DTI V launches pili nut menu fare

LEGAZPI CITY, Dec 5 (PIA) -- The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) in the icol region has launched pili nut recipes in the "Pili Kulinarya" last week in Naga City in a concerted effort by stakeholders to promote pili as Bicol’s regional brand.

Pili Kulinarya is a component of DTI’s continuing Food Business Development (BizDev) Program wherein pili is cited as Bicol’s flagship commodity and recognizes its potential as a main ingredient in various culinary applications.

The event is unprecedented and intended to mainstream pili nut as a culinary fare.

Bicolanos were privileged to have Glenda Barretto, president and chief executive officer of Via Mare Corporation, keynote the event; she shared her cooking expertise to selected hotel and restaurant chefs, promoting pili as their main dish and special ingredient.

Barretto also taught coach master chefs of selected local hotels and restaurants on how to develop and present the pili recipes highlighting pili as an ingredient in various preparations for snack and luncheon events.

After the launch, it is expected that mid-to-high-end hotels and restaurants in Bicol would include pili nut recipes in their regular menus. (MAL/JB-DTI V)

Buy and use commodities with safety clearance - DTI

LEGAZPI CITY, Dec 5 (PIA) -- At on the onset of the Christmas season, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) regional office here and the provincial field offices in Bicol reminded anew consumers to buy decorative lights and other electronic gadgets that bear the Import Commodity Clearance (ICC) to ensure a safer holiday celebrations.

DTI in Bicol alerted the public to be vigilant and extra cautious in choosing Christmas lights they buy and adorn in their homes with so as not to put the lives of their loved ones in danger.

DTI Bicol regional director Jocelyn Blanco stated, “only those sets of Christmas lights with the ICC sticker have passed DTI’s mandatory safety tests, thus these products are safe and reliable to use.”

DTI regulates the sale of Christmas lights in the local market to protect consumers from the hazards posed by substandard products such as electric shock and overheating that often lead to fire, property damages, and even loss of lives.

Under DTI Bureau of Product Standards (BPS) Product Certification Scheme that is based on the Department Administrative Order (DAO) 05:2008, all importers of Christmas lights shall secure an ICC certificate, prior to the sale, and distribution of their products in the local market.

Only those whose products have complied with the requirements based on the Philippine National Standard on Christmas lights (PNS 189:2000) are appropriately issued with the ICC certificate and are allowed to affix the ICC stickers on their products or product packages.

Blanco emphasized, “The ICC mark is in sticker form and comes with a unique serial number. Those sets of Christmas lights with pre-printed ICC mark on its package are definitely uncertified and did not undergo proper tests and inspections of the Department.”

Consumers may report stores selling Christmas lights without ICC marks to DTI regional office at Tel. No. 4805721 or to the nearest DTI provincial office. (MAL/JB-DTI V)

Red Cross in CamSur joins nationwide “Million Volunteer Run”

by Lizel S. Macatangay

NAGA City, Dec 5 (PIA) -- Throngs of health buffs and ordinary locales, Red Cross chapter officials and volunteers led the pack of runners Sunday (December 4) in support of the historic nationwide “Million Volunteer Run (MVR)” held along the main thoroughfares of this city.

Clamrence Racquel Abada, Red Cross Camarines Sur OIC chapter administrator said the 3K and 5K running events highlighted the celebration of the “International Year of Volunteers” in 2011 as declared by the United Nations.

Abada also said that the event aims to empower countless volunteers in preparing for any unforeseen dangers brought about by both man-made calamities and natural disasters.

“We recognized the vulnerability of our community every time we are being hit by a disaster. We at the Red Cross believe that in times like these, preparedness is still the key to lessen, if not totally eradicate the number of casualties and limit the scope of damages that a particular catastrophe can do in a community,” she explained.

Abada furthered that the “Million Volunteer Run” will help the Red Cross in the country and abroad in raising the awareness of the community while empowering the Red Cross 143 Volunteer Work.

The fund, which will be generated from MVR, will be used to train and equip the Red Cross 143 Volunteers by way of Disaster Risk Prevention activities and will be utilized to procure life saving equipment, moreover, incite the spirit of volunteerism in every Filipino.

The project had its soft launch early this year on May 19 and officially unveiled September this year.

Organizers believe that raising the number of its volunteers will ensure a network of capable volunteers who will serve as first responders and blood donors, during the occurrence of any catastrophic event.

Registered runners received an official Volunteer Kit which includes Volunteer Fun Run Shirt, Disaster Preparedness Guide, Red Cross 143 ID Card and whistle.

Red Cross Camarines Sur will continue to live to its mission, answering every disaster call and ensuring that the most vulnerable communities in the province are being served according to their needs.

Camarines Sur is one of the earliest Red Cross chapters organized when the Philippine Red Cross was recognized as an independent National Society. It has already earned various national awards as Outstanding Chapter of the Year for its exemplary performance. (MAL/LSM-PIA Camarines Sur)

Search for Best Barangay Solid Waste Management Practices kicks-off

by Edna A Bagadiong

VIRAC, Catanduanes, Dec 5 (PIA)-- The preliminary judging for the Search for Barangay Solid Waste Management Practices kicked-off last November 21 spearheaded by the local government unit of Virac under Mayor Jose U. Alberto II.

The activity aims to ensure solid waste is managed in such a way that protects both public health and the environment.

Republic Act No. 9003 or the “Ecological Solid Waste Management Act” provides the legal framework for the country’s systematic, comprehensive, and ecological solid waste management program that ensures protection of public health and the environment.

It underscores, among other things, the need to create the necessary institutional mechanisms and incentives; it also imposes penalties on violators.

The criteria for judging is as follows: Awareness (10 percent), Governance (25 percent), Waste Segregation and Composting (30 percent), SWM Support System (20 percent) and General Cleanliness (15 percent). Bonus points will be given to any barangay which has shown exemplary waste management practices and has developed innovative ideas/system which is worth emulating by other LGUs.

The said activity is in line with the 1st Virac Inter-Barangay Competition. (MAL/EAB, PIA Catanduanes)

World Vision, media partner to reduce TB stigma

by Irma A. Guhit

SORSOGON CITY, Dec 5 (PIA) -- A two-day training for the members of the broadcast media from Sorsogon dubbed "Accelerating Media's Role in reducing TB Stigma" was held last week at Hotel Venezia, Legaspi City to beef up media’s role in helping reduce the stigma of persons afflicted with tuberculosis by providing them right information on air.

Andy Espinar, KBP Sorsogon chapter president and station manager of DZMS-AM here, said the training is primarily focused to equip media practitioners an in-depth understanding on how the sector can help eradicate the stigma and fear of this dreaded disease as perceived by the public

According to Espinar the training they have undergone will make them responsible and well-informed broadcasters specially in explaining that a person afflicted with the disease should develop health-seeking behavior and avoid such incident as the “case of Clarita.”

“Media has a major role to play in reducing the stigma of TB by creating informed awareness on tuberculosis. As broadcasters, let us partner with agencies like World Vision to improve the health situation here in our province," Espinar also said.

The training program is a partnership project of the World Vision and KBP Sorsogon Chapter.

Meanwhile, World Vision, which has a project of TB case detection and control here said that despite the long fight against TB in Sorsogon City, there remains a stigma that is an obstacle to improve the health seeking behavior of the populace specially people afflicted with this disease based on their findings.

“Clarita Detera, 54, from Brgy. San Pascual here died of TB last June 2011. Her death reminds us that tuberculosis stigma is still rampant despite the absence of research about facts and impact of discrimination and TB stigma in Sorsogon City,” according to Leo Legaspi, Wold Vision Community Development officer.

“Before she was diagnosed, Clarita showed symptoms of TB for more than a year already, according to the midwife who noticed her condition.

The midwife encouraged her to visit the health center but Clarita dismissed the suggestion and said, “ubo lang ito (this is only colds/coughs),” “wala akong TB (I don't have TB),” “bigyan mo ako ng anti-biotics (just give me antibiotics).”

Over the years, this was how Aling Clarita made excuses to hide her disease until she can no longer bear the pain. That was when she finally submitted her sputum for examination.But it was too late. She died soon after.

Legaspi explained that stigma can be experienced internally (self-stigma) or externally (discrimination). Internal stigma can lead to a person’s unwillingness to seek help or access resources.

He said that external stigma can lead to discrimination based on one’s perception. It can be seen through negative reactions that prejudices seriously to the sick person.

Stigma according to Legaspi as scientifically defined, is the process by which the reaction of others spoil normal identity and this is the usual behavior displayed by persons afflicted by tuberculosis as in the case of Clarita.

Legaspi said that with this challenge, they have to seek the strong assistance of media and their role is to campaign and articulate to the community that TB is a sickness that is curable and reducing stigma of persons afflicted with this disease should be well understood by the person him/her self and develop a health seeking behavior for its cure.

Legaspi said that the two - day training for media have provided them the needed skills and information in their crucial function in reducing TB stigma by creating informed awareness on tuberculosis to the public through broadcast.

"The question that the media asked World Vision on how they can help in our program, is through this training that will enable them to be partners with WV, and by accelerating their role in reducing the stigma of TB.

A total of 18 participants coming from different broadcast outlets attended the said training and committed to start providing the public the right awareness in eradicating the stigma of tuberculosis. (MAL/IAG-PIA Sorsogon)