DILG 13 engages CSOs for disaster risk reduction
By Marilou Autor-Salado
BUTUAN CITY, Mar. 27 (PIA) - The Department of the
Interior and Local Government – Caraga Region (DILG 13) initiated a
collaborative meeting of its Multi-Stakeholders Advisory Council (MSAC) members
and Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) concerned on Disaster Risk
Reduction/Climate Change Adaptation (DRR/CCA) activities on March 20, 2015 at
Almont City Hotel, this city.
The MSAC is the advisory body of DILG’s Local
Governance Regional Resource Center (LGRRC)—its knowledge hub on local
governance and special thematic areas. It is composed of National Government
Agencies, Non-Government Organizations and academic institutions and is
dynamically extending its network for collaborators and partners in development
work in the field of local governance.
With the support of DILG Caraga regional director
Lilibeth A. Famacion, the meeting was initiated through the DILG 13 - LGRRC as
a pro-active strategy to continually improve its services through expansion of
its network and linkages, particularly with members of MSAC and stakeholders
from CSOs that are concerned on Disaster Risk Reduction and Management. This is
to resolve the current need for a unified action to mitigate, prepare and
respond to natural calamities, which is apparent in the increase of DRR-related
priority projects identified by the grassroots community from all 73 cities and
municipalities of the region under the Bottom-up Budgeting (BuB) program.
Moreover, Local Government Monitoring and
Evaluation Division chief Rey Gregorio Jaranilla and Local Government
Capability Development Division chief Charissa Guerta have both emphasized that
the LGRRC continues to receive and respond to requests for Capacity Building
initiatives such as those pertaining to Disaster Risk Reduction and Management
(DRRM) and Climate Change Adaptation (CCA).
Considering the Department’s drive to enable LGUs
to become environmentally protective, climate change adaptive and disaster
resilient, the LGRRC has already initiated an interface meeting with the MSAC
members and various CSOs last September 2014. The DRR interventions provided by
the CSOs to the Local Government Units in Caraga were mapped out during that
meeting. The information gathered were helpful in determining the kind of DRR
interventions provided as well as knowing what LGU or community receives the
most or less assistance.
As a result, collaborative efforts for DRR-CCA are
hoped to thrive through the agreements during the meeting, such as: (1) The
creation of a TWG to come up a Regional Climate Condition based on
Scientific-Based information that will serve as DRR database for all planning
activities in the region; (2) the
harmonization of training modules on community-based DRRM; (3) partnerships for
the DILG’s Seal of Good Local Government (SGLG) Assessment, particularly on the
Seal of Disaster Preparedness component; and (4) Partnerships with the
Department of Science and Technology (DOST) and the Philippine Red Cross for
technical advice on the standards of DRR-related equipment, including its
maintenance and utilization.
CSOs expressed their appreciation to the endeavour
are looking forward to the collaboration which they find mutually beneficial to
all stakeholders involved. (DILG-Caraga/PIA-Caraga)
Feature: Can an apple a day keep the doctor away?
By Imelda Angeles-Agdeppa
Is there truth in the saying that “an apple a day
keeps the doctor away? What makes an apple good for our health?
Apple, malus sylvetris in scientific name,
provides a lot of health and nutritional benefits to our body. A medium-sized apple weighing 138 grams
contains about 81 calories, zero fat and cholesterol, 10 percent carbohydrate,
and more than 80 percent of water.
According to a research in Cornell University, a
combination of the plant chemicals- flavonoids and polyphenols, collectively
known as phytochemicals, provide the fruit’s antioxidant and anticancer
benefits. In addition, the skin of an apple contains a small amount of
beta-carotene and 4 milligrams of quercetin, an antioxidant compound preventing
oxygen molecules from damaging an individual’s cells that can lead to cancer
and other diseases.
The apple’s skin has insoluble fiber, which is a
great help for constipation. It also helps prevent diverticulosis, a condition
where small pouches form on the colon and become inflamed or infected. It also
has a soluble fiber, which is the pectin that can help lower cholesterol as well
as the risk of heart diseases. This soluble fiber can also slow the digestion
and the rise of blood sugar, making it good for diabetes patients.
About 4 percent of an apple is made up of vitamins
and minerals. The flesh provides some iron and potassium. Like other fruits,
apple contains vitamin C (8 milligrams/medium size).
Though apples give a lot of benefits, can these be
the reasons to say bye-bye to a doctor and hello to apple? Definitely, no!
According to the Handbook of the Nutritional
Guidelines for Filipinos developed by the Technical Working Group headed by the
Food and Nutrition Research Institute of the Department of Science and
Technology (FNRI-DOST), one should eat more vegetables, fruits, and root crops.
Consume two to three servings of vegetables each day, of which a serving is
equivalent to ½ cup or 40 grams for non-leafy and 1 cup or 25 grams for leafy.
Two servings of fruit daily, of which a serving ranges from 45 to 300 grams
(depending on the size and variety of fruit) is also recommended. The
consumption of these foods is encouraged to help prevent cancer and
constipation. Furthermore, consumption of these foods can help to correct
micronutrient deficiencies such as lack of vitamin A, B-vitamins, vitamin C and
iron.
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; Tel/Fax Num: 8372934 and 8373164; email: mvc@fnri.dost.gov.ph,
mar_v_c@yahoo.com; FNRI-DOST website: http://www.fnri.dost.gov.ph.; FNRI
Facebook page: facebook.com/FNRI-DOST; FNRI Twitter account:
twitter.com/FNRI-DOST. (FNRI-DOST S&T Media Service/PIA-Caraga)
Feature: Tips in buying safe cooked food
By Ma. Idelia G. Glorioso
Today, more people are resorting to buying cooked
foods outside the home. This is for practical reasons like saving time in
planning and preparing meals, convenience, availing of choice of
reasonably-priced and flavorful food, and experiencing other special treats
aside from the usual family menu.
Cooked and street foods are easy to find in the
carinderia, outside the school premises, churches, parks and even in malls.
However, there are safety issues in buying cooked
and street foods.
Are these foods safe to eat?
These foods are safe to eat provided that the food
handlers have the proper knowledge and training on food handling and services,
food preparation, personal hygiene and
maintaining a clean and safe environment.
The sixth message of the 2012 Nutritional
Guidelines for Filipinos (NGF) emphasizes that “consume safe foods and water to
prevent diarrhea and other food-related and water-borne diseases."
Here are simple tips to prevent food and
water-borne diseases:
-
Buy cooked food from known safe sources.
-
Avoid foods with mayonnaise or similar dressings. These spoil quickly.
-
Avoid buying foods cooked in tomato sauce and coconut milk because they
also easily spoil.
-
Buy frozen or refrigerated fresh cooked food like embotido or morcon.
-
Buy only newly-cooked foods and avoid foods that have been
long-standing. Examples of these are foods cooked in the morning and sold until
the afternoon, or evening or on even the following days.
Remember the 6th message in the 2012 Nutritional
Guidelines for Filipinos (NGF), consume safe foods and water to prevent
diarrhea and other food and water-borne diseases.
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; Tel/Fax Num: 8372934 and 8373164; email:
mvc@fnri.dost.gov.ph, mar_v_c@yahoo.com; FNRI-DOST website: http://www.fnri.dost.gov.ph.;
FNRI Facebook page: facebook.com/FNRI-DOST; FNRI Twitter account:
twitter.com/FNRI-DOST. (FNRI-DOST S&T Media Service/PIA-Caraga)
Tagalog News: Pangulong Aquino nilagdaan ang batas
na magpaliban ng halalan para sa Sangguniang Kabataan
AGUSAN DEL SUR, Mar. 27 (PIA) - Nilagdaan ni
Pangulong Benigno III ang pagiging batas na siyang magpapaliban ng halalan ng
Sangguniang Kabataan at ito ay itinakda sa katapusan ng Lunes ng buwan ng
Oktubre, 2016, sabi ng Malakanyang noong Huwebes.
Nilagdaan ng Pangulo noong Miyerkoles ang Republic
Act (RA)10656 na pinamagatang “An Act postponing the Sangguniang Kabataan
election hanggang sa huling araw na Lunes ng buwang Oktobre 2016,” na nag amiyenda
RA No. 9164 at pinamagatang “An act providing for synchronized Barangay and
Sangguniang Kabataan elections,” at ang RA 7160 nakilala rin bilang “local
government code of 1991.”
Orihinal na itinakda ang halalan ng Sangguniang
Kabataan noong Oktubre 28, 2013. (DMS/PIA-Agusan del Sur)
Tagalog News: Bandidong NPA inatake ang convoy ng
LGU AgNor
Ni Cpt Joe Patrick A Martinez
CAMP EVANGELISTA, Cagayan de Oro City, Marso 27
(PIA) - Pinaputukan ng walong armadong kalalakihan na hinihilaang grupo ng New
People’s Army (NPA) mula sa Guerilla Front 4-A kaninanang alas 11:20 ng
tanghali ang mga nagbabantay na kapulisan at convoy ni Hon. Maria Angelica
Rosedell Amante-Matba, Gobernador ng Agusan del Norte na patungo sana sa Sitio
Mimbahandi, Barangay Camagong sa bayan ng Nasipit, Agusan del Norte upang
pormal na iturnover ang isang bagong eskwelahan ngayong araw, Marso 26, 2015.
Agad namang nakaresponde at nakapaputok ang
kapulisan at mga sundalo ng 29th Infantry Battalion at matagumpay na naitulak
papalayo sa lugar ang mga naturang bandido. Agad ding nadala sa ligtas na lugar
ang convoy ng Gobernadora. Samantala, isang pulis ang nasugatan sa nasabing pag
atake (hindi pa inilalahad sa publiko) at kasalukuyang ginagamot sa isang
ospital sa lungsod ng Butuan at ayon sa kanyang doctor ay ligtas na siya sa
tiyak na kapahamakan.
Ayon kay Major General Oscar T Lactao, Commander
ng 4ID, “Ang pag-atake ng NPA ay nag-iwan ng takot sa puso’t isipan ng bawat
isa sa lokalidad lalong-lalo na sa mga bata na mag-aaral sa nasabing
eskwelahan. Upang mapanatili ang mga isyu sa bawat lugar, mga isyu na nagagamit
ng NPA upang paigtingin ang galit ng mga tao sa ating gobyerno gaya ng walang
sapat na pasilidad para sa edukasyon, trabaho o hanap buhay para sa mamamayan,
at programa para sa pag-unlad ng ating ekonomiya, kinakailangang harangin o
isabotahe ng mga NPA ang mga programang ito upang mas madali silang maka rekrut
ng bago nilang miyembro.
“Itoy patunay lamang ng kanilang hindi
pagsang-ayon na magkaroon ng katahimikan at pag-unlad ang ating bayan,” dagdag
pa ni MGen Lactao.
Kasalukuyan nang tinutugis ng pinagsanib na
puwersa ng kapulisan at kasundaluhan ang tumatakas na NPA. (PA/PIA-Caraga)
