NFA promotes I-Rice for anemia prevention in PH
CEBU CITY, May 3 (PIA) -- The National Food Authority (NFA) is pushing for the promotion of iron fortified rice (I-Rice) for the prevention of Iron Deficiency Anemia (IDA) that is prevalent among children six months to less than one year, and to all pregnant and lactating mothers in the country.
According NFA-7 information officer Lucy Rosales in an interview, the agency's massive advocacy campaign is to inform the public on the advantages in consuming I-Rice.
Rosales said NFA launched the I-Rice in 2011 in compliance with the mandatory addition of micronutrient (vitamins and minerals) to staples such as flour, cooking oil, refined sugar, and milk.
“We already had the iron-fortified flour, cooking oil, sugar, and milk. But we highly focus on rice for it is the staple food and we consume it more than three times a day,” she stated.
On the other hand, government food agencies and the NFA holds forums every now and then and participates in various food expo to inform the people about I-Rice and it’s healthy benefits for the body.
Rosales added that NFA’s I-Rice from the name itself is rich in iron content that is good in reducing the alarming anemia problem in the country especially among children.
Based on the NFA flyer, I-Rice is already available in all NFA-rice retail outlets nationwide. (mbcn-PIA 7/ Darling May Deita/ CNU Comm Intern)
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Food expo highlights I-Rice
By Hazel F. Gloria
CEBU CITY, May 3 (PIA) -- The Cebu Food and Franchising Expo 2012 at the SM-Cebu Trade Hall last week highlighted the promotion and advocacy campaign on the Iron Fortified Rice (I-Rice).
National Food Authority (NFA-7) in Central Visayas participated in the Expo to campaign for the consumption of I-Rice in compliance with Republic Act 8976 or the “Philippine Food Fortification Act” that seeks to address the alarming micro-nutrient deficiency in the country.
NFA-7 information officer Lucy Rosales said iron deficiency is a condition resulting from inadequate supply of iron in the body and it is also the most common nutritional deficiency and the leading cause of anemia.
“Iron Deficiency Anemia (IDA) is the severe depletion of iron stores which results in a low hemoglobin concentration," Rosales said.
Rosales also discussed the causes of IDA that include lack of dietary iron intake; poor iron absorption in the body; increased needs for iron due to high iron requirement for infants; adolescent girls, pregnant and lactating women; chronic blood loss; and malaria and parasitism especially hookworm infestation.
The advocacy campaign for I-Rice is to make the public more aware on the positive values of Iron Fortified Rice (I-Rice) that people need to avail.
Rosales explained that I-Rice is a mixture of white milled rice and I-Mix or iron rice premix processed through fortification. It is the addition of micro-nutrient (vitamins and minerals) in the diet, to food which is widely consumed by specific at risk groups such as school children, pregnant women and lactating mothers.
Rosales added that they attend and conduct various forums to continue campaigning of I-Rice. (mbcn-PIA-RO7 & Shiela Fe Delos Reyes/CNU COMM Intern)
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Over 7000 slots for DSWD-7 summer jobs open
By Hazel F. Gloria
CEBU CITY, May 3 (PIA) -- The Department of Social Welfare and Development Region 7 (DSWD-7), Field Office opens over 7,551 slots for summer jobs in Central Visayas this year.
In a DSWD press release, interns that are working this summer will receive a minimum regional wage rate at P275 per day for 52 days.
The department is calling on interested students, college graduates and graduates of vocational courses who are unemployed, to apply for available summer jobs this year.
As school opening is forthcoming, the DSWD in Central Visayas now accepts job applications for its Expanded Government Internship Program (GIP).
GIP is part of the Aquino Administration’s efforts to strengthen youth participation in nation building, expose them to government service, train them on life skills, and contribute to their economic well-being.
Interested applicants from the provinces of Bohol, Cebu, Negros Oriental and Siquijor, aged 18 to 30 years old, can submit their application letter and resume to the DSWD, Field Office-7 in Cebu City.
Qualified applicants will be assigned in the DSWD Field Office, centers and institutions, and communities covered by this welfare agency all over the region.
They will be asked to perform not just office works but also assist in the implementation of the numerous programs and projects of the agency.
Some of them will be assigned to do direct service through field work in communities where the DSWD projects, as well as programs are being implemented in partnership with the local government units. (mbcn/hfg/PIA-7 & DSWD-7)
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DSWD-7 recruits youths for internship this summer
By Hazel F. Gloria
CEBU CITY, May 3 (PIA) -- The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD-7) in Central Visayas currently recruits youths for its Government Internship Program (GIP), which is expected to start on May 16.
The GIP aims to initiate the youth in public service by acquainting and involving them with the new programs and projects of the government and consequently drawing support and understanding towards them.
This program also serves as a recruitment mechanism for potential public employees. Participants shall be posted into a manpower reservoir from which DSWD-7 can draw regular workforce by the time they qualify for public employment.
While doing this, DSWD can also help provide financial assistance for the youths especially during school enrollment.
In region 7, the welfare department had pre-identified and prioritized recruitment from ten local government units (LGUs) mostly cities and provinces that have organized Pag-Asa Youth Association of the Philippines (PYAP) groups.
The hired youths will assist the LGUs in their implementation of DSWD social protection programs as well as youth initiated activities in their respective municipalities.
Under GIP, the hired youths, preferably between 18 to 25 years old, either an officer or a member of the PYAP in their locality will start to work on May 16 up to June 14 covering 22 days. They are expected to receive P250.00 per day.
In a related development, the DSWD-7 will be hiring more youths, 18 to 30 years old next week for the widened coverage of its Expanded Government Internship Program which will soon cover students, college graduates and graduates of vocational courses including community youths who are unemployed, to apply for summer jobs.
Under this expanded program, applicants may start to work immediately and has to complete 52 days of work.
The hired applicants are deployed to the various centers and institutions, project sites and various field and team offices of DSWD region wide to assist in the implementation of its numerous DSWD programs and projects.
The interns who will be admitted to the program shall be provided with stipend commensurate to the region’s applicable minimum wage.
GIP is part of the Aquino Administration’s efforts to strengthen youth participation in nation building, expose them to government service, train them on life skills and contribute to their economic well-being.(mbcn/hfg/PIA-7 & DSWD-7)
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Wildlife center moves to Cantipla
By Hazel F. Gloria
CEBU CITY, May 3 (PIA) -- The Wildlife Rescue Center (WRC) of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR-7) will soon find its new home in Cantipla, Tabunan, Cebu City after more than six years in Camp 7, Minglanilla, Cebu.
As a temporary shelter of confiscated or seized wildlife from illegal traders or sellers, the WRC serves as rehabilitation and acclimatization area before the wildlife will be released to the wild or to their natural habitat.
DENR-7 regional executive director Maximo Dichoso said that the center also provides environmental awareness and encourages a certain relationship between humans and wildlife species.
Based on the inventory conducted on April 15, 2012, two heads of iguana (Iguana iguana), lizard or Varamus salvator, one cockatiel or love bird from New York City, and 27 Asian soft-shelled turtle or Coura ambroinensis are now at the center.
“We will not release these to wildlife until they get rehabilitated,” he added.
Dichoso explained that the transfer will ensure that these wildlife will get the necessary rehabilitation because the site is inside a protected area in Central Cebu Protected Landscape (CCPL).
Meanwhile, four monkeys or Philippine macaque and two snakes or reticulated python were adopted and placed in the wildlife farm owned by Annabelle Kim and James Gaite through a wildlife loan agreement.
A wildlife loan agreement is drawn between the DENR and foreign scientific research or zoological institutions for the purpose of breeding the loaned threatened, rare and endangered Philippine wildlife species.
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“Killing, destroying, inflicting injury, trading, collecting, hunting, and possessing of wildlife species is punishable under the wildlife resources conservation and protection act of 2001 or Republic Act No. 9174,” he explained.(MBCN/HFC/RAHC-PIA7,DENR-7)