Del Rosario, Maria Sophia R.

BSChem 2
ENSCI 1100: Learning Task No. 5

Direction: Search the Internet for one (1) news report or other published material that provides
justification for the inclusion of the priority areas under each of the six (6) programs of the
National Integrated Basic Research Agenda (NIBRA) of the Harmonized National Research and
Development Agenda (HNRDA) 2022-2028. The news report must show that a problem exists
and that S&T intervention is needed.

A. Water Security – Tubig Program (Tubig Ay Buhayin At Ingatan)

Title of the Article: “PBBM to address problems of water resources in the Country”

Article Content:

The Philippines is currently facing a water crisis and one of its leading factors is the problem of
water sources in the country. After the approval of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on the
creation of Water Resource Management (WRMO) - an individual office that seeks to address
water management primarily the fresh water supply sourcing in compliance with the intention of
providing clean and fresh water to Filipinos. To encourage the coordinated development and
management of water, land, and related resources, it must establish and implement the Integrated
Water Management Plan (IWMP). It is stated that the first project that should be focused on by
the WRMO is the proper management of surface water supply to reduce the country’s reliance on
groundwater and deep wells.

- The existing problem in the article was the problem of water sources in the country.
- The article exhibits the need for S&T intervention via means of creating a water
management program that centers on carrying out research and development (R&D)
projects of obtaining fresh water supply sourcing that has significant efficiency and
sufficiency to aid in handling water crises.

Reference:

Viado, M. V. (2023, February 2). PBBM to address problems of water resources in the country.
Philippine Information Agency. https://pia.gov.ph/news/2023/02/02/pbbm-to-address-
problems-of-water- resources-in-the-country
B. Food And Nutrition Security – Sapat Program (Saganang Pagkain Para Sa
Lahat)

Title of the Article: “DOH reminds food firms: Eliminate trans fat by June 2023”

Article Content:

By June 18, 2023, food manufacturers should remove industrially produced trans fatty acids
(TFA) from their products as per the Department of Health (DOH), as the World Health
Organization (WHO) statistically estimated that 2.64 % of deaths from coronary heart disease are
due to TFA build up. TFA is commonly a content of baked and pre-packaged food products as it
was manufactured fats during hydrogenation - giving its characteristics of resistance to being
stale and keep to be solid at room temperature. Concerned food manufacturers' Certificates of
product registration may be rejected, suspended, or revoked as a consequence of the food
manufacturers violating any of the terms of the administrative order or the FDA circular.

- The existing problem in the article was the health issue - of coronary heart disease -
which was attributed to the trans fatty acids (TFA) content of baked and packaged food.
- The S&T intervention aided this issue as the verified information that the TFA in food
products was the leading cause of the propagation of coronary heart disease based on the
conducted study, the DOH was able to formulate a countermeasure to lower the rate of
having the coronary disease by banning the addition of TFA in the food products.

Reference:

Montemayor, T. (2022, July 20). DOH reminds food firms: Eliminate trans fat by June 2023.
Philippine News Agency. https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1179342

C. Health Sufficiency – Likas Program (Likas Yaman Sa Kalusugan)

Title of the Article: “One Health Approach in the Philippines: A multi-sectoral

Article Content:

Zoonotic diseases continue to be a threat to global health, especially in countries that have active
links in international travel and migration such as the Philippines. Dealing with zoonotic
illnesses is a shared responsibility of the public health, animal health, and environmental sectors
because the health of humans and animals is intimately linked - this led to the implementation of
a program which is the One Health approach. One Health approach relies on coordinated and
collaborative action from the human, animal, and environmental health sectors to prevent, detect,
and control the emergence and re-emergence of zoonotic disease outbreaks. According to DR.
Graham Harrison, the Philippine Inter-Agency Committee on Zoonoses (PhilCZ) - the nation’s
One Health mechanism - can be strengthened even more by our shared comprehension of the
systems of collaboration and coordination.

- The existing problem in the article was the uncontrollable emergence of zoonotic diseases
in our country that could not be handled alone by a single sector as zoonotic diseases both
covers the human health and animal health domain.
- The article exhibits the need for S&T intervention via means of developing a program
(One Health approach - PhilCZ) that could handle the management - including the
detection, control, and response - of zoonotic diseases outbreak that can work
cooperatively to minimize the impact and risk on both of the human health and animal
health as well as the environment.

Reference:

Junio, R. (2022, September 20). One Health Approach in the Philippines: A multi-sectoral
collaboration to improving the health of people and the planet. World Health
Organization (WHO). https://www.who.int/philippines/news/detail/20-09-2022
-one-health-approach-in-the-philippines

D. Clean Energy – Alert Program (Alternative Energy Research Trends)

Title of the Article: “Marcos Admin eyes RE to alleviate Mindoro power issues”

Article Content:

On the 17th day of April this year during the meeting at Pola, Oriental Mindoro, President
Ferdinand Marcos Jr. stated that the administration is considering the large-scale implementation
of Renewable Energy (RE) such as solar and wind energy as a means to address the power crisis
in Mindoro islands so that they won’t remain reliant for the supply of their daily electricity to
other locations. During the first State of the Nation Address (SONA) of President Marcos, he
tackled that “The technology of renewable energy is progressing rapidly. And many of these
technologies are appropriate for the Philippines. We have already begun windmill power. We are
now expanding very quickly our solar power production.”

- The existing problem in the article was the energy crisis in the Mindoro islands in which
they don’t have an adequate supply of energy and are only dependent on the energy
provided by their neighboring area.
- The article exhibits the need for S&T intervention as it shows the immediate needs of the
Filipinos for alternative energy resources as the use of fossil fuels - coals alone is not
adequate to meet the growing demands on the energy of our country. This suggests
complying with the energy trend which is to utilize and take up the risk of having clean
and renewable energy as the primary sources of energy in consideration of the
topographical and geological attributes of the Philippines.
Reference:

Power Philippines. (2023, April 17). Marcos Admin eyes RE to alleviate Mindoro power issues.
Power Philippines News. https://powerphilippines.com/marcos-admin- eyes- re-to-
alleviate-mindoro- power-issues/

E. Sustainable Community – Saklaw Program (Saklolo Sa Lawa)

Title of the Article: “Studies bare concerning the ecological status of Laguna Lake”

Article Content:

According to standards set by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR),
Laguna Lake, a Class C fresh surface water with a surface area of more than 900 square meters
and a watershed area of about 2,900 square meters, is able to cultivate and raise fish and other
aquatic resources. The lake is currently utilized for fishing, as a flood storage area, power
generation, non-contact recreation, irrigation, industrial cooling, as a waste sink for solid and
liquid wastes from various sources, and for household water supply. However, according to the
Laguna Lake Development Authority (LLDA), a number of variables have been found putting
damage to the lake so as its rich biodiversity. (1) Deteriorating water quality brought on by
pollution from soil erosion and industrial effluents, which is affecting Laguna Lake. The Laguna
Lake has been identified to have the following issues: (1) a severely stressed ecology; (2) a
heavy metal deposit; and (3) deteriorating water quality brought on by pollution from soil
erosion, effluents from chemical businesses, and home discharges. Emiterio Hernandez, director
of the Laguna Lake Development Authority's (LLDA) Environmental Regulatory Department,
claims that "long-term rehabilitation measures in Laguna Lake" are a solution for addressing
issues like the pollution that harm the lake's fish and other species.

- The existing problem in the article was the continuous damage to the water quality and
efficiency of Laguna Lake which resulted in its rate of degradation to sustain water-based
life and hence, proceeding to a significant imbalance in its biodiversity.
- The article exhibits the need for S&T intervention as maintaining the water quality and
efficiency of Laguna Lake is important to have a consistent and balanced biodiversity -
which was essential in the action of supporting all life forms on Earth. Hence, further and
thorough research investigation on finding ways of preserving and improving the water
quality levels in Laguna Lake is needed to sustain the life forms in it. Some of the
programs designed by the Aquatic Ecosystem Health & Management with an aim of
protecting the lake’s ecology are (1) enhancement of the hydrological regime in the lake
and its tributaries; (2) regulation of the internal loading of fertilizing nutrients as well as
poisonous and dangerous substances; (3) management of the pollutant sources' growth;
(4) systematic implementation of fishing season closures and openings; (5) establishment
of a system for monitoring and evaluating environmental disturbances; and (6)
revitalization of and assistance with local initiatives to protect the environment of the
lake.
Reference:

Baclig, C. E. (2022, February 23). Studies bare concerning ecological status of Laguna Lake.
Inquirer.net. https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1558699/studies-bare-concerning-ecological-
status-of-laguna-lake

F. Inclusive Nation-Building – Atin Program (Ang Tinig Natin)

Title of the Article: Cordillera IPs assert ownership of bahag, indigenous culture against
misuse

Article Content:

The recognition of the Philippine indigenous weaves and garments was given due to their
intricate beauty and cultural significance, and for the previous years such garments have been
included and worn in formal gatherings like the State of the Nation Address and beauty pageants.
However, Indigenous Peoples (IPs) are quick to call out the use of their cultural pieces when it
crosses the line from cultural appreciation to bastardization. This happened on June 2022 in the
international "Man of the World" pageant when male candidates strutted the bahag (male Igorot
loincloth) in the swimwear segment. The event came under fire after making Cordilleran IPs feel
that an important piece of their Igorot identity was not only erroneously presented but was also
disrespected. In a statement given by Marcos Mangallay, a researcher and a member of the
Applai people in Mountain Province, he said that "[It was] very disturbing to see the bahag worn
that way. "It is not just that they disrespected our culture, but at the same time, it showed the
world that we sometimes act out of ignorance." Other members of IP groups carried the same
sentiments as Mangallay. Mangallay has also given emphasized that the bahag is a sanctity cloth
that even their elders would prohibit them from washing with detergent while the presentation
crosses much boundary as it not only erroneously features as swimwear but also possess elicited
sexualized and foul comments on the social media platforms. Due to the disturbing threats of
cultural misuse and misinformation on their indigenous identity and culture, the Cordillera’s IPs,
cultural advocates, and cultural researchers initiate actions on defending their culture, one of
which is the dissemination of cultural resources through storytelling, weaving workshops and the
continuous practicing of their traditional dances and rituals in Cordilleran communities. Some
take active participation in documenting their communities in hope that the public would better
recognize their indigenous groups and cultures. Additionally, cultural education is being
implemented to refute erroneous perceptions about their indigenous culture.

- The existing problem in the article was the misuse of the male Igoron loincloth,
commonly known as bahag that even further displayed bastardization.
- The article exhibits the need for S&T intervention by engaging in cultural research on the
ways of living and the significance and symbolism of the belongings of Indigenous
people. Having a profound knowledge of the cultural identity of indigenous people is
essential so that there would be no longer mishaps or misuse of their culture. By this, any
disrespecting or offending circumstances can be prevented. With the advent of S&T
 intervention, indigenous people could find a convenient way of preserving their culture
and identity via documentation of indigenous knowledge and phenomena, this would also
open opportunities for the public in learning the culture of indigenous people.

Reference:

Tobias, J. (2022, August 9). Cordillera IPs assert ownership of bahag, indigenous culture against
misuse. Philippine Star. https://www.philstar.com/nation/2022/08/09/2201145/
cordillera-ips-assert-ownership-bahag-indigenous-culture-against-misuse