(PAGASA 24-HOUR PUBLIC WEATHER FORECAST as of Wednesday, 09 October 2024) At 3:00 AM today, a Low Pressure Area (LPA) was estimated based on all available data at 165 km West Northwest of Coron, Palawan (12.3N, 118.7E) It is embedded along the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) affecting Southern Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao. 𝗙𝗒π—₯π—˜π—–π—”π—¦π—§ π—ͺπ—˜π—”π—§π—›π—˜π—₯ π—–π—’π—‘π——π—œπ—§π—œπ—’π—‘: 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 ITCZ. 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 Southwest to West will prevail with slight to moderate seas (0.6 to 2.5 meters).


Friday, August 5, 2016

DOLE Phils declares indefinite shutdown in SurSur due to security threat

By Nida Grace P. Barcena

SURIGAO DEL SUR, Aug. 6 (PIA) – The DOLE Philippines Incorporated, Stanfilco Division based in Davao City has stated in a letter addressed to Tagbina Mayor Generoso Naraiso for the declaration of the indefinite shut down or suspesion of their operation in Surigao del Sur due to security threats.

In a report, since 2013, eighteen burning incidents of container vans bound for Davao City had happened as it transported fresh bananas for export, bared by DOLE company.

In 2016 alone, seven incidents had transpired that reportedly incurred at least P20 million in losses. The same incidents took place just last month.

In a phone-patched interview, Naraiso said that around 400 Surigaonons were jobless after shutting down its operation in Tagbina town. It planted around 350 hectares in Tagbina, while more than 400 hectares in Barobo town.

According to Naraiso, the very reason of shutting down of DOLE’s operation in this province is due to burning and extortion activities of the NPAs, wherein said company had declined in giving them a revolutionary tax.

DOLE company is operating in three towns, namely, Tagbina, Barobo and Tago, all in Surigao del Sur, employing around more than a thousand Surigaonons. (NGBT/PIA-Surigao del Sur)


PH law creates favorable breastfeeding environment

By Ma. Anna Rita M. Ramirez

MANILA, Aug. 5 (PIA) - “Breastfeeding is best for babies.”  Breastmilk contains antibodies that boost the infants’ immune system to fight-off illnesses.  It is safe, economical and readily available.  Moreso, it encourages and enhances mother-child bonding.

Exclusive breastfeeding is recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO) from birth up to six months of age, after which, semi-solid foods are introduced to complement breastfeeding for up to two years or more.

In fact, the WHO recommends that newborns are put to the breast within an hour from birth and be given “on demand” or as infants asking for it through baby cues such as crying or instinctive movement of the infant’s mouth towards the breast.

Despite this, however, some mothers still opt not to breastfeed exclusively for various reasons, such as inadequate milk flow and lack of time to breastfeed due to work away from home.

These reasons partly account for a low breastfeeding rate in the Philippines, though there have been a slow increase from 29.7, 35.9, 46.7 percent in 2003, 2008 and 2011, respectively

In 2013, this figure further rose to 52.3 percent, based on the National Nutrition Survey (NNS) by the Food and Nutrition Research Institute of the Department of Science and Technology (FNRI-DOST).

The same survey noted an average duration of breastfeeding of 4.1 months in 2013 - also a slight increase from 3.7 months in 2011 and 2.3 months in 2008.

Though there are no studies that examine the reasons for these modest gains, we cannot discount the probability that our laws on breastfeeding could have actually made their dent.

Did you know that in the Philippines, we have a law that promotes breastfeeding?  This is Republic Act No. 10028 or the Expanded Breastfeeding Promotion Act of 2009.

By virtue of R.A. 10028, public establishments are mandated to create favorable breastfeeding environments, such as putting up of lactation stations in malls and airport terminals and other public places like in the market of Naga City.

The law also requires public offices to set up their own lactation or breastfeeding stations that will cater to their female employees who are currently breastfeeding.

These are just on top of drumbeating breastfeeding as the “way to go” among nursing or lactating mothers especially during the celebration of Breastfeeding Month in August.

The government is lauded for this legal piece, as this shows that it believes that breastmilk is really best for babies.

Other provisions of the law, however, remain to be a challenge and need to be beefed-up, such as the integration of breastfeeding in the curricula of formal and non-formal education.

Breastfeeding of infants and young children is an item asked in FNRI-DOST’s National Nutrition Surveys.  This is aside from tracking the food consumption, linear growth of children and micronutrient nutrition, among others, as these have been used as basis for the development and evaluation of nutrition intervention packages for specific population groups.

For more information on FNRI-DOST’s researches, contact Dr. Mario V. Capanzana, Director, Food and Nutrition Research Institute, Department of Science and Technology, General Santos Avenue, Bicutan, Taguig City:  Telephone/Fax Nos: 837-2934 or 837-3164; Direct Line: 839-1839; DOST Trunk Line:  837-2071-82 local 2296 or 2284; email: mvc@fnri.dost.gov.ph or at mar_v_c@yahoo.com; FNRI-DOST website at http://www.fnri.dost.gov.ph.  Like our Facebook page at facebook.com/FNRI.DOST or follow our Twitter account at twitter.com/FNRI DOST.  (FNRI-DOST S&T Media Service/PIA-Caraga)


Pinggang Pinoy: an easy guide to good nutrition

By Ma. Susana O. Encarnacion

MANILA, Aug. 5 (PIA) - The birth of Pinggang Pinoy or the Filipino food plate came as a clamor from the nutrition community to develop a food guide based on a per meal basis for a healthy adult.

Contrary to what others thought to be a replacement of the Daily Nutritional Guide (DNG) Pyramid for Filipinos, Pinggang Pinoy serves as a quick and easy guide for determining how much to eat per meal from each of the three basic food groups.

The DNG Pyramid, on the other hand, shows at a glance the whole day’s healthy food intake recommendation for Filipinos in order to have a balanced diet.

Both tools are based on the latest scientific findings about how food, drink and activity choices affect people’s health. Food guides themselves are not unique.  In fact, almost every country has its own version of a food guide.

So what makes Pinggang Pinoy unique? As its name suggests, Pinggang Pinoy is specially designed for Filipinos which features the GO, GROW and GLOW foods represented by food items commonly consumed by the population.

The GO food, for example, is represented by a bowl of rice, a staple food of Filipinos, fish like tilapia for GROW food, and banana and malunggay leaves for GLOW food.

Included in Pinggang Pinoy’s simple and graphic design is also a picture of a glass of water which stresses the importance of sufficient water intake, and a figure jogging to represent regular physical activity.

Recognizing the different nutrient requirements of the different age groups, the FNRI has recently developed the Pinggang Pinoy plates for children, adolescents, pregnant women and lactating mothers and the elderly.

The FNRI’s vision is to provide innovative and timely food and nutrition tools that will ensure a healthy and well-nourished Filipino population.

For more information on food and nutrition, you may write, call or visit:  Dr. Mario V. Capanzana, Director, Food and Nutrition Research Institute, Department of Science and Technology, General Santos Avenue, Bicutan, Taguig City; Telephone/ Fax Nos: 837-2934 or 837-3164; Direct Line:839-1839; DOST Trunk Line: 837-2071-82 local 2296 or 2284; e-mail: mvc@fnri.dost.gov.ph or at mar_v_c@yahoo.com; FNRI-DOST website: http://www.fnri.dost.gov.ph. Like our Facebook page at facebook.com/FNRI or follow our twitter account at twitter.com/FNRI_DOST. (FNRI-DOST S&T Media Service/PIA-Caraga)


Barangay road network in Agnor town underway

By Aimee B. Sienes

BUTUAN CITY, Aug. 5 (PIA) - In its continuous effort to improve the infrastructure facilities in the province, the provincial government of Agusan del Norte recently approved the project construction of barangay roads connecting the barangays of Sta. Ana and Binuangan in the municipality of Tubay, Agusan del Norte.

Supporting the province in this endeavor is the SR Metals, Inc., which is operating in Tubay, wherein the said company will provide the manpower, technical and financial assistance in the creation/construction of barangay roads connecting Barangays Sta. Ana and Binuangan.

Provincial Governor Ma. Angelica Rosedell M. Amante-Matba was authorized by the Sangguniang Panlalawigan to sign in behalf of the province the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) by and among the SR metals, Inc., Barangay Sta. Ana and Barangay Binuangan for the implementation of the road network construction.

The said MOA embodies the terms and responsibilities of each party for the implementation of the said project.

The construction of barangay roads in Tubay is a big improvement in its infrastructure projects that also aims to facilitate the easy and convenient transport of the people and farm products within the municipality.

This is one of the priority projects of the province in pursuit of improving the delivery of basic services in the province and its municipalities and city for its inhabitants. (LGU-Agusan del Norte/PIA-Agusan del Norte)


Cebuano News: ‘School Caravan ug Bisita sa Barangay’ nagpadayon

Ni Mary Jul Escalante

SURIGAO CITY, Surigao del Norte, Agosto 5 (PIA) – Programa nga ‘School Caravan’ ug Bisita sa Barangay sa probinsya nagpadayon gihapon sa pagpangulo ni Gobernador Sol F. Matugas.

Upat ka mga barangay ang nabisitahan ni Gob. Matugas niadtong Agosto 2, 2016 didto sa lungsod sa Soccoro. Kauban sa lakaw sa gobernador si kanhi Kongresista Francisco T. Matugas, Board Member Mamerto Galanida, Leonila Gorgolon, Nathaniel Plaza ug ang Team Capitol.

Unang gibisitahan sa gobernador ang Brgy. Sta. Cruz sunod ang Brgy. Pamosaingan, Brgy. Nueva Estrella ug ang Poblacion Socorro. Pagkahapon, nakigtigom ang gobernador sa mga kapitanes sa maong lungsod aron sa paghisgot sa mga plano ug programa sa probinsya ubos sa HEALS plus agenda sa gobernador.

Naghisgot sa programa sa Agrikultura si Provincial Agriculture Officer Rebecca Bagnol, si Provincial Women’s Development & Training Officer Florian Trinidad mihisgot mahitungod sa programa sa mga kababainhan ug si Tony Perral mituki sa programa sa Aquaculture.

Atol sa maong kalihukan ubay-ubay ang mga proyekto nga nahisgutan sama na sa covered court sa ug brgy. hall sa brgy. Sta. Cruz, road concreting sa Socorro ngaadto sa Pamosaingan, siyam ka classrooms nga tulo andanas kantidad P17 milyones ka pesos sa Nueva Estrella National High School, musical instruments sa Pamosaingon National High School, school improvements ug covered court sa Socorro Central Elementary School kantidad P2 milyones ka pesos ug uban pang mga proyekto.

Pagkahuman sa maong tigom, gipahigayon dayon ang Education Caravan 2016 sa Socorro Central Elementary School diin atol sa maong okasyon gi turn over usab ang tseke kantidad P200,000 nga pondo sa Socorro National High School alang sa ilang music and arts nga proyekto. (PGO-PIC/PIA-Surigao del Norte)