Bislig Mayor Librado, Japanese mayor sign MOU on
organic farming
By Nida Grace P. Barcena
TANDAG CITY, Surigao del Sur, Mar. 21 (PIA) – Local
chief executives of Bislig City, Surigao del Sur, Philippines and Kisarazu
City, Chiba Prefecture, Japan have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU)
for the promotion and development of organic agriculture.
Bislig City Mayor Librado Navarro and Kisarazu City
Mayor Yushikuni Watanabe signed the MOU on Monday during the ceremonial
activity at the city hall of Kisarazu.
The cooperation and friendship relations will be
done through the exchange of information, knowledge, and experience between the
two cities to enhance more development.
In the MOU, it includes the cooperation and
friendship of both parties on the following fields: Agriculture, Fishery and
Forestry; Tourism; Education; and other fields as mutually agreed upon by both
parties.
The establishment of cooperation and friendship
between the two cities, anchored from the slogan: "Think internationally,
Act locally," is part of the international initiative and innovation
implemented by the city government of Bislig.
It can be recalled that last September 2016, Bislig
City and Goesan County, South Korea has also signed an MOU relative to the
partnership on organic agriculture, it was learned. (PIA-Surigao del Sur)
DTI Surigao Norte intensifies enforcement of Price
Act
By Susil D. Ragas
SURIGAO CITY, Surigao del Norte, Mar. 21 (PIA) –
The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) provincial office has intensified
its campaign on Republic Act No. 7581 otherwise known as the “Price Act"
especially in San Francisco town.
According to DTI provincial director Celestino L.
Negapatan, the local government unit of San Francisco just recently crated its
Local Price Coordinating Council (LPCC) through Executive Order No. 03 as one
of the response mechanisms to address increasing prices of basic commodities in
the municipality after the 6.7 magnitude earthquake hit the said town.
During the first meeting of the LPCC, DTI trade and
industry development specialist Josephine D. Gabutin conducted a briefing on
the R.A. 7581, as well as the functions and responsibilities of the concerned
member agencies and LGU departments in monitoring the price and supply
situation of basic and prime commodities.
DTI Head of Institutional Development Unit Rodrigo
R. Matabaran explained to the LPC members the activities that need to be
undertaken after the earthquake including the conduct of price monitoring,
Diskwento Caravan, as well as the process of issuance of show cause orders to
business establishments found to have effected an increase in prices of basic
commodities that should be done by concerned agencies having particular
jurisdictions on various goods.
On her part, LPCC chairperson Mayor Guia
Plaza-Sabanal explained that the increase in prices if there is any could have
been caused by the additional cost in hauling labor and transport due to the
damaged Anao-aon Bridge.
Negapatan disclosed that it was agreed by the
council that a meeting will be called for business owners to discuss the price
freeze advisory in the context of the earthquake disaster that cause disruption
in the usual transport route of the municipality. (DTI-Surigao del
Norte/PIA-Surigao del Norte)
PNP Caraga’s manhunt Charlie intensified; 9
arrested
BUTUAN CITY, Mar. 21 - The Caraga Police arrested
nine wanted persons including two most wanted persons who voluntarily
surrendered in various parts of the region Friday.
“The arrest of nine wanted persons is in line with
Letter of Instructions ManHunt Charlie wherein the police apprehend persons
issued with arrest warrants,” stated Caraga Police Regional Director Chief
Supt. Rolando Felix.
In Surigao del Sur, three wanted persons were
arrested by the operatives. The suspects were identified as Fritz Gerald Laud,
29, of Brgy. OsmeΓ±a, Tagbina town for
murder; Aldrich Sarceda, 25, of Brgy. Poblacion,Barobo, and Glenmar Sinday, 36,
of Brgy. Tabon, Bislig City both charged for grave oral defamation.
Nelia Asis, 48, was also arrested around 9:50 a.m.
in Brgy. Langkilaan, Trento, Agusan del Sur, for malversation of public funds
and estafa.
In Butuan City, Chester Ilano, 21, was arrested in
Brgy. Mahay, for theft, while Kimkim Taladoc, 21, was arrested for alarm and
scandal in Brgy. Libertad, Butuan City.
Aurile del Rosario, 56, and identified as most
wanted person in Veruela was apprehended in Brgy. Sampaguita for Theft.
Meanwhile, two most wanted persons who voluntarily
surrendered to the operatives were identified as Emma Mateo, 66, of Veruela MPS
for theft; and Jessie Canal, 40, of Tandag City for 15 counts of estafa.
He added that the active and indispensable support
of the community contributes to the success of police operations. Felix also
urged the public to assist the Caraga Police in its campaign against crime by
way of providing relevant and timely information. (PNP-Caraga/PIA-Caraga)
Caraga police nab drug pusher, recover abandoned
lumber
BUTUAN CITY, Mar. 21 - The Philippine National
Police (PNP) in Caraga and Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) 13 personnel
arrested a suspected drug personality and seized 0.5 gram of shabu valued at
P5,900 during a buy-bust operation Sunday.
PNP Caraga Regional Director CSupt. Rolando Felix
identified the suspect as Madel Ganzon, 19, of Barangay Amontay, Nasipit,
Agusan del Norte. The suspect was arrested by the City Anti-illegal Drug
Enforcement Unit in P-7, Brgy. Ambago, this city. Suspect is placed under the
custody of the authorities while a case for violation of Comprehensive
Dangerous Drug Board has been prepared against her.
Meanwhile, the police operatives and Department of
Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) personnel responded to the report of a
concerned citizen that resulted in the recovery of an abandoned 55 pieces Lauan
logs with an estimated volume of 4,237.76 board feet and market value of
P60,000 in P-6, Barangay Malixi, Tagbina, Surigao del Sur.
Recovered forest products are in the custody of
DENR-Tagbina while Tagbina cops are conducting an investigation for possible
arrest of the suspect. (PNP-Caraga/PIA-Caraga)
Feature: 3 in every 5 Filipino adult women are
apple-shaped obese
By Charina A. Javier
The recent survey done by the Food and Nutrition
Research Institute of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST- FNRI) in
2015 showed that 57.9 percent or about 3 in every 5 Filipino adult women in the
Philippines have high waist-to-hip ratio (WHR).
Waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) is an indicator that
measures android or central obesity or apple-shaped body type. The World Health
Organization (WHO) has set a WHR cut-off point of 0.85 for women and 1.0 for
men. Android or central obesity may
indicate visceral fat or the accumulation of fats in the internal organs. It
has been associated with increased risk of type 2 diabetes; cardiovascular
diseases mainly heart attack and stroke, sleep apnea, and some cancers.
Among the regions, the highest prevalences of high
WHR among adult females were noted in Northern Mindanao (62.5 percent),
CALABARZON (62.5 percent), CARAGA (62.0 percent), Davao (61.5 percent), Central
Luzon (61.3 percent) and NCR (61.1 percent).
In contrast, the prevalence of high WHR among
Filipino adult males was seven in every 100 (7.1 percent). Among the regions,
the highest prevalences of high WHR among adult males were noted in NCR (10.2
percent), CALABARZON (9.4 percent), Central Luzon (8.7 percent) and Davao (7.3
percent).
The same survey also revealed that about one in
every five (23.9 percent) Filipino adults have elevated blood pressure and
about two in every five (42.5 percent) were insufficiently physically active.
Messages from the 2012 Nutritional Guidelines for
Filipinos developed by a Technical Working Group led by the DOST- FNRI give
simple reminders on attaining and maintaining normal body weight. Message No. 9
recommends achieving normal weight through proper diet and moderate physical
activity to maintain good health and help prevent obesity. Likewise, Message
No. 10 encourages us to be physically active, make healthy food choices, manage
stress, avoid alcoholic beverages and do not smoke to help prevent
lifestyle-related non-communicable diseases.
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; 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.DOST or follow our Twitter
account at twitter.com/FNRI_DOST. (DOST-FNRI S&T Media Service/PIA-Caraga)
Female NPA killed in Agusan del Norte
By Capt. Jasper Gacayan
PROSPERIDAD, Agusan del Sur, Mar. 21 (PIA) – A
female member of the New People’s Army (NPA) was killed following an encounter
with goverment troopers under 29th Infantry Battalion, Philippine Army (29IB)
in Agusan del Norte on Saturday, Mar. 18.
A report from the 401st Brigade, Philippine Army
revealed that the encounter took place in Brgy Hinimbangan, Kitcharao, Agusan
del Norte at 3:45 p.m. Saturday.
The identity of the dead NPA is yet to be
determined. An AK-47 was also recovered from her, said a report. Her body was
turned over to the Kitcharao police for proper disposition.
"The NPA group was earlier reported by the
residents to be scaring their barangay, which forced the community to evacuate
to the town proper," said 29IB commanding officer LTC Glen Aynera.
Col. Cristobal Zaragoza of 401st Brigade directed
the 29IB to conduct hot pursuit operation for the remaining members of the said
terrorist group who scampered to different directions during the firefight
leaving their fatality. (401st Brigade/PIA-Caraga)
Partner agencies ink commitment to strengthen PRDP
project in Agusan Norte
By Fretcher D. Magatao
BUTUAN CITY, Mar. 21 – The Department of
Agriculture’s (DA's) Philippine Rural Development Project (PRDP) in Caraga
together with partner agencies recently converged through a ceremonial signing
of the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) for the harmonization of support for the
abaca industry in the province of Agusan del Norte.
The activity aims to mainstream the support from
partner agencies in helping Agusan del Norte in the implementation of its
Provincial Commodity Investment Plan (PCIP) and support the industry and other
major commodity value chains in the province.
Local executives seized the challenge of taking the
lead in institutionalizing government agencies’ support in implementing the
PCIP. “We cannot do everything alone. We need the assistance of government
agencies in achieving what we have determined in the PCIP,” said Governor Maria
Angelica Amante-Matba.
Amante-Matba emphasizes that the province needs a
strong partnership with the concerned agencies and other stakeholders in
addressing gaps and constraints for the development of not just abaca, but also
other priority commodities. “Now that we have signified our commitment to the
province, I am assured that all we have envisioned can be accomplished
accordingly,” Amante-Matba said.
PRDP’s introduction of innovative tools such as the
applied geotagging technology, the value chain analysis (VCA) and the
vulnerability and suitability assessment (E-VSA) in crafting the PCIP would
help other agencies in identifying specific interventions for the development
of a particular commodity.
The undertaking expects the pooling of resources in
the form of technical support, programs and projects to help the province and
what support could be possibly mainstreamed into the regular budget and
programs of partner agencies.
“In PRDP, we do not want to leave our farmers and
industry players hanging anywhere in any of the segments of the value chain. We
want to elevate them to higher grounds, thereby boosting their chances to
improve their lot,” said Mindanao Project Support Office I-PLAN Component Head
Cerenio Tila.
The signing was participated by the regional head
of agencies from the DA, Philippine Fiber Development Authority, Department of
Trade and Industry, Department of Agrarian Reform, Department of Science and
Technology, Caraga State University and the provincial government of Agusan del
Norte. (RPCO-Caraga/PIA-Caraga)
