI-DOST), in
its continuing effort in addressing malnutrition, developed a technology for
making affordable nutritious snacks for children.
Complementary foods, according to the FNRI-DOST,
are foods or liquids other than breastmilk fed to young children.
These foods address mothers’ concerns on how to
feed their babies six months old and onward when their nutritional needs are
rapidly increasing.
It is at this stage when malnutrition usually sets
in, thereby affecting children’s health.
Using tried and tested technology and
locally-available raw materials, the FNRI developed complementary and snack
foods that are based on rice and mongo, which are rich in energy and protein.
In visits conducted in the regions, the FNRI urged
local government units and entrepreneurs to adopt the technologies as part of
their health and nutrition program.
Adopting the FNRI’s complementary food and snack
entitles entrepreneurs to FNRI technical support, such as proper layout of the
production area, hands-on training on the appropriate processing technology,
technology transfer contract including quality control assurance from raw
materials to finished product, and basics of Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP)
implementation.
The DOST Package for the Improvement of Nutrition
of Young Children (PINOY) Program aims to reduce the prevalence of
undernutrition among 6 to 35 months old children through production and technology
transfer of complementary food blends and snacks.
The FNRI-DOST provides technical assistance to
local government units, non-government and private organizations who are
interested to produce the complementary food blends and snacks for livelihood
and for their feeding program.
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; Telephone/ Fax Nos:
837-2934 or 837-3164; Direct Line:839-1839; DOST Trunk Line: 837-2071-82 local
2296 or 2284; e-mail: mvc@fnri.dost.gov.ph or at mar_v_c@yahoo.com; FNRI-DOST
website: http://www.fnri.dost.gov.ph. Like our Facebook page at
facebook.com/FNRI.DOST or follow our Twitter account at twitter.com/FNRI_DOST.
(FNRI-DOST S & T Media Service/PIA-Caraga)
Siargao tourism council elects new sets of
officers
By Mary Jul Escalante
DAPA, Surigao del Norte, Jan. 19 (PIA) - The Siargao Island Tourism
Development Council (SITDC) elected recently its new sets of officers here.
The newly-elected officers are Gen. Luna vice mayor
Veronico Solloso as its president, Emmylou Abejo as vice president; Giovanette
Espejon as secretary; Tomelyn Tinio as treasurer; Dr. Elvira Egay as auditor;
and Mary Jul Escalante as public information officer.
Camarines Sur governor Miguel Luis Villafuerte
together with Surigao del Norte governor Sol F. Matugas and first district
congressman Francisco T. Matugas officiated the oath-taking of the
newly-elected SITDC officers.
The Siargao Island Tourism Development Council
will be the partner of the Provincial Tourism Office and Provincial Tourism
Development Council in the planning and implementation of tourism development
programs and activities in Siargao Island. (SDR/PIC-Surigao del
Norte/PIA-Surigao del Norte)
Police Regional Office 13 to honor returning
contingent as “Pope” security
By Noel B. Najarro
BUTUAN CITY, Jan. 19 (PIA) - Police Regional
Office 13 is set to honor the members of the contingent who served as
augmentation for security of Pope Francis in Tacloban City during his five-day
state visit and apostolic journey to the country.
PRO Caraga regional director PCSupt. David Y.
Ombao said that he commended his personnel who were members of the contingent
as they had “accomplished their mission well especially for the success in
providing the security of the visiting Pontiff, despite the inclement weather,”
Ombao said.
According to CSupt. Ombao, some of the contingent
members had already arrived but some of them are expected to arrive late this
afternoon.
Ombao said that those who are assigned here in the
region as well as those assigned near here will be honored at the regional
police headquarters while those who have gone back to their places of
assignments in the provinces will be given their due recognition and honors at
their respective police provincial offices.
As for his message to the people of this region,
Ombao said that even if the Pope had already left the country, “we will
continue to live His Holiness messages such as what he said for us to continue
to live and sacrifice what is generally best for the people and for the
country. We will continue seeking to live in peace, harmony and unity despite
the differences of our beliefs, ideologies and preferences,” Ombao said. (PNA/PIA-Caraga)
PHO Dinagat Islands to conduct free urinalysis,
FBS check-up
By Ma. Jane A. Mayola
SAN JOSE, Dinagat Islands, Jan. 19 (PIA) - Before
the first month of the year ends, the Provincial Health Office here will offer
a new year's treat to all regular and job order employees in the province to a
free urinalysis and fasting blood sugar (FBS) check-up.
According to Health Education and Promotion
Officer Che Benitez, the free urinalysis and FBS test will start this week.
Benitez said that urinalysis is used to detect and
assess a wide range of disorders, such as urinary tract infection and kidney
disease while the FBS is a screening test for diabetes.
“Kidney and diabetes diseases are the two common
causes of morbidity in the Philippines. So, we encouraged the provincial
government employees to avail of this opportunity for early detection and to
prevent complications,” Benitez added. (SDR/PIO-Dinagat Islands/PIA-Dinagat
Islands)
Butuan celebrates 116th 1st formal flag hoisting
in Mindanao
BUTUAN CITY, Jan. 19 (PIA) – The historic Butuan
celebrated its 116th commemoration of the first formal flag hoisting in
Mindanao, Saturday morning, January 17.
The celebration was attended by Agusan del Norte
1st district representative Lawrence Lemuel H. Fortun, Butuan City mayor
Ferdinand M. Amante, Jr., members of the Sangguniang Panglungsod, officers of
the Butuan City Historical Society, and attendees during the ceremonial flag
raising.
According to local accounts, the first formal
hoisting of the Philippine flag in Mindanao was done in the city on January 17,
1889. Here, Gov. Wenceslao Gonzales of the Tercio Distrito of Surigao, Fr.
Francisco Nebot, S.J., and the principal president of Butuan formally lowered
the Vatican flag and officially raised the Philippine flag accompanied by the
playing of the Himno National de Filipinas by the local bands of Butuan,
Cabadbaran, and Tubay.
Historical accounts also hold that with the
impending victory of the Philippine Revolution throughout the country,
emissaries of the Revolutionary Government of General Emilio F. Aguinaldo led
by Wenceslao Gonzales proclaimed the Philippine Republic in Mindanao during the
event. This historic act which took place in Butuan, then military capital of
the province of Surigao, marked the end of colonial rule in this part of the
archipelago, and was fittingly carried out with the hoisting of the Philippine
flag, a first in all of Mindanao.
Together with Surigao and Cagayan de Oro, Butuan
bids claim for recognition of the said occasion. While the National Historical
Institute (NHI) recommended that the first and official flag raising occurred
in Surigao, the position of the Butuan side was that the tricolor was raised in
Butuan on January 17, 1899, with Governor Wenceslao Gonzales personally
presiding over the flag-raising ceremony in full regalia. The governor later
reported the event to President Emilio Aguinaldo on February 2, 1899,
suggesting formality and official warranting from the Aguinaldo government.
In his message, Rep. Law Fortun underscored the
significance of the occasion. "Despite controversies surrounding our
claim, one cannot underplay the fundamental value of our celebration. Just as
the coming of the leader of Roman Catholicism, Pope Francis, this occasion
invites us to unity and self-reflection," Fortun said.
"Cooperation, understanding, and vigilance,
as we reflect that only through collective action we can see the goodness of
every human creation, and find common, yet higher, ground to resolve our
differences and struggles. Our flag, is the embodiment of our courage, of
inspiration, of hope, of unity and of peace," Fortun added. (LAWig
Katawhan/PIA-Agusan del Norte)
LBP-Tandag branch: Running on local money
circulation
By Greg Tataro Jr.
TANDAG CITY, Surigao del Sur, Jan. 19 (PIA) –
Notwithstanding the current situation of being affected by isolation due to the
unrestored detour bridge in Barangay Buhisan, San Agustin town, 64.5 kilometers
south, this city, the Landbank of the Philippines (LBP) Tandag branch in
Surigao del Sur has managed to continue to serve its clients like any ordinary
day.
Herbert Luna, LBP Tandag branch manager admitted
it is the local money circulation that “keeps their head above water.”
It can be recalled that until now, Tandag City and
other neighboring towns heading north after San Agustin town have been isolated
from the south since Tropical Storm (TS) Seniang hit the province on December
29, 2014.
The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH)
cannot act on quickly to start the restoration work of the washed out detour
bridge due to inclement weather following the said typhoon.
District Engineer Joseph Calderon of the DPWH 1st
Engineering District said that supervision over the restoration work rests upon
the DPWH Caraga regional office. A
timeline of three weeks to one month has already been set to complete the job.
Meanwhile, Luna bared clearance on two options in
bringing in/out cash has already been approved, citing air cargo, on the one
hand, which is more expensive and/or land route via Surigao del Norte which, on
the other, is a bit risky.
Clients need not worry about not being able to
withdraw cash since January is a lean month as compared to the ensuing months
as far as bank transactions are concerned, he assured.
Earlier, Luna confirmed that indeed the bank
branch here experienced running out of cash from January 2 – 4. (NGBT/Radyo ng
Bayan-Tandag/PIA-Surigao del Sur)
TESDA-13 conducts workshop on GAD plan preparation
By Robert E. Roperos
BUTUAN CITY, Jan. 19 (PIA) – To ensure that
programs on Gender and Development (GAD) are properly implemented, Technical
Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA)-Caraga recently conducted a
workshop held recently at the regional office’s conference room.
Participated by 22 GAD focal persons from the
different operating units of TESDA-Caraga, the activity aims to strengthen the
focal persons’ GAD point system. It also aims to formulate the 2016
TESDA-Caraga GAD Plan and Budget consists of the Provincial Offices and TESDA
Technology Institutes (TTIs).
Further, it assesses and analyzes respective
regional Programs, Activities and Projects (PAPs) major programs using the
Harmonized Gender and Development Guidelines (HGDG) as a tool for gender
analysis.
Fe N. Gomez, Sr. TESD Specialist and GAD focal
person of TESDA-Caraga said the workshop will somehow ensure availability of
funds for critical programs/projects, consistent with the physical and
financial plans/targets/schedules submitted by TESDA Provincial Offices and
TTIs.
Gomez likewise said this will also set the
benchmarks in agency performance that shall be used in determining the
achievement of objectives and targets in the delivery of services. In this way,
GAD focal persons should familiarize themselves with the online monitoring
system, review and endorse their Grassroots Participatory Budgeting (GPB) and
GAD Accomplishment Report online.
Furthermore, Gomez said after the GAD has
submitted their 2014 Accomplishment Report, “we will review what we targeted
for 2014 GAD Plan and Budget and try to find out what we had not accomplished.
Then let’s take a look on what we had targeted for 2015. This will be our basis
in the preparation of the 2016 GAD Plan and Budget if we are going to make
changes of the targets.”
Moreover, the official said an orientation on the
Gender Mainstreaming Monitoring System (GMMS) was presented. The procedures and
the guidelines were presented and discussed in order to come up with
comprehensive, organized plans and budget for 2016.
As to the updates on TESDA’s Gender Responsive
Governance, it was discussed that more skills training for women especially on
non-traditional trades should be provided as encouraged by Former Senator
Leticia Ramos Shahani and TESDA Deputy Director-General Teodoro C. Pascua.
On the issue of the Payapa at Masaganang Pamayanan
(PAMANA), Gomez said the National Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security
responded to several international commitments such as the United Nations
Security Council Resolution (UNSCRs) 1325 and 1820 articulating peace and
security provisions of national mandates such as R.A. 9710 – Magna Carta for
Women.
“For TESDA’s part, the agency is tasked to provide
women in conflict with skills training for empowerment,” Gomez said. (TESDA-13/PIA-Caraga)
