February 21, 2014 1

“in pursuit of PIA’s commitment to provide a national mechanism for the free flow of timely, accurate and relevant information… “

VOL 2 ISSUE 43 Daily E-Newsletter of Philippine Information Agency - 8 February 21, 2014

President Aquino plans to revisit disaster affected areas

T h e P h i l i p p i n e I n f o r m a t i o n A g e n c y R e g i o n 8 i n

p a r t n e r s h i p w i t h t h e L o c a l G o v e r n m e n t o f Ta n a u a n , i s s e t t o c o n d u c t a C i t i z e n s J o u r n a l i s m S e m i n a r W o r k s h o p o n F e b r u a r y 2 1 f r o m 8 : 0 0 o ’c l o c k i n t h e m o r n i n g t o 4 : 0 0 o ’c l o c k i n t h e a f t e r n o o n a t t h e C o n f e r e n c e H a l l o f t h e S a n g g u n i a n g B a y a n . T h i s i s i n l i n e w i t h t h e P I A t h r u s t o f s t r e n g t h e n i n g t h e C o m m u n i t y D e v e l o p m e n t I n f o r m a t i o n O f f i c e r s b y i n c l u d i n g t h e b a r a n g a y s s o t h a t t h e y w i l l b e a b l e t o c o m m u n i c a t e t h e i m p o r t a n t h a p p e n i n g s i n t h e i r r e s p e c t i v e a r e a s e s p e c i a l l y i n t i m e s o f d i s a s t e r s a n d e m e r g e n c i e s . T h e p a r t i c i p a n t s w i l l b e t a u g h t o n w h a t t o r e p o r t , h o w t o m a k e n e w s a n d s e n d t h e m a s S M S , h o w t o s e n d p h o t o s a n d v i d e o c l i p s . A f t e r c o m p l e t i n g t h e t r a i n i n g , t h e p a r t i c i p a n t s w i l l b e d e s i g n a t e d b y t h e P I A a s t h e B a r a n g a y C o m m u n i t y D e v e l o p m e n t I n f o r m a t i o n O f f i c e r i n t h e i r r e s p e c t i v e b a r a n g a y. T h e i m p o r t a n c e o f c o m m u n i c a t i o n a n d i n f o r m a t i o n h a s n e v e r b e e n

PIA trains all 54 Tanauan barangays to become information partners

President Benigno S. Aquino III on Wednesday said he plans to revisit

next week some of the areas affected by last year’s natural calamities, including a magnitude-7.2 quake and Typhoons Pablo and Yolanda. In an interview with media in Manila, the President said he expects to get a picture of government efforts to help affected residents recover from the calamities. “Well, palagay ko hintayin natin hanggang next week kung saan ako iikot muli, ano, sa Yolanda, sa Pablo, sa Bohol na-earthquake at maipakita sa inyo kung nasaan na tayo (Let’s wait until next week when I go around areas hit by Typhoons Yolanda and Pablo, and the quake continued on page 5

continued on page 7

that hit Bohol),” he said. Some groups had criticized the government for its supposedly slow response to survivors of calamities, particularly of super Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan). Yolanda left more than 6,200 dead after devastating the Visayas and parts of Southern Luzon. The President said the government continues to assist 1.4 million families affected by Yolanda. He added he will address the concerns raised by some of the survivors who submitted a petition to him for assistance.Meanwhile, the President assured the government will continue to extend

PIA-8 director Erlinda Olivia Tiu tells the participants on how to be citizen journalists by using their cellphones during the one-day training for barangay leaders and municipal information officers held at the Leyte Sports Academy, Tacloban City, February 12. Beside her is ABS-CBN’s Bayan Mo Ipatrol Mo head Rowena Paraan. (Raul Tiozon, Jr./PIA-8)

2 February 21, 2014

Construction of permanent homes now ongoing at Tanauan Relocation SiteW h i l e o t h e r l o c a l g o v e r n m e n t

u n i t s a r e t a l k i n g a b o u t b u n k h o u s e s a s t e m p o r a r y h o m e s f o r t h e i r Yo l a n d a d i s p l a c e d f a m i l i e s , Ta n a u a n , a c o a s t a l m u n i c i p a l i t y n e x t t o Pa l o, Le y t e , i s n o w b u s y b u i l d i n g p e r m a n e n t h o m e s i n t h e t o w n’s p e r m a n e n t r e l o c a t i o n s i t e . Ta l k i n g a b o u t Fi l i p i n o s ’ r e s i l i e n c y, t h i s m u n i c i p a l i t y i s t r u l y o n t h e w a y t o r e c o v e r y a n d r e h a b i l i t a t i o n , a n d w i t h t h e b u i l d b a c k b e t t e r i n m i n d , t h e m u n i c i p a l i t y h a s a l r e a d y r o a d m a p o f w h a t t h e m u n i c i p a l i t y w o u l d b e b e c a u s e a s Ta n a u a n M a y o r Pe l a g i o Te c s o n s a i d , “ T h e b e s t w a y t o p r e d i c t t h e f u t u r e i s t o c r e a t e i t .” N o w o n g o i n g i s t h e s i t e d e v e l o p m e n t o f t h e p e r m a n e n t r e l o c a t i o n s i t e o f t h e m u n i c i p a l i t y o f Ta n a u a n , o n e o f t h e h a r d e s t h i t a r e a s b y S u p e r Ty p h o o n Yo l a n d a . I n f a c t , n o w o n g o i n g i s t h e c o n s t r u c t i o n o f a r o w o f 3 0 h o u s e s , t w o o f w h i c h a r e e x p e c t e d t o b e c o m p l e t e d o n o r b e f o r e Fe b r u a r y 2 5 , a c c o r d i n g t o M a y o r Te c s o n w h e n i n t e r v i e w e d b y t h e P h i l i p p i n e I n f o r m a t i o n A g e n c y. T h e f i r s t t u r n o v e r o f t h e h o u s e s i s t a r g e t e d f o r M a r c h 8 , t h e f o u r t h m o n t h a n n i v e r s a r y o f Yo l a n d a , t h e f i r s t 1 0 0 d a y s o f PA R . To w h i c h , P I A w a s q u i c k t o a d d : “ M a y o r, i t w o u l d b e y o u r b e s t g i f t t o t h e w o m e n o f Ta n a u a n b e c a u s e M a r c h 8 h a p p e n s t o b e t h e I n t e r n a t i o n a l Wo m e n’s D a y.” I t w a s a b u s y d a y a t t h e Pe r m a n e n t s i t e w i t h t h e D e p a r t m e n t o f Pu b l i c Wo r k s a n d H i g h w a y s w o r k e r s a n d g r a d e r s b u i l d i n g t h e r o a d g o i n g t o t h e s i t e w h e r e v o l u n t e e r s a n d w o r k e r s a r e b u i l d i n g t h e h o u s e s

a t t h e Pa g o R e l o c a t i o n S i t e , j u s t a f e w m i n u t e s r i d e f r o m t h e t o w n p r o p e r. T h e Pa g o R e l o c a t i o n S i t e c o n s i s t i n g o f 2 . 4 h e c t a r e s o f l a n d i s t h e f i r s t r e l o c a t i o n s i t e i n Ta n a u a n . S o m e 3 6 0 h o u s e s w i l l b e b u i l t h e r e , a c c o r d i n g t o M a y o r Te c s o n . T h e s e c o n d r e l o c a t i o n s i t e i s a t B a r a n g a y M a r i b i , t h e n e x t b a r a n g a y a f t e r Pa g o. T h e s i t e w i l l b e a b l e t o a c c o m m o d a t e a b o u t 6 4 0 h o u s e s . A n o t h e r s i t e i s a t B a r a n g a y S a c m e , M a y o r Pe l , a d d e d . To t a l i n g 1 , 2 0 0 h e c t a r e s , t h e p e r m a n e n t s i t e i s e n o u g h f o r t h e f a m i l i e s o f 1 , 2 0 0 i n f o r m a l s e t t l e r s t h a t u s e d t o l i v e a l o n g t h e c o a s t . A b o u t 2 0 0 o f t h e m a r e i n a t e n t e d e n c a m p m e n t i n a s c h o o l . T h e b e n e f i c i a r i e s w i l l h a v e 3 6 - s q u a r e - m e t e r l o t s a n d t h e r e w i l l b e p r o v i s i o n s m a d e f o r t h e h o u s e s t o h a v e a s e c o n d l e v e l . T h e h o u s i n g e s t a t e s w i l l h a v e c o n c r e t e r o a d s , d r a i n a g e a n d c o m m u n i t y f a c i l i t i e s , a n d w a t e r a n d l i g h t i n g s y s t e m s . T h e l o t f o r t h e r e l o c a t i o n s i t e s w a s p u r c h a s e d a n d d o n a t e d t o t h e LG U b y t h e G a w a d K a l i n g a t h r o u g h E xe c u t i v e D i r e c t o r Lo u i s O q u i n e n a , t h e M a y o r s a i d . T h e G K w i l l a l s o b u i l d 1 , 0 0 0 h o u s e s i n t h e r e l o c a t i o n s i t e s . T h e N a t i o n a l H o u s i n g A u t h o r i t y w a s i n - c h a r g e o f t h e s i t e d e v e l o p m e n t . T h e s p i r i t o f E D S A i s v e r y m u c h a l i v e i n Ta n a u a n , Le y t e w i t h g o v e r n m e n t , n o n - g o v e r n m e n t o r g a n i z a t i o n s a n d o r d i n a r y c i t i z e n s a r e w o r k i n g t o g e t h e r f o r a c o m m o n g o a l . B e n e f i c i a r i e s o f t h e h o u s i n g u n i t s a r e t h e d i s p l a c e d f a m i l i e s f r o m B a r a n g a y S a n R o q u e w h o a r e n o w s t a y i n g a t t h e t e n t c i t y. T h e s e f a m i l i e s c a n

n o l o n g e r g o t o b a c k t o t h e i r a r e a w h i c h w a s d e c l a r e d a s N o B u i l d Z o n e b y t h e LG U. B y t h e w a y, t h e S a n g g u n i a n g B a y a n o f Ta n a u a n h a s a l r e a d y p a s s e d a r e s o l u t i o n d e c l a r i n g a 5 0 m e t e r N o B u i l d Z o n e a t t h e c o a s t a l a r e a s o f Ta n a u a n . Ta n a u a n i s o n e o f t h e o l d e s t t o w n s i n t h e Pr o v i n c e o f Le y t e , d a t i n g b a c k t o t h e y e a r 1 7 1 0 . I t i s a s e c o n d c l a s s m u n i c i p a l i t y c o m p o s e d o f f i f t y -f o u r ( 5 4 ) b a r a n g a y s . A c c o r d i n g t o t h e 2 0 1 0 c e n s u s , i t h a s a p o p u l a t i o n o f 5 0 , 1 1 9 p e o p l e . T h e t o w n h a s b e e n b a p t i z e d t h e t i t l e o f “C r a d l e o f t h e I n t e l l e c t u a l s” o r “ B u n g t o H a n K a m a g - a r a m a n” s i n c e t h e S p a n i s h c o l o n i a l p e r i o d . Ta n a u a n i s a p p r ox i m a t e l y e i g h t e e n ( 1 8 ) k i l o m e t e r s s o u t h o f Ta c l o b a n C i t y w h i c h i s t h e C a p i t a l o f t h e E a s t e r n V i s a y a s R e g i o n . ( P I A 8 )

February 21, 2014 3Vicemayor hoping for a dialogue with P-Noy in his next visit after YolandaT h e v i c e m a y o r o f t h e C i t y o f

T a c l o b a n i s h o p e f u l t h a t P r e s i d e n t B e n i g n o A q u i n o I I I , i n h i s n e x t v i s i t w i l l h a v e t h e t i m e f o r a d i a l o g u e l i k e w h a t h e d i d i n h i s f i r s t a n d s e c o n d v i s i t . I n t h e p r e s i d e n t ’ s l a s t v i s i t , Y a o k a s i n i n f o r m e d t h a t t o g e t h e r w i t h h i m , a d i a l o g u e w a s m a d e w i t h M a y o r A l f r e d R o m u a l d e z , S e c . M a r R o x a s o f D I L G , a n d t h e p r e s i d e n t . T h i s i s t o u p d a t e t h e p r e s i d e n t o f w h a t i s r e a l l y i s t h e t r u e s i t u a t i o n o f T a c l o b a n . V i c e M a y o r Y a o k a s i n s a i d t h a t i f h e w i l l h a v e t h e c h a n c e , h e w i l l t e l l t h e p r e s i d e n t t o p l e a s e c o n t i n u e t o m a k e t h e r e h a b i l i t a t i o n

o f a f f e c t e d c o m m u n i t i e s t h e n u m b e r o n e p r i o r i t y o f t h e n a t i o n a l g o v e r n m e n t . “ W e c a n n o t c a l l i t a s u c c e s s i f w e w i l l n o t b e a b l e t o r e h a b i l i t a t e t h e d e v a s t a t e d c i t i e s a n d m u n i c i p a l i t i e s , l i k e T a c l o b a n ” s a i d Y a o k a s i n . A s o f t o d a y , w e a r e n o t i n a g o o d s i t u a t i o n , I j u s t h o p e t h a t w e w i l l b e a b l e t o t e l l t h e p r e s i d e n t t h a t t i m e i s o f t h e e s s e n c e , w e n e e d t o b u i l d b a c k b e t t e r , b u t w e n e e d t o b u i l d b a c k a s s o o n a s p o s s i b l e , f a s t e r a n d h o p e f u l l y s t r o n g e r a n d s a f e r c i t y o f T a c l o b a n , t h e V i c e M a y o r s a i d . ( P I A 8 w i t h L i z b e t h A n n A b e l l a )

Mayor eyes rehab and turning of Tanauan Plaza as memorial siteT anauan, Leyte Mayor Pel Tecson

together with the local officials in the municipality, is eyeing to rehabilitate and turn the Tanauan Plaza as a memorial site. Mayor Tecson, was in a conference with a well-known Architech Rogelio Vil larosa and his son Engr. Vil larosa and Ms. Hera from the INJAP group of companies when the Philippine Information Agency arrived unannounced in his office but he graciously accommodated the PIA to join in the discussion. “ We would l ike to fix our sala, our l iving room first,” the Mayor said referring to the town plaza. The Plaza is the heart of the municipality, it is here where happy memories happen. I t is here where the culture and the traditions of the municipality are perpetuated and enhanced, he said. Tanauan accounted for 1,376 of the more than 6,200 people who perished in the battering by the most power ful typhoon to ever hit land. Most of them, more than 600, were buried in mass graves at the town plaza, two days later. Without body bags, Mayor Tecson got plastic sheets and used gasoline as a preservative. He then asked the parish priest, Fr. Abraham Palana to bless them, honoring a custom that as a man owes it to himself to l ive a decent l ife, so, too, does he deserve a decent burial. Now, the mayor wants to build a memorial in honor of the Tanauananons who perished during the super typhoon.The Mayor was glad that the INJAP

continued on page 5

Tacloban City vice-mayor Sambo Yaokasin posed with one of the recipients of fishing boats dubbed Peter Project 2 of Negrense Volunteers for Change Foundation, Inc. during the turn-over ceremony for the affected fisherfolks of Super Typhoon Yolanda. (Photo by Raul Tiozon, Jr./PIA-8)

4 February 21, 2014

S ome 140 generator sets were donated to the city of Tacloban

by the Republic of Korea Ministry of Foreign affairs this month. According to Vice Mayor Jerry T. Yaokasin, the generator sets are intended for the 138 barangays of Tacloban and the other two for the Tacloban City Hall and the Tacloban legislative building. Yaokasin said that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs coordinated with his office and requested his help because the Ministry were having a difficulty in unloading the generator sets from Cebu.

Yaokasin said that it was fortunate that he knows the owner of the shipping company, he was able to assist the group from Korea’s Ministry of Foreign affairs to unload the generators with-out delay. According to Yaokasin the generators are solid and concrete donations without conditions. The generators are not for personal use but for the constituency of the barangays. These generators according to Yaokasin is of big help to the barangays especially that there are sti l l areas in Tacloban that do not have their electricity yet

Tacloban recipient of 140 generator sets from ROK Ministry of Foreign Affairs

wherein they can use it, to put up temporary streetlights for the peace and order of the barangay. Yaokasin said that he is thankful of the many organizations government or no-government for all the support given to Tacloban after 100 days after Yolanda’s onslaught. Yaokasin emphasized that really with a deep sense of gratitude he wanted to thank these organizations hoping thay they will continue their assistance until such time that Tacloban will be able to build back better. (PIA 8 with Lizbeth Ann Abella)

PIA Power FM interview Monday with Mr. Mutiti Alfred Stual of UNICEF who gives tips on how to comfort children in distressed situation brought by disasters with hosts Sol Alarcon and Lizbeth Ann Abella. (Avha Ebalde/PIA-8)

February 21, 2014 5President Aquino...from page 1

assistance to Yolanda survivors, but voiced concerns over calls to give each affected family P40,000. He said giving the amount to about 1.4 million families may entail some P56 billion - almost 10 percent of the P600-billion budget for personal services and Maintenance and Other Operating Expenses (MOOE). “Siguro ang importante nito, ‘yung ano bang magiging pangmatagalan na solusyon ang P40,000 na ‘yan? So ‘yon hindi ko nakita ( The important thing is, do we see the granting of P40,000 leading to a long-term solution? I have yet to see it),” he said. (PCOO)

Despite damage facilities LSA athlete students performing well in sports competitions, now preparing hard for Palarong Pambansa T h e p r o v i n c i a l A d m i n i s t r a t o r

V i n c e n t E m n a s o f L e y t e i s g l a d t h a t d e s p i t e d a m a g e d f a c i l i t i e s i n t h e L e y t e S p o r t s D e v e l o p m e n t C e n t e r s t u d e n t s o f t h e L e y t e S p o r t s A c a d e m y L S A a r e a l l s a f e a n d w e r e a b l e t o c o m p e t e i n t h e r e c e n t l y c o n c l u d e d B a t a n g P i n o y 2 0 1 4 w i t h f l y i n g c o l o r s , b r i n g i n g w i t h t h e m g o l d m e d a l s a n d s e c u r i n g a g o o d s p o t i n t h e c o m p e t i t i o n . W h i l e P a l a r o n g P a m b a n s a i s t o b e s t a g e d t h i s M a y s o m e s t u d e n t s o f L S A w i l l b e g o i n g t o M a n i l a t o t r a i n i n s w i m m i n g s i n c e t h e s w i m m i n g p o o l i n L S D C n e e d s r e p a i r . S t u d e n t s w i l l l e a v e 1 s t o f M a r c h , M r. E m n a s s a i d . I t w a s l e a r n e d f r o m t h e a d m i n i s t r a t o r t h a t o u t o f 6 0 -7 0 s t u d e n t a t h l e t e s , 4 0 o f t h e m w i l l c o m p e t e i n P a l a r o n g P a m b a n s a . E m n a s s a i d t h a t t h e p r o v i n c i a l g o v e r n m e n t i s e x p e c t i n g t h a t t h e t e a m f r o m L S A w i l r e a p m e d a l s o n c e a g a i n . E m n a s s a i d t h a t d e s p i t e Yo l a n d a s t u d e n t a t h l e t e s f r o m L S A a r e e x c e l l i n g i n t h e i r f i e l d s s u c h a s t h e c a s e o f K a r e n T. J o n a r i o w h o w a s d e c l a r e d a s

o n e o f t h e M V P o f B a t a n g P i n o y l a s t F e b r u a r y . T h e a d m i n i s t r a t o r s a i d t h a t t h e r e i s a s t r o n g m e s s a g e t h a t t h e s i t u a t i o n i n L S A c o n v e y. T h e r e i s a f u t u r e i n s p o r t s a s l o n g a s y o u d o g o o d i n s c h o o l , t h e n d e v e l o p t h e s k i l l s . S p o r t s i s o n e o f t h e a r e a s t h a t a c h i l d c a n p r o v e h i s w o r t h n o t j u s t w i t h o n e s e l v e s , w i t h t h e p r o v i n c e o r r e g i o n , b u t w i t h t h e n a t i o n a l l e v e l e s p e c i a l l y i n t h e i n t e r n a t i o n a l l e v e l , M r. E m n a s s a i d . D e s p i t e e x p e r i e n c i n g Yo l a n d a f i r s t h a n d , s t u d e n t s w e r e s u r v i v o r s , t h e p r o v i n c i a l g o v e r n m e n t o f L e y t e a s o n e o f t h e i r i n t e r v e n t i o n b r o u g h t a l l t h e a t h l e t e s t u d e n t s t o M a n i l a a f t e r Yo l a n d a f o r o n e a n d h a l f m o n t h a s a w a y o f d e b r i e f i n g a n d a d d i t i o n a l t r a i n i n g . A l l t h e s t u d e n t a t h l e t e s a r e n o w b a c k t o Ta c l o b a n t o a t t e n d r e g u l a r c l a s s e s a n d t r a i n i n g a t t h e L e y t e S p o r t s A c a d e m y, s a i d E m n a s . ( P I A 8 w i t h L i z b e t h A n n A b e l l a )

Mayor eyes...from page 3

Group of Companies has adopted the Tanauan Plaza rehabilitation and memorial as its project under its corporate social responsibil ity. The perspective of the rehabilitation will be made available at the town plaza so that people will know what to expect, Mayor Pel said. He added that the ground breaking of the project will be conducted in the near future. He is hoping that the top official of the country will do the groundbreaking. (PIA 8)

6 February 21, 2014

Oxfam opens livelihood to Yolanda stricken communities

After distributing financial assistance to typhoon “Yolanda” survivors

here, the Oxford Committee for Famine Relief(OXFAM) is now set to provide livelihood assistance to the most affected families. According to Oxfam report, the humanitarian organization has decided to cease the distribution of unconditional cash grant(UCG) believing that the new

assistance strategy will directly contribute to livelihood endeavors which can lead the survivors towards eventual recovery. Just like other international humanitarian group, Oxfam is up to provide Yolanda survivors with paid work, i.e. cleaning streets and surroundings, carpentry etc. Earlier, as one of the early actors in relief operations, Oxfam initiated a

blanket, UCG in five hardest hit areas in the province, namely: Mercedes, Quinapondan, Giporlos, Balangiga and Lawaan and 1,796 families were given P3,000.00 each in Mercedes, 3,506 in Quinapondan, 3,170 in Giporlos, 3,290 in Balangiga and 3,115 in Lawaan. The report added that the INGO worked closely with barangay and municipal governments in the targeted barangays in identifying and collecting the names of deserving families. “At this stage, three months after the disaster, the provision of blanket UCG is no longer justifiable as the program shifts into the early recovery phase to ensure the rehabilitation of livelihood activities”, Philip Rundell, OXFAM Programme Manager reported. This is so, he informed because the approach will directly contribute to the victims livelihood activities. Three months after granting UCGs however, some LGUs continue to submit names of survivors who could be recipient of the cash assistance. But Rundell informed further, that Oxfam will still provide the same, however, listed families will now be selected according to the most vulnerable ones, those who are not able to work anymore, and those who have not yet been served by any agency. Likewise, in coordination with other agencies, Oxfam will continue to “monitor needs on the ground in order to identify gaps and retain flexible and reactive approach to program design, based on identified needs”, the report added. Oxfam International which was formed in 1995 by a group of independent non-governmental organizations “aimed to work together for greater impact on the international stage to reduce poverty and injustice”, was one of the first and quick responders of typhoon Yolanda victims in both Samar and Leyte provinces.(PIA-Eastern Samar)

BY: ALICE NICART

February 21, 2014 7

PIA trains...from page 1

m o r e a p p a r e n t t h a n a f t e r Yo l a n d a , P I A R e g i o n 8 D i r e c t o r O l i v e P. T i u s a i d . I n f a c t , f o c u s g r o u p d i s c u s s i o n c o n d u c t e d b y P I A a n d U N O C H A t w o w e e k s a f t e r Yo l a n d a s h o u l d t h a t a c c e s s t o i n f o r m a t i o n w a s t h e n u m b e r 1 n e e d o f t h o s e p e o p l e i n t h e e v a c u a t i o n c e n t e r s .D i r e c t o r T i u c o m m e n d e d t h e LG U Ta n a u a n t h r u i t s M a y o r P e l a g i o Te c s o n J r . , f o r b e i n g t h e f i r s t t o w n i n E a s t e r n V i s a y a s t o h a v e B C D I O s i n 1 0 0 p e r c e n t o f i t s 5 4 b a r a n g a y s . T h e P I A i n E a s t e r n V i s a y a s i s s e t t o t r a i n a l l t h e b a r a n g a y s i n t h e r e g i o n o n c i t i z e n s j o u r n a l i s m . ( P I A 8 )

Visiting physician-surgeons hold OB-Gyne Surgical Mission in Samar cities

S o m e 2 0 p h y s i c i a n s u r g e o n s w h o a r e m e m b e r s o f a

g r o u p c a l l e d K a l u s u g a n n g K a b a b a i h a n g P a n g k a b a y a n a n I n c a r e i n C a t b a l o g a n a n d C a l b a y o g C i t y t o p e r f o r m 1 6 m a j o r s u r g e r i e s a n d t r e a t S a m a r n o n o u t p a t i e n t s , f r o m F e b r u a r y 1 9 - 2 0 , 2 0 1 4 . T h e g r o u p m e t w i t h S a m a r G o v e r n o r S h a r e e A n n T a n t o d a y , t h e i r l e a d e r D r A g a t o n i c a E s p a r e z - A r c a l e s t r a c e s a f f i l i a t i o n s i n S a m a r , t h u s e x t e n d i n g t h e m e d i c a l s e r v i c e s i n t h e a r e a . E s p a r e z - A r c a l e s i n a n i n t e r v i e w s a i d t h a t t h e y h a v e a l s o b r o u g h t f o u r u l t r a s o u n d m a c h i n e s t o b e u s e d i n t h e m e d i c a l c o n s u l t a t i o n s . T h e g r o u p ’ s v i s i o n i s e m p o w e r m e n t , h e a l t h a n d w e l l - b e i n g o f m a r g i n a l i z e d F i l i p i n o w o m e n i n t h e

c o u n t r y s i d e . T h e l e a d e r o f t h e t e a m s a i d t h a t t h e y h a v e e x t e n d e d m e d i c a l a n d s u r g i c a l s e r v i c e s t o t h e w o m e n o f M i s a m i s O c c i d e n t a l t h r e e t i m e s , t h i s t i m e t h o u g h , w i t h t h e t h o u g h t o f e x p a n d i n g t h e i r s e r v i c e s , t h e y t h o u g h t o f c o m i n g t o S a m a r . S o m e o f t h e m w e r e h e r e a s e a r l y a s F e b r u a r y 5 a n d 6 f o r t h e s c r e e n i n g o f p a t i e n t s w h o w i l l u n d e r g o s u r g e r y . J u s t t h i s m o r n i n g , t h e g r o u p p e r f o r m e d a m a j o r o p e r a t i o n o n a 3 8 y e a r o l d w o m a n w i t h m y o m a . A s i d e f r o m p e r f o r m i n g s u r g e r i e s a n d m e d i c a l c o n s u l t a t i o n , t h e i r o t h e r t e a m m e m b e r s w i l l h o l d l e c t u r e s a t t h e S a m a r N a t i o n a l S c h o o l o n t e e n - a g e

p r e g n a n c y . B a r a n g a y H e a l t h W o r k e r s , B a r a n g a y N u t r i t i o n S c h o l a r s a n d o t h e r d u t y b e a r e r s i n t h e b a r a n g a y s w i l l a l s o b e e n r i c h e d w i t h a l e c t u r e o n p r e - n a t a l , b r e a s t f e e d i n g a n d o t h e r c h i l d f r i e n d l y p r a c t i c e s . G o v e r n o r T a n w h o r e c e i v e d t h e v i s i t o r s t h i s m o r n i n g , p r o f u s e l y t h a n k e d t h e m a n d p r o v i d e d s o m e m e d i c i n e s a n d t h e a c c o m m o d a t i o n o f t h e v i s i t i n g p h y s i c i a n - s u r g e o n s . ( N B Q / P I A 8 - S a m a r w i t h r e p o r t s f r o m J u n A r c e n o )

8 February 21, 2014

Reported increase of dengue, measles and chikungunya in Tacloban closely monitored by DOH-8

BY: CONSUELO ALARCON

T h e D e p a r t m e n t o f H e a l t h i n E a s t e r n V i s a y a s t h r o u g h i t s

E p i d e m i o l o g y U n i t i s c l o s e l y m o n i t o r i n g t h r e e d i s e a s e s w h i c h a r e r e p o r t e d l y t o h a v e i n c r e a s e d i n t y p h o o n a f f e c t e d a r e a s i n t h e r e g i o n p a r t i c u l a r l y i n t h e c i t y . D u r i n g t h e R e g i o n a l D i s a s t e r R i s k R e d u c t i o n a n d M a n a g e m e n t C o u n c i l ( R D R R M C ) M e e t i n g h e l d r e c e n t l y a t L e y t e S p o r t s D e v e l o p m e n t C e n t e r ( L S D C ) i n t h i s c i t y , D r a . C a r m e n G a r a d o o f t h e D e p ’ t o f H e a l t h ( D O H ) h a s r e v e a l e d t h a t c a s e s o f d e n g u e , m e a s l e s a n d c h i k u n g u n y a h a v e i n c r e a s e d a c r o s s t h e r e g i o n w i t h Ta c l o b a n h a v i n g t h e m o s t n u m b e r o f c a s e s . S i n c e J a n u a r y 1 u n t i l F e b r u a r y 1 8 , 2 0 1 4 , 4 7 0 s u s p e c t e d c a s e s o f d e n g u e

f e v e r w i t h t w o d e a t h s w e r e r e p o r t e d . A s t o m e a s l e s , 1 8 0 c a s e s w i t h t w o d e a t h s w e r e l i k e w i s e r e p o r t e d . H o w e v e r , e v e n i f t h e c a s e s h a v e n ’ t r e a c h e d t h e e p i d e m i c l e v e l , D O H h a s i n t e n s i f i e d i t s v e c t o r c o n t r o l m e a s u r e s l i k e f u m i g a t i o n i n m a n y a r e a s a n d c o m m u n i t y c a m p a i g n s o n s e l f - p r o t e c t i o n m e t h o d s a s w e l l a s m e a s l e s i m m u n i z a t i o n e s p e c i a l l y t o c h i l d r e n t o p r e v e n t a n o u t b r e a k . D O H i s a l s o r e m i n d i n g t h e p u b l i c t o h e e d t h e e x p e r t ’s a d v i c e t o s e a r c h a n d d e s t r o y t h e b r e e d i n g s i t e s o f m o s q u i t o s , s e e k p r o t e c t i v e m e a s u r e s l i k e w e a r i n g l o n g s l e e v e s a n d p a j a m a o r u s i n g m o s q u i t o n e t s a n d s e e k e a r l y c o n s u l t a t i o n w i t h a d o c t o r e s p e c i a l l y w h e n

o n e i s s u f f e r i n g w i t h a h i g h f e v e r i n t w o o r m o r e d a y s t o a v o i d t h e c o m p l i c a t i o n o f t h e d i s e a s e a n d e v e n d e a t h . A l t h o u g h , i n d i s c r i m i n a t e f o g g i n g i s b e i n g d i s c o u r a g e d b y h e a l t h a u t h o r i t i e s . R e c e n t l y , s e v e r a l b a r a n g a y s i n Ta c l o b a n w h i c h h a v e t e n o r m o r e c a s e s o f d e n g u e w e r e t h e s u b j e c t o f f o g g i n g o p e r a t i o n s . A u t h o r i t i e s d e e m e d i t n e c e s s a r y t o c o n d u c t t h e f u m i g a t i o n a f t e r i t h a s i m p r o v e d t h e c o n d i t i o n o f s o m e b a r a n g a y s i n t h e c i t y w h i c h a r e s a i d t o h a v e p l e n t y o f d e n g u e a n d c h i k u n g u n y a c a s e s . ( P I A - 8 )

Mr. John Tuckey, author of a humanitarian broadcasting handbook written for the BBC and UNHCR, conducted this month a Broadcasting Training in different modules for media practitioners, information officers and students in Eastern Visayas held at Communitaire, Bliss-Kalanipawan, Tacloban City. (Raul Tiozon, Jr/PIA-8)