Naga spearheads week-long activities for PWDs

by Lizel S. Macatangay

NAGA City, July 22 (PIA) -- One of the highlights of this week’s celebration in line with the commemoration of the 33rd National Disability Prevention and Rehabilitation (NDPR) Week was the first ever blood letting activity exclusively for and by Persons with Disability or PWDs.

The activity was held at the Roco library, just within the City Hall compound on July 19. Under the theme:” Dugo ng May Kapansanan, Alay Sa Bayan,” more or less seventeen (17) differently-abled individuals trooped in the venue and shared the most important lifeline found in every human being – the human blood.

The event was participated in by members of the Philippine Red Cross (PRC) –Camarines Sur Chapter, Office of Naga City Councilor Nathan Sergio thru the Naga City Blood Program and Persons with Disability Affairs Office (PDAO), SpEd personnel and other stakeholders. The blood collected totaling to 450cc, was turned over to the PRC for safekeeping.

The local government of Naga, thru its Chief Executive, Mayor John Bongat in support of the PWDs cause, has laid down various activities which commenced last weekend and will end this coming Saturday, July 23. One of which is the assessment or validation of PWD in preparation for ID issuance. On Thursday, July 21, will also mark the PDAO anniversary where a simultaneous Ground Breaking of future PDAO site will also be conducted. There will also be a forum on the same date to discuss the nutrition of PWDs.

On Friday, June 22, there will be a distribution of eye glasses at the Roco Library and a poster making contest conveying the theme of this week’s celebration. The culminating activity will be on Saturday, July 23 where a fun walk will be spearheaded by officers and members of Liga ng mga Barangay, BAPDA Chapters, PDAO, City Social Welfare and Development Office, Department of Trade and Industry, DOLE, METRO PESO and other attached agencies.

Program proper will continue at SM City Naga Activity Center in the afternoon which will simultaneous with the Mobile COMELEC registration/ validation for PWDS.

This week’s over all theme: “Making the Rights real for Filipinos With Disability,” endeavors to promote awareness on the rights of Persons with Disability and intensify campaign towards disability prevention and rehabilitation.

The annual celebration of National Disability Prevention and Rehabilitation (NDPR) Week celebrated every 3rd week of July is pursuant to Presidential Proclamation No. 361, series of 2002 as amended by Administrative Order No. 35 series of 2002. (LSM, PIA Camarines Sur)

Media dialogue for FNRI Siglang Pinoy Project conducted in Camarines Norte

by Rosalita Base-Manlangit

DAET, Camarines Norte, July 22 (PIA) -– A media dialogue was conducted here Wednesday (July 20) to seek the support of the media persons in the advocacy and information dissemination for the Siglang Pinoy Project of the Food Nutrition Research Institute of the Department of Science and Technology (FNFRI-DOST).

Dr. Zenaida V. Narciso, Chief, TDSTD, FNRI-DOST said that the project aims to empower stakeholders of the Accelerated Hunger Mitigation Program (AHMP) in the project sites through nutrition communication and technology transfer.

She said that Siglang Pinoy 6 Core Messages include: exclusive breastfeeding for six months, appropriate complementary feeding after six months old of a baby, increase consumption of vegetables and rootcrops, increase level of physical activity and limit alcohol drinking.

She said that Camarines Norte is one of the 6 P1 provinces for AHMP where others include Mountain Province, Masbate, Zaboanage de Norte, Lanao del Norte and Sarangani.

She said that in this province Labo and Basud are the project sites and was launched in Basud Tuesday (July 19) with DSWD Regional Director Dr. Mario Capanzana and Basud Mayor Dominador S. Davocol Jr.

Dr. Narciso explained that Basud was chosen because of high prevalence of malnutrition and has a big feed center.

She further explained that components of the project include: nutrition marketting during activities of the municipalities, film showing/radio plugging of puppetry CDs on 6 core messages , social mobilization on physical education, food and nutrition demonstration/livelihood technologies and media dialogues.

She added that media plays a vital role in educating groups of people by imparting food, nutrition and science and technology information as well as a valuable partner and conduit in helping improve the nutritional status and socio-economic well being. (RBM/PIA Camarines Norte).

Morales is new Catanduanes State College prexy

VIRAC, Catanduanes, July 22 (PIA)-- Dr. Minerva I. Morales, the new president of the Catanduanes State Colleges, formally started her term of office on July 18, 2011 through a simple but historic turnover ceremony at the CSC Main Building Front Grounds after the Monday Flag Ceremony attended by CSC employees and students.

Outgoing CSC President Asuncion V. Asetre handed over to Dr. Morales the symbolic CSC Mace and vital institutional documents.

An established academician and research professional, Dr. Morales became the sixth President of the CSC when she was sworn into office by Commission on Higher Education Chairperson Patricia B. Licuanan immediately after receiving the majority vote of CSC Board of Trustees on July 14, 2011.

During the turnover rites, Dr. Morales accepted with “deep humility and reverence the mandate” given her as President of the Catanduanes State Colleges. She also thanked those who “walked with me in this journey; for believing that this is not a personal pursuit but a larger and noble mission of continuing the legacy of service to the Catanduanes State Colleges.”

Dr. Morales also especially thanked her predecessor, Dr. Asuncion V. Asetre, for the established groundwork in various areas of the Colleges’ operation, “upon which we shall continue to strengthen for the optimum benefit of CSC clientele and to those who will come after us.”

The 56-year old president of the state-run higher education institution in Catanduanes likewise acknowledged the challenges of steering the institution, which she referred as “a stewardship that calls for careful and responsible management of entrusted tasks.”

“With the work ethics and philosophy, the vision, mission and programs that I have spelled out during my candidacy, I know, the journey will be fruitful, and many are willing, able and inspired to be part of the transformation and transforming services for the Catanduanes State Colleges, she added.

The new president emphasized the sense of belongingness she has fostered with the institution. “CSC is home and family. With this profound affinity, I have harnessed the gift of foresight for CSC. I can walk around the campus with ease. In fact, when I reported to office this day, I did my everyday routine —I walked my way from home to office on this brand new morning,” she added.

Speaking before a crowd nostalgic and hopeful about ‘comings and goings’, Dr. Morales shared that when she decided to apply for the presidency, she was not distracted by the stressful dynamics that goes with the usual competition. “Instead, I patiently and quietly navigated the course. I did not allow myself to be affected by the intramurals. With prayerful thoughts, I mustered the challenges. That’s the gift of wisdom that I have nurtured in walking, and in walking on.”

She finally enjoined the CSC community to keep moving on. "Magtarabang sana kita. Let’s help one another. I count everyone's involvement; I acknowledge the potential and capacity of each member of the CSC family to be part of this task.”

Dr. Morales built her career in the academe starting as Instructor I. She now holds the Professor VI academic rank, with combined multidisciplinary expertise in theory and practice in aquaculture, research and development and educational management. She also held various administrative posts such as College Secretary, Officer in Charge of Research and Extension Services, Director for Research Services and Vice President for Research, Extension and Production Affairs. She was also designated for 15 times as Officer-in-Charge of the Catanduanes State Colleges.

Her researches have likewise won numerous regional, zonal, national and international awards. Aside from being a Rotarian, she is also active in civic programs along the areas of environment, livelihood, and cooperativism.

In the course of her various administrative designations, she has drafted numerous proposals, formulated manuals, guidelines, and mechanics which later served as basis and groundwork in the research, extension, production and instruction functions of the Colleges.

She has also spearheaded the establishment of institutional programs in research and production as well as in the conduct of feasibility studies that merited financial support from funding agencies. (CSC/PIA/Catanduanes)

Sanggunian enacts 'Puhada System' in the province

VIRAC, Catanduanes, July 22 (PIA)-- The Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) of Catanduanes passed and enacted Provincial Ordinance No. 04 entitled "Puhada System" in Catanduanes.

The said ordinance regulates the indiscriminate stripping and cutting of Abaca leaf sheaths locally known as "Bakbak" including the exportation outside the province and provides penalties for violation.

Abaca farming, propagation and abaca fibe rproduction is one of the major source of livelihood in the province proved to be among the factors that contributed to the success of the micro and macro abaca business industry, eventually uplifting the standard of living of most abaca farmers and traders.

Catanduanes has also been considered as one of the top abaca fiber producing provinces in the country.

According to actual surveys and official reports from various government agencies and concerned constituents, some abaca planters and abaca fiber producers have surreptitiously engaged in the indiscriminate stripping of raw abaca leaf sheaths and transport or export the same outside of the province as a result of which, have led into a virtual depletion or destruction of abaca plantations.

Said practice is deleterious to abaca propagation in particular and inimical to abaca industry in general, hence the need no prohibit or regulate the indiscriminate cutting of raw abaca leaf sheaths is necessary and appropriate.

Any person, natural or juridical, found to have violated any of the prohibited acts either directly or inderectly or through connivance and consent, shall be penalized.The manner of penalization depends upon the extent of the said offense.

The Ordiance was sponsored by Provincial Board Member Nel Asanza. (EAB,PIA Catanduanes)