FNRI-DOST orients Caraga stakeholders on the
results of 2011 Nutritional Status of Selected Filipinos
By Jennifer P. Gaitano
BUTUAN CITY, Sept. 27 (PIA) -- The Food and
Nutrition Research Institute of the Department of Science and Technology
(FNRI-DOST), in cooperation with DOST-Caraga Regional Office, has conducted the
Regional Dissemination Forum on the 2011 Survey on Updating of the Nutritional
Status of Selected Filipinos on Wednesday in one of the local convention
centers here.
The activity is aimed to update key stakeholders
in the government and private sectors involved in food, nutrition and health
programs on the survey results. Through this, they can recommend possible
action points for application of the results in local policy-making and program
planning.
As to the household profile in Caraga region, it
was learned that about 34 in every 100 households have 4-5 members while 9 in
100 have only a couple. Main source of drinking is piped water (25.1%),
followed by tube well or bore well (23.2%) and protected spring (21.1%), while
garbage disposal is by collection system (39.8%), followed by compost pit
(38.0%), and by burning (36.7%). The rest is by dumping garbage elsewhere.
FNRI Senior Science Research Specialist Lilibeth
Patalen-Dasco, bared that 7.6% or 1 in every 10 Filipino adults in Caraga is
chronic energy deficient (Agusan del Norte – 7.4%; Agusan del Sur – 6.5%;
Surigao del Norte – 7.2%; Surigao del Sur – 9.3%). The prevalence decreased by
1.5 percentage points from 9.1% in 2008 to 7.6% in 2011 but the decrease is not
significant. All the provinces in the region have prevalence rates lower thatn
the national average of 10.0% but the differences are only significant for
Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur and Surigao del Sur.
Along with the other significant highlights of
the survey results, FNRI-DOST also revealed that 27.5% or about 3 in every 10
adults in Caraga are overweight or obese. The prevalence decreased by 2.1
percentage points over the past three years since in 2008, Caraga has 29.6%
while in 2011 is decreased to 27.5, to which Surigao del Norte has the
prevalence of obesity of 28.9% higher than the national average of 28.4% but
the difference is not significant.
The result also showed the following: 37.8% or
about 4 in every 10 Filipino school-age children in Caraga are short-for-age or
stunted; 23.0% or about 2 in every 10 Filipino children aged 0-5 years are underweight-for-age;
37.3% or about 4 in every 10 Filipino children aged 0-5 years in Caraga are
underheight-for-age or stunned; and 1.9% or 2 in every 100 Filipino children
aged 0-5 years are overweight.
It also showed that there are 93.4% of children
in Caraga age 1 to 4 years old who are fully immunized.
As to the nutritional status of the pregnant
mothers, 25.0% or 1 in every 4 pregnant women is nutritionally at risk. The
poor health of pregnant women makes them at risk to deliver low birth weight
babies and other negative pregnancy outcomes like still births and
miscarriages.
With this, FNRI-DOST stressed that efforts among
government agencies and partner stakeholders should be poured to curb chronic
malnutrition particularly in the first two years of life to prevent risk to
delayed mental development, poor school performance and reduced intellectual
capacity.
Having presented the highlights of the survey
results for Caraga, FNRI-DOST Senior Science Research Specialist Chona Patalen
also emphasized that the S&T Based Interventions to address Malnutrition
(Sulong PINOY) Program is the DOST’s response to address the persistent problem
of malnutrition among 0-5 year old children in the country and to meet the
Millennium Development Goal of halving between 1009 and 2015, the proportion of
0-5 year old children who are underweight-for-age.
“The S&T Sulong PINOY Program aims to reduce
the prevalence of undernutrition among 6 months t 35 months old children
through the following strategies: 1) Production and technology Transfer of
Complementary Food Blends and Snack Food; and DOST PINOY (package for the
Improvement of Nutrition of Young Children) as a Nutrition Intervention
Strategy,” said Patalen.
Meanwhile, the participants also expressed their
commitments to help the FNRI-DOST in its fight against malnutrition in the
region and improve their nutrition and health programs.
About 50 representatives of different sectors
attended the activity. Participants are comprised of the members of the
Regional Development Council (RDC), the Regional Nutrition Program Coordinator
(RNPC), Provincial Nutrition Action Officers (PNAOs), representatives from the
non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in Caraga region involved in food,
nutrition and health, and Philippine Information Agency (PIA). (JPG/PIA-Caraga)
Seven rebels return support to gov’t
By 1LT Joe Patrick A Martinez
BANCASI, Butuan City, Sept. 27 (PIA) – Seven
members New People's Army rebels surrendered to the government's 3rd Special Forces
Battalion this month.
The former rebels belong to indigenous peoples
from Agusan del Norte. Two of them were minors. They went to the Headquarters
of 7th Special Forces Company accompanied by their relatives and tribal
leaders.
They joined the NPA as they were promised that
they would be sent to school by the rebel group. They believed they would have
a better life in the armed movement. However, they were disillusioned
eventually because of the hardships and hunger in the mountains while evading government
troops. Moreover, instead of proper education, they were taught of NPA basic
courses, including military combat.
“We encouraged all the NPAs to cooperate now
with the government and we will sincerely help them regain their lives,” said
Col Ronald N Albano, commander of 402nd Infantry Brigade. “I am happy that
today, we have another seven NPA victims who realized that having a simple and
peaceful life is better than joining the armed struggle.” (42nd CMO Company,
4ID, PA/PIA-Caraga)
OWWA reviews loan programs
By Ritchel M. Molero
BUTUAN CITY, Sept. 27 (PIA) -- The Overseas
Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) head office has reviewed and evaluated
the OWWA-Caraga’s Loan Programs.
Among the programs reviewed were Groceria
Project, Filipino Expatriate Livelihood Support Fund (FELSF), Livelihood
Development Program for Overseas Filipino Workers (LDPO), and the P2-billion
Reintegration Loan Program.
Implementers and loan applicants were
interviewed and asked for feedback.
Seaman Arturo Nietes, who was able to avail a
loan amounting to some P200,000 pesos under the Livelihood Development Program
for Overseas Filipino Workers (LDPO), cited the voluminous document
requirements and the tedious process he underwent before finally receiving the
amount.
“Some of the requirements by OWWA’s partner
banks and cooperative banks were very procedural that an ordinary OFW finds
difficult to comply. I guess I was just blessed that my wife is knowledgeable
in alike documents that is why I was able to avail the loan,” Mr. Nietes added.
Mrs. Margarita Nolon, a grantee of the P10,000
livelihood grant for distressed OFWs from Libya under the National
Reintegration Center for OFWs (NRCO), stated that due to the grant she
received, she was able to buy piglets that are now one of her sources of
income. She was also able to buy falcata seedlings for her farm.
“It really did help me and my family. But I hope
that DOLE, and OWWA cash grants will be released faster so that OFWs do not
have to wait for months anymore,” Mrs. Nolon said.
Implementers of the OWWA 2 Billion Reintegration
Loan Program were observed during the conduct of the Entrepreneurial
Development Training- a prerequisite for loaning. Contents of the training
materials and facilitation were only few of the factors observed.
The 26 participants also shared and discussed
their impressions regarding the training, venue, facilitators and course
content.
With the continuous efforts of the Overseas Workers
Welfare Administration in search for superior programs and services for OFWs,
OWWA-Caraga holds a greater commitment to render better program implementations
for Caraganon OFWs. (RER/OWWA-13/NCLM/PIA-Caraga)
‘Operation smile' ng 401st IB idaraos
By Alexis Cabardo
AGUSAN DEL SUR, Sept. 27 (PIA) -- Magsasagawa ng
“Operation Smile” medical mission ang 401st Infantry Brigade para sa mga taong
bungi mula sa pagkasilang. Ito ay bilang bahagi ng obligasyon ng mga sundalo sa
kanilang kababayan.
Ayon kay 401st Infantry Brigade Commander Col.
Romeo Gan, ang naturang operasyon ay libre sa ano mang bayarin at ito ay
naaangkop sa mga may edad mula anim na buwan pataas.
“Kami sa 401st Infantry Brigade ay nananawagan
sa mga magulang na may mga anak na ipinanganak na bungi, o kahit sino, bata man
o matanda na mula sa aming area of responsibility na magparehistro lamang ano
mang oras sa Civil Military Operation Section ng 401sr Infantry Brigade na
matatagpuan sa New Leyte, Awa, Prosperidad. Pagkatapos na magrehistro,
iaanunsyo naming kung kalian ang operasyon na gagawin sa Northern Mindanao
Medical Center sa Cagayan de Oro City, at lahat ng gagastusin papunta at
pabalik ay sagot ng 401st Brigade,” sabi ni Col. Gan.
Maalaala na ang mga sundalo ng 401st Infantry
Brigade sa pangunguna ni Col. Gan ay naging aktibo sa pagbibigay ng kanilang
serbisyo sa mga gawaing civil military sa lalawigan ng Agusan del Sur.
Noong magbukas ang klase para sa pasukan sa
taong 2012-2013, ang dalawang batalyon ng 401st Infantry Brigade ay naging
aktibo sa kanilang partisipasyon sa programa ng Department of Education na kung
tawagin ay Brigada Eskwela para sa preparasyon ng pasukan.
Noong ginawa ang pinagsanib na programang
medical mission ng pamahalaang panlalawigan at ng dalawang congressional
district ng Agusan del Sur, ginamit din ng 401st Brigade ang kanilang mga
nalalaman sa menor na operasyon tulad ng tuli, operasyon ng mga bungi at
nagpalabas din sila ng mga salida sa bidyo. (DSM/PPIO-Agusan del Sur)
Cebuano News: Aquino miingon ngadto sa mga
mining investors: ‘We’ll not change rules in the middle of the game’
Ni Susil D. Ragas
SURIGAO CITY, Sept. 27 (PIA) – Ang mining
investors makalaom sa balanse ug patas nga implementasyon sa mga regulasyon,
matud ni Pangulong Benigno S. Aquino III kagahapon Miyerkules, mipasalig usab
siya kanila nga ang iyang administrasyon dili mohimo og bag-ong mga kausaban sa
maong mga regulasyon.
Sa iyang mensahe atol sa inagurasyon sa
processing and refining facility sa Philippine Associated Smelting and Refining
Corp. (PASAR) kagahapon didto sa Isabel, Leyte , ang Pangulo miingon nga ang
mga industriya, lakip na ang minahan, molambo lamang kung adunay klaro ug sakto
nga rules-based system.
Matud niya nga gihimo sa iyang administrasyong
ang Executive Order 79 aron mositar og mga regulasyon nga balanse, patas, ug
makaayo ngadto sa tanang stakeholders.
“Rules where profit is possible for the
companies, for the government, and, most importantly, for the Filipino people,
all while allowing us to preserve our environment,” matud pa niya ang iyang
administrasyon mihimo og mga polisiya nga makiangayon sa tanang stakeholders.
“At the end of the day, we assure you --- the
rules will be clear. Our administration will not drop our investors in the
middle of a maze of moving walls. Let me assure you that through the level
playing field we are instituting, success will come to anyone who pursues it
the tried-and-tested way --- with patience, integrity, hard work, and
innovation.”
Sa pagkakaron, gihimo na sa administrasyon ang
pinal nga Implementing Rules and Regulations alang sa EO 79 ug gikuha ang mga
pagduha-duha sa mga mining investors aron mosulod sa pagmina.
Apan gipahimangnoan sa Pangulo ang mga mining
investors nga ang mga minerales sa nasod gipanag-iya sa katawhang Filipino ug
kinahanglan nga makadawat sila og patas nga kumpensasyon gikan sa mga kumpanya
nga miginansya sa maong mga tinubdan.
Luyo sa pag-inagurar sa smelting ug refining
facility sa PASAR, gipangunahan usab sa Pangulo kagahapon ang seremonya sa
switch-on sa electrification project didto sa Leyte.
Siya giubanan nila Trade Sec. Gregory Domingo,
Labor Sec. Rosalinda Baldoz, Energy Sec. Jose Rene Almendras, Sen. Teofisto
Guingona III, PASAR Chair Angel Veloso Jr., ug PASAR President and CEO David
Halley, ug si Presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda.
Mitambong usab sila Gov. Carlos Jericho Petilla,
Rep. Lucy Torrres-Gomez, ug Mayor Saturnino Medina. (PIA-Surigao del Norte)
