Saturday, October 30, 2010

KASAMA KA!!

Kalipunan ng Sustenableng Agrikultura at Magsasakang Organikong Kooperatiba (KASAMA KA) 

The KASAMA KA Organik Koop with it's mission to promote, demonstrate and popularize the nucleus and satellite organic farm clusters and its value chain optimization is open to non-members to avail of the following services:

TRAINING & CAPACITY BUILDING
Being accredited by Agriculture Technical Institute as ESP on Sustainable Organic Ecological Agriculture,  it is conducting training programs for students, health afficionados, farmers, farm managers and owners:

  • Lakbay Aral Program and Tours
  • Apprenticeship SOEA Training Program
  • Organic Conversion
  • Organic Inspection and certification
  • Practicum Students/OJT Program
  • Other specialized training program

SALE OF ORGANIC PRODUCTS
  • Vegetables ie lettuce, brassicas
  • Culinary herbs
  • Plotted plants and fruit trees
  • Vermi & Vermicompost
  • Organic fertilizers
  • Brooded layers and meat type of free range chicken
FARM CONSULTANCY which includes, but not limited to, research and development, management of farm lots.

Please help us support our Organic Farmers.  Should you be interested in becoming a member, please send us a shout.
Want to know the benefits of a KASAMA KA koop member? Click here.

Will you spare us 5 minutes to complete a survey to help us identify the means to empower cooperatives and stop poverty in the Philippines? 
Yes, I want to be instrumental in the growth of the cooperatives!

NEXT - Philippine Organic Agriculture (OA) Act of 2010

Wednesday, October 20, 2010

Ellie's Home of the Organic Meat

During the Agri Link-Food Link, it was noticeable how this shop was full with dining people and spectators alike (one of them is me) wondering what food they have to offer a tummy who is dying to have something to fill it. Come close and check it out:


ABOUT THE SHOP: Ellie's Home of the Organic Meat
(hormone-free, grass-fed animals)

HOUSE SPECIAL: Roasted Calf

DISHES: During the exhibit, Ellie's had various preparation of goat dishes like Adobo, Caldereta, Kilawin, Sisig, Kare-kare (as shown on the picture)

LOCATION: Ellie's Farm is situated in Bulacan but you can catch them at The Fort Weekend market (Taguig City) and Centris Sunday market (Quezon City)

CONTACT DETAILS: TELEPHONE (+632) 936 2732 EMAIL ellies_roastedcalf@yahoo.com

Monday, October 11, 2010

2nd QCIM to Attract 10,000 Runners

MANILA, Philippines - The Quezon City government hopes to draw more than 10,000 local and foreign runners when it hosts the second edition of the QC International Marathon slated in December.

QC Mayor Herbert Bautista has given his official support to his city’s hosting of the event, which expects to double the more than 5,000 runners who took part in last year’s inaugurals.

In a recent courtesy call to Bautista, officials from the organizing RUNNEX (the Executive Runners Club of the Phils., Inc.) vowed to make the December event an even greater success than the first one.

The RUNNEX officials also met with QC Vice Mayor Joy Belmonte.

RUNNEX has been organizing running clinics, marathons and similar events for close to three decades. The year-end QCIM will be the biggest event of its kind and is tipped to be at par with the world’s biggest marathons.

READ MORE at PhilStar
Need to Prepare for QCIM?  Join the ongoing RUNNING CLINIC - F.R.E.E!!! Click here for more details

QCIM 2010 PressCon
PHOTO-Standing from Left to Right:
RUNNEX President Dave, QC Vice Mayor Joy, RUNNEX Chairman Atty Rudy, QC Mayor Herbert, RUNNEX Chairman Emeritus Professor Art

Monday, October 4, 2010

Pedestrianization: Walking for Cleaner Air

from CAI-ASIA, Clean Air Initiative for Asian Cities

Asian cities have traditionally been cities of walkers and many rely on walking, cycling and public transport for daily travel.  Walking relies on our own kinetic energy, rather than fossil fuels to which vehicles are dependent upon.  However, vehicles now dominate cityscapes.  Roads, fly-overs, and bridges are continuously being put up to accomodate the ever-increasing number of land transport.  This rapid motorization in urban areas has lead to air pollution and road risks.  For pedestrians who are most vulnerable, is there enough attention towards non-motorized transport?

To determine whether pedestrians' needs are adequately satisfied, WALKABILITY Surveys have been conducted by the Clean Air Initiatives for Asian Cities with support from the Asian Development Bank.  "Walkability" is a term used to describe and measure the desirability, connectivity and quality of walkways.  It has been included as air quality management benchmarking tool developed by CAI-Asia based on the Global Walkability Index developed by H. Krambeck for the World Bank. 

The "Walkability Survey" involved a scoring system that rated the following parameters:
  1. availability of walking paths,
  2. walking path modal conflicts,
  3. availability of crossings,
  4. grade crossing safety,
  5. motorists behavior,
  6. amenities,
  7. disability infrastructure,
  8. obstructions,
  9. security from crime
Based on the Walkability Surveys in 13 Asian cities, the walking environment varies significantly depending upon the location.  Generally, commercial areas provide better walkability, whereas locations near the public transport terminals provide the worst infrastructure.

Walkability in Davao, Philippines
In Davao, Philippines, based on 287 pedestrians interviewed, the most preferred method to cross the road is through overhead crossing (53%) and most preferred improvement is "wide, leveled and clean sidewalks."  On exposure to air pollution, 45% said they are most vulnerable when they are riding a tricycle, 28% when they are walking, and 22% when they are riding a car or a taxi.  If no improvements are made in the quality of sidewalks, 83% said they will shift from walking to other modes of transport.

Conclusion
  • Most Asian cities have insufficient policies that prioritized pedestrians and current guidelines for pedestrian facilities are not comprehensive enough to address pedestrian's needs
  • Insufficient resources are allocated for pedestrian facilities
  • Asian cities have high pedestrian mode shares but declining due to inadequate pedestrian facilities, high number of pedestrian accidents and exposure to air pollution

Pedestrianization is an oft-ignored component in the urban transport system and these walkability studies are ways where CAI-ASIA can hopefully contribute to policy improvement favorable for pedestrians and create a paradigm shift that promotes non-motorized transportation, thus reducing carbon footprint, one city at a time.

Meanwhile, the CAI-ASIA announced a conference on Better Air Quality (BAQ) to be held in Singapore this coming 9-11 November, 2010 with theme, "Air quality in a Changing Climate."  Among the topics are the following:
  1. Sustainable Cities and Urban Development
  2. Air Quality Monitoring and Impacts
  3. Air Quality Management and Climate Change Mitigation
  4. Transport systems and modes
  5. Clean Fuels and Vehicles
  6. Industry and Other Sources (of air pollution)
For more information, send an email to ritchie.rono@cai-asia.org

READ:  World leaders leaving behind big, fat carbon footprints by Associated Press