Today's News

Wednesday, July 6, 2011


1st Philippine Energy Efficiency Forum 2011 Cebu set on July 26
 By Fayette C. Riñen
  
CEBU CITY, July 5 (PIA) -- A one-day forum on the 1st Philippine Energy Efficiency Forum 2011 in Cebu is slated on July 26 aimed at tackling the issues of global warming due to climate change and exploring measures to address the problem.

The 1st Philippine Energy Efficiency Forum (PEEF) 2011 Cebu is a forum that brings together the most influential leaders and officials from the government, business and non-government organizations in one event, with a shared passion that the simplest, easiest and most effective way of addressing the country’s problems in energy and climate change is through Energy Efficiency, according to a statement from the forum organizer European Chamber of Commerce in the Philippines (ECCP).

Under the theme “"Synergizing Partnerships for an Energy Efficient and Competitive Philippines," the forum’s primary goal is to contribute to the national effort towards energy security and low carbon future.

The ECCP stated that in order to achieve energy security, there is a need to convene  key decision makers and business leaders from the energy, commercial and industrial sectors and enlist top management commitment to implement energy efficiency programs at the enterprise level which the forum has addressed.

Likewise, the ECCP espoused the need for strengthening partnerships and broadening alliances with various stakeholders in the private sector, government, civil society, academe and international organizations.

Part of the discussions during the upcoming forum is to introduce the latest energy-efficient breakthroughs and provide greater visibility for innovative approaches and sustainable solutions to energy efficiency.

PEEF focuses solely on energy efficiency from the business perspective of enterprises in the utilities, buildings, commercial, industrial, and transport/ logistics sectors and provides participants with the opportunity to learn and share state of the art and cutting edge technologies, and best practices in energy management.

The forum also provides the opportunity for networking and forging business partnerships among participants and has a Technology Showcase that features a wide range of energy efficient products and energy management solutions, according to the ECCP. (PIA 7-Cebu)

==========
Cebu City to launch Agri-Fair tomorrow
in celebration of Nat’l Nutrition Month
 By Fayette C. Riñen

CEBU CITY, July 5 (PIA) -- The Cebu City Government will kick off the celebration of the National Nutrition Month this July with an Agri-Fair that will be launched tomorrow morning at the Plaza Sugbo grounds fronting the city hall.

Farmers and agri-traders will have an opportunity to display their agricultural products such as all kinds of vegetable varieties as well as fruits in a strategic location where people often pass while they also get a marketing boost due to the celebration itself.

Cebu City Health Office (CCHO) Chief Dr. Stella Ygonia on the other hand, urged parents to let their children eat vegetables because of its high nutritional value.

“Vegetables are not only cheap but it makes one healthy. It is highly recommended that one should eat vegetables everyday,” according to Ygonia.

Ygonia also encouraged households to plant vegetables. “For urban areas, one need not have a big space to plant vegetables, one can just plant it in an ordinary can,” Ygonia said.

Meanwhile, the Philippine Information Agency - Cebu will feature the annual observance in its regular Kapihan sa PIA slated tomorrow to hype public awareness on the celebration of Nutrition Month which this year carries the theme “Isulong ang BREASTFEEDING, Tama, Sapat at Eksklusibo.”
National Nutrition Council (NNC) -7 Head Parolita Mission said there is a need to strengthen advocacy campaign on exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of an infant’s life as the practice of breastfeeding among lactating mothers has gone down in the country.
Mission cited working mothers as a major factor why lactating women do not exclusively practice breastfeeding.
“Lactating mothers should be educated on the importance of exclusive breastfeeding because the milk found in the mother that contains colostrum, is responsible in the development of antibodies in the infant,” Mission stressed.
Mission said breastmilk makes the baby healthier compared to bottle-fed babies, which is being discouraged.

Another subject for discussion during tomorrow’s PIA forum is the compliance among establishments or offices to RA 10028 or the Lactation in the Workplace as the law mandates every office or establishment to establish a breastfeeding area for lactating mothers.

“Since we have to understand that mothers have to work to augment family income especially in these hard times, we are turning to establishments to do their share and put up a breastfeeding area to encourage mothers to practice breastfeeding,” Mission bared.

Mission lauded the SM City Mall for putting up its own breastfeeding station. “We call on other establishments to follow suit,” she ended. (PIA 7-Cebu)