Wellness in Science & Technology: Region XII approved Resolution endorsing Institutionalization of Philippine Halal Laboratory & Halal Science

"DOST XII director Zenaida Hadji Raof-Laidan said the PNHLSC is the first of its kind in the country which shall serve as the country's clearing house of all Halal products manufactured and processed for domestic and international consumption for the protection of the Philippine Halal market. She further said the PNHLSC shall also serve as the center for Research, Development and Extension (RD&E), Halal Education and Training for Halal Science Incubation. It shall be recognized as the competent authority in Halal Science and shall be an accrediting body for Halal laboratories and certifying body for Halal products, Laidan pointed out. The DOST XII director disclosed that as far as the technical aspect is concerned, DOST XII has capabilities referring to the advanced Halal laboratory equipment and competent Muslim scientists." 'via Blog this'[PIA News] DOST seeks Presidential approval in institutionalizing Philippine National Halal Industry:

Wellness in Governance: Worker's Welfare: DoLE's Alternative Employment Program for Workers Affected by Closed Season of Commercial Fishing

DoLE launches alternative employment program | The Manila Bulletin Newspaper Online: Zamboanga City: "The Department of Labor and Employment (DoLE) in coordination with all the concerned stakeholders launched an alternative employment program for the thousands of workers in the sardines, fishing and canning industries affected by the closed season for commercial fishing in the region. Dubbed as Sustained Availability through Genuine and Intensified Preservation of TAMBAN (SAGIP-TAMBAN), it is a special program that provides alternative employment to the workers affected by the closed season for commercial fishing. Aside from the affected workers, the program will also provide temporary or alternative employment to their dependents through the availment of either skills trainings, livelihood or emergency employment from the government and other concerned stakeholders while their employers in the sardines, fishing and canning industries are still observing the closed fishing season. The implementation of the program shall adopt the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) scheme."

'via Blog this'

Women Cause Update: Women Negotiators Hold Positions in the GPH-MILF Peace Talks

"First there was only one: Prof. Miriam Coronel-Ferrer, University of the Philippines professor of political science, the lone woman in the Philippine Government (GPH)-Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) peace negotiations, representing GPH. This week, there were three of them across the negotiating table at the Executive Boardroom of the Royale Chulan Hotel in Kuala Lumpur, with the introduction of two consultants – Bai Yasmin Busran-Lao for the GPH peace panel and lawyer Raissa Jajurie for the MILF peace panel. It was the first time since the peace negotiations started in 1997 that the all-male MILF peace panel had a woman on their side across the negotiating table, albeit not as regular member as yet but as consultant."

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'via Blog this'MindaNews » The women in the GPH-MILF peace talks:

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: