Negros Oriental hosts Armed Forces Reservists regional convention
by: Rachelle Nessia
DUMAGUETE CITY, March 11 (PIA) -- Around 120 reservists of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) from Region 7 provinces are expected to gather here on March 12 for the 32nd Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) National Reservist Week Regional Convention.
Expected to participate in the convention at the Negros Oriental State University (NORSU) Main Campus Gymnasium are 90 reservists from the Philippine Army, 90 from the Philippine Navy and 90 from the Philippine Air Force.
This is the first time the province plays host to the regional convention, according to 2Lt. Glenn Cadelina, commandant of the 58th Armed Forces Reserved Officer Training Corps (ROTC) Unit based at the NORSU Campus II in Bajumpandan, this city.
The convention will be graced by AFP Vice Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Reynaldo Matagu as the guest of honor and Gov. Roel Degamo as the keynote speaker.
The participating reservists will be briefed on the internal peace and security plan, disaster risk reduction management and the current thrusts, policies and regulations of the RRA program.
Cadelina said the convention is in line with the observation of the National Reservist Week with this year's theme: “Laang Kawal: Kabalikat ng Bayan sa Pagsulong ng Kapayapaan at Kaunlaran.”
“Reservists are civilians who get the privilege of supporting the AFP active personnel and they can also earn ranks equivalent to that of the AFP personnel,” explained Cadelina.
Although being a reservist is a voluntary service, once a reservist is called for active duty, he or she will receive the same financial compensation as that of an active duty personnel based on his or her rank, he added.
Cadelina encouraged professionals in the province to become an AFP reservist by visiting the nearest PA or Philippine Navy headquarter or detachment unit or the Air Force office at the NORSU Bajumpandan Campus. (RMN/PIA-7 Negros Oriental)
NFA introduces I-Rice for Food for School Program in NegOr
by Jennifer Catan-Tilos
DUMAGUETE CITY Mar 11 (PIA) --National Food Authority (NFA), Negros Oriental has announced the launching of the I-Rice (iron-fortified rice) on March 15 at 8:00 a.m. at the Bacong Municipal Gym.
NFA manager Francisco Lorico, Jr. said this I-Rice program aimed at making part of Filipinos’ daily diet to prevent iron deficiency.
He said this is particularly true among school children, for which the priority beneficiaries of I-Rice, through the daily supplemental feeding under the Food for School Program of the three congressmen in Negros Oriental.
This iron fortified rice is white-milled rice mixed with iron rice premix (I-Mix) processed thru fortification. An iron is one of the most important trace elements essential for keeping the body healthy.
With reports from Regional Nutrition Council showed that Negros Oriental has been identified as having the highest malnutrition rate in Central Visayas because of the lack of a sufficient nutrition program.
The provincial government has allocated an amount for other supplemental feeding program to combat the malnutrition rate in the province.
By launching this I-Rice, NFA has expected support from the local government units (LGUs), three representatives of the province, academe of schools, and other concerned government agencies.
NFA I-Rice is also expected to be available in NFA accredited retail outlets after the launch. (PIA NegOr./JCT)