DOH Sec. Ubial: Zika cases in PH now at 57
By Susil D. Ragas
SURIGAO CITY, Surigao del Norte, Feb. 6 (PIA) –
Department of Health (DOH) Secretary Paulyn Jean B. Rosell-Ubial confirmed that
as Feb. 2, 2017, a total of 57 Zika cases were reported in the country.
Sec. Ubial made the confirmation during the Kapihan
sa Kapitolyo on Friday, Feb. 3 held at the PGO Conference Room, Capitol
Compound here.
She said that there were 38 females, and 19 males
with ages ranging from 7 to 59 years old confirmed cases and these were
detected in the following areas: National Capital Region with 20 cases,
CALABARZON - 18 cases, Western Visayas - 15 cases, Central Luzon - 2 cases and
Central Visayas with 2 cases. No deaths
were reported, she added.
“Of the 57 cases, seven were confirmed Zika
pregnant cases, with ages ranging from 16 to 32 years old, three came from the
National Capital Region and two from CALABARZON and Central Visayas. One case,
a 32 years old from Central Visayas has spontaneous abortion at nine weeks of
pregnancy and the rest are being closely monitored," said Sec. Ubial.
Sec. Ubial bared that the department is currently
verifying a report that a mother and her full term, newborn baby girl in
Western Visayas, were screened positive for Zika virus antibodies using rapid
diagnostic test which are not confirmatory.
“Samples from the mother and the baby were sent to
the Research Institute for Tropical Medicines and will subjected to a
confirmatory test on Zika virus using Real-Time Polymerese Chain Reaction,” she
explained.
Sec. Ubial said the Zika infection is asymptomatic
in 80 percent of cases and most of the time the disease is self-limiting.
However, the effect on the result of pregnancy should not be counted. Zika
virus has been linked to congenital CNS malformation like microcephaly.
She called on pregnant women to avoid mosquito
bites especially during day time, "using insect repellents are safe for
regular application and for those with fever, rash, and conjunctivitis, they
must submit for consultation."
Sec. Ubial explained that Zika viral disease,
caused by Zika virus, is characterized by fever, rash and conjunctivitis. Other
symptoms are joint pain, muscle pain, headache, and vomiting. The illness is
usually mild with symptoms lasting for a week in most cases and not requiring
hospitalization.
Zika virus is usually transmitted through the bite
of infected female Aedes aegypti mosquitoes, the same mosquitoes that transmit
Dengue and Chikungunya viruses. There have been reports that the virus can be
transmitted through sexual contact.
She said the symptoms of Zika virus disease can be
treated with common pain and fever relief medicines, rest and plenty of water
intake.
“Pregnant women who develop illness should seek
advice of doctors before taking any medicine. If symptoms persist, patients are
advised to consult the nearest health facility. Currently there is no available
vaccine to prevent Zika virus infection,” Sec. Ubial said.
She stressed that it is very important to search
and destroy the potential breeding sites in order to prevent the spread of
Aedes mosquitoes that serve as vector of the virus. (DOH-Caraga/PIA-Surigao del Norte)
PESO Butuan now accepts SPES applicants
By Regal C. Oribia
BUTUAN CITY, Feb. 6 (PIA) - The Public Employment
Service Office (PESO) here is now taking in applicants for the annual Special
Program for Employment of Students (SPES). The program is mandated under
Republic Act No. 7323, which seeks to help poor but deserving students pursue
their education by being employed during school vacation.
The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) has
alloted 1,000 slots available under the program on a first-come-first-served
basis for the 86 barangays in the city.
The grantees are entitled to receive wages, 60
percent of which will be paid by the city government while 40 percent will be
shouldered by the DOLE.
Registration remains open until April, this year.
(RCO/PIA-Caraga)
Angara leads distribution of relief goods in Butuan
City
By Jeffrey Tuazon
BUTUAN CITY, Feb. 6 (PIA) – Providing much needed
aid to the 454 affected families situated in Agusan National High School (ANHS)
was the aim of visiting Senator Juan Edgardo “Sonny” M. Angara during the
distribution of about 500 packs of relief goods, Friday, Feb. 3.
The 46 remaining goods were given to the ANHS
non-teaching personnel and those evacuees who helped carry the goods.
During an interview with Sen. Angara, he stated
ways on helping the evacuees from short term solutions like “giving relief
goods to those affected” to long term solutions like “infrastructure that would
alleviate damages … from these typhoons."
“As we know with climate change, we should always
be prepared for the worst,” he said.
Angara along with Butuan City Mayor Ronnie Vic
Lagnada and Vice Mayor Jose “Joboy” Aquino II, led the distribution of relief
goods for the evacuees who have since vacated their homes since Jan. 20.
“We were thinking of going to Cagayan de Oro City
but we were told that there were more people affected in Caraga region, that’s
why we shifted our plans to Caraga,” the senator explained.
Moreover, Cagayan de Oro faced heavy rains that led
to severe flooding in the said area, gaining the senator’s attention prior to
Butuan.
“We heard that CDO [received] a lot of donations
already … [We need] to make sure that at least everyone receives some help,” he
added.
After Butuan, Angara visited other towns in Agusan
del Sur, including Bayugan City and Prosperidad. (ANHS-Butuan City/PIA-Agusan
del Norte)
AgNor supports farmers’ group
By Aimee B. Sienes
BUTUAN CITY, Feb. 6 (PIA) - The provincial
government of Agusan del Norte is full support of the plans and programs of the
farmers’ associations in the province.
One of the farmers’ groups, the Consorcia
Agro-Forestry Farmers’ Association, (CAFA) Inc. of Barangay Consorcia,
municipality of Las Nieves, this province, a duly registered peoples
organization by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), will receive an
unserviceable Suzuki Multi-Cab with plate no. SHR-641 from the province, which
the association can repair, to be used in its official business dealings.
The Sangguniang Panlalawigan through Sanggunian
Resolution No. 038-2017, authored by Provincial Board Member Aquino W. Gambe,
recently authorized Provincial Governor Ma. Angelica Rosedell M. Amante-Matba
to transfer without cost the said vehicle to CAFA.
The legal transfer is necessary in line with
Article 440 of the Rules and Regulations Implementing the Local Government Code
of 1991 on the responsibility for proper use and care of government property. (LGU-Agusan
del Norte/PIA-Agusan del Norte)
DOE wants gasoline stations ready for e-vehicles
BUTUAN CITY, Feb. 6 (PIA) - With the emergence of
the electric vehicle industry in the Philippines, Energy Secretary Alfonso G.
Cusi has created an ad hoc technical working group to determine the suitability
of gasoline stations as charging areas for electric or e-vehicles.
“In preparation for the booming electric vehicle
industry, I instructed the DOE's Oil Industry Management Bureau and Energy
Utilization Management Bureau to issue the necessary policies that will support
the development of infrastructures complementing the e-vehicle industry, such
as the availability of charging in gasoline stations,” said Cusi.
“We are currently drafting a policy on the
reclassification of gasoline stations according to standards which includes -
the parking area, comfort rooms, CCTVs and even convenience stores, among
others. We are also exploring the possibility of the integration of an electric
vehicle charging area to the existing facilities of gasoline stations,” added
Cusi.
Under the Implementing Rules and Regulations of
Republic Act 8479 or the “Downstream Oil Industry Deregulation Act of 1998,”
the Department of Energy (DOE) is empowered to subject all industry
participants to provide suitability of facilities for their proposed operation
in accordance with existing national and accepted international standards.
Based on existing policies, this provision in the
Oil Deregulation Law was reflected in the DOE’s Retail Rules on Liquid
Petroleum Products (Department Circular DC2003-11-010), wherein the Philippine
National Standards on Petroleum Products, Retail Outlets and Health, Safety and
Environment (PNS/DOE FS 1-1:2005) specifies that the building/structures (i.e.,
gasoline stations) shall have a sales office, toilet facilities and an
electrical/mechanical room.
“Apart from readying electric vehicle
infrastructures, we also want to strengthen our gasoline stations’ consumer
welfare and satisfaction through well-maintained and functional amenities
within its premises,” Sec. Cusi concluded. (DOE/PIA-Caraga)
