In response to the problem posed by the knifefish infestation in Laguna Lake, the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) and several government units in Laguna conducted a food-processing training at the Bantay Lawa Quarters in Barangay San Antonio, Bay, Laguna last June 25, 2013.

Twenty-six participants from Los Banos and Bay learned fish processing with skills training given by resource persons from the BFAR central office.

According to Adelita Moldez, officer-in-charge of the Los Baños Municipal Agriculturist Office (MAO), the training aimed to help wives of fishermen make a livelihood out of knifefish, which fish cage operators and fishermen consider as “pests.” They were taught to turn the fish into sausages and other processed food items.

Knifefish, said to be found only in Laguna Lake, feed on fish grown in cages in the lake.  BFAR said that it used to be cultured in controlled spaces but typhoon Ondoy destroyed the nets. Since then, knifefish became a problem.

Last year, almost 2.5 tons of knifefish were taken out of the lake every week.

Francisco Rivera, president of the Municipal Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Management Council (MFARMC), said that the food-processing project requires that fishermen catch more knifefish from the lake so their wives have raw materials to process.

Meanwhile, Adan Diamante, aquaculturist at BFAR Tanay Rizal, said that through this training, knifefish would be less of a problem to fishermen around Laguna Lake, and help families have an additional source of income.

As of now, products made from knifefish are not yet popular and, therefore, difficult to sell. However, BFAR hopes to increase sales through proper education and promotion in the market.  (Vergel Joseph Arcegono)

by Miguel Alfonso P. Sta. Ana and Krizza Lei T. Amoyan

Nutrition practitioners, government representatives, and academicians are expected to gather in the University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB) for the first International Conference on Econutrition on July 4-5, 2013 at the SEARCA Auditorium in Los Baños, Laguna. The event is organized by the Institute of Human Nutrition and Food (IHNF) of the UPLB College of Human Ecology.

The conference is part of IHNF’s 25th anniversary celebration. According to Assistant Professor Angelina R. Bustos, the conference and the anniversary celebrations will be held in July despite the IHNF’s original anniversary dated May 18 to allow students to participate in the exhibits, forums, and conferences.

“Econutrition: The Nexus Among Human Nutrition, Ecology, and Economics” is the theme for the international conference. IHNF director Ma. Theresa Talavera. explains that “econutrition is the interrelationship among nutrition and human health, agriculture and food production, environmental health and economic development. The world has a growing need for food, and econutrition addresses this need by ensuring food and nutrition security worldwide.”

According to Assistant Professor Bustos, everyone is invited to attend the conference as nutrition is multi-disciplinary. Everyone will be able to relate on the issues and concepts which will be raised and presented by the experts, speakers, and the attendees themselves. Conference attendees are to pay Php 4,000 registration fee that covers conference kit, souvenir programs, and meals.

IHNF hopes that the conference benefits the public through what she referred to as “the multiplier effect”, where conference attendees who are mostly involved with the government, different NGOs, LGUs, and the academe, share concepts and information gained from the conference to the community and students they serve.

“Awareness and action from the national level down to the local government is what we hope to see,” Bustos said.

The conference can help LGUs on proposing regulations regarding nutrition. It may also help the students gain more knowledge which in time they will share to the greater population. On a personal level, an individual may gain a lot of knowledge and information on ensuring food and nutrition security.

As of June 28, about a hundred participants from different parts of the globe have pre-registered for the conference. The organizers expect the conference to be a venue for the alumni, faculty members, and students to reunite with the institute. They also envision this conference as a venue for the attendees to share updates and raise issues about econutrition and at the same time, serve as a venue for action planning for a need of intervention on econutrition.

by Rebirose Erlwin B. Pacada

The newly elected set of leaders of the city of Calamba officially held their seats in the Ceremonial oath taking and turnover ceremony on July 1, Monday morning in the City Hall of Calamba. Judge Alberto Serrano of Regional Trial Court in Calamba City led the oath taking ceremonies.

Newly elected councilors made their oath taking led by Judge Alberto Serrano.

Justin Marc SB Chipeco won as the city’s new mayor along with his running mate for vice mayor, Roseller Rizal. The members of the new set of councilors include Edgardo Catindig, Ruth Hernandez, Moises Morales, Peewee Perez, Lian Aldabe, Christian Lajara, Luis Baroro, Maria Virginia Alcasid, Jose Morel Manaig, and Santiago Atienza.

Mayor Justin Chipeco took his oath with his family by his side.

Laguna Second District Representative Joaquin Chipeco Jr., the outgoing mayor of Calamba and the father of Mayor Justin Chipeco, turned over to his son the medal of honor and the political files and documents of his term. Some of these documents include the state of local report, annual investment plan and capability development plan during the ceremonies.

Representative Chipeco, Calamba outgoing mayor, handed the official files of his term to his son.

Representative Chipeco urged the residents of Calamaba to remain united and continue to collaborate for the new aims and objectives of the incoming term of his son. He also presented the accomplishments of his term, which includes the awarding of Calamba City with the seal of good housekeeping, most business component friendly city, completion of Jose Rizal’s highest statue, and the ongoing construction of the regional government center of Laguna in the city.

Timmy Chipeco, in his first speech as Calamaba City mayor,  asked the people to give him a chance to prove that they were not wrong in electing him as their leader.

As the term of the new set of city officials begins, Calamba residents shared their expectations and identified different concerns that they hope the new set of officials can focus on.

Rosario Jervoso, a resident of Calamba, said that she wants the mayor to resolve the issue on traffic since the bridge in Parian is being renovated. Armie Latayan, a housewife, said that historical sights should be maintained like the house of Rizal since these places make Calamba well known. She also said that “ Dahil kakaupo niya pa lang as mayor, kilalanin muna n’ya ang taong nakapligid sa kanya. Mag-uumpisa kasi ang pagkakaroon ng magandang termino kung hindi lang ang namumuno ang tapat. Dapat lahat.” Carmela Marchadesch, a student, said that she expects the new mayor to focus on environmental problems since the issue in floods is worsening. She thinks it would be relevant if he will implement a project regarding the cleaning up of Laguna de Bay.

The ceremony ended with the hanging of the new mayor’s portrait as the 22nd frame in line with the previous Calamba leaders.

by Kezia Grace Jungco with reports from Aletheia G. Canubas

Mayor Caesar Perez honored the beginnings of his political career as he took oath at  Brgy. Batong Malake covered court, resuming his post as the mayor of Los Baños, Laguna.

Presidential Adviser on Political Affairs Ronald Llamas swore in the newly elected set of municipal council on June 29, 2013 at 3 pm. In his speech, Presidential Adviser Llamas encouraged the new set of officials to take part in the country’s historical new beginnings. “Sa dulo, walang magagawa ang pambansa kung babara ang LGU,” he said. (In the end, the national government cannot do anything if the LGU will hinder them.)

In his speech, Vice Mayor Procopio Alipon stated that “sa oras na ito, hinuhubad ko ang damit ng partido at sinusuot ko ang damit ng paglilingkod sa bayan ng Los Baños.”

Mayor Perez mentioned his plans to be stricter in tax payments in Los Baños. He also said that he will focus on sports development, traffic management, and the cleaning of Laguna de Bay. Mayor Perez also urged the residents of Los Baños to forget about politics since it creates division among them. “Kailangan mawala sa isip ng tao ang pulitika,. Kasi kung hindi ito mawawala, hindi mawawala ang bangayan,” he said.

Mayor Perez’s supporters and critics gave their expectations for his upcoming three-year term. “Yung babalik ang dati. Ang primary concerns niya ay ‘yung cleanliness, peace and order, at saka livelihood, “ said Brgy. Batong Malake Councilor Janos Lapiz. Councilor Lapiz also said that Mayor Perez is dedicated in his programs that he has already prepared for peace and order concerns even before taking his office.

Brgy. Baybayin Councilor Angeline Silva and Tinig ng Kababaihan President said that she is confident with the newly elected officials since most of them are her bets and has already proven their service from the past term. “Sana masuportahan lang ‘yung financial needs ang aming livelihood program. Pero confident naman ako sa kanila,” said Silva.

Re-elected Councilor Norvin Tamisin, who gained the highest number of votes among the councilors, said that he will be giving his support for good programs but will fight if the mayor is doing the wrong thing.“Pag tama, sasamahan ko. ‘Pag mali itatama ko, “ said Tamisin.

Despite the rains, representatives from various sectors of the Los Baños community attended the oath taking of the new set of officials. Present during the ceremonies were the municipal employees, representatives of the Los Baños Science Community Foundation, Inc.(LBSCFI) , UP Los Baños with the  Chancellor Rex Victor O. Cruz, Commission on Elections (Comelec), Sangguniang Barangay, Sangguniang Kabataan, Department of Education’s (DepEd), and Los Baños public and private schools with their principals, and other organizations such as the Samahan ng mga Magkakapitbahay and Tinig ng Kababaihan.

July 1 marks the first day of office of the new set of Los Baños officials.

Ulat ni Eva Joyce SP. Valenzuela and Dianne B. Ubaldo

YES-O Election was supervised by Mrs. Adelina Vista, District Coordinator and Education Program Supervisor (EPS) in Science of the Division of Laguna.

Victoria, Laguna – On June 28 (Friday) at 1:00 pm, the Youth for Environment in Schools Organization (YES-O) held their elections at Brgy. Masapang in Victoria, Laguna under the supervision of Mrs. Adelina Vista, the District Coordinator and Education Program Supervisor (EPS) in Science of the Division of Laguna.

The YES-O Laguna elections for both students and teachers is an annual activity that coincides with the submission of their Calendar of Annual Proposed Activities (CAPA).

The newly elected YES-O Student President is Roi Vincent Alporta of Pulo National High School .

The student body elected Roi Vincent Alporta of Pulo National High School as YES-O’s president for this year. “Daig ng madiskarte ang matalino. Ako po ay hindi pilot student. Ako ay Section B sa aming paaralan. Sa aking tiyaga, napili ako ng paaralan ko na maging representative sa YES-O at malaki ang pasasalamat ko rito,” Alporta said, as he convinced his fellow students to vote for him.

According to District Coordinator and Education Program Supervisor in Science of Division of Laguna Adelina Vista, YES-O is a national school organization in the Philippines recognized under the DepED Order No. 93 series of 2011 or “Strengthening Environmental Education in Public and Private Schools”. The DepEd order aimed to encourage students to participate in environmental activities and advocacies. YES-O’s mission is to encourage students to become environment-friendly individuals and to contribute in the preservation of Mother Earth by relevant programs.

Mandated programs, projects, and activities of YES-O include: Seed Bank and Nursery Establishment; Planting, Growing and Caring for Trees; Awareness Campaigns and Seminars on Environmental Issues and Actions; Outreach Programs such as Cleaning, Developing and Preserving River, Forest and Community; Solid Waste Management; No Plastic Policy; Watershed Protection and Energy Conservation; Promoting Tourism and Environmental Camps.

“I do believe that YES-O is not just a club. It is a family. I expect a harmonious relationship together with all the Yes-O officers and faculty. I know it will take pressure but I know God is always there for me. This time the YES-O would be the most interactive and competitive school organization, nurturing the hidden talents of all the students through the use of environmental advocacy,” stated President Alporta as his vision for YES-O this year.

After the election, student officers planned for the Calendar of Annual Proposed Activities (CAPA). Alporta shared that the proposed activities of Yes-O this year would be the ‘YES-trip’ featuring Laguna. “I do believe that we don’t need to go at metro just to fulfill our lust of knowledge. Laguna is full of wonders that can satisfy our fellow students, “ he said.

In addition, there would also be SCIOLYMPICS, a science-related activity and a cheerleading competition which costumes will be made by recyclable materials to showcase student’s creativity and talent.

According to Mrs. Vista, “every school must submit their proposed environmental activities for the year”, she added. This includes tree planting, solid waste management, fire drills, etc.

Moreover, there will also be follow ups to evaluate latest activities of several schools. “I’m doing follow ups because some people would plant and just leave it. The activity’s objectives are not achieved. That’s why I go to school to observe if they are really taking care of the plants. If not, they will replace another”, said Mrs. Adelina Vista.

By the end of March, each school submits their annual report which contains the activity and the percentage of the result. But for this year, the submission of reports would be by cluster due to the large number of schools in Laguna.

“Some say that destinies are like cloth, and each of us represents a thread that’s why other’s intertwines with some. Let us make everything clean and green. Thus we are not asked to change the world, we are just asked to preserve the world. Thank you!” said Pres. Alparto to his fellow young people.