Latest news and developments in Central Luzon
Wednesday, April 18, 2012
Wednesday, April 11, 2012
DOST studies tawa-tawa as potential cure for dengue, TB
By Luisa
Soriano-Lumioan, S&T Media
Service
The Department of Science and Technology (DOST), through its
Philippine Council for Health Research and Development (PCHRD), is currently
doing studies on tawa-tawa’s (scientific name Euphorbia hirta) anti-viral and
anti-inflammatory properties and its supposed ability to increase blood
platelets.The discovery of tawa-tawa’s active ingredient will lead to the
development of treatments for dengue and tuberculosis.
Tawa-tawa and other Philippine herbs are current research
priorities in DOST’s drug development program which looks into natural
substances from plants and animals as possible sources of cure for diseases.
“Natural products research in the country is being refocused
and modernized by DOST as competition in the increasingly global industry
becomes more intense,” DOST Secretary Mario Montejo said.
An analysis of drug origins from 1981-2002 showed that28
percent of new chemical entities (NCE)are from natural products.
“This is a significant percentage,” said Dr. Jaime Montoya,
DOST-PCHRDexecutive director.
An NCE is a molecule developed at theearly stage of the drug
discovery process. Itgoes through clinical trials before it is developed into a
drug that could cure certain diseases.
That most NCEs come from natural productssuggests that
natural products are important sources of new drugs or lead compounds suitable
for further modifications during drug development, Dr. Montoya explained.
Drug development is one of the priority programs of
DOST-PCHRD starting this year. To harmonize drug discovery researches in the
country, the Council launched
"Tuklas Lunas" (Filipino for cure discovery) Centers to build the health research capacity in the
regions. Named as the first Tuklas Lunas Center
in the country is the Mindanao State University-Iligan Institute of Technology
(MSU-IIT) campus, to be followed by two more research institutes in Luzon and the Visayas.
Along with developing new drugs from natural products,
DOST-PCHRD will also embark on development of diagnostic kits for priority
diseases, genomics and molecular technology; functional foods; hospital
equipment and biomedical devices; information and communication technology
(ICT) in health; and chronobiologyor the study of the effects of night and day
to living organisms. PCHRD in particular will study the effect of shifting work
schedules for workers in the Business Process Outsource industries, Dr. Montoya
revealed.
PCHRD, one of the sectoral councils of DOST is mandated to
formulate policies, plans, programs, project, and strategies for health science
and technology development; program and allocate government and external funds
for research and development; monitor research and development projects; and
generate external funds.
Friday, March 30, 2012
Root crops keep bad cholesterol down, DOST study says
By Framelia V. Anonas, S&T Media Service
If you want to control your cholesterol level, better
include camote or its cousins in your daily fare. In a study by the Department
of Science and Technology’s Food and Nutrition Research Institute, it was found
that root crops abundant in the country can keep bad cholesterol level down.
Led by DOST-FNRI’s
Dr. Trinidad Trinidad, the study team discovered that daily intake of root
crops significantly lowers bad
cholesterol levels in the body.
“Root crops are able to lower bad cholesterol levels because
of their dietary fiber content,” said Dr. Trinidad. Dietary fiber or roughage
is that part of the vegetable or fruit that is not digested and not absorbed in
a human's digestive tract.
“Dietary fibers come from a family of carbohydrates that
ferments in the colon, turning into short-chain fatty acids that release
energy,” Trinidad explained. “These fatty
acids include butyrate, which prevents the risk of colon cancer, and propionate
which helps prevent cholesterol synthesis.”
Aside from dietary fiber, root crops also contain vitamin C,
calcium, phosphorus, and iron.
The study involved subjects aged 30-55 years, physically and
mentally fit, and with moderately-raised serum cholesterol levels. The subjects were non-smokers and were not
under any medication. They were all fed with test food for two weeks.
The team used various root crops such as camote (sweet
potato), gabi (taro), tugi (lesser or Chinese yam), ube (purple yam), and
cassava.
At the end of the study, the researchers found that the
cholesterol level of the subjects remained stable. Trinidad ’s
team concluded that root crops, due to their cholesterol-lowering effect, would
be important in the proper control and management of chronic diseases, such as
cardiovascular diseases.
In individual analysis, the team found that all the root
crops used in the study decreased the level of bad cholesterol, especially
cassava and camote. The team also discovered that tugi, a root crop
abundant in the north, even increased
good cholesterol.
In another study, researchers found that corn is good for
the heart. It contains
folate that lowers the level of homocysteine, a kind of
amino acid that damages the lining of arteries and may make blood clot more
easily than it should. High homocysteine levels may lead to heart attack.
Corn also has thiamin and pantothenic acid that help in
producing energy for the body and in reducing stress.
Root crops and corn are traditional Filipino foods that, in
some parts of the country, serve as staple food. For the average Filipino, root
crops and corn are best eaten as snacks—tasty, filling, and inexpensive.
So if you want to keep your cholesterol down, junk the
grease and go back to eating boiled corn, camote, and cassava. “These foods
used to be labeled as ‘pagkain ng mahirap’ (food for the poor) but now it is
also for the rich,” quipped Trinidad .
Even that sweet camote que is good, “as long as there’s not
much sugar in it and you eat in moderation,” Trinidad
advised.
Bishop calls for end of criminality
MALOLOS CITY—A ranking Church official here called on the government to show political will in fighting criminality instead being preoccupied by the impeachment trial.
He also urged the Philippine National Police (PNP) to not just find out who are behind the crimes, but prevent it from happening.
Bishop Jose Oliveros of the Diocese of Malolos said increasing crimes in the country must be addressed by both national and local government.
“What’s happening in Bulacan is now isolated, it’s a picture of crisis today that is happening all over the country,” Oliveros said.
He added, “Ano ba talaga ginagawa ng gobyerno, may political will ba to fight criminality in our midst. Ang problema naka-concentrate sa impeachment, pero ang daming patayan, nakikidnap, ninanakawan araw araw in other parts of the country.”
Oliveros was referring to crime incidents in Bulacan and in other parts in country specially Mindanao, Visayas and Metro Manila.
He said that crime incidents in Bulacan is nothing compared with incidents reported everyday.
On Wednesday, a church worker was killed in this city following the spate of killings that and other crimes that led Gov. Wilhelmino Alvarado to convene the Provincial Peace and Order Council (PPOC), as Bulakenyos especially businessmen expressed apprehension.
In the said PPOC meeting, the provincial police office said Bulacan remain general peaceful noting that crimes recorded in 2011 is lower than those recorded in 2010.
The provincial police office also reported that crimes reported in the first two months of 2012 is lower than crimes reported in the same period last year.
However, Alvarado said the PPOC must convene at least four times a year to address increasing crime incidents in the province that may deter businessmen in investing in the province.
Alvarado also expressed alarmed over the audacity of criminals who committe crimes in broad day light.
This include the killing of Cristina Roxas, a businesswoman from Paombong town who was shot dead just meters away from the capitol compound here; and the killing of a lawyer in the City of San Jose Del Monte.
Both crimes were committed at mid day last month. (Dino Balabo)
50% of PHL ODA comes from Japan
BALAGTAS, Bulacan—Close to 50 percent of overseas
development assistance (ODA) to the Philippines
are coming from Japan
The disclosure came during the inauguration of an
interchange here along the North Luzon Expressway (NLEX) which also opened the
6.87 kilometer Plaridel by-pass road.
Singson and other and some businessmen said continued flow
of ODA to the country is a sign of confidence to the Aquino presidency.
“At least 44 percent of overseas development assistance that
we are receiving are coming from Japan
He said that Japan is willing to fund more projects in the
country and insinuated that it’s a sign
of continuing confidence to the current administration which introduced ‘wise
spending’ of funds since 2010.
Singson said that Japan
This include the packages two to four of the 24.61
kilometers arterial road project in the province that will link the NLEX to the
Philippine-Japan Friendship Highway located in San Rafael town. The 6.87 kilometer package one of the project
has been completed and is now known as the Plaridel By-pass road.
Aside from the said project, Singson said disclosed that
Jica is also ready to finance the proposed Central Luzon Link Expressway
(CLLEx) that will link the Subic-Clark Tarlac Expressway (SCTEX) in La Paz town in the province
of Tarlac to Cabanatuan City
This was affirmed by Akio Yonezawa, the second secretary on
economic affairs of the embassy of the Japan
in the Philippines
He said that aside from the CLLEx, the Japanese government
though the Jica is also ready to finance the proposed alternate road project to
Dalton
“Once the feasibility study and design is ready, we will be
willing to finance it because we want to help the Philippines
According to Siongson, Jica has earlier other road projects
in Central Luzon including widening of the MacArthur Highway Bataan
and Zambales.
This developed, Antonio Tencgo and Rudy Calalang, both
members of the Bulacan Chamber of Commerce and Industries (BCCI) hailed Jica’s
assistance in Central Luzon .
They said that it will not only fasttrack development in
rising urban centers in the region, but will spur economic growth in remote
areas in the region. (Dino Balabo)
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