Bayugan City ranks overall champion on PopDev
contests
BUTUAN CITY, Dec. 27 – Among the 12 schools
division who competed for the Population
and Development (PopDev) skills exhibition during the Regional Festival of
Talents, the School Division of Bayugan City emerged as the cream of the crop
in five different competitions this 2017.
The Department of Education (DepEd) Regional Office
released the consolidated results based on the rank of each participating
division in the Population Quiz, and On-the-Spot Competition, such as the
poster making, jingle writing and singing, essay writing and argumentation
& debate.
Ranked second was the Division of Surigao City and
third place was the Division of Surigao del Sur.
The regional champion of the said five skills
exhibition will represent Caraga Region in the National Festival of Talents
come February 2018 in Dumaguete City.
The Population Quiz and On-the-Spot Contests were a
collaborative effort of the Commission on Population (POPCOM) and the DepEd to
increase awareness and appreciation on population issues and concerns among the
young people.
POPCOM and DepEd
also designed the contest to provide wholesome alternative for young
people to stay away from the chances of
getting into early sex.
Other schools division ranking: Butuan City (4th
place), Bislig City (5th place), Agusan
del Norte (6th place), Tandag City (7th place), Cabadbaran City (8th place),
Siargao (9th place), Dinagat Islands (10th place), Agusan del Sur (11th place)
and Surigao del Norte (12th place).
The theme of this year’s festival was “Pagkilala sa
Kulturang Filipino Tungo sa Kapayapaan, Pagkakaisa at Pagbabago.”
(POPCOM-Caraga/PIA-Caraga)
POPCOM, DOH partner on FP outreach mission

BUTUAN CITY, Dec. 27 – Gearing towards assisting
couples achieve their desired number and timing of births, the Commission on
Population (POPCOM) Caraga partnered with the Department of Health (DOH) for
the outreach mission on the distribution and implementation on the use of the
sub-dermal implants for the family planning program.
The massive campaign on the use of sub-dermal
implant in the different areas of the region had garnered a total of 1,346 family planning acceptors, from July to
December of 2017.
According to POPCOM Caraga Regional Director
Alexander A. Makinano, the provision of Implanon and Implanon NXT abides with
the principle of Informed Choice and Voluntarism.
Makinano further mentioned that during the said
outreach mission, wide range of family planning services were equally promoted
and were made available, not only the sub-dermal implants.
Another extensive
communication strategies initiated by POPCOM to generate demand on
modern family planning was the partnership with the Bank of Philippine Islands
(BPI) and First Community Cooperative, based in this city, for a seminar on
Responsible Parenting-Family Planning (RP-FP) among their employees, in a
separate date and venue.
Not only employees of the private sectors were
educated on RP-FP, but also couples from the various indigenous groups (IPs) in
the region, in coordination with the local population offices.
Makinano is hoping that with the intensified demand
generation efforts in assisting couples achieve their desired number and
spacing of children, it will contribute to the attainment of zero unmet need
for modern family planning. (POPCOM-Caraga/PIA-Caraga)
AgSur weavers review group business model, learn
financial literacy
SAN FRANCISCO, Agusan del Sur, Dec. 27 – Seventeen
(17) women weavers of Barangay Caimpugan of ths municipality participated in a
seminar-workshop on Business Model Canvass and Financial Literacy at the San
Francisco Women Center.
The activity was conducted to allow the weavers to
review their business set-up and equip them on how to manage their finances,
aside from honing their entrepreneurial skills.
Spearheaded by the Department of Trade and
Industry-Agusan del Sur (DTI-AdS), through the Negosyo Center-San Francisco and
in partnership with the municipal government through the Municipal Social
Welfare Development Office (MSWDO), the activity was under the 2016 Bottom Up
Budgeting (BuB) Yaman Pinoy Project of the municipality.
The project, once completed is expected to improve
the beneficiaries' handicraft production and develop more weavers in the area.
Representing Mayor Jenny De Asis, Jocelyn Juen, Municipal
Administrator, recognized the presence and eagerness of the participants to
know more especially the basics of financial management. She told participants
"Padayon aron mahaw-as sa kalisod (continue to improve quality of
life)." (DTI-Agusan del Sur/PIA-Agusan del Sur)
Bayugan City youth train on beauty care

BAYUGAN CITY, Agusan del Sur, Dec. 27 – The
Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Agusan del Sur (AdS), through the
Negosyo Center-Bayugan City and in partnership with the Bayugan City Social
Welfare Development (CSWD) Office conducted a skills training on beauty care:
manicure, pedicure and foot spa to the Pag-asa Youth Organization (PYO) held at
the CSWD Training Hall, City Hall Compound, this city.
The activity was part of the implementation package
under the 2016 Bottom Up Budgeting (BuB) of the LGU, which named the PYO as one
of its beneficiaries.
Julibee Gorne, an accredited Technical Education
and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) trainer, assured that the participants
will learn the required skills and can actually make this as source of income.
After the training, an assessment will be conducted
by TESDA, and once the participants pass, a certificate of completion will be
given to them or they will be officially certified.
The training covers lectures and hands-on session
with starter kits for the trainees. (DTI-Agusand el Sur/PIA-Agusan del Sur)
Agusan del Sur holds 1st freelancers meet-up
SAN FRANCISCO, Agusan del Sur, Dec. 27 – The
Department of Trade and Industry-Agusan del Sur (DTI-AdS), through the Negosyo
Center (NC)-San Francisco, organized the First Freelancers Meet-up held at the
Mabe's Savory Place, this municipality.
The session was aimed to advocate the maximum use
of internet through online jobs, orient the participants on the advantages it
offers, understand the need to align with the trends, and know the
opportunities.
Lawrence Salang, provincial team lead of Agusan del
Norte and Agusan del Sur, presented the Department of Information and
Communications Technology (DICT) programs and services.
Also, giving a virtual talk and discussing Rural
Impact Sourcing (RIS) through Skype is RIS Philippines (RISPh) mover John Paul
Lagura. He told participants that everyone should learn continually about
information technology.
"To the freelancers – doing job online as they
are already skilled, they still need to re-skill and up-skill the knowledge and
skills that they have; learn more, know more," Lagura said.
Lagura added that "aside from the hard skills
that should be taught and be learned, the most important thing to develop are
the soft skills like flexibility, creativity and complex problem solving."
Physically representing RISPh and also a
freelancer, was Angelito Cagulada, an Information System student of Caraga
State University (CSU) who gave a testimony on his being a freelancer. He
shared the importance of building a portfolio and keeping a complete record or
file of one's work as this will form part of the "resume" when
pitching for other jobs.
DTI pushes the program region-wide and coining it
RISE or 'Rural Impact Sourcing Everywhere' to provide other options or sources
of jobs and income even to students, graduates still to find work, the
unemployed and even workers or professionals who still have spare time in their
hands.
The participants are composed of students from
South Way College of Technology, Agusan del Sur College, Patin-ay National high
school, business owners, freelancers and the media.
Corazon de la Pena, DTI-Ads Senior Trade and
Industry Development Specialist informed the participants that by January 2018,
an ICT stakeholders forum/orientation will be organized to ensure convergence
in the province's ICT agenda.
A General Virtual Assistant Training (GVAT) is also
being arranged within the year 2017. (DTI-Agusand el Sur/PIA-Agusan del Sur)
AgSur joins Regional Forum on MSME development,
disaster resilience
PROSPERIDAD, Agusan del Sur, Dec. 27 – Business
entrepreneurs, together with the officials and staff from the Provincial
Economic Enterprise Development Office (PEEDO), Agusan del Sur Chamber of
Commerce and Industry Foundation, Inc., and Department of Trade and
Industry-Agusan del Sur (DTI-AdS) Provincial Office joined in the Regional
Forum on Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) Development and Disaster
Resilience held at the Grand Palace Hotel, Butuan City.
It sought to strengthen the commitment of each
partner agency and other stakeholders to advocate economic disaster resilience
of the region and institutionalize the mechanisms that will help MSMEs prepare
for and recover quickly from disaster.
The province's industry cluster players, producers
and other members of the business sector also attended.
Together with attendees from the other provinces,
they participated in prioritizing roadmap and action plan strategies and lay
down specific initiatives or tasks to pursue the regional plan.
The province expressed hopes to localize the same
activity and put on board more MSMEs, as well as partner civil society
organizations, partner institutions and the local government units (LGUs).
This initiative will be part of the follow through
activities after the earlier conduct of an orientation-workshop on business
continuity management held for some members of the provincial disaster risk
reduction management council. (DTI-Agusan del Sur/PIA-Agusan del Sur)
AgSur food producers, KMME graduates join Regional
FDA writeshop
SAN FRANCISCO, Agusan del Sur, Dec. 27 – Four food
producers of Agusan del Sur participated in the Regional Food and Drug
Administration (FDA) Writeshop cum Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) briefing
organized by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI)-Caraga's Business
Development Division.
The five-day activity aimed to ready food producers
in the region to tap and enter more and bigger markets.
The Agusan del Sur contingent was composed of
Cleotilde Potencioso of Cleo's Food Products, Madelyn Alvizo of Calabash
"The Miracle" Fruit Juice, Ervian Sotis of ERMIX Mangosteen TEA, and
Bernadette Auxillian of Pidol Miki.
The first three were pioneer mentee-graduates of
the province's Kapatid Mentor Me (KMME) program and members of the Integrated
Producers Association of Prosperidad Agusan del Sur, Inc. (IPAPADSI).
Auxillian, who graduated under Batch 2 KMME, was cited as one of the best
business improvement plans (BIP).
Two other IPAPADSI members and KMME mentees are
awating FDA action/inspection on their LTO applications – RADIN FOOD Products
(special guinamos), and Hillsview Trento Food Products (mangosteen tea). They
are also working on their Halal Certification.
Another KMME mentee, Magkiangkang Multipurpose
Cooperative, maker of tableya is working on LTO renewal and its Certificate of
Product Registration (CPR).
Facilitating the workshop and briefing session was
Philippine Center for Entrepreneurship (PCE)-accredited KMME Mentor of Agusan
del Norte Jason Balacuit of JCB Express Solutions. (DTI-Agusan del
Sur/PIA-Agusan del Sur)
Food tips for the home during disaster
By Imelda Angeles-Agdeppa, Ph. D.
BUTUAN CITY, Dec. 27 – Some hazards are naturally
occurring physical phenomena caused either by rapid or slow onset events which
can be geophysical such as earthquakes, landslides, tsunamis and volcanic
activity. Others are hydrological such as avalanches and floods; some
climatological such as extreme temperatures, drought and wildfires,
meteorological like storms and wave surges, or biological such as disease
epidemics and insect or animal plagues.
Technological or man-made hazards are complex
emergencies or conflicts, famine, displaced populations, industrial accidents
and transport accidents. These are events that are caused by humans and occur
in or close to human settlements. These can include environmental degradation,
pollution and accidents.
A natural or man-made disaster can cause loss of
lives or damages to properties. Our country is not spared from the havoc of
natural disasters, as it is surrounded by bodies of water and is located along
the Pacific Ocean’s “Ring of Fire," from where typhoons, tsunamis,
volcanic eruptions and earthquake emanate.
Emergency reserve food and water in the home are
essential in the event of a natural disaster. Ensuring the safety and quality
of food and water supply is very important because consumption of contaminated
food or water may result in illness or death. Careful planning and readiness
help ensure safe food and water supply for the family.
Here are some practical food tips that you can
follow when disaster occurs:
Store food that are non-perishable or with long
storage life;
Store food that need no refrigeration;
Store food that are easy to prepare to prepare and
cook;
Store food that require a minimal amount of water
if preparation is needed;
Food should be compact and lightweight;
Store clean water in safe sealed containers;
Wash hands with soap and water when handling foods
to prevent illnesses; and
Include hand sanitizer
Examples of foods to store are ready-to-eat canned
goods like sardines, dried fruits, juices, staples (sugar, salt, pepper),
instant low-salt noodles, high energy foods (peanut butter, jelly, nuts, energy
bars), cookies, candies and other snack foods. Also, avoid storing foods that
are salty, spicy and caffeinated because these will increase thirst.
We must also consider the special nutritional needs
of infants and young children, pregnant and lactating and older persons in the
home because they are the most vulnerable persons. Like for infants and young
children, breastmilk is still the best food for them. Practice and maintain
exclusive breastfeeding from birth to six months.
For pregnant and lactating women,
micronutrient-rich foods must be considered, like fortified foods such as
instant low-salt noodles and cereals. For older persons, store easy to chew and
digest foods like soft biscuits, bread, oats and easy to prepare soups.
Also, water is the most essential life-sustaining
resource. Keeping water in a clean plastic bottle will keep you hydrated.
Have a bag of foods ready to carry when disaster
strikes. Every household should assemble a disaster supplies kit and keep it up
to date. A disaster supplies kit is a collection of basic items a family would
probably need to stay safe and be more comfortable during and after a disaster.
Disaster supplies kit items should be stored in a portable container near or as
close as possible to exit door.
Review the contents of your kit at least once every
quarter or as your family needs change. Major food shortages can be a major
feature during emergency situation. Planning ahead and preparing the disaster
kits before calamities strike would to prevent us from additional stress when
disaster strikes.
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.
You may also like their Facebook page at
facebook.com/FNRI.DOST or follow their Twitter account at
twitter.com/FNRI_DOST. (FNRI-DOST S&T Media Service/PIA-Caraga)
