Bicol univ to host 4 int’l conferences

By Marlon A. Loterte

LEGAZPI CITY, Sept. 26 (PIA) -- Bicol University will be hosting four international conferences to be held before the end of this year.

International Academic Colloquium

On October 11 to 13, the Bicol University Graduate School will be holding its International Academic Colloquium as part of its 41st Foundation Anniversary celebration, with the core theme: “Reforms and Innovations in Higher Education towards Sustainable Development and Productivity.”

It will feature papers on the following cluster themes: Agriculture and Fisheries; Graduate Education and Teacher Education; Science and Technology and Health Sciences; Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Change Adaptation; Social Sciences, Culture and the Arts; Business, Economics, and Management; Peace and Security Studies; and Local Government and Public Administration.

The colloquium will be held at the Concourse Convention Center, Legazpi City. Interested participants may contact the dean of the BU Graduate School and Colloquium Convenor, Dr. Nora L. Licup, at telefax no. (052) 481-1454.

International Conference on Climate-Smart Knowledge Management for the Uplands

On November 7 to 9, the Bicol University College of Agriculture and Forestry will host the International Conference on Climate-Smart Knowledge Management for the Uplands, with the theme, “Restoring the uplands’ integrity, securing lives and environment.”

The Conference shall feature research and development and innovations on the following thematic areas: Upland Environmental Governance; Food Security; Biodiversity, Watershed and Waterways Management; and Sustainable Tourism and Rural Development.

Inquiries may be directed to Bicol University College of Agriculture and Forestry at telephone no.  (052) 484-6336.

2012 ISSAAS International Symposium and Congress

On November 13 to 16, Bicol University, through its Research and Development Center (BURDC), in collaboration with the International Society for Southeast Asian Agricultural Sciences (ISSAAS) and the Society of Agricultural Education-Research Development Abroad (SAEDA), will hold the 2012 ISSAAS International Symposium and Congress, with the theme, “Pushing Agriculture to Achieve the Millennium Development Goals.”

The conference aims to promote greater awareness on the MDGs as targets for improving the lives of millions of poor and disadvantaged people; examine the role of agriculture in achieving the MDGs; and share and exchange information on agriculture-related programs and projects implemented in support of the MDGs.

The Opening Program of the conference will be held at Hotel St. Ellis, Legazpi City and the break-out sessions for paper presentations at the Bicol University Multi-Purpose Building.

The paper presentations will cover the following thematic areas: food security and poverty reduction; enhancing agribusiness enterprises; climate risk management and sustainable agriculture; strategic partnership in agricultural development; support services for a productive agriculture; and R&D governance system in agriculture.

International Conference on Kuroshio Science

Bicol University Tabaco Campus will likewise host an international conference on Kuroshio Science sometime in November or December. Details are still being finalized.

For more information on the above conferences, visit the “Events” section of the Bicol University website at at . (MAL/BU/PIA5)



Sorsogon SK holds Youth Eco Summit

By Benilda A. Recebido

SORSOGON CITY, Sept 26 (PIA) -- The provincial government of Sorsogon, the Sangguniang Kabataan provincial federation, the Vice-Mayors League of the Philippines and the Provincial Tourism Office will be at the forefront of a big event dubbed “Youth Eco Summit 2012” slated from October 13 to 14, this year.

This is in time for the 118th Foundation Anniversary of the province of Sorsogon next month.

It is the biggest Youth Eco-Summit to be held in the province with over 2,000 delegates from all over the Bicol region is expected to arrive which will collectively bring the country’s most respected minds in ecological science to discuss the subject on restoring the ecosystems.

SK provincial federation President Patrick Lee Rodrigueza said the conference will explore pioneering science-based approaches which are socially and culturally suitable to create, manage and restore the ecosystems.

It aims to provide a high-profile platform to encourage exchange of ideas among researchers, planners and decision-makers so as to develop better understanding of the multifaceted nature of ecological systems and deliver the means to safeguard and boost their services for sustainable development.

“Under the theme: Going Green! Protecting the Ecosystem for Sustainable Development, Youth Eco-Summit 2012 will not only empower the youth to oblige frontrunners to address the challenges of ecological development but also motivate young adults as well, to be the leaders who will make a difference,” said Rodrigueza.

He also added that the topic likewise harmonizes with the Kasanggayahan 2012’s theme: Sorsogon Paunlarin, Agrikulutura’t Industriya Pasiglahin” and Sorsogon’s mission to develop into an Eco-Tourism Capital of the Bicolandia, with complementing initiatives in terms of institutional development, legislative actions and several programmes for health, environment, agriculture, rural development, shelter and tourism currently in place.

Joining forces as Youth Eco-Summit 2012 partners are the World Wildlife Fund, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Department of Interior and Local Government, the National Youth Commission, Philippine Information Agency, Commission on Higher Education, Liga ng mga Barangay and the Kasanggayahan Foundation Incorporated (KFI).

“Among the issues to be discussed at the high-level gathering are: the challenges for the conservation of ecosystem services in the agro-ecosystem of Sorsogon, making sustainability decisions in the electric power industry and Climate Change Adaptation between presenters from the national down to the local government, non-government organizations and youth representatives,” the SK official explained.

Rodrigueza said the summit similarly incorporates different activities such as mangrove planting, film presentations on eco-communities, business leaders’ forum/exhibit, the First Eco Night Run and an environmental band concert which concludes the Youth Eco-Summit 2012 experience.

Last year’s Youth Empowerment Summit was a milestone and a lot of youths participated in the activities, which was held during the 2011 Kasanggayahan celebration in Sorsogon.

With the theme: “We can lead, we will lead, we will serve the church, community and environment,” it was also organized by the SK Provincial Federation and about 1,000 youth participants from across the province took part in the event.

Rodrigueza said that based on the number of contributors and active involvement, they were able to achieve the goal of raising awareness among the youth sector with regards to the role they take upon themselves for the church, community and to the environment.

“This also provided opportunity for the youth to express their concerns with the purpose of creating seemly solutions as their rejoinder to various public issues in progress,” he added. (MAL/BAR/VEL-PIO Sorsogon-PIA 5)



NYC heightens youth anti-drug awareness, leads nationwide caravan

By Analiza S. Macatangay

NAGA CITY, Sept 26 (PIA) -- The National Youth Commission (NYC) concluded the 4th leg of its Nationwide Caravan on Youth Drug Abuse Prevention and Control at the Naga College Foundation (NCF) auditorium here last Friday.

The event was participated by more than 160 youth, including volunteers, representatives from private and government agencies and stakeholders.

The caravan, staged in partnership with the Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB) and the city government here, endeavors to make the activity as a vehicle to showcase the best practices of various entities in dissuading members of the youth sector in getting hooked to illegal drugs.

The organizers also wished to impart the ill effects of substance abuse and highlight their intensified campaigns, programs and initiatives to combat the proliferation of the illegal substance.

The participants, through a Manifesto signing, established a pact of commitment and launched the Drug Free Youth Freedom Wall before wrapping up the day's activity.

This undertaking also aims to increase the youth's vigilance against drug pushers and drug sniffers and spread the "awareness virus," especially among the vulnerable group of young people.

NYC Luzon Area Coordinator Nydia P. Delfin said the caravan served as a venue for youth participants to make a blueprint of their own action plan and concretize their commitment through collective effort.

"We would like to acknowledge the youth's effort in taking this campaign as a serious matter. Their cooperation is very significant for the success of this crusade," she said.

Assistant Sec. Benjamin Reyes of DDB said the conduct of the said caravan is one of the board's strategies to realize their supply and demand reduction of the illegal drugs approach especially to the younger segment of the society.

"Based on the statistics of rehab acceptance, there is an increase of users under the age bracket of 28 to 30. This is within the yuppies or the young professionals sectors which mean that they have advanced from being student users and carried it on even after they have graduated," he said

Reyes added that this means that these dependents started using drugs when they were still in school, making it significantly important that the focus of their campaign should be carried out in schools and universities.

NYC Executive Director Pol Maleniza II said the commission is steadfast in their campaign to lead similar advocacies geared towards educating the youth on the ill effects of drugs and will continue to entice the youth to be a part of their advocacy. (MAL/LSM-PIA5/Camarines Sur)



Malacañang declares October 26 as non-working holiday in Catanduanes

By Edna A. Bagadiong

VIRAC, Catanduanes, Sept. 26 (PIA) -- Malacañang has declared October 26, 2012 as non-working holiday in the province in line with the celebration of its foundation anniversary.

Proclamation number 469 was signed on dated September 11, 2012 by Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa.

The proclamation aims to provide and enable the Catandunganons to participate in the activtities of the annual Catandungan Festival commemorating the province’s separation from Albay and making it as a province of Bicol Region.

The Catandungan Festival is an event that celebrates the town's anniversary and its freedom from the province of Albay. The festival is filled with various form of merriment such as; Pantomina, beauty pageant, guided tours and photo exhibits.

In line with this, the Catandungan Festival Steering Committee is set to convene this week to finalize the activities for the month-long celebration. (EA Bgaadiong/ PIA Catanduanes)