DOH advises public to buy food products with Sangkap Pinoy seal
by Lito Dar
In line with this, the Department of Health is continuously advocating a healthy diet rich in Vitamin A, Iron and iodine micronutrients even as it advises the public to look for the DOH “Sangkap Pinoy Seals,” when buying cooking oil, flour, rice, sugar, salts and processed food products, such as sardines, ketchup, juice, hotdog, noodles, margarine, cheese spread, bread and infant cereals.
DOH Regional Nutritionist Imee Aboy explained that food fortification is the addition of one or more essential nutrients to food for the purpose of preventing or correcting a demonstrated deficiency with one or more nutrients.
According to Aboy, the DOH Food fortification program aims to provide every Filipino fortified food, by at least 50 percent of the Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA), to help improve their quality of life and prevent malnutrition or micro-nutrients malnutrition.
Aboy explained that Vitamin A, Iron and Iodine are the three most important micronutrients provided by the food we eat and required by the body (in small quantities) for it to function normally. Lack of it could result to Vitamin A Deficiency Disorder (VADD), Iron Deficiency Anemia (IDA) and Iodine Deficiency Disorder (IDD), which could also lead to other more illnesses, diseases or infections.
Even some junk foods now are fortified and bear “Sangkap pinoy Seals”, according to Aboy. “There are about 100 kinds, enriched with vitamin A, Iron and Iodine and this could even increase as there are more voluntary applicants for the said seal,” she added.
DOH Bureau of Food and Drugs (BFAD) Food and Drugs Regulation Officer (FDRO) II Lily Ann Aglubat, said they are continuously monitoring and checking the viability of the micro-nutrient fortification of the “Sangkap Pinoy” products, as FDROs nationwide are conducting validation and post marketing surveillance.
Aglubat pointed out that there are two types of Sangkap Pinoy seals, the triangle seal can be seen on the mandatory product lists, and a rectangular seal for the voluntary fortified products. Consumers can also check the list of “Sangkap Pinoy” fortified products at the DOH and BFAD website at www.doh.gov.ph and www.bfad.goc.ph, respectively.
“Consumers can also submit samples to the BFAR, if they have doubts in some products, for laboratory testing,” Aglubat added.
Aboy reiterated that spending an additional few centavos in buying “Sangkap Pinoy,” products, is a very minimal cost in buying a more healthy foods and in preventing malnutrition problem for the Filipino family. (PIA)
DENR clarifies report that Baguio City is 90% susceptible to lanslides
by Lito Dar
DENR Mines and Geo-science Bureau Regional Director Samuel Paragas explained during the kapihan forum Wednesday that they have only classified areas in the city in terms of landslide proneness such as low to none, moderate, critical and highly susceptible. He stressed that their geo-hazard mapping is meant more for mitigations rather for people to panic.
Paragas also remind the public that the Philippines belongs to the circum-pacific ring of fire that is frequented by earthquakes and volcanic eruptions and Cordillera having the highest range of mountains is susceptible to erosion or landslides.
In the same forum, DENR-MGB Mines and Safety Division chief Zards Gacad also clarified that the percent figure is a summation of the various classifications. He explained that people should not look at the number as their geo-hazard mapping provides data on the vulnerability and risk or hazard susceptibility of the areas. Residents and the local government units should look at the vulnerability of the area so as they can have mitigation plans or put in place mitigation measures.
“Geo-hazard mapping gives us a guide, as we need correlation to mitigate or to lessen the negative effects of the possible hazard in each area. If we know the condition of the area we can apply mitigation measures, in terms of water supply, drainage and upon knowing the characteristic or nature of the area, there are also professional/experts such as architects and civil engineers who could design the appropriate structures,” Gacad added. (PIA)
GSIS strictly implements law on survivorship benefits
In particular, the GSIS said only qualified “dependent” spouses, children, or both can apply for this benefit, as mandated by Republic Act 8291, also known as the GSIS Act of 1997, starting March next year.
The GSIS referred to Section 20 of RA 8291, which states that only “dependent” spouses and children are qualified to receive survivorship benefits.
The same RA 8291 further said that GSIS must only accept a dependent as, among others, a “…legitimate spouse dependent for support upon the member or pensioner.”
“Therefore, a legitimate spouse who is gainfully employed is not entitled to receive the survivorship benefit because he/she is not dependent on his/her spouse for support,” the GSIS said.
The GSIS also cited a Supreme Court decision, which reiterated this requirement of the law. In the said case, the Court denied a contested application for survivorship pension, saying: “In order to be entitled to the Survivorship Benefits under RA 8291, the beneficiary must be dependent upon the GSIS member or pensioner for support.”
In line with this, the GSIS said it will start suspending the monthly benefits of the spouses of deceased pensioners who are found to be gainfully employed or have other sources of income.
And to stress that it is serious in implementing this policy, the GSIS will start with no less than GSIS personnel who are survivorship pensioners, as their benefits as such will be cancelled. Moreover, these employees will be ordered to reimburse all survivorship pensions improvidently paid to them through salary deductions.
The GSIS said new or existing survivorship pensioners working in the government or private sector, gainfully engaged in a business, or currently receiving other pension are not qualified for the survivorship pension.
The GSIS will send letters to existing survivorship pensioners to inform them about this policy. The letters will also contain affidavits that survivors need to fill up, have them notarized, and then send them back to the GSIS to prove that they are dependent for support upon the pensioner, and thus eligible to continue receiving survivorship benefits.
“The GSIS was created to provide benefits to its members and pensioners. It will not hesitate to provide benefits to qualified dependents of contributors of the funds, as long as they are really entitled to it by law,” the GSIS said.
It added: “The GSIS is here not to be popular. It exists to provide due benefits and it exists to protect the hard-earned contributions of its paying members.” (GSIS/PIA9-BST)
