Pebrero 05-11 , 2018
OPINYON
Youth accepting the dare of dairy industry
TEENS today are so addicted to gadgets that they spend most of their time playing online games and engaging in various social media platforms . It ’ s a different thing , however , for the youth at Barangay Masaya Sur in San Agustin , Isabela . They rest under the tree not to cling on to electronic gadgets and browse computer files but to extract carabao ’ s milks and hold on to ropes tied on water buffaloes .
Thanks to the Philippine Carabao Center for organizing the Youth Engagement for Sustainable Dairy Industry ( YESDI ) in San Agustin .
The involvement of the youth in the dairy industry was highlighted during the 4th Regional Dairy Industry Business Conference conducted by the Department of Trade and Industry , in collaboration with the Department of Agriculture , the Philippine Carabao Center at the Cagayan State University and the CAVAFEDCO , with the
Parents , DOH has you covered
DEPARTMENT of Health ( DOH ) Secretary Dr . Francisco Duque III assured parents of dengvaxiavaccinated students that the agency has their backs covered , during the recently held Dengvaxia forum and presscon , spearheaded by the DOH , at Sta . Rosa Central 3 Elementary School last January 25 .
“ Ang ating pong mga chief of hospital ay inatasan ho natin na kung may mga ma-ospital na mga naturukan ay sasagutin ng PhilHealth ,” the DOH secretary affirmed during the forum with the parents , students , and teachers of the school .
He said it was decided upon that the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation ( PhilHealth ) will shoulder the expenses in case any Dengvaxiavaccinated child gets hospitalized due to adverse event following immunization ( AEFI ).
Moreso , those parents who are not PhilHealth members will be aided by DOH through theme “ Re-engineering the Dairy Industry in Region 2 for Milk Sufficiency and Sustainability . Some 200 dairy industry stakeholders in region 2 consisting of dairy farmers , processors , input providers , marketing outfits , enablers , among others , gathered to thresh out the challenges of the industry , bring new insights for its enhancements and come up with the development thrusts and policy directions for the dairy industry .
Involvement of the Youth in the Dairy Industry While traversing the grassy land going to the farm of Ruel Taguiam , a farmer at barangay Masaya Sur in San Agustin , Isabela , youth members of YESDI were busy planting quality grass seedlings for forage in some parts of the farm .
“ Gusto naming makatulong sa komunidad partikular sa mga magkakalabaw . Habang ginagawa namin ito , kumikita rin kami upang nakapagambag din kami sa mga gastusin sa aming pamilya ,” Desiree
their Medical Assistance Program , announced Sec . Duque reassuring them , “ Huwag po kayong magalala , sasagutin po ng gobyerno ang inyong pagpapa-ospital .”
He also pointed out that the government is conducting a 5-year surveillance over the more or less 4,000 school-based and community-based immunized individuals within the CALABARZON region .
One of the many parents who were present in the Dengvaxia Forum said that this initiative of DOH to reach out to them and assure them that they can count on the government , the DOH in particular , in case hostile effects of the administered Dengvaxia vaccine manifest in their children is somehow a relief .
“ Yung assurance na lang ang hinihingi namin na kahit papaano ay matulungan kami para hindi naman kami laging nag-aalala na kung ano kayang mangyayari sa mga anak namin , saka
Liberato , member of YESDI , said .
“ Hindi lang kami makikinabang kundi makatutulong din kami sa ibang tao para mapaunlad ang industriya ng paggagatasan ,” said Manny Aguilar , YESDI president . As of now , there are 24 youthmembers of the YESDI whose ages range from 16 to 24 . Majority of whom are from Masaya Sur . Their interest to get involved in the dairy industry brought them together .
“ They have many plans for the group , one of which is the establishment of a ‘ gatasang kalabaw ’,” said Ma . Theresa Sawit , Operations Unit chief of the Philippine Carabao Center ( PCC ). “ We did not hesitate to help and guide them ,” she added . Under the “ Enhancing Milk Production of Water Buffaloes through Science and Technology Inventions ” project , the PCC , in partnership with the Philippine Council for Agriculture , Aquatic and Natural Research and Development ( PCAARRD ),
isa pa yung mayroon kaming malalapitan kung halimbawang nagkaroon ang anak namin ng Dengue ,” Mrs . Rosita Balute , mother of a Grade-6 boy vaccinated with Dengvaxia , expressed some sort of relief in an interview after their dialogue with the Secretary .
A 12-year old student named Andrea who was also vaccinated with Dengvaxia , found peace of mind with the assurance that DOH has given them . “ Mas mabuti po na nagkaroon ng ganito ( na dengvaxia forum ) para mas maunawan po ng mga magulang ,” she said , expressing that even she felt relieved from the anxiety brought about by countless news on children ’ s deaths which were apparently instigated by the immunization shot . She said she would gladly bring the news to her mother once she heads back home . Dengue as a Threat
“ May Dengvaxia o walang Dengvaxia , ang banta ng Dengue ay permanente na sa buhay nang lahat ng Pilipino ,”
organized the YESDI and trained its members .
Profit from ‘ Gatasang Kalabaw ’
“ There are many farmers who own water buffaloes in San Agustin , Isabela but majority of them limit the use of their water buffaloes to plowing the field and as transport unit to ferry agricultural products . Only few of them extract the buffaloes ’ milk ,” said Kevin Dave Cho , veterinarian .
According to him , one of the objectives of the group is to make farmers aware of the benefits of milking the carabaos .
Among the activities to be done include the training of carabao owners on the proper care of carabaos using the latest technology , milking , processing of milk , and marketing and selling of dairy products . Yes to YESDI
“ We decided to organize this group because the next generations have to continue what their parents have started to improve the dairy industry ,” said Honorato Baltazar , one of the founders of YESDI .
“ Isa pa , tumatanda na ang mga magsasaka kaya kailangang ma-mobilize ang mga kabataan ,” he added .
Sawit , on the other hand , said they conducted survey in San Agustin . They found out that majority of the farmers are now old . Hence , the group was
Sec . Duque emphasized .
The DOH secretary highlighted that with or without Dengvaxia , Dengue is already a permanent threat to Filipinos , explicating that “ no one is exempted from the continuing threat of Dengue infection ” whether rich or poor , young or old , professional or skilled workers .
Thereby , he reiterated the ways to prevent Dengue not only for those people administered with the vaccine but for everyone . Whereas , he enumerated the 4S as follows : ( 1 ) seek early consultation once symptoms exhibited ; ( 2 ) search and destroy possible mosquito-breeding places , keep surroundings clean and cover clean water containers where the dengue carrying mosquitoes or Aedes aegypti breed ; ( 3 ) say Yes to selective fogging , wherein , we must administer fogging only during outbreaks ; and ( 4 ) make self-protection measures like usage of mosquito repellant and wearing of proper attire .
Sec . Duque discussed the symptoms of Dengue such as headache ; muscle , bone and joint pain ; nausea vomiting ; pain behind the eyes ; swollen
5 organized .
The town of San Agustin is one of the municipalities in the country where crossbred water buffaloes thrive . Because of this , local officials here have signified their intention to make San Agustin as the ‘ Crossbred Carabao Capital of the Philippines ’.
“ Bago naming binuo ang grupo , tinanong muna namin ‘ yong mga pangarap ng bawat isa sa buhay at natuwa kami dahil may pangarap silang kumita upang makatulong sa kanilang pamilya ,” said Baltazar .
YESDI aims to provide livelihood for its youth-members in the community they come from .
“ Marami silang potensyal na dapat pagyamanin para sa kanilang pag-unlad at kinabukasan ,” said Baltazar . More than the profit
“ Hindi lang pagkakakitaan ang gusto nating ipaunawa sa kanila kung hindi ang pagbabago sa kanilang kaisipan ,” Baltazar said .
The members of YESDI are being trained on the technical aspects of carabao dairying , animal health and forage production . They are also being guided on how to become community-based facilitators in order to help the PCC in its programs for farmers in their community . ( PSL / MDCT / With reports from Mervalyn Tomas of Karbaw )
glands ; and rash .
He further reminded everyone in the forum that once symptoms were noticed , “ Huwag po kayong magdadalawang isip , huwag po kayong magpapatumpik-tumpik , huwag po kayong mag-aatubili , itakbo na ninyo sa pinakamalapit na pagamutan dahil may kasabihan po na nasa huli ang pagsisisi ,” he said .
“ Sundin po natin ang 4s ,” he reiterated with encouragement for everyone to keep in mind and follow the ways to prevent dengue . Santa Rosa City Mayor Dan Fernandez , on the same day , also expressed their LGU ’ s support to their affected constituent . In fact , their city ’ s hospital was directed by the chief executive to shoulder hospitalization of children who may experience AEFI .
As of 24 January 2018 , based on the report by DOH , there have been a total of 26 deaths in the country out of the 725 hospitalized dengvaxia-vaccinated children beginning its implementation in March 2016 . However , the study to prove whether these deaths are actually related to dengvaxia is still ongoing . ( GG / RG , PIA4A )