DOH Capiz says no substitute to cleanliness vs dengue
by Jemin B. Guillermo
Engineer Jane Delos Reyes, Sanitary Inspector of the Provincial Health Office (PHO)of Capiz said that destroying the breeding sites of dengue-carrying mosquitoes remains the primary goal in the prevention of said disease.
She said that they have been in close coordination with all the local government units, particularly the rural health units to intensify the campaign against the dreaded mosquitoes.
According to delos Reyes, they are also in tandem with the various schools in the province for an advocacy among school children and parents.
Recently, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has ordered the Department of Health (DOH) to intensify the campaign against dengue through its public health education programs.
Deputy Spokesperson Anthony Golez said that President Arroyo is asking local government units and national health officials to cooperate in combating the scourge which has claimed a number of lives in depressed communities.
“The important thing here is cooperation between LGUs and health officials and how to support hospitals with dengue cases,” Golez quoted the president as saying.
He said that part of the DOH mandate is to destroy the breeding grounds of mosquitoes.
On the other hand, delos Reyes revealed that as of September 14, Capiz has registered a total of 150 dengue cases with already 2 mortality.
Of the total cases, 85 was recorded in Roxas City, 17 in Panay, 10 in Mambusao, 7 in Dumalag, 5 each in Dao and Pontevedra, 4 in Sigma, 3 cases each in Cuartero, Dumarao and Panitan, 2 cases each in President Roxas and Pilar, and 1 case each in Tapaz, Sapian, Maayon and Ivisan.
Delos Reyes also added that so far, no case was registered in Jamindan town.
As part of their campaign, the PHO here will also distribute larvicides to the different RHUs in Capiz courtesy of the DOH for their anti- “kiti-kiti” campaign, she said. (PIA)
Region 8 celebrates RDC Week on Sept 22-25
The activities will be focused on this year’s theme, “Uniting Eastern Visayas for Regional Development.”
Calbayog City Mayor Mel Senen Sarmiento who is the RDC chairman informed that one of the highlights of the week-long celebration is the Photo Exhibit which is scheduled to be opened on September 22, 9:00 o’clock in the morning, at the lobby of the National Economic and Development Authority.
The Photo Exhibit will include documentations of impact undertakings and accomplishments of the RDC sectoral committees corresponding to the four key strategies in the updated Regional Development Plan for Eastern Visayas.
The Exhibit will open for public viewing, at 9:00 o’clock in the morning to 5:00 o’clock in the afternoon, during the whole duration of the RDC Week celebration, Mayor Sarmiento said.
The RDC Sectoral Committees include the Economic Development Committee, Infrastructure Committee, Social Development Committee and Development Administration Committee.
A Press Conference is also scheduled to be conducted at the NEDA 8 Mini Conference Room, 3:30 – 4:00 o’clock in the afternoon of September 22. The Press Conference is aimed at informing the media of the vital role of the RDC in the development of Eastern Visayas.
The RDC Week celebration is in accordance with Presidential Proclamation No. 1164 by then Pres. Fidel V. Ramos signed on February 28, 1998, declaring every 4th week of September every year as RDC week.
The Regional Development Council is composed of the RDC Chairman, Co-Chair, the Vice Chair and the Secretary as officials with all provincial governors and city mayors, mayor of municipalities designated as provincial capitals, mayor of municipality or city designated as the regional center, Regional Directors of National Line Agencies, representatives of the private sector and NGO based in the Region.
There are fifty three regular RDC members in the Region, 15 from the private sector. This excludes the two regular guests, the CORD and the Presidential Assistant for Eastern Visayas and the special non-voting members. (PIA 8)
CSC Bohol starts accepting prof, sub-prof test applics
With the examinations set November 15, the local CSC said their deadline for accepting applications would be this September 30.
The CSC said application forms are available at the CSC Bohol Field Office or are downloadable at the www.csc.gov.ph website.
Applicants however need to accomplish the CSC Application form, submit four latest passport sized pictures with full name tag, include a photocopy of a valid identification card.
The card shall bear the applicant’s picture, signature and birthdate as well as signature of authorized head of issuing agency.
Applicants also need to prepare P350 examination fee. (PIA)
CLEEP promotes business, generates employment and investment
Based on the CLEEP Report of DTI VI, a total of 409 trainings were conducted in the different provinces of the region participated in by around 12, 958 persons, as of July 30, 2009.
The same report showed that 943 participants went into business, mostly, on food processing, operation of a small eatery and sari-sari store, beauty and detergent soap making, trading, processed meat, bakeshop, household products, handicrafts, pharmaceuticals and junkshop generating around P34,484,370 in investment and P41,695,170 in sales.
The trainings also created 2,205 new jobs opportunities in the region.
CLEEP is the Cabinet’s response to Memorandum Circular 168, which President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo issued on Oct. 23 last year.
It will be recalled that President Arroyo assigned each of member of her Cabinet to act as steward to a specific region to ensure and oversee the program’s implementation at the height of the global economic slump.
Among the beneficiaries of the program are the poor, returning expatriates, workers in the export industry, and out-of-school youths threatened or hurt by reduced or lost income as a consequence of the economic crisis.
The latest data provided by the National Anti-Poverty Commission (NAPC) showed that CLEEP generated 153,887 new jobs (or 60.69 percent of the targeted 253,550 jobs) for 304,933 individuals (or 66.25 percent of the targeted 460,280 individuals)throughout the archipelago as of August. 14. (PIA)
Strategic planning workshop for pandemic influenza level 6 set in Western Visayas
by T. Villavert
Director Ariel I. Valencia of the Department of Health (DOH) Center for Health and Development in Western Visayas, with the DOH National Center for Disease Prevention and Control and World Health Organization will conduct a two-day orientation and planning workshop for the Regional Mitigation Planning Workshop for Pandemic Influenza on September 16 and 17 in Iloilo City.
Valencia said that in April 2009, the World Health Organization (WHO) reported of human cases and deaths secondary to re-assortment of influenza virus found among swine, avian and human population, and initiated the global alert and response to the influenza A (H1N1) virus.
He said that in June 13, 2009 Health Secretary Francisco T. Duque III informed the public that the DOH will be shifting to a policy of mitigation response to the decision of WHO to raise the Pandemic Alert 5 to Level 6.
“This means that we have to make sure that our health system is equipped to treat and manage particularly severe cases which may require more intensive care in our hospitals and that mild cases are appropriately treated at home,” Valencia said.
In Western Visayas, the Regional Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit (RESU) reported that out of 148 CUO’s monitored in Region 6, only sixty six (66) cases were considered positive to Novel Influenza A (H1) Viral RNA.
The RSU report further disclosed that 17 cases have still pending lab results. The last case under observation (CUO) was reported on August 20, 2009. (PIA6)
Mactan airport official assures safety of Cebu’s airline passengers
by Roberto M. Cabardo
Mark Villanueva, facility manager of the control tower of MCIA said that while he confirms the need to upgrade the airport tower facilities he however stressed that all existing facilities of Cebu airport are still functioning well and therefore traveling by air in this part of the Philippines is surely safe.
“We have a 10-Year development program for the upgrading of our airport facilities,” said Villanueva.
He added that there are at least 3 areas that air traffic controllers monitor to make sure planes that land and take off are safe. First point is the tower control (0-5 nautical miles), second is the approach control (beyond 5 – 50 nautical miles) where the radar is, and the third is the area control center (beyond 50 nautical miles) outside Metro Manila’s area of jurisdiction.
Cebu’s international airport is second to Manila in traffic volume having an average of 200 planes landing and taking off daily. These already include the commercial, military, private, and general aviation flights.
In the entire country, the official disclosed that there are only 2 enroute control centers which are found in Cebu and Manila respectively.
Last Friday, the approach radar in NAIA malfunctioned after the uninterrupted power system (ups) conked out after a series of power outages that hit the commercial power supply.
To allay the fears of the public, Villanueva assured that traveling by air in the Visayas and the rest of the country is safe despite that isolated incidence last week that led to diverted, cancelled, if not delayed flights to and from the country.
A scenario that, if not mitigated, can surely hurt the tourism industry of Cebu that has been declared by Pres. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo as the Philippines’ tourism hub.
Late last year, Arroyo signed the Civil Aviation Authority Act of 2008 that aims to strengthen and update the standards of the international framework of the country’s civil aviation industry. (PIA 7 Cebu)
Antique has 210 dengue cases, 3 deaths
Tess Vergara, Dengue Coordinator, Provincial Health Office said that despite massive campaign of cleanliness and sanitation all through out the province, dengue mosquitoes can not be totally eradicated.
Among the age group that has most number of cases are with ages 1-10 years old with 103 cases followed by 11-20 years with 65 cases while there are 9 cases that are below one year old.
The town of Tobias Fornier has most number of cases with 59, followed by Bugasong with 25, then San Jose with 21. Three deaths are from the towns of Culasi, Caluya and Barbaza.
Meanwhile, the Provincial Health Office and the Municipal Health Offices of the 18 towns continue to campaign for people’s participation in the massive cleanliness and sanitation particularly undertaking search and destroy operation of breeding places of mosquitoes in consonance with the order of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to intensify the campaign against dengue through its public health educational programs.
The President, according to Deputy Spokesperson Anthony Golez, asked local government units and national health officials to cooperate in combating the scourge which has claimed a number of lives in depressed communities. (PSM/PIA)
DOH 6 reports dengue cases in Western Visayas
by T. Villavert
Iloilo City (15 September) — The Department of Health in Region 6 reported that from January 1 to August 22, the regional office monitored 2,723 dengue cases from the 29 Sentinel Sites throughout the region.
According to the Regional Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit (RESU) the number of cases this year is 67% higher compared to the same period last year. However, there was a downward trend noted in the last four weeks since the number of cases peaked in the 28th week. Ages of cases ranged from less than 3 months to 75 years old (median 10 years). Majority of cases are males (53%). Forty four percent of the cases belonged to the 1-9 years age group.
There were a total of 39 deaths recorded giving a case fatality ratio of 1.4%. Fifty-nine percent of cases were classified as dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF), while 40% were classified as dengue fever. Thirty one (1%) of the total cases were classified as dengue shock syndrome, the DOH 6 report disclosed.
Meanwhile, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has ordered the Department of Health to intensify the campaign against dengue through its public health educational programs.
The President, according to Deputy Spokesperson Anthony Golez, asked local government units and national health officials to cooperate in combating the scourge which has claimed a number of lives in depressed communities.
Part of the DOH mandate, according to Golez is to destroy breeding grounds of mosquitoes, the Malacanang press report disclosed. (PIA6)
CSC 8 resets HRM Congress
Tacloban City (September 14) — The Civil Service Commission Regional Office 8 Assistant Regional Director Marilyn Taldo informed that the Eastern Visayas Regional Congress of Human Resource Management Practitioners which is scheduled for September 24-25, 2009 at the DPWH Multipurpose Hall has been reset to another date which will be announced later.
No reason was given by the CSC Regional official as to the postponement of the Eastern Visayas Regional Congress of Human Resource Management practitioners which has been scheduled to highlight the month-long celebration of the 106th Anniversary of Philippine Civil Service.
Said Congress is in line with the celebration’s theme “Honoring our Heroes in Republic Service, Responsive, and Ethical Public Servants with Vision, Impact, Commitment and Excellence.”
Earlier, Director David Cabanag, Jr., said that the Civil Service Commission has prepared unique and informative topics aimed at developing and enhancing the potentials of the human resource management practitioners in Region 8.
No less than Civil Service Commission Chairman Ricardo Saludo has been invited to be the keynote speaker and to interact with the participants of the Congress, Director Cabanag added.
The Administrative Officers and the Human Resource Management Officers of the various national line agencies and the local government units in Region 8, have been invited to participate in the said Congress.
To cover the expenses for the meals, venue and other incidental expenses, a registration fee of P2,300 will be charged each participant for this live out Congress, Director Cabanag added.
For more information, the interested would-be participants may call the Civil Service Commission Region 8 Human Resource Division at telephone numbers 323-2962; 524-9180 or 524-9186.
Interested persons may also call the CSC Field office in Tacloban City at telephone number 321-2182. (PIA 8)
Negros Occ., Bacolod City now ready for international investments, declares DOST brass
Negros Occ. (14 September) — The Province of Negros Occ. and Bacolod City is ready to accept international investors, Department of Science and Technology (DOST) Under-Secretary Fortunato de la Peña said.
During a recent Science and Technology (S&T) gathering here, he said Negros and Bacolod City have grown in multiple folds over the years making it ripe for investments from big capital players of the world.
“I have noted the very significant progress and impressive development in Bacolod and Negros Occ as a whole. It looks very ready to accept international investments,” he said.
In his speech, he rallied local and national scientists to take an aggressive role in propelling the country to progress through ST.
“Our scientists must become more vocal and prominent in highlighting S&T and its vast potential at a time of great uncertainty and also opportunity,” he said.
De la Peña further urged them to become more outward-oriented in the sense that they should have a clearer idea on how to harness the output of S&T to benefit the more than 90 million population of the country.
The call is in line with President Gloria M. Arroyo’s directive to fully explore the benefits derived from a strong Science and Technology program so that it becomes one of the backbones of the country’s economy.
De la Peña appealed to the S&T community to do their share in coming up with new points of intervention along the “continuum of scientific applications that would lead breakthroughs across the full range of daily human activity.”
“We need to ensure that our country be at a position of advantage in the global economy. We have to find our niches in order to compete effectively in high value added sectors and reap the many economic benefits this can bring,” he said. (PIA-LOL)
