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THE OFFICIAL E-NEWSLETTER OF THE PHILIPPINE INFORMATION AGENCY - SIQUIJOR | WWW.PIA.GOV.PH and the DEPARTMENT OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY - SIQUIJOR | WWW.DOST.GOV.PH
VOL. 2 | NO. 37 November 1-7, 2014
Public urged to secure copy of IRF in reporting crimes SIQUIJOR (PIA)--The Philippine National Police advises the public to always secure a copy of the Incident Record Form (IRF) after reporting crime incidents to all police stations. According to the PNP here, the IRF are accountable forms to be filled out by a complainant that contains data provided by the Desk Officer pertaining to the complainant, victim or suspect, and including the narrative details of the incident. The IRF becomes an official document once signed by the investigators and the reporting person whose information will be immediately recorded in the police blotter, uploaded to the Crime Incident Reporting System (CIRS) database, and becomes the first document included in the case folder. In the same press release, Police Director General Alan La Madrid Purisima, Chief PNP said the use of IRF is implemented in all police stations and offices with investigative functions. “The implementation of Crime Incident Reporting System will ensure the gathering and inclusion of all crime data that are reported in the police station into the database,” said Purisima. CIRS is an electronic database system that facilitates crime documentation and systematic data storage and retrieval. The system is the quick, fast and reliable transmission of crime information from lower police units and offices of the PNP to the National Headquarters. All police stations and units with investigative functions are equipped with CIRS-installed computers which will be the source of a nationwide database of crime incidents. It is part of our efforts to further provide our people with ‘true crime reporting’ this is why IRF is very important to be kept by both complainant and our investigators, Purisima added. In the case of crime incidents that were reported to the police but referred to the barangay, the report must clearly indicate whether the case is amicably settled, under investigation or referred back to the police with a certification to file action. (mbcnRAC/PIA7-Siquijor/PNP-Siquijor)
PNP 7 Regional Director PCSupt Prudencio Tom Banas declares a focused operation on illegal drugs following clamors from the local chief executives and the business sectors for a drug-free island province during his First Command Visit at the SPPO, Caipilan, Siquijor Wednesday where he also gave Awards to Siquijor PNP personnel. (RAC/PIA-Siquijor)
Pantawid Pamilya Exemplary Children Siquijor Winner Joenel Parami with Gov. Zaldy “Jecoy” Villa.
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SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
DOST launches STARBOOKS
by Engr. Reinhold Jek Abing/DOST-Siquijor
(STARBOOKS) at DOST Siqujor Provincial Science and Technology Center (PSTC). Administration Coordinator of STARBOOKS Annie Lyn Bacani in her briefing to the beneficiary-institutions explained that the purpose of installing
SIQUIJOR (PIA)--The Department of Science and Technology (DOST)-Siquijor thru the Science and Technology Information Institute (STII) launched recently the Science and Technology Academic and Researchbased Openly Operated Kiosk Station
SUCCESS STORY
From Pharmacy to Bakery/Bakeshop Jaireen’s Bakeshop in Catamboan, Lazi, Siquijor, used to be a pharmacy. But when the mother of Estela Lynn Ligutom, who was a pharmacist, left for the States, Estela converted it into a store. A bakery was there but this was owned by Estela’s uncle. Her aunt bought the bakery and asked them to manage it. Eventually, they slowly paid their aunt and now, they are the owners of the bakery Starting with only bread as its product, delivery was done by four motor vehicles which would go to Lazi and the nearby towns. To further their knowledge on baking, husband and wife took short-term courses, with the former taking up baking of bread and the latter, baking of cakes. Later, the bakery, now a bakeshop, diversified into cakes and cookies. The bakery used electric power to heat its dough proofing cases which were almost outdated. Rotary mixers with small capacity were used to mix the ingredients. And products would only last for 3-5 days since there was no appropriate storage. The technology needed to upgrade the production of bakery products was beyond the financial capacity of the owners. Through membership in the food association of the province, DOST’s assistance to SMEs was made known to the Ligutoms. The bakery’s production was the subject of a study conducted by a team for MPEX, Manufacturing Productivity Extension, and the recommendations of the study were implemented through SET-UP. The dough proofing case enabled the flour to rise easily and lessened preparation time into half. The number of sealed bakery products increased twice with the continuous electric sealer which replaced the manual sealer. Cakes are now attractively displayed inside the horizontal food chiller. Production volume likewise increased. While the heavy duty spiral mixer is yet to be used, it is expected that this will speed up the mixing of ingredients facilitating the production of more bakery products. The workers were trained on Good Manufacturing Practices and Energy Audit has been conducted. Food analysis and improvement of packaging are next in line. The presence of many bakeries/bakeshops and increasing costs of raw materials are real threats to the business. The owners believe that product development is key to surviving the competition. A new taste, a new product, and perhaps, a new “healthy-food craze.” Eating malunggay or squash pan de sal is not a bad idea, after all (SET-UP Product Catalogue).
STARBOOKS in key areas in the country is to create interest in the field of Science and Technology to increase Filipino enrollees in S&T courses. It also wants to encourage great and curious minds to develop new ideas inventions and innovations and to inspire capacity for entrepreneurship and research for socio‐economic development. Bacani warned the recipients/ beneficiaries not copy, modify, decompile, disassemble, reverse engineer, merge, or transfer the design and contents of the STARBOOKS in whole or in part. “Neither it be distributed to others or transferred electronically from one computer to another over a network,” she added. A c c o r d i n g t o S T I I , D O S TSTARBOOKS dubbed as the Philippines’ first digital science library contains digitized science and technology resources in various formats (text and video/audio) placed in specially design ‘pods’ set in a user‐friendly interface. Bacani added that although information are “read-only” including the Britannica Ultimate Encyclopedia, they are by far a collection of S&T information compiled from different sources that have been screened by S&T experts. In similar development, Rajyl Muleta of STII encouraged the participants to browse and explore science.ph, a search engine that offers comprehensive S&T information in the Philippines. In return, the participants pledged to exercise full cooperation in spreading awareness on S&T through STARBOOKS. Attendees to the STARBOOKS launch were representatives from Siquijor State College (SSC), Local Government Unit of Enrique Villanueva and DOST Siquijor. Participants to the seminar/ workshop were Stephen Sumalpong and Lunny Acain of the SSC IT Department; college librarian Cheryl Bejec, Julie Rose Bacus and Herford Malolot of the SSC library; Ms. Donna Marie Limpahan of LGUEnrique Villanueva; and Engr. Reinhold Jek Abing of DOST Siquijor. On the other hand, Science Research Specialist II Annie Lyn D. Bacani and Data Cont IV Rajyl Moleta headed the team from STII. S tu d e n ts , fa c u l ty, s ta ff a n d researchers at the Siquijor State College (SSC) can now access science and technology related information in text and video for free even without an internet connection in the same way as students and researchers can access STARBOOKS at DOST-Siquijor PSTC. SSC was the first to avail of the technology among the schools in the province. (mbcn/RAC/PIA7-Siquijor w/ reports from Engr. Reinhold Jek Abing/ DOST-Siquijor)
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Indigenous veggies used in school feeding project
( G a r N E S u p p : A F N R I - D O S T, I I R R , D e p E d a n d I D R C C o l l a b o r a t i v e P r o j e c t ) Despite being surrounded by several bodies of water, the Philippines still houses vast land areas for agriculture and forest utilizations. Due to the rich soil, a diversity of indigenous vegetables can be found in most areas of the country. However, the changing food habits and preferences of individuals lead to the underutilization of these indigenous vegetables. According to the 2008 National Nutrition Survey conducted by the Food and Nutrition Research Institute of the Department of Science and Technology (FNRI-DOST), vegetables only comprise 12.8 percent of the total household consumption and only 3.9 percent of this is the consumption of green leafy and yellow vegetables. Vegetables are valued not only for their contribution to fiber in the diet, but also for nutrient content. Furthermore, green leafy and yellow vegetables are rich in iron, vitamin A, vitamin C, calcium, and other micronutrients. The Nutritional Guidelines for Filipinos (NGF) revised in 2012 not only recommends eating a variety of foods everyday but also eating more vegetables and fruits daily to get the essential vitamins, minerals, and fiber for regulation of body processes.
PRO-7 seizes P83M worth of illegal drugs in CV CEBU CITY (PIA) --- Illegal drugs with net worth of P83.175 million were seized by the Police Regional Office (PRO-7) from the different provinces of Central Visayas from January to September, this year. The confiscation of illegal drugs was based on 1,830 operations conducted for the first 10 months this year resulting to the arrest of 2,376 persons, said S/Supt. Conrado Capa, deputy regional director for operations of the PRO-7 during the Talakayan sa Isyung Pulis (TSIP) Forum recently. In a presentation of its significant accomplishments against illegal drugs, the PRO-7 showed that 2,511 cases have already been filed in the proper courts. Confiscated were 6,691.33 grams of shabu, 52,513.39 grams of marijuana and 280 ampules of nubain and other paraphernalia, the presentation revealed. “The most number of confiscations started last June when PRO-7 intensified its focus on illegal drugs,” said Capa. The month of August scored the biggest haul of illegal drugs with value set by the Dangerous Drugs Board at P23.22 million corresponding to 1,962.98 grams of shabu, 165.35 grams of marijuana and 11 ampules of nubain and paraphernalia. “Because of our intensified campaign against illegal drugs, the PRO-7 has been recognized as the number one among all regional police offices nationwide in the operation against illegal drugs,” said Capa. (mbcn/fcr/PIA-7)
In an attempt to promote proper eating in the school setting, the Department of Education (DepEd) in 2007 provided specific guidelines under DepEd Order No. 8 Series of 2007 on the foods sold in the school canteens. The DepEd memorandum circular also indicates that the school canteen in both elementary and secondary levels shall only provide or sell nutrient-rich foods such as root crops, noodles, rice and corn products in native preparation, fruits and vegetables in season, and fortified food products labelled rich in protein, energy, vitamins, and minerals. Also, the memorandum prohibits the sale of carbonated drinks, sugar-based synthetic or artificially flavoured juices, junk foods, and any food product that may be detrimental to a child’s health. Another program is the production of indigenous vegetables in school and household gardens which is a cheap, sustainable and feasible way to hit two birds with one stone—undernutrition and food insecurity. In 2009, a project conducted by the Bureau of Agricultural Research (BAR) in coordination with the World Vegetable Center, launched the promotion of 10 indigenous Philippine vegetables these includealugbati (Basella alba), ampalaya (bitter gourd) for leaves or bayok-bayok (Momordicacharantia), himbabao (Allaeanthusluzonicus), kulitis (Amaranthus), labong (bamboo shoot), upo or bottle gourd (Lagenariasiceria), malunggay (Moringa), pako (fiddlehead), saluyot (Corchorus), and talinum (Talinumtriangulare). K n o w n a s “ P r o m o t i o n o f I n d i g e n o u s Ve g e t a b l e f o r P o v e r t y Alleviation and Nutrition Improvement of Rural Households in the Philippines” project, it wasimplemented by the Department of Agriculture (DA), National Nutrition Council (NNC), and local government units (LGUs). The project proponents advocate aggressive promotion in encouraging Filipinos to produce and consume local vegetables for a sustainable and healthy living. `Likewise, a collaborative project by FNRI-DOST, International Institute of Rural Reconstruction (IIRR), DepEd, and International Development Research Center (IDRC) entitled Integrated Approach to Address Food and Nutrition Security in the Philippinesutilizes indigenous vegetables from the school garden in a supplementary feeding program among school-aged children in two schools in Cavite. The project integrates Gardening, Nutrition Education and Supplementary Feeding or simply GarNESupp, to alleviate undernutrition in target students in two selected schools. Sustainable food sources, like gardens, are important especially in times of low food production, while the utilization of indigenous vegetables can provide a variation in the diet of the household that help in forming correct behaviors towards healthy eating among children. M o r e o v e r, t h e F N R I - D O S T d e v e l o p e d r e c i p e s u t i l i z i n g indigenous vegetables found in the school garden. These recipes were also used in the supplementary feeding of 160 school-aged children six to eight years old conducted by the FNRI-DOST, IIRR, DepEd and IDRC. To supplement these two approaches nutrition education sessions were conducted by the DepEd Grades 1 to 3 teachers to parents of participating students and nutrition education were also integrated to the lesson plan. The materials that were used in these sessions like visual aids, were joint effort of all the Grades 1 to 3 teachers of the participating schools at the General Aloña Memorial Elementary School and Felipe Calderon Elementary School. Physical and behavioral developments of schoolaged children are usually targeted in supplementary feeding programs. The introduction of indigenous vegetables to school children familiarizes them with the local produce rather than solely consuming and opting for high-yielding and foreign crops. Using indigenous vegetables in supplementary feeding programs also decreases the cost of menu and allows for proper knowledge information to ensure continuous consumption of healthy foods among school-aged children. For more information on food and nutrition, contact Dr. Mario V. Capanzana, Director, Food and Nutrition Research Institute, Department of Science and Technology, General Santos Avenue, Bicutan, Taguig City. Email: mvc@fnri. dost.gov.ph. Telefax: 837-2934 and 827-3164, or call 837-2071 local 2296 or visit our website: http://www.fnri.dost.gov.ph (FNRI-DOST S&T Media Service:
iSIQUIJORGOVERNMENTNEWS
iNFOBYTES
(First of two parts)
1. The RIGHT TO BASIC NEEDS
The first consumer right is THE RIGHT TO BASIC NEEDS which guarantee survival, adequate food, clothing, shelter, health care, education and sanitation. YOU MAY LOOK FORWARD TO: The availability of basic and prime commodities to consumers at affordable prices and of good quality.
WHAT TO DO: Prioritize your needs Look for quality, not quantity Be quality conscious, not brand conscious In times of crisis/calamity, be vigilant in ensuring that basic commodities are available in the market. IF YOU ARE NOT SATISFIED: Keep in mind that the highest priced or most expensive product in the market may not necessarily be the best in quality. Be vigilant in ensuring your continuous access to a wide assortment of competitively-priced goods and services. Ensure also that in times of crisis, the prices of commodities do not increase exorbitantly.
2. The RIGHT TO SAFETY
The second consumer right is THE RIGHT TO SAFETY which is the right to be protected against the marketing of goods or the provision of services that are hazardous to health and life. YOU MAY LOOK FORWARD TO: Manufacturers of consumer products to undertake extensive safety and performance testing before selling their products in the market. Labels which contain the proper information as regards the product, its use ad iSIQUIJOR is the Island how to operate it, if of Siquijor’s first electronic newsletter the need arises, and produced by the Philippine Information also precautions or Agency-Siquijor Information Center and the warning signs. DOST - Provincial Science and Technology Center. WHAT TO DO: If you have It contains snippets of information about sensitivity to a certain Siquijor, Central Visayas and the Philippine Government. ingredient, it would be very beneficial if THERE IS GOOD NEWS EVERYDAY. you read all labels and product circulars before using a certain product. /Pia Siquijor If you are in a /PIA Siquijor store and have doubts @PiaSiquijor about the product’s
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effectiveness, ask for a person who knows how the product works or how to operate. Keep certain products out of the reach of young children. Watch out for special warning signs in the label of the product like “NOT SUITED FOR CHILDREN BELOW FOUR (4) YEARS” OR “POISON: For External Use Only, etc.” WHAT TO DO: Before buying products especially in cases when only large containers are available, it would be best if you ask for a sample or tester. Be on guard regarding products which are found to be hazardous, you can scan newspapers regularly for newsbits on this topic. IF YOU ARE NOT SATISFIED: If no one in the store can explain to you satisfactorily things about the product, try to contact the manufacturer and give the pertinent details needed in determining the product easily such as code numbers and date of purchase for easy product identifi cation. If you have doubts about the safety or proper performance of a product, go back to the store with your official receipt. To save time, jot down your questions.
3.The RIGHT TO INFORMATION
The third consumer right is THE RIGHT TO INFORMATION which is the right to be protected against dishonest or misleading advertising or labelling and the right to be given the facts and information needed to make an informed choice.
YOU MAY LOOK FORWARD TO: A complete information about the product to be purchased including its use, ingredients/chemical contents, precautions, if any, limitations and expiry date. WHAT TO DO: Before purchasing a product, it is very important for you to read the label carefully so that you would be able to know its use, content (chemical ingredients), number of pieces, how to care for the product. Before signing any document like warranties or guarantees, credit items or service contracts, it is important to read and understand all provisions in the documents especially the fine prints. WHAT TO DO: It is very important to read newspapers, buying guides, magazines before purchasing a product. Also, consult with friends who you know have purchased a similar product. If you need to clarify something regarding the use of the product, don’t hesitate to write the company so that you can obtain a detailed information. It is imperative to look for the name and address of the manu facturer in case the need arises.