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The Coronavirus Disease 19 (COVID-19) outbreak has caused a sudden shift in many educational institutions to various alternative instructional methodologies. This pandemic has altered the traditional and typical strategies for teaching and learning environments. Marinduque State College (MSC), a Higher Education Institution (HEI) in the province of Marinduque, has implemented Flexible Blended Learning (FBL) for Academic Year (A.Y.) 2020–2021. This descriptive research determined the FBL experiences of MSC students in an English language-learning context. The study results revealed that MSC students have an overall positive experience with FBL implemented in their English language class. Nevertheless, continuous support to meet the needs of the most vulnerable students, who cannot entirely keep abreast of the new learning system, must be prioritized. This may help mitigate the widening inequality among students with their right to equal learning opportunities.

Watersheds are critical habitats for a diverse array of organisms. Among all the fauna, anurans are excellent biological indicators of environmental health. The community structure is often associated with a relationship between species diversity and diet. An anuran survey was conducted along riparian zones of three selected barangays of Calayagon Watershed (Guinabsan, Rizal, and Malpoc), Philippines. Extensive opportunistic methods for a total of 480 man-hours were spent traversing the area. A total of 195 individuals, consisting of seven species from four families, were recorded. Seventy-two percent of the individual species were regarded as Least concern, and 14 % were Near-threatened. Of the species recorded, 57 % are Philippine endemic, and 29 % are Invasive alien species. Fejervarya vittigera (44.66 %) gained the highest number of individuals across sampling stations. Overall diversity index is high H’= 1.43. The most abundant species in each sampling site were subjected to diet analysis (R. marina, F. vittigera, and F. moodiei). The most dominant prey item were plant matters followed by insect orders. In terms of the number of prey items, the order Hymenoptera was the most abundant. The study was the first to record the diet of the Philippine endemic F. vittigera, and F. moodiei. Noted anthropogenic threats include agricultural expansion and urbanization. Strict implementation of ordinances and policies towards the conservation and protection of a healthy bio-system for anurans and all organisms in the area is highly recommended.

An integrative, participatory, sustainable, and outcomes-oriented community extension and development activity must have three main elements in the program planning, namely, (1) research, (2) extension activity that focuses on technology dissemination and adoption generated from research findings, and (3) capability building of stakeholders and beneficiaries. Combining all these concepts, the researcher termed these approaches holistic or holistic approaches towards making extension programs relevant and responsive according to the situation and conditions of the community it intends to serve. The research investigated the overall quality of the 5 Year Community Extension and Development Program, the status, and responses of the beneficiaries of the extension program in its adopted community in Sitio Dipanamianan, Brgy. Pingit, Baler, Aurora, Philippines. The researcher used the Community Needs Assessment to describe the beneficiaries’ prevailing conditions and status. The research utilized a mixed-methods research design through the Community Needs Assessment Survey (CNA) and Focus Group Discussion. These were utilized to investigate the participants’ responses, level of participation, and willingness to make the extension activity sustainable and outcomes-oriented. Based on the holistic model, it is found out that the 5 Year Community Extension and Development Program is comprehensive, containing all the principles of the holistic approach. The respondents believed that the holistic approach to extension services is a crucial factor in the sustainability of the program and a high level of participation from the beneficiaries.

Bullying and victimization phenomena have serious effects on the well-being of individuals. Therefore, the study intends to help the students maintain a normal state of well-being and enhance academic performance as a reference for administrators to develop programs managing the challenges encountered through identification of demographic profile; forms of bullying; effects on health and academic performance; coping strategies and school management. Mixed method approach was employed. Quantitative data was gathered through survey questionnaire and qualitative data through FGD from advisers, parents and students and KII from the principal, guidance counselor and prefect of discipline which were analyzed to corroborate with the quantitative data. Periodical grades were analyzed and compared. Findings revealed that out of 260 students, 232 expressed experienced bullying at a younger age as young as 10 years old. More alarmingly, some students reported recently experienced though rarely. The most common form of bullying identified are verbal, covert and physical bullying. Cyberbullying as the least experienced. The investigation disclosed they sometimes experience the health effects of bullying that are generally a normal response to stress. However, manage to deal with the experience through the support of family and the school. Data showed that students’ experience of bullying does not affect their academic performance. Nevertheless, data analysis revealed that victims of bullying eventually become bullies themselves.

Night markets are a popular food destination among tourists in Southeast Asia. The off-premise nature of these destinations results in a higher risk for food contamination which has brought about the need to improve food safety culture in these destinations. Previous studies have focused primarily on food sanitation practices of vendors; however, food safety culture has been highlighted in recent years as an effective means for improving safety practices. That is why, the study examined the food safety culture of vendors of a night market in Cebu City, Philippines. This descriptive research utilized self-administered survey questionnaires to 40 night market vendors. Results showed high mean scores in the indicators of management and coworker support, communication and selfcommitment while lower scores on environment support, work pressure and risk judgment. It is concluded that employees’ workload, provision of timely information and feedback are indicators that increase the level of food safety culture. The study highlights the role of management as food safety procedures are followed at a certain extent but time and management pressures contribute to a decrease in following safe food handling.

Dromoceryx obscurus sp. nov. is described from Mindanao, the Philippines. It is distinguished from closely related species, D. dorsalis Schmidt-Goebel, 1846 by extended dark pattern and strongly transversal microsculpture of elytra. Illustrations of new and related species are provided. Key to species of the genus Dromoceryx is given. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background The Philippines HIV epidemic is one of the fastest growing, globally. Infections among men who have sex with men (MSM) are rising at an alarming rate, necessitating targeted evidence-based interventions to reach epidemic control. Treatment as prevention is a key strategy to end AIDS, making it a priority to explore novel approaches to retain people living with HIV (PLHIV) in care, support adherence, and reach viral suppression.Methods: This cross-sectional analysis describes HIV-related risk behaviours and adherence to antiretroviral therapy (ART) in a population of HIV-positive patients at a clinic in Metro Manila, Philippines participating in the Philippines Connect for LifeTM cohort study.Results: Among 426 HIV-positive adults taking ART, 79% reported ≥95% adherence over the prior 30 days. Longer time on treatment was associated with reduced adherence to ART (adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 0.87 per year, P = 0.027). Being in a serodiscordant relationship, in which the subject's primary partner was HIV negative, increased adherence (AOR = 3.19, P = 0.006). Inconsistent condom use (AOR = 0.50, P = 0.103) and injection drug use (AOR = 0.54, P = 0.090) are potentially associated with reduced adherence to ART. Patients used drugs and alcohol at significantly higher rates than the general population.?Conclusions: The study found that patients in this setting require intervention to address treatment fatigue. Interventions to improve social support of PLHIV, as well as harm-reduction approaches for drug and alcohol use, could improve adherence in this population, strengthening the test-and-treat strategy to control the epidemic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mt. Hamiguitan Range Wildlife Sanctuary is both a UNESCO and ASEAN recognised heritage site. There is a current move to expand the site by expanding the buffer zone. This area unfortunately is poorly studied in terms of its biodiversity. This paper explores the odonata species found in the proposed buffer zone. Transect line along fluvial ecosystem was established in the two bordering municipalities. A total of 32 species from 22 genera and nine families were recorded in which eighteen species (18) belong to the suborder Zygoptera while 14 species are Anisoptera. High level of endemism was recorded for Zygoptera (94.44%) endemism while low endemism for Anisoptera (21.43%). Distribution of Risiocnemis antoniea (Gassmann and Hämäläinen, 2002), an IUCN endangered damselfly was recorded in the creeks of Barangay Tandang Sora, Governor Generoso at relatively lower elevation between 100-300 meters above sea level. Due to its habitat’s close proximity to human habitation and the encroaching anthropogenic disturbances, it should be declared as Local Conservation Area.

About bout 30% of children under five years old were stunted as a consequence of poor feeding practices and repeated infections. The study determined the feeding practice of mothers of under-five children in Naga City, Cebu, Philippines. The study utilized the descriptive method involving 330 respondents in five districts of the City of Naga, Cebu. Questionnaire was used in data collection and it was translated to Cebuano to extract the necessary data from the respondents. The findings showed the majority of the children under-five year-old were breastfed by their mothers immediately after birth. Furthermore, nearly all respondents did not practice exclusive breastfeeding, however, a considerable number of respondents continue to breastfeed after six months. Plain water, vitamins or medicines and clear broth topped the list of liquids introduced by the respondents, while vitamin A-rich vegetables, foods rich in carbohydrates and iodine-rich foods ranked first, second and third respectively in the list of solid foods for complementary feeding. Most of the respondents did not introduce products that are fortified with iron. Breastfeeding practices in urban areas lack knowledge of the importance of iron-fortified complementary feeding as well as exclusive breastfeeding.

The advancement of online information system allows every internet user to have ample amount of data that they can gather without acknowledging the authors. Thus, the awareness of anti-plagiarism tools whether it is free-online services or commercial software can help both students and faculty to properly acknowledge and identify the source of the data. This study intended to compare and contrast the efficiency and other cited criteria for the available free-online plagiarism detection system. The seven free-of-cost online services on plagiarism detection software that were identified during the time of testing were Plagiarism Checker, Plagiarism Detection, Check for Plagiarism, PlagTracker, PlagScan, DupliChecker and PaperRater. The seven tools had been tested with the textual data that had been derived from numerous websites which includes educational institutions and open access journals. The strong and weak points of each tool were validated by allowing the respondents to use each tool and rate it according to the cited criteria. Among the tools tested, the Plagiarism Checker turned out to be easiest tool to use with the highest rate of learnability due to simplicity of its user interface. The ability of its online services to cross-check other internet sites regardless of the file format where the tested textual data that had been copied gives a more reliable output than the others.

A skilled and flexible labour force is often given recognition as one of the key features of industrial clusters of similar enterprises. In clusters of small enterprises, knowledge and skills are not embedded in firms, but in the local labour force and the movements of a skilled and flexible labour force serve as a channel for knowledge transfer between enterprises. Surprisingly, few studies have looked at how knowledge transfer through the labour market takes place. This paper uses the furniture cluster in Metro Cebu (the Philippines) as a case in point to identify the transfer of knowledge and skills between workers in the context of a low-technology cluster. While knowledge and skills are transferred easily between workers, there are a number of difficulties for the labour market to serve as a model for the generation of new knowledge and hence upgrading of the Cebu cluster. The difficult combination of traditional artisanal knowledge and skills with formal knowledge on furniture-making hinders the effective utilization of the labour force as the key asset for competitiveness of the cluster. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article contributes to debates about climate change policy and technology transfer by analyzing the success factors underlying collaboration between private companies and communities in developing countries. To date, much attention to capacity building for enabling environments— including public–private collaboration— under the climate change convention has focused on state-led initiatives and on the innovation and development of technologies. This article, instead, focuses on how private-sector investors and host communities may collaborate in the diffusion of technologies, by reducing the costs of technology transfer, and making technology more appropriate to developing countries. The article describes cases of collaboration concerning waste management and waste-to-energy in Thailand and the Philippines. The article argues that successful public–private partnerships between investors and communities depends on minimizing transaction costs, strengthening collaborative (or assurance) mechanisms, and in maximizing public trust and accountability of partnerships. Lessons are then drawn for enhancing capacity building for technology transfer under the climate change convention and applications such as the Clean Development Mechanism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this study was to analyze the nutritional quality and viscosity of blenderized enteral tube feedings (BTFs) from four hospitals in the Philippines. Samples of two different tifFs (one standard and one modified) were collected from each hospital on three separate occasions and analyzed for macronutrients, micronutrients, and viscosity. There was considerable variation among the BTFs for the concentrations of most nutrients measured. For standard BTF samples, the caloric density ranged from 66-123 kcal/100g and the percentages of total weight for protein, carbohydrate, and fat ranged from 1.5-4.0%, 8.6-21.4%, and 0.27-3.40%, respectively. Levels of specific vitamins were undetectable in 10 standard and 15 modified BTF samples. In samples where vitamin levels were detectable, results were: vitamin A, 625-8850 lU/kg; riboflavin, 0.40-5.00 mg/kg; and pyridoxine, 0.14-3.00 mg/kg. Mineral concentrations also varied greatly (eg calcium, 64-524 mg/kg; sodium, 148-886 mg/kg; iron, 3.0-13.7 mg/kg; and zinc, 1.8- 11.5 mg(kg). Correlation coefficients were statistically significant only for carbohydrate (r 0.48, p = 0.017). Measured values tended to be lower than expected values for all nutrients, although the difference was statistically significant only for calories (P 0.023). The viscosity of BTF samples ranged from 2.3-45,060 centipoise, excluding three samples that were too viscous for analysis. This study demonstrates that hospital prepared blenderized enteral tube feedings render unpredictable levels of micronutrients and macronutrients and appear likely to deliver less than the desired amounts of nutrients. Additionally, the viscosity of these feedings may be unsuitable for infusion through feeding tubes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Action-research projects focused on poor women both collect information and design interventions to improve their livelihood. This approach is illustrated by studying street food vendors in Iloilo, PhIlippines. Findings document the importance of street foods as a source of income and of food. Interventions to improve both safe food handling and income were pro- posed and tested in Iloilo and Manila; a revisit after a decade shows their long-term impact on the vendors. Overall, this and six other studies comprising the street food project influenced policy changes by municipal, national, and international agencies and organizations. The conclusions challenge theoretical assumptions held by economists concerning the informal sector and by feminists regarding the family. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Human mercury (Hg) exposure in two contrasting areas of mining and mineral processing activity on the Philippine islands of Mindanao and Palawan was evaluated using hair analysis. On Mindanao, samples were collected from residents of Apokon, a major regional centre for gold beneficiation. On Palawan, a former cinnabar mine and mine-waste disposal site in Honda Bay formed the focus of investigation. Relatively high hair Hg burdens (up to 13 mg Hg kg-1 at Apokon and 18.5 mg Hg kg-1 in Honda Bay) were observed in both populations, with occupational factors apparently constituting a first-order exposure control. At Apokon, hair burdens in excess 2 mg Hg kg-1 were recorded in 90% of Au processing plant workers, compared with 21% of other sectors of the population. In Bay, ex-mineworkers, although possibly subject to occupational Hg exposure in the past, now display no evidence of this influence. Fishermen, however, systematically yielded hair Hg concentrations a factor of 2.5 higher than those of the remaining population. Approximately 7% of the Apokon and Honda Bay residents sampled presented hair Hg concentrations equal to or in excess of the World Health Organisation (WHO) reference dose. There is little evidence to indicate that residential factors significantly influence Hg exposure in either area. Hazard mitigation strategies involving the isolation of resident populations from perceived contaminant sources such as ore processing plant and sites of mine-waste disposal are, therefore, unlikely to prove beneficial. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]