BSP Dumaguete raises funds for environmental projects
By Rachelle M. Nessia
DUMAGUETE CITY, July 13 (PIA) -- Funds were turned over by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) Dumaguete branch to their partners on Monday for the implementation of three environmental projects in the province.
BSP handed over P27,000 to its partner groups, namely, 350.org with P8,500 for a tree growing program, Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI), and Bankers Club of Negros Oriental (BCNO) with P10,000 for the production of reef domes and mangrove propagules and St. Paul University Dumaguete (SPUD) with P8,500 for a solid waste management program.
The reef domes and mangrove propagules projects are undertaken by BPI and BCNO under BPI’s Bayan Volunteerism Project to rehabilitate and maintain the Silliman Beach area and some parts of the province.
On the other hand, the funds given to SPUD will support their recycling initiatives and the conduct of intensive public information and education campaign on solid waste segregation and disposal management.
The funds were raised during the “Barya Para Sa Kalikasan” fun run and fun dance event initiated by BSP Dumaguete on July 7, through its economic and financial learning center.
The money collected amounted to around P35,000. However, expenses incurred during the fund-raising project were deducted from the collected cash and the remaining funds were distributed among the three said partner-organizations. (RMN-PIA7, Negros Oriental)
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Farmers in NegOr told to convert to organic farmingChemical-free vegetables will help reduce malnutrition
By Rachelle M. Nessia
DUMAGUETE CITY, July 13 (PIA) -- The office of the provincial agriculturist here is urging farmers in Negros Oriental to adopt organic farming to increase the supply of chemical-free vegetables in the province.
Provincial agriculturist Gregorio Paltinca noted the incidence of malnourished children in the province persists despite a surplus of vegetables here.
Paltinca said that one of the causes of malnutrition is consumption of chemically-grown crops such as rice, corn, and vegetables.
Negros Oriental has long been sufficient in vegetable production but not all farmers have opted to go organic.
“About 50 percent of the farmers in the province have gone into organic farming,” he said.
The agriculturist said that organically-grown vegetables are more nutritious and even quoted the province’s international organic consultant Nick Perlas, who said that deep-rooted trees absorb the 48 elements found in the soil that are need by plants.
“The roots bring the nutrients to its leaves. Once the leaves fall as dry leaves, they will decompose and from them these elements are available,” explained Paltinca.
The province’s malnutrition rate is pegged at 8.2 percent, according to Dr. Edgardo Barredo, action officer of the provincial nutrition council here.
Dr. Barredo said that although the province’s malnutrition rate is going down, “sad to say we are still among the highest in Central Visayas.”
Negros Oriental has been pushing for organic agriculture since the 1990s when it signed a memorandum of agreement with the neighboring province of Negros Occidental to make Negros Island the “Organic Food Bowl of Asia.” (RMN-PIA7, Negros Oriental)