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:

Wellness in Tourism: Puerto Princesa Underground River (PPUR): Campaign Intensifies after Winning New 7 Wonders of Nature (N7WN)

"The New 7 Wonders of Nature website describes the Puerto Princesa Underground River as reputedly the world’s longest underground river system, featuring an 8.2-kilometer navigable river through an impressive limestone landscape. It joins the Amazon in South America, Halong Bay in Vietnam, Iguazu Falls in Argentina and Brazil, Jeju Island in South Korea, Komodo in Indonesia, and Table Mountain in South Africa on the exclusive list after a two-year vote among 28 finalists that concluded last 11 November 2011.

As of October 2011, 196,959 foreign and local visitors have been tallied at the Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park (PPSRNP) for the year, already more than the 172,827 visitors for the entire 2010."

'via Blog this'DOT, Puerto Princesa City gear up for Underground River tourism boom after win:

Wellness in Culture: Conference on Cultural Renewal to be held @ CCP on Dec 3 by Philanthropists, Art patrons, Cultural Workers, Writers & Artists

"Media/education and the new communication technologies: How may media promote an ethical and just society whose culture — both social and artistic — is part of their environment, embedded in their very lives as craftsmanship, as habit? How do the social media affect society? How may the new communication technologies elevate cultural, political sensibility, improve literacy, thinking, social responsibility, sense of nation?

Culture and the state: How will the state assist in cultural development, through education, a viable cultural program recognizing diversity? As in France, does the Philippines need a Ministry of Culture? There is so much anarchy in beautification, in the naming of streets, the placing of public monuments — how will these be standardized, regulated? How may towns, cities, on their own — enhance cultural awareness through museums, festivals, the writing of local histories?"

'via Blog this'Nation and culture - HINDSIGHT By F Sionil Jose - The Philippine Star » Lifestyle Features » Arts and Culture:

Arts and culture: What is the function of the arts in the formation of identity, in unifying a people and imparting to them a sense of nation, ethics and justice?

Culture and society: How may the awareness of social attitudes and cultural values be developed further and encouraged and how, in a larger sense, will the work of cultural workers be institutionalized and supported by the people? For instance, if people can spend for cigarettes, beer and cockfighting, how may some of that money be channeled towards cultural development?

Wellness in Science & Technology: 1st Philippine Science Digital Library Development by STII or DOST now in Zamboanga

"Regional Information Technology and E-Commerce Committee in Zamboanga Peninsula (RITECC-IX) is launching the Department of Science and Technology-Science and Technology Information Institute's (DOST-STII) STARBOOKS in Zamboanga City. STARBOOKS which stands for Science and Technology Academic and Research-Based Openly-Operated Kiosk Stations is the first Philippine Science Digital library development by the STII or DOST.

DOST Regional Director Brenda Nazareth-Manzano said Thursday the STARBOOKS project, which is funded by her office under its Grants-In-Aid (GIA) Program, will be launched on November 23. RITECC-IX is a special committee on Information and Communication Technology (ICT) under the Regional Development Council. Manazano said STARBOOKS is a stand alone, onsite research kiosk that provides free access on science and technology (S&T) information for academic and livelihood use."

'via Blog this'RITECC, Department of Science and Technology to launch STARBOOKS project | Sun.Star:

Wellness in Environment: Mindoro Resources Received Awards Reflecting Company's Commitment to Excellence in Social, Environmental, Health & Safety

"The awards were made by the Presidential Mineral Industry Environmental Award Selection Committee, led by the Philippines Department of Environment and Natural Resources Mines and Geosciences Bureau, Forest Management Bureau, Philippine Mine Safety and Environment Association and the Chamber of Mines of the Philippines.

The Presidential Mineral Industry Environmental Award for Mineral Exploration Category is the highest performance award in the combined fields of Health, Safety, Environment and Community Relations programs.

The Best Mining Forest Contest award recognizes the Company's work in reforestation and rehabilitation, its adopt a river project, water source protection program, the newly established eco farm, drill site rehabilitation, biodiversity consideration, as well as its other environmental programs.

The Safest Exploration Award recognizes the Company's commitment to occupational and environmental safety standards in all of its exploration activities."

'via Blog this'Steel Guru : Mindoro Resources unit wins top 3 awards for environment and safety programs - 236016 - 2011-11-16:

Wellness in Education: To Improve Performance of 63,000 plus Undernourished School Children, DepEd to Pursue Feeding Program

"According to Education Secretary Armin Luistro, the feeding program aims to address under-nutrition and short-term hunger syndrome among public schoolchildren who do not eat breakfast and walk long distance to reach school. “This is the most vulnerable group who finds it hard to pay attention to the lessons in class because of hunger and are in danger of dropping out if no intervention is made,” Luistro explained.

The DepEd chief added that the program — which was initially implemented in Pangasinan, Bohol and Lanao del Norte — will be expanded to 15 more divisions during the school year. Based on the prevalence of under-nutrition in these divisions and the capability of school heads to manage and administer the program, the new beneficiaries are schools from the divisions of Quirino, Zambales, Batangas, Occidental Mindoro, Oriental Mindoro, Sorsogon, Kabankalan City, Bacolod City, Negros Oriental, Leyte, Zamboanga del Norte, Davao Oriental, Sultan Kudarat, Surigao del Norte, Kalinga, Maguindanao, and Quezon City."
"

'via Blog this'Wellness for Peace: Climate Change: Wellness in Education: To Improve Performance of 63,000 plus Undernourished School Children, DepEd to Pursue Feeding Program: