VOLUME XXXVIssue 6

JUNE 2015Serving Los Baos and nearby communitieswww.lbtimes.ph

Housing program completes 154 unitsby Toni Krizia Vivares

by Reynelle Cario

Libre!

Women in Agriculture: Boosting participation through postharvest activities

Mayor Ceasar Perez inspects the construction site in Brgy. Maahas to check the status of the beneficiaries. (Photo posted in the Los Baos Group Facebook Page.)

Seeing each day as another chance for great opportunities, Benedicta Badillo always wakes up early in the morning, prepares her familys breakfast and tends to her garden. This has been her routine in the past two years since deciding to become a self-employed organic farmer.

Benedicta is one of the women benefiting from local services of the local government specially designed for women engaged in agriculture and business.

The Los Baos Gender and Development (GAD) office conducted a workshop entitled Women in Agriculture: Boosting Participation through Post-Harvest Activities on March 11 in the new municipal building. The activity was made possible in partnership with the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic, and

As of June 2015, 154 houses were constructed for the Core Shelter Assistance Program of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) in partnership with the Municipal Urban Development Housing office (MUDHO).

Forty eight of these houses are in Brgy. Lalakay, while 106 are located in Brgy. Maahas. Certificates of Lot Awards (CELA) were given to the families living in danger areas such as shores and uplands in Brgy. Bambang and Brgy. Batong Malake. This will entitle the families the right of occupancy.

The project aims to help victims of calamities build their houses. Ang layunin ng programa ay maibalik sa normal yung buhay ng mga nasalanta na nasiraan ng bahay.Pero dahil nakatira sila sa danger zone, nire-relocate natin sila sa mas safe na lugar, said Annie Dimaano, MUDHO Housing Coordinator.

Beneficiaries are low income families residing in damaged areas. They were assessed

Natural Resources Research and Development (PCAARRD) and the Postharvest Horticulture and Research Center (PHTRC). It focused on empowering female farmers to unleash their entrepreneurial spirit especially about marketing aspect.Agribusiness on board

According to Reymuel Salongkong, a GAD staff in charge of the event, the post harvest workshop is part of the 15-month primary project with PCAARRD which is Enhancing Gender-Sensitive Organic Vegetable Production, a livelihood of organic farming practices for low income communities of Los Baos. The project has started way back last March 2014 and about to end this June 2015.

According to Salongkong, people behind it are already planning the expansion of the said

Continued on page 2Continued on page 2

2 LOS BAOS TIMES

Madre de Amor Hospice holds Day Care Workshop

PESO-LB conducts Job Fair

Housing program... Women in agriculture...

by Jarred Santos

by Kimberly Salamatin

Continued from page 1 Continued from page 1

Continued on page 3

E D I T O R I A L S T A F F

KTBritannico RCario LAEncisa ALHerbon MImatong MKALapitan KSalamatin JSantos ATapiador TKVivares EGZaragozaWriters

Ricarda VillarEditor-in-Chief

Ma. Roxanne Fatima RolleAssociate Editor

Ricarda VillarLayout Artist

Lily TallaferRosa Pilipinas FranciscoAdvisers

The Los Baos Times is produced by the students and staff of the Department of

Development Journalism at the UP Los Baos College of Development Communication in

collaboration with Los Baos local government agencies, barangays, schools, and civil society

organizations. No part of this paper may be reproduced or distributed in any form or by any means stored in a database or retrieval system

without prior consent. All rights reserved.

The Los Baos Times is located at Rm. 201B, Department of Development Journalism,

College of Development Communication, University of the Philippines Los Baos

in Los Baos, Laguna

Tel. No.: (049) 536-2511 local 401 or 410Email: lbtimes@devcom.edu.ph

Website: http://lbtimes.ph

NEWSNEWS

The Madre de Amor Hospice Foundation, Inc. conducted a day care workshop on June 3 at its center in Brgy. Batong Malake from 9 am to 12 nn. The day care is a part of the hospices array of services that offers care for a wide range of diseases.

The day care workshop was conducted with the help of Cirila Perez, a retired teacher from Calamba, Laguna. One of the activities included bracelet-making where the participants made their own crafts. These bracelets are then sold by the hospice as an additional source of income to be used for the centers operation. Gina Cabrera,

The Public Employment Service Office (PESO) held the Second Quarter Job Fair on June 25 from 8am to 2pm at the New Municipal Building, Brgy. Timugan.

According to Gliceria Trinidad, PESO-LB Manager, around 75 overseas and local recruiters participated in the job fair.

an administrative staff at the hospice, attributed the positive outcome of the workshop to Perezs cheerful disposition. Talagang napakamasayahin niya, Cabrera said.

The Madre de Amor Hospice is also conducting volunteer orientations. For parties interested, the hospice can be reached via email at hospicelb@gmail.com.

Aside from the Second Quarter Job Fair, PESO also conducted Mini Job Fairs for 150 applicants. Gusto naming umikot sa buong Los Baos para makapagbigay trabaho sa mga mamamayan, Trinidad stated. Other Mini Job Fairs held within the quarter were in Brgy. Lalakay (June 11), Brgy. Maahas (July 15). Brgy. Tadlac (July 31), Brgy. San Antonio (August 18), and at the PESO Gabaldon Bldg. (August 28).

based from the records of local governments National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDDRRMC).

Aside from providing shelter materials, the project aims to organize citizens and capacitate them to build their own houses. Beneficiaries are expected to form homeowners association and make their own Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR).

Jenylyn Landoy, 24 years old, lived in Brgy, Bambang before she was relocated in Brgy. Maahas in 2010. She said new residents have better housing conditions now compared with what they had before.

Nung 2010, wala pa kaming kuryente nung lumipat. Ngayon sila meron na. Meron na rin silang nakukunan ng pantambak sa bahay, kami dati wala. Bumibili pa kami, she said

Landoy said that their only problem now is the source of water. Sa dampalit kasi nun, galing sa ilog kaya maraming tubig. Dito mahirap, kasi poso ang ginagamit namin. Kaya yung iba nagpapakabit ng gripo.

The program is still under DSWD but MUDHO helps in identifying and monitoring the implementation of the project. Their goal is to finish the construction by the end of June. Thirty more houses are being reconstructed in Brgy. Maahas.

project since it is a [continuous and sustainable agriculture activity] which promotes the advocacy in empowering local female farmers for them to have a stable source of income that can support their family.

Benedicta, 42 years old, attests to this. She has been an organic farmer, a vendor of her own vegetables and fruits, and a participant of several seminars and workshops about marketing for almost two years.

Dahil sa workshop na ito, nalaman ko yung paggamit ng sili para maging fertilizer ng aking mga gulay kaysa sa kemikal na ginagamit namin noon at yung packaging na tinatawag sa marketing para maging presentable pa rin yung mga organic na gulay ko kahit binabiyahe sila, she said.

Through the workshop, Benedicta learned several ways on how to preserve her organic vegetables and fruits through proper handling and storing; to package them properly which makes her products presentable that gives an additional edge aside from the fact that her products are organic; and to improve her business talk.

3LOS BAOS TIMES

Salvaging the coconut industry

Women in agriculture...

by Ma. Karen Aira Lapitan

FEATURE

After months of battling the coconut scale insect (CSI), more commonly known as cocolisap, the Los Baos coconut industry is slowly recovering through the combined efforts of the coconut farmers, government agencies, and several partner institutions.

In February 2015, the Integrated Pest Management Protocol of the Task Force SAGIP helped reduce the number of CSI cases. This task force is composed of representatives from the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), University of the Philippines Los Baos (UPLB), and the Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA).

The task force conducted scientific research about cocolisap in November and December 2014. The study found that chemical and organic pesticides enabled coconut trees to survive the infestation of cocolisap. According to the PCA article entitled Facts on the Coconut Scale Insect Infestation and Emergency Protocol, the chemical pesticide has a 30-day active effect on eradicating the CSI and the organic pesticide being able to flush out the remaining CSI on the surfaces of fronds.

Effects on local buko pie storesIn Los Baos, the good news brought relief to buko pie

establishment owners who have stores along the Anos-Malinta national highway.

Previously, the cocolisap infestation has caused the Department of Agriculture (DA) to issue a transport restriction of farm products in the CALABARZON region, which is the area greatly affected by the cocolisap. The decrease in the supply of raw material, mainly young coconut meat, forced business owners to resort to increase in price or completely stopping the production of buko pie.

Lina Pelda of Letys Buko Pie said that the establishment experienced a period when there was no delivery of coconut meat from their supplier in Quezon. Limited na lang yung nabebenta

namin kasi walang supply. Gawa non, kaya from PhP 180 naging PhP 190 na yung presyo ng buko pie namin, she said.

She also added that despite the price increase, their profit decreased. The establishment earned more when the coconut industry was still safe from the infestation and when the buko pie was sold for a lower price.

The Original Buko Pie, also located in Brgy. Anos, resorted to offering more of their pineapple pies in addition to increasing the price of one buko pie from PhP 170 to PhP 190, according to Patrick Paz, an employee.

Efforts paying offThe government initiatives lowered the number of affected areas

from 58 to 9, with 625,000 affected trees remaining. The affected areas include: Balayan and Calaca in Batangas; Bay and San Pablo in Laguna; Candelaria, Mauban, Sampaloc, and Polilio in Quezon; and Isabela in Basilan. Current efforts are now focused on improving the trees situation from severe to moderate, as reported. Meanwhile, the buko pie businesses in Los Banos have slowly been coping with the losses in the previous months, as confirmed by Pelda and Paz.

Keeping a close eyeDespite the decrease, the government continues to ask farmers

to be vigilant on possible recurrence of the cocolisap infestation. The importance of the farmers early detection of cocolisap infestation is highly emphasized especially in light of the discovery that the cocolisap tends to spread faster during dry season.

With its regained strength, the coconut industry can, hopefully someday, be completely become cocolisap-free.

Furthermore, since the said workshop is part of a developmental agricultural project as described by Salongkong with the planned expansion, the number of new farmer-beneficiaries will increase until June. The first set of female farmers would continue to be trained. Another, the search of potential customers and partners who can help the local farmers to increase their target audiencethe Los Baos constituentshas been considered.The Demand is Right

Dr. Perlita Nuevo, one of the guest speakers from PHTRC, said that farmers who engage in entrepreneurship should let the market demand for what they should produce. New farmers are joining the bandwagon of dealing more with what is popular than what is needed in the market. This leads to a surplus of the same commodities, thereby, leading to income losses.

Moreover, if surplus will occur due to the excessive production of a certain commodity, shortage to other supply of other products may possibly happen. So as a response, Nuevo taught farmers and made them realized that there are lots of potential and in demand organic vegetables and fruits that farmers can use rather than going with what is popular in the market, this will help increase their income.Overlooked yet Significant: Packaging

Another guest speaker from PHTRC is Dr. Matilde Maunahan. Dr. Maunahan specializes in Agricultural Marketing, Development

Communication, and Postharvest Extension. She showed her marketing model: production, post production, and marketing. The objective of the workshop is to educate farmers that their role does not only stop in the production phase; they should know that they are also significant in marketing. Through proper packaging and handling, the quality of the product is maintained.

Nuevo supports maintaining the quality of fruits and vegetable through packaging. Selling organic products provides an edge to farmers because of the known bad effects of chemically fertilized commodities. However, packaging is still the basis to attract customers. As such, the workshop tackled topics on how farmers can carefully produce, preserve, store, and transport organic produce to maintain the quality from farm to table.Farmers to Firms

Napapag-aral ko nga ang lima kong anak dahil dito, e, Benedicta stated. This project helps her and her husband, who is also a farmer, in providing the needs of her five children. She can afford to put her children in school due to her hardwork in organic market. In fact, Benedicta shares that having a weekly income of not less than PhP 1, 500 per week is not bad for local organic farmer who chooses to be self-employed.

The training is free and open to any local farmers here in Los Baos. The municipalitys Gender and Development office is located on the second floor of the municipal office building for inquiries.

Women in agriculture...Continued from page 2

4 LOS BAOS TIMES FEATUREFor the love of fish and the passion for teachingby Aessen Tapiador and Eirene Grace ZaragozaIn celebration of the World Oceans Day (June 8), lets take a peek into the success of a woman who built a career in fisheries, marine zoology, and aquaculture.

This is one of Dr. Blesshe Querijeros principles in life. Its no surprise that after a decades worth of research, she found herself in the academe teaching zoology in the Institute of Biological Sciences (IBS) at the University of the Philippines Los Baos (UPLB).

As an enthusiast for marine life, Dr. Querijero has published researches internationally. Her field of specialty is fisheries, focusing on marine and aquaculture. She has also been granted with the prestigious Elvira O. Tan Award for most outstanding aquaculture research.

With much success in her field, its interesting to know how she developed her interest in the sciences and discovered her passion in sharing knowledge to others.

Starting PointThe field of fisheries has always been very close to Dr.

Querijeros heart. She grew up in the island municipality of Quezon in Quezon Province located in the southern tip of Alabat Island, an island rich with marine life.

Back when she was little, her favorite pasttime was swimming and diving. Shes enthralled with exploring the corals and various fishes inhabiting the sea. Her father also brought her picture books from Readers Digest about fisheries and marine life. She enjoyed looking at the pictures of corals, fishes, marine mammals, and invertebrates.

This childhood love for the sea inspired her to study more about acquatic organisms. She took up BS Zoology major in Marine Zoology in UPLB back in 1976. Her interest in fisheries became the beginning of her life-long adventure in this field.

Third Times a CharmWhile many students labor through finishing their research in

the shortest time possible, the young Querijero went through creating and re-creating her thesis three times. But alas, the third times a charm.

Querijero pursued her masters degree in Fisheries major in Aquaculture in UP Visayas. On her first attempt to finish her thesis, her research samples were stolen just a week before the final collection of data. She repeated her study from scratch. This time, a storm ravaged her samples.

Querijero decided to change her research topic. She focused on how food passes through the digestive system of tilapia. With that study, she did not just graduate with a masters degree, she also

bagged the Elvira O. Tan Award for Most Outstanding Aquaculture Research in 1990.

Through these mishaps and triumph, Querijero learned that it (success) really takes time; you cannot control what can happen. The making of a person is what is important.

She also took another MS Degree in Public Management major in Technology-based Management in Ateneo School of Governance where she graduated summa cum laude. Until now, she gets invited in Ateneo to be a consultant for students presenting their research.

Ganbatte YearsAfter finishing two post-graduate degrees in the Philippines,

Querijero found herself in Japan taking up her PhD in Fisheries. For four years, in the course of her study, she published three Institute for Scientific Information (ISI) journals refereed by scientists from all over the world.

Sometimes, she would sleep in the laboratory to finish her research. She motivated herself with the Japanese word, ganbatte, which means cheer up, bear up, keep your chin up, be courageous, and do your best. When she finished her PhD in Japan, her professors offered her a job as a faculty. She refused the offer; she preferred to go home and be with her family. Had she taken the job, though, she would have been the only female faculty and a second foreigner to teach in the Faculty of Fisheries in her university in Japan at that time.

Teaching as a PassionUpon returning to the Philippines, Querijero was hired as

dean in Marinduque State College (MSC) where she taught for 10 months. Though less than a year, for her, the months she spent teaching in MSC were the most rewarding and fruitful days of her career. That was when she realized that teaching has a great impact on her.

After serving as dean in MSC, she was hired as an assistant scientist in DOST and worked there for 13 years. In 2013, she decided to pursue teaching again. I love teachingin three words, Querijero has summed it all.

She shares that teaching gives her greater happiness and satisfaction as she shares her knowledge, and inevitably, herself.

As we share what we learn to others, we make them a part of our lives.

Teaching is a passion; an intense desire to positively influence students not only in the subject matter but also in their eager pursuit to discover and harness their potential; that they may become better persons and citizens.

5LOS BAOS TIMESFEATUREFor the love of fish and the passion for teaching Pabili po, isang bote, isang stick

nina Lance Albert Encisa, Arron Lucius Herbon, at Kathryn Therrissh Britannico

June is No Smoking Month!Ayon sa survey ng World Health Organization (WHO) noong

2010, 7.25 milyon na Pilipino edad 15 pataas ang palagiang umiinom ng alak. Samantalang ayon sa 2009 Global Adult Tobacco Survey, 17.5 milyon na Pilipino na edad 15 pataas naman ang naninigarilyo.

Isa sa mga isyu na kailangang bigyan ng pansin ay ang patuloy na pagtaas ng bilang ng mga kabataan na bumibili ng alak at gumagamit ng sigarilyo. Anu-ano nga ba ang mga hakbang na ginagawa ng ating lokal na pamahalaan upang matugunan ang tumataas na bilang na ito?

Republic Act 1224: Ang nagtatakda ng distansyaAng Republic Act (RA) 1224 ay nagbibigay sa Sangguniang

Bayan ng kapangyarihan upang magtakda ng kaukulang distansya sa mga nagtitinda ng alak at sigarilyo na malapit sa mga pampublikong lugar katulad na lamang ng eskwelahan, simbahan, ospital, at iba pa.

Maliban sa distansya, nakasaad din sa batas na dapat ay bigyan ang mga negosyong ito ng curfew hours upang hindi sumabay ang oras ng kanilang operasyon sa oras ng pasok ng mga kabataan sa paaralan o sa oras ng pagsimba ng mga tao.

Ayon kay Konsehal Cesar Cabrera, sapat na ang 200 metrong layo na itinakda ng Sangguniang Bayan para sa mga negosyong ito. Para sa kanya, karapat-dapat din na maipatupad nang maayos ang nasabing batas upang maiwasan ang mga kabataan na matukso sa pagpunta sa mga ganitong lugar.

Madalas na nag-iinspeksyon ang Brgy. Batong Malake sa kanilang mga nasasakupan ukol sa pagsunod sa batas na ito. Ayon kay Kapitan Janos Lapiz, madalas naman ay alam ng mga negosyong kanilang nakakausap ang nasabing batas dahil kapag sila ay nahuling lumabag ay may mga karampatang parusa.

Kapag nagtayo sila ng business nila at may inspeksyon [at lumabag sila dito], kinakansela namin ang kanilang business clearance at Mayors permit, ani Kapitan Lapiz.

Sa pananaw ni Kap. Lapiz, ang pagpapalaganap ng impormasyon kaugnay sa nasabing batas ang sagot upang mas maging epektibo ang pagpapatupad nito.

Kailangan sa tingin ko is to disseminate the information. Kasi napatunayan ko yan sa panahon ng panunungkulan ko bilang kapitan, once you inform them, sumusunod [yung mga tao], banggit niya.

Ordinance 2012 - 1150: Ang tagatakda ng orasAlinsunod sa alituntunin sa distansya ay ang pagtatakda ng

oras sa pagbenta at pagdispensa ng alak ng mga establisyemento. Itinatakda ng Ordinance 2012-1150 na ang simula ng pagtitinda ng mga alak ay ika-8 ng umaga hanggang ika-12 ng madaling araw. Bukod dito, kinakailangan din magkabit ng Sorry Were Closed sign ang lahat ng mga establisyimentong ito.

Ngunit, kahit mahigpit nang ipinapatupad ang ordinansang ito, marami pa rin talaga ang hindi sumusunod. Wika ni Kapitan Lapiz, may mga naghahain pa rin ng alak kahit lagpas na sa itinakdang oras.

Ang instruction, very recently lang ni Mayor ay aming strictly iiimplement na kapag ala una na dapat sarado na. Or pwede ka mag operate, basta hindi ka na pwede mag serve ng alcoholic beverages.

Implikasyon sa kalusugan ng kabataanAyon kay Dr. Dennis Francis Madilid ng Orillo Family Health

Clinic, ang sobrang paggamit ng alak ay maaaring magdulot ng pinsala sa kanilang utak, kidney, at atay; habang ang paninigarilyo naman ay nakakaapekto sa daloy ng hangin, na nagdudulot sa hirap ng paghinga ng isang tao.

[The kids] already know [the effects of vices], siguro hindi na katulad ng dati na dahil sa use ng multimedia, and then Facebook and everything, hindi na kami kailangan mag-lecture on what can happen to you, ani Dr. Madilid

Banggit pa nito, ang pagkakayayaan ng barkada, ang pagiging mature sa edad, at ang ideya ng pagsubok sa mga bagong bagay ay ilan lamang sa mga posibleng dahilan kaya marami sa ating mga kabataan ang nagnanais na sumubok o magpatuloy sa paggamit ng mga bisyong ito.

Payo ni Dr. Madilid, ang mga menor de edad ay dapat maging responsable pagdating sa mga desisyon ukol sa paggamit ngmga bisyong ito. Dahil sa bandang huli, nakasalalay pa rin sa kanila ang pag-aalaga sa kanilang kalusugan.

Lahat naman choice yan eh, wala naman tumuturo sayo na you have to smoke, you have to drink. The call ng barkada to drink is going to be there, but use your common sense, wika ni Dr. Madilid.

Disiplina: Tungo sa pagsunod sa mga regulasyonAng mga batas at ordinansa ay itinakda para sa regulasyon

sa pagtitinda at pagkonsumo ng alak at sigarilyo, partikular na sa pagkonsumo ng mga menor de edad.

Ayon kay Konsehal Cabrera, mahalaga ang pagtutulungan ng mga taga-Los Baos sa lokal pamahalaan tungo sa pagsunod sa mga regulasyong ito. Dagdag pa nya, importante ang disiplina para masigurong masusunod ang mga regulasyong ito.

Sa akin naman, kaming lahat dito [ay] gusto maging peaceful ang Los Baos [kaya] tulong-tulong [tayo]. Binibigyan lang tayo ng isip ng Diyos. Pero do it [at] magiging successful ka, banggit ni Konsehal Cabrera.

ERRATUM:In the April 2015 issue of the Los Baos Times Libre, the community newspaper inadvertently identified african night crawlers as endemic in the Philippines instead of West Africa.

6 LOS BAOS TIMES

The Municipal Public Employment Service Office (PESO)In Focus:by Kimberly Salamatin

The word peso rings a bell, perhaps, to many Filipinos. It represents the countrys currency and the necessities that money can buy: food, shelter, utilities, bills.

In this case, however, PESO does not just represent that paper bill used to purchase a commodity. Rather, it can embody the means to maintain a meaningful source of income; a livelihood that does not just put food on the table but harnesses ones skills, interest, and passion.

The Philippine Employment and Services Office or PESO can provide just that and so much more.

PESO-Los BaosPESO is a non-fee charging multi-employment service facility

accredited by DOLE. It aims to carry out full employment and equality of employment opportunities for its citizens. Its purpose is to strengthen and expand the existing employment facilitation service machinery.

According to the National Statistics Office (NSO), the percentage of jobless in the total population of Region IV-A (CALABARZON) is 8.6%, as of January 2015. In Los Baos, unemployed citizens account for more or less 20,000 people, based on the Barangay Management Information System (BMIS). This is a problem that the Municipal Public Employment Service Office of Los Baos (PESO-LB) aims to solve.

According to Municipal PESO Manager Gliceria Trinidad, there are a lot of marginalized and jobless people who are trying to find ways to free themselves from the chains of poverty. Some of them are forced to do hard labor that neither pay well nor compensate their hard work while some of them resort to doing illegal activities in order to sustain their living. Thus, the main objective of PESOLB is to give the citizens of Los Baos a quality life through employment.

Trinidad believes that they can help eradicate problems such as crimes that are rooted from poverty because they offer skills that can be obtained by skills training which will eventually land them a job.

Strategies that PESO used to achieve their goals are giving free education to the citizens of Los Baos, partnering with organizations to conduct job fairs, giving free seminars, and even joining programs like Womens month celebration to empower people.

The list of available courses that can be enrolled in PESO are as follows: Shielded Metal Arc Welding, Basic Computer Literacy, Computer System Servicing, Cosmetology/Beauty Care, Electrical Installation and Maintenance, Massage Therapy, Motorcycle Technician, Basic Plumbing, Dress Making, Electronics, Carpentry, Ref and air conditioning technology, and Automotive Servicing.

These courses run for three months and available all year round. Interested applicants from Los Baos just need to submit the following requirements: Copy of birth certificate, High School or College Diploma, Certified True Copy of Form 137/138 or Classcard, Resume/CV or Biodata, 1x1 and 2x2 pictures, Folders with your name and plastic envelope, and 5 pcs index cards, Barangay Endorsement, and Barangay Clearance.

For other town residents, the following would have to be secured: Mayors endorsement and Police Clearance.

High School or Elementary undergraduates are requested to take an exam or evaluation and matching initiated by PESO-LB.

PESO-LBs strategies, indeed, makes their vision Hanapbuhay para sa lahat tungo sa maunlad, masagana, at masayang Los Baos achievable and sustainable.

A Chance to a Better LifeOne of PESO-LBs beneficiaries is Vergilio S. Detesyo, 38

years old. He was once considered living under extreme poverty. A few years ago, Vergilio and his brother moved from Bacolod to Los Banos. While his brother was working in a resort in Bambang, he sells ice candy, smoked fish, and/or peanuts on the streets.

Detesyo said that he wandered the streets all day selling products that he had for that day. Fortunately, through roaming the streets, he gained consistent buyers and made friends with them. One day, one of his suki, Thelma Villamor a trainer at PESOLB and a PESO graduate invited him to PESO for massage therapy class because she saw how hard working Detesyo is.

After Detesyo finished the three months of training in PESO, he took an assessment exam at Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA). He passed the exam and started working at the local spa where Thelma Villamor is the spa manager.

Villamor as a graduate and trainer at PESO-LB encourages people to enroll at PESO. She personally believes that unemployed citizens, whatever their ages are, should have the chance for a better life. She said that it makes her happy to see that the people she helped through PESO are now successful because she was in their place before.

Compared to her life before as an Overseas Filipino Worker wherein she was away from her family, her life now is very much what she wants it to be. She can now be with her husband and children and has a good paying job. And this is why she promotes PESO as much as she can.

Detesyo compared his life before having his current job as a massage therapist. He explained that a lot has changed and described his past as hirap na hirap sabuhay. Now, he can help his brother financially because of his salary. He also moved to a larger apartment and he happily said that he can eat the food that was deprived of him before. He could also buy the things that he wants to and he is very much satisfied to where he is now. This is just one of the stories of PESOLB graduates.Success by the numbers

Aside from Villamor and Detesyo, a lot of PESO graduates have now improved their life. Every year, there are more or less 1,200 graduates coming from PESO-LB. Below are the statistics of graduates that were employed locally and abroad.

Forty percent of them were deployed in the Middle East, United Arab Emirates, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, United Kingdom, some in Japan and in Africa through the partnership with overseas recruitment agencies.

Forty percent were employed locally with our partners companies such as IRRI, UPLB, Laguna water district, Filipinas Hino, Yazaki Torres, Toyota, Ionics, Hanjin, Living Life Well, Gardenia, Avon, Ag & P, Sta. Clara International, EEI AND DMCI.

7LOS BAOS TIMES

The Municipal Public Employment Service Office (PESO)Ten percent were hired by the local government unit of Los

Baos, Laguna while ten percent have their own shops and self-employed.

Partner-Beneficiary Perspective

The primary focus of PESOLB are the people and not the issues, it employs partner beneficiary perspective wherein both of the stakeholders benefit from one another. People are given jobs while companies are given manpower.

It has established a collaborative partnership with government organizations, non-government organization/peoples organizations, the private sector and the communities. In the process, it has implemented collaborative projects whereby PESO-LB acts as the primary facilitator benefiting its clientele as well as the community.

Livelihood enhancement is a collaborative project that focuses on the different programs of DTI, DOLE, Los Baos Science Community Foundation, Inc., TESDA, DBP, LBP, and TLRC, it includes the following:

Micro-enterprise Development Program (MEDP), Investment Promotion Program (IPP), Self-employment Assistance Program (SEAP), and Special Credit Assistance Program (SCAP), and Program for Countryside Economic Empowerment &

Development (PROCEED).

PESO also conducts skills training, it encourages the participants to undertake a project on a group management scheme. In the process, the participants learn commitment, how to establish individuals responsibilities, and how to remain activity oriented. This encourages the community and other government or private entities foster mutual understanding and appreciation among them.

Manpower upgrading focuses on the different programs of TESDA, and DECS, it includes Manpower Skills Training Program (MSTP) and Non-formal Education Program (NEP). In addition, it provides all services of the CAESAR Los Baos Training Center program.

Sustainability for the next generationsThe Municipality created ordinance and resolutions that

promote and ensure the sustainability and transferability of the programs of PESOLB:

Ordinance No. 2008-726: An ordinance institutionalizing the municipalitys citizens access for employment and skills advancement resources program of the municipality of Los Banos and providing/allocating funds year after year to ensure its continuous fruitful operation.

Resolution No. 2009-38: Resolution authorizing the Honorable Mayor Caesar Perez to enter and sign into a Memorandum Of Agreement (MOA) with Technical Education Skills And Development Authority (TESDA) for providing technical assistance in the development and implementation of competency-based training programs.

Resolution No.2001-17: A resolution endorsing the Public Employment Service Office (PESO) of Los Banos, Laguna and its designate PESO Manager Gliceria Trinidad to the Department of Labor and Employment for accreditation by said government agency.

Resolution No. 2009-92: Resolution authorizing the Honorable Mayor Caesar Perez to enter and sign into a Memorandum Of Agreement (MOA) with the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Region IV-A, Calamba city thru its Kabuhayan Starter Kit and Nego-Kart (KSKNK) program.

Trinidad said that these ordinances make sure that the benefits that the citizens are experiencing now can be experienced by the generations to come.

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This is according to the 2008 National Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS).

Violence against women and children (VAWC) is an issue that has been in existence for as long as there has been the issue about the equality of genders. In the Philippines, violence on women and children, especially when done in private confines, is seen as a matter that is out of the public sphere. The kanya-kanya habit kicks in, leaving the victims vulnerable to their abusers.

The annual comparative statistics on violence against women is alarming. The number of reported cases of violence has also been increasing. In 2004, the total number of cases on violence against women was 6,271. By 2013, the figure has hiked to a total of 23,865. These include cases on rape, acts of lasciviousness, sexual harassment, physical injuries, threats, seduction, abduction, concubinage, and the like. These data are reported by the Philippine National Police - Women and Children Protection Center and published by the Philippine Commission on Womens (PCW) official website.

The statistics, however, do not include unreported cases. According to Emily Azarcon, police officer at the Los Baos Philippine National Police, there are some cases where the victim agrees to settle with the abuser.

According to an undergraduate research by Alexis Matel Dela Torre, while there are women [when abused] who will report and file cases against the abuser without hesitation, there are those who would keep quiet.

The fear of women and children to their abuser causes them to not report what is happening to them. Therefore, we should not just fight against abuse but also we should be helping abused women and children to stand and fight against abuse.

Living in constant fearFrom the times when slapping a woman was considered

normal, or giving a child tough love was welcomed as a sign of good parenting, our time has indeed come a long way. Our times have brought to light why slapping a woman in public or inflicting corporal punishment on children is wrong.

Britney, not her real name, grew up in a family with a history of violence. Naalala ko nung sinampal ako ng Tatay ko sa tapat ng kaibigan niyang bumisita sa bahay para lang kumuha ng blueprints, she began.

Her father, a civil engineer by profession, was also a drunkard with a high temper. Na-shellshock lang yung kaibigan niya. Britney, who was about 9 years old at the time and in her fourth grade at her elementary school, asked her father for help on a school project. Her father, however, grew irate at the sudden request of her daughter, and got irritated. Sinabi ko naman sa kanya yun a week before, kahit nanay ko natatandaan pa noong sinabihan ko siya.

With five other siblings, Britneys family lived in constant fear of their fathers temper. Even her mother did not escape her husbands wrath. Umabot pa sa point na nagkatutukan ng baril, she says. Her father would frequently get angry at her mother for supposedly being unfaithful.

One night, two gunshots rang out. Britney feared for the worst. Luckily, her father caused no

injuries from the shots fired when he went out to release his anger in a nearby lot they also owned. He fired off two rounds.

Mark, also not his real name, also went through abuse as a child. Struggling to maintain his composure when recounting his experiences, Mark tells of how both his parents used to beat him over trivial things. Being the eldest, Mark faced the brunt of his parents abusive tendencies. Standing at a tall 510, Mark stands hunched in on himself despite of his large built.

Effect of VAWCAccording to Department of Healths briefer on violence

against women (VAW), abusing women and children does not only affect the physical health of a person. It also affects the mental and emotional state of the victim. It causes low self-esteem and threatens personal security.

VAWC decrease the victims capacity for development, participation in social activities, and work productivity. It also negatively affects womens reproductive health.

It is not just a personal battle and the effects are not on the individual but also on the national level. VAWC costs the country financial resources. According to PCW, to treat VAWC survivors, an estimated PhP 6 billion was used in 2002 for VAWC injuries, psychological therapies and programs for survivors, maintenance of shelters, cost of legal and court proceedings to prosecute perpetrators, training cost for service providers, and

One out of five women, aged 15-49, has experienced physical violence in the Philippines.

Violence Against Women and Children (VAWC)In-DepthStory

by Jarred Santos and Kimberly Salamatin

9LOS BAOS TIMES

other indirect social costs to family members of VAWC survivors and perpetrators.

This means that it is not just an issue of abuser and abused. It is also an issue of governance. When the government makes available effective remedies to eradicate VAWC in homes, communities, and the state, thats when a state promotes good governance.

Fighting against VAWCThe Philippines has laws on violence against women

and children. Since the 1990s, laws such as the Anti-Sexual Harassment Act, the Anti-Rape Act of 1997, the Rape Victims Assistance Act, and RA 9262 or the Anti-Violence Against Women and Children Act of 2004 have been put into place to protect the rights of women and children in the country.

RA 9262 defines violence as any act that is against someones partner (whether dating or strictly sexual) or child that has detrimental effects on the offended party.

An act of violence is characterized by attempting or placing a woman and/or child in the threat of harm, and/or putting women and/or children in a position where they are unable to say or do otherwise. It may also be in the form of denying a woman access to her child, or purposely withholding financial support to exercise control.

Protection orders are in place to serve as mechanisms to prevent further abuse on the part of the offended. The RA offers three kinds of protection orders: a Barangay Protection Order lasts for 15 days and is not extendible; a Temporary Protection Order has a 30 day duration and is renewable by court; and a Permanent Protection Order. These protection orders also nullify ownership of property in cases where the offender is the legal owner of a residence as long as no other property rights are violated. Otherwise, the Department of Social Welfare and Development is mandated to provide shelter and other social services.

Contrary to popular belief, violence against women and children is not confined to physical violence. It also covers psychological, emotional, and even economic abuse.

Violence Against Women and Children (VAWC)People who may file for protection orders include the

immediate relatives (up to the 4th degree), social workers, police officers, barangay head, lawyers, counselors, and healthcare providers. At least two people from the town or locality of the offended party may also file for protection orders.

RA 9629 also provides for legal and financial support for the offended party, as well as the privacy of the circumstances surrounding the suit filed.

What can we do now?The fight against VAWC does not end on implementing laws.

Each and everyone of us should take the responsibility to help women and children in need. We can be their voice to report the abuses that are happening to them; we can be the helping hand that would guide them; and we can be the friend that they need to go on.

We can also be part of information dissemination campaigns. Educating women and children on what they can do to fight against abuses is a very important role that a person can do. Women and children empowerment can be achieved through awareness and systematic cooperation.

Sa tingin ko mas naging strong ako, says Britney. Natuto akong maging mas matatag in the sense na di ako madaling nadidishearten, kasi nga nasanay ako, she adds. Britney, also an MS student, says that when she has a family, she plans to be nothing like her father was. Of course, pag kailangan, magagalit ako, pero hindi katulad ng sa tatay ko. The relationship between her father and mother has also been affected, says Britney. According to her, the pair has not spoken to each other in two years. On asking why, Britney replies, same issues.

Masaya ako na di nila ginagawa yun sa mga mas bata kong kapatid, says Mark. According to him, his younger siblings are spared from the treatment he was given during his childhood. Di bale na, he says, wag lang sila.

10 LOS BAOS TIMES OPINYON

KALIKASANM A K I N I G S A

Bilang paggunita sa Philippine Environment Month ngayong Hunyo, aming ibinabahagi ang bagong column na Makinig sa Kalikasan. Tatalakayin ni Martin Imatong, ang Municipal Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation Program consultant, ang ibat ibang isyung may kinalaman sa pangangalaga sa kalikasan at kapaligiran.

Ano ang tinatawag na Climate Change?Ang Climate Change ay ang naobserbahan na pagpapalit ng asal ng klima sa loob ng 30 taon o higit pa.

Ano ang mga asal at katangian nito? Ang pagtaas o pag-init ng temperatura. Kapuna-punang pag-dami ng maiinit

na araw na higit na mas mainit ang temperatura.

Kapuna-punang pag-unti ng malalamig na gabi.

Kapuna-punang madalang na pag-ulan subalit higit na mas marami ang dala at ibinabagsak na tubig-ulan nito.

Kapuna-punang malimit na pag-ulan subalit higit na mas maiksi ang itinatagal nito.

Kapuna-punang nababago ang mga lugar na dinadalaw nito.

Ang pagdami ng araw na ang labis na init o temperature ay higit pa sa 35 centigrado. Ito ang sanhi ng tinatawag na Heat Wave.

Ang pagdami ng araw na ang labis na tubig-ulan ay katumbas o higit pa sa 300 milimetro.

Ito ang sanhi ng tinatawag na mapaminsalang rumaragasang baha.

Ang pagdami ng araw na ang dami ng tubig-ulan ay lubos na kapos at ito ay may katumbas o mas mababa pa sa 2.5 milimetro.

Ito ang sanhi ng tinatawag na masidhing pagkatuyot.

Ang kapuna-punang pagdami ng malalakas na hangin ng bagyo na humigit sa namimir-mihang bilis na 150 kilometro kada oras na may kasamang tubig-ulan sa mga taon na may El Nio.

Ang panahon ng kakulangan ng tubig o ng tagtuyot ay tinatawag na El Nio.

Anu-ano ang mga karagdagang asal at katangiang ng Climate Change sa ibang lugar o ibayong bansa?

Ang kapuna-punang dahan-dahang pagtutunaw ng (ice-cap) yelo o niebe pababa ng mga bulubundukin sa hilagang sulok ng mundo.

Ito ay sanhi ng kapuna-punang pagtaas o karagdagang init ng temperatura sa mga lugaring iyon.

Ang kapuna-punang pag-angat o pagsulong ng tubig-dagat papasok sa mga dalampasigan ng kalupaan. Ang noon ay baybaying katihan, ngayon ay baybaying tubig naman.

Ito ay sanhi ng pagkalat at/o paglaki ng molecule ng tubig ng dahil sa karagdagang init ng ibabaw ng tubig sa karagatan.

May Climate Change na ba sa Pilipinas? Kung tayo dito sa Pilipinas ay may

naitala, naipon at naingatan na mga datos ng araw-araw na taya ng panahon sa nasasakupan ng hindi kukulangin sa 30 taon

Na ang mga datos na ito ay nagpapahayag ng kapuna-punang kakaibahan sa lamig o init, dalas o dalang ng pag-ulan, dami o unti ng buhos ng tubig-ulan, mas lumakas o mas huimina na hangin ng bagyo, mas mahaba o maikling tag-araw at/o tag-ulan, at iba pa,

Na napag-usapan, napag-aralan, napag-isipan at napag-kasunduan ang usaaping ito,

At nagkaganoon na nga, ang Pilipinas ay may Climate Change na!

Ano naman ang ating ginagamit na batayan sa Climate Change dito sa Pilipinas?

Ang ginagamit nating batayan ng Climate Change dito sa Pilipinas ay ang mga obserbasyon at ang mga datos ng klima na naitala, naipon, at naingatan ng mga nanunungkulan simula noong taong 1951 hanggang sa taong 2009.

Ang mga datos at ulat na ito ay pinagsama-sama, hinati-hati, kinuha ang kalagitnaan (average) at ginamit ang panahon na nasasakupan ang taong 1971 hanggang taong 2000.

Kabuuan ng 30 taon na hinihingi ng pangangailangan upang masabing angkop sa Climate Change.

Pinag-usapan, pinag-aralan at bumuo ng kaisipan na bumabalangkas sa natuklasan.

Kung ganoon, ano ang mga natuklasang epekto ng Climate Change sa Pilipinas base sa mga obserbasyon at mga datos na pinag-aralan? Abangan ang mga nakakagulat na mga ulat sa susunod na talata.

11LOS BAOS TIMES

Sa panahon ngayon, polusyon ang isa sa pinakamalaking hamong hinaharap ng ating lipunan: polusyon sa hangin, tubig at lupa. Ibat-ibang problema ang hatid ng polusyon tulad ng sakit, kawalan ng pagkukunan ng pagkain, at marami pang iba.

Maraming institusyon ang gumagawa ng mga hakbang upang matulungang masulusyunan ang mga suliraning hatid ng polusyon. Tulad na lamang ng proyekto ni Dr. Zafaralla na gumagamit ng phytoremediation system.Ano ang phytoremediation system?

Ang phytoremediation system ay isang sistema para solusyonan ang ating mga problema sa polusyon sa tubig, sa lupa o kaya sa hangin. Ito ay gumagamit ng halaman. Ang mga halaman ay maaring algae, ferns at aquatic macrophytes [tulad ng water hyacinth] o mga halaman na nakatira sa tubig o kaya yun ding mga halaman na tumutubo sa lupa.

Ano ang aquatic macrophyte bioabsorption system (AMBS)?

Isa itong uri ng phytoremediation system na gumagamit ng halaman sa tubig, tulad na lamang ng water hyacinth, upang remedyuhan ang polusyon. Tinawag na aquatic kasi sa tubig ito naka-base. Macrophyte dahil ang halaman ay malaki. Biosorption dahil yung halaman ay humihigop ng dumi. System dahil hindi lamang halaman ang nandoon kundi may kawayan din.

Ano ang hinihigop ng water hyacinth?Sinisipsip ng water hyacinth ang

mga sustansiya o nutrients, nitrogen, phosphorus, at ilang kemikal na lumalason sa katawang tubig.

Paano nagsimula ang teknolohiyang ito?Mayroon tayong water pump

malapit sa Molawin Creek at lumalabas na kontaminado ng dumi ang tubig muli doon. Natuklasan namin na mayroong mga nakatira malapit sa ilog at ginagamit nila ang tubig araw-araw. Nang aming bisitahin ang lugar, mayroon kaming nakitang batang naglalaro sa may ilog. Nalulunok niya ang tubig habang nagtatampisaw. Sabi ko sa sarili ko, mayroong paraan para linisin ang tubig nang sa gayon ay hindi mailagay sa alanganin ang kalusugan ng mga bata. Doon nagbunga ang ideya ng aquatic macrophyte biosorption system. Nagtayo kami ng AMBS sa tabi ng mga tirahan.

Bukod sa pagpapalinaw ng tubig, ano pa po ang bentahe ng paggamit ng AMBS o kahit anong uri ng phytoremediation?

Noong itinayo namin ang AMBS, matapos ang ilang linggo, dumami ang mga isda. Dahil pinalinaw ng AMBS ang tubig, gumanda ang kapaligiran ng mga isda kaya nagsipagdami sila. Yung mga nanay na isda ay nangitlog. Ang itlog ay hindi kinain ng mga predators. Dahil dito, lumaki at dumami ang mga isda.

Sino po ang mga katulong ninyo sa gawaing ito?

Dahil hindi mahal ang mga kagamitan sa proyektong ito at marami rin ang bentahe, nagkaroon kami ng mga kasama o partners na tumutulong sa amin. Ilan sa kanila ay ang IRRI, St. Therese of the Child Jesus Parish, Brgy. Putho-Tuntungin, at ilang mga kolehiyo sa UPLB tulad ng College of Human Ecology at College of Development Communication. Malugod silang tumtulong sa proyekto sapagkat alam nila na hindi lamang paglilinis ang naihahandog ng AMBS. Napaparami pa ang mga isda na pinagkukuhanan nila ng pagkain at kaunting pagkakakitaan.

Paano po natin mapapalakas itong proyekto na phytoremediation system? Paano po siya maibabahagi sa buong UPLB at probinsiya ng Laguna?

Mayroon tayong Molawin Bio Park. Kailangan lamang natin pangalagaan ang Molawin Bio Park at ipakita na bagamat nadumihan na ang ilog o isang katawang tubig, maaari pa rin itong ibalik sa dating linis at sigla gamit ang AMBS. Matapos malinis ang Molawin Bio Park, nagkaroon ng mga isda. Ito ngayon ay maaring pagkuhanan ng pagkain at pagkakakitaan ng mga nakatira sa paligid ng ilog. [As] numerous as the raindrops from the sky... ang dami ng mga isda na nagsibalikan!

Ano ang phytoremediation system at paano ito makaktulong maibsan ang problema sa polusyon?Ating alamin mula sa panayam ng programang Dito sa Laguna kay Dr. Macrina Tamayo Zafaralla, isang professor emeritus ng botany at environmental science. Siya ay nagturo sa Institute of Biological Sciences ng UPLB, UP Open University, at UP School of Environmental Science and Management sa loob ng halos apat na dekada.

Ang Dito sa Laguna ay isang programang ipinalalabas tuwing Sabado sa Community Cable Channel 8 sa ganap na ika-10 ng umaga. Laman nito ang mga magagandang kwento, masasayang karanasan, at makabuluhang mga usapan patungkol sa Laguna. Ang replay ay tuwing Lunes (2PM), Miyerkules (4PM), at Biyernes (10PM) sa parehong istasyon

Ang bahaging ito ay sa produksyon ng mga sumusunod: Project Coordinator - Trina Mendoza; Hosts - Elaine Llarena and Romel Daya; Production; Head - Charlie Cagampang and Hannah Buela; Talents - Gian Camacho, Precious Payuan, Charlene Espenilla, Quennie Rizal, and Jeremy Manalang; Segment Writer/Song Writer - Miko Ofalsa; Researchers - Charlene Espenilla, Shyla Abutan, Jeric Agorilla, Camille Alfonso, and Precious Payuan; Tech Director - Louie Amongo; Sound Engineer - Geronimo Canonio; Videographers - Louie Amongo, Hannah Aquino, Camille Abiog, Gian Camacho, James Gutierrez, and Quennie Rizal; Video Encoding and Capturing - Antoni Kristofer Lim; Creative Consultant - Ma Teresita Osalla; Production Assitant - Chola Pacada.

[PHOTONEWS] Nagsagawa ng Bingo Bash for Senior Citizens ang Office for Senior Citizens Affairs (OSCA) at ng Los Banos Federation of Senior Citizens, Inc. (LBFSCI) noong ika-20 Hunyo. Ang pa-bingo ay dinaluhan ng 198 na senior citizens mula sa 14 na barangay ng Los Baos. Ang programa ay ginanap sa bagong gusali ng pamahalaang bayan ng Los Baos. (Mga larawan mula sa Office for Senior Citizens Affairs.)

Bingo Bash para sa Senior Citizens