Hunger incidence up in second quarter of 2009, says SWS
The increase was due to the increase in moderate hunger, from 11.1% to 16% while severe hunger remained stable.
Moderate hunger, refers to hunger experienced “Only Once” or ” A few times” in the last three months while severe hunger refers to hunger experienced “often” or “always” in the last three months.
The SWS survey showed that hunger soared 18 points in Mindanao, from 11.7 percent (estimated 1.3 million families) in June 2009.
Meanwhile Metro Manila, hunger increased by five points, from 17.3 percent (estimated 430,000 families) to 22.3 percent (estimated 550.000 families), and by 1 point in the Visayas, from 19.7 percent (estimated 730,000 families) to 21.0 percent (estimated 775,000 families).
Hunger incidence slightly dropped in balance Luzon, from 15.0 percent to 14.3 percent (estimated 1.2 million families). (PIA 12)
Significant reduction noted in anemia prevalence among Filipinos
Manila (27 August) — The Food and Nutrition Research Institute (FNRI) released recently the initial results of the 7th National Nutrition Survey. The survey revealed significant improvement in the prevalence of Anemia Across all age groups, except among pregnant women, which could be considered a major achievement globally.
In 2008, the overall prevalence of Anemia from 6 months to the elderly is 19.5%. The highest prevalence was observed among infants 6 months to 1 year (55.7%) a significant reduction of 11.4% from 2003 levels, followed by pregnant women (42.5%).
At these levels, Anemia prevalence among Filipino Infants and Pregnant women remains a significant health problem.
While an in-depth analysis on the reasons for the decline in anemia prevalence still has to be done, possible reasons include the increasing availability of fortified food products in the market particularly iron-fortified flour and bread products. Iron-fortified rice is the food for school program of the accelerated hunger-mitigation program of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.
Given the results of the 7th NNS nutrition, health and hunger-mitigation measures will be directed on the highly at-risk groups such as the pregnant women, infants and young children. (PIA 12)
Pangasinan pursues two hard infra projects
By Danny O Sagun
Board Member Von Mark Mendoza said that the province is securing a P900 million loan with the Land Bank to finance its various infra projects. Out of the amount, P200 million would serve as the province’s counterpart fund for the seaport project. The national government thru the Department of Transportation and Communication and the Philippine Ports Authority has pledged P200 million while Sual town is allocating P100 million to complete the needed P500 million.
The other hard infra is the planned airport which may be funded by the national government or thru a private investor under the build-operate-transfer scheme. It will be recalled that President Macapagal-Arroyo mentioned the airport project in her State of the Nation Address in 2007.
Mendoza said that Pangasinan badly needs a seaport considering that 40 percent of transactions at the nearby Poro Point in la Union are intended for Pangasinan. “Pasok sana ang revenues na yan sa “tin,” he said.
Defending the P900 million loan applied with the bank, Mendoza said that all projects to be funded by the loan are specific. “Sa tagal ko ryan sa provincial board, ngayon ko lang nakita na specific ang mga proyektong pag-gastusan,” he replied when asked during an interview why the province was securing such a big loan while it has yet to fully repay the P600 million loan earlier acquired by the previous provincial administration.
He said the projects to be funded by the new loan include rehabilitation of government hospitals, farm to market roads, agricultural facilities and purchase of new road equipment. He said that the trucks and equipment purchased during the Orbos administration were now mostly under state of disrepair due to long use.
Meanwhile, Mendoza denied being a defender of Gov. Amado T. Espino, Jr. Guesting at the weekly Engkwentro forum at the Lenox Hotel Wednesday, he said he was only speaking for the facts being part of the official family. He also said that the governor is a party-mate at Kampi during the last elections along with three other board members.
He said that he and former Gov. Victor E. Agbayani, now second district congressman, were never party-mates. But he clarified that he had supported Agbayani in his endeavors although he (Mendoza) was with the minority during that time. “Di naman kami nag-away at ibinaon na namin ang anumang away ng pamilya namin,” he said referring to the reported feud between his father, Chris, who served as congressman, and Victor’s father, Aguedo, a former governor. Both are deceased.
He said that there was one thing clear that came out of the attacks and counterattacks coming from the camps of Espino and Agbayani, who reportedly confirmed already his plan to run for governor. “Ang nagawa ni Victor sa siyam na taon ay nagawa na ni governor sa loob lamang ng dalawang taon,” he pointed out. (PIA Pangasinan)
DOH launches ‘floating sanitary toliets’ in Pangasinan
By Venus H. Sarmiento
The ‘floating sanitary toilets’ (FST), a’brainchild’ of CHD engineers and the first in the country, was put to test as far as to its practicability, strength and usefulness during the project launch and turn over ceremony in barangay Luciente I in Bolinao town.
DOH-CHD Regional Director Eduardo Janairo described the FST as a low cost pour-flush sanitation facility which floats on water.
Its structure and waste treatment materials are made of locally available indigenous materials such as bamboo, nipa, sawali, used plastic drums, sea corals or river gravel/stones, charcoal and garden soil, he explained.
Dr. Paulyn Ubial, assistant health secretary said FST was conceptualized in response to the challenge of preventing the contamination of the different bodies of water with e. coli, vibrio cholera and other micro-organisms causing severe diarrheal diseases and outbreaks. (PIA-Pangasinan)
Civil Service Month focuses on heroes in republic service
By Jennilyne C. Role
San Fernando City, La Union (27 August) — This year’s celebration of the 109th Philippine Civil Service Anniversary in September focuses on recognizing public servants with exemplary performances directed to quality and productive services to the public.
This year’s theme, “Honoring our Heroes in REPUBLIC SERVICE — Responsive, Ethical Public Servants with Vision, Impact, Commitment and Excellence” highlights the patriotism, integrity, excellence and sacrifices of our heroes in service to the public and republic.
Memorandum Circular No. 27, s. 2009, dated August 10, 2009, issued by the Civil Service Commission, pointed out that the best way for public servants to honor the heroes among us, is not just to extol and reward their achievements, but to emulate their example through REPUBLIC SERVICE, which encapsulates in an acronym the tenets and traits of honest, hardworking and honorable service in the government.
Responsiveness is the primary duty of public servants, to address immediately and adequately constituent’s needs and be vigilant in defense of the republic against terrorism.
A public servant should be ethical in the highest order of principle and imbue our life with deepest integrity to remain public trust and support.
The public are the main core of the existence of the civil service. The interest and welfare of the people shall always be at hand. The public must come before its servants, as the civil service motto states, “mamamayan muna”.
We, in the government force, are here only to serve with courtesy, competence, honesty and promptness. As servants, we must always on the go to deliver the services expected from us.
Vision guide our daily work to build a better Philippines in our various fields and jurisdictions, guided by our nation’s body of laws and rules; various national, regional and sectoral development plans; and the policies and edicts of elected leaders that determines the impact on the lives and future of our people and our land. The people must experience the positive results of the labor of the public servants in their favor.
A public servant should have the commitment within that amidst challenges of government work, from limited pay, demanding hours and tough working conditions, pressures, perils, threats and violence, he remains to serve in utmost dedication for the nation.
Excellence means to strive constantly to enhance work, knowledge and skills, systems and institutions, to make Philippine public service the best we can give our people.
Among the identified activities stipulated in the memorandum circular to adhere to the theme include the completion of agency’s Citizen’s Charter, help desks and anti-fixer campaigns and staff seminars on customer service as provided by the Anti-Red Tape Act (ARTA) of 2007, which the Philippine Information Agency – Region I have already complied.
Regional/provincial recognition and awards rites for the 2009 HAP finalists, Gantimpala Agad Awardees, Bilis Aksyon Partners (BAPs) and Top Rating Agencies in PASADA/”Brigada Ahensya” to be spearheaded by Civil Service Commission are scheduled.
Conduct of Public Service Ethics and Accountability Workshops, dialogue with stakeholders to improve public services and integrity, charity missions to poor communities, recognition of outstanding agency employees through the PRAISE committees, adoption of output-based performance evaluation system in pursuit of excellent service and other worthwhile activities can be done during the month-long celebration.
Massive advocacy and media campaign was also tapped to recognize hundreds of public servants honored under the Dangal ng Bayan, Lingkod Bayan and Pag-asa award programs of the commission who serve as epitome worth emulating. (PIA Regional Office I/La Union)
PGMA orders immediate electrification of all barangays
by William L. Beltran
Lubao, Pampanga (August 26) — President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has ordered the Department of Energy (DOE) and the National Electrification Administration (NEA) to fast-track electrification of the remaining 2% of rural barangays in the country that are not yet energized.
The President gave the order during her speech here at the first anniversary celebration of the Pampanga Electric Cooperative II (PELCO II) inside the Lubao Sports Complex in San Nicolas 1st, this town.
Edith Bueno, NEA Administrator, reported to the President that there are already 41,154 barangays which have been energized.
This, according to her, accounts to 98% of the total number of barangays in the country, leaving a mere 743 rural barangays that are yet to be provided with electricity.
“The timeline given by the President for the complete electrification is attainable,” added Bueno.
The Chief Executive wanted the complete electrification of all barangays by yearend.
The President, also, in her speech recounted the vision of her father, the late President Diosdado Macapagal, for the development of the Filipino people, saying the former President dreamt of bringing electricity even to the farthest barangays in the archipelago.
“Salamat sa NEA, salamat sa Electric Cooperatives for helping me put flesh to my father’s dream of development for our people – a dream that the rest of our countrymen share as well,” the President said.
The President similarly talked big about her administration’s electrification program that has extended the biggest financial assistance ever to electric cooperatives amounting to more than P5-billion.
This assistance, she added, has enabled electric cooperatives “to do your missionary work even in the so-called non-viable areas.”
Meanwhile, speaking about accelerating the government’s power and energy development program, the President said the country is already 58 percent self-sufficient in power, expecting “an even higher percentage with the full implementation of the Biofuels Act and the Renewable Energy Law.”
In a related development, the President imparted a recent feat in NEA’s electrification efforts where more than 7,000 kilometers of electricity lines were put up in just a matter of ten days.
Sometime in June, the President, in one of her sorties in Pampanga, ordered NEA to energize barangay Mawacat in Porac town where some 200 Aeta families reside.
The electrification project was jointly undertaken by PENELCO in Bataan, PELCO I and II in Pampanga, TARELCO I and II in Tarlac and ZAMECO I and II.
Barangay Mawacat is located near Bataan and Zambales. (PIA-Pampanga)
PGMA to Launch Coconut Plantation Project in Lallo, Cagayan
Tuguegarao City (26 August) — President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo will spearhead the launching of the coconut plantation project in the Province of Cagayan.
The project is in line with the thrust of President Arroyo’s administration in addressing hunger, health, environment and literacy.
The President will witness further the forging of a Memorandum of Agreement between and among the representatives of Rotary Club of Centennial Quezon City (RCCPQ), Philippine Information Agency (PIA), Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA), and Cagayan State University (CSU) as the core agencies to pursue the project dubbed as “A Dollar for a Tree of Life”.
The project is called “A Dollar for a Tree of Life” because for each dollar donated by a Rotarian, one coconut tree also known as the “tree of Life” will be planted by the farmer beneficiaries, and by planting coconut trees, millions of benefits will be reaped for a lifetime.
The project will be implemented in Northern Luzon and Cagayan province was chosen as one among the pilot areas of the project. In Region 2, there are 642,299 hectares suitable for coconut plantation.
The project is laudable considering that thousands of coconut seedling will be planted that will produce plenty of food, oil, bio-fuels, medicinal products and many more by-product out of coconut.
The coconut tree planting activities will also help farmers because it would generate thousands of jobs. (Oliver B./PIA 2)
Rescuers, volunteers receive awards from RDCC Region 2
Tuguegarao City (25 August) — Rescue groups and some civilian volunteers were given honors by the Regional Disaster Coordinating Council (RDCC) Region 2 in grateful recognition to the efforts and heroic acts they have rendered during the search and retrieval operation of the crashed “Chemtrad Plane” and rescue operations during typhoons and floods.
P/CSupt. Roberto M. Damian, PNP 2 Regional Director, RDCC-Chairman, and OCD-Regional Director Melchito M. Castro, RDCC-Executive Officer, conferred the certificate of recognition to agencies, rescue groups, civilian volunteers and RDCC member agencies as part of the culminating activity of the National Disaster Consciousness Month Celebration.
For the “Chemtrad” retrieval operations, RDCC has recognized the Bureau of Fire Protection Kalinga together with its 7 fire officers, 4 civilian volunteers from Kalinga Province, 2 civilian volunteers from Baggao, Cagayan, 2 officers from the Aviation Security Group, Philippine Air Force, Police officers from PNP-Baggao, 19 army officers from the 17th Infantry Battalion, 15 officers from the Tactical Operations Group Philippine Air Force, 11 officers of 505 Search and Security Group Philippine Air Force, personnel from the Department of Social Welfare and Development, PDCC-Cagayan and Isabela, CDCC Tuguegarao, BFP Cagayan and PNP-Cagayan.
The active participation of all RDCC members, media institutions, Non-government organizations, fire stations, rescue groups and schools were also recognized by the RDCC officials for making the activities of NDCM fruitful and colorful, most especially in the conduct of earthquake and fire drills in different campuses within the region.
Damian said recognizing the efforts of the groups and individuals who have been partners of RDCC in all endeavors is not enough but it serves as an inspiration to the people to showcase that even in the midst of trials and disasters there are people whom we can rely on, ready to save lives.
Damian specifically mentioned the roles of each group during the calamities that struck the region. The rescue groups who displayed heroism during typhoons, floods, search, rescue and retrieval operations, the RDCC members as initiators of NDCM activities, the media entities who have been partners in giving accurate, timely and desired information for the public, the NGOS, Schools and civilians who were with the RDCC during the earthquake and fire drills and also during rescue operations. (Oliver B/PIA 2)
PGMA to visit Cagayan
Tuguegarao City (25 August) — President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo will visit again the province of Cagayan to inaugurate the new Andrews Campus of the Cagayan State University.
The President is expected to arrive on the 28th day of August in this city, purposely to inaugurate the newly constructed buildings of CSU’s Andrews Campus, formerly known as CSU Caritan Campus.
The officialdom of the University is now preparing for the grand welcome to the President who will formally open the new campus, however, the expected time of arrival and the other itineraries is yet to be confirmed by the university.
On the other hand, Regional Director Purita S. Licas of the Philippine Information Agency (PIA) Region 2, said PGMA will also witness the signing of a Memorandum of Agreement between and among representatives of Rotary Club of Centennial, PIA, Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA) and CSU for the “A dollar for a Tree of Life”, a colossal project in Northern Cagayan.
The said project will be implemented in Regions 1, 2 and 3. For 2009, about 50,000 hectares in Northern Luzon will be planted to 3.4 million coconut seedlings by 50, 000 coco farmers.
Aside from these, PGMA will also award scholarship grants to deserving students of Technical Education and Skills Development Administration (TESDA) Region 2. (Oliver B./PIA 2)
NDCC awards special citation to PNP official
Tuguegarao City (25 August) — Police Chief Superintendent Roberto M. Damian, Regional Director of Philippine National Police and Chairman of the Regional Disaster Coordinating Council (RDCC) Region 2 has received a special citation from the National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC) for his invaluable achievement and contribution to local disaster risk management as chairman of RDCC 2.
Defense Sec. Gilbert C. Teodoro, Jr. and DILG Sec. Ronaldo V. Puno have conferred the citation to P/CSupt. Damian as an outstanding individual awardee during the Gawad Kalasag awarding ceremonies held at Malacanag Palace.
The citation states that with a strong determination for public service, Damian follows a proactive perspective and approach in disaster response which leads to the timely and effective conduct of operations before an anticipated disaster.
Also emphasized in the plaque is his hard work in ensuring preparedness measures that are instituted before an anticipated disaster strikes. Disaster contingency plans were made available as basis of operations for preparedness, response, and rehabilitation as the situation merits.
Sec. Teodoro and Sec. Puno stated also in the award that Damian deserves commendation for braving the adverse effects of nature, when he led the team in the search, rescue and retrieval operations for the Chemtrad plane which was missing for many days after it crashed in the Sierra Madre Mountains of Cagayan last April with 7 passengers.
By exerting all efforts as the chairman of RDCC 2, and establishing connections and linkages, the operation was successful.
Damian was very thankful in receiving an unexpected citation from Malacañang but he said that all his efforts in local disaster risk management is not of personal interest but purely out of his commitment to save life and to protect the people against any untoward incidents and as the concurrent chairman of the RDCC 2.
He also mentioned the citation he received is not only of him but for the RDCC members and for the people of Region 2. He said that another person deserving to be awarded the same certificate with same citation being the man behind the scene, is the Executive Officer of RDCC 2 and Regional Director of the Office of the Civil Defense- Dir. Melchito M. Castro as his partner in managing local disaster risk. (Oliver B./PIA 2)
