Thursday, November 21, 2024

Category: News

7th Valencia City Nutrition Awarding Ceremony held

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The City Government of Valencia through the City Nutrition and Human Physical Development Division (CNHPDD) conducted the 7th City Nutrition Awarding Ceremony at Alejandro’s Suites and Venue, last August 22, 2023

The winners for Best Pabasa sa Nutrisyon Implementer are Barangay Bagontaas (1st), Barangay Poblacion (2nd), and Barangay Lumbo (3rd).

On the Best Lactation Station (Business Establishment Level), the 1st placer is Valencia City Water District (VCWD), Roy Plaza (2nd), and Fiesta (3rd).

For the Best Lactation Station (Barangay Level) 1st Place – Dagat-Kidavao; 2nd Place – Barangay Tongantongan; and 3rd Place – Barangay Nabag-o.

In the Best Backyard Garden, the Champion is – Jovelyn Landa (Barangay Tongantongan); 1st Runner Up – Loverly Enoc (Barangay Laligan); and 2nd Runner Up – Anne Marie Salise (Barangay San Isidro).

Champion for the Best School Garden is Lurugan Elementary School, while Sinabuagan Elementary School is 1st Runner Up and Lilingayon Elementary School is 2nd Runner Up.

The Maintenance Award for Best School Garden goes to Guinoyuran Central School while Barangay Poblacion won the Maintenance Award for Best Community Garden.

The Best Community Garden Champion is Barangay Lumbo, the 1st Runner-up is Barangay Colonia, and the 2nd Runner-up is Barangay Dagat-Kidavao.

For the Outstanding Barangay Nutrition Committee, the hailed Champion is Barangay Poblacion followed by Barangay Nabag-o (1st RU), Barangay Lilingayon (2nd RU), Barangay Lumbo (3rd RU), and Barangay Bagontaas (4th RU).

The Champion for Outstanding Barangay Nutrition Scholar is Angelina J. Sucda (Barangay Mailag) followed by 1st runner-up -Rhoselle Pahigal (Barangay Poblacion), 2nd runner-up – Estrella Cuyno (Barangay Poblacion), 3rd runner-up – Jhoanne Gay Capanas (Barangay Poblacion), and 4th Runner-up – Jenny Arcabal (Barangay Bagontaas).

Barangay Barobo was awarded as the Best Barangay Nutrition Committee Office.

On the Outstanding City Nutrition Program Coordinator category, the Best City Nutrition Program Coordinator is Julie Ann Brigoli, RND together with 1st Runner Up – Beverly G. Mangubat, RND, MGA; 2nd Runner Up – Maria Rhezel Elarcosa, RND; and 3rd Runner Up – Guia Mae Arcojada, RND.

During the program, Mayor Azucena Huervas, Councilor Sasang Cadigal-Recla, Chairwoman on Health, Sanitation, and Other Medical Services, and City Nutrition Action Officer, Hazel Dondonayos, RND, MGA, extended their support to the said activity and recognition to the awardees. The ceremony was also graced by Ma. Socorro Ester Paluga, VCWD General Manager, served as a guest speaker. (LGU Valencia)

Malaybalay City Vet office collaborates with livestock farmers for livestock intensification program

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In a proactive move towards strengthening the local livestock industry, the Livestock Production Section of the City Veterinary Office extended a helping hand to the Barangay Caburacanan Livestock Farmers Association. On August 17, 2023, the services was offered to enhance livestock production and management

Dr. Omar T. Cahanap, the Livestock Production Section provided a range of services to the members of the said association. This included the issuance of essential credentials, the provision of livestock insurance, free consultation, and treatment services, along with pregnancy diagnosis for the livestock.

The event took place at the Upper Pulangi Barangay Caburacanan, where the City Veterinary Office’s extension officers from Upper Pulangi, joined to help facilitate the activity. The collaborative effort aimed to equip the livestock farmers with the necessary tools and knowledge to optimize their livestock production.

The initiative aligned with the broader Livestock Intensification program set forth by the city, as a crucial component of the upcoming Malaybalay City Livestock Farmers Federation Program under the leadership of Mayor Jay Warren R. Pabillaran.

The program is expected to foster the growth of the local livestock sector, ensuring its sustainability and economic viability for the years to come. (LGU Malaybalay)

PYAP Malaybalay Chapter conducts outreach program for IP Children

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In celebration of the Pag-asa Youth Association of the Philippines (PYAP) 49th Regional Founding Anniversary and 35th of PYAP Malaybalay Chapter, an outreach program was successfully conducted by PYAP Malaybalay Chapter Federation in Sitio Canada at Barangay Bangcud last July 21, 2023

A Fun Run – Fundraising took place last July 1, 2023, where the proceeds was used for the outreach program and benefited Seventy (70) Indigenous Peoples (IP) children.

School supplies, health kits, and slippers were given which they could use in the coming school days.

PYAP Malaybalay Chapter Federation was grateful to all the individuals who joined and helped during the fundraising activity and is also thankful to the City Government of Malaybalay, the City Social Welfare and Development Office, and all the PYAP local chapters and sponsors for all the support extended.

The outreach program is part of the 3-year plan project of PYAP Malaybalay for 2022-2024 which is now moving forward towards a more sustainable outreach activity.

Mindanao power supply enough despite El Niño—DOE

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DAVAO CITY — The power supply of Mindanao will remain stable even during El Niño, an official of the Department of Energy (DOE)-Mindanao Field Office assured

During the Kapihan sa Philippine Information Agency (PIA) on August 17, Engr. Darwin P. Galang, DOE-Mindanao Field Office senior science research specialist, said that a simulation conducted by the agency showed that the occurrence of El Niño will not adversely impact the grid owing to the other sources of power in Mindanao.

He pointed out, however, that “the occurrence of El Niño will affect the hydropower plants because there will be a reduction of their capacities when the rivers and lakes are dried up.”

Galang noted that the Mindanao grid has a diverse mix of power sources, and will not likely suffer from the impact of drought.

Based on the estimate of the DOE-Mindanao Field Office, the power supply would remain sufficient “even with a 50% to 70% reduction in the available capacities of hydropower plants in Mindanao.”

Engr. Nilo J. Geroche, also of the DOE-Mindanao Field Office, said the agency activated in July the Task Force on Energy Resiliency to monitor the power supply situation in the country and mitigate the impact of calamities, including El Niño.

The task force is composed of the DOE, National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, Energy Regulatory Commission, Inter-Agency Energy Contingency Committee, various groups in the energy sector, and agencies under the security cluster.

Geroche said the hydropower sources comprise 31.73% of the energy mix of Mindanao and contribute an average supply of 1,190 megawatts to the grid.

There is an excess supply of power on the island, with the available average supply estimated at 2,946 MW and an average demand of 2,051 MW as of August 15, according to Galang.

Geroche said that brownouts could have been caused by other factors on the transmission and distribution side, including insufficiency in the contracted power supply of some electric cooperatives and distribution utilities.

He said the problem of lack of contracted power may now be addressed by tapping into the Wholesale Electricity Spot Market where electric cooperatives and distribution utilities can buy power to fill the deficit.

In an advisory released by the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) last July 4, El Niño, which is characterized by fewer occurrences of rainfall and typhoons, is already present in the tropical Pacific.

It said that PAGASA’s climate monitoring and analyses indicate that “the unusual warming of sea surface temperatures along the equatorial Pacific that was established in March 2023 has further developed into a weak El Niño, which shows signs of strengthening in the coming months.”

It said that El Niño increases the likelihood of below-normal rainfall conditions, which could bring negative impacts such as dry spells and droughts in some areas of the country that may adversely impact the different climate-sensitive sectors, such as water resources, agriculture, energy, health, and public safety.

It added that the enhanced Southwest monsoon season (Habagat) may still be expected, which may result in above-normal rainfall conditions over the western part of the country. (Antonio L. Colina IV / MindaNews)

Community-based tourism: Empowering communities towards sustainable tourism

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CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – Recognizing the valuable role of community-based tourism organizations (CBTOs) in tourism development, the Department of Tourism is providing livelihood assistance to CBTOs to give them additional opportunities and be able to take part in propelling the country’s tourism industry to move forward

One of the recipients of the DOT’s livelihood assistance in Northern Mindanao is a community-based mountaineering club in Manolo Fortich, Bukidnon.

Founded in 2010 and driven by a strong sense of environmental protection, the Kalasanen Mountaineering Club (KMC) brings together mountaineers, hikers, and nature explorers who share the same goal of protecting and preserving the local natural spot.

According to the DOT, KMC was chosen because of the several climbs and outreach programs it initiated to provide children living in far-flung areas with educational supplies and raise funds to support the medication of a 64-year-old resident of Manolo Fortich with Parkinson’s Syndrome Disease.

Moreover, KMC plays a vital role in protecting Mt. Palaopao and the flora, fauna, and community around it, especially now that Manolo Fortich has been declared as the Philippine Eagle Sanctuary in Northern Mindanao following the discovery of eight (8) pairs of Philippine Eagles residing in the forests of the municipality.

With 27 members, the mountaineering club received a Basic Mountaineering Course worth P300,000 from the DOT. They were also given livelihood kits as part of the training. The kits included tents, rope, a cook set, burners, butane, a mountain bag, a compass, and a sleeping bag.

The ceremonial turnover of the livelihood assistance was held during the recent visit of DOT Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco to the said municipality to inaugurate the first Tourist Rest Area in Northern Mindanao.

First DOT-assisted CBTO in Northern Mindanao

The Kalasanen Mountaineering Club is the first CBTO in the municipality to receive such assistance from DOT, although the Manolo Fortich municipal government recognizes ten CBTOs.

“Kami napuno og pasalamat sa higayon ug pagtagad nga gihatag sa amoa sa DOT, sa pagpangulo ni Secretary Christina Garcia-Frasco. Ang kani nga pag-ila dakong tabang sa among panginabuhian ug pagpalambo sa among adbokasiya nga maprotektahan ang atong mountain treasures ug makatabang sa mga isig katawo natong nanginahanglan. Salamat kaayo, Secretary Frasco. Kami malipayon ug mapasalamaton sa imong regalo sa amoang grupo. Ania kami para musuporta kanimo ug sa Department of Tourism para sa kalambuan sa atong turismo dinhi sa Bukidnon, Northern Mindanao, ug Pilipinas,” said KMC President Junell Wayan.

[We are filled with gratitude for the opportunity and attention given to us by the DOT, under the leadership of Secretary Christina Garcia-Frasco. This recognition is a great help to our livelihood and the development of our advocacy to protect our mountain treasures and help our fellow human beings in need. Thank you very much, Secretary Frasco. We are happy and grateful for your gift to our group. We are here to support you and the Department of Tourism in the development of our tourism here in Bukidnon, Northern Mindanao, and the Philippines.]

KMC remains steadfast in its commitment to encouraging people to support their cause and invite more tourists to explore the beauty of Manolo Fortich through tree-planting activities and friendship climbs. (APB/PIA-10)

Bukidnon links up with gov’t agencies for El Niño strategy plan

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CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – The Bukidnon provincial government is preparing for the possible effects of El Niño to prevent significant losses in the economy and agricultural lands

Personnel and officers of the local and provincial government Disaster Risk Reduction Management Offices (DRRMO) on Thursday conducted a dynamic simulation exercise here to harness their specific areas of expertise on disaster management.

Grouped into clusters, participants engaged in a series of purpose-driven activities not only in preparation for El Niño but also for other effects due to weather disturbances and man-made disasters.

The activities revolved around critical aspects, such as crafting realistic disaster scenarios, defining roles and responsibilities, planning for both pre-and post-disaster phases, analyzing resource requirements, and anticipating potential gaps that might arise during an actual emergency.

Gov. Rogelio Neil Roque, in his message during the activity, said the contingency planning is timely because of the looming El Niño season that will affect the country later this year and could extend to 2024.

“But as the saying goes, ‘those that fail to plan, plan to fail.’ We are therefore here today to plan,” he said.

The planning activity drew the support of the Northern Mindanao Offices of the Civil Defense (OCD-10) and the Department of Science and Technology (DOST-10).

OCD-10 Director Antonio Sugarol said the agency has always reached out to DRRMOs at the local government level as part of its mandate.

“Our collective efforts and cooperation will serve as a foundation for stronger communities,” he said.

DOST Undersecretary for Regional Operations Sancho Mabborang said the planning comes at a time when there are “ever-increasing frequency and intensity” of natural hazards that remind the public and local governments of improving resilience and adaptability measures.

“Bukidnon is not immune to the challenges presented by hazards. Our shared responsibility is to equip ourselves with the tools and knowledge needed to confront these challenges head-on,” he said. (Nef Luczon/PNA)

Bukidnon has 15,000 child laborers, says DOLE

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CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY — Bukidnon has close to 15,000 child laborers, making it the province in Northern Mindanao with the highest number, according to the Department of Labor and Employment in Region 10 (DOLE-10)

DOLE defines “child labor” as including “hazardous work … which encompasses undesirable activities or work done in a hazardous environment,” and “work done for long hours of more than 40 hours and/or night time or the entire day.”

These children are working in the farms, doing domestic work, fishing, or even in construction, a DOLE-10 report emailed to MindaNews said.

The report, which profiled child laborers during the period 2018 to 2021, said that of Northern Mindanao’s five provinces, Bukidnon gained the top spot with 14,790 child laborers.

It is followed by Misamis Oriental with 10,382 (aside from the 7,793 child laborers in Cagayan de Oro City, the province’s capital), Lanao del Norte with 9,014, Misamis Occidental with 3,979, and Camiguin with 1,902.

In all of Region 10, DOLE-10 reported a total of 47,860 child laborers, 28,930 of whom are males and 18,930 females.

In terms of age bracket, the 15-17 range has the highest at 35,298, followed by 10-14 with 11,665.

“Notably, all provinces have child laborers aged 3 to 4 years old, with the highest prevalence in Camiguin and Cagayan de Oro, with 17 and 13, respectively,” said the DOLE-10 report.

“The desire of these children to help their parents is very strong that from school or after waking up in the morning, they would go to the fields to do manual work,” said Erlinda Sayago, executive director of the Kaanib Foundation, during a press conference here Wednesday.

Kaanib Foundation, DOLE-10, and the Child Fund Philippines are helping to decrease the number of child labor in Bukidnon and other Northern Mindanao provinces.

“It’s very hard to eradicate child labor in an economy relying on agriculture,” said lawyer Russel Jallorina, assistant regional director of DOLE-10.

Jallorina said work is readily available in Bukidnon’s agricultural fields, considered the food basket of Northern Mindanao where poverty incidence is among the highest in the country.

Sayoga said that aside from helping raise the income of their family, the children also look for work to pay for their school needs like notebooks and pens.

“When the schools went for online classes during the COVID-19 pandemic, it was hell for the children. Many opted to look for work instead of attending the online classes where they have to pay for the Internet,” she added.

The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), in a report released July 25, 2023, said that there were 1.48 million working children aged 5 to 17 in 2022, or about 4.7 percent of the total population of 31.71 million.

Of these working children, DOLE said that 828,000 are considered engaged in child labor.

The number, DOLE noted, is lower than in 2021, when child laborers numbered 935,000.

Across regions, Region 12 (Soccsksargen) has the highest proportion of child laborers at 12.5 percent. Northern Mindanao is at the fourth spot, with 9.4 percent. Central Visayas is second at 10.5 percent, followed by the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region at 10.4 percent. (Froilan Gallardo / MindaNews)

Kadiwa ng Pangulo, Diskwento Caravan gipahigayon sa Valencia

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Malampusong napahigayon sa dakbayan sa Valencia ang Kadiwa ng Pangulo ug Diskwento Caravan Balik Eskwela Edition

Some parents and students avail of discounted prices on school supplies at the Kadiwa ng Pangulo and Diskwento Caravan Balik Eskwela Edition held at Valencia National High School Covered Court, Valencia City, Bukidnon on August 22-23, 2023. (PR-LGU Valencia)

DA, NorMin LGUs ensure compliance for fund transfers, liquidations of agri projects

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MALAYBALAY CITY, BUKIDNON – In an effort to ensure compliance with existing accounting and auditing rules and regulations for fund transfers and liquidations of agricultural projects granted to Local Government Units (LGUs), the Department of Agriculture – Northern Mindanao (DA-10) headed by Regional Executive Director Carlene C. Collado, holds its annual LGU Coordination Meeting recently at the Northern Mindanao Agricultural Crops Livestock Research Complex, in this city

Spearheaded by the DA-RFO 10’s accounting section, the coordination meeting is an avenue for bilateral dialogue to address challenges encountered by DA and the LGUs in terms of inventory and liquidation of agri projects funded under the agri department’s banner programs and special projects this year and the preceding years.

Some 207 LGU accountants and agriculturists from the provinces of Camiguin, Misamis Oriental, Bukidnon, Lanao del Norte and Misamis Occidental attended the meeting.

DA-RFO 10 Administrative and Finance Division chief Patrick Ian F. Pedarse said the meeting aims for DA and the LGUs to level off on a mechanism for optimal utilization of DA funds.

He also acknowledged the LGUs’ roles as DA’s partners in extending its services to the peripheries of the agriculture sector to provide sufficient and affordable food for all.

Ways forward for the resolution of identified issues in complying with the reportorial requirements and timelines for the submission thereof were consensually agreed upon in the meeting and adopted as guidelines in accounting and liquidating DA projects granted to the LGUs and their constituents. (DA RFO–10)

3 NPA rebels surrender, yield 12 firearms in Bukidnon

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Three New People’s Army (NPA) members have yielded their guns and surrendered to the Army’s 8th Infantry Battalion in Bukidnon, the military reported

The rebels, identified as Jimboy Tingkayan of the Ordnance (Copper), ROC, NCMRC; Michael Donggo of Sqd SO, Sqd 3, RSDG Compaq, NCMRC; and Mansalodong Lan-awan of SSGU, SRC 2, NCMRC, surrendered to the troops on August 8, 2023.

According to the report, the said rebels chose to surrender due to exhaustion, hunger, and demoralization brought about by the relentless operations of the military and the lack of support from the civilians.

When he surrendered, Tingkayan revealed the different locations of arms caches in the hinterlands of Pantaron Range and Saldab Complex.

The military was able to capture four AK47 rifles, one M16 rifle, one M14 rifle, two M203 grenade launchers, and one carbine rifle.

Donggo, who is a regular communist terrorist group (CTG) member, and Mansalodong Lan-awan, a Milisyang Bayan member, also surrendered one carbine rifle, one KG9 sub-machine gun, and one .38 caliber revolver,

“We highly appreciate the full cooperation and concern of the local populace, especially the barangay officials who led their communities in moving towards the path of peace. Their support led to the series of encounters as well as the previous successful operations in Saldab Complex,” 403rd Brigade Commander Brigadier General Michele Anayron Jr. said.

“We will not stop until we totally defeat the CTG. As to the CNT (Communist Pary of the Philippines-NPA terrorists) surrenderers, we welcome you back to the folds of the law, back to your families, and to the new chapter of your lives, free from the disillusionment brought to you by the CTG,” he added. (Sunstar)