KBP Albay joins 22 other chapters in nationwide tree-planting activity

by Aida Alcazar-Naz

LEGAZPI CITY, September 30 (PIA) -- On October 1, the Albay chapter of the Kapisanan ng mga mga Brodkaster sa Pilipinas (KBP) joins other 22 chapters nationwide in a tree-planting activity dubbed as oplan brodcastreeing.

"From broadcasting of news and issues to broadcasting of seedlings," as the adopted slogan of the activity, KBP Albay Chair Edgar S. Barrameda disclosed that some 5,000 trees will be planted on the dump site of Barangay Banquerohan, Legazpi City.

The organization is targeting at least 300 hundred broadcasters from the 16 member stations and non-broadcasters including their families and friends to plant narra trees at the said location designated by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).

This tree planting activity is in line with Executive Order 26 or the National Greening Program of the government which aims to plant 1.5 billion trees by 2016, explained Barrameda.

Other than that the endeavour is a demonstration of love and care for the environment, participate in the struggle against global warming and for disaster preparedness vigilance.

Two other KBP chapters in Bicol, Camarines Sur and Sorsogon will join the week-end tree-planting along with other chapters like Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, Pangasinan, Cagayan Valley, Nueva Ecija, Mindoro, Quezon, Pampanga, Zambales, Metro Manila, Aklan, Negros Occidental, Eastern Visayas, Cebu, Iloilo, Butuan, Bukidnon, Cagayan de Oro, Davao and Cotabato.

"Oplan Broadcastreeing" is the brainchild of KBP national chairman Herman Z. Basbaño who on the organization’s 38th anniversary signed a memorandum of agreement with Interior Secretary Jesse Robredo to assist in the nationwide tree-planting activity. (MAL/AAN, PIA V)

Bicol U leads project EDEN, first in Southeast Asia

by Aida Alcazar-Naz

LEGAZPI CITY, September 30 (PIA) -- Bicol University (BU) has operationalized Bicol EDEN, an extension flagship program which stands for Bicol Extension Disaster Education Network patterned after EDEN US run by the American Agriculture Department.

The memorandum of understanding between and among a dozen government agencies and local government units was held during its launching last August 25 with more organizations signifying its intention to join, disclosed Prof. Leilani D. Pavilando, director of the BU Extension Service Center.

The undertaking took-off with the orientation on emergency preparedness focusing on safety from fire and earthquake drill; kiddie, junior fire marshal olympics and production of information materials.

These activities will form part of a report that BU President Faye Lea Patria M. Lauraya and Prof. Pavilando will present during the EDEN Congress in US this October.

Bicol-EDEN focuses on disaster education and messaging as a key component in educating resilient communities, the region often visited by calamities. The organization solicits the involvement, cooperation and other partnership-related endeavor of institutions in addressing disaster as a major challenge brought about by climate change. Its thrust is risk reduction and management to eradicate vulnerabilities to calamities.

As a starter, BU along with agencies like the Bureau of Fire Protection, Philippine Air Force, Philippine Army, Philippine National Police, Albay Health Emergency Management (AHEM) conducted and orientation on emergency preparedness safety from fire and earthquake followed by a drill last August 25 at the university’s administration building. A similar drill will be conducted in November.

Another disaster education activity was the conduct of the Kiddie/Junior Fire Marashall Olympics held August 26, the first in the province of Albay according to F/Cinsp Joseph Reylito S. Espiritu, M.D., chief health and emergency services BFP Bicol. A new category was add to said olympics that of collge students.

The competition was participated in by 10 elementary schools, 6 high schools or Junior A and 4 higher education institutions or Junior B.

Declared winners after a whole day event aimed at fire disaster education focus at fire suppression and rescue skills to students were Sunshine International School, Daraga, Albay, Bicol College High School, Daraga, Albay and BU Polangui Campus, champions for Kiddie, Junior A and Junior B Yell Competition.

Winners for the Kiddie Fire Marshal Category were Sunshine International School, champion; Divine Word College elementary department, Legazpi City, first runner up; Team B of Sunshine International School, 2nd runner up and Camalig North Central School, 3rd runner up.

Teams for the Junior categories which won in the olympics were Aquinas University of Legazpi, champion; Bicol College High School, 1st runner up; BU Integrated Laboratory School, 2nd runner up and Computer Arts & Technological Colleges Foundation, Inc., Legazpi, 3rd runner up for Junior A or high school level; while Mariners Polytechnic Colleges Foundation, Inc., Legazpi was champion; Bicol College, 1st runner up; BU College of Industrial Technology, 2nd runner up and BU College of Social Science & Philosophy, 3rd runner up for the Junior B category or college level.

Dr. Lauraya who personally handed out the trophies during the awarding ceremony pledged that BU will spearhead the Kiddie/Junior Fire Marshal Olympics every year. (MAL/AAN, PIA V)

Ako Bicol party-list proposes anti-dengue law

LEGAZPI CITY, September 30 (PIA) -- Ako Bicol (AKB) Party-list has filed on September 29, 2011 House Bill No. 5364 which proposes the passage of the Anti-Dengue Act of 2011 to prevent and control Dengue, which includes penalties for violations.

AKB Party-List acknowledges and commends the Department of Health in their efforts to control or eradicate Dengue in the country, however, has the need to strengthen the existing health policy by mandating local government units, communities, households, business establishments and schools to participate in the nationwide program against Dengue.

The DOH has reported a decrease in dengue cases from 25%-50% in the past year. As of September 10,2011 there are 70,204 reported cases nationwide, which shows that Dengue has remained one of the major health problems especially during rainy season.

In tropics and sub-tropics, such as the Philippines, and where population density is high, such as urban centers, and where solid waste collection and water supply and storing is inadequate, dengue is an all-year round disease and a threat to public health.

Representative Rodel M. Batocabe said that since most transmission happen among family members and inside the homes, where breeding places of the mosquitoes are most of the time overlooked, the bill engages private individuals, households, and establishments in the participation to effectively eliminate dengue.

This bill focuses on preventive measures which includes, but are not limited to, cleanliness of surroundings, personal hygiene, awareness of symptoms, and active reporting of possible incidence of dengue, which in general, are ways to prevent mosquito bites. It also includes early recognition and prompt support treatment that can lower the risk of acquiring the full-blown disease.

Rep. Batocabe said that the bill should be passed into a law because it encourages the maintenance of clean surroundings and pro-active participation of both private and public sectors while providing penalty to violators. (MAL/AKB)