Nutri Month 2013 launch in CV calls for action vs hunger

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THE OFFICIAL E-NEWSLETTER OF THE PHILIPPINE INFORMATION AGENCY-7 | WWW.PIA.GOV.PH VOL. 2 | NO. 13 July 05, 2013

INFOBYTESTOPSTORIES

CEBU CITY (PIA) -- As the National Nutrition Council (NNC) kicks off the Nutrition Month celebration this month, nutrition officials are putting the spotlight on hunger and the measures that need to be undertaken to reduce its incidence in the country. The Nutrition Month celebration this year aims to raise awareness on the need for more action in addressing hunger as part of the Philippine commitment to the United Nations Medium Development Goals (UN MDG) Goal 1 which calls for the eradication of extreme poverty and hunger. The celebration will be highlighted by a "Hunger Caravan” at Mambaling Sports Complex, Gochan, Mambaling today at 1 p.m. The caravan, will be attended by local beneficiaries of Pantawid Pamilya, the national government's poverty reduction program. During said activity, officials f rom the Depar tment o f Hea l th –National Nutrition Council (DOH-NNC), the Department of Agriculture (DA), the Department of Social Welfare Development (DSWD), and the Technical Educational and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) will share with Pantawid beneficiaries the measures taken by the government to address hunger and malnutrition. This year's theme for the 39th year commemoration of Nutrition Month is “Gutom at malnutrisyon, sama-sama nating wakasan!” The month-long observance will kick off with a Holy Mass this afternoon at 1:00pm at the San Pedro Calungsod Chapel, South Road Properties (SRP), this City.

By JuJu ManuBag-EMpuErto After the caravan in Mambaling, contingents will pass through Natalio Bacalso Avenue to P. del Rosario Street to Imus Avenue to General Maxilom Avenue to Gorordo Avenue to Ayala Road to Cardinal Rosales Avenue to Mindanao Avenue and finally Ayala Center Cebu. A ceremonial event to end hunger and malnutrition will be launched at 5:00 p.m. today at The Terraces, Ayala Center, Cebu City to formally open the month-long observance. Capping the opening activities

BFAR celebrates 66 years

today is the “Zumba dance, a stride for good health to end hunger and malnutrition” at 6:00pm. NNC officials hope to increase public awareness on the issues of hunger and malnutrition and how the public can help mitigate these problems. The council also hopes that the Nutrition Month activities will encourage stakeholders to contribute in addressing hunger issues and to advocate for stronger political action to end hunger. (rmn/JSME/PIA-Cebu/NNC7)

CEBU CITY (PIA) -- The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources-7 (BFAR) recently marked the agency's 66th anniversary on July 1 by honoring its past officials and retirees. Ma. Alma Saavedra, BFAR’s regional information and management staff, told the Philippine Information Agency (PIA) that one of the highlights of their 66 years celebration was the honoring of their past directors through a Memorabilia photo exhibit. BFAR retirees Dioscoro Abenido and Gil Magdadaro Jr were also given recognition. Abenido was an aquaculturist and officer in charge of the Regional Management, Regulatory and Law Enforcement section and had served BFAR for 34 years. Magdadaro, on the other hand, was a farm worker at Central Visayas Multi Specie Nursery Demonstration and Training Center in Calape Bohol. He was in service for 33 years. Aso recognized were 20 summer

job staff at BFAR, including persons with disabilities. Saavedra said the summer job personnel were distributed to the different offices of BFAR. To mark the ann iversary celebration, there was also a whole day “Tabo sa BFAR” on July 1 displaying fish and fishery products from the entire region. Fishermen, agriculturists, and other participants were also able to watch a Techno Clinic and a Video Showing of BFAR’s national programs. The day ended with entrepreneurs and enthusiasts listening to a techno-demo on value-adding of fish and fishery products. BFAR is the government agency responsible for the development, improvement , management and conservation of the country's fisheries and aquatic resources. It was reconstituted as a line bureau by virtue of Republic Act No. 8550 (Philippine Fisheries Code of 1998). The bureau is under the Department of Agriculture.(rmn/FCC/PIA7)

By FErliza C. Contratista

NNC -7 Regional Nutrition Program Coordinator Dr. Parolita Mission (w/mic) speaking to the press during the 2013 Nutrition Month Press launch with the theme "Gutom at Malnustrisyon, Sama-sama Nating Wakasan" (Kagutom ug Malnutrisyon, Dungan Natong Sugpuon) at the Sarrosa International Hotel, Cebu City on June 28, 2013. The launching aimed to increase awareness on hunger issues and actions to mitigate hunger and malnutrition, encourage stakeholders to contribute in addressing hunger issues and advocate for stronger political action to end hunger. Other guests were DA-7 Rice Program Staff Grace Dagala (left) and Nutritionist/Dietician III Melinda Canares (right). (VVV/PIA Cebu)

TOPSTORIESINFOBYTES

By JEnniFEr C. tilos

NegOr gains ground as potential site for IT investments in CV

By raChEllE M. nEssia

NEGROS ORIENTAL

CEBU CITY (PIA) -- Negros Oriental, the other half of the third largest island in the Philippines, is fast gaining a foothold in the information technology/business process outsourcing (IT/BPO) industry in Central Visayas. Although Cebu continues to dominate the IT/BPO investments in the region, the year 2012 showed that Negros Oriental is quickly gaining a reputation as a potential site for IT/BPO investments. By the end of last year, Negros Oriental hosts 12 IT/BPO companies, including Teletech and Qualfon. Dumaguete City, the capital of Negros Oriental, was earlier listed as one of the Top 10 Best Outsourcing locations in the Philippines after hosting numerous call centers and BPO companies.

Meanwhile, IT and IT-enabled services, including BPOs, continued to expand in the region. The Cebu Investment Promotion Center (CIPC) reported that 17 new foreign BPO companies opened shop in Cebu last year. The IT/BPO industry now employs over 100,000 workers in the region. This number is seen to rise with the entry of new IT/BPO companies and the expansion of existing ones, according to the Regional D e v e l o p m e n t C o u n c i l (RDC-7) in a report. Companies located in economic zones in Cebu and Negros Oriental alone generated over US$516 million in revenues in 2012. This is 21.8% higher than the revenues generated in 2011. (RMN/PIA Cebu)

BOHOL

Negros Oriental elected Governor Roel R. Degamo (extreme right) takes his oath of office before Negros Oriental RTC Executive Judge Fe Lualhati Bautista last June 30, 2013. In his inaugural speech, the Governor vowed to keep health, education and employment among his priorities in the next three years of service to Negrenses. Degamo was with his wife Janice and other family members during his oath taking. (PIANEGOR)

NGP program increases survival rates in Cebu, NegOr

N E G R O S O R I E N TA L , Dumaguete City, July 4 (PIA) -- The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR-7) reported that the Aquino Administration's National Greening Program has improved significantly the survival rates of tree seedlings in Cebu and in Negros Oriental provinces. According to DENR information officer Dr. Eddie Llamedo, the DENR has recorded a 90 percent survival rate in Negros Oriental and a 50 to 60 percent survival rate in Cebu province. Llamedo noted regional director Dr. Isabelo Montejo’s pronouncement last week that there is a significant improvement of the forest cover in Cebu province from two percent to over 11 percent in recent years. He said that this was achieved through a massive government-led reforestation and community awareness on the benef i ts o f biodiversity conservation and livelihood opportunities.

"Reforestation is one of our solutions to the ongoing phenomenon of climate change that is affecting the world's weather pattern," Llamedo added. The planting of trees also help improve the economy by providing livelihood to the farmers. Planting trees is part of the government's Philippine Development Plan, said Llamedo. It is learned that trees improve water quality in rivers and irrigation for farm lands and also lessen the potential for flooding and absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. Llamedo said the National Greening Program (NGP) of the current administration under Executive Order 26 is the answer to mitigate the effects of climate change. NGP is a six-year program implementation wherein the first three years involve planting and the next three years involve monitoring of the growth of the tree seedlings. He emphasized that the most crucial part of the program is to monitor the growth of the tree seedlings

planted. He said that the DENR has hired people's organization to monitor and maintain the tree seedlings. For her part , dur ing the “Pagtuki” radio program of Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc. (RAFI), Marge Gravador, executive director of RAFI's Integrated Development Unit said, its GREENIN Philippines Program supports the NGP. She cited one of its major initiatives, the Run 2 Plant 4 GREENIN Philippines. The third Run 2 Plant 4 GREENIN Philippines promote the ridge to reef approach in planting, which takes into account enhancing not only upland vegetation but also coastal areas. " W e a r e u r g i n g l o c a l government units (LGUs) to hold their own Run 2 Plant events. Trees help a lot in improving the quality of our water. Not only that, it also helps improve the condition of our environment," Gravador said. (mbcn/JCT/PIA7-Negros Oriental)

COMMUNITYNEWSINFOBYTES

INFOBYTES is a weekly electronic newsletter produced by the Philippine Information Agency-Region 7 with stories submitted by its Provincial Information Centers in Cebu, Bohol, Negros Oriental and Siquijor.

TAGBILARAN CITY (PIA) – Diplomacy and back negotiations proved to be the winning combination to avert what could have been a tourism disaster for Bohol as the province prepares for the upcoming Tourism Philippines Congress this July. Bohol local officials and tourism stakeholders for the past weeks went frantic

when OceanJet, the fast craft company that offers regular trips daily from Cebu to Bohol and vice versa, said it would suspend its service indefinitely. In a consultative dialog with local officials and other tourism players recently, OceanJet Vice-president for operations, Gene Lastimado informed the body that the Cebu Port Authority (CPA) ordered the

Diplomacy averts 'what could have been Bohol's tourism disasterBy rEy anthony Chiu company to vacate Pier-1 within 72 hours

and told them to transfer to Pier 4 which has a better passenger terminal. Lastimado said a pull-out of OceanJet’s facility from Pier-1 will mess up the company’s electronic booking system and could ruin the company’s name and reputation. “We have more than 300 satellite offices feeding bookings to our base in Pier 1," Lastimado explained in a dialogue with the governor and the Visayas Tourism Congress. "Pulling the system out would mean time to reinstall it to a new location, which will mess-up with our services. We would rather suspend the trips while fixing the new base than incur the ire of clients.” Lastimado said the move would necessitate OceanJet to also pull out its online-systems and electronic data processing center from its present hub. “This [suspension of trips] would be for a month, at least,” he added. This would have compounded Bohol tourism woes due to reduction of airplane flights to Bohol from Manila. Acting on the impending problem, governor Chatto started negotiating with other fast craft competitors to fill in the gap which OceanJet would leave vacant if it really suspends its trips. Chatto asked Maritime Industry Authority’s (MARINA) help to seek more avenues. Further dialogue with MARINA and other concerned government agencies’ suggestions led to OceanJet’s transfer to Pier 3 instead of Pier 4. MARINA noted that pulling out of the computer system from Pier 1 to Pier 3 would only take less than 3 days than to bring the system to Pier 4. Now, Oceanjet continues its trips to Bohol from a new hub in Pier 3. “All’s well that ends well!” Tourism stakeholder Lourdes Sultan said, a move that had the fast-craft company running its operations since Thursday (June 27). (mbcn/rahc/PIA7-Bohol)

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BOHOL

Outgoing Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia (right) turns over pertinent documents on the status of Cebu Province to incoming Governor Hilario Davide III during the turnover rites held June 28 at Cebu Capitol. (FCC/PIA Cebu)

Siquijor first lady congressman says she's ready for the job

SIQUIJORCOMMUNITYNEWSINFOBYTES

SIQUIJOR (PIA)—The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) calls for the public’s active participation in the conservation of marine biodiversity in the province. BFAR-Siquijor head Warren Inao said seas and oceans are big sources of food so that everyone has to take responsibility in taking care of these. People’s role in the conservation of marine life is vital because most of the factors that greatly contributed to their extinct are due to human activities, Inao said. Among ways to help the ocean and the sea, he said, are: lessening water pollution by not throwing trash to the sea, and active participation in activities that help increase the marine life like mangrove planting. Inao also encourages people to observe laws and prohibitions that foster marine health and conservation. "Things that we do today (to protect) marine biodiversity, and nature as a whole, will mean abundance for the next generation," Inao said. (mbcn/rac/PIA7-Siquijor & I.A. Abatayo)

BFAR pushes for people's participation in Siquijor

marine biodiversity conservation

By rizaliE a. CaliBo

SIQUIJOR 1 (PIA) --- The first female to sit as congressman in the lone district of Siquijor has assured Siquijodnons that she is prepared to tackle head-on the challenges of her job. “Ako po ay handang-handa na (I am very ready)," assured Dr. Marie Anne Pernes, the new and the first lady Congressman of Siquijor in her inspirational message in yesterday’s oathtaking ceremonies at the Siquijor Capital Square, Siquijor, Siquijor. Pernes expressed her gratitude to all the supporters and those who “voted for change”, calling her's and the Liberal Party's victory in the last elections as the victory also of the Siquijodnons. “Kayo po ang tunay na nanalo at gumawa nga kasaysayan (You are the true winners and have made history)," she said. “What you won and what we all won is the chance to shape for a better future for our province and our people,” Pernes added. Whi le admit t ing that she is new to this l ine of work, the lady Congressman also assured those who may have doubted her ab i l i ty that everyth ing is learned. “Hindi po lahat ng bagay sa mundo ay napaghahandaan, pero napag-aaralan. The most important things in life are learned by actual experience, by facing the challenges that come our way,” she said. A dentist by profession, Doc Anne, as she is fondly cal led, stepped up to take the place of her deceased husband, Dr. Jay Pernes who died a day before the elections. Jay Pernes was the Liberal Party's bet for the Congressional seat. In facing these challenges, Doc Anne urged her constituents that “we need to be steadfast in our resolve, true to our purpose, follow the right path and keep faith that the lord our God will guide us and help us.” S h e a d d e d : “ M y m a n d a t e , m y d u t y a n d m y s t r e n g t h c o m e f r o m y o u . ” Doc Anne said her primary duty as the representative to the Congress and to the nat iona l government is to be the vo ice and br idge o f the S iqu i j jo r peop le . “I will be your voice and bridge to the Congress, to the Cabinet and to President Noynoy Aquino para iparating sa kanila ang kalagayan ng ating lalawigan, ang inyong kalagayan at pangangailan…ang inyong mga panukalala at gustong gawin (to bring to them our situation, our needs, and what we aspire for Siquijor)," she said. She promised to see to it that Siquijor will be included in all of the government’s plans and programs for the country. To get the full support of the national government, she said she will empower Siquijor to use the natural resources and human talents to bring the province to the path of economic development. “Kaya nating dalhin ang ating lalawigan sa tuwid na landas ng kaunlaran at magandang bukas sa tulong ng ating Pangulo. Anumang tulong na ibibigay sa atin ng national government ay ibabalik natin sa pamamagitan ng aing pag-unlad. (We can bring our province to progress and prosperity. Whatever help our national government will give us, we will pay through development)," she said. If Siquijor progresses and prospers economically, she said, it will also contribute to the growth and development o f t he who le coun t r y. ( rmn /RACa l i bo /P IA -S iqu i j o r )

Dr. Marie Anne Pernes taking oath as the first lady congressman of the lone district of Siquijor. Behind her is her family who promised to support her all the way in her new found task. (RACalibo/PIA-Siquijor)

Turn-over of the symbolic key of leadership by Siquijor Provincial Planning and Development Coordinator Gladys Estrellada (right) representing the outgoing Governor, Orlando A. Fua Jr., to the new governor elect Zaldy s. Villa (left). (RACalibo/PIA-Siquijor)