Aggie department promotes brown rice servings
By Venus L. Garcia
BUTUAN CITY, Dec. 28 (PIA) - In support to the
campaign of consuming brown rice to help increase income of farmers and attain
rice sufficiency, the Regional Agricultural and Fishery Council (RAFC) of the
Department of Agriculture (DA) is recommending to all regional line agencies,
bureaus and attached corporations to serve brown rice during trainings,
meetings, feeding programs and other gatherings.
The Regional Development Council (RDC)- Economic
Development Committee (EDC) expressed support for the advocacy of brown rice in
the region through crafting a resolution.
Engr. Leonel F. Santos, representative of RDC-EDC,
said that based on the study conducted by George Mateljan Foundation, converting
brown rice into white rice through complete milling and polishing destroys 67
percent of Vitamin B3, 80 percent of Vitamin B1, 90 percent of Vitamin B6, 50
percent of manganese, 50 percent of phosphorus, 60 percent of iron and all the
dietary fiber and essential fatty acids.
The use of 'brown rice' in Caraga region offers
both economic and health benefits, such that it may generate greater demand for
brown rice that will eventually attract farmers to produce more. Supported with
effective marketing and good pricing mechanism, the ensuing rise for brown rice
production will also help improve the farmers' income. In general, intensifying
brown rice production improves rice production sufficiency in the region, bared
Caraga Regional Development Council secretariat.
The health benefits that can be derived from
consuming brown rice will help lessen the household's expenditures for
medicines and health services and reduce a person's exposure to specific
diseases; hence, increasing a person's life expectancy.
Based on the report released by the United Nations’
Food and Agriculture Organization (UN-FAO), it is estimated that around 13.7M
Filipinos are undernourished in 2016. Apparently, the country’s undernourished
population reduced only by 17.9 percent since 1990.
“Also, the Philippines is included in the top 15
countries in the world in terms of prevalence of diabetes as indicated in the
International Diabetes Federal website,” added Engr. Santos.
Accordingly, the use of brown rice in government
undertakings, namely meetings and seminars, may generate greater demand for
brown rice that will eventually attract farmers to produce more. Supported with
effective marketing and good pricing mechanisms, the ensuing rise in brown rice
production will also help improve the farmers’ income. In general, intensifying
brown rice production improves rice production sufficiency in the region.
(VLG/PIA-Caraga)
CHED offers development packages for displaced
personnel
By Venus L. Garcia
BUTUAN CITY, Dec. 28 (PIA) – Following the
implementation of K to 12 Basic Education Program in the country, wherein it
affects several higher education institution (HEI) personnel, the Commission on
Higher Education (CHED) is receptive in addressing the concerns and welfare of
the personnel from colleges and universities who are greatly affected in the
event of transition.
They are encouraged to avail of the various
government support programs. These are accessible by the HEI personnel,
teaching or non-teaching, with employments terminated, or contracts not renewed
because of the K to12 implementation.
CHED offers various professional development
programs for displaced personnel such as scholarships for graduate studies,
professional advancement grants, postdoctoral study grants, sectoral engagement
grants and research grants, said CHED Caraga regional director Maricar Casquejo
as she gave updates during the 89th Regional Development Council Meeting held
recently in this city.
These grants are available to personnel who are
retained in their respective colleges and universities but receive reduced
workloads. Accordingly, CHED is also laying out the program to extend these
scholarships and grants to displaced HEI personnel.
Apart from these, the other government line
agencies are also helping out in providing employment, livelihood and
entrepreneurship programs. The Department of Education (DepEd) through its
Green Lane Program prioritizes the displaced HEI personnel in the hiring of
Senior High School (SHS) teachers.
Meanwhile, the Department of Labor and Employment
Adjustment Measures Program (DOLE-AMP) provides monthly financial support and
employment facilitation to displaced HEI personnel to protect them against
continued loss of income by covering three to six months of financial support.
Also, through the DOLE Kabuhayan Program, displaced personnel are given
opportunities to upgrade their skills through TESDA programs, entrepreneurship
training, and livelihood opportunities, as mentioned at CHED’s wordpress site.
It was also learned that “TESDA offers regular
training programs to displaced HEI personnel for their immediate employment.
DOLE endorses the said personnel to their nearest TESDA Provincial Office for
the issuance of training vouchers. Also, displaced personnel who aim to teach
in the Tech-Voc track in SHS may also avail of the Competency Assessment and
Certification provided in TESDA-administered institutions.” (VLG/PIA-Caraga)
'Welcome 2017 in a healthy, harmonious manner' -
DOH
By Nora C. Lanuza Molde
BUTUAN CITY, Dec. 28 (PIA) – “Welcome the year 2017
in a harmonious, peaceful and healthy manner,” a DOH Caraga official says.
Dr. Jose R. Llacuna, Jr. DOH Caraga regional
director has released an advisory encouraging everyone to use other
merry-making instruments and/or activities to produce sounds and noise like car
horns, ‘torotot’, ‘videoke’, parlor games, drums and other musical instruments
in welcoming the new year.
For a healthy celebration, the DOH official advises
everyone to consume well-balanced meals with vegetables and fruits on the table
and to eat in moderation nutritious foods to sustain daily activities with
avoidance of salty and fatty foods.
Also, Llacuna says that in order to protect the
liver from damage, too much alcohol must be avoided. “Ensure the cleanliness and
freshness of the food prepared, meat products must be well-cooked to avoid
poisoning,” he says.
Llacuna warns that when handling or lighting
firecrackers, light at outdoors one at a time and don’t hold item while
lighting. Never pick up failed firecrackers
as this may create delayed explosion, he says.
However, Llacuna says that in case of injury,
wounds must be immediately washed with clean, running water until visible dirt
and gunpowder residue is removed; put pressure when there is tearing of body
part or skin and proceed to the nearest health facility for proper medication.
Meanwhile, DOH Caraga, in its December 26 advisory,
bared that three firecracker-related cases were reported to the department's
Surveillance Unit. The three cases came from the urban areas with piccolo as
the type of firecracker used. (NCLM/PIA-Caraga)
AgNor PDRRMC holds 4th rescue exercise
By Nora C. Lanuza Molde
BUTUAN CITY, Dec. 28 (PIA) – The Agusan del Norte
Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (PDRRMC) successfully
conducted its 4th Provincewide Rescue Exercise held at the provincial capitol
covered court, recently.
PDRRMO civil defense officer Jorge Vincent G.
Pagaran said the three-day rescue exercise was participated by some 300 young
ADNERTs or Agusan del Norte Emergency Response Team from the lone city of
Cabadbaran, and eight municipalities of the province.
During the exercise, four badges were being
competed by the participants. These were the Fire Rescue Badge that includes
the bucket relay, use of fire extinguisher, turn off the LPG, and fire hose;
Rope Rescue Badge using the single rope technique – descend, basic knots, and
basic anchoring; First Aid Badge with lifting and moving, CPR, patient
assessment, and bandaging and splinting; and Radio Handling Badge that includes
the daily operations.
The RTR Young ADNERT composed of students from Agay
National High School (NHS) and Balangbalang NHS was declared as the overall
champion during the competition; Cabadbaran City National High School got the
2nd place; Nasipit got the 3rd place; Cabadbaran’s La Union, Puting Bato,
Northern Cabadbaran Central Elementary School Evening Opportunity High School
got the 4th place; and Buenavista got the 5th place.
According to PDRRMO officer Erma Suyo, the rescue
exercise was conducted with the aim to enhance and evaluate the capacity
schools in the province of Agusan del Norte; promote camaraderie and linkages
with other young ADNERT school and participating agencies; promote
interoperability/synergy among agencies in times of disaster/calamities; and to
benchmark basic skills to foster unity and consistency in skills facilitation.
The rescue exercise was also participated by the
Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), Philippine National Police (PNP), PNP-Regional
Public Safety Battalion, PNP-K9 EOD Unit, PNP PPO, Philippine Army (PA) 29th
Infantry Battalion (IB) and 23IB, Philippine Coast Guard Auxiliary, DLF Tubay
fire volunteers, Agata Mining.
Facilitators and evaluators during the event were
coming from PDRRMO, ADNERT, Team Agusan, Department of Health, BFP, PNP, and
Respond, Inc. (NCLM/PIA-Agusan del Norte)
DILG
releases P41.9 M to SGLG Caraga awardees
By
Florian Faith Jr. P. Bayawa
BUTUAN
CITY, Dec. 28 (PIA) - The Department of the Interior and Local Government
(DILG) Caraga releases P41.8 Million worth of checks to the 13 local government
units in Caraga that are awardees of the Seal of Good Local Governance (SGLG)
on December 20, 2016 here.
The
Seal of Good Local Governance (SGLG) is a program of the DILG which is
conferred to deserving LGUs portraying integrity in providing better
performance and service based on criteria gauging local government performance.
As SGLG awardees. LGUs will receive an incentive fund called Performance Challenge
Fund (PCF) to be used for the implementation of local development projects.
DILG
Caraga regional director Lilibeth A. Famacion expressed her congratulations to
the 13 LGUs that has exemplified good performance in providing better public
service that is coupled with integrity, transparency and accountability. She
hopes that there will be more LGUs in the region acclaimed as SGLG passers in
the next round of assessment.
Through
DILG Memorandum dated December 19, 2016 entitled: "Release of Funding Check
for Performance Challenge Fund (PCF) 2016," the following checks were
released to the following LGUs:
LGU RECIPIENT AMOUNT
1.
Carmen, Agusan del Norte - 3,000,000.00
2.
Trento, Agusan del Sur
- 3,000,000.00
3.
Loreto, Dinagat Islands
- 3,000,000.00
4.
Claver, Surigao del Norte
- 3,000,000.00
5.
Del Carmen, Surigao del Norte - 3,000,000.00
6.
Mainit, Surigao del Norte
- 3,000,000.00
7.
Malimono, Surigao del Norte - 3,000,000.00
8.
Tandag City, Surigao del Sur - 3,400,000.00
9.
Hinatuan, Surigao del Sur - 3,000,000.00
10.
Lanuza, Surigao del Sur - 3,000,000.00
11.
Bislig City,Surigao del Sur - 3,400,000.00
12.
Province of Dinagat Islands - 4,000,000.00
13.
Province of Surigao del Norte -
4,000,000.00
The
SGLG awardees for the Province category are: 1) Province of Dinagat Islands and
2) Province of Surigao del Norte; City category: 3) Bislig City and 4) Tandag
City; Municipal category: 5) Hinatuan, 6) Lanuza, 7) Loreto (Dinagat Islands),
8) Trento, 9) Carmen (Agusan del Norte), 10) Claver, 11) Del Carmen, 12) Mainit
and 13) Malimono.
In
the country, there are only 306 LGUs that received the Seal. For an LGU to be
an SGLG awardee, it should pass all 'three core assessment areas': Good
Financial Housekeeping (GFH), Social Protection and Disaster Preparedness, and
'at least one of the essential areas': Business-Friendliness and
Competitiveness, Peace and Order and Environmental Management. (DILG
13/PIA-Caraga)
