(PAGASA 24-HOUR PUBLIC WEATHER FORECAST as of Wednesday, 24 April 2024) Easterlies affecting the country. Butuan City, Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur, Dinagat Islands, Surigao del Norte and Surigao del Sur will experience Partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rainshowers or thunderstorms due to Easterlies/Localized Thunderstorms. Possible flash floods or landslides during severe thunderstorms. 𝗙𝗒π—₯π—˜π—–π—”π—¦π—§ π—ͺπ—œπ—‘π—— 𝗔𝗑𝗗 π—–π—’π—”π—¦π—§π—”π—Ÿ π—ͺπ—”π—§π—˜π—₯ π—–π—’π—‘π——π—œπ—§π—œπ—’π—‘: Light to moderate winds coming from East to Southeast will prevail with slight to moderate seas (0.6 to 2.1 meters).


PIA News Service - Sunday, May 22, 2011

Farmers, stakeholders join workshop on crop biotech communication

AGUSAN DEL NORTE, May 22 (PIA) - Farmers and stakeholders in the development of biotech crops recently held a communication workshop in Cagayan de Oro City to sharpen their skills in addressing biotech issues, particularly on Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) eggplant.

The workshop sought to improve the ability of communicators to reply to issues raised by opponents of biotech crops.

Dr. Candida Adalla, chief of the Department of Agriculture-Biotechnology Program Office (DA-BPO), gave an overview of the government’s biotechnology initiatives and highlighted the case of Bt eggplant saying that “the efforts on Bt eggplant will hopefully translate into benefits to Filipino farmers.”

The fruit-and-shoot borer-resistant (FSBR) Bt eggplant is being developed by the University of the Philippine at Los BaΓ±os-Institute of Plant Breeding (UPLB-IPB.)

Dr. Adalla added: “This [Bt eggplant] is not a technology for planting tomorrow—it is still under experiment. That is why I am wondering why studying is being opposed.”

Dr. Jane Reyes, University Extension Specialist at the Institute of Strategic Planning and Policy Studies of UPLB, discussed the nature and importance of science communication and imparted helpful tips and lessons on how to write reply as answer questions during panel interviews.

Message mapping, a useful tool in organizing ideas for inquiries and similar situations, was discussed by Jenny Panopio of the Southeast Asian Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture-Biotechnology Information Center (SEARCA-BIC).

Dr. Rhodora Aldemita of the International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-biotech Application (ISAAA) provided the participants with the basics and principles of biotechnology, as well as the answers to frequently asked questions related to crop biotechnology.

The workshop was attended by members of the Asian Farmers Regional Network (ASFARNET) Philippines, representatives from the Fertilizer and Pesticide Authority and the Bureau of Plant Industry Plant Quarantine Officers, the Philippine Information Agency, and representatives from the University of Southern Mindanao and UP-Mindanao, as well as DA regional offices and field units in Mindanao.

The activity was organized by ASFARNET and DA Regional Office 10, in collaboration with DA-BPO, the Agricultural Biotechnology Support Program II, ISAAA and SEARCA-BIC. (DA-Biotech/PIA-Caraga)


Tagalog News: Mga sundalo, hinarass ng NPA sa Butuan City, opisyal ng AFP, sugatan

ni Robert E. Roperos

BUTUAN CITY, Mayo 22 (PIA) – Ligtas na ang kalagayan ng isang opisyal ng 23rd Infantry Battalion ng Philippine Army na kinilalang si 1st Lt. Martines. Ito’y matapos siyang tamaan ng bala ng mga rebeldeng NPA ng mga tropa ng sundalo nitong nakaraang araw bandang alas diyes ng gabi.

Napag-alamang nagpa-patrolya ang isang squad ng 23ID sa Sitio Mahayahay, sakop ng Brgy. Anticala dito. Habang nagpapahinga ang mga ito sa isang community stage sa nasabing lugar, nagulantang ang buong tropa nang bigla itong paulanan ng mga bala ng mga pinaghihinalaang rebeldeng NPA na sakop ng Guerilla Front 21-B. Tinamaan ng bala sa paa si 1Lt Martinez sa nasabing engkwentro.

Samantalang nagawa pa diumano ng tropa ng mga sundalo na gumanti ngunit pagkatapos ng ilang minuto, dagling tumakas ang mga rebelde sa hindi malamang direksyon.

Sa ngayon ay patuloy pa rin ang imbestigasyon sa nangyari habang binibigyan ng medikal na atensyon si Martinez. (PIA-Caraga)