DOST’s Phil Science HS open to applications for
NCE 2016-1017
BUTUAN CITY, May 26 (PIA) -The Department of
Science and Technology- Philippine Science High School System (DOST-PSHS) is
now accepting applications for the National Competitive Examination (NCE) for
incoming Grade 7 students for school year 2016-2017.
A Grade 6 pupil from a school duly recognized by
the Department of Education who meets the following criteria is eligible to
apply for the PSHS NCE: He/she must: 1) belong to the upper 10% of the batch
(SY 2014-2015) and not have a grade below 80% as certified by the school
principal or registrar. If the applicant
does not belong to the upper 10%, he/she should have special aptitude in
science and math as evidenced by the report card, with at least a final grade
of 85% in science and math and 80% in all other subjects; 2) be a Filipino
citizen with no pending application as immigrant to any foreign country; 3) be
born on or after June 1, 2001; 4) be in good health and fit to undergo a
rigorous academic program; 5) be of good conduct and behavior; and 6) not have
taken the NCE previously.
Application requirements include: Fully accomplished application form in two
copies; Two recent identical 1x1 ID pictures; Non-refundable test fee (P 100
for private schools, free for public schools);
Copy of report card for school year 2014-2015.
Application forms can be downloaded for free at
www.pshs.edu.ph and are also available and may be filed in any PSHS campuses
nationwide, DOST Regional Office, or Provincial Science and Technology
Office. Application forms with
incomplete information will not be processed. Erasures, alterations and
insertions must be initialed by the applicant.
The Examination Permit(s) will be issued to the
applicants upon completion of all documents by the campus where the application
was processed. For applications filed
with DOST offices, the exam permits will be mailed to the applicant, and/or to
the school principal for distribution to its applicant(s).
In case the exam permits are not received two
weeks before the examination day, the applicants should check with the nearest
PSHS campus, DOST Regional Office, DOST Provincial Science and Technology
Office, or the PSHS System Admissions Office.
The deadline for filing of application is on August 31, 2015 and the
date of examination will be on October 3, 2015.
The PSHS or Pisay, operating under one system of
governance and management, provides scholarships to students with high aptitude
in science and mathematics. Based on a
curriculum that emphasizes science and mathematics and the development of
well-rounded individuals, PSHS prepares its students for careers in science and
technology.
To date, PSHS has 14 campuses nationwide, with the
addition of the Calabarzon Region Campus which is opening this coming
schoolyear 2015-2016.
For more information or inquiries, contact the
PSHS System Office of the Executive Director – Admission Unit at tel. no. (02)
926-5701 or send an email to oed@pshs.edu.ph.
Meanwhile, PSHS will be holding a one-day
Robotics/Interactive Science Exhibit on July 27, 2015 during the celebration of
DOST’s National Science and Technology Week (NSTW) which will be held at the
SMX Convention Center, Mall of Asia, Pasay City from July 24-28, 2015. Admission is free. (DOST/PIA-Caraga)
Feature: Are you a bean lover?
By Charina A. Javier
You see them in different colors - red, black,
green, white, brown. They may be gas-forming but are cheap and soft. Anyone can
eat these solo, mix with cereals or just pop into the mouth. These are just a
few ways one can describe beans or legumes. But more than the adjectives, these
foods are rich source of nutrients our body needs such as proteins, vitamins,
and minerals, carbohydrate, and dietary fiber.
Legumes are good sources of protein, particularly
when taken in with grains which complement each other in terms of essential
amino acid pattern or composition. Essential amino acids are protein components
which the body cannot produce on its own. The body must have all the amino
acids it needs to function in building and replacing worn body tissues.
Legumes are also good sources of vitamins and
minerals such as niacin, Vitamin B6, folic acid, phosphorus, potassium,
magnesium and zinc. These vitamins and minerals help boost energy and growth of
children.
Legumes are rich in dietary fiber and generally
have low glycemic index. Such attributes are important in the control and
management of diabetes. Dietary fiber slows down the rise of blood sugar after
eating, and thus, prevent hyperglycemia or the sudden abrupt increase in blood
sugar among diabetic persons.
Many advertisements have come out about foods rich
in dietary fiber. Beans are one of the best sources of this fiber. There are
two types of fiber based on their solubility in water, soluble and insoluble.
The kind of fiber that is more abundant in beans or legumes is soluble fiber.
Soluble fiber is associated with lowering of blood cholesterol, which is one of
the ways to prevent heart disease. It also controls the passage of food in the
gastrointestinal tract, thus, maximizing the absorption of nutrients.
The 2012 Nutritional Guidelines for Filipinos
(NGF) of the Food and Nutrition Research Institute, Department of Science and
Technology (FNRI-DOST) recommends To consume fish, lean meat, poultry, egg,
dried beans or nuts daily for growth and repair of body tissues.
Munggo in munggo guisado, tausi with bangus, green
peas in menudo or afritada, among others are some familiar ways of preparing
legumes. And who could resist a cup of halu-halo with all the sweet beans? No
matter how the beans are cooked, you'll surely love to eat them.
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)
59 orgs to avail loan assistance thru agrarian
production credit program
By Joie L. Ceballos
BUTUAN CITY, May 26 (PIA) - A total of 59 agrarian
reform beneficiary (ARB) organizations will avail loan assistance through the
joint agrarian production credit program (APCP) of the Department of Agrarian
Reform (DAR), Department of Agriculture (DA), Department of Environment and
Natural Resources (DENR) and the Land Bank of the Philippines (LBP) in 2015.
This was revealed during the coordination meeting
of the involved agencies, presided by DAR Caraga regional director Julita A.
Ragandang recently.
"This is our intervention along with our
partner agencies to provide credit to our farmer organizations, especially
those who cannot qualify under LBP's regular lending program," says
Ragandang.
Reports showed that in 2008, only 57 percent of
the farmers have access to credit from formal lending institutions and almost
500,000 of the 1.4 million agrarian reform beneficiaries nationwide need credit
assistance.
In Caraga, P84.7 million will be released this
year which will benefit 3,394 agrarian beneficiaries.
Under this partnership, the DA, DAR and LBP shall
pool their resources and expertise to help the ARBs in terms of providing
credit at an affordable interest rate, development assistance and marketing
support.
"The APCP shall be the vehicle through which
the appropriate financial and technical services shall be delivered to the
ARBs," Ragandang added. (DAR-Caraga/PIA-Caraga)
Gawad Kalasag PSC evaluates AgNor LGUs
By Aimee B. Sienes
BUTUAN CITY, May 26 (PIA) - The Agusan del Norte
Provincial Selection Committee (PSC) of the Gawad Kalasag 2015 spearheaded a
four-day evaluation activity from May 12-15, 2015 to the municipalities and
barangays of the province to actually see the Municipal/Barangay Disaster Risk
Reduction Management Council (MDRRMC/BDRRMC) offices and all their equipment in
preparation and response to disasters and emergencies.
The members of the PSC visited the barangays of
San Roque and Canaway in Kitcharao, municipalities of Jabonga, Magallanes, RTR,
Carmen, Barangay Humilog of RTR and Carmen National High School in the
municipality of Carmen for the Search for 2015 Disaster-Resilient LGU better
known as Gawad Kalasag 2015.
To recall, the provincial government of Agusan del
Norte started the evaluation and assessment of the local government units
(LGUs) in the province vying for the said search.
The selection committee is headed by the
Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) with members: Sangguniang
Panlalawigan Office (SPO), Provincial Social Welfare Population and Nutrition
Services Office (PSWPNSO), Provincial Health Office (PHO), Philippine
Information Agency (PIA), Department of Education (Deped), Department of
Science and Technology (DOST), CSO, Provincial Planning Office, and Red Cross.
This is the second year for the Gawad Kalasag to
be awarded in October in time for the ANGELL (Accelerating New Dimensions on
Good Governance and Excellence in Local Leadership) awarding.
The prizes at stake are P100,00.00 for the first
prize, P75,000.00 for the second prize and P50,000.00 for the third prize. Such
prizes will be utilized for disaster related projects, plans, programs and
activities. (LGU-Agusan del Norte/PIA-Agusan del Norte)
BFP starts fire safety inspection on dormitories,
boarding houses in SurSur
By Greg Tataro Jr.
TANDAG CITY, Surigao del Sur, May 26 (PIA) –
Following the active participation in the conduct of Brigada Eskwela last week,
the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) in Surigao del Sur headed by F/Insp.
Rowella Dinolan has immediately shifted to accomplish additional task.
In a memorandum dated May 18, 2015, BFP Caraga
regional director F/SSupt. Leonidez Perez has directed all lower units
regionwide “to undertake,” among others, “massive fire safety inspection.”
“All dormitories and boarding houses” have to go
through such inspection in order to “ensure Fire Safety Compliance,” the fire
regional chief cited.
Last week, BFP personnel regionwide have been
directed to undertake fire safety inspections on “all buildings, structures and
facilities of all public elementary and high schools” and such other things
relative thereto. (NGBT/Radyo ng Bayan-Tandag/PIA-Surigao del Sur)
DA boosts farm mech drive
By Vanessa Sanchez
BUTUAN CITY, May 26 (PIA) - In its quest to attain
food security and sufficiency, the Department of Agriculture – Regional Field
Office XIII (DA-RFO XIII) intensifies its promotion of the Farm Mechanization
Program by reaching out to farmers level.
This, after the DA-RFO XIII in coordination with
the Philippine Center for PostHarvest Development and Mechanization (PhilMech)
conducted a five-day information caravan on farm mechanization recently.
The week-long caravan was conducted in rice
producing areas in the city of Bayugan, municipalities of Esperanza, San
Francisco, Rosario and Trento, all of Agusan del Sur, and Tago, San Miguel,
Madrid and Cantilan, all of Surigao del Sur.
The caravan was attended by farmers and people’s
organization leaders. Experts from PhilMech and DA-RFO 13 discussed about the
farm mechanization program of the Department and entertained queries from the
participants.
“We are here to reach out to you and bring the
good news. We want you to know about the programs of the Department so you will
be guided on how to avail of these services,” Emmylou T. Presilda, DA
Information Section Chief, told the participants.
Dr. Rodolfo Estigoy, chief of the Applied
Communications Division of PhilMech, discussed about the benefits of farm mechanization.
Foremost of which is to lower production cost and postharvest losses. He also allayed concerns expressed by the
farmers about the displacement of labor with the rise of mechanization. He said
that DA is now encouraging farm laborers to group together and organize a Farm
Service Provider (FSP). To enhance their
farming skills, technical and capability trainings will be conducted for them
to be equipped as they in turn can then be tapped by other farmers in need of
their services. In addition, as an organization, they can also avail farm
machineries and equipment from DA.
The participants responded positively to the
activity saying that with the information they gained, they will no longer be
left out. “We appreciate the Department for conducting this activity because
many of us farmers have limited awareness of the DA’s programs, but now it is
being brought closer to us and we feel that the government is really looking
after us,” said Edilberto Mungcal, a farmer from San Miguel, Surigao del Sur.
The farm mechanization program, which is a major
component of the Food Staples Sufficiency Program (FSSP), is part of the DA’s
move to modernize agriculture in the country and aims to increase the
productivity and income ofl farmers. (DA-13/PIA-Caraga)
SMCC inks partnership with TESDA in Surigao del
Norte
By Robert E. Roperos
BUTUAN CITY, May 26 (PIA) – The Sumitomo Mitsui
Construction Corporation (SMCC) has signed a memorandum of agreement (MOA) with
the Surigao del Norte Provincial Office of the Technical Education and Skills
Development Authority (TESDA) to develop middle-level manpower in the province.
The forging of agreement was made recently in SMCC
Philippines, Inc. at Brgy. Taganito, Claver, Surigao del Norte. Hiroyuki
Shiomi, SMCC project manager, signed the MOA with Ma. Hydee E. Relliquete, officer-in-charge
of the Surigao del Norte College of Agriculture and Technology (SNCAT).
SNCAT is a TESDA-administered school pursuant to
the declared policy of the state to provide relevant, accessible, high quality
and efficient technical education and skills development in support to the
development of high quality Filipino middle-level manpower, responsive to, and
in accordance with the Philippine development goals and priorities.
Under the agreement, SNCAT is mandated to push and
conduct training, assessment and certification as part of its major continuing
programs.
The SMCC Philippines, Inc. on the other hand, will
participate in the skills development of the said manpower particularly in the
assessment and certification of Heavy Equipment Operation (Wheel Loader) NC II,
Heavy Equipment Operation (Backhoe Loader) NC II, Heavy Equipment Operation
(Bulldozer) NC II, Heavy Equipment Operation (Rigid On-highway Dump Truck) NC
II, Heavy Equipment Operation (Rigid Off-highway Dump Truck) NC II, Heavy Equipment
Operation (Motor Grader) NC II, Heavy Equipment Operation (Road Roller) NC II,
Heavy Equipment Operation (Hydraulic Excavator) NC II, Heavy Equipment
Operation (Forklift) NC II, and Driving NC II (Light Vehicle).
With the forging of the agreement, SMCC agrees to
allow their facilities and equipment to be used for the conduct of training and
competency assessment of SMCC employed heavy equipment operators and drivers as
identified in the Competency Assessment Tools.
The company will also provide venue in the conduct
of competency assessment in Heavy Equipment Operation NC II and Driving NC II
of SMCC Operators and Drivers. Also, the company will provide employment
opportunity to certified workers in Heavy Equipment Operation NC II and Driving
NC II certified graduates based on the company policies and guidelines, only in
case if there is need of such manpower requirement.
Meanwhile, SNCAT agrees to ensure the smooth
conduct of assessment as governed by rules and regulations based on Philippine
TVET Qualification and Certification System (PTQCS) Guidelines and steps on
assessment stated in the Procedures Manual on the Conduct of Competency
Assessment.
The school will also facilitate the issuance of
National Certificate (NC) or Certificate of Competency (COC) to competent
workers within five to ten working days after the conduct of the national
assessment.
On top of these, the school is bound to provide
free on-site training to SMCC Philippines, Inc. in Driving NC II qualification
in accordance to the required nominal duration of 118 hours equivalent to 15-20
days including the assessment schedule.
This undertaking is in-line with the
Public-Private Partnership (PPP) of the Aquino administration in support to the
Human Development Cluster of the Philippine Development Plan. (TESDA-Caraga/PIA-Caraga)
LMD Fest marks grandest fiesta for Butuan
BUTUAN CITY, May 26 (PIA) - From May 15-19, 2015,
thousands of Butuanon gathered in so far the largest and grandest five-night
concert in the history of the city, the Lawig Music and Dance Fest 2015, easily
outpouring Robinsons’ South Car Park venue.
Presented by the Office of Rep. Lawrence ‘Law’
Fortun, First Choice Events Management and Consultancy, Equi-parco Construction
Company, and ADFiL Corporation, the LMD Fest 2015 totally rocked Butuan’s 28th
Balangay Festival, adding festivity and jubilation to city’s fiesta.
Top performers such as Kokoi Baldo, Gruppo
Tribale, 6 Cycle Mind, Rivermaya, Jason Dy and Parokya ni Edgar drove the crowd
ecstatic, while top disc jockeys (DJs) of the country hyped the party crowd to
the beat of electronic dance music (EDM). Magnificent fireworks spectacle
concluded every night’s main performance, and signals until-dawn rave party.
Dubbed as “Kahugyawan para hong Kinaiyahan,” the
event also aimed at raising environmental awareness to critical common-pool
resource of the city, such as Taguibo watershed, Mt. Mayapay, and Agusan River.
Artists have performed environmental songs and cheered with the crowd to help
save the natural resources.
According to Fortun, they have always wanted to
organize a concert-for-a-cause of this caliber where people get to engage not
only the fiesta, but also genuine local issues, especially those pertaining to
the environment. The solon also emphasized the necessary call to action of
protecting the environment through varied channels of information.
To thousands of Butuanons, LMD Fest is the largest
and first-ever fiesta party of this scale and intensity. As the party winds
down, many Butuanons looked forward to next year’s LMD Fest.
The presenters bared for a more intense, more
festive LMD Fest in the coming years. (Lawig Katawhan/PIA-Agusan del Norte)
