DOE gives tips on conserving energy

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, May 10 (PIA) -- The Department of Energy (DOE) conducted an Energy Efficiency and Conservation Seminar last May 6.

The seminar aimed to provide information on household energy saving concepts and tips.

Senior Science Research Specialist of DOE-Manila Norita Froilan shared some household energy saving concepts and tips in order to extend supply of fossil fuels; save the environment; contribute to a sustainable future; boost limited government resources; and save money.

For electrical appliances like washing machine, refrigerator and air conditioner, energy can be saved by choosing the right size of the unit needed, limiting the use of the appliance or equipment and only to use when in need. Also, plug out the appliance when not in use.

Froilan said, consumers must prepare every ingredient needed for continuous cooking. Heat must be in low-fire after the food boils. Pans and cook wares should also match with the size of the heating plate.

Consumers should find time soaking the clothes overnight to lessen the electrical use of washing machine. Drying the clothes under the sun can also lessen the use of dryer machines.

Ironing uses so much energy, therefore, consumers must select appropriate heat level for the clothes and avoid doing other things. Setting schedule for cloth ironing can save both time and energy for the consumers.

In addition, consumers can actually skip ironing of clothes and save both time and money by using fabric conditioners and by using a hanger upon drying them.

Illuminating the corner of the house that only needs light, replacing incandescent bulb with a Compact Fluorescent Lamp (CFL), cleaning the tubes of the lamp regularly and using natural lighting when feasible can also help save energy.

Froilan also said that consumers must set timer for air conditioners to make sure it will not be left turned on while in sleep and avoid electric fan oscillation because the pressure consumes more energy.

Froilan left the participants with basic parameters in electricity conservation such as reducing the number of units being used, making use of low rating smaller unit appliance or equipment and finding alternative way of doing things.(Jennica Rojas/RTP/PIA10/ALC)

DSWD warns against 'Noy-Noy Aquino Foundation' text scam

By Recthie T. Paculba

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, May 10 -- The Department of Social Welfare and Development on May 6 warned the public against a new wave of scam text messages claiming they have won hundreds of thousands of pesos from the "President Noy-Noy Aquino Foundation."

"We have already issued earlier warnings before but there are really people out to mislead so let us all be vigilant," said DSWD secretary Corazon Soliman.

The Department said it learned of the scam after many callers informed its Pantawid Pamilya National Program Monitoring Office (NPMO).

It said the text message claims the recipient won P950,000 from the "President Noy-Noy Aquino Foundation 4Ps Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program."

Recipient were then asked to text their "complete name, age, address, work.”

"The DSWD emphasizes that this is not true because the Department does not hold raffle promos or draws," the DSWD said.

It urged recipients to report the text to the nearest DSWD office or text to the Pantawid Pamilya Grievance Text Hotline 0918-912-2813. (RTP/PIA10)

Supplementary Feeding Program continuously implemented in Region 10

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, May 10 (PIA) -- The Department of Social Welfare and Development Field Office 10 (DSWD FO-10) continuously implements the second cycle of the supplementary feeding that started on October 2012 and has been on-going even during summer vacation to complete the 120 days feeding program.

Out of the 108,306 day care children beneficiaries, 14.4% were malnourished upon the start of the feeding program. It is expected that there would be a significant decrease of malnutrition rate among the children after completing 120 days feeding.

A total of 108, 306 children benefited from the feeding program with P 168,957,360.00 funds allocation. This was made possible in partnership with the 93 Local Government Units in Region 10.

After the 1st cycle of implementation, malnutrition rate among the day care children beneficiaries reduced from 18.4% upon the start of the feeding to 7.58 % after the feeding with a total of 10, 361 day care children beneficiaries rehabilitated from malnutrition.

To date, a supplementary feeding program is also ongoing in four barangays in Cagayan de Oro City. A total of 400 beneficiaries ages 2-12 years old malnourished children, identified by partner Legislators are also expected to have improved nutritional status by the end of the feeding program.

The Supplementary Feeding is one of the regular programs of the Agency to reduce malnutrition among day care children.(Rechel Grace Ceniza/RTP/PIA10)

May is Cervical Awareness Month

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, May 8 (PIA) -- The Department of Health, pharmaceutical company Merck Sharp & Dohme (MSD), and medical societies, kicked off the Cervical Awareness Month dubbed as “Babae, Mahalaga Ka!” at Northern Mindanao Medical Center (NMMC).

As part of the campaign, 58 DOH retained hospitals nationwide including Northern Mindanao Medical Center in Cagayan de Oro, will offer free Cervical Cancer screening to women aged 30-49 years old.

“Gagawa po kami ng free screenings to DOH retained hospitals for cervical cancer, kase pagka po earlier natin na detect yung cervical cancer o yung reasons through screenings, na pre-prevent po natin siya through treatment.” (We will conduct free screenings to DOH retained hospitals for cervical cancer, because if we can detect the cervical cancer or the reasons through screenings, we can help prevent it through early treatment.), said Marge Villanueva, MSD

In Cagayan de Oro, free screenings for cervical cancer are done every second Saturday of the month from 1-5 p.m. at the Northern Mindanao Cancer Detection Center (NMCD), while the weekdays schedule is open in NMMC.

This has been going on for the past three years, for those needing further tests may avail it at NMMC.

Dr. Fe Marissa Mercado, OB-Oncologist and consultant of NMMC said that cervical cancer can be prevented through vaccinations and regular screenings.

To date, vaccinations are available commercially, but screenings through Pap smear or visual inspection using acetic acid (VIA) are always free of charge.

Just this year, PhilHealth also included the treatment for cervical cancer in the Z Benefit Package program.

Some 9,000 school girls aged 13 years old will also receive free quadrivalent HPV vaccinations from MSD. (JCV/Mary Nathalie D. Soldevilla-PIA 10)