Best performing Local Government Units recognized for Safety Seal implementation

MANILA—Quezon City, Dasmariñas City, Cavite, and Bambang, Nueva Vizcaya led the nine local government units (LGUs) that were recognized for their outstanding achievement in issuing Safety Seals to business establishments during the Recognition of Best Performing Local Government Units in the Safety Seal Certification Program, VaxCertPH Program, and National Vaccination Day held on 22 March 2022 at the SM Mall of Asia, Pasay City. 

  

Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Secretary Ramon Lopez commended these LGUs for their untiring efforts in implementing the Safety Seal Certification Program that was launched almost a year ago by DTI, Departments of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), Health (DOH), Labor and Employment (DOLE), and Tourism (DOT) in compliance with Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) Resolution No. 87.   

  

“LGUs cover the majority of establishments, and recognizing the best performing among them is our simple way of showing our deepest appreciation for all their efforts, particularly in advocating for the Safety Seal and in broadening its availment in the face of the difficulties considering it is only voluntary,” Secretary Lopez added. 

 

However, Secretary Lopez remarked that this recognition does not mean that the job of our LGUs and other agencies is over. “We are reminded that even though the Philippines is now under Alert Levels 1 and 2, and classified as low-risk, it is still important that we ensure continued compliance with minimum public health standards, and encourage our constituents to get vaccinated and be boosted. With everyone’s help and cooperation, let us hope that more will be added to the 63 million fully-vaccinated and 10 million boosted Filipinos.”  

  

“Moreover, let me also take this opportunity to thank our private sector partners for working with us in this initiative and for the vigilance in complying with health protocols to ensure the safety of their employees and their customers,” Secretary Lopez said in appreciation for the private sector’s immediate support especially for 3Cs establishments like food establishments, supermarkets, groceries, drug stores, and personal care establishments despite the Safety Seal being voluntary. 

 

In this fight against the pandemic, said the trade chief added, “The country has proven that collective efforts among the government, the private sector, and the Filipino people are very important in the pursuit of recovery and in ensuring that Filipino lives and livelihoods are protected. While we hope for the complete easing of restrictions, we need to ensure that it is safe for people to go out. I believe we can achieve this the soonest if we continue working together as one.”

DTI helps small businesses facilitate product registration and compliance in MIMAROPA

In order to ensure that products from the MIMAROPA region are of the best quality and are safe for consumers, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) MIMAROPA has assisted over 300 micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in acquiring the fundamental documentary requirements related to market access.  

As of March 2022, 114 MSMEs from all over the region have already secured a License-to-Operate (LTO) from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The FDA-LTO is an authorization given to establishments that grant them the permission to undertake a trade or carry out a business activity.  

Moreover, with the help of DTI, 12 MSMEs in the region have also secured a Certificate of Product Registration (CPR) from the FDA which approves and registers products before they are sold in the market. 

Since 2017 on the other hand, DTI MIMAROPA has assisted 259 MSMEs in their Trademark Registration with the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines. 

Leading to the securement of these regulatory documents, DTI MIMAROPA provides free food safety management training, SSOP, and cGMP Writeshop, label printing, laboratory testing (Microbiological and Nutritional), barcode application, Regional Integrated Product Development Assistance (RIPDA), and other necessary product development and market access documents that are in line with globally recognized standards.  

“We share the same vision with the OTOP Next Gen Program of transforming thriving local communities into globally competitive hubs of entrepreneurs and their market-ready products,” said DTI MIMAROPA Regional Director Joel B. Valera in an interview. 

The Presidential Adviser on Entrepreneurship Supports “Alert Level 0”

With the possibility of an “Alert Level Zero” , Presidential Adviser on Entrepreneurship Joey Concepcion put forward his suggestions on what would constitute mandates for the private sector under the new proposed category of the Philippines’s alert level system.

“I support the move,” said the Go Negosyo founder, adding that he believes that masks need not be necessary in outdoor situations, except when physical distance is not possible, such as when people are gathered during political rallies.

He also suggested rolling it out first in Alert Level 1 areas, and doing so by April. “So far, we have not seen any superspreader events that can be directly attributed to the rallies,” he said. The Go Negosyo founder also believes the Alert Level Zero status will incentivize local governments to step up their own vaccination efforts in order for them to qualify under the less stringent measures.

As for indoor mask mandates, Concepcion said business owners must be given the freedom to decide how best to keep themselves and their customers from being infected. “I think it is high time we trusted the business owners on what they need to do to protect themselves and their customers,” he said.

The Philippine government’s pandemic task force had earlier announced that it will discuss the parameters of an Alert Level Zero, this as the number of Covid-19 cases in the country continue to drop and key indicators, such as healthcare utilization rate, or HCUR, remain in the low-risk classification.

In a public briefing, Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said that even as establishments have expanded their capacity to 100 percent under Alert Level 1, the country’s cases continued to decrease.

“So far, so good,” he said. “We have been recording below 1,000 cases daily for six days and hopefully we can lower it to 500 daily or even less. With such, we might be able to de-escalate to Alert Level zero,,” he said.

Early this year, Concepcion proposed a similar scheme in which alert levels will only be put in place as needed in each area. The system would be similar to a typhoon alert level where it would only be called when a threat is detected.

OCTA Research had recently released a ranking of Covid-19 numbers in East Asia. As of March 9, the Philippines is in the “very low” risk classification of ADAR (average daily attack rate, or infections per 100,000 population) at 0.68, with a seven-day average of only 766 infections.

“With Alert Level Zero, we can basically allow the business establishments to draw up the health protocols that they believe should be applied to them. They should have some leeway. They’ve had two years of practice and are by now quite aware of what needs to be done,” he said.

“What we can do is all personnel who interact directly with the customers must be required to wear masks; customers can choose whether they want to wear a mask,” he added.

Concepcion also raised the possibility of expediting the return of face-to-face classes in areas under an Alert Level Zero classification. “Parents can also benefit from the resumption of face-to-face classes as the children can now be supervised by professional teachers and the parents can go back to work,” he said. “We don’t need to subject the parents to additional stress by making them choose between their children and the opportunity to earn a living,” he said, noting that many offices are slowly asking their employees to return to on-site work.

teteventstribune | March 12, 2022 at 5:30 pm | Tags: Alert Level 0, Go Negosyo, Joey Concepcion | Categories: News | URL: https://wp.me/p6ZZmM-1Zz

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 the possibility of expediting the return of face-to-face classes in areas under an Alert Level Zero classification. “Parents can also benefit from the resumption of face-to-face classes as the children can now be supervised by professional teachers and the parents can go back to work,” he said. “We don’t need to subject the parents to additional stress by making them choose between their children and the opportunity to earn a living,” he said, noting that many offices are slowly asking their employees to return to on-site work.

Thr 1st CRAFT BEER Tasting happening this April 1&2 at Lipa Batangas!

Lipa City, Batangas - On April 1 & 2 CRAFT BEER will hold its very first  Craft Beer Night at the Peaks Resort & Boutique Hotel. Guests may experience signature freshly brewed craft beers from multiple local breweries from all over the Philippines. There are a number of great reasons to hold a craft beer-focused event. For starters, the unique experience of Craft beer appreciation that goes well with a good selection of food pairing is something new to “Lipeños”. Lifestyle drinking has been a popular among craft beer drinkers, where usually a community of patrons who look for a certain beer style that fit their palate of taste gather in a night with good company of friends and soon to be friends.

Whether your mood is for smooth 5.2% ABV crisp and flavorful Ale to a bold 8.5% ABV Robust Malty Body Strong Stout, your craft beer craving “Beer fix” will take place on this 2-day event on an outdoor courtyard set up with Live Music by former GV 99.9 FM DJ Michiko

For the price of Php 1,000 a Beer flight with food pairing will change you to a seasoned drinker overnight. Guests can repeatedly request for their  2nd, 3rd or more servings as the night deepens. 3 Peaks Resort & Boutique Hotel recently opened its door to the public in November of 2021 offers discounted room night accommodation to guests who decide to party for 2 Straight days!

Do not miss this 1st ever event by the MNL Beerfest in Lipa City, Batangas.  Early bird tickets are available until March 27 only. Walk-in rate is priced at Php 1,500. Make sure to reserve your slots thru FB Page of 3 Peaks Resort & Boutique Hotel or thru 0917- 518 0982. It’s a surely great event organized by the MNL Craft Beer Festival team of the Philippine Craft Beer Community.  Let’s Drink Fresh Beers! Support Local Craft Beers!

#MNLBeerFest #MNLCraftBeerFestival #CraftBeerNight #CraftBeer #CraftBeerBatangas #CraftBeerLipa #PhilippineCraftBeer #3PeaksResortandBotiqueHotel #ManilaPreneurCorp #MouseHoleCheeseBar

For more inquiries, visit their Facebook pages
@3peaksresort   
@mnlbeerfest

Lazada’s Forward Women Awards 2022 celebrates female entrepreneurs across Southeast Asia

We don’t need an excuse to celebrate remarkable women, but we do love it when women entrepreneurs are recognised for their accomplishments,  especially when they’ve built successful businesses by challenging social norms with creativity, determination and grit.

eCommerce platform Lazada has always made its mission to empower women entrepreneurs, and honoured its top businesswomen at the second-annual Lazada Forward Women Awards, held to coincide with International Women’s Day, on March 8th, 2022.

Four new awards categories were added this year, including the Lazada Forward Woman of the Year, Rising Star, Social Star and Bricks to Clicks Tech Adopter.

A total of 18 women from Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore and other countries across Southeast Asia were recognised for their contributions to digital commerce as well as the impact made on their families, local communities and home countries.

Not only do Lazada’s Forward Woman of the Year winners stand out as successful entrepreneurs and business owners, they’re also mentors that give back to others, helping future female business-owners with support and advice.

The awards presentation, held at Lazada One headquarters in Singapore and broadcasted on LazLive, featured guest performances from musicians and bands, Weish, Aisyah Aziz and Coming Up Roses.

Shining a light on women entrepreneurs in Southeast Asia

The awards also coincide with Lazada’s celebration of its 10th anniversary in the eCommerce space this year. From its start, the company has championed innovation in the digital commerce space as well as female talent, encouraging women across Southeast Asia to start home businesses around their family commitments. All sellers, whether aspiring, new or existing, can kickstart their eCommerce journey with a wealth of resources accessible via Lazada University, which houses online videos and tutorials on every aspect of eCommerce.

The winners of the Lazada Forward Women Awards 2022 have found success in a wide-variety of product areas, with online businesses focused on consumer electronics, baby goods, menstrual health, furniture, pharmaceuticals and more. They are active in mentoring other Lazada sellers, honest about challenges they’ve faced and passionate about helping other women find a way to build their businesses through the digital economy.

Meet Lazada’s Forward Women of the Year 2022 from Singapore, Malaysia and the Philippines

Lazada’s Forward Woman of the Year winners from Singapore, Malaysia and the Philippines all started their eCommerce businesses from scratch, learning the ropes of digital sales and entrepreneurship while juggling family commitments.

Liang Wee Ling

Liang Wee Ling

Singapore’s Lazada Forward Woman of the Year, Liang Wee Ling, is a 45-year-old product design engineer and mother-of-two, who launched her business 8miles on Lazada after taking an eCommerce course in 2017.

8miles initially sold handmade hair accessories, but Wee Ling decided to pivot her business and focus on mother and baby products instead. Until recently, she did everything from her home, which doubled as an office and a warehouse.

The flexibility afforded by Lazada not only allowed Wee Ling to switch her product offering early on, but ensured she could grow the business alongside spending time with her family.

Thirty Years of Conservation Measures for Small Cetaceans in European Seas

Bonn, 17 March 2022 – Thursday 17 March 2022 marks the 30th anniversary of the Agreement on the Conservation of Small Cetaceans of the Baltic, North East Atlantic, Irish and North Seas (ASCOBANS) – a regional environmental treaty of the United Nations.

Concerns over the impacts of human activities on small cetaceans led to the negotiation of ASCOBANS under the auspices of the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS). The Agreement was concluded on 17 March 1992 and has subsequently been signed by 10 countries.

Cetaceans are highly migratory species that cross international borders and their conservation depends therefore on transboundary measures. The core objective of ASCOBANS is to achieve and maintain a favourable conservation status for small cetaceans in the waters of northern and western Europe. The Agreement covers dolphins and all toothed whales occurring its area.

UNEP Executive Director, Inger Andersen said: “As UNEP commemorates its 50th anniversary, ASCOBANS – an important specialized environmental treaty that we are so proud is part of the UNEP family – marks 30 years of its existence. 30 years of fostering effective international collaboration for the conservation of small cetaceans in European seas. 30 years of supporting international action grounded in science. 30 years of protecting species from the onslaught of human activity. 30 years of demonstrating that transboundary action for the environment can unify governments and people.”

Scientific data are a precondition for targeted conservation measures. Over the past three decades, ASCOBANS has supported many projects, including the development of tailored conservation activities for the Baltic population of the harbour porpoise. The Jastarnia Plan is a conservation strategy for the recovery of this vulnerable population, which is currently assessed as Critically Endangered by the IUCN, with fewer than 500 individuals remaining. The recovery plan recommends that countries invest more in the development of alternative fishing methods that reduce the risk of bycatch.

ASCOBANS Executive Secretary, Amy Fraenkel said: “ASCOBANS has proven to be an effective framework for international collaboration and collective action, among governments, scientists, policy makers, and partner organisations. It provides a platform to agree on tangible solutions to key threats, such as bycatch and underwater noise. It also provides science-based advice and guidance to inform decisions on how to mitigate these threats.”

Anthropogenic pressures such as bycatch, noise pollution, chemical pollution, and overfishing threaten many small cetacean populations.

Bycatch:

The biggest threat is bycatch – accidental capture and entanglement in fishing nets. Recognizing the severity of the threat posed, the Conservation and Management Plan annexed to the Agreement states that modifications of fishing gear and fishing practices shall be applied in order to reduce bycatch where data indicate that the levels of interaction are unacceptable. In the long term, ASCOBANS aims to reduce bycatch to zero.

Marine Debris:

Marine debris, including abandoned, lost or otherwise discarded fishing gear (ALDFG) and  ingestion of other plastics, is also a threat to cetaceans and has a negative impact on substantial number of marine mammals.

Underwater noise:

Noise from vessel traffic, pile driving, detonations, offshore wind turbines, military sonars, and  seismic surveys to find oil and gas have several negative effects on cetaceans. It can cause direct physiological injury (hearing loss) - and in severe cases death. Noise from anthropogenic sources disrupts navigation, communication, mating, and hunting behaviour of small cetaceans.

Prey depletion:

Decline of prey availability or quality can be caused by overfishing, marine construction, and climate change. Reduced prey intake may result from behaviour alterations due to disturbance or displacement.  Similarly, the health of cetaceans may be negatively affected if a nutritionally-rich prey is no longer available. Particularly species with high metabolic rates (e.g. the common dolphin) and limited fat reserves (e.g. the harbour porpoise) are susceptible to resource depletion.

With climate change, pollution, and biodiversity loss affecting small cetaceans, much work remains and ASCOBANS continues to have an important role to help ensure the well-being of these key species.

To mark the 30th anniversary of the Treaty, the ASCOBANS Secretariat has highlighted the milestones of the past decades in a dedicated webpage.

Notes to Editors:

The list of small cetaceans protected under ASCOBANS

Map and list of Parties and Range States of ASCOBANS
The ten ASCOBANS members states (Parties) are: Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Poland, Sweden, United Kingdom 

ASCOBANS treaty text
Website: www.ascobans.org

30th anniversary webpage: https://www.ascobans.org/en/30

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ascobans

Twitter: https://twitter.com/ascobans

#ASCOBANS30 #ASCOBANS

Pregnant, young children most affected by pandemic, DOST-FNRI survey reveals

Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on food insecurity was highest in 7 in 10 or 74.7% of households with children and 8 in 10 or 80.8% of households with pregnant members than in households without such members.

The Rapid Nutrition Assessment Survey (RNAS) of the Department of Science and Technology’s Food and Nutrition Research Institute (DOST-FNRI) revealed this in a virtual dissemination forum on “Food Security, Coping Mechanisms and Nutrition Services during the COVID-19 Pandemic” on January 6, 2021.

“Employment, food security, food accessibility, access to health and nutrition programs for children, including pregnant women, are priority concerns during pandemics and disasters in areas covered by RNAS”, DOST-FNRI Chief Science Research Specialist and Officer in-charge of the Office of the Director Dr. Milflor S. Gonzales stated in her opening message.

Addressing stakeholders from government agencies and private organizations involved in nutrition and health programs, Dr. Gonzales added that “these priority concerns may increase the percentages of nutrient deficiencies and undernutrition, leading to frequent illness that weaken the immune system, increases susceptibility to COVID–19 and other viral infections, resulting to tremendous medical cost, lost opportunities, and economic drain”.

“The DOST-FNRI’s call to action in terms of policy implication based on these results is that donations, government services and benefits must be decentralized from the Highly-Urbanized Cities (HUCs) and extended equitably to provinces with less resources and with minimal or no benefactors”, Dr. Gonzales emphasized.

Dr. Rowena Cristina L. Guevara, DOST Undersecretary for Research and Development (R&D), lauded the DOST-FNRI researchers for rapidly adopting to the challenges of the pandemic that halted the conduct of the Expanded National Nutrition Survey (ENNS) by still managing to implement an alternative and equally important survey, which is the RNAS.

Undersecretary Guevara enjoined the forum participants to “work together and cooperate to uphold the fundamental right to nutrition by making science and technology part of the solution”.

“I believe that your mere presence in this forum already symbolizes your willingness to partner with DOST-FNRI and other stakeholders” in addressing the challenges revealed by the RNAS results, Undersecretary Guevara stated with confidence.

“The Rapid Nutrition Assessment Survey (RNAS) provides a snapshot of the nutrition and food security situation of the country during the COVID-19 pandemic”, according to Dr. Imelda Angeles-Agdeppa, DOST-FNRI Chief Science Research Specialist, Scientist II and RNAS Project Leader. 

Dr. Agdeppa, who presented the highlights of the results, further stated that “findings of the RNAS can aid policymakers in understanding the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on food and nutrition security of Filipinos and guide reprogramming and enhancing of appropriate programs”.

According to the RNAS, about 2 in 10 or 16.7% of household heads lost jobs during the pandemic, and this was highest at 18.1% in COVID-19 high-risk areas.

However, about 17% had job opportunities even during the pandemic, and this was highest in COVID-19 medium-risk areas at 18.6%, mostly service-  and agriculture–related, the study revealed.

The survey further revealed that 6 in 10 or 62.1% of households experienced moderate or severe food insecurity.

Food insecurity was higher in low- and moderate-risk than in the high-risk areas because high-risk areas are in Highly-Urbanized Cities (HUCs), where food availability and accessibility might be easier due to local government unit (LGU), national government, or private assistance.

Areas*

Total Households Covered

High Risk

1,333

1. Parañaque City

302

2.Lapu-Lapu City

757

3. Pateros

274

Moderate Risk

2,413

1. Pangasinan

931

2. Southern Leyte

717

3. Zamboanga City

765

Low Risk

1,971

1. Angeles City

774

2. Guimaras

411

3. South Cotabato

786

                  *Based on IATF announcement on July 15, 2020 and number of COVID-19 positive cases 

from the DOH NCOV tracker as of July 16, 2020. 

According to the survey, the top coping strategies to avail of foods adapted by food-insecure families included purchasing food on credit (71.8%), borrowing food from relatives and neighbors (66.3%), barter or exchanging goods (30.2%) and, adults limiting amount of food intake in favor of children (21.1%).

Problems encountered by more than half or 56.3% of households in accessing food during community quarantine involved no money to buy food (22.1%), no public transportation and can’t go out (20.9%), and loss of job (19.5%).

The following were the intervention programs availed of by RNAS respondents during the pandemic:

96.6% received food assistance or “ayuda” from LGUs and other private and/or non-government organizations (NGOs), of which 48.9% received it 2-3 times. 

Increased frequency of “ayuda” was noted in high-risk areas, of which 51.7% of surveyed households received it 4-7 times, 

Only 2-3 times of “ayuda” were received by 57.6% of respondents in low-risk areas and 51.2% by medium-risk areas.

62.9% of households received cash assistance from either the national or local government units, of which more than half (58.7%) received it once.

About 56.4% of respondents in the high-risk areas received cash assistance 2 times. 

In low-risk areas, 78.2% of surveyed households received cash assistance only once.

Basic nutrition and health services were also affected by COVID-19, as indicated by the significant reduction in the Operation Timbang (OPT Plus), vitamin A supplementation, supplementary feeding and deworming program participation as follows:

OPT plus- 51.1%  

Vitamin A supplementation- 54.9%

Deworming- 35.3% 

Supplementary feeding- 11.9%.

Gaps in accessing health facilities for maternal health services during pregnancy was likewise evident as: 

15.5% of pregnant women had no prenatal check-up because: 

39.1% expressed fear going to any health facility,

34.8% had no available transportation,

13.0 % were not aware of current pregnancy, 

13.0% had no money to go to nearest health facility and 

13% were busy, had no time, or were not interested.

In addition, the Barangay Health Center was reported by 69.6% to be the most accessible health facility for maternal health services, followed by private clinics (23.2%). 

The survey also noted that 14.2% of pregnant women did not take vitamins and minerals supplements.

Fortunately, the pandemic did not affect drastically breastfeeding practices because:

59.7% of children 0-23 months were currently breastfed during COVID-19 pandemic.

60.8% of children 0-5.9 months were reported to be exclusively breastfed.

However, among mothers and caregivers who had access to breastfeeding and complementary feeding information:

Only 20.1% of mothers and caregivers had access to breastfeeding and complementary feeding messages.

Of particular importance to nutrition and health promotion programs are the sources of information on breastfeeding and complementary feeding that mothers and caregivers accessed that included:

67.1%- Healthcare facilities    

25.9%- TV

22.8%- Social media

13.9%- Printed materials

7.6%- Radio

The RNAS also revealed the mothers’ perception and knowledge on child stunting as follows:

19.7% of mothers from the food-insecure families perceived their children to be stunted or short.

80% of mothers reported their children are not getting taller (“hindi tumatangkad”).

23.4% reported their children had lost weight. 

66.7% said their children are stunted due to inadequate food intake.

39.4 % said hereditary or genetic influence was the cause of stunting.

Related to this, DOST Secretary Fortunato dela Peña, in a year-ender virtual presser on the RNAS results appealed to media partners to disseminate the call “that donations, government services and benefits must be decentralized from the Highly-Urbanized Cities (HUCs) and extended equitably to provinces with less resources and minimal or no benefactors"

Secretary dela Peña added that programs and projects are being rolled out nationwide by the DOST to help cushion the impact and help Filipinos cope with the challenges of the pandemic and disasters.

An example of these socio-economically relevant programs is the Malnutrition Reduction Program or MRP being implemented by DOST-FNRI nationwide.

The MRP is strategic nutrition intervention that combines the transfer of complementary food technologies developed by DOST-FNRI to entrepreneurs that supply rice-mongo complementary food blends and snacks to feeding programs of local government units (LGUs), private and civic organizations, and even the academe.

This is coupled with nutrition education trainings of nutrition and health workers, as well as mothers and caregivers of children six months to two years old, especially those who are underweight and stunted.

Another DOST program that benefits stakeholders nationwide, especially in the countryside, is the Small Enterprises Technology Upgrading Program or SETUP.

The SETUP provides financial and technical assistance to adoptors of DOST technologies and other entrepreneurs interested in improving the quality and productivity of their small business ventures.

The DOST provincial and regional offices are the public’s access to these services, DOST Secretary dela Peña further stated.

Dr. Anthony P. Calibo, DOST-FNRI Deputy Director, thanked the RNAS dissemination forum participants in his closing message, stating that the information provided is very important for policymakers and decision-makers to calibrate responses to the challenge of the pandemic.

The COVID-19 as a challenge requires focused attention and careful planning to properly respond to the needs of our clients, Dr. Calibo added.

Dr. Calibo pointed out that food insecurity will always be here and we hope lessons were learned based on the RNAS results.

One such lesson underscored by Dr. Calibo is basing our actions on science, evidence and facts, as we coordinate our efforts with all concerned sectors in preventing all forms of malnutrition and food insecurity.

Dr. Calibo assured forum participants that the DOST-FNRI will remain a strong partner in addressing all forms of malnutrition and food insecurity, partly by providing valuable and timely information for use by government and other stakeholders like allied organizations in food, nutrition and health, as well as the layman, as guide to science-based and enlightened decisions.

In closing, Dr. Calibo hopes that succeeding fora will reach out to other sectors in dire need of nutrition information and that science for change will be our guide in addressing malnutrition and food insecurity.

The RNAS dissemination forum was attended by Cabinet Secretary Karlo Alexei B. Nograles, DOST Undersecretary for Research and Development Dr. Rowena Cristina L. Guevara, other DOST and FNRI officials, national, regional, provincial, municipal and city officials of the Department of Health (DOH), National Nutrition Council (DOH-NNC), Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Department of Agriculture (DA), Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) and the Department of Education (DepEd).

Also present during the forum are officials of the United Nations World Food Programme (UN-WFP), United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), Food and Agriculture Organization (UN-FAO), Nutritionist-Dietitians Association of the Philippines (NDAP), industry partners, municipal and city mayors of areas covered by RNAS and other stakeholders