6
EASTERN VISAYAS
3 East Visayas farmers to get Presidential awards TACLOBAN CITY, Leyte, Oct. 12 (PIA) –- Three outstanding farmers in Eastern Visayas were chosen to receive the Presidential awards of Gawad Saka 2011 Outstanding Achievers in Agriculture and Fisheries.
T
his good news was learned from Mr. Francis Rosaroso, the regional information chief of the Department of Agriculture in Eastern Visayas. The three national awardees were identified as Alfredo Roble of Ormoc City who won as the Outstanding Hybrid Farmer; the Cabacungan 4H Club from Barangay Cabacungan, Allen, Northern Samar for being the Outstanding Young Farmer/ Fisherfolk Organization (OYFFO) through its president Leo Ombrog; and Dr. Carlos Dela Cruz from Balinsasayao, Abuyog, Leyte for being the Outstanding Agricultural Scientist.
As the Outstanding Hybrid Farmer, Mr. Roble who is from Barangay Santa Cruz, Ormoc City, will receive P100,000, a presidential trophy and citation. The Cabacungan 4H Club from Barangay Cabacungan, Allen, Northern Samar for being the Outstanding Young Farmer/ Fisherfolk Organization (OYFFO) through its president Leo Ombrog, will receive a P 150,000 project grant coming from the National Agriculture and Fisheries Council, a presidential trophy and citation. On the other hand, Dr. Dela Cruz from Balinsasayao, Abuyog, Leyte, as Outstanding
Agricultural Scientist, will receive P1 million project grant coming from the Bureau of Agricultural Research, a presidential trophy and citation. The prizes that they will receive will be used as an additional capital for their agricultural activities. The national achievement will serve as a great morale booster to the farmers in Region 8. It will inspire the farmers to support and adopt the new technologies which will help increase their income and enhance their productivity, Mr. Rosaroso said. (PIA-8)
‘Buntis Congress’ marks opening of Paranas lying-in clinic by Alice Nicart
CATBALOGAN, Samar, Oct. 10 (PIA) -– Paranas Rural Health Unit (RHU), which is 35 minutes ride from capital town of Catbalogan, has now a birthing facility which is expected to promote maternal and child health care in the municipality.
W
ith the holding of the “First Buntis Congress”, the Lying-in Clinic was inaugurated recently by the municipal health officers led by Municipal Health Officer Dr. Francis Langi, Jr. and their local leaders. About 75 pregnant women from the eight barangay health stations joined the event which aims to increase awareness among pregnant mothers about some key health practices during pregnancy and childbirth. They also availed of the basic prenatal services such as vital signs and weight taking and immunization against tetanus, blood typing, Hepa B, Urinalysis, and CBC examinations. It is said that some pregnant women
would die due to bleeding, infections and hypertension, but the primary cause of these deaths are often rooted in women’s limited access to health care and education. Dr. Langi in his message stressed that every pregnancy and birth must be safe but this would only occur in a health facility where the mothers and newborns receive quality health care from trained and professional health workers. He added that life-threatening complications could develop during pregnancy and delivery that is why, not only should mothers gain access to quality health care services and emergency obstetric care but also adequate information and preparation for the
birth events through health education and promotion activities which should be supported by their partners and communities. Dr. Norleta Pajares-Arcamo of UP-Manila School of Health Sciences shared inputs on the benefits of breastfeeding, child nutrition and maternal care while Dr. Langi spoke on “Tatlong Taong Agwat, Dapat” wherein he pointed out the importance of giving 3-year space before the next pregnancy. The 1st Buntis Congress with the theme, Buhay Mo, Buhay Ko, Reponsabilidad Nating Lahat was likewise supported by the Paranas municipality and the provincial government of Catbalogan. (PIA-Samar)
SmartCom to turn over repaired Saint Bernard school by R.G. Cadavos
SOUTHERN LEYTE, Oct.13 (PIA) -– The Smart Communications Public Affairs Group, in partnership with the local government and the Parents-Teachers Association of Himbangan Elementary School in Saint Bernard, will turn over the repaired 4 classrooms of said school on October 17, 2011.
K
ae Vicedo of Smart Communications, in her invitation, disclosed that “It has been established in the risk assessment of the said school that there is a need to repair to ensure a safe school that will provide a learning environment where children’s education, health, safety and security are assured in both normal times and during disasters.” The school repair is also intended to ensure that the school consists of infrastructures that are structurally sound and facilities that do not harm the students, teachers and the staff as well, especially in times of disasters. The said project is under the Advancing Safer Communities and Environment against Disasters (ASCEND) project, a 15-month
disaster risk reduction project which aims to increase resilience and reduce vulnerability of communities, schools and local government units in high-risk areas through consolidating and scaling up of gains in disaster risk reduction (DRR) and climate change adaptation, Vicedo bared. The project areas are piloted in the municipalities of Calabanga in Camarines Sur, Maragusan, Compostela Valley and in Saint Bernard, the source said. Other activities of the said project include community trainings on community-based disaster risk management, community-based early warning system, community drills and implementation of small-scale mitigation projects that focus on natural resource management such as mangrove reforestation
and mainstreaming DRR in local development planning, among others. In a short program, the turn-over ceremony will be welcomed by Mayor Rico Rentuza and have messages from the Department of Education (DepEd) District Supervisor and Himbangan Elementary School Principal. Atty. Maria Jane Paredes, Smart Communications Senior Manager in Visayas-Mindanao will also give her inspirational message. After the turn-over of the 4-classrooms, a Klite, audio-visual equipment that include TV, DVD player and a desktop, will also be handed to the recipient, while medicine kits will also be distributed to ASCEND-covered schools in Saint Bernard. (PIA-Southern Leyte)