DOH renews call for complete vaccination for infants
AMID measles and pertussis outbreaks in parts of the country, the Department of Health (DOH) yesterday called on parents and guardians to complete the immunization of their infants for vaccine-preventable diseases.
Among vaccine-preventable diseases are TB meningitis, diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, hepatitis B, pneumonia, polio, measles, rubella, H influenza B, and pneumococcal diseases.
The health department said the vaccines are available for free in all health centers nationwide.
“To all Bakunanays and PapaVaccines, protect babies against the different vaccine preventable diseases,” the DOH said in a social media post.
“When vaccines are complete, everybody is protected,” it added.
The call was issued amid the measles outbreak in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM). From January 1 to March 16, the region has recorded 1,481 measles cases.
The call comes also as several local government units have declared pertussis outbreaks in their areas.
DOH records show 1,112 pertussis reported from January 1 to March 30. — Gerard Naval
DOH eyes DepEd, PNP help against vaping
By Gerard Naval
THE Department of Health (DOH) is looking to secure the help of the Department of Education (DepEd) and the PNP to help contain the increasing use of vape products in the country.
In a press briefing, Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa said he is looking to forge better coordination with the DepEd and the PNP – Anti-Cybercrime Group to combat the growing prevalence of vapes, particularly among the youth.
“I may have to ask the DepEd to make sure that the youth will be adequately educated on vaping,” said Herbosa.
“I will also ask the police, through its cybercrime, to help thwart the online sales of vapes,” he added.
The health chief said providing adequate education to the youth on the perils of vaping may help dissuade them from using such products.
“You can see even outside schools, you have high school kids in uniform with vapes hanging in their necks like necklaces,” lamented Herbosa.
“We want to make sure to educate the children that if their lungs are damaged by vapes, the effects are irreversible and for life,” he added.
The DOH head said they are also seeking assistance from the PNP – Anti-Cybercrime Group to prevent the youth from being able to purchase vape products online.
“We discovered that kids don’t purchase vapes in physical stores but rather online,” he related. “It is against the law to sell vapes to minors, including online.”
Under the 2019 Global Youth Tobacco Survey (GYTS), vape and e-cigarette users among the youth rose from 11.7 percent in 2015 to 24.5 percent in 2019.
Integrity of posts in sinkhole area in Pasay being checked
BY Ashzel Hachero
THE Metropolitan Manila Development Authority yesterday said authorities are now checking if the sinkhole that appeared on Sales Road in Pasay City last Sunday has affected the integrity of the Skyway foundation.
“Based on what we see in pictures, there are many Skyway posts there so they are checking if the integrity of the posts has been affected but so far it is safe,” MMDA Chairperson Romando Artes said in a press briefing.
“They will assess the effect of the sinkhole and the extent of the damage,” Artes added.
The sinkhole, three meters wide and 10 feet deep, was discovered Sunday morning, prompting the MMDA to cordon off the area with traffic barriers and traffic cones to prevent an accident.
The affected area was also temporarily closed to vehicular traffic.
Sen. Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr. said he wants Maynilad Water Services Inc. and its contractors penalized for the sinkhole.
“Maynilad and its contractors should be made accountable for this. This poses a great danger, especially if unnoticed by motorists. This might even affect residential properties and buildings in the area. The sinkhole is close to the foundation of the NAIAX elevated highway. Its effects on the people are of great concern,” Revilla said in a statement.
Revilla, chairman of the Senate Committee on Public Works, said Maynilad and its contractors should be penalized so that similar instances would not happen.
According to a report from the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), the sinkhole was caused by a leak from the water pipeline of Maynilad Water Services.
“We cannot allow it that they would just repair the leak and leave it like that. That is not accountability. Someone should be held liable here so it would serve as a lesson for service providers to be proactive in their projects and not just reactive when problems arise. We have received numerous reports like this that often lead to flooding on the streets. Inspection and maintenance works should be continuous,” Revilla said.
As of yesterday morning, the DPWH said it has started filling the void and repairing the damage. — With Raymond Africa
Thorough probe on death of PCG trainee ordered
BY VICTOR REYES
A TRAINEE of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) died after collapsing during a running event in Dipaculao, Aurora last Sunday, the PCG reported yesterday.
PCG Commandant Admiral Ronnie Gil Gavan ordered a thorough investigation into the death of the trainee, whose identity was withheld.
Gavan specifically tasked the Coast Guard Education, Training and Doctrine Command (CGETDC) and the Coast Guard Inspector General and Internal Affairs Service to conduct the “comprehensive investigation.
“I have also instructed (the) CGETDC to review existing training rules, regulations, and guidelines to ensure that the trainees’ health and welfare remain the utmost priority in all PCG regional training centers across the country,” Gavan added.
In a statement, the PCG said the trainee, coming from its Regional Training Center-Aurora, took part in a running event as part of the week-long summer sports fest among PCG trainees in Barangay Mijares, Dipaculao.
The trainee fainted during the run and was brought to a hospital in Baler and later transferred to a hospital in Cabanatuan City.
“Cardiopulmonary resuscitation was performed, but he was declared dead by his attending physician at around 1:45 p.m. (Sunday),” the PCG said.
“(The) men and women of the PCG offer prayers for (the) eternal peace of the deceased Coast Guardian and express sincere condolences and sympathies to his bereaved loved ones,” the PCG added.
3 terrorists killed in Lanao del Norte
BY VICTOR REYES
THREE members of the terrorist Daulah Islamiyah-Maute Group (DI-MG) were killed while a soldier was injured in a clash with government troops in Munai town in Lanao del Norte on Saturday.
The military’s Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom) said the encounter was an offshoot of the continuing offensive against the group behind the December 3 bombing at the Mindanao State University in Marawi City in Lanao del Norte, that left four people dead and 50 others injured.
Troops from the Army’s 103rd Brigade were on combat operation when they clashed with DI-MG members in Barangay Lindongan in Munai town.
“Due to the effective delivery of fire of the military forces, the enemies were forced to withdraw and escape amid the exchange of gunfire which lasted for about 20 minutes,” Westmincom said in a statement.
Troops later recovered the remains of three of the terrorists, identified as Nezrin Sandab alias Firdaus, Saipal Abubacar alias a. Fariz, and Pabo Zainoden Radia alias Musab.
Also recovered at the encounter site were three M14 rifles, 7.62mm ammunition, and six backpacks.
Westmincom said the soldier who sustained minor injuries “is already being taken care of by the best physicians and medical practitioners.”
Westmincom commander Lt. Gen. William Gonzales commended the troops involved in the successful operation.
“We ask for prayers from the peace-loving people of Mindanao for the safety of our soldiers who continuously work hard to successfully eliminate the remaining threats in our area of operation,” he also said.
BuCor to intensity fight vs illegal drugs in prisons
BY Ashzel Hachero
THE Bureau of Corrections yesterday acknowledged that illegal drugs are still being smuggled inside the New Bilibid Prison in Muntinlupa City despite strict security measures being implemented, with more than 700 grams of shabu recovered in the national penitentiary from January to March this year.
BuCor Director General Gregorio Catapang Jr. said they continue to encounter the entry of contraband items, including illegal drugs, controlled precursors and essential chemicals and drug paraphernalia in their prison facilities.
Catapang said this has enhanced collaboration between BuCor and other law enforcement agencies such as the PNP and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency.
Last Monday, Catapang inaugurated the office and barracks inside the NBP compound that will be used by the BuCor, PNP, PDEA, National Intelligence Coordinating Agency and the National Bureau of Investigation in its fight to stem the entry of illegal drugs in the national penitentiary and the six other operating prison and penal farms nationwide.
“We are all set now to work together with the common goal of solving illicit drug activities and financially disabling those behind it and paralyzing them from further engaging in the trafficking of illegal drugs,” the BuCor chief said.
BuCor data showed that up to 80 percent of the more than 52,000 inmates nationwide under its custody are in prison due to drug-related cases.
Acting NBP Superintendent Roger Boncales disclosed that from January to March of this year, at least 711.76 grams of shabu and 13.54 grams of marijuana have been confiscated or recovered directly from inmates while others were found abandoned during the series of “Oplan Galugad.”
Boncales added, they also confiscated contraband from visitors of inmates like illegal drugs, cash, tobacco, cellphones and SIM cards.
To recall, the BuCor has inked an agreement with the PNP, PDEA, NICA and NBI to put up an operations center inside the NBP to bolster coordination in the fight against illegal drugs inside the country’s prison system.
The operation center, Catapang said, will concentrate on intelligence gathering, monitoring, and taking action to prevent drug-related activities inside the NBP and other prison facilities and penal farms.
“This cooperation and close coordination among agencies are in line with the guidance of Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla to fight illegal drugs in BuCor and to comply with Congress and Senate’s recommendations to stop illegal drugs activities in BuCor,” Catapang added.
