(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.


Friday, March 24, 2017

OCD rolls out #BidaAngHanda campaign

By Venus L. Garcia

BUTUAN CITY, Mar. 24 (PIA) – In line with the conduct of the 1st Quarter Nationwide Simultaneous Earthquake Drill (NSED) set on March 31, 2017 at 2:00 p.m. spearheaded by the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) through the Office of Civil Defense (OCD), the “Bida Ang Handa” campaign is launched which generally aims to promote disaster preparedness through public’s participation to the NSED.

Accordingly, the main goal of the activity is to gather the maximum number of commitments via social media.

"The campaign involves the participation of the government, private, academe and media sectors as well as other stakeholders by generating a photo and or video of individuals doing a preparedness activity with the fan sign or spoken statement: 'Mag-da-Duck, Cover, and Hold kami sa March 31, 2017! Dahil bida ang handa,'" said OCD Caraga regional director Rosauro Gonzales, Jr. as he reiterated the statement of NDRRMC executive director Ricardo Jalad.

“We seek the support of Caraganons, especially the netizens, to use the official hashtag #BidaAngHanda in order to heighten the campaign because what we want is to increase public awareness on the basic yet very important steps to do when an earthquake hits an area,” added Gonzales. (VLG.PIA-Caraga)


DepEd Tandag City celebrates 4th anniv

By Nida Grace P. Barcena

TANDAG CITY, Surigao del Sur, Mar. 24 (PIA) – The Department of Education (DepEd) - Tandag City Division celebrates its 4th founding anniversary Friday at Villa Maria Luisa Hotel, this city.

Anchored on the “Sustaining Partnerships, Creating Results,” the celebration will be highlighted with the State of the Division Address (SODA) to be delivered by Schools Division Superintendent Gregoria Su.

DepEd Caraga Regional Director May Eclar will grace the occasion and will deliver her message. Surigao del Sur Governor Vicente Pimentel Jr. and Tandag City Mayor Alexander Pimentel are also expected to grace the activity.

Also, part of the program is the awarding of certificates and tokens to the outstanding teachers and school heads.

At present, there are three schools division in this province - the Surigao del Sur Division, Bislig City Division and Tandag City Division, created on 2013. (PIA-Surigao del Sur)


Caraga RDRRMC urges participation of stakeholders in simultaneous earthquake drill

By Venus L. Garcia

BUTUAN CITY, Mar. 24 (PIA) – With the primary purpose of testing the response capacity and capability of local government units (LGUs), agencies, and other sectors of the community on earthquake incidents, the Caraga Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (RDRRMC) through the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) Caraga will conduct the 1st quarter of calendar year 2017 Nationwide Simultaneous Earthquake Drill (NSED) on Friday, March 31 at exactly 2:00 p.m.

“We usually do this to educate more the public on what to do in case a tremor strikes in their locality. That’s why everyone’s cooperation is highly encouraged for the communities to be more ready and resilient,” said OCD Caraga regional director Rosauro Arnel Gonzales, Jr.

The objectives of the activity are to test the efficiency and usefulness of the preparedness, response and recovery plans, systems and policies developed in the respective offices/establishments; to evaluate the effectives of contingency plans; to test the coordination and communication mechanism during response operations; and to understand the command and control mechanism in emergency and disaster operations at the DRRMCs.

Gonzales also said that their office expects to receive from all concerned an after-activity report not later than April 28, 2017 to include the assessment and recommendations relative to the capability of the respective local DRRMC agency to respond to an emergency.

“Bislig City Central Elementary School in Bislig City, Surigao del Sur was selected as the ceremonial venue for the first quarter NSED,” added Gonzales. (VLG/PIA-Caraga)


DSWD Caraga employees participate in 2017 Women’s Month celebration

By Abegail R. Alvarez

BUTUAN CITY, Mar. 24 - Employees of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD)-Caraga along with the other partner-agencies of the government participated in the kick-off activity for this year’s National Women’s Day celebration.

This year’s theme “We Make Change Work for Women” emphasizes the commitment of new leadership to focus on the foundations of change and full implementation of Magna Carta of Women (Republic Act 9710).

The said activity started with a Thanksgiving Mass at Saint Joseph Parish Church, followed by a motorcade going to Agusan del Norte Provincial Capitol Covered Court where the program proper was conducted.

Elizabeth Marie Calo, SP Board member and Chair on Gender and Development in Agusan del Norte, gave her welcome remarks on behalf of Agusan del Norte Governor Maria Angelica Amante-Matba. In her message, she recognized all the efforts of women who contributed in their communities and left noteworthy legacy.

Also, City Councilor Atty. Rema Burdeos, who is the guest speaker, called for the strong support and participation of the Local Government Units (LGUs) in empowering women.

Other activities conducted on the same day was the skills demo on making hair conditioner and also trade fair (Ukay-ukayan) which features cheap clothes, native foods, and other products from the region.

In line with the celebration, the department has also lined-up activities to celebrate Women’s Month which are Mural Painting Contest, Jail Visitation to Women Inmates, and Korambusan.

The annual conduct of the National Women’s Month Celebration aims to acknowledge the efforts of the Filipino women in the society for the past years. (Social Marketing Unit/DSWD Field Office Caraga/PIA-Caraga)


Military foils NPA attempt to ambush humanitarian mission convoy in Surigao Norte town

SURIGAO CITY, Surigao del Norte, Mar. 24 - Army troopers conducting route security encountered the New People’s Army (NPA) rebels around 2:00 p.m. on Wednesday, March 22, 2017 in Barangay Jubgan, San Francisco, this province.

2Lt Jonel Castillo, spokesperson of the 30th Infantry Battalion (30IB), said these soldiers were deployed to secure the humanitarian team convoy composed of the Army's 30IB, Philippine Navy Naval Forces - Eastern Mindanao, Phil. Marine Reservists, Kiwanis Club members, LGU Malimono and Provincial Health Office personnel.

Castillo said the soldiers encountered the NPA rebels after the humanitarian team convoy has just finished the conduct of Medical-Dental and Relief Operations in commemoration of the Philippine Army's 120th Founding Anniversary.

The humanitarian convoy was able to extract safely after the Route Security Team defended the convoy led by 30th Infantry Battalion Commander Lt. Col. Rico Amaro.

"We are celebrating the Army's 120th Anniversary by reaching out to the farthest Barangay of the province, we offered Medical and Dental Service to our countrymen, we also gave relief goods while these NPAs offer us nothing but bullets and landmines," Castillo said.

"Last February while we were working and standing side by side to comfort our fellow Surigaonons traumatized by earthquake, they also ambushed our soldiers that delivered relief goods on the same southernmost barangay where we came from this morning. They have not changed at all. We are still looking for answers why are they doing these when it is our constituents from far flung areas that benefit from these activities," Lt. Col. Amaro said.

"We will not be cowed, we will face all threats just to make sure every Surigaonon is served by our government," Amaro added. (30IB, Philippine Army/PIA-Surigao del Norte)


PSA Caraga to start labor force survey

BUTUAN CITY, Mar. 24 - The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) – Regional Statistical Services Office Caraga will conduct the April 2017 Labor Force Survey (LFS) from April 8 to 30, 2017.  The LFS is a nationwide quarterly survey of households conducted by the PSA to gather data on the demographic and socio-economic characteristics of the population.

The LFS aims to provide a quantitative framework for the preparations of plans and formulation of policies affecting the labor market.

Specifically, the LFS is designed to collect information on the following: distribution of household population 15 years old and over, by employment status, by sex, and age group; distribution of employed persons by major occupation group, major industry group, class of worker, number of hours worked, highest grade completed, nature of employment, and by sex; distribution of underemployed persons by total hours worked, major occupation group, class of worker, and by sex; and distribution of unemployed persons by age group, highest grade completed, by number of weeks looking for work, job search method, and by sex.

The April 2017 LFS covers about 45,000 sample households nationwide.  This sample size will allow the generation of reliable estimates of indicators of employment at the regional level.  In Caraga Region, our Statistical Researchers will be visiting around 2,762 households.

The PSA Field Staff and selected trained Statistical Researchers in Caraga will do a comprehensive door-to-door interview using tablets (Computer Aided Personal Interviewing or the use of tablets instead of paper and pencil during interview was first implemented on January 2017 LFS round) to the sample households during enumeration period.  The information collected shall be kept strictly confidential and shall not be used for purposes of taxation, investigation or regulation as provided under Article 55 of Republic Act 10625. (PSA-Caraga/PIA-Caraga)


News Feature: BREAK: Bringing in Resources for Employees Agenda on Kalusugan; How the institute and its employees can both benefit

By Shannen Faye Q. Arevalo

MANILA, Mar. 24 - The Department of Science and Technology’s Food and Nutrition Research Institute (DOST-FNRI) aims to raise awareness on malnutrition, provide commercializable technologies and offer healthy food options to Filipinos. This is being achieved by building partnerships, and attracting clients and or adoptors, through public outreach and stepping up its marketing strategies. To do this, the Institute should first shine from within, because as they say, change begins from within.

It is difficult for an FNRI employee to promote FNRI if one is not well-informed about what the Institute offers. It is like a scene in an airplane, where you assist others without putting your own oxygen mask on first or like being in a battlefield without having enough weapons. Hence, the primary marketing strategy is to focus first on reinforcing the FNRI employees’ understanding of the processes and systems in the Institute while continuously enhancing external social engagement through social media.

Related to this, the Business Development Unit of the Technology Transfer and Commercialization Section, which is tasked to spearhead the implementation of the marketing plan, conducted an event called Bringing in Resources for Employees Agenda on Kalusugan or BREAK. It is an internal marketing activity that allowed the employees of FNRI to gain in-depth understanding of the technologies, products, and services that the Institute offers. The event was held on September 30, 2016 at the FNRI Auditorium and was attended by 233 regular and contractual employees.

Experts from different divisions talked about their functions and marketable assets which include multimedia promotion, nutritional genomics, service laboratories, commercializable technologies and trainings, and nutrition tools, among others. A mini sari-sari store where everyone can purchase some of the FNRI-developed food products produced by technology adoptors was set up right outside the auditorium. Afterwards, the employees proceeded to the FNRI Lanai to have their Pinggang Pinoy-inspired lunch. Ms. Jovina Sandoval, project leader of the study on Filipino food plate explained the concept of Pinggang Pinoy.

It is like literally having a break. The employees taking time off from busy schedules, while learning promotional tips and becoming more acquainted on the Institute’s marketable assets.

For more information on food and nutrition, please contact: Dr. Mario V. Capanzana, Director, Food and Nutrition Research Institute, Department of Science and Technology, Bicutan, Taguig City; trunkline: 837-2071 local 2296 or 2287; telephone/fax no.: 837-3164, email: mvc@fnri.dost.gov.ph or mar_v_c@yahoo.com; website  fnri.dost.gov.ph; Facebook & Twitter: Food and Nutrition Research Institute (DOST-FNRI S&T Media Service/PIA-Caraga)


Tagalog News: Pagkain ng mga senior citizens dapat tutukan

Ni Ma. Anna Rita M. Ramirez

MANILA, Marso 24 - Sa Pilipinas, ang ating mga lolo at lola at matatanda o mga elderly ay tinatawag ring senior citizens pagtuntong nila sa edad na 60 taon.

Sa panahon ngayon, may espesyal na pagtatangi sa ating mga senior citizens bunsod na rin ng pagpapatupad ng lokal na pamahalaan ng batas na nagbibigay ng mga pribilehiyo sa kanila.

Nariyan ang beinte porsiyentong (20%) diskuwento o higit pa sa mga gamot, pagpapa-ospital, pampublikong pamasahe, pagkain sa restoran at maging sa panonood ng sine.

Bukod dito, may kaukulan ring diskuwento sa piling pagkain sa tuwing bibili sila sa supermarket o grocery.

Kaakibat sa pagpapahalaga at suportang iginagawad ng pamahalaan sa mga senior citizens, dapat ding pagtuunan ng pansin ang kanilang pagkain – lalo na ang dami at uri nito.

Dapat nating alalahanin na ang pagkain ang pangunahing depensa para sa pangkalahatang kalusugan.  Ating suriin kung ano at kung sapat nga ba ang kinakain ng ating mga senior citizens.

Ayon sa 2013 surbey ng Food and Nutrition Research Institute ng Department of Science and Technology (DOST-FNRI), ang average intake o karaniwang pagkain ng mga matatanda ay kanin, isda at kaunting gulay.

Ito ay binubuo ng 39.1 porsiyento (%) ng cereals at cereal products tulad ng kanin, tinapay o lamang-ugat; 16.5 % ng isda; 11.6 % ng gulay; at wala pang sampung porsiyento ng prutas, karne o manok, gatas at iba pa.

Karaniwang pagkain ng mga senior citizens ay kanin (95.3%), mantika (67.9%), tinapay (51.8%), asukal (43.6%), kape (38.9%) at kape na 3-in-1 (36.9%); sa pagkaing protina, itlog (29.5%), manok (27.9%), galunggong (23.6%) at baboy (18.7%); at sa gulay, dahong malunggay (23.2%), talong (22.9%) at sitaw (21.4%), ayon pa rin sa surbey.

Ipinakita rin sa surbey na higit pa sa 70% ang may risk to inadequacy o tyansang may kakulangan sa kanilang pangangailangan para sa maraming sustansiya --  tulad sa enerhiya (78.4%), yero o iron (80.6%), bitamina B1 o sa thiamine (82.8%), bitamina A (83.7%), bitamina B2 o riboflavin (88.9%) at sa calcium (93%).

Ang kakulangang ipinakikita ng datos na ito ay isang ebidensiya na maaaring makompromiso ang kalusugan ng ating senior citizens.

Ang malaking kakulangan sa calcium, na base sa naitala sa surbey ay maaaring ituring na nakakaalarma dahil ang deposito ng mineral na ito sa katawan ay sadyang bumababa habang nagkakaedad ang tao.

Ibig sabihin, kung mababa na talaga ang deposito ng calcium sa buto bunsod ng katandaan, at idadagdag pa rito ang kakarampot na calcium na makukuha sa  pangkaraniwang kinakain ng isang senior citizens, ito ay maaaring maging sanhi ng sakit na osteoporosis o ang pagkakaroon ng marupok na buto.

Ang pagkakaroon ng marupok na buto ay maaaring maging sanhi ng madaling pagkabali nito.

Nakita rin sa surbey na isa sa limang babae o 19.3% at halos isa sa apat na lalake o 23.1% na senior citizens ang may anemia o kakulangan sa pula ng dugo.

Ang anemia ay maaaring makapagdulot ng pagkahilo, agarang pagkahapo at katamlayan ng pangangatawan.

Sa puntong ito papasok ang kahalagahan ng nutrition counselling na magmumula sa mga propesyonal tulad ng ating mga nutritionist-dietitian at doktor.

Ang mga midwives, Barangay Nutrition Scholars o BNS at Barangay Health Workers o BHW naman na siyang may direktang pakikisalimuha sa mga pamayanan ay napakahalaga rin ang papel lalo na sa pagpapalaganap ng tamang pagkain at nutrisyon sa iba’t ibang pangkat ng papulasyon na isa na rito ay ang mga matatanda o senior citizens.

Ang pagkakaroon at paggamit ng mga panuntunan tulad ng Pinggang Pinoy ay malaking tulong para sa mga propesyonal at mga barangay volunteers tulad ng BNS at BHW sa pagpapalaganap ng wastong impormasyon sa pagkain at nutrisyon.

Ipinapakita sa Pinggang Pinoy ang dulot at dami ng pagkaing pumapaloob sa tatlong pangkat ng GO, GROW, at GLOW foods.

Ito ang mga pagkaing nagbibigay ng enerhiya tulad ng kanin at alternatibo; protina o tagpagbuo ng katawan tulad ng isda at alternatibo; at mga pagkaing mayaman sa bitamina at mineral tulad ng gulay at prutas.  Kasama rin sa rekomendasyon ang pag-inom ng sapat na dami ng tubig at gatas.

Ang Pinggang Pinoy na binuo ng DOST-FNRI para sa elderly o ating senior citizens ay nagrerekomenda ng mga sumusunod:

Kanin at alternatibo*

1 dulot ng alinman sa mga sumusunod:

           ¾ - 1 tasa ng kanin

           3 hanggang 4 pirasong pandesal, maliit

           3 hanggang 4 hiwa ng loaf bread, maliit

           ¾ hanggang 1 tasa ng lutong noodles (halimbawa, pansit, macaroni o spaghetti)

           ¾ hanggang 1 piraso, katamtamang laki ng lamang-ugat (halimbawa kamote, kamoteng kahoy, gabi, ubi)

Isda at alternatibo

2 dulot ng alinman sa mga sumusunod:

           1 pirasong maliit ng medium-size na isda (halimbawa, galunggong)

           1 hiwa ng large-size na isda (halimbawa, bangus)

           1 pirasong maliit na hita ng manok o 1 sinlaki ng kahon ng posporo ng pitso ng manok

           1 sinlaki ng kahon ng posporo ng lamang karne (halimbawa, baboy, baka)

1 pirasong itlog, maliit at 1 piraso ng maski anong isda at alternatibong nabanggit

Gulay*

           ¾ - 1 tasa ng lutong gulay

Prutas

1 dulot ng alinman sa mga sumusunod:

           1 pirasong prutas, kainaman ang laki (halimbawa, saging, dalanghita, kaymito)

           1 hiwa ng malaking prutas (halimbawa, pakwan, papaya)

Tubig at iba pang inumin

           Walong basong tubig o higit pa sa isang araw

           1 basong gatas sa isang araw

*Ang mas nakababang dami ay para sa mga babae.

Source: http://www.healthpromo.doh.gov.ph/pinggang-pinoy-healthy-food-plate-for-filipino-adults/

Kaya’t para sa ating may mga kasamang senior citizens sa bahay, ugaliing maging mapanuri at conscious sa mga pagkaing ating ihahain para sa kanila nang sa gayon ito ay makarugtong pa, maski papaano, sa kalidad ng natitira pang mga taon sa kanilang buhay.

Para sa karagdagang impormasyon sa pananaliksik sa pagkain at nutrisyon, sulatan o tawagan si Dr. Mario V. Capanzana, director ng Food and Nutrition Research Institute, General Santos Avenue, Bicutan, Taguig City: sa telepono/telefax bilang 837-2934 o 837-3164; direktang linya: 839-1839; DOST Trunk Line:  837-2071 local 2296 o 2284; o mag-email:  mvc@fnri.dost.gov.ph o mar_v_c@yahoo.com; DOST-FNRI website sa http://www.fnri.dost.gov.ph. Bisitahin ang aming Facebook page sa facebook.com/FNRI.DOST o sundan kami sa Twitter account sa twitter.com/FNRI DOST.  (DOST–FNRI S&T Media Service/PIA-Caraga)