by magnolia_eic | May 18, 2010 | Headlines, National News
PRESIDENT Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s policies and programs increased the exclusive breastfeeding rate almost four times and ushered in a new direction for breastfeeding as an important part of public healthcare and national development.
Dra. Elvira Henares-Esguerra, founding president of Children for Breastfeeding Inc. (CfB), said the President’s compassion and political will saved breastfeeding from the brink of extinction, reversing 20 years of frustration from among its advocates.
The Chief Executive received last Monday a copy of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) promoting the importance of breastfeeding between the Philippine Council for Health Research and Development (PCHRD) of the Department of Science and technology (DOST) and the Children for Breastfeeding Inc. (CfB). The MOU was presented to her by Esguerra and PCHRD Executive Director Dr. Jaime Montoya in simple ceremonies last Monday morning at Malacanang’s Rizal Hall.
Esguerra said the MOU further promotes researches in breastfeeding that include the intake of virgin coconut oil for breastfeeding mothers to increase the anti-microbial properties of human breast milk.
In 2005, the President issued Presidential Proclamation No. 1113 promulgating the yearly celebration of World Breastfeeding Week every August 1-7. (PIA-Bohol)
by magnolia_eic | May 18, 2010 | National News
The wicked El Nino failed to dampen livestock and poultry subsectors as both managed to post modest gains in the first quarter of the year, the Department of Agriculture (DA) said.
In a recent report by the Bureau of Agricultural Statistics, it said livestock subsector grew by 0.51% in the first three months of 2010, with production increases noted for hog, goat and cattle.
Meanwhile, dairy production posted a hefty 17.22% output gain.
On the other hand, the poultry subsector expanded 2.02% on the back of increases in chicken and chicken egg production of 1.81% and 4.43%, respectively.
These two subsectors accounted for close to 30% of the total agricultural output for the first quarter, BAS said. (PIA-Bohol)
by magnolia_eic | May 17, 2010 | Headlines, National News
A proposed bill that seeks to roll out mature and potentially important technologies generated by government-funded researches to the market was finally enacted into law recently after almost three years into legislation.
President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo signed Republic Act 10055, otherwise known as “An Act Providing the Framework and Support System for the Ownership, Management, Use, and Commercialization of Intellectual Property Generated from Research and Development Funded by Government and for Other Purposes” or the “Philippine Technology Transfer Act of 2009” into a full fledged national statute on March 23 at the Malacañang Palace. The new law is expected to serve as the blueprint for a nationally coordinated technology transfer framework of government-funded researches.
Department of Science and Technology Secretary Estrella Alabastro said that the whole science community is overwhelmed with this development.
Sec. Alabastro said that this new law, a landmark policy on technology transfer will revolutionize the commercialization of technologies generated by researches funded by the taxpayer’s money. (PIA-Bohol)
by magnolia_eic | May 17, 2010 | Headlines, National News
THE Department of Health (DOH) strongly urged all government agencies to refrain from establishing partnerships with and accepting donations from tobacco manufacturers as this goes against the country’s commitment to the World Health Organization (WHO)
Framework Convention on Tobacco Control.
Health Secretary Esperanza Cabral explained that these donations and partnerships are packaged as corporate social responsibility (CSR) programs of the tobacco industry”,. She stressed that under Republic Act 9211 or the Tobacco Regulation Act of 2003, such CSR activities which involve the indiscriminate display of the tobacco manufacturer’s name or brand name may constitute a prohibited form of advertising.
She also reminded the public that RA 9211 also bans cigarette and tobacco companies from sponsoring any sport, concert, cultural or art event which will involve advertisements of their products. Despite these restrictions however, Secretary Cabral observed that it had not deterred the tobacco industry from advertising its deadly products, albeit through
alternative methods.
“A stricter implementation of RA 9211’s provisions on advertising and promotions which will plug the loopholes currently being used by the tobacco industry can help save a lot of lives in the future,” Cabral added. (PIA-Bohol)
by magnolia_eic | May 14, 2010 | Business, Foreign Exchange, Headlines, National News
MERCHANDISE exports rose 43.7% in March as demand from the country’s main markets continued to recover along with the global economy.
Data from the National Statistics Office (NSO) showed that the country’s export earnings for the third month of 2010 rose to $4.18 billion from the year-ago level of $2.9 billion. On a monthly basis, exports rose 17% from $3.57 billion in February. Overall, exports jumped 42.9 % in the first quarter.
Acting Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Augusto Santos said this is the highest year-on-year increase since the National Statistics Office started compiling monthly exports statistics in 1991.
Shipments of electronics, which dominate exports and are largely assembled from imported parts, climbed 49.1% year-on-year to $2.42 billion in March after a 53.3% jump in February.
The Philippines expects exports to grow 12% and imports to rise 18% in 2010. In 2009, exports fell 21.9%, not as sharp as the government’s forecast drop of 25%.
The main electronics industry group expects shipments to grow 20% or more this year on strong demand from China and India.
The government may consider raising its 2.6%-3.6% economic growth target for 2010 amid a slew of strong indicators this year. (PIA-Bohol)
