DepEd, Metro Dumaguete Water promote handwashing via dance contest

By Jenifer Catan-Tilos

A contestant performs during the Hugas Luwas Dance Contest for World Water Day 2024 conducted by the Metro Dumaguete Water and DepEd Division of Negros Oriental. A total of 15 high schools competed in this year’s edition of the dance contest held at the Provincial Covention Center, Dumaguete City. (PIA Negros Oriental)

DUMAGUETE CITY, Negros Oriental (PIA) — To amplify the campaign on proper handwashing, water conservation, and sanitation, the Metro Dumaguete Water (MDW) in partnership with the Department of Education (DepEd) conducted the ‘Hugas Luwas Dance Contest’ for World Water Day 2024.

A total of 15 high schools participated in the competition, recognizing the importance of handwashing and embracing the art of dance as a medium to reinforce these practices. 

DepEd schools division superintendent Dr. Neri Ojastro said using the dance format is an effective way to promote handwashing. 

“We were able to encourage the schools to really advocate this health and sanitation and at the same time conserve our water sources in Dumaguete City as well as in the province because to conserve water is also to help the community,” said Ojastro.

He added that residents in Dumaguete City enjoy a sufficient water supply from water sources, which is still potable or can be drank directly from the faucet.

However, he urged the public to conserve water as other towns are now experience water shortage. 

Ojastro said he has requested MDW to provide drinking water to some schools due to lack of potable water amid the El Niño phenomenon.

Seventeen-year-old Lero Vince Abella, a student of Sumaliring High School in Siaton town, said dancing is one medium to convey the importance of proper hygiene to be safe from diseases. 

“As a dancer, we have to show off the need for proper hygiene na mao dapat o kinahanglan to practice the habit of proper washing hands aron maka iwas sa mga bacteria nga maoy gadala sa mga sakit,” said Abella. 

(As a dancer, we have to show the need for proper hygiene that needs to become a habit, such as handwashing, to prevent the bacteria that causes illnesses.)

MDW corporate communications officer Katrin Arcala said this 3rd edition of ‘Hugas Luwas dance competition showcased how the students understand the message and impart them to their community and become ambassadors in their institution as well.

The Siaton National High School won this year’s ‘Hugas Luwas’ dance battle and was awarded a P12,000 cash prize.

Mabinay National High School was awarded 1st runner-up, followed by Sta. Catalina National High School as 2nd runner-up, Piapi High School as 3rd runner-up, and Dahile Provincial Community High School as the 4th runner-up. 

The observation of World Water Day aims to raises awareness on the 2.2 billion people living without access to safe water. 

DA aid to help upland corn farmers in Negros Oriental get better access to irrigation

By Roi Lomotan

BUMALUFA farmers receive one set of open source pumping set from the Department of Agriculture 7 during the turnover ceremony held in Brgy. Mandapaton, La Libertad, Negros Oriental on Feb. 27, 2024. (Photo courtesy of DA7)

DUMAGUETE CITY, Negros Oriental (PIA) — Corn farmers in an upland village in La Libertad, Negros Oriental, now have better access to water after they received an open source water pump from the Department of Agriculture (DA). 

The machinery is expected to irrigate 35 hectares of land, which will benefit 103 corn farmers who are members of the Bunacan Mandapaton La Libertad Farmers’ Association (Bumalufa).

Bumalufa president Rodella Sangilan thanked the government for this assistance, saying that it would help solve their problems with water supply.

“Nalipay mi og dako kay dili nami magsuhol og tawo para mukabo ug tubig. Dili nami mobayad og P150 kada adlaw para lang mukabu,” Sangilan said.

(We are very happy because we no longer have to hire someone to fetch water. We don’t have to pay P150 a day.)

DA Negros Oriental public information officer Mary Ritchel Bergantin said Barangay Mandapaton, the site identified by DA where the pumping set will be installed, is not far from an irrigation facility.

However, the irrigation facility supplies water directly to upland rice fields, so the association members had to pay for the transport of water from the irrigation facility to their corn fields to keep their crops hydrated.

DA Negros Oriental Provincial Agriculture Program Officer Alejandro Rafal said the pump will ensure a stable supply of water for farmers even during the dry season.

It will also help increase corn production in La Libertad town.

“Base sa crop cut last year kay naka-produce og three tons (of corn) per hectare. With the help of this pumping set, expected na mo increase og at least five percent ang ilang production,” said Rafal. 

(Based on the crop cut last year, the town was able to produce three tons of corn per hectare. With the help of this pumping set, corn production in the town is expected to increase by five percent.) 

The turnover of the equipment is part of DA’s corn program with a project cost of P63,900.

La Libertad is a third class municipality located 105 kilometers away from the capital city, Dumaguete City.

199 farmers, parents of child-laborers get P2.1M aid from DOLE

By Jenifer Catan-Tilos

Parents of child laborers in Negros Oriental pose with the livelihood assistance they received from the Department of Labor and Employment composed of mechanical table weighing scales to be used for their ‘Bigasan ng Bayan’ business. (PIA Negros Oriental/DOLE photo)

DUMAGUETE CITY, Negros Oriental (PIA) — A total of 199 farmers and parents of profiled child laborers in Negros Oriental received livelihood assistance from the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) amounting to P2.1 million. 

The recipients are members of the Linao PalayCheck Farmers Association and the Tambulan-Tambo Farmers Irrigators Association from Tayasan town and 18 parents of child laborers from neighboring towns. 

The Linao PalayCheck Farmers Association received a four-wheel drive mini farm tractor worth P993,224 to augment the farming activities of its 126 members, while the Tambulan-Tambo Farmers Irrigators Association received floating tillers, rice threshers, and power sprays worth P577,500 for its 55 members.

DOLE information officer Raiza Rubia said 18 parents of profiled child laborers in Tayasan received their individual livelihood starter kits worth P30,000 each.

For those with sari-sari stores, the beneficiaries received sacks of rice, mechanical table scales, and plastic bags amounting to P540,000 for their Bigasan ng Bayan business, said Rubia.

DOLE also provided the beneficiaries with group personal accident insurance for one year through the Government Service Insurance System.

The turnover of livelihood assistance to parents of child laborers is the government’s strategic response to prevent and eliminate child labor. 

Augment the family income

Joy Rabuya, 39, from Barangay Linao, Tayasan, has two children who help their father work in a sugar plantation. 

A member of the Linao PalayCheck Farmers Association, Joy thanked DOLE as her family also received livelihood assistance in the form of five piglets for their backyard piggery. 

“Dako na ni kaayong ikatabang namo labi kay nageskwela na akong mga anak, pangbayad sa skwelahan kay may college na mi ug Grade 7,” said Joy. 

(This is a big help for us especially since my children are still studying. This will help pay for the school expenses of our college student and Grade 7 student.) 

Another parent of child laborers, Daisy Rose Dianon, 48, of Barangay Martilo, La Libertad town, received grocery items worth P15,000 for her sari-sari store.

Daisy said her husband’s income as a tricycle driver is not enough to sustain their family’s needs with four children who are now in school.

After school hours, her children would help in selling chicken barbecue from 4:00 pm to 8:00 p.m. in their barangay. 

“Busa dako nako kalipay naay ikapuno-puno sa akong tindahan na makatabang sab sa adlaw-adlaw’ng pamelete ug balon kanila,” she said. 

(I am so glad because the assistance will help augment my store’s stocks and also help in my children’s daily fare and lunch provisions.) 

DOLE Negros Oriental and Siquijor provincial offices officer-in-charge Vivencio Lagahid is optimistic that the livelihood projects will help augment the income of the beneficiaries.   

“We have high hopes that these projects would provide additional income to the associations and individual beneficiaries. They will also help create employment, and provide sustainable jobs eventually,” Lagahid said. 

Republic Act 9231 prohibits child labor, referring to any work performed by a child under 18 years old, that subjects him/her to any form of exploitation or is harmful to his/her health and safety or physical, mental or psychological development, depriving the children of their childhood, potential and their dignity.

Children aged 15 to below 18 years old have a maximum of eight hours a day or 40 hours a week to work, but should not work from 10:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m, while children below 15 can only work for a maximum of four hours a day or 20 hours a week. 

According to the 2022 Working Children Situation report released by the Philippine Statistics Authority, the total number of working children who are engaged in child labor in the Philippines was pegged at 828,000 in 2022. 

Region 12 posted the largest share to the total number of working children with 12.8 percent, followed by Region 4-A with 11.1 percent, and Region 7 with 10.5 percent share.