Agri-Pinoy Corn Program Performance Review
commences in Surigao City
By Susil D. Ragas
SURIGAO CITY, Aug. 7 (PIA) -- The Agri-Pinoy
second quarter Performance Review and Planning Workshop under the Department of
Agriculture (DA) startedd on Tuesday, August 6 at Almont Beach Resort, Lipata,
this city. The activity will run until Aug. 8.
The three-day activity aims to assist and
evaluate the accomplishments of corn program in the country, and to review
lay-out plans and projects for implementation.
More than 150 participants comprising national
corn program officials, corn coordinators, report officers from 17 regions all
over the country and other line-agencies under the Department of Agriculture
signed up for the activity.
National Corn Program Coordinator and DA
Assistant Secretary for Field Operations Edilberto de Luna, DA Spokesperson and
Assistant Secretary Salvador Salacup together with DA-RFU 13 Regional Director
Edna Mabeza graced the event.
The Agri-Pinoy Corn Program is a flagship
program of the Department of Agriculture which aimed primarily to achieve
sufficient and sustainable supply of staple food in the country.
(SDR/PIA-Surigao del Norte)
DENR-13 release sea turtle at a hidden resort
By Eric F. Gallego
BUCAS GRANDE, Surigao del Norte, Aug. 7 (PIA) --
Officials from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) led
by Regional Executive Director Nonito M. Tamayo released on August 1 two
endangered sea turtles including a juvenile at a secluded beach resort here and
reminded the keepers to conserve marine mammals.
Tamayo identified the sea turtles as belonging
to hawksbill (Eretmochelys imbricata) and green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas)
species. They had been caged for several months before their condition was
spotted by DENR officials.
The green sea turtle which measured about 50
centimeters (cm) by 45 cm is a juvenile while the adult hawksbill turtle
measured about 100 cm shell length and 62 cm wide. A DENR tag number had been
placed at the right flap of the hawksbill.
“While it is understood that most resort
operators desire to adopt rare sea turtle as pet for tourist attraction the
DENR, however, remains consistent with its policy on pawikan conservation by
virtue of Executive Order No. 542, signed on 26 June 1979,” RED Tamayo said.
“We want to ensure the survival and growth of the country's remaining marine
turtle populations," he added.
The release was also witnessed by Regional
Technical Director Mario Eludo of the Protected Areas Wildlife and Coastal Zone
Resources, Ronilo Salac of the Ecosystem Research and Development Services,
Atty. Paquito Rosal of the Land Management Services, PENROs and CENROs and
senior staff.
Tamayo has warned the people particularly
operators of resorts along the coastal areas to refrain from catching giant sea
turtles.
Hawksbill turtles are normally found near reefs
rich in sponges which they feed on. They avoid deep waters, preferring coastlines
where sponges are abundant and where sandy nesting sites are within reach.
Not particularly large compared with other sea
turtles, hawksbills grow up to about 45 inches (114 cm) in shell length and 150
pounds (68 kilograms) in weight.
Like other sea turtles, hawksbills migrate from
feeding sites to nesting grounds, normally on tropical beaches. Mating occurs
every two to three years and normally takes place in shallow waters. The
nesting procedure begins when the turtles leave the sea to choose an area to
lay their eggs.
A pit is dug in the sand, filled with eggs, and
then covered. At this stage, the turtles retreat to the sea, leaving the eggs,
which will hatch in about 60 days. The most dangerous time of the lives of the
turtles comes when hatchlings make the journey from their nests to the sea.
Crabs and gulls prey on young turtles during this short scamper.
Like many sea turtles, hawksbills are an
endangered species. Hawksbill eggs are still eaten around the world despite the
turtle’s international protected status, and they are often killed for their
flesh and for their shells. These graceful sea turtles are also threatened by
accidental capture in fishing nets. (FEA/DENR-13/PIA-Caraga)
Caraga’s SME Roving Academy trains PWDs
By Rennel C. Dalagan & Marson Jan S. Dolendo
BUTUAN CITY, Aug. 7 (PIA) -- Thirty-five persons
with disability (PWDs) had undergone a series of technology demonstrations and
specialized trainings as the first enrollees of the Department of Trade and
Industry (DTI)’s Small and Medium Enterprise (SME) Roving Academy.
The three-part training was conducted right
after the formal launching of the SME Roving Academy (SRA) held recently in the
region, in cooperation with the San Miguel Mills, Inc. and the Department of
Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).
The sessions included Skills Training on Baking
(Black Forest Bread, Cheese Stick Bread, Sweet Savory Bread and Ube Loaf);
Product Pricing and Costing to allow participants to effectively compute the
costs of their products and come up with reasonable and competitive prices; and
Product Packaging and Labeling to teach participants the market trends in
packaging and labeling they can apply on their products.
The activity came in the heels of the 35th
celebration of the National Disability Prevention and Rehabilitation (NDPR)
week. This year’s theme “Building an Inclusive and Non-Handicapping Environment
for Persons with Disabilities,” aims for the effective integration of PWDs into
the mainstream of society.
The SRA is one of the flagship programs of the
agency conceptualized to be a continuous learning program for the development
of micro, small, and medium enterprises to become competitive in the domestic
and international (global) markets.
Through the SRA, the DTI, in partnership with
the local government units (LGUs), chambers of commerce, academe, financial
institutions, trade and industry associations and other government and
non-government organizations hopes to facilitate not only the learning stages
but also other support services to assist SMEs to grow from micro to small to
medium and large should they desire to do so.
The SRA has seven learning stages, namely:
start-up and capability building, market awareness, market readiness, export
readiness, export market entry, export sustainability, and export expansion.
(FEA/DTI-13/PIA-Caraga)
News Feature: Overweight and obese children on
the rise
By Imelda A. Agdeppa
MANILA, Aug. 7 -- The updating survey on the
nutritional status of Filipino children in 2011 by the Food and Nutrition
Research Institute of the Department of Science and Technology (FNRI-DOST)
revealed that 4 in 100 (or 4.3 percent) of preschoolers 0-5 years old are
overweight.
Regions with the highest prevalence of
overweight preschoolers are Cavite-Laguna-Batangas-Rizal-Quezon (CALABARZON),
National Capital Region (NCR) and Ilocos regions, ranging from 5.9 percent to
6.3 percent, which is higher than the national prevalence of 4.3 percent.
The prevalence of overweight and obesity among
the preschoolers increased by 1 percentage point from 3.3 percent to 4.3
percent in 2011.
The survey results further revealed that 8 in
100 (or 7.5%) of school children 6-10 years old are overweight.
Overweight prevalence is highest in Central
Luzon, CALABARZON and NCR regions, ranging from 11.1 percent to 12.6 percent,
which is higher than the national prevalence of 7.5 percent. Further,
prevalence increased by 0.9 percentage points, from 6.6 percent in 2008 to 7.5
percent in 2011.
Overweight and obesity are basically due to an
energy imbalance between calories consumed and calories expended.
Nowadays, there has been an increase in intake
of high-energy foods that are high in fat, salt and sugars but low in vitamins
and minerals.
In contrast, there was a decrease in physical activity
due to increasing sedentary lifestyle, such as watching television and playing
computer games among children.
Changes in dietary and physical patterns are
often the result of environmental and societal changes associated with
development and very lax enforcement of supportive policies in the health and
education sectors.
The Nutritional Guidelines for Filipinos
developed by a team of experts led by the FNRI-DOST recommends eating a variety
of foods every day, since no single food can provide all the nutrients the body
needs.
Consumption of fruits and vegetables should be increased,
while limiting intake of sugary and fatty foods is also recommended.
Overweight and obesity among children are
preventable.
A supportive environment at home and in school
is necessary in shaping children’s food choices, adapting a healthier lifestyle
like engaging in regular physical activity to help prevent obesity.
For more information on food and nutrition,
contact: Dr. Mario V. Capanzana, Director, Food and Nutrition Research
Institute, Department of Science and Technology, General Santos Avenue,
Bicutan, Taguig City. E-mail: mcv@fnri.dost.gov.ph, Telefax: 837-2934 and
827-3164, or call: 8372071 local 2296 or visit our website:
http://www.fnri.dost.gov.ph. (FNRI-DOST S & T Media Service/PIA-Caraga)
DENR gets unmanned aircraft to fight illegal
logging in Caraga Region
By Eric F. Gallego
BUTUAN CITY, Aug. 7 (PIA) -- The Department of
Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) in Caraga Region is using a prototype
Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) technology popularly known as “drone” developed
by Filipino scientists and engineers in an effort to closely monitor the
activities and movement of illegal logging operations in the remote mountain
villages of the region.
At the same time, the Forest Management Sector
headed by OIC Regional Technical Director Marites C. Ocampo said she would use
and analyze the data and pictures that are taken through the video camera of
the UAV related to the National Greening Program (NGP) being implemented by the
DENR.
“We want to know the exact situation of planted
tree species of the NGP at the site designated by our PENRO and CENRO officers
to guide the management in decision making process,” Ocampo said.
SKYEYE, the operator of the UAV gave a complete
briefing of the UAV operations to PENRO Roberto Oliveros in Agusan del Sur and
PENRO Merlinda R. Manila in Surigao del Sur at the DENR Regional Office in the
presence of the Regional Executive Director Nonito M. Tamayo and RTD Ocampo on
Tuesday in a move to have a better understanding of the technology.
Tamayo said “for the first time, the DENR is
adopting the unmanned aircraft in monitoring the activities and movement of
illegal logging in the region considering the complexities of this annoying
problem.”
He said that several attempts have been made in
the past to solve this problem but little breakthrough has been achieved so
far.
“We cannot afford to relax our campaign. Those
timber poachers and log smugglers are always there waiting for every opportunity
to break in and transport those illegal logs,” Tamayo said.
“In that case we would be sure, the DENR shall
always stand on their way to stop them and that appropriate cases be filed
against those culprits so they land in jail,” he said.
He said the incidence of illegal logging in the
region has been sustained to its low level record as compared in the past.
Although there are reports of apprehensions of cargo trucks transporting
illegal logs, the PNP and the Philippine Army soldiers are constantly on alert
to stop it, he said.
Incidentally, the UAV could likewise help the
top DENR management in identifying the weak areas in the reforestation
activities under the National Greening Program.
He said “the DENR Caraga Region is vying for the
best agency performer among other regional offices this year hence, we want to
make sure the documentations being submitted to the central office are proper
and correct.”
The poor performers, he said, shall have to face
corresponding disciplinary actions for their failures.
Tamayo said the UAV technology is expected to
minimize the high risk of lives among the DENR personnel engaged in
anti-illegal logging campaign at the front lines. (FEA/DENR-13/PIA-Caraga)
News feature: Milk intake lowest among children
of poor families-FNRI
By Ma. Idelia G. Glorioso
MANILA, Aug. 7 -- Milk or more importantly
breast milk, is the first food we taste and is the complete food for babies
during the first six months of life.
Nutritionists tell us that milk is an essential
source of calcium, while the Daily Nutritional Guide Pyramid suggests drinking
a glass of milk everyday.
Most of us, if not all, know that calcium is
important because it keeps the body alive by performing numerous functions
including building and maintaining bones and teeth.
Calcium also helps in regulating blood clotting,
transmitting nerve impulses, muscle flexing and heartbeat.
Ninety nine percent of the calcium in the body
is stored in the bones and teeth while the remaining one percent is found in
the blood and other tissues.
Related to this, the Food and Nutrition Research
Institute of the Department of Science and Technology (FNRI-DOST) conducted a
study that determined the contribution of milk and dairy products to the
calcium intakes of children by age group and socio-economic status.
Results of the study showed that the average
daily calcium intake of children 6 months to 10 years old is 291 milligrams,
which is only 13 percent adequate when compared to the 80 milligrams estimated
adequacy requirement (EAR) for children.
The percentage of children meeting adequate
level of recommended calcium intake decreases as age increases, the results of
the study further revealed.
Moreover, the study found that only 9.4 percent
of the children met the recommended calcium intake for children 6 months to 10
old years.
Milk contributed only 34.4 percent of the total
calcium intake of children, which is low considering the requirement for this
period of rapid growth.
In terms of socio-economic status, calcium
intake among young children increases as family wealth increases. Calcium
intake was lowest among children of poor families, the study also noted.
The 2012 Nutritional Guidelines for Filipinos
urges us, especially children, to “consume milk, milk products and other
calcium-rich foods such as small fish and shellfish everyday for healthy bones
and teeth”.
For more information on food and nutrition,
contact Dr. Mario V. Capanzana, Director, FNRI-DOST, DOST Compound, General
Santos Avenue, Bicutan, Taguig City. Direct Lines and Fax: (02) 83703164;
Trunklines: 837-2071 locals 2296 & 2284, 837-8113, locals 318 & 319;
Website: www.fnri.dost.gov.ph; E-mail: mvc@fnri.dost.gov.ph, mar_v_c@yahoo.com.
(FNRI-DOST S & T Media Service/PIA-Caraga)
Lathalain: Food label, ating basahin
Ni Ma. Idelia G. Glorioso
Nagbabasa ka ba ng food label kapag namimili sa
grocery or sari-sari store?
Ano ba ang mas pinahahalagahan mo - ang brand
ba, ang presyo o ang sustansyang taglay ng pagkain o produkto?
Siyempre, nangunguna sa ating tinitingnan ay ang
ang presyo ng produkto kapag tayo ay namimili.
Pero, hindi natin dapat isantabi ang mga
sustansiyang taglay ng pagkain. Saan natin makikita ang impormasyong ito? Saan
pa, kundi sa label ng pagkain.
Mahalaga ang label ng mga pagkaing ating
binibili hindi lang para madali nating matandaan ang isang produkto, kundi para
malaman natin kung ano ang kabutihang dulot nito sa ating kalusugan.
Ano ba ang mga impormasyong nilalaman ng isang
food label?
Unang makikita sa label ay ang pangalan ng
produkto kung saan nakasaad ang may-gawa ng naturang produkto at ang kanilang
address.
Mahalaga ang pangalan at address ng gumagawa ng
produkto para kung sakaling may hindi magandang epekto sa ating katawan ang
isang pagkain o kaya ay ma-food poison o malson tayo, alam natin kung sino ang
puwede nating puntahan.
Makikita rin natin sa food label kung gaano
karami o ano ang timbang ng pagkaing ating binibili at kung ilang tao ang
pwedeng makinabang dito.
Ang pinaka-importanteng bahagi ng food label ay
ang nutrition facts ng isang pagkain.
Ang nutrition facts o ang nutrition label ang
tumutukoy sa mga impormasyon na may kinalaman sa mga sustansiyang taglay ng
isang pagkain.
Halimbawa ng nakasulat sa nutrition facts ay
kung gaano karaming enerhiya, protina, taba, fiber, bitamina, mineral o iba
pang sustansiyang taglay ng pagkain.
Mahalaga ang nutrition facts para alam natin
kung sapat ba ang sustansiyang taglay ng isang pagkain para tugunan ang
pangangailangan ng ating katawan.
Makatutulong din ang nutrition facts para sa mga
tao na gustong limitahan ang konsumo nila ng taba, sodium, asukal o iba pang
mga sangkap o ingredients, lalo na ang mga diet-conscious at mga taong may
lifestyle diseases tulad ng diyabetes, sakit sa puso at kanser.
Alam ba ninyo na hindi lang ang mga mamimili ang
puwedeng makinabang sa mga food labels na ito?
Ang mga food companies ay makikinabang din sa
paglalagay ng tamang food labels sa kanilang mga produkto.
Ang mga food labels kasi ay maaaring maging
insentibo ng mga food companies para lalo pa nilang pagbutihin ang kalidad ng
produkto lalo na ngayon na health at nutrition-conscious na rin ang maraming
mamimili.
Kaya naman sa mga mamimili o consumers, huwag po
tayong basta bumibili ng isang produkto na dahil sikat o kilala ang brand, mas
mura o inendorso ng mga sikat na artista.
Kailangan tignan mabuti ang food label upang
malaman kung may sapat sustansiya ang produkto na tutugon sa pangangailangan ng
ating katawan.
Para sa karagdagang impormasyon tungkol sa
pagkain at nutrisyon, makipag-ugnayan kay Dr. Mario V. Capanzana, Food and
Nutrition Research Institute-DOST, Bicutan, Taguig, Metro Manila, Tel. No.
837-29-34 or 837-20-71 loc. 2287, FNRI-DOST, email: mvc@fnri.dost.gov.ph;
website:http//www.fnri.dost.gov.ph. (FNRI-DOST S & T Media
Service/PIA-Caraga)
