DOH Bicol alerts LGUs on Dengue virus

DOH Logo

LEGAZPI CITY, February 28 – Local Government Units (LGUs) are being alerted to keep watch of areas where there are suspected dengue cases and undertake prevention and control measures to have it within usual levels and at the same time caution them against classifying diseases with dengue-like symptoms as dengue.

“Chikungunya”, also a mosquito-borne disease, has symptoms similar to dengue. The latter can cause death while the former is not fatal.

There are presently 330 dengue case suspects monitored by the DOH-CHD Regional Epidemiological and Surveillance Unit (RESU) from its Sentinel Site. There are no reported outbreaks. The number excludes those from private hospitals.

Provincial Health Teams (PHTs) of the DOH-CHD Bicol are doing their job right now reminding Local Chief Executives (LCEs) and Municipal or City Health Officers to take action based on the surveillance data on dengue which are being provided to them by the DOH, Director Gloria J. Balboa said.

In that surveillance data, done on a weekly basis, they can deduce or infer trends or patterns, if there are any, on the frequency of occurrence of dengue and take action. Hotspots or clustering of cases can be known in that data including the possibility of an outbreak. Whatever action they take, the DOH-CHD Bicol shall always extend assistance whenever necessary, she added.

Meantime, Arnel Santiago of the DOH CHD Bicol Regional Epidemiological and Surveillance Unit (RESU), explained what hotspots and clustering of cases mean.

There is clustering when there are two (2) or more cases in a barangay during a specific morbidity week. A hotspot on the other hand , is one where there are two(2) or more suspected dengue cases for  two (2) successive weeks also in one barangay whereas an outbreak  is one where there is an excess number of cases in a given period than what is expected, Santiago explains.

Breakdown of cases per province is as follows: Albay 116; Camarines Norte 4, Camarines Sur 92, Catanduanes 68, Masbate 23, and Sorsogon 27 for a total of 330 cases. (Jim Guerrero, DOH-V/PIA Sorsogon)

903rd Bde facilitates release of captured sea turtle in Castilla

Sea turtle captured in Castilla, Sorsogon. A sea turtle locally known as “Pawikan” measuring 29 inches length and 27 inches width was caught by a fisherman off the waters of Brgy. Poblacio, Castilla, Sorsogon. and brought to the 903^rd Brigade headquarters on Friday, February 22, 2013. The turtle was released by the personnel of Municipal Environment and Natural Resources Office (MENRO), Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR), Provincial ENRO-LGU and 903^rd Brigade. No BFAR tag was seen in the turtle, an indication that it was captured and released for the first time. (photo: 903rd Bde)

Captured sea turtle was released at the Castilla Seaport.

CASTILLA, SORSOGON, February 26 (PIA) – A sea turtle locally known as “Pawikan” measuring 29 inches length and 27 inches width was caught by a fisherman and brought to the 903^rd (Fight & Defend) Brigade (Bde) headquarters on Friday, February 22, 2013.

903^rd Bde Spokesperson Capt. Mardjorie Paimela P. Panesa, said the “pawikan” was brought to the Brigade headquarters by Eugene I. Gilliam, a Bantay-Dagat member, who also reported that it was seen captured by a certain, Welard Camata, a fisherman in the same town.

“Immediately, we reported the incident to the Municipal Environment and Natural Resources Office (MENRO), Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR), and Provincial ENRO-LGU, the primary agencies concerned for recovery and release of marine species as such. Our brigade assisted them in releasing the turtle at the seaport of Brgy. Poblacion, Castilla, Sorsogon,” said Capt. Panesa.

She also said that no BFAR tag was seen in the turtle, an indication that it was captured and released for the first time. However, since there was no available tag at that moment to attach into the turtle, BFAR has instead tied a plastic knot at the lower part of the turtle’s shell for marking purposes.

Colonel Joselito E. Kakilala, 903^rd Brigade Commander said, it was the first time he saw a “pawikan” caught since he was installed as Brigade Commander. He reminded local residents, especially those residing in the coastal barangays of Castilla to immediately report and inform concerned agencies or if not report to the 903^rd Brigade once they catch marine turtles.

He likewise appealed to the local folks not to capture, slaughter nor eat endangered species as such because there are penalties set for those who will be caught doing so. “As responsible citizens, we should be protectors of these marine species because nowadays, “pawikans” are rarely to be seen,” he added. (PA/BARecebido, PIA Sorsogon)

Bagong hepe ng DAR Sorsogon binisita ang LAD sa Ticao

Ni: Bennie A. Recebido

LUNGSOD NG SORSOGON, Pebrero 27 (PIA) – Bumisita kamakailan ang bagong upong Officer-In-Charge ng Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) Sorsogon sa lalawigan ng Masbate upang personal na makita ang sitwasyon ng Land Acquisition and Distribution (LAD) doon.

Ayon kay DAR Sorsogon Information Officer Alura A. Jaso, kasama ng ilang mga technical personnel, bumisita si OIC Provincial Agrarian Reform Officer (PARO) Gina D. Bolaños sa apat na mga munisipyo ng Ticao Island sa islang lalawigan ng Masbate, matapos na ibigay ng DAR Central Office sa DAR Sorsogon ang responsibilidad sa pagproseso ng mga Claim Folders ng mga landowner doon upang maipamahagi na ang natitira pang mga lupaing sakop ng Repormang Agraryo.

Isa umano ang Masbate sa aydentipikadong “High LAD” o may malaki pang ektaryang lupain na dapat maipamahagi sa mga kwalipikadong magsasaka.

Dahilan sa mahirap makapagpadala ng technical personnel mula sa mainland Masbate patungong Ticao Island, kung kaya’t sa Sorsogon DAR Provincial Office ipinasa ang responsibilidad dahilan sa ito ang pinakamalapit na lalawigan sa isla.

Samantala, sa nakaraang Municipal Agrarian Reform Officer (MARO) Conference, ipinakita ng mga MARO ang kanilang pagtanggap sa “One DAR Policy” at kanilang suporta kay OIC Bolaños bilang bagong PARO ng Sorsogon.

Ayon sa mga MARO, magtutulung-tulong sila upang mabawasan ang bigat ng trabaho ng mga DAR Municipal Office (DARMO) na mayroon lamang kakaunting tauhang teknikal subalit may malalaki pang lupaing dapat na maipamahagi.

Kaugnay nito, binuo ang sumusunod na mga DARMO Team: Ang DonPiCastI (Donsol, Pilar, Castilla, and Irosin); SorCasMag (Sorsogon City, Casiguran, and Magallanes); Solid West (Juban, Bulan, Matnog, and Sta. Magdalena); at Gubat Cluster (Gubat, Barcelona, Bulusan, and Prieto Diaz).

Idinagdag na rin sa mga technical personnel ng DAR Sorsogon Provincial Office ang apat na munisipyo sa Ticao Island upang makumpleto na ang mga dokumento nang sa gayon ay tuluyan nang maipamahagi ang natitira pang mga lupain sa nasabing isla na nasa ilalim ng Agrarian Reform. (BARecebido, PIA Sorsogon/AAJaso, DAR)

Fun Walk para sa mapayapang Halalan 2013 gaganapin sa Sorsogon

Last year's participants to the PBN's Fun Walk

Ni: Bennie A. Recebido

LUNGSOD NG SORSOGON, Pebrero 26 (PIA) – Bilang suporta sa adhikaing magkaroon ng maayos at mapayapang halalan sa darating na Mayo 2013, isang aktibidad na tinaguriang “Walk for Life, Walk fro Love Year II – A Walk for an Honest, Orderly and Peaceful Elections” ang gaganapin sa lungsod ng Sorsogon sa Sabado, Marso 2, 2013.

Pangungunahan ang Fun Walk ng PBN Broadcasting Network, Inc. at ng PBN Foundation, Inc. sa pakikiisa at pakikipagtulungan nito sa Comelec Sorsogon, DepEd City Schools Division at Sorsogon Police Provincial Office.

Ayon kay Andy Espinar, Station Manager (SM) ng PBN-DZMS radio station Sorsogon, magtitipon-tipon ang mga lalahok sa Provincial Capitol Park alas singko ng umaga sa Sabado, at sabay-sabay na maglalakad patungong Sorsogon City Hall Grounds sa Brgy. Cabin-an, Sorsogon City.

Dagdag pa ni SM Espinar na maliban sa kanilang adhikaing pukawin ang kamalayan ng publiko na makiisa at suportahan ang pagkakaroon ng malinis, maayos at mapayapang halalan sa Mayo 2013, isa din itong hakbang upang matulungan ang mga kababayang nasalanta ng kalamidad sa Mindanao.

Lahat umano ng malilikom na halaga mula sa mga lalahok at mga sponsor nito ay gagamitin para sa rehabilistasyon ng mga nabiktima ng bagyong “Pablo” sa Compostela Valley.

Matatandaang ito ang pangalawang pagkakataong magsasagawa ang PBN ng Fun Walk kung saan noong nkaaraang taon ay nakapagbigay sila ng dalawang housing unit sa naapektuhang pamilya ng bagyong “Sendong”, maliban pa sa naipamahagi nilang relief goods at ngawang feeding activity sa Cagayan De Oro City.(BARecebido, PIA Sorsogon)