On June 30, the local government of Los Baños launched the activities for the 40^th Nutrition Month celebration themed Kalamidad ay Paghandaan, Gutom at Malnutrisyon Agapan during the flag ceremony held at the new Municipal Hall grounds.

Ms. Reyes (fourth from left) was awarded a Certificate of Recognition during the launching of the Nutrition Month celebration (Photo courtesy of the Los Baños Public Information Office).

Dr. Maria D. Cerezo, the nutrition officer of Los Baños, stressed the importance of increased awareness and higher level of preparedness among Los Baños residents to prevent hunger and worsening of malnutrition cases during calamities.

Dr. Cerezo enjoined all community stakeholders, especially the local government units, non-government organizations, and funding agencies, to put greater premium on nutrition when planning and preparing for calamities and disasters.

The nutrition officer also shared that this year’s nutrition month theme was an entry from Los Baños. Dr. Cerezo explained that the theme entry submitted by Desiree P. Reyes, a dietician at HealthServ, bested about 400 other entries from different parts of the country. Ms. Reyes was recognized during the launching ceremonies.

Dr. Cerezo invited everyone especially the schools and various institutions to take part in activities to be held this July:

• July 1. Motorcade
• July 7. Provincial launching of Nutrition Month celebration in Sta. Cruz, Laguna Barangay Nutrition Scholars (BNS) Convention at the Sta. Cruz Cultural Center in Sta. Cruz, Laguna
• July 8-29. Pabasa sa Nutrisyon in Los Baños barangays
• July  (2^nd Week).  Food Production and Home and Community Garden Contest in all Los Baños barangays
• July 17. Presentation of the Los Baños nutrition situation during the sessions of the federation of barangay captains
• July 28. Nutrition Corner Contest in all barangays of Los Baños
• July 29. Nutrition Jingle Contest at the Municipal Covered Court, Level 1 Department of Education (Elementary); Level 2 Daycare Children Center and Rural Improvement Club Children Center
• July 30. Lecture on nutrition emergencies for affected families in lakeshore barangays at the Los Baños Nutrition Office Culminating activities for the Nutrition Month 2014 at the Municipal Covered Court

For inquiries, contact the Los Baños Nutrition Office at 0916 220 7319.

Kabalikat Civicom, a Los Baños based civic organization, will represent Los Baños in the Provincial Disaster Preparedness Competition on July 16 at the Laguna Sports Complex in Sta. Cruz, Laguna. The competition is part of the activities lined up by the PNP Provincial Office for the 2014 National Disaster Consciousness Month.

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The Los Baños PNP conducted a feeding activity at Brgy. Bayog Daycare Center on June 30. Around 25 daycare students benefitted from the feeding activity as part of the Los Baños PNP Police Community Relations (PCR) activities.

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On June 2-6 and June 16-20, the Los Baños PNP assisted Los Baños private and public schools in ensuring order and security in school zones as part of the Balik Eskwela project. The Los Baños PNP also held earthquake and fire drills at the Los Baños Central Elementary School in Brgy. Timugan during the opening of classes to prepare and/or review students, teachers, and school administrators on what to do during emergency situations.

by Ricarda Villar

Approximately 700 applicants and 70 companies participated in the quarterly job fair on June 27 held at the Public Employment Service Office (PESO) located at the Gabaldon Compound near the Immaculate Concepcion Parish in Brgy. Baybayin in Los Baños, Laguna.

PESO will be holding another job fair on July 25 (Friday). Applicants are advised to bring their resume. The registration for the job fair will start at 8am.

Further, PESO will also facilitate hiring for the following:

• VAC Auto Components (HS Graduates) production operators on July 11;
• Verde (domestic helpers) on July 15;
• JEDEGAL in Taiwan (factory workers) on July 16; and
• Every Friday – skilled workers (laborers, carpenters, mason, steel fabricators, etc.)

Registration starts at 8 am at the PESO Office. For inquiries, contact PESO at (049) 536-5976.

The Los Baños Group (LBG), Incorporated will hold a “Takbo ng Bayan para sa Kabataan” on May 18, 4 am at the UP Los Baños Baker Hall.

According to Randolph Tolentino, the activity head and one of the prime movers of the LBG Inc., the fun run aimed to gather funds for high school scholarships. Tolentino explained that LBG Inc. members have observed that several elementary students are not able to pursue high school because of financial constraints. The organization will be coordinating with the Los Baños National High School and Los Baños Community National High School in identifying deserving students for the scholarship.

LBG Inc. is a volunteer organization focused on doing community service, cleaning programs, relief operations, medical missions, among others. The organization was registered at the Securities and Exchange Commission in January 2013 and is a recognized civil society organization as well as a member of the Municipal Development Board.

The organization currently has 30 active members. LBG Inc. membership is granted to individuals who have taken part in three organization activities. Organization IDs will then be issued. LBG Inc. does not require any membership fee.

Registration fee is PhP 200 for the 2K, 5K, and 10K categories. Participants may register at the:

• Gender and Development (GAD) Office of the New Municipal Bldg. during office hours; 
• Leo’s Photo along Lopez Avenue from 9 am – 6 pm;
• Timog Greens and Grill at Brgy. Timugan along the National Highway from 1 pm – 11 pm;
• Red Gloves Boxing Gym at Junction from 8 am –  5 pm; and 
• UPLB Baker Hall from 4-6 pm daily until May 17.

For inquiries, contact Randolph Tolentino at 0917 3783057.