LGU-Dinagat Islands reaps fully gender responsive LGU Award
By Jennifer P. Gaitano
BUTUAN CITY, July 3 (PIA) -- The
Regional Development Council-Regional Gender and Development Committee
(RDC-RGADC) Caraga awarded the local government units in Caraga region for
being gender responsive in the implementation of their programs and projects in
the communities.
During the awards conferment
ceremony of the Search for Caraga’s Most Gender Responsive Local Government
Unit (SCMGR-LGU), the province of Dinagat Islands received the fully gender
responsive LGU award while the cities of Cabadbaran and Bislig, as well as the
provinces of Agusan del Norte and Surigao del Norte received the gender
responsive LGUs awards.
The cities of Butuan, Tandag, and
province of Agusan del Sur were also given awards for being gender sensitive
LGUs.
Bayugan City and Surigao City were
also recognized as gender neutral LGUs.
According to vice governor Benglen
Ecleo of Dinagat Islands, it is a privilege and a huge opportunity for the
province to be declared as fully gender responsive LGU, among other LGUs that
joined in the search. He emphasized that the provincial government would
continue in mainstreaming gender responsive programs and services for the
constituents, and in addressing gender issues.
“We hope to continue what the
province has started implementing to continuously address gender issues and
promote the welfare of men and women,” said Ecleo.
As the honored guest, Regional
Director Mylah Faye Aurora Carino of the National Economic and Development
Authority (NEDA)-Region 10 also stressed the need to recognize the LGUs that
are giving their best and their sincerity in providing the right programs,
projects and services useful to various communities.
Meanwhile, RDC-RGADC chairperson
and Commission on Human Rights (CHR)-Caraga regional director Atty. Jerefe
Tubigon-Bacang, congratulated all the winning LGUs and encouraged them to
continue to do more and be consistent in all their gender-mainstreamed programs
and services for all the sectors in the region. (JPG/PIA-Caraga)
PDRRMC AgNor recognizes health providers
By Nora L. Molde
BUTUAN CITY, July 3 (PIA) -- The
province of Agusan del Norte, through its Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction
and Management Council (PDRRMC), has recognized the contribution of the health
providers of the provincial and district hospitals during the kick-off ceremony
of the month-long celebration of the National Disaster Resilient Month, here.
PDRRMO chief Erma Suyo said it is
the time for them to be recognized because they are always there for the
Agusanons not only during emergencies and crisis but especially during the time
of disasters.
“We give recognition for all your
sacrifices, for even if you are also a victim of disasters, still you continue
to manage your work and provide immediate response and services,” Suyo said.
Dr. Gertrudes Cembrano of the
Nasipit District Hospital said she did not expect the recognition accorded to
them.
“This recognition given to us
being the province’s DRRM hero is an inspiration for us to give our best so
that we can provide better services to the people,” Dr. Cembrano said.
Aside from recognizing the DRRM
Heroes, different contests participated by the different responders coming from
the different municipalities of the province are also held during the kick-off
ceremony.
Ten contestants joined the Best
DRRM Chant and seven for the Best DRRM Factor.
The Philippine National Police
Provincial Office got the first place on both the Best in DRRM
Chant and DRRM Factor, while the Bureau of Fire Protection Provincial
Office got the Best in Uniform.
Also, a video clip making contest,
DRRM contest to include essay writing, quiz bee and poster making contest;
DRR-CCA convention; training-workshop on Forecasting and Weather Observation
and Date Interpretation of Early Warning Signals; and NDRM Bae competition will
be conducted during the monthlong celebration. (NCLM/PIA Agusan del Norte)
LGU-Bayugan City ensures compliance to standard building code
By Jennifer P. Gaitano
AGUSAN DEL SUR, July 3 (PIA) - The
local government unit here ensures that they would be more meticulous and keen
on deciding which infra projects are fitted and necessary, and it follows the
standard building code considering that fault lines have been traced by
Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) within the city.
Mayor-elect Kirk Asis of Bayugan
City said, resilient building design or earthquake proof structure is a must in
order for it to withstand even during severe seismic shaking.
He said, this information is
already known to the locals and the LGU is serious in ensuring the safety and
security of the people as it implements various infra projects in the city.
Mayor Asis also emphasized that
the LGU is continuously intensifying its capability building efforts for their
local rescue teams to make them more equipped to respond in any disaster event
like earthquake.
The official added that the
guidance, assistance, and augmentation of other government agencies, as well as
the provision of the necessary rescue equipment, have greatly helped the city.
Meanwhile, Department of Science and
Technology (DOST) Caraga Regional Director Dominga Mallonga reminds different
offices near the fault lines to always be proactive and alert to prevent them
from being harmed during earthquake.
She further reiterated that it is
very important for the LGUs to comply with the standard building code
requirement not only for the business establishments but including residences.
It can be recalled that Bayugan
City was the national ceremonial site for the 2nd quarter Nationwide
Simultaneous Earthquake Drill (NSED) this year. (JPG/PIA-Agusan del Sur)
NNC
Caraga reminds workers to spend an hour daily for exercise at work
By Jennifer P. Gaitano
BUTUAN CITY, July 3 (PIA) - In
time with the kick-off celebration of this year’s Nutrition Month, the National
Nutrition Council (NNC) Caraga encourages the public particularly those workers
in various government agencies and private institutions to allocate an hour
daily for physical activities to prevent them from acquiring different
diseases.
According to Dr. Gerna Manatad,
assistant regional director of DOH-Center for Health Development (CHD) Caraga,
while workers perform their daily functions at work, there is also a need for
them to ensure physical and health wellness.
She emphasized that workers could
at least do physical activities during their break time.
“So you could just stand and walk,
or sing and dance for a moment just to break the sedentary cycle, do it,”
elaborated Manatad.
Dr. Manatad added that without
physical activities like exercise, this would lead to various illnesses and
diseases, especially for those who sit in front of their computer monitors for
long hours.
Hypertensive and diabetes are some
of the non-communicable diseases and cardio vascular disease that anyone could
get without active lifestyle.
Meanwhile, Leah Vina Vargas,
nutrition officer III of NNC Caraga also bared that despite continued efforts
of the government towards good nutrition and physical wellness, many are still
overweight and obese due to eating non-nutritious food and without proper
exercise.
She said, based on the data
released by the Food and Nutrition Research Institute (FNRI) in 2015, four
percent or 0.5-million of children aged five below; nine percent or 3-million
adolescents; and 33 percent or 18-million adults have been recorded as
overweight and obese in the country.
With this, Dr. Manatad urged
everyone to be a well-informed citizens and have the right choice of food that
will give them the right nutrients for their body, and most importantly, to
exercise. (JPG/PIA-Caraga)
A hope for Arabella
By Rechel Besonia
Deep in the remote area of La Paz,
Agusan del Sur, in a dusty barangay Sagunto where life is hard and food is
scarce, a four-year-old girl’s eyes were glazed with discomfort. She sat on her
mother’s lap and wearily gnawed on a hard root crop and stared vacantly at one
corner where fellow kids of her age were playing.
In a family of five, her parents simply
couldn’t keep up with the needs of her family. Her father being a seasonal
construction worker, earned a meager while her mom is left at home to take care
of her and her two siblings.
Life is really a constant struggle for
Arabella’s family. Rubie, her mother, is beaming with pain every time she sees
her children weeping for something to eat. It seems to have drifted her dreams
for her kids, especially for young Arabella, who, at a young age have shown so
much interest in education.
Bella, her nickname, is a child with
ambition. She was described by many to be diligent and responsible.
“We were getting used to the habit of
managing hunger. It was a challenge to get food for more than once in a day. I remember
one time, it was raining and we were feasting on a piece of dried fish and rice
for dinner as that was the only food I could buy for them, Bella uttered how
she wanted to go to school,” her mother narrated.
“Ma, gusto na gyud ko mo skwela,
kung pwede didto lang sa sentro kay maayo daw motudlo si teacher Gloria (Ma, I
really want to go to school, if it's possible in the town where teacher Gloria
is teaching),” were her exact words.
“Nak among paningkamotan sa imong papa
ha kay gasto baya kaayo mamasahe pa ug balon pa gyud nimo, unsaon nalang nato
naa pa baya kay duha ka igsoon (Your father will give his best effort, yet we
must also consider that we might not be able to afford it since it will be too
expensive, and you still have your two other little siblings),” came Rubie’s
response.
Being born into a poor family, Bella
was exposed to this self-sacrifice at an earlier age. She became independent
and self-reliant.
For Bella’s parents, hearing those
words and seeing sincerity on their daughter’s interest motivates them to work
doubly hard. They look forward for achieving her dreams no matter how hard it
is, even if it has to be an uphill climb.
Came June 2018, Rubie took the risk of
enrolling Bella in La Paz Day Care Center. She doesn’t know by then if it would
ever last, if she could really survive the brawl but nevertheless, all she knew
and she could ever hope for is for her young Arabella to pursue her dreams.
Everyday, Rubie wakes her up at 4:00 in
the morning to start the long haul. She would prepare their breakfast and
uniform while Bella helped her in cleaning the house.
After taking breakfast, and when
everything else falls in place, they would catch the early ride to downtown La
Paz. Once in a blue moon, they would hitch in their neighbor’s service. But
most often, they would ride in habal-habal for P60.00 back and forth fare.
Apart from the foreseen financial
struggle, Rubie was also taken aback after contemplating that she could not
continually provide for Bella’s food. During those times when she doesn’t have
extra money for her baon, she would tell Bella to skip the class, but the young
Arabella constantly refused to do so, instead, she would always tell her mother
to never bother finding her baon.
“I thought of how easy it would be to
drift away into nothingness. I thought of how easy it would be to not have to
get up every morning to face another day of emptiness. I thought of the peace I
would have if I were no longer afraid all the time and how wonderful it would
be to be free from the prison of my mind,” Rubie said.
But that was just a thought. In
reality, it was really hard. Yet, there is one belief that sits in the back of
her mind that keeps her going day after day. It's hope.
There is always something that she
hoped for. she hoped for change, for strength, for love. She hoped that things
won’t always be as they have been. She hoped for intervention from the
government to end poverty.
True enough, her prayers were answered.
One day, the Department of Agrarian Reform thru the project coordinator Engr.
Hanizarah Saripada and Rachelle Monique Torralba came to La Paz to bring forth
the good news on the new project called the Partnership Against Hunger and
Poverty or PAHP.
It is a collaborative effort between
the Department of Social Welfare and Development, the Department of Agrarian
Reform, and the Department of Agriculture to engage poor households and work
closely with the rural communities to provide essential social and economic
services toward eliminating hunger and alleviating poverty.
This collaborative multi-stakeholder
program will target the creation of a community food hub to serve as a facility
that can store food items for the various feeding programs of the DSWD and
other similar on the ground programs of other agencies like the education,
health, and local government units.
Smallholder farmer organizations such
as LAMPUFACO in La Paz was tasked to ensure a steady food supply for various
feeding programs for Day Care Centers including that of Arabella’s school.
Mothers, like Rubie, were grouped into
five to take charge on the preparation of the meal 5 times a week.
“It was a big help for us really.
Everything was provided for us. All we have to do is to cook the required menu
for the day,” Rubie said.
Besides, the menu is prepared carefully
to ensure that the nutritional value will never be compromised. Thus, making
the children more participative during class activities.
“It’s crucial not to just feed children
but to nourish them too, said Engr. Hanizarah Saripada, PAHP project
coordinator. The more the child is nourished, the more she becomes smarter, and
we are aiming for this to happen to the 10,000 children of Agusan del Sur who
will benefit the program,” she continued.
Indeed it is.
Gloria Fuentes, the teacher, attests
that since the feeding program commenced, she saw a lot of improvements in her
students. Bella, in particular, became active during class recitation and
activities. Her young mind was honed even more.
Because of the program, she doesn’t
have to skip class, she doesn’t have to recite and read in an empty stomach.
She became less aloof. In fact, she topped the class during their recognition
day.
Arabella became a picture of a happy
and contented child. “Salamat kaayo sa akong mama nga wala ko pasagdi sa akong
pangandoy nga maka skwela diri sa La Paz Day Care Center ug salamat pod sa PAHP
program sa DAR nga natabangan ang among kalisod, dili na magproblema akong mama
sa akong baon kada adlaw (Thank you to my mother for not giving up on my dreams
to study in La Paz Day Care Center. Thank you as well to the PAHP program of
DAR, it really helped my mother not to bother finding my baon every day),"
she said.
For Rubie, it doesn’t matter what
circumstance she had in her life. She managed to stand up and think about how
she can make it better. She is forever thankful for the program and for the
people behind its implementation.
Mga manggagawa pinaalalahanan ng NNC na maglaan ng oras para sa pisikal
na aktibidad
By Jennifer P. Gaitano
LUNGSOD NG BUTUAN, Hulyo 3 (PIA) -
Sa pagsisimula ng selebrasyon ng buwan ng nutrisyon, hinimok ng National
Nutrition Council (NNC) Caraga ang publiko lalo na ang mga empleyado ng mga
ahensiya ng pamahalaan na ugaliing maglaan ng isang oras para sa pisikal na
aktibidad upang maiwasan ang ibat-ibang sakit.
Ayon kay Dr. Gerna Manatad ng
Department of Health - Center for Health Development (DOH-CHD) Caraga, habang
ginagampanan ng mga manggagawa ang kanilang tungkulin o trabaho, importante rin
na bigyan nila ng halaga ang kanilang kalusugan.
Ayon sa opisyal, tuwing nasa
trabaho ay maglaan ng maikling oras para magehersiyo tulad na lamang tuwing
break time.
“Pwede naman tumaya,
maglakad-lakad, o di kaya kumanta at sumayaw para hindi lang puro nakaupo sa
buong araw. Tuwing break time ng mga empleyado, gawin nila ito,” sabi ni
Manatad.
Dagdag pa ni Dr. Manatad, maraming
sakit na naidudulot sa katawan ang kawalan ng ehersiyo sa buong araw lalo
na sa mga ilang oras na nakaupo at nakatutok sa kanilang mga computers.
Hypertensive at diabetes ang ilan
sa mga non-communicable diseases at cardio vascular diseases na maaaring
maranasan ng mga taong walang active lifestyle.
Ibinahagi naman ni Leah Vina
Vargas, nutrition officer III ng NNC-Caraga na marami pa ring naitalang overweight
at stunting dahil sa pagkain ng mga hindi masustansiyang pagkain at kawalan
ehersisyo.
Base sa datus ng Food and
Nutrition Research Institute (FNRI) sa taong 2015, may apat na porsyento o
0.5-milyong mga batang may edad lima pababa; siyam na porsyento o 3-milyong
adolescents; at tatlumput-tatlong porsyento o 18-milyong adults ang overweight
at obese ang naitala sa bansa.
Dahil dito, hinimok ni Dr. Manatad
ang lahat lalo na sa mga barangay na maging well-informed citizens at piliin
ang mga pagkaing nakapagbibigay sustansya at tamang nutrisyon sa katawan, at
ang pinakamahalaga ay ang pag-ehersisyo. (JPG/PIA-Caraga)
