The Ilocos Times

Independent peer-reviewed research on Gene Modified Organisms or GMOs is common. This is the conclusion of a study conducted worldwide on half of all research on risks associated with genetic engineering.   Conducted by the GENetic Engineering Risk Atlas (GENERA), the study belies the claims that there is little independent research on the safety of gene-modified crops and organisms for consumption or the environment. GENERA is a searchable database of peer-reviewed research on the relative risks of genetically engineered crops that includes important details at-a-glance. This database is intended to be comprehensive, to include all of the relevant research, and to accurately report the outcomes of each study as reported by the authors.   To increase transparency, the funding sources of each study are listed, which requires contacting the authors of any paper that does not report this information. By including and reporting important details about all of the relevant

( First of a series ) “Preserving a Literature and Culture through Organizing” Daytoy ti topiko nga impakarga ni Dr. Aurelio Solver  Agcaoili, coordinator ti Nakem ken International Conference in Literature and Culture Amianan a naangay idi Oktubre 27, 2007 iti Philippine Consulate General. “If you can stress the need to preserve and produce our languages and cultures as our way of affirming diversity and multiculturalism”.   Laoklaok a kultura ken puli. Dagiti Filipino ti maysa a puli a mangbukel iti komunidad. Imigrante dagitoy. Kabaelanda ti makilaok iti ania a puli. Nupay naisinada kadagiti kampo kadagiti plantasion, saanna a kayat a sawen a saanda ammo ti makilangen. Filipino are capable to mingle with any ethnic group. Filipinos could be a good links:“Filipinos can serve as “bridge person” in America’s emerging new pluralism. Filipinos and other Asians share a common geographic origin in the Asia-Pacific basin. In looking for images, or characteristics that would

By Dominic B. dela Cruz Staff reporter Batac City —Vice mayor Ronald Allan M. Nalupta announced said they felt insulted and “slapped” by the National Grid Corp. of the Philippines (NGCP) after they were ignored when the distribution utility built power towers here. The vice mayor learned that NGCP has already constructed 44 towers in different barangays here even without a resolution coming from the Sangguniang Panlungsod for the construction. Earlier, the NGCP requested the Batac council for the passage of a resolution that allows them to construct towers for the San Esteban-Laoag 230KV transmission line project. In line with this, the council invited NGCP representatives to explain the construction and to explain the possible effects of the transmission towers to households near them. Several NGCP representatives attended a regular session and answered all queries from council members. They also vowed to secure all the necessary requirements before the construc

By Dominic B. dela Cruz Staff reporter Laoag City —Mayor Chevylle V. Fariñas has warned all barangays in the city not to hold cockfighting events as this is illegal. Ms. Fariñas’ issued the warning after it was alleged that she issued a cockfighting permit for Brgy. Dibua South. In an interview, the mayor vehemently denied that she issued for a “tupada” [cockfight] as part of the barangay’s fiesta celebrations. Earlier, Brgy. Dibua South chairperson Vicente Lorenzo claimed that Ms. Fariñas along with Laoag vice mayor Michael V. Fariñas and Laoag police chief P/Supt. Jeffrey Gorospe issued a permit for them to hold cockfights. Later however, Mr. Lorenzo denied making that claim as he insisted that the proposed cockfight was simply requested personally to the mayor by one of his friends. He did not identify who this friend was. Ms. Fariñas said she was surprised by Mr. Lorenzo’s statements as she said the barangay chief knows it is illegal. She stressed tha

By Reynaldo E. Andres Contributor The efforts of the Dept. of Agriculture Region 1 in enticing farmers to increase their farm areas planted to rice and corn this year has led to a dramatic increase in the yields of both crops. As a result, the region’s self-sufficiency in both staple grains in 2013 went up to 180 and 159 percent, respectively. In a report presented by DA Region 1 Executive Director Valentin C. Perdido which was based on DA’s roadmap for 2013-2014, the region has reached its production target on rice alone contributing at least 10 percent to the country’s buffer stock of this staple grain for 2014. As proof, from a yield of 1,750,007 metric tons (MT) in 2013, it went up to an aggregate yield 1,765,000 MT this year or an increase of 15 MT. “Because of this, Region 1 became the number four rice producing region in the country which contributed at least 10 percent to the 18,439,406 MT national output this year,” Dr. Perdido said. “Although the roadmap s

More quality BPO careers now available in the province Ilocos Norte Governor Imee Marcos,   EGS Philippines President and Country Head   Bong Borja, and Father Romualde Batoon of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Laoag lead the ribbon cutting ceremony held during the opening of the new EGS Ilocos site in Laoag City on November 21, 2014. EGS, or Expert Global Solutions, is an international and leading business process outsourcing company with branches in Pampanga and Metro Manila. (PGIN-CMO) By John Michael Mugas PGIN-CMO Ilocos Norte’s potential as an information technology and business process management hub has been finally realized as Expert Global Solutions (EGS), a global leader in Business Process Outsourcing (BPO), officially opened and commenced operations on November 21 at the Ilocos Norte Centennial Arena. Yvon Baptista, 22, of Dingras, Ilocos Norte had spent almost a year working at EGS Clark. After being hired through a recruitment process conducted in the pr

Brown rice (BR) is healthier than white rice. A simple germination process can even more enhance the health-promoting properties of BR. The study, Development and Evaluation of Functional Beverage with Germinated Brown Rice as Base Ingredient by Rodel Bulatao, Jody Chaves, and Dr. Marissa Romero from the Rice Chemistry and Food Science Division proved that germination can make the healthy BR more nutritious. The study was the Grand Slam Winner of the Gold AFMA Best R&D Paper and Best R&D Poster Awards during the Bureau of Agricultural Research (BAR) 26th National Research Symposium. During the conference, Ms. Romero presented the nutrient composition and properties of germinated brown rice (GBR) from white and pigmented rice varieties. They also studied the utilization of GBR in the development of a healthy and tasty cow’s milk-based beverages. From this, they developed a commercially-ready functional (health-enriched) beverage with buffalo`s milk, and determined its