Cecile M. Genove

Youth for Peace

Foundation University and its Institute of Youth Sports for Peace, or IYSPeace, recently met with members of the Association of Barangay Captains in Dumaguete and the Sangguniang Kabataan Federation chairpersons of Dumaguete City and Valencia to discuss a school and barangay program proposed by FU and IYSPeace.

In the meeting, IYSPeace chairperson Dr. Aparicio Mequi presented a comprehensive program that IYSPeace and FU put together, dubbed as “Youth for Wellness, Environment, and Sports,” which proposes to use and mobilize the school-based Student Governments/Councils and the SK officials and members who are community-based.

The program hopes to integrate and unite the two youth groups whose “combined energies, talents, and capabilities when harnessed are a potent force to implement the various projects under the program,” explained Dr. Mira Sinco, president of Foundation University .

Under YWES, FU together with IYSPeace is set to hold a planning and team-building workshop for SK members and Student Government officers to address the rising incidence of lifestyle diseases, preservation of the Banica River , and youth sports participation.

In preserving the Banica River, the program recommends to undertake projects aimed at preserving the river which traverses portions of the 10 municipalities of Pamplona, Amlan, San Jose, Sibulan, Valencia, Bacong, Dauin, Zamboanguita, Siaton, Sta. Catalina, and the cities of Dumaguete and Tanjay.

A report written by Rick Weiss that recently appeared in the Washington Post warned that the planet faces a global threat to farming and food supply.

The report said that “climate change may be global in its sweep, but not all of the globe's citizens will share equally in its woes. And, nowhere is that truth more evident, or more worrisome, than in its projected effects on agriculture.”

Several recent analyses have concluded that the higher temperatures expected in coming years, along with seepage into groundwater as sea levels rise and anticipated increases in flooding and droughts, will disproportionately affect agriculture in the planet's lower latitudes, where most of the world's poor live.

Meanwhile, to mark the celebration of World Cancer Day for the first time this year, a core group to set up cancer support groups in Negros Oriental has been formed.

This developed after the Department of Health Region 7 in coordination with the Kahayag Network of Cancer Support Groups in Cebu and the Bantay Banay Network conducted a two-day training early this month in Sibulan, Negros Oriental.

According to Judith Alpuerto of the Provincial Planning and Development Office, the training dubbed as “Helping Endeavor and Affective Relationship Training” or HEART was attended by 15 participants who now compose the multi-sectoral core group.

Alpuerto said the formation of the core group is in response to the call of Gov. Emilio C. Macias II, a doctor by profession, to help such afflicted persons.

A report from the Provincial Health Office showed that cancer of all kinds is the third leading case of mortality in the province from 2001 to 2006.

During the training, Dr. Betty Calderon Talaver, president of the Kahayag volunteer group, was the lead trainer together with two other doctors, Dr. Buenaventura C. Ramos Jr. of Cebu and Dr. Honey Sarita Abarquez of SMILES in Davao.

The 15-member core group is composed of the following: Judith Vailoces of the Provincial Health Office, Rosevilla Russel of the Department of Health, Dr. Chelsea Cacaldo of the Community Primary Hospital, Bethel Sambon of the Provincial High School in Mabinay, Provincial Population Program Officer Jeanette Villarubia, Social Welfare Officer III Laume Quijote, Valencia SB secretary Ma. Celeste Cata-al, Evangeline Nalam, Josephine Quisay and Mila Tapanan of Kababayen-an Buhata, Evangeline Cabual of Bayawan City Social Welfare and Development Office, Judith Alpuerto, and Community Organizer in Guihulngan City Jerry Alpuerto.

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