NAST PHL releases advisory towards reducing the prevalence of hypertension and cardiovascular disease
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TAGUIG CITY – The National Academy of Science and Technology, Philippines (NAST PHL) published its Science Advisory No. 2024-01 titled “Towards Reducing the Prevalence of Hypertension and Cardiovascular Disease: Predictors of Hypertension among Filipinos from the Lifecare Philippine Cohort”. Acd. Rody Sy, a renowned cardiologist and member of the NAST PHL Health Science Division, authored this advisory.
Cardiovascular disease is the most common cause of morbidity and mortality in the Philippines while hypertension is the command cardiovascular risk factor, Dr. Sy said.
NAST PHL lauds UP’s flagship program for an archipelagic and oceanic virtual university
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TAGUIG CITY - The National Academy of Science and Technology, Philippines (NAST PHL) welcomes the inclusion of the UP Archipelagic and Oceanic Virtual University (UP AOVU) among the ten flagship programs of the University of the Philippines that were launched on 18 June 2024, as part of the university’s 116th Founding Anniversary celebration.
According to the UP Strategic Plan 2023-2029, the flagship program of the UP AOVU will pioneer “a transformative approach to understanding and utilizing our archipelagic environment for sustainable development.” The virtual university hosted in UP Diliman and satellite offices will offer post-graduate programs and conduct research on marine conservation and the Blue Economy. The UP AOVU will also be instrumental in building national, regional, and international collaboration, and leadership in archipelagic and oceanic studies.
Unearthing the potential of the cassava industry
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Cassava is one of the popular root crops in the Philippines valued at ₱97,623.00 for an average yield of 11,834 kilograms (source: PSA, 2020). The top producing region is Northern Mindanao with 279.29 thousand metric tons (39.3%), Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) with 218.99 thousand metric tons (30.8%), and Cagayan Valley with 47.50 thousand metric tons (6.7%). However, in terms of area planted, BARMM has the largest with 100,000 hectares.
All parts of the plant are used in various forms: tubers as food when properly prepared and cooked and the upper ground and non-tuber underground parts as fuel for drying the good parts, which are turned into starch and other forms. Roots can be used to produce ethanol and mixed-in feed concentrates for ruminant animals. Because of this, cassava may be tagged as the root crop of life, similar to coconut, widely known as the tree of life.