CEBU CITY, Philippines — In its effort to strengthen its advocacy against hunger and malnutrition, the Region 7 office of the National Nutrition Council (NNC) has signed an agreement with the Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas (KBP) to help in their said campaign.

NNC7 Chief Parolita Mission said since the agency has recognized the importance of broadcast media in spreading the news about nutrition, “we decided to formally tap the KBP to widen our campaign.”

This, she said, “is a higher level of partnership for NNC and KBP in the achievement of nutritional goals, as we also seek the help of print media.”

Mission said although malnutrition incidence in Central Visayas is decreasing, a massive campaign against malnutrition is still a must, as the agency is also gearing to intensify its Accelerated Hunger - Mitigation Program in food-poor priority areas like Negros Oriental and Bohol provinces.

The NNC7 is also launching the Broadcaster's Manual, which serves as a guide for media practitioners in the information dissemination for good nutrition and hunger mitigation program. Said manual is written in the vernacular so that the public can fully understand its contents. (Phoebe Jen Indino)

MILITARY AIDS PLANTERS

BACOLOD CITY, Negros Occ., Philippines — Provincial military forces here said they have intercepted letters sent to some sugar planters and local businessmen by rebel forces demanding to be paid what they call revolutionary taxes.

Col. Jonas Sumagaysay, Commanding Officer of the Philippine Army (PA)’s 303rd Infantry Brigade confirmed that said letters signed by a certain Armando Magbanua, Regional Taxation Collector of the rebel New People’s Army (NPA)’s Roger Mahinay Command were shown to him by military informants.

The letters, he said, do not ask for anything else but to collect taxes on land owned by sugar planters or businesses established in locations which, the NPA group claims to be within their area of operation in the province. He also said that the letter does not contain any amount, and only indicates that “we are open for negotiation.

Sumagaysay also said the letter is “plain extortion because revolutionary taxation is not recognized by any law of this country.” (Edith B. Kolmo)

B.C.C. TEED FACULTY TO BE CITED

Bacolod City, Philippines — Bacolod City Administrator Dr. Rogelio Balo, former administrator of Bacolod City College, plans to host a testimonial dinner for the faculty of the Teacher Education (TEED) Course of Bacolod City College (BCC), the latter having maintained a reputation for being a top institution where results in the Licensure Examination for Teachers (LET) are concerned. Balo said due to the diligence of the TEED faculty of TEED, the LET results for BCC graduates have been very promising.

The last LET was conducted in September during which 1,172 schools nationwide were represented in the elementary level. Balo said that the BCC is number 73 in terms of the last LET results, with a 37 percent passing rate, compared to the national passing rate level of only 19.6 percent.

This means, BCC is far above the government’s passing in terms of the icensure Examination for Teachers. In the secondary level, there were 1,405 schools represented nationwide.

BCC ranks number 30, with a passing rate of 57.14%. The national passing percentage is 25.86%. Again, BCC is beyond the average percentage rate of the government.