Peace Update: Marawi City sharing the common concern for reconciliation and understanding

"Peace stakeholders in Lanao del Sur vowed to support all peace and development initiatives in Mindanao. They made a commitment to suppress all and every negative actions that hinder the attainment of peace in Mindanao, at the same time conveyed appreciation to individuals, organizations, and international institutions in their various efforts towards the realization of lasting peace in this part of the country. The signing of the unified declaration of commitment for peace highlighted the provincial culmination program of the Mindanao Week of Peace 2011

'via Blog this'Peace advocacy | The Manila Bulletin Newspaper Online:

Wellness in Environment: Energy Development Corp (EDC) to establish Seed Bank & Arboretum using 96 endangered Philippine tree species

"The EDC, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and the municipality of Valencia recently signed a memorandum of agreement (MOA) to set up a 9.35 hectare arboretum where a collection of different rare and endemic prime trees will be propagated, according to Toni Nieva, EDC public relations supervisor. DENR Region 7 Executive Director Maxino Dichoso and EDC Senior Vice-President Agnes de Jesus endorsed the MOA to pave the way for the establishment of the arboretum. Nieva said the arboretum serves as learning and training facility for students, faculty, plant enthusiasts, ecotourists and people from various walks of life. It will also serve as a research laboratory for biological and environmental scientists. The EDC Arboretum will host the 96 species of Dipterocarp and non-Dipterocarp families. These species are categorized into threatened, vulnerable, rare and endangered status based on the rules of DENR and the International Union of Conservation of Nature."

'via Blog this'[PIA News] EDC, DENR to establish Philippines’ 1st arboretum in NegOr:

Wellness in Science & Technology: Working on Effective Integration of Genomics to concrete steps to improve quality of life & advance socio-economics

"With its universal use, the Philippine Genome Center (PGC) has six other programs aside from agriculture—Biodiversity for Drug Diversity and Bioenergy, DNA Sequencing and Genotyping Facility, Bioinformatics Core Facility, Health, and Forensics and Ethnicity. “This is an ambitious but much-needed research venture designed to create an environment and culture to encourage new discoveries and innovations in a variety of fields,” said Dr. Carmen David-Padilla, PGC executive director. Projects under drug discovery includes production of drug for pain, epilepsy and neurological disorders from venomous marine snails; development of neuroactive, antimicrobial, and anticancer drugs from microorganisms found in marine snails and sponges; and development of medicinal plants and nutraceuticals containing antioxidants, anticancer, antinfective, antidiabetic, and antihypertensive agents."

'via Blog this'Genome Center to develop superior plants, animal breeds much faster | The Manila Bulletin Newspaper Online:

Wellness in Environment: 11,000 solar bulbs stalled in 30 communities in Metro Manila in one day

"The Philippines is on its way to set a Guinness world record as civic groups, led by the Rotary Club District 3830 and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), installed more than 11,000 solar bulbs in 30 communities in Metro Manila in one day. The goal was to light 10,000 homes in low-income communities in Metro Manila Wednesday. Shelly Lazaro, president of Rotary Club of Makati San Lorenzo and the overall project manager, said the groups were able to install 11,300 solar bulb devices. The number has to be independently audited by Guinness Book of Records representatives who were on hand during the daylong event. “We are aiming for the largest grassroots green-lighting program in the world,” Lazaro said. She said this was done in Brazil a few years back with 3,000 solar bulbs installed in a day. “For the Rotary, the record is just the icing on the cake. Our aim is community service,” she said. While solar bulb technology is simple and inexpensive, it has a huge impact on the lives of those who live in slum communities."

'via Blog this'Philippines goes for solar bulbs record | Inquirer Global Nation:

Wellness in Culture: Awareness Campaign to Stop Violence Against Women Encouraged

"Initiated by the Philippine Commission on Women (PWC) and the Inter-Agency Council on Violence Against Women and their Children (IACVAWC), the campaign started on November 25 – the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women (VAW) – and will run until December 12. Through DepEd Memorandum No. 265 series of 2011, Education Secretary Armin Luistro has urged all Bureau and Regional Directors, Schools Division and City Superintendents and heads of public and private elementary and secondary schools to participate in the campaign. “The campaign focuses on information dissemination about VAW, especially the service of government agencies and NGOs to address the needs of VAW victims and survivors,” Luistro said. “It also highlights the worldwide call to end VAW,” he added."

'via Blog this'Violence against women, children highlighted | The Manila Bulletin Newspaper Online:

Wellness in Governance: DepEd to act on asbestos-laden wire gauzes in schools

"Associated Labor Union (ALU) commended the Deparment of Education (DepEd) for its positive response to the call to remove from public high schools wire gauzes containing asbestos and to stop the exposure to the substance of millions of students and teachers nationwide. The call was made upon discovery of wire gauze with three percent Chrysotile asbestos that is being used in schools. Asbestos is a banned substance in 54 countries for its carcinogenic effect. “Part of our mandate is to ensure that the learning environment does not pose any kind of threat to the well-being of our students and school officials,” Education Secretary Armin Luistro said. ALU asked Luistro to act swiftly on its call to save millions of students, teachers, non-teaching personnel and communities from primary and secondary exposure to the very dangerous asbestos dust that cause cancer and other incurable diseases."

'via Blog this'DepEd to act on asbestos-laden wire gauzes in schools | The Manila Bulletin Newspaper Online:

Wellness in Governance: Department of Agriculture advocates Organic Veggie Farming and Consumption

"“Live simply, live healthy, live naturally. Let us go organic.” This was the call made by Department of Agriculture (DA) Gawad Saka Awardee Pat Acosta, proprietor of Master Garden Organic Farm and founding member of the La Trinidad Organic Producers (LaTOP) Multi Purpose Cooperative during the DA-led Food and Organic Agriculture Investment Forum, Friday. Acosta, in his presentation dubbed, ‘Organic Agriculture: A Response to Consumer’s Health and Welfare,’ stressed that choosing between organically grown vegetables and the traditional ones, boils down to a person’s concern to his health. According to Acosta, studies show that organically produced vegetables are better sources of minerals for a healthier body. Organic veggies have five times more in minerals, especially sodium – which is said to be the hardest element to be absorbed by the human body.

Acosta admits that high cost is still an issue or concern on organic vegetables as it plays with the law of supply and demand - organically grown veggies cost more. Should there be more organic farmers, the cost of organic veggies will be lower."

'via Blog this'Philippines: DA advocates organic veggie farming and consumption: