(PAGASA 24-HOUR PUBLIC WEATHER FORECAST as of Wednesday, 27 March 2024) Easterlies affecting the eastern section of 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.


Saturday, August 2, 2014

TESDA-AgNor spearheads abilympics, PWD forum

By Gervacio C. Dauz, Jr.

BUTUAN CITY, Aug. 2 (PIA) - A number of eager Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) from the different municipalities and lone city of Agusan del Norte got a heyday of their lives showcasing what’s up and on their sleeves when they joined a one-day Abilympics or Provincial Skills Competition held recently at the Capitol Compound and at AMA Computer Learning Center in this city, and, the following day, it was followed by a forum for PWDs and the awarding ceremony for winners at the Provincial Training Center here.

Spearheaded by the provincial government of Agusan del Norte and supported by Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA)-Agusan del Norte Provincial Office and the AMA Computer Learning Center, the Abilympics rolled out with at least four trade areas or categories being competed upon in line with the National Disability Prevention Week and in preparation for the regional, and hopefully national, competition.

Declared winners for Creating Web Pages were Michael Dominise of Cabadbaran City who got the 1st Place, while Salvador Aquino, Jr. of Jabonga secured the 2nd Place.

For the Desktop Publishing, Jesus Lelis, Jr. of Cabadbaran City landed 1st Place; Christopher Saubon of Jabonga snatched the 2nd Place; and Cristina Sarte of Las Nieves got the 3rd Place.

For the English Text Processing, Francisco B. Gumapac, Jr. of RTR municipality heralded the 1st Place; Matlin C. Esma of Kitcharao, 2nd Place; and Jessie T. Dominise of Cabadbaran City, 3rd Place.

For Photography, on the other hand, Joebert Tapales of Magallanes took the 1st place, while Mylyn Junio of Las Nieves gained the 2nd Place.

All winners of the Abilympics got trophies and were given the following prize money respectively: P1,000.00 for 1st Place; P750.00 for the 2nd Place; and P500.00 for the 3rd Place.

The first two enumerated competitions were held at the AMA CLC campus at the J.C. Aquino Avenue here, while the other two were slated within the premises of Capitol Compound here.

During the forum – an Orientation on National Agencies’ Programs and Services for PWDs – held on the second day, at least three agencies were invited to share about inputs that could help alleviate or ease the plight of the PWDs and these were the Department of Transportation and Communication, Department of Health, and TESDA.

Provincial Board Member and Committee Chair on Social Services Elizabeth Marie R. Calo, who keynoted the event was glad to note that the PWDs had really found the time and effort to show their skills and talents, so that they will be mainstreamed into the society.

Representatives from DOTC and DOH likewise shared about their agencies’ respective services for the PWDs, while TESDA, on the other hand, egged the PWDs, who were present, to not only settle for capability building and enhancement, but to really organize themselves and secure a legal personality, so that they will have the currency and face value to transact business with legitimate organizations and agencies that could help them through provision of seed capital and other intervention package. (TESDA-Agusan del Norte/PIA-Agusan del Norte)


DOH Caraga teams up with BJMP for ‘Belly Gud for Health’ program

BUTUAN CITY, Aug. 2 (PIA) - The Department of Health (DOH) Caraga regional office and Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) Caraga team-up in the launching of "Belly Gud for Health" for the staff and personnel of BJMP Caraga held recently at Doongan Covered Court, this city.

“Belly Gud for Health” is a six-month long challenge designed by the DOH where executives and staff undergo nutrition and physical activity, counseling, healthy diet, aerobic and isometric exercises and stress management activities aimed towards optimum wellbeing. The participants of the challenge with a belly measuring above the desirable waist circumference (35 inches for men and 31 inches for women) and have undergone risk factor assessment (glucose, cholesterol, blood pressure, body mass index) are automatically targeted as participants for the six-month long program.

Participants are expected to work on their own interventions in accordance to their preference, schedule and convenience. However, they are expected to apply only healthy and natural interventions. The use of slimming drugs or herbal products and other formulations, including liposuction or other artificial interventions are prohibited.

The BJMP regional office will ensure that the staff enrolled in the program will be supplied with the needed information to guide and help them during the course of the program. Inputs on nutrition, exercise and stress management will be provided. Also, the said office, through its one hour of athletic time every Tuesdays and Thursdays will ensure that the staff can have their needed regular physical fitness activities and exercises.

BJMP Caraga regional director J/SSupt. Dennis Rocamora said during the launching that those targeted to reduce their waistline will be monitored on a monthly basis. "Staff in jail offices throughout the region will be monitored by their respective Jail Health In-charge. A certificate of commendation and a commendation medal, together with an additional cash prize will be given to the biggest weight looser. However, there will be a corresponding administrative penalty for those who will fail in the annual physical fitness test and medical exams,” Rocamora said.

Meanwhile, DOH Caraga regional director Minerva Molon said that obesity and being overweight are proven factors in the development of non-communicable, debilitating, lifestyle related diseases such as hypertension, diabetes – to name a few. "We need interventions; cost effective, efficient and result-oriented interventions to prevent these said diseases that are affecting more and more Filipinos," she said.


Molon said physical exercise, proper nutrition, stress management and adequate rest periods contribute to the total wellbeing of a person. "We, at the DOH Caraga regional office, enjoin everyone to practice healthy lifestyle habits to prevent lifestyle-related diseases. We will also launch the Belly Gud for Health program in our office during the culmination activity of our month-long anniversary celebration,” said Molon. (DOH-Caraga/PIA-Caraga)