4Ps CASH INCENTIVES NOW BENEFIT POOR FAMILIES IN ALBAY

LEGAZPI CITY -- Some 1,000 poor families of Daraga, Albay has begun receiving Tuesday (July 6) cash assistance from the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) carried out by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and the Provincial Government of Albay.

The 4Ps is a brainchild of Albay Gov. Joey Salceda during the Arroyo administration which is also being pursued under the Aquino regime to help the needy cope up with poverty while allowing them to enjoy spending according to their needs enabling them to participate in the economic activity by circulating cash in the market.

“This is the third after 1,000 in Polangui and 3,000 in Libon also benefitted from the program. On July 20, another 1,000 families will start to benefit from this best practice-good governance program of DSWD,” Salceda said during Tuesday’s launching at the Daraga Evacuation Center building.

“It was a most fulfilling experience in public service to see off a batch of beneficiaries ride the jeep at the Daraga public market en route to Landbank branch in Legazpi City. This program will enable Albay to achieve Millennium Development Goal – 2 (MDG2) and help maintain our health outcomes having achieve all Health MDGs in 2008,” he said.

With a total 45,000 school age kids out of school, this program must be stepped up in terms of scope and speed given the 2015 MDG deadline.

“We are quite encouraged by the policy statement of the new President that this would be the only program of the past administration that he would continue. And this is backed up by the installation of one his closest long-time adviser on social policy, Madam Dinky Soliman, at the helm of the DSWD.”

The 2011 National Expenditure Program (NEP) is key to this social imperative- 4Ps budget must be doubled to P30billion to cover the entire 3m school-age-kids-not-in-school from the current coverage of 1.5m with a budget of P15billion. (MALoterte, PIA V)

JULY 2010 MARKS THE 36TH YEAR OF NUTRITION MONTH CELEBRATION
… Local Nutrition Councils urged public to live a healthy lifestyle

SORSOGON CITY — The Provincial Nutrition Committee (PNC) here has lined up activities as part of the celebration of Nutrition Month this July stressing on the nutrition and health needs of adolescents and children, according to PNC Chair Grace Jardin.

Topping the list is the massive nutrition information dissemination activity to some 300 target government employees as well as monitoring and advocacy meetinsg to almost a hundred municipal and barangay Nutrition Councils across the province.

Concerned agencies supporting the government’s health agenda has also started installing streamers since June 30 highlighting the 2010 Nutrition Month Celebration and its theme.

Jardin said that a refresher course on World Health Organization – Child Growth Standard will likewise be conducted to ninety-two midwives and barangay nutrition scholars in Sorsogon. The course aimed to orient the health frontline workers in the province on the key features of the new child growth standards.

“Last Friday, a conference for Nutrition Action Officers has been successfully conducted with the PNC as the lead agency,” she added.

“Likewise, a cooking contest on complimentary foods comes July 15, will also stir up the creativity of our Barangay Nutrition Scholars specifically on preparing food that will assure proper nutrition among our growing children and at the same time promotes the utilization of indigenous but healthy products,” she also said.

Jardin further said that in partnership with other agencies along with the municipal and barangay LGUs, the public’s awareness on healthy lifestyle will also be intensified by providing them information on healthy living habits as well as activities that will promote non-sedentary lifestyle and longevity.

It can be noted that Section 7 of Presidential Decree No. 471 or Nutrition Act of the Philippines designates the month of July as Nutrition Month to generate awareness among the public on the importance of nutrition.

Since then and under the leadership of the National Nutirion Council (NNC), Nutrition Month has been celebrated nationwide at the barangay, municipal, city, provincial and regional levels, with the support of many public and private individuals and using trimedia approaches.

The the 36th year of nutrition month celebration evolves on the theme “Sa pagkaing tama at sapat, wastong timbang ni baby ang katapat”. (BA Recebido, PIA Sorsogon)

DENR FETES 2010 SARINGAYA AWARDEES IN BICOL

LEGAZPI CITY — Five entities consisting of one hospital, local government unit, a multipartite monitoring team, science high school, and a water district office notched this year’s Saringaya Awards conferred by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR)in Bicol.

The awards were given in a simple ceremony during the culminating program of the Environment Month celebration held recently at the Casablanca Hotel here.

Recipients of the 2010 Saringaya Awards were the following: USI-Mother Seton Hospital in Naga City (Small-Scale Industry Category), Municipality of Magarao in Camarines Sur under the able leadership of Mayor Nelson B. Julia (Local Government Unit Category), Bacon-Manito Multipartite Monitoring Team (Special Category), Philippine Science High School – Bicol Region Campus in Tagontong, Goa, Camarines Sur (Academe Category), and Camarines Norte Water District under the able leadership of General Manager Ma. Antonia F. Boma (Special Category).

DENR Regional Executive Director Joselin Marcus Fragada said Saringaya Awards is an annual event organized by the DENR in Region 5 aimedat recognizing the Academe, the LGUs, People’s Organization, other Government organizations, small-medium to large scale industries and individuals whose operations and systems, ina general sense, favor the upkeep of the natural resources and the environment in its entirety. It is now on its 10th year.

DENR Bicol has cited USI-Mother Seton Hospital for its environmental and social commitments of bringing to fore various programs and projects that include healthcare waste management system, tree plantation and vegetable gardening, thus ensuring the protection and preservation of a healthy environment.

Magarao town is feted for the effective implementation of eco-friendly policies and various programs and projects in support to the mission and vision of the DENR, that provides a clean and healthy environment through proper solid waste management, organic farming, tree plantation, mangrove plantation and river bank rehabilitation. Its solid waste management program characterized by segregated collection at source with Material Recovery Facility for its 15 barangays is worth emulation as it won the Zero Basura Olympics Philippine Garbology Marathon.

Bacon-Manito Geothermal Multipartite Monitoring Team has been recognized for its outstanding performance as an operational Multi-Partite Monitoring Team through the formulation and adoption of Manual of Operation which ensures the judicious compliance to sound environmental management systems of Energy Development Corporation and NPC-Bacon Manito Geothermal Power Plant and Bac-Man Airshed.

Philippine Science High School – Bicol Region Campus has shown an steadfast stewardship of molding the minds of its students by instilling in them excellent understanding of sound environmental practices, forest and mangrove conservation, climate change, solid waste management and other pertinent topics affecting humans as they relate to the environment. Its programs and projects involving the students in tree plantation activities, mangrove plantation establishment, adopt a school and barangay, adopt a mountain and beach clean-up, supportive of the DENR mission and vision, are worth of emulation.

Finally, Camarines Norte Water District excels for its conscientious implementation of various environmental projects and social development that include integrated watershed management and protected area management, coastal rehabilitation, scholarship to deserving students, livelihood programs, advocacy and trainings on sustainable resources management.

Saringaya is a Bicol term which means lushful, abundance of growth. (ASAraya, DENR V/PIA)

CNWD NAMED 2010 SARINGAYAS AWARDEE

Daet, Camrines Norte —The Camarines Norte Water District (CNWD) was conferred the 2010 Saringaya awards under special category, sponsored by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) in Bicol, for its conscientious implementation of various environmental projects and social development.

The award was received by CNWD General Manager Ma. Antonia BF Boma, Administrative and Finance Division Manager Melita B. Estrellado and Production Division Manager Froilindo I. Villaluz during the culminating program of the Environment Month celebration last June in Legaspi City.

Boma said that they were nominated by the Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office (PENRO) in the said search.

She said that the basis for the award are their environmental programs and some of these are: Integrated Watershed Management in Abasig-Matogdon-Mananap Biotic Area, Mangrove Rehabilitation Program in Barangay Manguisoc, Mercedes, Ilog ng Buhay Ko which aims to maintain the water quality quantity of Mampurog River which is being developed as CNWD’s first surface water source, Waste Management Program and other related advocacies.

The advocacies include the Educational Assistance Program for deserving students living in the Barangays adjacent to the watershed area, Lakbay Tubig and Water Symposia, Farmer’s Training and livelihood program.

She said that in her acceptance speech that continuous environmental initiatives are not only of the corporate missions of the CNWD but it is the employee’s and her personal commitment to mother earth.

The Saringaya Award is a regional competition by the DENR for the past 10 years. It is designed for public and private agencies with outstanding environmental programs and projects. (RBManlangit, PIA Camnorte)

CNWD BRACES FOR WATER SHORTAGE

DAET, Camarines Norte — Water shortage in some parts of the province, particularly those covered by Camarines Norte Water District (CNWD), is expected to get worse in the coming months starting July until November this year when surface water source reach a critical low level caused by the long dry spell during the summer months, bared an official of the water utility office here.

CNWD General Manager Maria Antonia Boma said that the development of the first surface water source in San Lorenzo Ruiz is now being fast tracked for additional supply of 6,000 cubic meters yield per day.

Although the dry spell has been officially declared over by AGASA, the effects of El Niño are still evident in some areas in the province as water production from spring sources continue to decline causing water shortage affecting the far end and elevated points of the service area, she said.

Boma explained that the shortfall in rainwater during the past months has resulted to reduction of almost 50 percent of spring yields from the 24,000 cubic meters daily production to only 12,000 cubic meters per day adversely affecting the water supply in many parts of the seven municipalities.

She said that other reason for the decline in water supply is aggravated by the recurrence of erratic water pressure resulting from air lock caused by half filled transmission lines.

She also warned those who use unregister water pumps that under the Rule IX section 30 of Prohibitions and Penal Provisions of the Revised Utility Rules and Regulations Governing the Operations of the CNWD, it is specified that the installation of booster pumps, steam boiler, cooling and heating apparatuses or devices and such other appliances without special permits from the Water District is strictly prohibited.

She added that using those apparatuses impeded the normal flow of water thus affecting water supply in the neighborhood. (RBManlangit, PIA CamNorte)