Mount Apo Natural Park (MANP) is an important forest reserve in most part of Region XI and XII because of its watershed importance. However, the MANP may also threatened by habitat modification that may alter most of its water resource.… More

Mount Apo Natural Park (MANP) is an important forest reserve in most part of Region XI and XII because of its watershed importance. However, the MANP may also threatened by habitat modification that may alter most of its water resource. Thus, this study was conducted to assess the abundance of freshwater fish and analyze the physico-chemical properties like water temperature, pH, turbidity, dissolved oxygen (DO), total dissolved solids (TDS), electric conductivity (EC), oxidation-reduction potential (ORP) of the two major rivers of MANP. A total of six freshwater fishes consisting of four native and two introduced species were collected and identified in the two sampling stations. The native Barbodes binotatus (Valenciennes 1842) was found to be the most abundant in all the years the survey was conducted. The data on physico-chemical properties showed fluctuations in all year (2012-13 and 2015). High turbidity rate in Marbel River and high water temperature recorded in upper station of Matingao River could have influenced the collection and abundance of freshwater fishes. Shannon diversity index in Marbel River and Matingao River are very low with values of 0.69 (2012-2013); 0.68 (2015) and 0.70 (2012-2013); 0.70 (2015) for the two rivers, respectively. This could be attributed to anthropogenic activities, characteristics and physico-chemical properties of the river. Less

In radiation therapy, Monte Carlo method was a standard procedure for absorbed dose calculations; yet it was often frustrating due to long computation requirements and complex programming. Monte Carlo method was soon revitalized since the introduction of Geant4 framework purely… More

In radiation therapy, Monte Carlo method was a standard procedure for absorbed dose calculations; yet it was often frustrating due to long computation requirements and complex programming. Monte Carlo method was soon revitalized since the introduction of Geant4 framework purely written in C++ object-oriented language. This study utilized opensource Geant4 codes for modeling and simulation purposes. These codes were executed to simulate the performance of an Elekta Compact linear accelerator based on available manufacturer’s specifications. A 6-MV photon beam spectrum was modeled by transporting 2 billion 6-MeV primary electrons to hit a tungsten target from a 0.5 mm gun filament radius with spatial energy of 0.127 MeV and angular distribution of ±30o. Depth-doses were computed at 1.04 to 30 cm along the central axis of a voxelized water phantom. Validity of simulated data was verified by comparison with experimental measurement. There was close agreement between simulated and measured beam data. Normalization errors were equal to 4.6% for 10 x 10 cm2; and 3.9% for 15 x 15 cm2 field sizes. Computing efficiency has improved when using condensed-history technique. Therefore, the Geant4 framework can create model and simulate complex geometries of a linear accelerator facility with improved reliability, accuracy, and efficiency. Less

Good water quality is a key component of sustainable aquaculture production. The present study reports the water physico-chemical properties of selected fish ponds in Central Mindanao University, Bukidnon, Philippines. The values of the parameters ranged from pH 8.36-8.64, 26.73-27.61 °C… More

Good water quality is a key component of sustainable aquaculture production. The present study reports the water physico-chemical properties of selected fish ponds in Central Mindanao University, Bukidnon, Philippines. The values of the parameters ranged from pH 8.36-8.64, 26.73-27.61 °C temperature, 203-211 ?S/cm electrical conductivity, 98-128 NTU turbidity, 13.04-13.78 mg/L dissolved oxygen, 0.095-0.104 g/L total dissolved solids, 73.2-81.9 mg CaCO3/L total alkalinity, 91.0-101.9 mg CaCO3/L total hardness, 11.18-27.86 mg/L sulfate, 0.44-1.08 mg/L chloride, 24.61-50.52 mg/L phosphate, <0.001 mg/L cadmium, <0.01 mg/L lead, and <0.001 mg/L mercury. These findings conformed to the water quality guidelines for aquaculture production except for turbidity and phosphate content. Chloride concentrations were also remarkably low. It is recommended to conduct regular monitoring of the physico-chemical parameters of the pond water, and undertake corrective measures to reduce turbidity and phosphate to an acceptable level and increase the chloride to a level specifically suitable for catfish production. Less

Food security has long been a major development priority of all countries and will remain to be in the future. This has become all the more important in this time of COVID19 pandemic. It is achieved when there is the… More

Food security has long been a major development priority of all countries and will remain to be in the future. This has become all the more important in this time of COVID19 pandemic. It is achieved when there is the availability of and adequate access to sufficient, safe, and nutritious food at all times for individuals to maintain a healthy and active life. The United Nations has identified four pillars of food security: food availability, food access, food utilization and food stability. Through the years, all our efforts are expected to contribute to the pillars of food security, and a country’s ability to consolidate its resources towards defining and achieving their aspired food security targets across relevant scales has become a major hallmark of development success. Less

This article focuses on one of the marginalized groups in the Philippines, the Badjaus, who are temporarily settling in Bukidnon. This looks into the nomadic behavioral patterns of the Badjaus and the factors that led them to this situation. To… More

This article focuses on one of the marginalized groups in the Philippines, the Badjaus, who are temporarily settling in Bukidnon. This looks into the nomadic behavioral patterns of the Badjaus and the factors that led them to this situation. To make sense of this query, we have discussed the “coming of Badjaus” in the mountain province of Bukidnon by exploring their sense of self, day-to-day struggles, aspirations, and the factors leading to their coming. Gathering of data was done by employing a descriptive-qualitative method with the aid of key-informants, in-depth interviews, and an obtrusive observation. The researchers interviewed ten respondents. Findings reveal that our Badjau respondents have been displaced and are forced to move out of the Zamboanga Peninsula due to conflicts between the military and terrorist groups. In the process of moving from places to places, they have encountered a more serious threat with their daily subsistence. Thus, affecting their total well-being and representation of the Badjaus in their day-to-day encounters. To survive, they find ways in search of basic necessities like food and shelter. Overall, the “coming of Badjaus” in Bukidnon is viewed as an act of coping, surviving, and escaping the harsh social realities they experience. Less