200 farmer beneficiaries to receive free organic fertilizers for palay production in Camarines Norte

By Rosalita B. Manlangit

DAET, Camarines Norte, Feb. 11 (PIA) -- Some 200 farmer beneficiaries will receive free organic fertilizers for palay production next week through the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist (OPAg) of the provincial government.Provincial coordinator on Organic Farming Malyn C. Puato said that a total of 2,500 sacks of organic fertilizers are ready for distribution to the farmer beneficiaries with 250 hectares of palay plantation in the province.

She said that the actual distribution will be handled by the Municipal Agriculturist Office (MAO) in every municipality and will be distributed every month to identified farmer beneficiaries.

The organic fertilizers were provided by the Bureau of Soil and Water Management (BSWM) of the Department of Agriculture (DA) in line with Republic Act 10068 or Organic Agriculture program on Expanded Modified Rapid Composting Technology Demostration.

It will be given free to farmer beneficiaries provided that they will give their data on palay production starting from planting to harvest.

The said sacks of organic fertilizers are now in the process of audit at the Commission on Audit (COA) of the provincial government and anyday next week will be the release to farmer beneficiaries.

The program of the DA aimed to promote the use of organic and in-organic fertilizers in order to lessen the use of chemical fertlizers.

Also it aims to educate farmers not to burn rice straw, instead, use this as compost that will in turn help mitigate climate change. (RBM/PIA Camarines Norte)

NSO CamSur pushes for Quality Civil Registration

By Lizel S. Macatangay

NAGA City, Feb. 11 (PIA) --- “Tamang Rehistro, Pananagutan ng Bawat Pilipino,” is aptly chosen as theme for this year’s celebration of the Civil Registration Month spearheaded by the National Statistics Office here as it enjoins every citizen all over the country to go out and register in the nearest NSO offices in their respective areas.

Camarines Sur Provincial Statistics Officer Clemente Manaog, in his aggressive and resolute campaign to achieve a significant number of registrants, has called on the help of various media outlets to help NSO in disseminating the importance of this act and serve as active partners of our government in nation-building.

“Every citizen has a duty to put on record and properly chronicle every significant occurrence happening in their lives. These details, when consolidated, would be used to determine the specific need of our people. That is where the government will base their program of action to address a particular concern. Without the help of surveys, we will not have an eligible instrument to respond to these needs. That is how important census is,” Manaog added.

Civil Registry Month is being celebrated every February pursuant to Proclamation No.682, signed by then President Corazon Aquino. It was issued on January 28, 1991 with the primary intention of reminding every citizen of their obligation to register acts and events concerning status of persons. The activity also endeavors to increase and boost nationwide awareness on the values of civil registry documents.

“When we were born, our parents, secured the documents and made sure that they are properly archived. Whenever we abide with our Christian duties, like the sacraments of baptism and marriage, we put them in record. We also document legal dealings that we think can help us out should legal matters crop up. NSO believes in the same principle too- the necessity to keep things properly cataloged,” Manaog said in an interview.

To further support this program, NSO Camarines Sur has lined up several activities to hype the importance of Civil registration. It includes fun run, mobile registration, display of streamers, free issuance of civil registry documents, poster making contensts, quiz bees, mass weddings, among others.

Manaog said that the media will be one of their most effective allies in disseminating the said information, particularly to members of the community residing in far flung areas and provincial outskirts. (MAL/LSMacatangay, PIA CamSur/NSO)

Pneumonia still top killer disease in Bicol – DOH

LEGAZPI CITY, Feb. 11 (PIA) –- The Department of Health (DOH) regional office here urged the public to take all precautionary measures to prevent serious respiratory infection as pneumonia remains the top killer disease in the Bicol region.

Dr. Ferchito Avelino, DOH V assistant regional director, said a DOH study in 2010 on the top 10 leading causes of death in the region showed that pneumonia was the most fatal, on top of heart diseases, stroke, and tuberculosis among Bicolanos.

The same study revealed that 2,971 people died due to pneumonia, followed closely by hypertensive heart diseases with 2,882 deaths; Ischemic heart diseases -- 1,682; stroke -- 1,680; tuberculosis -- 1,544; Neoplasm/tumor with 1,457; accidents -- 1,427; trauma/injuries -- 1,221; diabetes -- 804; and kidney diseases with 803 deaths.

Avelino said an average of 3,708 deaths was recorded since 2005 due to pneumonia making this disease the leading cause of death.

The study also revealed that, aside from pneumonia, other top killer diseases for the past five years were heart diseases, strokes, and tuberculosis.

Asked if the DOH regularly conducts study on the leading cause of disease morbidity and mortality, Avelino said his office conducts regular studies.

However, the 2011 study is not yet available for they are still in the process of consolidating data coming from the various provincial health offices.

Pneumonia is an inflammation of the lung tissue affecting one or both sides of the chest that often occurs as a result of an infection caused by a lot of different micro-organisms – viruses (eg respiratory syncytial virus), bacteria, fungi (eg histoplasmosis), parasites as well as corrosive chemicals breathed into the lungs or toxic smoke inhalation from a fire.

A study of the World Health Organization (WHO) meanwhile reveals that pneumonia is the leading cause of death in children worldwide that kills an estimated 1.4 million children under the age of five years every year – more than AIDS, malaria, and tuberculosis combined. (Marlon A Loterte-PIA V/Albay)