by anyajulia | Oct 6, 2009 | Headlines, Local News / Bohol Balita
The Department of Trade and Industry Central Visayas Office (DTI 7) staff recently underwent a Knowledge Management (KM) Seminar-Workshop in Cebu. With the theme “Making Knowledge Work for DTI- Region 7’s Development Cooperation Projects, the seminar workshop was meant to improve the DTI efficiency of service and quality of information given to clients.
The workshop was jointly undertaken by DTI and the German Technical Cooperation known as Deutsche Gesellschaft für Technische Zusammenarbeit (GTZ) under the Private Sector Promotion Program called the Small and Medium Enterprise Development for Sustainable Employment Program (SMEDSEP). (PIA-7/DTI-7)
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by anyajulia | Oct 6, 2009 | Headlines, National News
Picture-based warnings are more effective deterrent against tobacco smoking as compared to text warnings only. This information was disclosed by Dr. Florante E. Trinidad, Technical Officer, Tobacco Free Initiative of the World Health Organization (WHO).
Dr. Trinidad pointed out during his presentation that picture-based health warnings would increase its effectiveness, make the message more noticeable and salient and help counter the branding and imagery of the package. According to him, it also engages the audience on an emotional level and communicates information to illiterate or less literate populations.
According to WHO Report on the Global Epidemic of 2008, tobacco is killing 5.4 million people per year from lung cancer, heart disease and other diseases. The country ranked 9th highest in the world for adult male smokers, based on the World Lung and the American Cancer Society findings.
The Philippines was a signatory on June 6, 2005 of WHO’s Framework Convention On Tobaco Control (FCTC), an evidence-based treaty, in existence to combat the dangers posed by tobacco usage. It aims to reaffirm the people’s right to the highest standard of health through effective information dissemination against smoking. It also advocates for the restriction of tobacco advertising, sponsorships and promotions among ratifying countries, protection of the public via information and the setting up of a highly effective method of labeling and packaging.
Proposed measures such as Senate Bill No. 2377 and House Bill 3364 are currently filed in both Houses of Congress hopefully to implement at least three things: fortify the battle against the devastating effects of tobacco use and second-hand smoke with better health warnings, ban misleading descriptors and eliminate deceptive labeling on cigarette packs which undermine public health objectives. (PNN/PIA)
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by anyajulia | Oct 6, 2009 | Headlines, National News
The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) boosts its relief efforts to reach storm victims in the country. WFP is aiming to provide food to 1 million flood-affected people in October which is expected to be the peak period for WFP’s three-month emergency response.
An estimated 2.5 million people have been affected by the floods, caused by torrential rains, including more than one million people who have been forced to flee their flooded homes and seek shelter and refuge at evacuation centres or with host families.
WFP has already begun moving more than 740 metric tons of rice which will be distributed by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) in the worst -affected areas. The agency is also gearing up to substantially expand deliveries, with a special focus on displaced families and the most vulnerable.
Since 2006, WFP has been supporting conflict-affected populations in the Southern Philippines (Mindanao), but also supports large-scale natural disaster response on a case-by-case basis. (WFP/PIA)
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by anyajulia | Oct 6, 2009 | Headlines, National News
Filipinos are now urged to use compact fluorescent lamps (CFL). This is part of the government’s “Switch to CFL” program.
CFL program is one of the seven project areas of the Philippine Energy Efficiency Project (PEEP)in line with President Gloria Macapagal’s nationwide campaign to save on fuel costs and mitigate climate change.
Free energy-saving CFL lamps will be distirbuted nationwide in exchange of the incandescent bulbs.
The “Switch to CFL” program is the first nationwide program in Asia to replace incandescent bulbs with CFLs, making the Philippines the first country in the region to be incandescent bulb-free by 2010.
The program will not only save families money but will also enable the country to save as much as P5 billion in fuel costs every year. A family can save as much as P400 a year for every incandescent bulb replaced with CFL that lasts up to 10 years.
Also, the program will reduce the country’s carbon emissions by 300,000 tons a year, thus allowing the Philippines to receive at least 200,000 tons of certified emission reduction credits annually. (PIA)
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by anyajulia | Oct 6, 2009 | Headlines, National News
President Glori Macapagal Arroyo accepts a tripartite memorandum of agreement between the Local Water Utilities Administration (LWUA), the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), and the Philippine Association of Water Districts (PAWD) on the close monitoring, management and development of watershed areas.
Under the MOA, the 3 government agencies agreed to recognize existing administrative, jurisdictional, and institutional arrangements and responsibilities over specific watersheds under prevailing laws, and contractual agreements.
The 3 agencies also agreed to execute site-specific MOAs for watershed development and management with the DENR field offices and LWUA districts and to constitute an oversight committee at the national level to monitor, evaluate, and review the progress and accomplishments of the watershed rehabilitation, protection and management activities at the program level and the site-specific project level. (PIA)
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