Nutrition Committee 10 expands membership

By: Jorie C. Valcorza

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, February 12 (PIA) – The Regional Nutrition Committee 10 (RNC-10) agreed to expand its membership in response to the standing order of Health Secretary Enrique Ona, appointing the body as the lead cluster on Nutrition Management in Emergencies and Disasters.

In the recent committee meeting, the members decided to utilize the RNC’s existing structure and expand it, to cover now the Department of Justice (DOJ), Office of the Civil Defense (OCD), and the Commission on Higher Education (CHED).

This move is aimed at ensuring the nutritional status of affected population especially the most vulnerable group and people with debilitating conditions not worsen or deteriorate because of the impact of emergency and disaster situations by linking with other cluster/sector groups and establishing capabilities at all levels.

Helen G. Alferez, OIC Nutrition Program Coordinator of the National Nutrition Council 10 likewise stressed on the role of the local nutrition committees at the provincial/city and municipal level to serve as the local nutrition clusters.

Meanwhile, Beryl Lorraine G. Go, Nutrition Cluster Head of the Department of Health (DOH) region 10 underscored that this approach is not new to the region 10, there have been deliberate efforts and coordinative activities done to implement the nutrition cluster when typhoon Sendong had ravage the region in 2011. (JCV/PIA)

KBP Bukidnon gears up ahead to celebrate World Radio Day

By Ruby Leonora R. Balistoy

MALAYBALAY CITY, Bukidnon, Feb 12 (PIA)—The Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas (Association of Broadcasters of the Philippines) Bukidnon chapter has geared up to celebrate the World Radio Day (WRD) tomorrow, February 13.

Early this week, dxDB radio station director Rev. Fr. Oliver Verdejo of Catholic Media Network (CMN) invited lady broadcasters from all over the province to go through airwaves during the weekly radio program dubbed “Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas (KBP) Bukidnon Interaction.”

“This is the opportunity for lady broadcasters to promote women’s access to information, freedom of expression and gender equality over the airwaves,” Fr. Verdejo said.

Indeed, the ‘women in radio’ took over and spread the words on promoting safety of women radio journalists, gender equality and women empowerment.

Vicky Aquino, previously the news anchor of dxDB-Veritas in Malaybalay shared the story how she survived the ordeal during Martial Law days when the radio station was forcibly closed while she was in pulpit “on-air.”

She said it was the day when she proved that she was also brave at par with her male colleagues.

Likewise, broadcast journalists Ana Ninfa Bago-Caballero and Christine Barinan, said they stayed on radio for years because they hugged on some inspiring provisions in Magna Carta of Women (R.A 9710) that says “the state recognizes the vital role of women in communication and information in nation-building.

Anchored by veteran broadcaster Juanito “Jun” Aroa, all KBP-accredited radio stations in Bukidnon that aired the said radio program lauded this week’s episode as it allowed a “girly take over.”

The Day is the opportunity to draw the attention on the unique value of radio which reaches the largest audience, the KBP said.

World Radio Day celebration on February 13 is organized by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), recognizing the radio as unsung hero that steadily empowering people to access information especially in remote communities.

Based on UNESCO’s data, radio is the predominant source of information in areas of the world that are sometimes too remote to get a newspaper delivered. This is why Unesco has noted that radio is a “low-cost medium, specifically suited to reach remote communities and vulnerable people.”

Bukidnon broadcasters and KBP officials, meanwhile, urged people to join in the global celebration by tuning into their favorite station and celebrate World Radio Day! (RLRB/PIA 10, Bukidnon)

Iliganons to join global ‘One Billion Rising for Justice’ on February 14

By Lorry V. Gabule

ILIGAN CITY, February 12 (PIA)—February 14 is the day of synchronized action dubbed Rise Release Dance when one billion people in 207 countries will dance and demand an end to violence against women and girls.

“Iligan shall be part of the action and I am sincerely inviting all women including the men to participate in the One Billion Rising for Justice event on February 14, 2014,” said Mayor Celso G. Regencia.

Thus, I issued a memorandum requiring all women in their respective offices at city hall to join this activity, the mayor said.

Also, a memorandum was issued inviting all offices of the national government line agencies, all punong barangays, concerned non-government organizations, this city, to join the activity as well.

One Billion Rising for justice 2014 is a global campaign to call on women survivors of violence and sexual abuse to break their silence. 

This is a global call to women survivors of violence and those who love them to gather safely in community outside places where they are entitled to justice – courts, police stations, government offices, colleges, work places, places of worship, homes. It is a call to survivors to break the silence and release their stories – politically, spiritually, outrageously – through art, dance, marches, ritual, song spoken word, testimonies and whatever way feels right.

The activity at 3:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. at the city plaza is basically dancing to the beat entitled ‘Break the Chain’ which message is about ending violence against women and girls.

This campaign encourages women victims of violence to break away from abusive relationship and to seek justice.  

Since February 14 is Valentine’s Day, the thematic color for the event is red and black. Those who will join may come in red to signify love for justice and black for the fact that violence still exist in the society.

Taking the lead in making this event meaningful, relevant and catalytic is the Iligan City Gender and Development Office (GAD) with active participation and support of the Ilgan City Department Gender Focal Persons and some local women organizations.

As brief description, One Billion Rising was the biggest mass action in human history. The campaign began as a call to action based on the staggering UN statistic that one in three women on the planet will be beaten or raped during her lifetime. With the world population at seven billion, this adds up to more than One Billion women and girls. Thus, on 14 February 2013, people across the world came together to strike, dance, and RISE in defiance of the injustices women suffer, demanding an end at last to violence against women, over 10,000 events took place on the ground and the campaign took over media and social media worldwide for 48 hours, trending in seven countries-four times in U.S. alone.

In the event, the role of this administration is to offer the needed space for release of their stories of pain and hope because justice begins with acknowledging and recognizing that gender violence, indeed, exists in our society and something has to be done to end it, disclosed Mayor Regencia. (LVG/PIA-10 LDN)