Tag Archives: English

Bay brgy health centers strengthen prenatal health care services

Posted on by
Reply

by Paula Nicole A. Zaldivar

BAY, LAGUNA – Pregnant women of Brgys. San Agustin, San Nicholas, Puypuy, and Paciano are all encouraged to go to their respective Barangay Health Center (BHC) to avail the free pre-natal health services for them.

According to Amor Macandile, the midwife for Brgy. San Agustin and San Nicholas, the BHC offers free injection of tetanus toxoid vaccine. Tetanus toxoid is given to expecting mothers during their fifth month of pregnancy to protect the mother and child from complications caused by tetanus.

Aside from tetanus toxoid vaccine, the BHC also distributes ferrous sulfate in tablet form. The ferrous sulfate tablet is given to mothers during their fourth month of pregnancy and is taken until two months after giving birth for mothers to avoid iron deficiency anemia.

On the other hand, Gloria Larios, the midwife for Brgy. Paciano and Puypuy mentioned that they also give Vitamin A to the mothers who just gave birth. It is given to the mothers a month after their delivery to improve the vitamin A content of their breast milk. Vitamin A is essential for the functioning of immune system and proper growth of the baby.

Macandile reiterated the importance of getting these services because they want to avoid complications for the mother and the child as well. Since it is free, she said that there is no harm in going to their respective health centers to have their prenatal checkup and have the said health services.

Another health issue that the Barangay Health Centers try to address is when pregnant women give birth in their own homes or resorting to “hilot”. Larios said that they really try to convince mothers to have their delivery in hospitals or at least in a lying-in clinic. This will avoid the mothers from complications that can happen during delivery. Pregnant women with diabetes, hypertension and high blood are especially in high risk, Larios said.

Despite that, Larios commented that there were improvements in terms of mother’s participation Brgy. Puypuy. Most of the pregnant women are now going to the health center to have their weekly checkup. Thanks to the barangay health worker who monitors and convinces the mothers to go to the center, Larios added.

Larios, being a midwife since 1990, said that she have witnessed the benefits that these projects have given to their people. She is thankful that today, more medicine and immunizations can be offered by the health center.

The schedule of the prenatal checkup is every Monday while the immunization of babies is held every Wednesday at the Barangay Health Centers.

Bureau of Soils, MAO, farmers join hands to help Brgy. Dila recover from 2011 blight

Posted on by
Reply

by  Ma. Kathleen C. Cabal

After the barangay was hit by a blight on October 2011, the farmers were of Barangay Dila in Bay, Laguna are still having several problems with their primary source of income, according to Menandro Curibot, one of the councilors and farmers of Barangay Dila.

A blight is a plant condition after being infected by an infectious pest causing the death of the plant tissues. “Dadalawang kaban lang ang nakuha ko ‘nun. Dapat mga 100 hanggang 120 sako ang aanihin namin. Humigit kumulang Php 50,000.00 yung nalugi sa akin”, Curibot shared.

Because of the blight, some of the farmers decided to temporarily lease their lands and opted to go for other sources of income. “Pinaupahan muna namin ng dalawang cycle yung lupa namin. Sa landscape at gardening na lang muna ako ngayon, pero marami na rin kasing ka-kumpetensya sa landscaping ngayon,” he added.

The barangay submitted a proposal for the soil testing analysis November last year. Out of the 200 hectares of rice field in the barangay, the Bureau of Soils, in cooperation with the Municipal Agricultural Office, approved 50 hectares for soil testing. Results showed that the main problem of the rice field is zinc deficiency, thus soil conditioning was granted to the land owners.

Councilor Menandro Curibot of Brgy. Dila, Bay, Laguna while talking about being thankful to the Home Owners Association of Bayview Subdivision for allowing them to use the empty lots for their Barangay Garden.

Also one of the major programs funded by their barangay to boost their farming and gardening livelihood is their ongoing Barangay Garden. This aims to extend help to the farmers, gardeners and other residents from their barangay who needs support after they failed to harvest their crops last cycle.

Barangay watchman Vergilio Policarpio of Brgy. Dila, Bay, Laguna is serving as one of the caretakers of their Barangay Garden.

Headed by their barangay captain, the councilors and barangay watchmen are working together to maximize the free use of some of the private empty lots at Bayview Subdivision, Bay, Laguna. These lots were transformed into a temporary barangay garden where they can plant root crops and vegetables to consume or to sell.

“Binebenta sa palengke yung iba hanggang sa bumalik yung capital. Sobra-sobra naman ito kaya yung mga matitira binibigay na sa mga nangangailangan”, he explained.

Some of the vegetables planted in the Barangay Garden are pechay, mustasa, and talbos ng kamote. Another program that seeks to help the farmers is the ongoing rebuilding of the Dila Multipurpose Cooperatives for Progress, Inc.

Councilor Curibot, also the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the cooperative, explained the need for the license renewal of the cooperative, saying that most of the members of the cooperative are also farmers.

“Agricultural Cooperative kasi talaga kami. Ang taas nga lang ng standards ng CDA (Cooperative Development Authority) ngayon kaya medyo nahihirapan kami sa license renewal. Pero konti nalang naman ang kulang namin. Yung financial statement tinatapos na rin namin ngayon,” he reported.

Farm managers of Barangay Dila are now also shifting from pure rice planting to ornamentals, herbs and spices since the income decline in rice production.

“Nagiging diverse na rin kami ngayon. Yung mga gardeners naman dito, considered as farmers rin. Nag-umpisa na kami magtanim ng mga Bougainvillea. Tapos pinasok na rin namin ang ornamentals. Ngayon naman, pumapasok na kami sa herbs and spices.”

He also said that some of the farmers decided to stick with rice planting despite the inclome decline mainly because they do not want the rice production in their barangay to decline.

“Marami rin kasi ditong farm managers. Yung ibang mga farmers dito, mga emergency farm laborers lang. Kasi siyempre tututok ka dun [sa rice planting] pero maganda naman ang kita sa ornamental. Para lang mapanatili yung rice planting kaya nasa rice planting pa yung iba.”

Brgy. Dila, Bay to receive batch 2 of organic fertilizers today

Posted on by
Reply

BAY, LAGUNA – In response to the Bureau of Soils’ recommendation from the most recent soil analysis, Brgy. Dila turns to organic fertilizers to condition and improve the quality of their farmland.

Brgy. Councilor Menard Curibot discussed the Zinc deficiency of their soil. “Maasim na kasi at kulang na sa nutrisyon ang mga lupa,” he explained. The implementation of the project developed by the Bureau of Soils, Municipal Agriculture Office, and the LGU first started with a soil test last December 2011 while the recommendation and distribution is in process this January 2012 until present time.

February 2, 2012 marks the date of distribution of the next batch fertilizers at the Dila Multipurpose Coop Inc. in Purok IV Windvalley.

Two hundred and fifty (250) sacks of vermicompost delivered at Dila Multipurpose Coop Inc. in Brgy. Purok IV Windvalley.

Farmers are encouraged to use organic fertilizers since the use of chemical fertilizers can be a threat to the health. By using organic fertilizers, farmers can generate more income since organic fertilizers are cheaper. In terms of harvesting, improved quality of yields is expected when using organic fertilizers.

The Bureau of Soils provided the fertilizers to be applied in the respective land areas. They recommend the use of one litre of Trichoderma harzianum-compost activator, one Microbial Inoculant (250g/pack), ten (10) bags of Vermicompost, one bag of Triple 1-4 and one bag of Urea per hectare to fully nourish the soil.

One box of Trichoderma Microbial inoculant from UP Los Baños ready to be distributed to farmers.

According to Zenaida A. Lansigan, the agricultural technologist in charge of mixing of fertilizers for the application, the use of organic fertilizers addresses Zinc deficiency, leads to better conditioning of soil resulting to a land more conducive for farming.

The Bureau of Soil targets 50 hectares of land in Brgy. Dila divided in to two 25-hectare sites in Purok IV Windvalley and  Purok III care. Thiry-six (36) farmers, 19 from Purok IV and 19 from Purok III, will be the initial beneficiaries for the program.

Chosen site for application of organic fertilizers in Purok IV Windvallley.

According to Curibot, the quarterly evaluation of the lands will be conducted to monitor the effectiveness of the fertilizers. All finding will be recorded to serve as basis for the improvement and/or the larger scale implementation for the program in Brgy. Dila.

by Therese Marie L. Quilnat

DAR assists Brgy. Dila ARC with coop license renewal

Posted on by
Reply

by Ma. Kathleen C. Cabal

A Board of Directors Meeting of Dila Multipurpose Cooperative for Progress, Inc. (DMCP, Inc.) was held in Brgy. Dila, Bay, Laguna on January 27.

Councilor Menandro Curibot, the Board of Directors chairperson, together with Board of Directors members Emeterio Masa and Wensislao Arboleda were in attendance. Municipal Agrarian Reform Officer Ramon Sacramento, together with Mr. Danilo Yjares and Ms. Annaly Cutay from the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) also took part in the meeting.

The board tackled one of the major concerns regarding the cooperative’s license renewal at the Cooperative Development Authority (CDA). Since the cooperative has not been able to accomplish the requirements prescribed by the CDA for the past two years, they were given a notice for the dissolution of the cooperative.

According to BOD chairperson Curibot, the operation of the cooperative is still ongoing despite their license situation. They are also currently addressing their problems in collection and their need for cost-cutting. The Department of Agrarian Reform, through Municipal Agrarian Reform Officer Sacramento, is currently assisting the DMCP, Inc. in bringing them back in stable condition.

The said cooperative received a Php250,000.00 grant from DAR as part of the Agricultural Development Fund which is being used to help the cooperative members and to continue the operation of the cooperative.

Barangay Dila, Bay, Laguna is one of the areas identified by DAR as an Agrarian Reform Community.

An Agrarian Reform Community (ARC) is a “barangay or cluster of barangays where there is a critical mass of farmers and farm workers awaiting the full implementation of Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program or CARP.”

With Barangay Dila being an ARC, it became a priority area for DAR to provide projects. In particular, it became a part of the Agrarian Reform Infrastructure Support Program II or ARISP II. This program will be having a series of incoming projects for the areas identified by DAR. Included in the areas identified by DAR in Bay, Laguna are Brgy. Puypoy, Brgy. Maitim and Brgy. San Antonio. These communities received land titles or certificate of land ownership awards from DAR.

As emphasized by Municipal Agrarian Reform Officer Sacramento, “Siyempre it is not enough na mabigyan mo sila ng lupa. Anong gagawin nila para maging productive ‘yon? Kailangan nila ng mga support services”. These support facilities include farm to market roads, irrigation, potable water supply, and post harvest facilities. Sacramento also stressed that with the Department of Agrarian Reform, “hindi lang lupa at support services ang binibigay but also dignity as the new land owners”. He explained that the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program or CARP already ended on June 2009. What is currently being implemented is the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program with Extension and Reform (CARPER).

CARPER is a five-year extension of CARP “which aims to accomplish the backlogs in terms of land distributions and support services.” Sacramento clarified that CARP is not the sole responsibility of DAR. There are several agencies listed as CARP implementing agencies including Department of Agriculture, National Irrigation Authority, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Department of Public Works and Highways, Department of Trade and Industry, Land Registration Authority, Land Bank of the Philippines, and Department of Labor and Employment – Bureau of Rural Workers.

DMCP, Inc. started as Samahang Nayon on October 10, 1970. The said cooperative was registered at the CDA 18 years later. As of today, the cooperative have a total of 246 members. The cooperative currently has 45 active members.

They have already submitted all the necessary requirements for license renewal December 29 last year and they are set to submit the audited financial statement today at the CDA.

Bay BHWs, ChildFund PH hold Family Day for batch 2 mother class participants

Posted on by
Reply

by Paula Nicole A. Zaldivar

The second batch of Mother Class participants from Sitio 5 of Brgy. San Antonio in Bay, Laguna enjoyed a Family Day  on January 21, 2012. The event served as the culminating program for the home-based Mother Classes held every Sunday at the barangay.

The three-hour event included games, a small feast, and the awarding of token of appreciation to the Barangay Health Workers (BHW) who volunteered to become teachers for the the Mother Class.

The games facilitated during the Family Day included a vegetable relay and Pinoy Henyo on health concepts. The activities put to test what the mother-participants and their children learned during their mother class sessions. The mothers were also asked to plan a healthy menu and write recipes for their families. Prizes were given to the winners of each game.

Elizabeth Bargoda, a mother-participant during the Family Day, shared that she had fun during the activity. She said that the Family Day was a good venue for her and her family to bond and enjoy, while at the same time, learn. She, together with her daughter Valerie, was one of the winners of the vegetable relay.

The awarding held at the last part of the program recognized the six Barangay Health Worker volunteers who taught the mothers. There were 50-60 participants of the home-based Mother Class and the volunteers taught at least 10 mothers for each session.

Corazon Sarmiento, one of the recognized health workers, shared that she decided to become a volunteer mainly because she wanted to help in her own little ways. She added that it gave her fulfillment whenever she does her job as a BHW.

Sarmiento explained as well that she and her fellow volunteers were given proper training and lesson so that they will be a credible facilitator for the mother class. They even had workshop in places such as Lucban, Quezon and Batangas, together with the other volunteers of the ChildFund Philippines from the other parts of the country. These workshops and even the mother class program were funded by the Child Fund Philippines.

ChildFund Philippines is a non-government organization which aims to educate and address to the families, communities and the government different children related issues, one of which is health. They conduct seminars and workshops for their volunteers while these volunteers are those who disseminate information and conduct seminars to their local.

ChildFund Philippines was able to reach Brgy. San Antonio through their coordination with Romley Dyamante, the Community Mobilizer of the Barangay Health Center of San Antonio. The NGO provided the modules used during the Mother Classes. They also provided other resources needed for the program.

The Mother Class aimed to educate mothers on ways of taking care of their children in terms of health and knowing their children’s rights. Their topic for their first session was the Convention of the Right of the Child. They emphasized here the right of a born child to be registered and to be known through birth certificate. Their second topic, which lasted for three meetings, was about the Indigenous Cooking Practices. The session also discussed how to avoid preservatives in cooking. The last topic discussed was about Nutritious and Healthy Food. They encouraged the mothers to give and train their children to eat vegetables. They emphasized not just the cooking of vegetables but also growing them in their own backyards,

Merceditas Masarap, one of the participants of the Mother Class, claimed that she learned a lot from the Mother Class. When asked if she was able to apply the concepts and ideas taught to them, she said that she is trying to integrate what she learned slowly. “Di naman agad-agad mababago yun,kelangan dahan-dahan. Pero sinusubukan ko talagang pakainin na sila (referring to her two children) ng gulay  at ayun nga, umiwas na ko sa paggamit ng preservatives.”

Overall, both the participants and the volunteers agreed that the Mother Class was successful. Ria Abuan, one of the BHW, believed that it was successful because they were able to present a range of options for the mothers who joined their sessions. Abuan explained that there were mothers who regretted that they cannot bring their children to popular fastfood chains. After their session about preservatives, however, the mothers were able to realize that it is not really important because there are more healthy foods that they can give to their children.

This recently culminated Mother Class is the second time for the barangay. There were two sessions each month, held every Sunday. It started October 9, last year. They had five sessions until January because they did not hold classes during December.

The volunteers went on each house of Sitio 5 to invite the mothers personally. They intend to resume the Mother Class this coming February, now in a another sitio.