Save the Children Philippines wins UN SASAKAWA Award for Disaster Risk Reduction

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Save the Children Philippines wins the prestigious UN SASAKAWA Award for its innovative programs on disaster risk reduction and management (DRRM) that support Filipino children’s meaningful participation and protection from emergencies.

The 2022 UN SASAKAWA Award, which promotes inclusive and accessible DRR practices in line with the Sendai Framework, recognized Save the Children’s Comprehensive School Safety (CSS) Ecosystems and Quality Assurance System (QAS) programs that have been rolled out to more than 21,000 schools and 12,000 barangays, respectively, to ensure that the vital needs of children, schools, and communities are addressed with responsive programs and accountability from the government.

“Save the Children envisions a world where children are protected every day and in times of crisis. It is essential that we strengthen our work to improve risk reduction and response mechanisms to protect children’s rights to survival, education, and protection, and build community resilience,” Atty. Alberto Muyot, Save the Children Philippines CEO said.

Marlon Matuguina, Program Manager for Risk Reduction and Resilience in Education and Governance, received the award on behalf of the child rights organization.

The Philippines ranked ninth in the 2020 World Risk Index and 17th in the 2021 Global Climate Risk Index among countries most affected by extreme weather events, natural disasters, and numerous complex emergencies due to armed conflict.

In response, Save the Children Philippines’ CSS Ecosystems program uses technology to help develop the Department of Education’s DRR information system by combining digital tools for data collection, analysis, planning, and decision-making.

This includes the Rapid Assessment of Damages Report (RADaR) Mobile App, a reporting mechanism which assesses the needs of schools, personnel, and learners, and the Batang Empowered and Resilient Team (BERT), a peer-to-peer capacity building program empowering children to participate in school and community DRR programs and engage with government/ duty-bearers. The program has already trained 10,000 learners.

Meanwhile, Save the Children’s QAS supports risk-informed and responsive Barangay DRRM plans through standardized planning tools, quality benchmarks, and technology for data consolidation and info-sharing. More than 42,000 barangays will be using QAS for their DRRM template.

Save the Children Philippines works with the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), Office of Civil Defense (OCD), and other government agencies for the QAS for Barangay DRRM Planning, and with the DepEd and Prudence Foundation for the CSS Ecosystems program.

Marc Fancy, Executive Director of Prudence Foundation said: “Prudence Foundation is delighted that Save the Children Philippines has been recognized with the prestigious UN SASAKAWA Award for its innovative efforts in Disaster Risk Reduction in the Philippines. This is a great reflection of the many years and effort towards building resilience in Disaster Risk Reduction across the Philippines, and a journey that Prudence Foundation has been proud to have supported and partnered on together with the Department of Education in the Philippines.”

For over 40 years, Save the Children Philippines has been delivering life-saving programs for and with children. The child rights organization remains committed to empower children through its DRRM programs and mechanisms, and in ensuring better informed, prepared, and resilient communities.

BingoPlus introduces Luis Manzano as celebrity endorser

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BingoPlus, the country’s first licensed online bingo game provider, has appointed popular TV host and multimedia personality Luis “Lucky” Manzano as its first celebrity endorser.

Leisure and Resorts World Corporation (LRWC) president Andy Tsui formally introduced Manzano on May 27 during the brand’s press event.

“Today, we are indeed fortunate to have Luis Manzano, also called “Lucky”, as our first celebrity endorser. Luis has earned the love and respect of so many people because of his great personality and effortless ability to make people happy. He is also known for his compassion and willingness to help those who are in need.”

 

Since its launch in January 2022, BingoPlus has given away P 5.1 billion in total prizes to thousands of its patrons and they do not want to stop there.

“We will launch an online community for our users so that they can communicate their game experiences and share their ideas with others,” said AB Leisure Exponent Inc. (ABLE) president Jasper Vicencio. BingoPlus is an online bingo game brand under ABLE. “We will never stop exploring new games like sports betting, casino games, and every other entertainment possibility since we aim to bring a green and interesting user experience to all the users.”

“I am very happy to have been chosen as the first celebrity endorser of BingoPlus. The ability of the brand to bring happiness to people and keep them aspiring for greater things is exactly the reason why I am in the entertainment business. Bingo Plus and I both love to bring joy to people and show them that despite challenges brought about by problems such as the pandemic, we can always choose to be mentally active and positive in our thinking. We have so many projects in store for everyone,” said Manzano.

Treats from BingoPlus are just beginning as they are set to stage BingoPlus Day, a special online concert for bingo players and the community, in June.

Three reasons why animal-based protein might be better for your dog​

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A balanced diet with high-quality protein is essential for your dog's optimal wellness.



Cover photo: Dr. Saza Curaming as a veterinarian volunteer during San Mateo Veterinary Mission

Dogs are semi-carnivores. They can be nourished by protein from animal sources, plant sources or a combination of both. Although dogs are often fed a plant-based diet, they are not herbivores.

The difference between animal-based protein and plant-based protein sources is that animal-based ones incorporate chicken, lamb, fish meal, and beef while plant-based protein sources include corn-gluten and soybean meal.

Similar to their carnivorous ancestors–wolves, coyotes, foxes, and jackals, the body structure of dogs is optimized for eating meat which is relatively easier for them to digest than a plant-based diet.

Even though dogs are semi-carnivores, it is important to not leave out animal-based proteins from their diet. Feeding our dogs meat-based products are closely related to their natural ancestral diet.

According to Dr. Saza Curaming, Scientific Communications Manager, Mars Pet Nutrition for Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, there are three main reasons animal-based proteins are better suited for our furry friends than plant-based proteins.



Not all proteins are created equal

Including protein in your pet dog’s diet serves several functions. As Dr. Curaming notes, “For one, a high-quality protein food for dogs can provide amino acids. Amino acids play a key part in building hair, skin, nails, muscles, tendons, ligaments, and cartilage.” She adds that “Protein plays a key role in hormone and enzyme production.”

Amino acids are building blocks and are considered critical to our furry best friend. Different studies have shown that out of the 20 amino acids, 10 of these are called non-essential and can be made by your dog when they need it.



Protein is crucial throughout a dog’s lifetime

Dr. Curaming emphasized that a dog’s need for amino acids will also change depending on age and condition. She said, “As dogs age, their body composition and muscle-specific proteins decline and for that reason, giving them protein in their meal helps them maintain a healthy body throughout the years.”

That said, it goes without saying that puppies require sufficient protein for growth. According to a study, a puppy's diet should consist of at least 22% protein. For an adult dog, 18% of protein should be incorporated into their everyday meal.



Protein a day, keeps doctors away

Animal protein sources contain an average of 35% higher protein concentration. It contains higher doses of calcium, phosphorus, omega 6, methionine, cystine, and taurine.

Dr. Curaming explained that “While protein can be derived from plants, the canine digestive system typically has an easier time utilizing animal-sourced protein,”. She clarified, “Our dog's gastrointestinal tract is not designed to digest large amounts of plant-based products.”

To deliver a healthy balance of amino acids to support your dog's health and vitality, IAMS created a recipe that uses chicken as their number one ingredient and aids in maintaining healthy digestion, immune system, skin and coat, and even provides dental care support that is developed with veterinarians.

Ready to achieve your dog’s optimal health with an animal-based protein food? For more information about IAMS Dog, visit https://iams.asia/ph/. IAMS Dog is available at all leading supermarkets and grocery stores nationwide.