Bantay Asin Task Force holds dialogue with Sinalok salt makers by Joemides Daquio
CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – Some 33 local salt makers in Sinalok, El Salvador City, Misamis Oriental joined the “Salt Producers Forum” spearheaded by the Regional Bantay Asin Task Force (RBATF) Northern Mindanao, 21 April.
The activity aimed to promote among salt producers, to gain their awareness on the nationwide salt compliance to the standards stipulated iodization campaign, especially under the ASIN Law by educating and
tapping them to various programs and assistance extended by both the local government unit and national line agencies. Julius Cesar P. Alejandro of the National Nutrition Council stressed during the dialogue the importance of adding iodine in salt. “Sea foods are very rich source of iodine but it’s not available every day, unlike salt, it is consumed daily and it’s cheap,” he said. Nutrition Program Coordinator Marissa DM. Navales meanwhile discussed to the group the status of iodine deficiency in Northern Mindanao based on the latest survey of the Food and Nutrition Institute of the Philippines (FNRI) to emphasize the urgency of enforcing the ASIN Law. The local salt generated in the area, either directly from the sea or deep well, were also tested during the forum with the WYD iodine checker.
It bared zero presence of iodine, instead of the required 30 to 70 parts per million (mg.Kg) set by Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for all manufacturers or processor of foodgrade iodized salt. The FDA reiterated that noncompliance to the law will merit fines or revocation of its business permit, and or ban of its product from the market. RBATF members emphasized that the activity is undertaken not to scare local producers but to help them. Representatives from the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) and the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) were also present in the dialogue to offer subsidy options and technology assistance that will help out Sinalok salt makers.
DSWD bares 57,000 bags of rice still available for El Niño farmers by Charmaine Suzette Leonore P. Tadlas
CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – About 57,729 bags of rice are still available at the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Field Office 10 which are ready to be distributed to the El Niño affected communities in northern Mindanao should local government units need resource augmentation from the Department to respond to the long dry spell.
The bags of rice are intended as assistance for the farmers and their families who have been affected by the drought that has been drying up farmlands since November 2015. About 65,070 bags of rice were purchased by the DSWD from the National Food Authority for such cause. Each bag contain 50 kilos of rice and each family is allocated 25 kilos for their consumption. Nestor B. Ramos, regional director of the DSWD Field Office 10, says that these bags are ready to be released to the affected communities, but the local government units (LGUs) need to submit their proposal and master list of beneficiaries first before these can be distributed to them. “The allocation for each LGU is dependent on the proposal and master list of beneficiaries that they submit to us,” Ramos says. He also said, “We are encouraging our LGUs to fast track their request to the DSWD so that we can mobilize ourselves in distributing these bags of rice to their constituents. We also need them to be ready in the howling of these bags to their areas. The director also said that as of April 23, 2016, DSWD has only released 7,341 bags or 12% of the total number of purchased bags of rice from the NFA-10. This means that more than 43,000 families in northern Mindanao have received these rice or about to receive them by April 29, 2016. The DSWD has recently
conducted dialogues with the diocese in Bukidnon and Misamis Oriental and with civil society groups to help in the distribution of the bags of rice. “We were able to get the support of the Church and civil society groups in the distribution of the bags to the affected families, and we truly appreciate their partnership with us,” Ramos said. He also said that the DSWD will immediately release the bags based on the LGUs’ master list of beneficiaries that will be submitted to the office. “We, however, would like to clarify that these rice are for the farmers because they are the ones who are severely affected by the dry spell. Those who are non-farmers may ask assistance to the DSWD through our Crisis Intervention programs. They can always approach our provincial offices to help them.” Ramos expressed that the DSWD is working very hard to assist families who are affected by the drought. “We are prioritizing our efforts and resources to the families affected by the dry spell. We are continuously mobilizing our workforce to the affected communities so that we can provide them with immediate relief.”
MisOr lauds NMRAA delegation
LUGAIT – Misamis Oriental governor extends his heartfelt congratulations to members of the delegation from the Northern Mindanao Regional Athletic Association (NMRAA) for its 4th runner-up finish in the recently concluded Palarong Pambansa held in Albay.
"They deserve all our congratulations. They fought with their hearts. They are no less better athletes than the rest of their counterparts from other regions. We should all be proud of what they achieved," Governor Yevgeny Vincente B. Emano said. However, he said if we desire for a better finish, there is a need for better facilities, more modern equipment and good coaches to hone them into better performers. In his dialogues with various sports organizations, the governor always brings out the need of sports basics that include facilities, equipment, coaches and incentives.
"We may have the right athletes. But we need them to be trained by the right people with the right equipment on the right facilities," governor Emano said. Noting the challenge with the government's lack of funds, he advocates the participation of the private sector as this would entail huge investment. Several plans have been submitted to his office from private organizations and some even have already their schematic diagrams on how the modern sports facilities will look like; and if given a chance, he pledges to pursue this as one of his top priorities. "We do not participate in sports only for the competitions and the medals. This is an investment for a better future generation," the governor said. The NMRAA got 21 gold medals, 28 silver medals and 29 bronze medals to earn for the region its 4th runner up finish for the second consecutive year. (PIO/MisOr/jv)