Albay dismisses high school and elementary classes

LEGAZPI CITY, November 15 (PIA) -- The provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (DRRMC) of Albay has directed the early dismissal of classes in both the elementary and high school levels this morning in the wake of the heavy rains that are likely to accelerate until this afternoon.

Albay Governor Joey Salceda, chair of provincial DRRMC, said the early dismissal of classes took effect before noontime today covering all elementary and secondary schools, both private and public schools, in the entire province.

The issuance cites that"even in the absence of signals from Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services (Pagasa) further in view of emerging consensus that the rains are likely to accelerate, we hereby order the early dismissal of classes in both in private and public kindergarten, elementary and secondary schools in the entire province of Albay."

Salceda furthered that school administrators and teachers should advise their students to no longer report in the afternoon.

Also due to the classes dismissal, parents were more over advised to fetch their children from school.

"This is an early dismissal, not a suspension, thus classes automatically resume tomorrow without need for an advise," Salceda stressed. (MALoterte, PIA V/Albay)

TESDA-Cam Sur holds skills competition
by Lizel S. Macatangay

NAGA City, Nov. 15 (PIA) -- In preparation for the Regional Skills Competition on November 17 and 18, the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA)- Camarines Sur conducted the Provincial Skills Competition 2011 at the Naga College Foundation (NCF) this city over the weekend.

Representatives from three competing schools; Naga College Foundation (NCF) , Philippine Computer Foundation College (PCFC) and Word Resources Institute (WRI) wrestled the championship throne to beat their respective opponents in software application, graphics design and web page design categories.

Under the software application competition, Marco O. Ret of PCFC grabbed the top prize after proving to the jurors his expertise in document processing, spreadsheets and data base.

Meanwhile, Raymund T. Villar, another student of PCFC and Bryan B. Orcine of WRI were able to seize the prize under the Graphics Design and Web Page Design Categories respectively.

TESDA Regional Training Center based in San Jose, Camarines Sur also conducted the same exercise where Camarines Sur Institute of Fisheries and Marine Sciences (CASIFMAS) and RTC Pili for Refrigeration Technique both vied for the top plum during the said competition. Jomer W. Olitoquit of CASIFMAS was declared the winner.

Provincial winners from the six provinces in the region will compete in the Regional Skills Competition at the RTC Pili. Contenders will try to beat their opponents on their proficiency on eight trades: Cooking, Restaurant Services, Welding, Electrical Installation, Software Application, Web Design, Smoked Fish and Feed Formulation.

TESDA–Camarines Sur OIC Provincial Director Emmanuel H. Buban said that the activity aims to showcase the expertise of technical vocational students and harness their skills in their chosen fields of endeavor.(LSM, PIA Camarines Sur)

Project 11-11-11 has 118,000 trees planted
by Edna A. Bagadiong

VIRAC, Catanduanes, November 15 (PIA) -- The Congressional District Office (CDO) here in Catanduanes recorded a total of 118,883 trees planted during the Project 11-11-11 tree planting activity last November 11, 2011.

The province-wide whole-day activity was participated in by different sectors of the community namely barangay councils, water/energy providers, private offices, government agencies, municipal LGU’s, schools (elementary, secondary, tertiary), various organizations, private individuals and the contractor association.

A large percentage of the planted trees came from municipal LGU’s of the 11 towns in the province that planted a total of 61,500 seedlings province-wide. Those covered by various organizations recorded a total of 17,170, 13,240 from the government offices, 7, 600 from contractor association, 6, 021 from barangay councils, 8,798 from various schools in Virac, 2,050 from water/energy providers, 2,194 from private individuals and 310 planted seedlings from private offices.

According to Congressman Cesar V. Sarmiento, the event was a big success. “The support extended by the many sectors in the province (local government units (provincial government, 11 towns and barangays, schools, students, government agencies, non-government organizations, etc) was overwhelming and impressive” he added.

He likewise extended his gratitude to everyone who supported his initiative.

On the same day, the solon planted a tree with Court Administrator Midas Marquez before the unveiling of the marker for the statue of the Lady Justice in front of the Catanduanes Hall of Justice where the latter is the guest of honor. (EAB, PIA Catanduanes)

COMELEC distributes voter’s ID, urges for registration

by Edna A. Bagadiong

VIRAC, Catanduanes, November 15 (PIA) -- According to provincial election supervisor Atty. Ma. Aurea C. Bo-Bonao, registered voters who validated their registration from 2007-2010 can now claim their respective voters ID in COMELEC Offices in their respective municipalities.

Atty. Bo-Bonao also urged those who are not yet registered and would like to vote on the coming election to register now in their respective offices to be able to practice their right to suffrage in the coming election.

To register, any individual with age of 18 and above must bring valid ID like current employee ID, Postal ID, School Id or Library card, senior citizens ID, Driver;s License, Passport, SSS/GSIS ID, PRC, NBIor PNP Clearance.

They must also fill up three copies of application form for the new voters, let the officer get their biometrics (Digital Picture, specimen, signature, finger print) and the office might also asked for their birth certificate. On the other hand, old voters who don't have yet biometrics and who wish to vote on 2013 should go to COMELEC offices for their biometrics.

They likewise advise the public to avoid rush days and go to COMELEC offices as early as possible. (MAL/EAB, PIA Catanduanes)

NFA steps up I-Rice promotion in Masbate

MASBATE CITY, November 15 (PIA) -- The National Food Authority (NFA) has intensified promotion of iron-fortified rice (I-Rice) in Masbate province to address prevalence of chronic malnutrition resulting in anemia among children of preschool age.

NFA Masbate provincial manager Eden Redillas over the weekend said the agency’s regional office based in Legazpi City has augmented the supply of I-Rice in the province sold at P27 per kilo to encourage Masbateños to make use of this iron reinforced grain in preventing anemia among family members, especially children.

“We have launched an intensified campaign to bring I-Rice to as much as possible all the dining tables particularly that of the marginal sector in the province that cannot afford highly nutritious food to balance their diets thus making them highly vulnerable to malnutrition,” Redillas said.

Present in the launching activity held here last week were City Mayor Socrates Tuason and several town mayors, municipal health officers, rural health and school nurses, barangay health workers and town councilors heading the committees on health of their respective local legislative councils.

Redillas said she invited these officials so that she could solicit their support in enjoining their constituents to eat I-Rice that offers great nutritional value in preventing anemia, a blood condition in which red blood cells are deficient in hemoglobin, resulting in poor health.

Food and Nutrition Research Institute of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST-FNRI) reports showed Masbate ranks fifth among the 25 provinces in the country where chronic malnutrition resulting in anemia is prevalent among children of preschool age.

The most common cause of this condition is lack of dietary iron which I-Rice could address being fortified with iron, Redillas said.

Citing a report of the DOST-FNRI, the provincial NFA chief said chronic malnutrition affects a very high percentage of preschoolers aged 0-5 in the province where the underweight-for-age prevalence was at least 30 percent.

The province had 7.1 percent wasted preschoolers and 14.9 percent are also underweight and 9.1 percent are stunted. In Bicol, Masbate ranks first both in underweight and stunted and comes fourth in wasted preschoolers. (MAL/DOCalleja)