The eMagazine of Philippine Information Agency 10
MONDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2016
DepEd-ARMM cites importance of handwashing habit
MARAWI CITY, Lanao del Sur – The Department of Education of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (DepEdARMM) highlighted the importance of developing the habit of handwashing with soap during the Global Handwashing Day observed on October 12.
Dr. John Magno, DepEdARMM secretary, said the Education Department is committed in ensuring that “every child in the region develops healthy habits that start with simple steps like daily handwashing with soap.” The DepEd-ARMM, together with the Australian embassy’s Basic Education Assistance to Muslim Mindanao (BEAM)-ARMM program, marked the 5th Global Handwashing Day at Timanan Central Elementary School in South Upi, Maguindanao. “Handwashing with soap is the low-cost high-impact intervention that, when practiced properly and regularly, prevents infections and saves lives,” Magno noted. The handwashing day bears the theme “Make handwashing a habit”, and was aimed at highlighting the importance of developing healthy habits that help prevent the occurrence of hygiene-related illnesses among children. Official records show that nine percent of childhood deaths are caused by diarrheal diseases and almost half of these deaths could be prevented through handwashing with soap. Since 2011, the ARMM government, specifically DepEdARMM, together with nongovernmental organizations, has been implementing Essential Health Care Program in 400 schools across the region. The initiative focuses on daily group handwashing with soap, daily group toothbrushing with fluoride toothpaste, and bi-
annual de-worming. Ester Roxas of the Australian embassy underscored the importance of schools in forming healthy habits among schoolchildren. “The education system is central to habit formation and the school provides the perfect setting for this formation,” Roxas said. The Australian embassy official commended the DepEd-ARMM, mentioning it has taken the lead in the Philippines to ensure that the children of ARMM have daily activities to develop healthy habits. “With so many children practicing handwashing together each day, ARMM is setting an example to the rest of the country,” Roxas added. The DepEd-ARMM has developed the Three Star Approach, wherein schools, with the participation of the community, are encouraged to improve their ‘WinS’ or water, sanitation, and hygiene in schools. The WinS includes the implementation of daily group handwashing with soap, daily group toothbrushing with fluoride toothpaste, and bi-annual de-worming. Through the DepEd ARMM’s Three Star Approach’s WinS monitoring, school heads are taking the lead to ensure that all classrooms practice healthy habits. The DepEd-ARMM is presently producing 1,000 group washing facilities to ensure that each school has the infrastructure needed to allow children to practice daily
handwashing. The region’s Education department covers nine schools divisions namely, Maguindanao I and II, Marawi City, Lanao Sur I and II,
Lamitan City, Basilan, Sulu, and TawiTawi. As of the latest data, there are 2,150 public elementary schools, and 304 secondary schools in the ARMM. (BPI/PIA-10)
MisOcc town receives P2M worth of BUB livelihood grant from DOLE JIMENEZ, Misamis Occidental – Two rural workers associations with 200 beneficiaries received P2 Million worth of livelihood assistance from the Department of Labor and Employment, Regional Office No. X (DOLE-X) in Jimenez Misamis Occidental recently. The projects include Food and Meat Processing and Native Chicken, Swine and Goat Raising Production. DOLE-10 Misamis Occidental Provincial Head Leonardo Rodrigo said that the grant was released under the Bottom-Up Budgeting (BUB) System of the DOLE. Rodrigo led the turn-over ceremony, releasing the two 1 Million checks to the Women’s Federated Association and Jimenez United Movers Mass Based Organization, Inc. (JUMMBOI). Initially, out of the 100 members of the Women’s Federated Association, 25 were selected for the Food and Meat Processing Project, based on their assessed knowledge, skills and training in the project. The said
beneficiaries will be awarded with the equipment and supplies necessary for the operation. They are then encouraged to sell their products in their respective barangays. With the recently-opened Municipal Pasalubong Center, the beneficiaries will have the chance to showcase and market their products in an accessible location to the public. It shall promote the products to the local residents as well as to tourists and visitors. “Jimenez is a commercial hub located in the heart of the province of Misamis Occidental where consumers from neighbouring municipalities obtain their needs from the area. In order to enhance business competitiveness at the grassroots
level, the local government fully supports diverse micro-businesses of community-based organizations,” said Town Mayor Rosario Balais. In support, Rodrigo said, “Helping micro-entrepreneurs develop their competitiveness enables them to contribute to economic and social development. This, in the end, will help in the efforts of the government towards the goal of poverty reduction.” While the association president and other officers have control over the procurement proceedings, production and marketing process, all activities shall be known to all beneficiaries to facilitate smooth relationship and promote equal responsibility among the members. According to Association President Erlinda Quilo, the project will be closely monitored by the officers. At the same time they will share their expertise among the members to improve the business. Meanwhile, the JUMMBOI with 100 members will implement the Native Chicken, Swine and Goat Raising Production Project. “This livelihood project is one of the most promising enterprises in livestock because they require little space and relatively small initial capital per unit head compared to others,” said JUMMBOI President Romulo Timtim. He further said that the increasing demand for meat becomes an important commodity for canteen,
restaurants, hotels, other food business and countless family occasions thus depleting the local supply for goat and native chicken and even threatening the reproduction of it. “Kani nga proyekto mu cope up sa demand sa manok ug kanding labaw na nga kani nga mga mananap mga naturally-produced ug in demand pud sa merkado labaw na sa mga health conscious. Kami usab nay dakong kalipay ug pasalamat sa tabang nga gihatag sa DOLE, labi na sa atong opisina sa Province sa Misamis Occidental (This project will cope with the demand of chicken and goat meats especially that these commodities are naturally produced and are in demand in the market especially to health conscious individuals. We are also very glad and thankful for the help from DOLE particularly to the Mis. Occ. PFO),” he said. (Lei Garrett I. Miraflor/DOLE Mis Occ PFO)
DOLE Bukidnon conducts confab for guidance counselors, career advocates MALAYBALAY CITY, Bukidnon – The Bukidnon Provincial Field Office (Buk PFO) of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) in Region 10 and in coordination with the National Career Advocates in the Philippines (NCGAP) Bukidnon Chapter (previously named Guidance Facilitators Association of Bukidnon [GFAB]), conducted its 4th Capacity Building for Guidance Counselors and Career Advocates in Bukidnon on 29-30 September 2016. Buk PFO Head Raul L. Valmores said that the capacity building seminar workshop aimed to equip the 85 teachers, guidance counselors, and career advocates who were present to implement career guidance as an effective tool in addressing conflicts in schools and to further equip the guidance counselors and guidance advocates in delivering efficient guidance and counseling services. “They need to be equipped with the skills to address the school-related problems of the students. The topics are also very useful in guiding the students in choosing the appropriate career path to pursue in college,” Valmores added. This year’s theme is “Enhancing the Life Skills of Guidance Practitioners and Advocates. One of the topics that will capacitate the counselors is on respecting self and others, understanding and managing emotions and speaking frankly but
respectfully. Erly G. Navarro, guidance counselor of Kalilangan National High School, expressed her gratitude to DOLE-10, “I am really looking forward every year for the conduct of this capacity building. Not only that I will be seeing and enjoying the company with my fellow guidance counselors, but also being trained and educated with skills needed on our devotion on helping students to their path to success.” The convention concluded with a personality assessment conducted by the facilitators of Mountain View College Guidance and Counseling Center. (Reyna L. Tagailo/DOLE-X/ Bukidnon Provincial Field Office)