KSK FARMER’S TRAINING PROGRAM LAUNCHED

NAGA CITY — The 13th batch of SM Foundation’s Kabalikat sa Kabuhayan (KSK) Farmer’s Training Program was launched Friday (May 22) at the Bicol Integrated Agricultural Research Center , Department of Agriculture RO- 5 compound, San Agustin, Pili, Camarines Sur.

SM Foundation's Kabalikat sa Kabuhayan Farmer's Training Program is the social responsibility arm of SM Group of Companies, in cooperation with Harbest Agribusiness Corporation (HAC) and the Department of Agriculture (DA)

Launched in 2007, the program's conceptual approach is that of the Farmer's Field School, integrating theories and methods of agro-technology, experiential education and community development.

The three-month training course consists of a once-a-week lecture module and actual field practice. One feature is the “Training the Trainers” component ensuring the program's sustainability by giving farmers-turned-trainers extensive daily practice.

It also equips farmers with the technology to produce vegetables ready for commercial use as it covers a wide array of topics including site selection, land preparation, seed handling and seed culture, crop management, fertilization, irrigation, pest and disease control, fruit selection, harvesting, post-harvest handling, and marketing.

By enhancing backyard farming, it encourages the unemployed to venture into farming and provides marginal farmers better livelihood opportunities.

Upon completion of the training program, SM Foundation organizes a harvest festival with the aim of distributing the produce in SM Supermalls where SM suppliers participate in purchasing the products. Prime fruits and vegetables include cantaloupe, watermelon, honeydew, papaya, cherry tomato, eggplant and squash, among others.

The training has since produced a total of 814 graduates in various KSK sites including Bacolod City in Negros Occidental, Sta Rita in Pampanga, Marilog in Davao City, Pagbilao in Quezon, Sta. Rosa in Laguna, and Rosales in Pangasinan.

This year, the KSK Farmer's Training program will also be conducted in Cavite, Batangas, Cebu, Davao, Bacolod, Pampanga and Laguna. (DCAbad, PIA Cam. Sur)


PCSO INCREASES ALLOCATION FOR INDIGENT PATIENTS

DAET, Camarines Norte — The Philippine Charity and Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) here has increased its monthly budget to P 700,000 for financial assistance to indigent patients in the province.

Estrella Abasolo, officer in charge and chief Lottery Operations Officer, said that the budget has since April this year increased to P700,000 from P 400,000 in the preceding months.

She said that this is due to the income up trend which in turn PCSO intends to give it back to the people who are in need.

She explained that qualified patients can avail of a maximum of P10,000 financial assistance for hospitalization expenses and other health needs within a period of one year.

On the other hand, she stressed that PCSO will schedule a charity caravan this coming June during the Pinyasan Festival, providing free medical and dental services as well as free concert.

It can be recalled that similar caravan had been staged in the province and in other Bicol provinces. (RBManlangit, PIA Cam Norte)


MORE AGRI PROJECTS IN CAM. NORTE UNDERWAY

DAET, Camarines Norte – The Department of Agriculture (DA) Bicol regional office has already lined up programs on agricultural development for the province of Camarines Norte under the Comprehensive Livelihood and Emergency Employment Program (CLEEP).

Dr. Jose V. Dayao, DA regional director, said during the Information Campaign on the Economic Crisis held here that DA will carry out corn and seeds distribution among local farmers, series of trainings on goat and swine raising, livelihood assistance to displaced worked and even hire additional laborers for several DA projects in the province.

“The projects form part of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s program to ensure food sufficiency, agricultural productivity and development, and job generation in the countryside,” he noted.

Among other projects up for implementation in the province include farm-to-market roads (FMR), rehabilitation of irrigation systems, and subsidies to farm inputs.

“DA also pursues the mainstreaming of the “Ginintuang Masaganang Ani” (GMA) program and the F.I.E.L.D.S. (F for fertilizer, micronutrients, use of the leaf color chart and minus-one element technique; I is for irrigation facilities rehabilitation and restoration; E is for extension, education, and training; L is for loans for inputs, shallow tube wells and surface water pumps; D is for dryers and other post harvest facilities provision; and S is for seed subsidy on quality genetic materials” he stressed.

Dayao recalled some 9, 814 bags of seeds were distributed to farmers in Bicol in 2008 while the National Food Authority had procured 16, 763 bags of play from rice farmers.

He added that rice sufficiency for last year reached 71.88% compared to 67.09% in 2007 and 61.63% in 2006

He also mentioned that DA Bicol has completed a total of 25 FMRs from 2007 up to present in different municipalities of Camarines Norte. (RBManlangit, PIA Cam. Norte)


NAVFORSOL CELEBRATES NAVY WEEK

LEGAZPI CITY— Socio-civic activities, humanitarian mission, and environmental protections drives have marked the commemoration of the 111th Philippine Navy Foundation Anniversary in Southern Luzon on May 16-22 2009.

Commodore Joel Babas AFP, commander of Naval Forces Southern Luzon (NAVFORSOL) led Sunday (May 16) the kick-off of the commemoration activities stressing in his message that the Fleet Marine Team remains and will continue to be capable and ever ready to respond to its duties or any contingencies any time and any place within its territory.

This year’s anniversary celebration anchored on the theme: “Team Navy: A Vital Partner for Lasting Peace, Progress and Development of a Maritime Nation”.

Babas said the core of the Navy’s competence lies in its Fleet Marine warriors and sailors who act with professionalism at all times, loyal and obedient to our oath, and humble in dealing with our people.

NAVFORSOL spearheaded events that benefited not only its men and women in uniform, but also the communities in the different parts of the Bicol region.

The week-long commemoration activities commenced with a “Walk for a Cause” last May 16 participated in by navy officials and personnel, civilian staff, benefactors and stakeholders

“This is our advocacy, one way of promoting a healthy lifestyle matched with environmental awareness campaign, through a fun-filled brisk walk at the same time plucking waste/garbage along the way from the navy headquarters en route to the summit of Lignon Hill,” the commodore said.

The naval command has also launched its Ecological Solid Waste Management (ESWM) project in the NAVFORSOL headquarters, one with the Philippine Navy’s nationwide launching of the ESWM in all its bases, stations, and detachments all over the country.

Environmental concerns are among the advocacies of NAVFORSOL pursuing awareness and development initiatives that “do no harm” the environment. The naval command believes that the negative impacts should be avoided, and if these impacts are unavoidable, they should be reduced, mitigated or compensated for appropriately.

On May 18, NAVFORSOL personnel joined “Brigada Eskwela” assisting DepEd and school officials in the repair and repainting of school building and other facilities, ground works, and clean up drive in preparation for the opening of classes on June 1. Medical and dental mission livelihood seminars (for parents) were held in selected schools in Sorsogon City and Tabaco City.

Several medical and dental missions, blood letting activities were also conducted in several areas in the region catering most especially to the indigent families who are in dire need of these services.

Divers from the naval command Special Operating Unit 3, meanwhile, assisted the municipal government of Daet, Camarines Norte in conducting a Hydrographic Survey in Bagasbas Beach to determine the shore features and sea bed in order to come up with safety measures and contingency plan that will ensure the safety of surfers and beachgoers.

Bagasbas Beach is one of the fastest growing tourist destinations in the country, listed as the 61st surfing destination in the world and attracts considerable number of both local and international surfers.

In the wake of the Influenza A H1N1 inexorably spreading to different parts of the world, NAVFORSOL also slates June1-5, in time for the opening of classes, an Awareness Caravan to inform and educate the populace, especially the students, on precautionary measures, prevention and control of the dreaded disease. (Lt. DFNieva, NAVFORSOL/PIA)


PHILHEALTH LAUNCHES CATARACT PACKAGE

PhilHealth has since May 1 this year commenced its case payment basis for cataract operations as provided on PhilHealth Circular 16, s. 2009, pursuant to Board Resolution No. 1110 series of 2008.

With this new package, PhilHealth shall pay the cataract extraction procedures under the following:

• This benefit uses a case payment scheme wherein cataract extraction procedure/s shall be paid P16,000 regardless whether the procedure was done in one or both eyes in one operative session.
• The case rate of P16,000 is divided, with half of it, which is P8,000 for the accredited facility which includes the fees for Room and Board, drugs and medicines used during confinement, supplies including intraocular lens, x-ray, laboratory and ancillary procedures done during confinement, and use of operating room complex and use of machines; while the remaining P8,000 is for thee professional fee of the doctor who performed the procedure.

To be able to avail of the benefits, facilities are required to submit the following:

1) PhilHealth Form 1; 2) PhilHealth Form 2; 3) Operating Room Record/Operative Technique; 4) Official Receipts (hospital, doctor, or pharma); 5) Other documents required by PhilHealth such as member data record (MDR), proof of premium payment (MI-5), PhilHealth ID. However, claims for cataract package are exempted from submission of statement of account, Parts III, IV and V of PhilHealth Claim Forms 2 need not to be filled-up.

In cases where members are required by hospitals to buy drugs, medicines and supplies or requested to seek out other necessary services (laboratory procedures) from other facilities, reimbursement to members is allowed, provided that:

a) the facility cannot provided the necessary items and services covered by the benefit;
b) these items and services are used during confinement;
c) official receipts and/or other purchase documents are submitted;
d) the reimbursement to members depends on the actual cost of the receipts submitted but
not more than the difference between the maximum benefit and the facility
reimbursement;
e) the facility acknowledges that the cost of benefits and services it provided is less than
the maximum benefit by appropriately filling-up item 12 of Part I of Form 2; and
f) in such cases, facility is required to fill up Parts III, IV and V of PhilHealth Claim form 2
and submit a copy of statement of account.

To avail the package, a member from the employed sector and individually paying members (IPM) enrolled by organized groups through the KASAPI must have paid at least 3 months of contribution within the immediate six months prior to the month of availment.

However, Individually Paying Members, including IPMs under the group enrollment scheme, availing of these surgeries and procedures are required to comply with the rule on sufficient regularity of premium contributions (a member should have at least nine months of premium payment within the immediate 12 months prior to surgery or procedure; for claims with two or more procedures wherein at least one surgery is cataract surgery with codes RVS codes 66983, 66984 and 66987, the rule on sufficient regularity of premium contributions still applies.

Sponsored and Overseas Workers Program members are entitled to the package if the date of availment falls within the validity period of their membership as stated in the ID Cards/enhanced Member Data Record. Besides, non-paying (retirees and pensioners) members shall be entitled to avail of the package upon presentation of PhilHealth ID.

Processing of claim applications from any healthcare provide who furnishes false or incorrect information for the purpose of filing for reimbursement from PhilHealth shall be suspended pending legal investigation. (PhilHealth Release/PIA)

Feature

DEALING WITH KIDS WHO ARE PICKY-EATERS?

Do you often hear from your toddler the statements: “I don’t want to eat” or “I don’t like the food”. From parents, the most common questions that you would hear are: “How will I deal with my child who is picky-eater?” or “How will I encourage my child to eat a variety of foods especially fruits and vegetables?”

First and foremost, parents need to realize that a child’s reluctance to try new food is completely normal during development. It is important to understand that a child tastes foods differently from an adult. Toddlers are sensitive to color, flavor, texture and temperature of food, size of servings and the attitude and atmosphere in which food is served.

Food habits are formed very early in life. Children should learn to eat a variety of foods while they are still young. Parents should set the example by doing what they preach in so far as eating habits are concerned. They should set a good example by eating a variety of foods. Remember, children are great imitators and observers.

Typically, a child who is a picky eater is exhibiting the personal desire to exert control. His eating behaviors can be very unpredictable and tend to fluctuate without any reason. At one moment, a child may eat without any struggle and instantly finished the meal. At other times, he may be picky about his food or may not eat at all.

Here are simple tips that parents, particularly mothers, can follow to break the habit of picky-eaters:

• Good food habits should start while children are still young. Serve family meals that include foods from the Nutritional Guide Pyramid to familiarize the child with a variety of foods needed throughout life.
• Eating regularly helps develop a child’s appetite and prevents meal skipping.
• Limit snacking. Make sure that there is no eating of big snacks after school or filling-up on juice, soda, or even milk before dinner.
• If your kid dislikes a certain type of food, cut this into bite-size pieces and combine with the child’s favorite food.
• Never force a kid to eat. This will only increase dislike for the food.
• If the kid dislikes veggies, serve them at the early part of the meal when he or she is hungriest.
• Be artistic. Make dishes enticing. Colorful foods presented in different shapes are more appealing to kids.
• Involve the child in planning and preparing meals. This will encourage kids to taste the food they helped prepare.
• Use new recipes every now and then. Kids get bored when they eat the same food prepared the same way every time.
• Food is needed for nutritional health and should not be given as a reward or kept from the child as punishment.
• A relaxed and sociable atmosphere helps make mealtime pleasant and enjoyable besides helping one to digest food better.

According to the Nutritional Guidelines for Filipinos developed by the Technical Workin Group headed by the Food and Nutrition Research Institute of the Department of Science and Technology (FNRI-DOST), you should eat a variety of foods everyday to ensure that all nutrients are provided in proper amounts and represent a balance diet.

For more information on food and nutrition, contact Dr. Mario V. Capanzana, Director, FNRI-DOST, DOST Compound, Gen. Santos Avenue., Bicutan, Taguid City, Direct Lines and Fax: (02) 837-2934 & 837-3164; Trunklines: 837-2071 locals 2296 ^ 2284, 837-9113, locals 318 & 319; Website: www.fnri.dost.gov.ph; E-mail: mvc@fnri.dost.gov.ph, mar_v_c@yahoo.com. (MIGGlorioso, FNRI-DOST/PIA)


PGMA AWARDS KEYS OF TIWI-MAKBAN GEOTHERMAL PLANTS TO ABOITIZ POWER

MANILA — The holding company for the Aboitiz Group’s investments in power generation and distribution takes over two geothermal facilities today..

President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo has turned-over to the Aboitiz Power Renewables (APR), the ceremonial keys of Tiwi and Makban Geothermal Plants, after the APR won the bid for the 20-year old facilities of the National Power Corp. (NPC). The ceremony will be held at the Makati office of the Power Sector Assets & Liabilities Management Corp. (PSALM) which is mandated by law to dispose NPC's assets and liabilities. The APR's total bid price for these assets is $446.9 million.

The Tiwi Geothermal plant in Tiwi, Albay, north of Mayon volcano, has 289 megawatts (MW) capacity while Makban (which stands for Makiling and Banahaw) based in Laguna and Batangas provinces supplies 458.53 megawatts (MW) to the main grid of NPC, said PSALM Chief of Staff Atty. Conrad Tolentino.

Represented by Luis Miguel Aboitiz, president of APR, the company presented to the President a large facsimile check for P8 billion (as downpayment) for the two plants that are now operating at their rated capacities. The Aboitizes bought the plants to become a dominant renewable energy supplier of the country, Tolentino said.

A ceremonial awarding of the geothermal plants to the Aboitiz was earlier held, wherein the power firm has signed P8 billion wire transfer to PSALM, representing the 40 percent down payment for the plant. The PSALM in turn gave the papers of the plants to APR.

PSALM was created in 2001 to dispose the assets and liabilities of NPC. This is the twelfth plant that PSALM has sold even as it also works on the trimming down of NPC's foreign obligations through either bond flotation, power rate increases and other mechanisms, Tolentino said.

Only last week, PSALM was able to generate $1 billion of bond floats the part of which will be used to pay off the debts of NPC (totalling $17 billion) plus interests on these obligations so that consumers will not be burdened with power rate adjustments, Tolentino added.

Under the assets and liabilities management program of PSALM, part of the obligations are being passed to the consumers through either the ICERA (international currency exchange rate adjustments) or the basic fuel GRAM (generation rate adjustment mechanism).

The bidding for these plants began in September 2005 with 15 prospective bidders participating. The bidding date was set for the second semester of 2006, which, however, was delayed because of the non resolution of the issue on the effectivity of the Geothermal Resources Sales Contract (GRSC) between PSALM and Philippine Geothermal Inc. (now Chevron Geothermal Philippines Holdings Inc.). (PIA V Release)


PGMA LEADS AH1N1 AWARENESS CAMPAIGN

MANILA— Aimed to create awareness campaign against AH1N1 virus, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo on Monday demonstrated the proper way of hand washing as part of the personal preventive measures against the deadly virus.

The President, together with Health Secretary Francisco Duque III, Education Secretary Jesli Lapus and some local officials, led the A(H1N1) awareness campaign at the Geronimo Santiago Elementary School in San Miguel district near Malacanang.

“Ang dahilan kung bakit nagpa-practice tayo na maghugas ng kamay kasi ang no. 1 na pag-proteksyon sa ating sarili kontra sa mga sakit, gaya ng flu na nakakahawa, ay malinis parati ang kamay (The reason why we are practicing handwashing is because the no. 1 protection against sickness, like the contagious flu, is to have clean hands always),” the President said.

The Chief Executive demonstrated the proper way of washing hands through the use of soap and water.

While washing hands, the President, together with some pupils, sung the “Happy Birthday” song twice as advised by the Department of Health.

“Umawit tayo ng “Happy Birthday” dalawang beses para sa ganun ay matagal tayong maghugas ng kamay (Let us sing Happy Birthday song two times to thoroughly wash our hands),” she said.

Likewise, the President distributed some vitamins and medicines to boost the children’s immune system against diseases.

The campaign came a day after the DOH confirmed two A(H1N1) cases in the country.
So far, a total 113 individuals are being monitored by the DOH, including a 10-year old girl who traveled to the US and Canada and a 50-year-old woman from Chicago were tested positive for the dreaded virus.

Based on World Health Organization (WHO) report, a total of 86 people --75 in Mexico, nine in the US, and one each in Canada and Costa Rica were killed due to the dreaded A(H1N1) virus. (PIA V Release)


PALACE URGES GREATER VIGILANCE AGAINST SPREAD OF AH1N1 VIRUS

MANILA — Malacanang today called for greater vigilance against the spread of the A (H1N1) influenza as Filipinos come to grips with the reality that the dreaded virus has already reached the country.

At his regular press briefing this afternoon in Malacanang, Press Secretary Cerge Remonde said, however, that “we believe that public health considerations will still allow us to proceed with the opening of the new schoolyear on schedule” in June 1.

He said President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has reiterated her directive to the Department of Health (DOH), Bureau of Immigration and other concerned government agencies to “stay on top of this issue and keep her always updated.”

Health Secretary Francisco Duque has confirmed the first recorded case of the swine flu infection in the country – a 10-year-old girl who arrived on May 18 from the United States with her parents.

“I am happy to report that the patient, a ten-year-old girl, has already recovered and is now completely healthy,” Remonde said.

He said health authorities were already retracing the “girl’s tracks in order to identify and contain the possible path of infection” to stop the virus from spreading.

He pointed out that the government had undertaken a “comprehensive range of immigration precautions and public health measures to protect our country against this possible new medical crisis.”

These measures, he added, helped delay the spread of the virus to Philippine shores.

“Unfortunately, the global village is getting smaller every day, and so it was just a matter of time before the virus caught up with us. Now that it is here, we must become even more vigilant and continue to observe common sense-precautions to avoid catching the disease or spreading it to others.” (PIA V Release)


RP EXPORTS UP BY 15.9% IN MARCH FROM APRIL

MANILA — Philippine exports in March 2009 increased by 15.9 percent over that of February with majority of commodity groups posting month-on-month growth, indicating an easing of the recession in the country’s foreign markets.

Merchandise exports in March 2009 amounted to $2.9 billion compared to $4.2 billion for the same period last year, but better than last February’s $2.5 billion.

The figure represents the sixth consecutive month of export contraction as all major commodity groups, except for forest products, posted significant year-on-year declines.

On a cumulative basis, export revenues for the first quarter of 2009 amounted to $7.9 billion, 36.8 percent lower that the same period in 2008.

The National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) said in a memorandum to President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo that the Philippines’ Asian neighbors likewise experienced slowing down of their exports decline in March.

Malaysia’s export decline eased to 15.6 percent in March (from 15.9 percent in February); Hong Kong, 20.5 percent in March (from 22.4 percent in February); Singapore, 21 percent (from 24 percent in February) and China, 17.1 percent (from 25.7percent in February).

Exports of electronics and machinery/transport equipment, two of the country’s major manufactured products grew by 19.9 percent and 6.3 percent, respectively even as garments exports declined by 7.6 percent from Feb. 2009.

The slight rebound in electronics exports for March compared to February followed global trends where global sales of semiconductors grew by 3.3 percent with demand stabilizing somewhat as reported by the Semiconductor Industry Association (SIA).

Sales in the Americas, Europe, and Asia Pacific grew by 5.1 percent, 3.1 percent and 7.8 percent, respectively. Sales in Japan, however, were sharply lower by 9.4 percent from Feb. 2009.

On the bright side, the “global semiconductor manufacturing industry is expected to take a breather in the second quarter, as utilization rises by 60 percent as reported by iSupply Inc., a market research company.

Majority of the country’s electronics exports for March went to China, the Netherlands, United States, Japan and Hong Kong.

Agro-based products exports grew by 8.1 percent in March; mineral products, 5.7 percent, and petroleum products, 7.8 percent. Growth rates of these commodity groups, however, are still in negative territory compared to March 2008.

Export receipts from forest products increased by 22.4 percent and 48.8 percent, for month-on-month and year-on-year, respectively.

The United States remained the biggest market for Philippine goods with 17.3 percent share of total revenues for March 2009, followed by Japan with 15.4 percent share. Other major export markets were China, 106 percent; Hong Kong, 9.4 percent and the Netherlands, 9.2 percent. The aggregated shipments to China, Hong Kong and Taiwan reached 23.3 percent of merchandise exports in March 2009.

Leading exports were semiconductors, electronics data processing (EDP) machines and garments which made up 65 percent of the total shipments to the five biggest export markets in March 2009. (PIA V Release)