SSS eWheels goes to Negros Island

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The Visayas West 1 Division of the Social Security System (SSS) participated in the nationwide celebration of Labor Day by conducting eWheels in various venues in the province.

“We believe that the labor force covers not only the employed workers but also the self-employed and voluntary members who toil for their everyday sustenance. To show our appreciation for their hard work, we are bringing SSS services closer to them through the conduct of simultaneous eWheels in the key cities of Negros Island. On top of our regular activities, we also joined in various local government unit and school activities like job fairs and festivals,” SSS Vice President for Visayas West 1 Division Dr. Lilani Benedian said.

The “SSS eWheels sa Barangay” is a mobile service program launched in March this year to bring SSS services closer to the barangays and teach its clientele how to use various digital platforms like the SSS website (www.sss.gopv.ph); my.SSS Portal, uSSSap Tayo Portal, and the SSS Website. Services also available at the eWheels include issuing Social Security (SS) Number; My.SSS registration and password resetting; Payment Reference Number (PRN) generation for contribution and loan payments; online application for Salary Loan, Pension Loan, and ConsoLoan (loan penalty condonation program); enrolment at the Disbursement Account Enrollment Module (DAEM); online submission of benefit claim applications via My.SSS Portal; Member Data Change Request; response to inquiries; and distribution of SSS Forms.

Five barangays and one LGU benefitted from the said activity, which include Barangay 1 in San Carlos City, Barangay Alijis in Bacolod City, Barangay Payao in Binalbagan, all in Negros Occidental, and Barangay Sta. Agueda in Pamplona and Barangay Poblacion in San Jose in Negros Oriental province. Also, a job fair was held in EB Magalona, Negros Occidental, which served 877 clients and processed 1,024 transactions.

Top and bottom photos show branch personnel from SSS Dumaguete and SSS Kabankalan accommodating clients in Barangay Poblacion in San Jose, Negros Oriental, and Barangay Payao in Binalbagan, Negros Occidental on April 28.

For more information, visit any of the following SSS social media accounts the SSS official Facebook Page at “Philippine Social Security System – SSS”; SSS Viber Community at “MYSSSPH Updates”; Instagram at “messiah”; Twitter at “PHLSSS,” YouTube at “MySSSPhilippines, and USSSapTayo Portal crms@sss.gov.ph.”

University Vision-Mission Week 2023 Kislap: Liwanag ng Bukang Liwayway

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The University Vision-Mission Week 2023 of De La Salle University commemorates the foundation day of our beloved university and celebrates the legacy of our founder, St. John Baptist de La Salle. This week-long event was held from June 23 to 30, 2023, and included a series of activities that did not only cater to the students, faculty, and personnel of the university but also aimed to give back to the community and to society through its partner beneficiaries.

 The theme for this year revolves around adapting to change and finding a silver lining in the “new normal” with the title, Kislap: Liwanag ng Bukang Liwayway.

The Power of Purple: Why more farmers should grow this purple corn

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The demand for healthier food options is on the rise, driven by an increasing number of health-conscious consumers. According to a survey by Food Industry Asia, eight out of ten Filipino consumers are becoming more health conscious and would prefer healthier food choices as long as they are tasty.

This growing awareness of the importance of a healthy diet presents a substantial market opportunity for unique, tasty, and nutritious crops like East-West Seed’s hybrid Morado F1 purple sweet waxy corn.

With its vibrant color, anthocyanin content, sweetness, and potential to increase income, Morado presents an enticing opportunity for Filipino farmers.

 

Morado can provide farmers with a consistent income opportunity throughout the year as it is suitable to be planted all year round. It is also an early-maturing corn variety – farmers can harvest within 60 to 62 days after planting, enabling them to sell their produce to the market sooner.

Morado stands out not only for its vibrant purple hue but also for its ear quality. The kernels are soft, tender, and stay sweet even two days after harvest.

Another remarkable attribute of Morado is its high anthocyanin content. Anthocyanins are the natural compounds responsible for the purple color of Morado. Studies have shown that anthocyanins possess antioxidant properties, offering numerous health benefits. These include reducing inflammation and preventive potential against cancer. Research also suggests that anthocyanins may be beneficial to the gut, which can contribute to overall improvement of health. Morado’s anthocyanin content makes it an appealing choice for health-conscious consumers.

Levi Llaneta, a farmer from Albay who planted Morado shared, "Morado is very easy to sell in the market. Our buyers always look for Morado because it’s sweet, sticky, and has health benefits."

Mike Paragozo, a farmer from Agusan del Sur, also attests to Morado’s potential to increase income. He shared that the market value of Morado commands a premium, with prices ranging from 50 to 80 pesos per kilo, compared to other corn varieties.

From Mike’s experience, customers are willing to purchase Morado, regardless of size and higher price, as they prioritize the health benefits it offers. 

"Every week, we plant 1-2 kg of Morado to ensure a continuous supply," says Mike. This consistent planting approach enables him to meet the growing demand for this unique crop and capitalize on its market potential. Mike also shared that it is easy to grow Morado. He proudly mentions, "From my experience, Morado has a high germination rate at around 95%. It is also strong against diseases."

The uniqueness and versatility of Morado also open up various marketing avenues for farmers like Mike. He shares, "Morado can be sold to processors of corn coffee, fresh markets or directly to consumers."

Moreover, because of its unique purple color, farms planted with Morado have the potential to attract tourists, offering an additional income opportunity for farmers. Mike is establishing Morado as a trademark in his farm in Agusan del Sur to attract tourists who are intrigued by this distinct purple corn.

"At East-West Seed, we aim to improve the lives of our farmers by offering them innovative and high-yielding vegetable seed varieties that are suitable to the local growing conditions and needs of the local market," said Jay Lopez, General Manager of East-West Seed Philippines.

"Morado purple corn combines visual appeal, health benefits, and a significant potential to increase income, making it a favorable choice for entrepreneurial farmers," Lopez added.



About East-West Seed

East-West Seed, founded in 1982 by Simon Groot, Dutch seedsman and recipient of the 2019 World Food Prize, along with Filipino seed trader Benito Domingo, is one of the world’s leading vegetable seed companies in Asia and expanding rapidly in Africa and Latin America. The privately-owned company has played an important role in the development and improvement of tropical vegetable varieties that are adapted to tropical markets and growing conditions. Its mission is to provide innovative products and services that help to improve the livelihood of vegetable farmers. In addition, East-West Seed trains vegetable farmers in order to help maximize their yield and income through better knowledge of vegetable production and farming skills.

In 2016, East-West Seed was ranked #1 in the “Global Index for Vegetable Seed Companies” and “Regional Index for Eastern Africa” by Access to Seeds Index (ATSI), a part of the World Benchmarking Alliance. The company maintained its #1 ranking in the 2019 Global and South and Southeast Asia Indices. ATSI measures the efforts of global seed companies in enhancing smallholder farmers' productivity.

In 2020, it ranked number 28 in Fortune’s Change the World list of companies that are doing well by doing good.

East-West Seed, headquartered in Thailand, is a fast-growing, multicultural organization with around 3,500 employees worldwide. It has 20 R&D establishments in nine countries and exports to over 75 countries. In the Philippines, East-West Seed has three R&D establishments in Batangas and Bukidnon, and its main office is located in San Rafael, Bulacan.

Learn more about us at www.eastwestseed.com.