DepEd-NCR intensifies
school preps Department of Education-National Capital Region (DepEdNCR) will continue to roll out their initiatives on September to further prepare public schools in Metro Manila. During the Handang Isip, Handa Bukas Press Conference, DepEd NCR Director Malcolm Garma reported that 14 out of 16 Schools Division Offices (SDOs) have already finished their respective simulation of the delivery of modules and conduct of classes. In addition, eight SDOs in the region were at 80%-100% in terms of production and printing of selflearning modules (SLMs), while four SDOs were at 50%-70% and the other four were on the catching-up stage. “Bawat isang estudyante ay makatatanggap ng isang learner package, sa tulong na rin ng mga LGU sa NCR. Magsisimula ang pamamahagi ng Setyembre 1 hanggang Setyembre 15,” Regional Director Garma said. Health guidelines and protocols for SDOs and schools have also been issued and reiterated to ensure the safety and welfare of DepEd-NCR skeleton workforce. Meanwhile, schools in NCR are set to conduct orientation activities before the opening of classes, which will include parents’ involvement in home-based learning, and proposed conduct of classes.
AUGUST 2020
PH, 50th
Program for drug in economic global ranks dependents Source: PDEA Facebook page
By: Melinda T Quinones – PIA/IDPD QUEZON CITY - The Philippines breaks into the top 50 list among 131 economies with strong performance in high-tech trade, ICT service, creative goods & research talent by the Global Innovation Index. The GII cites the Philippines alongside China, India, and Viet Nam that have seen the most significant progress in Southeast Asia in their innovation ranking over the past 10 years. “We consider this as major news because it is a testament that DOST’s efforts in spearheading science, technology, and innovation are bearing fruits,” said the Department of Science and Technology chief Fortunato dela Pena in a statement.
“DOST’s efforts in spearheading science, technology, and innovation are bearing fruits.” R&D partnerships between academe and industry through the Collaborative Research and Development to Leverage the Economy (CRADLE); and increase in Intellectual
By Adora Rodriguez – PIA/IDPD
Fortunato dela Peña Property applications and technology transfer. The DOST has also seen innovation opportunities amid COVID-19 pandemic as evidenced by its support to locallydeveloped test kits, biomedical devices, disease model, and other useful apps. “The latest GII ranking of the Philippines is a great source of hope and inspiration for all Filipinos who are facing uncertainties in the midst of the current pandemic,” dela Pena
Php250 M. penalty
for Anti-competitive Acts violators By Vanessa Q. Rodriguez - PIA/IDPD QUEZON CITY – Business establishments found to engage in various anti-
Photo: Philippine Competition Commission
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Despite limited budget allocation for science and technology research and development, the DOST was able to support the growth of micro, small, & medium enterprises (MSMEs) through projects like the Small Enterprise Technology Upgrading Program (SETUP), making them highly competitive even on the global stage; increase number of
competitive agreements will face the penalty of Php50 million to Php250 million and will also be criminally liable according to Atty. Ferdinand Redulla, Assistant Director of the Competition Enforcement Office of the Philippine Competition Commission. He explained that anticompetitive agreements are when establishments engage in acts such as any, or all of the following: price fixing, bid rigging, output restriction and market allocation. Price fixing and bid rigging are called cartel violations. These acts are very damaging to the
economy. Output restriction and market allocation are considered as non-per se cartel violations. “This means that the effect of the agreement is to substantially restrict or lessen competition,” Redulla said. These four acts are considered as cartels which are businesses conniving to manipulate the market to their advantage. “So, magiging liable ka sa PCC administratively, and at the same time pwede ka ring kasuhan criminally. And the imprisonment is of up to seven years,” Redulla said.
QUEZON CITY - Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) chief Wilkins M. Villanueva urged persons who use drugs (PWUDs) to surrender and undergo rehabilitation. Through the barangay clearing operations, PWUDs are given a secondchance to stay away from illegal drugs and prevent them from being hooked again by surrendering to the local government unit and be part of the Balay Silangan, a 3-month reformatory program to help them go back to the mainstream in their barangay. “Su-surrender ka lang naman para ma-determine kung ano ang level ng drug affectation through screening. Hindi kailangang ikulong itong mga ito, hindi kailangang hulihin o hindi kailangan silang mamatay. Pag naidentify na natin ang drug personality sa ating mga barangay, dun papasok ang drug intervention program,” he stressed. He encouraged the regional implementors of barangay drug clearing operations and members of InterAgency Committee on Anti-illegal drugs to continue the fight against illegal drugs. To avail go to Subtance Abuse Helpline, call 1550, Monday to Friday 8:00-5:00 PM through landline or mobile phone.
DFA’s Global Filipino Cooking Show
Editorial Director Benjamin Felipe Editor-In-Chief Marie Angelie Villapando
BY ALEXA M TINSAY – PIA/IDPD
as well. “The episodes are MANILA - The “bite-sized” (five-minute Department of Foreign running time) to cater Affairs (DFA) launches to busy [Filipino and Thursday the 10-episode foreign] people who online cooking show juggle both domestic called “Simply Sarap,” as well as professional featuring Filipino cuisine responsibilities as they for people around the world to enjoy and learn work from home,” DFA said. from. Simply Sarap’s is The series, hosted showing every Thursday by Junior Master Chef on the DFA’s official finalist Chef Louise Facebook, YouTube, Mabulo, serves as a and Instagram accounts culinary tour promoting (@dfaphl) as well as Filipino ingredients, cooking techniques, and the official social media recipes while dishing out accounts of its Foreign informative trivia on the Service Posts every Philippines and its history Thursday at 11:00 a.m.
DSWD
CASH CARDS
Photo: DSWD Region VII
To ensure the health and safety of senior citizens, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) is shifting to the use of cash cards for the beneficiaries of the Social Pension for Indigent Senior Citizens and the Unconditional Cash Transfer (UCT) Program. DSWD is working together with the Land Bank of the Philippines (LBP) for the implementation of this new mode of delivering the social pension and UCT grants to the seniorbeneficiaries. The agency explained that the use of cash card is a safer and faster way of delivering the stipends. Distribution of the cash cards will be done in Land Bank premises and offsite areas from 9:00am to 2:00pm. It shall be made on a per batch or per barangay basis for crowd control and in compliance with the social distancing protocol. For beneficiaries who are sick or bedridden, they can send their authorized representatives to claim their cards provided they are certified by the concerned OSCA or Local Social Welfare and Development Office.
Associate Editors Melinda Quiñones, Vanessa Rodriguez Staff Writers IDPD headed by Joselito Reyes Art Department CPSD headed by Bradley de Leon Production/ Aggregation DDCU with Team Leader Kate Shiene Agna Photo: Department of Foreign Affairs
POLIO VACCINE REACHED 95% TARGET
By: Josephine L. Babaran – PIA/IDPD QUEZON CITY – Over 95% of the target children for the first quarter of 2020 have been given the polio vaccine by the Department of Health to fully stop the spread of polio. The 95% immunization coverage is the standard set by the World Health Organization (WHO) to successfully stop an outbreak. Sabayang Patak Kontra Polio (SPKP) campaign continues its efforts across Mindanao, Central Luzon, and Southern Tagalog regions since resuming last July 20, 2020.
Since resuming the SPKP campaign, 3,408,241 children were vaccinated in Mindanao. Due to COVID-19 limitations, 1,093,317 out of the 1,347,005 target or only 81.16% were vaccinated in Central Luzon. Meanwhile, in CALABARZON, Laguna province excluding Calamba City and Pakil tallied 81.71% in phase 1 (250,577 children out of 306,670 target). Round 2 of the SPKP will be from September 14-27, targeting 1,185,005 children in the three (3) provinces (Laguna, Cavite, Rizal) in CALABARZON. DOH acknowledged
its close partnership with the Local Government Units (LGUs), Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), Development Partners and other key stakeholders including community members. “Ang susi sa ating tagumpay ay ang pagtutulungan ng lahat ng stakeholders, what we call “whole-of-society” approach,” said DOH Undersecretary Maria Rosario Singh-Vergeire.
passengers not to leave valuables with their bikes. Passengers are also advised to be careful in using the racks, as the MRT-3 management will not be liable for any property that may be damaged or lost while
they use the said racks. The DOTr targets to install a total of 34 bike racks in all of MRT-3 stations. Seventeen (17) racks have already been installed and be used by the public.
Maria Rosario Singh-Vergeire
BIKE RACKS IN MRT-3 STATIONS Vanessa Q Rodrigues – PIA/IDPD QUEZON CITY – The Department of Transportation (DOTr) Road Sector has installed an additional 14 bicycle racks in different stations of the Metro Rail Transit-Line 3 (MRT-3) in support to bicycle users. Passengers can use the said bike racks for free everyday during the revenue hours of MRT-3. One bicycle rack can accommodate five bicycles. The management of MRT3, however, reminds
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Philippine Navy
forging
stronger ties
HONOLULU, HawaiiThe Philippine Navy’s (PN) Naval Task Group (NTG) 80.5 aboard BRP Jose Rizal (FF150) participated on September 1 (HST), in the 75th commemoration of World War II ending along with other navies that participated in the recently concluded Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) Exercise 2020. FF150 was in full dress (signal flags and pennants strung along the length of the ship) on the surrounding Hawaiian waters to pay tribute to the fallen heroes during WWII whose sacrifices brought about the
Photo: Philippine Navy 3 PIA Bulletin Online
end to the world’s most destructive and expensive war. Both the Pearl Harbor in Hawaii and Manila, Philippines suffered aerial bombing by the Imperial Japanese Military on the same day at the height of WWII in 1941. The Philippines’ naval presence in this important event solidifies our country and PN’s commitment to forge stronger ties with other foreign navies as we share common history and the desire to work together to prevent that fateful part in our era from happening again.
EFFICIENT SUPPLY
CAUSES
LOWER INFLATION Photo: Department of Agriculture
Jake Coballes-PIA IDPD QUEZON CITY – The National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) said in a press release that the recent decrease in the country’s inflation rate is due to the unhindered supply of food and essential goods across the state. In addition, the NEDA said that the abovementioned decrease in inflation is a result of the enactment of the Rice Tariff Law in 2019.
The agency said that improving the efficiency of agricultural supply and allocation is essential in ensuring a stable inflation rate, especially that the country is still battling COVID-19 and is now in the middle of the typhoon season. The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) recently reported that inflation has decelerated to 2.4 percent this August, from 2.7 percent last July. Aside from this, food inflation slowed to 1.7 percent from 2.5 percent last month.
Healthy Eating Plate
By Dr. Dean Hernando Zenarosa
Use the Healthy Eating Plate as a guide for creating healthy, balanced meals - whether served on a plate or packed in a lunch box. The Healthy Eating Plate is a friendly, easy-to-understand visual guide for creating balanced and healthy meals. It shows you what to eat in the right amounts for each meal, so that you can plan your portions accordingly. It makes it easier to pick up healthy eating habits that can help you better manage weight and ward off chronic diseases. Put a copy on your refrigerator as a daily reminder. • Make most of your meal vegetables and fruits – ½ of your plate: Aim for color and variety, and remember that potatoes don’t count as vegetables on the Healthy Eating Plate because of their negative impact on blood sugar. Fruit and vegetables are naturally low in saturated and trans fat, and rich in dietary fibre, vitamins and minerals. They can help lower your risk of developing heart disease, stroke, and certain types of cancer. Fruit and vegetables also add delightful colors, textures and flavors to your diet. In fact, different color pigments they contain serve up unique health benefits. Treat yourself to the full colorful spectrum of nature’s bounty for maximum benefits.
• Go for whole grains – ¼ of your plate: Whole and intact grains—whole wheat, barley, wheat berries, quinoa, oats, brown rice, and foods made with them, such as whole wheat pasta—have a milder effect on blood sugar and insulin than white bread, white rice, and other refined grains. Wholegrain foods contain vitamins (vitamins B and E), minerals (iron, zinc and magnesium), phytochemicals (lignans, phytosterols) and inulin (a type of dietary fiber); all of which are good for a healthier you. Refined grains such as white rice or white bread have been processed, so valuable nutrients have been lost. Choosing whole-grains over refined grains means you get all the goodness that reduces the risk of developing heart disease and diabetes, while helping with weight management since you’ll feel full for longer. • Protein power – ¼ of your plate: This category includes poultry (e.g. chicken, duck and turkey), meats (e.g. beef, mutton and pork), seafood, egg, nuts, beans and low-fat dairy products. Aim for 2 servings of fish per week. Oily fish (e.g. tuna, mackerel, etc.) contain omega-3 fatty acids – a beneficial fat that supports overall heart health. Avoid processed meat.
• Healthy plant oils – in moderation: Choose healthy vegetable oils like olive, canola, soy, corn, sunflower, peanut, and others, and avoid partially hydrogenated oils, which contain unhealthy trans fats. Remember that low-fat does not mean “healthy.” • Drink water, coffee, or tea: Skip sugary drinks, limit milk and dairy products to one to two servings per day, and limit juice to a small glass per day. Don’t forget: adding white sugar, brown sugar, rock sugar, honey or any other type of sugar to any drink makes it a sugar-sweetened one. PIA Bulletin Online 4