ni Almon Kalibpatra Merep

Barangay Calo, Bay, conducted its Operation Linis last March 18. Operation Linis is a regular activity of the barangay, which is being conducted every Sunday. and it includes cleaning of the roadsides and canals. The activity started at 7 o’clock in the morning and end up at 10 am. Around 20 people joined this activity composed of barangay tanods, barangay officials, and residents of Brgy. Calo. This Sunday’s Operation Linis was conducted along the boundaries of Barangay Calo, San Nicolas, and San Augustine.

Barangay officials and tanods cutting off grass and cleared roadside in the Operation Linis site.

The barangay officials and tanod started to gather themselves in the Barangay hall around 6 am and prepared the tools. They held a meeting before they proceeded to the boundary area between Barangay Calo and San Nicolas.

After done with the boundary area of Barangay Calo and San Nicolas, the officials move to the other end of Barangay Calo, that is the boundary area between Barangay Calo and San Augustine.

Tanods deal with weeds and plant overgrowth as they clean the roadside in Calo-Augustine boundary.

In both areas that the officials went to clean, the residents nearby also helped them in cleaning. Some were even bringing their own cleaning equipments and calling their neighbors to come and help the officials and tanod.

Barangay Captain Renato R. Macahiya said that the Operation Linis started in 2002, the time since he became the chairperson of Barangay Calo.

Residents of Barangay Calo join the tanods and barangay officials in the Operation Linis.

He said that the officials never asked the residents to help them in the operation linis but the residents are informed about this activity.  “We do not want to bother the residents, but we do inform them about this activity. We want them to realize themselves about the important of a clean environment,” Brgy. Captain Macahiya explained.

Though the activity is scheduled every Sunday, it is being done only when needed. “I usually call for a meeting within the week if I want the Barangay to conduct the operation linis. The schedule is made regular, just to make sure that all the Barangay officials will always be ready to give their time on Sunday morning to do the cleaning duty,” Macahiya said.

According to Mr. Efren Villena, the Barangay Secretary, the barangay also accepts requests from the residents to clean their surroundings, as long as it is not a private subdivision. “The services that we give to the residents that make requests are also free,” he added.

Aside of Operation Linis, there are also River Clean-up and Clean-up drive as parts of the regular cleaning activities of Barangay Calo. The latter two clean-up activities are conducted once a month, and could be twice in special cases.

by Paula Nicole A. Zaldivar

BAY, LAGUNA – A bloodletting activity will be conducted at Brgy. Dila on February 25, 2012 in cooperation with Philippine Red Cross, the bloodletting will be held at Bay Central School, beside the barangay hall of Brgy. Dila.

Ms. Edna Curibot, the Barangay Nutrition Scholar (BNS), coordinated with the Philippine Red Cross. Curibot explained that the barangay organized the second bloodletting activity inspired by the success of October 2011’s first bloodletting.

This is the second time for the barangay. Though there are still some details to be straightened out,  assured that the blood donation will happen no matter what.

Fifteen blood donors from the barangay was recorded in October last year. Several residents were willing to donate blood, however,  health complications hindered them from being qualified as a blood donor.

For this month’s bloodletting activity, the barangay aims to exceed the previous number of qualified donors. Brgy. Councilor Menard Curibot said that the teachers and staff of Bay Central School have expressed their interest of donating. He hopes that most of them will be qualified donors. Councilor Curibot explained that they are conducting house visits to encourage the resident to take part in the bloodletting.

The purpose of the blood donation is to help their ka-barangay who are in need of blood. Councilor Curibot mentioned that there was a time when they had to borrow a Blood Donors Card from the residents of other barangay when they needed blood for one of the residents of Brgy. Dila.

A Blood Donors Card is given to those who have successfully donated blood to Red Cross.  Donors can present this card to any Red Cross Blood Service Facilities with the blood request from hospital whenever he/she or any members of his family and friends need blood. Blood Donors Card holders are in priority whenever they need blood.

“Yung mga taong kailangan ng dugo dito sa amin, ‘di na kailangang lumapit pa sa ibang barangay. Kami-kami na ang magtutulungan. Marami din kasi ang nangangailangan dito, tulad nyan, may isa kaming ka-barangay na dina-dialysis,” said Councilor Curibot. Still, he emphasized that it is the donors’ prerogative if he/she would like to give help and lend his/her card.

Councilor Curibot, a donor himself said that he will be willing to lend his card since he feels like it is his moral responsibility. He explained that it will just be one of the small things he can do to help other people. He also said that aside from helping others, it will also benefit his health.

Part of the promotion of the blood donation is letting people aware of the benefits of donating blood and educating the residents about the Blood Donors Card.

For fitness buffs out there, mark February 26, 2012 on your calendars!

The Makiling Center for Mountain Ecosystem, UP Los Banos (UPLB) will be holding the Maquiling Quest: Makiling Traverse Trail Run.

The route will start at Sto. Tomas, Batangas, and will end at UPLB.

For registration and other inquiries, email [email protected] or telefax (049) 536-2637. You can also visit the Pinoy Fitness site for more.

The Los Baños municipality is making primary healthcare more accessible and convenient to the communities by establishing ambulatory units all over the town.

The 24-hour ambulatory clinics will render free medical services for simple and emergency cases, such as asthma attacks, birth labors, gastrointestinal problems, and skin diseases.

The municipality plans to provide one ambulatory clinic for two barangays, which make up a cluster. The first of these ambulatory clinics is targeted in Brgy. Timugan and Brgy. Putho during the first half of 2012.  Already, the LGU has grouped the 14 barangays in Los Baños into clusters.

by Heidi Mendoza

Children 6 years old and below are now being given their very own type weight watcher’s program.

Operation Timbang of the Los Baños Nutrition Office aims to weigh and categorize children based on their Body Mass Index. This will help health officers identify kids who are malnourished.

A total of 24 Barangay Nutrition Scholars are now conducting house-to-house surveys. Children found to be either malnourished or undernourished will be asked to participate in the municipality-wide feeding program this April 2012.

by Jill Buenaobra