THE Department of Health (DOH) yesterday sought to allay fears the Nipah Virus is reportedly spreading in Cagayan de Oro City, saying reports are still unclear.
In a statement, the DOH – Northern Mindanao said it has not received any confirmation that the Nipah Virus is the cause of illnesses affecting several students and teachers in some schools.
“We would like to correct this misinformation. The DOH officially maintains that there are no Nipah Virus cases in the nation,” said DOH – Northern Mindanao.
“Although there have been instances of both faculty and students here in Cagayan de Oro, who are exhibiting the signs and symptoms of the viral illness, it is not yet clear whether a particular virus is to blame,” it added.
The Nipah Virus is a zoonotic virus that can spread from animals to people, with fruit bats, pigs, and humans known to carry the virus.
Its symptoms include fever, headache, cough, sore throat, difficulty breathing, vomiting, as well as seizures, comatose, and brain swelling (encephalitis).
The DOH Region X said the presence of viral illnesses should not be immediately tagged as Nipah Virus without the confirmatory laboratory tests.
“Although there have been instances of faculty and students in some schools in Cagayan de Oro exhibiting the same signs and symptoms of the said disease, it is not yet clear whether this is caused by the said virus, because their signs and symptoms are common with other viral infections also,” it explained.
Last Wednesday, reports came out that the Nipah Virus has infected students and teachers in schools, prompting authorities to suspend classes in Cagayan de Oro City.
Nevertheless, the DOH urged the public to adhere to precautionary measures to avoid possible infection such as frequent hand washing, proper mask use, proper ventilation, isolation of those with symptoms, and other minimal public health standards.
For persons exposed to the blood, saliva, or excrement of pigs, horses, or bats, the DOH said they must always use protective gear like goggles, face mask, and boots; avoid being with sick animals; stay away from bat nests and interacting with pigs and horses; throw away fruit that has been bitten by bats and avoid eating fruit near places where bats have their nests; and ensure their food is clean and well-prepared.
No P9M backpay for ex-National Library exec dismissed over loss of historical papers
BY Peter Tabingo
A FORMER senior official of the National Library of the Philippines (NLP) who was previously dismissed from government service over the loss of “hundreds of historical documents” in her sole custody is not entitled to receive back wages and other benefits despite being granted clemency on appeal.
In a four-page decision released this week, the Commission on Audit denied the petition for money claim filed by former Librarian V Maria Luisa Castillo Moral against the NLP seeking payment of unpaid salaries and benefits totaling P9.13 million that she said she should have been paid between October 1996 to February 2012.
The COA Commission Proper noted that in a 1996 decision, the then Department of Education, Culture and Sports (DECS, now DepEd) found Moral guilty of multiple administrative offenses for dishonesty, grave misconduct, and conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service “for the pilferage of historical documents of the National Library.”
She was ordered dismissed from government service, disqualified from holding another public office, and her retirement benefits forfeited in favor of the State.
Moral did not appeal the DECS decision before the Civil Service Commission.
After filing an appeal for clemency, the dismissed librarian received a favorable ruling from the CSC which recommended to the Office of the President that administrative penalties against her be lifted.
The OP initially denied the CSC endorsement due to the non-admission of guilt on Moral’s part but on February 16, 2015, it granted her appeal ordering all administrative penalties against her removed.
In 2019, she asked the NLP for the payment of back wages and benefits but was advised to file a petition with the COA.
In a submission made on behalf of the NLP in 2021, the Solicitor General said the claim should be denied for lack of basis, noting that the lifting of administrative penalties did not include reinstatement to the petitioner’s old post.
The COA sustained the NLP’s stand noting that Moral was not given back her old post as head of the NLP’s Filipiniana and Asian Division and chief custodian of all historical documents, books, and other materials of the division “including the rare books and manuscript section.”
“Back wages may only be given when an employee has been reinstated to service. In short, her removal from service is justified and is not deemed illegal. Thus, she is not entitled to back wages nor is she worthy of receiving benefits and remuneration because she was separated from government service because of the finding of guilt for the administrative charges filed against her,” the Commission declared.