By Ruby Leonora R. Balistoy
MALAYBALAY CITY, Bukidnon, Oct. 13 (PIA) — Some 102 primary grade schoolchildren in four (4) elementary schools in Impasug-ong town, this province, benefited from the Busog, Lusog, Talino (BLT), a public-private partnership (PPP) feeding program with the country’s largest fast food chain.
This is in response to President Benigno S. Aquino’s call on the local government units (LGUs) and the private sector to go into more PPP’s to help improve Filipino’s lives.
In collaboration with the Department of Education (DepEd), the Jollibee Foods Corporation (JFC), through its Jollibee Foundation (JF), entered into an agreement with Impasug-ong LGU for a 136-days feeding program to identified malnourished schoolchildren.
Ma. Gisela Tiongson-Velasco, JF Executive Director, said, as pilot area in the province, Impasug-ong is now on its 60th day of school feeding that started, last July.
“The BLT in-school feeding aims fight chronic malnutrition, improve attendance and nutritional status of schoolchildren, especially in remote communities where dropout in primary grades is prevalent due to hunger,” she said during the recent BLT orientation attended by the parents, DepEd and LGU officials.
Bukidnon Governor Alex Calingasan, meanwhile, expressed elation for choosing Bukidnon as one of the pilot areas for the BLT.
“This is a major milestone that ties up with the provincial government and private sectors’ initiative in promoting good health among the schoolchildren in Bukidnon,” the Governor said.
This project has drawn interest to other seven (7) LGUs with severely wasted or chronic malnourished schoolchildren, hence interested LGU officials from the towns of Pangantucan, Maramag, Dangcagan, Kitaotao, Quezon, Sumilao, and Kibawe were present during the BLT briefing.
In his keynote, Mayor Rodito Rafisura of Kitaotao town said, “with the Jollibee as partner to this endeavor, I am confident this project will work well—of course with the LGUs, DepEd teachers, parents and other stakeholders’ support.”
In response, Tiongson-Velasco, however, said they are not selling or advertising the BLT because they need to work with partners who will directly implement and provide complementary services such as feeding facility, medical and dental check-up, deworming, additional feeding budget and monthly monitoring of nutritional status of the BLT-served pupils.
“While the JF provides 75 percent, the LGU beneficiary should also allocate 25 percent counterpart for the daily feeding funds,” she explained.
The JF’s BLT site selection criteria also include high level of dropout and malnutrition, committed and pro-active LGU, high performing DepEd district/division and willingness of local partner with full-time staff to manage the program.
The BLT is also in partnership with the civic organizations, Food and Nutrition Research Institute (FNRI), Philippine Army, Philippine National Police, and other stakeholders in Bukidnon. (PIA 10)
Eco groups express alarm on waste incinerators in Mindanao
CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, Misamis Oriental, Oct. 13 (PIA) – Environmental justice and health networks EcoWaste Coalition, Global Alliance for Incinerator Alternatives (GAIA) expressed alarm on the massive increase of waste incineration proposals and contracts signed in different areas in Mindanao at the culmination of the Anti-Incineration Road (AIR) Show, held here, recently.
This concern is shared by the Health Care Without Harm (HCWH), during the series of the AIR Show workshops and community consultations about waste-to-energy held in other areas of the island, such as, General Santos City and Davao City.
Teachers, government employees, public officials, lawyers, advocates, social workers, media and health workers attended the AIRshow in the three cities.
“We are saddened by the news shared by different stakeholders from Mindanao that local government units (LGU’s) are signing or are about to sign multi-year contracts with different incinerator companies that will allow dirty facilities to be built within their respective areas,” Rei Panaligan of the EcoWaste Coalition said.
Once these waste burners operate, they will bring immense environmental and health problems to many marginalized communities and threaten even more the island’s already critical environment, he added.
During the AIR Show, the groups discovered that the German company Herhof GmbH already secured 25 to 50-year deals with the LGU’s of Molave, Zamboanga del Sur, Glan, Sarangani, Panabo City, Davao del Norte and Midsayap, North Cotabato.
Herhof’s proposal is also pending and being discussed by the LGU’s of Davao City and Cagayan de Oro City.
Meanwhile, Herhof and its recently-formed local counterpart TIG Green Mindanao plan to put up “stabilat” plants in different areas in Mindanao to “pelletize” mixed municipal and hazardous wastes to be burned in their facilities or sold as co-fuel for cement kilns.
In the small, quiet town of Glan the company is demanding at least 1,000 tons of garbage per day.
“We hope LGUs will not be misled by the grand promises and sham statistics of waste burning companies hiding behind high-tech sounding names like ‘pyrolysis’, ‘gasification’, ‘plasma arc’ or ‘stabilat’,” said Paeng Lopez, National Campaigner of GAIA.
“Herhof promotes the collection and burning of mixed waste which run against our aim to reduce the volume of our solid waste and protect our environment as stated under our Clean Air Act and Ecological Solid Waste Management Act.
To say yes to the wanton burning of discarded papers, bottles, metals, plastics, and other useful discards is to say yes to the continued destruction of our remaining ecosystems, because incineration sustains the need for further extraction of raw materials to manufacture new products. Think of incinerators as parasites – they suck out the life of our environment by burning its resources,” he emphasized.
For her part, HCWH Executive Director Merci Ferrer shared that, “environmentally-sound waste management alternatives like discards segregation, re-use, recycling and composting are easier to do and are much cheaper. Even hospital wastes, after disinfecting them through the use of autoclaves or microwaves, can be treated as regular household wastes and be recycled.”
“On the other hand, waste incineration produces carcinogenic dioxins – the most toxic man-made compound – and neuro-toxic heavy metals like mercury, lead, cadmium, arsenic, etc. These are poisons that will inevitable contaminate our communities if we say yes to waste burning,” Ferrer warned. (EWC/PIA-10)
Camiguin indigent families get free medical, surgical and dental care
By Jorie C. Valcorza
CAMIGUIN, Mambajao, Oct. 13, (PIA 10) – At least 54 persons have undergone free surgical procedures, while 142 others underwent minor surgeries in the out-patient department (OPD) and emergency room (ER) section of the Camiguin General Hospital (CGH), here.
The medical and surgical mission activity in the island, which took place from, Oct. 4-7, was backed up by the Philippine Medical Association of West Virginia (PMA-WV) and the Philippine Urological Association (PUA).
Dr. Arvin F. Sampilo, Officer-in-Charge/Chief of CGH, said PMA-WV saturated the first 3-days of the mission performing a series of surgical procedures, such as, excision of breast lump, thyroid gland (thyroidectomy), myoma (myomectomy) and hemorrhoidectomy to persons suffering almoranas.
He said the mission intends to reach out to a number of underprivileged residents in the province, giving all needed medical, dental, and even surgical services for free.
A total of 586 outpatient consultations were also recorded, while some 450 glasses were given freely by the PMA-WV to the needy public.
Sampilo noted that patients still needing medical attention will still be catered by the hospital.
“It’s all expense free, even the required medications were all provided by the PMA-WV, who brought stocks of medicines for the mission,” Sampilo added.
The provincial government for its part has also released about Php500,000 to answer for the laboratory needs and other tests required in the conduct of the medical mission.
Likewise, the CGH has extended full assistance in terms of manpower, providing doctors and nurses to work closely with the volunteers.
By Friday, Oct. 7, the PUA doctors and volunteers took over, doing consultations and surgery for prostate and hernia, as well, as the removal of urinary stones through laparoscopy, a minimally invasive diagnostic surgical procedure which uses telescopes and instruments that are much smaller than normal.
It can be recalled that last August, the Philippine Obstetrical and Gynecological Society (POGS) also visited the province for a surgical mission and served some 29 persons needing surgical sterilization, bilateral tubal ligation (BTL), and excision of uterine myoma, as well, as ovarian cysts.
Free ultrasound and cervical screening were also extended during the POGS surgical mission in the island-province. (PIA-10)
CSAT is home of R-10’s Most Outstanding TESDA Trainer
By Michelle Empleo-Recanel
CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, Misamis Oriental, Oct. 13 (PIA) – The Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA-X) proudly conferred Erlinda B. Lopina of the Camiguin School of Arts and Trades (CSAT), the “Lakan-Ilaw” Award for the “ 2011 Most Outstanding TESDATechnology Institutions (TTI’s) Trainer in Region X.”
Deputy Director General for Sectoral TVET Milagros Dawa-Hernandez of TESDA graced the awarding ceremony during the recently conducted Youth Profiling for Starring Career (YP4SC) Analysis Seminar held last October 6, 2011 at the Grand Caprice Hotel, Lim Ket Kai Center, Lapasan, Cagayan de Oro City.
The best trainers of the 10 TESDA TTI’s in the region were carefully screened based on the following criteria:
Documentation/Narrative Report, 30 pts., Trainer’s Credential, 20 pts., Trainings Attended, 15 pts., Certification of Performance Ratings, 15 pts., Extra-Curricular Activities, 15 pts., and Time of Submission, 5 pts.
The Lakan-Ilaw Award is one of the five (5) award categories under the “Kalinga sa mga Tagsanay” Search.
The recognition is conferred on a trainer/instructor of a TTI who has shown and has proven his/her effectiveness, extra-enthusiasm and dedication to teaching or training assignments.
On the other hand, the Kalinga sa mga Tagsanay search is an award and recognition mechanism which recognizes and provide incentives to TTI, and/or of its officers or staff who have initiated, introduced, conducted bold and innovative ideas, partnerships, new programs/projects, superior accomplishment, performed extra ordinary deed or service which resulted to a remarkable improvement of productivity and positive impact in the day to day operation of the school/training center.
Meanwhile, CSAT’s Vocational School Administrator Hilario S. Abecia said “Lopina is a worker that everyone can draw inspiration from.
“She possesses leadership skills and abilities whose dedication and committment towards teaching is beyond compare. She believes in achieving excellence in everything she does. A trainer worthy of recognition,” Abecia said.
Lopina has been an instructor of the Food and Preparation and Service Technology and Commercial Cooking NC II qualifications for 13 years alongside other functions of being the School Registrar, Records Officer/Document Controller, NPES Committee member and Gender Committee Focal Point member and was awarded Model Employee in 2007.
Sshe received a certificate of recognition and a cash gift worth Php 3,000 and will be vying for the National Lakan-Ilaw Award Search in August, next year, in time for the 18th TESDA Anniversary celebration which will be held in Taguig, Metro Manila. (TESDA/PIA-10)
Mindanao records 11 landslides, 43 floodings in first 7 mos., this year
By: Rutchie Cabahug-Aguhob
CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, Misamis Oriental, Oct. 13 (PIA) – A total of 11 landslides and 43 flooding incidents have been recorded to occur in Mindanao by the National Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (NDRRMC) from the period January to July, this year.
These incidents, which occurred in Regions X, X1, X11, Caraga and the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), has affected approximately 172,798 families in 283 barangays.
It also caused the loss of 102 lives, damaged 444 houses and five (5) bridges and inundated 8,022 hectares of agricultural production areas.
Flashflood in Davao del Norte affected 10,725 families and damaged 2,450 hectares of banana plantations and rice fields, while the flashfloods in Davao City, last June, had claimed 30 lives and affected 13,746 families.
Flooding incidents in regions 12 and ARMM brought by the overflowing of the heavily silted Pulangi River, Simuay River, Allah River and Rio Grande de Mindanao had also affected 139,687 families and 5,391 hectares of production areas.
This situation has necessitated the need for an integrated effort for the development of the various river basins and watershed in the island to prevent flashfloods in the future, Cecilia D. Triño, Presidential Staff Officer VI of the Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) said.
She said MinDA, being the government agency mandated to coordinate and integrate all development efforts in Mindanao, takes the lead in the integration, harmonization and rationalization of such efforts.
Meanwhile, Triňo said there are least three (3) groundwater basins in Mindanao, namely: Agusan River Basin, Misamis Occidental Basin and Pulangi River Basin.
Hence, MinDA in coordination with its key partner agencies, has conceptualized the MinDANOW Nurturing Our Waters (NOW) Program as its flagship program and adopts the river basin and watershed as the key platforms for planning.
The MindaNOW Program is an integrated set of development interventions anchored on sustainable development framework that aims to integrate, harmonize and rationalize plans, programs, policies, mechanisms and processes.
The program shall set the guidance for Mindanao that will emphasize the ecological value, capitalize water as the most critical resource for human survival and optimize the full potentials of the river basins and watershed without necessarily compromising its carrying capacity. (PIA-10)
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