The aforesaid ordinance is actually a dormant, enacted by the SP members of the past Administration who were not re-elected during the previous May 10, 2010 national elections.

The interest in resurrecting the dormant ordinance came when an NGO organization from Metro Manila named Bloomberg Initiative sent a letter to the Southern Leyte SP requesting for their support of the national anti-smoking ordinance for implementation in the province.

The positive response came from SP member Roberto Lagumbay, Chairman Committee on Health and Sanitation and was supported by the majority of his colleagues.

Abelardo Almario, Chairman Committee on Laws disclosed that the resurrected ordinance was approved during the last SP session of the Lerias Administration. However, it did not yet meet the satisfaction of publication which is a legal requirement to make it valid and effective.

He clarified that in the third reading, that would be the time that the august body will comply with the requirement of publication.

Almario explained that what they were doing was similar to what Congress was and is doing.” When the terms of some members of Congress would expire, there’s a need of the same previous bill to be re-filed,” he said. He asked a colleague Teopisto Rojas, Jr. if he would agree with his explanation, which the latter has confirmed.

Nonetheless, Rojas pointed out that only a tax ordinance would need to be published in a local newspaper of provincial circulation. “A public hearing for anti-smoking ordinance would suffice,” he said. “I believe that the said ordinance under question is not considered as a tax ordinance but rather a regulation with penal provision. Therefore, the conduct of public hearing after the refilling is enough for legal intent and purposes, which is the mandatory requirement.”

Vice-Governor Miguel Maamo II, the presiding officer, urged those involved in the discussions to re-file the talk-about ordinance. Lagumbay stood up and expressed his intention to re-file it, adding that they should not delay it further. “Since this is a provincial ordinance,” Rojas said, “we will approved it after the conduct of a public hearing akin to the Sangguniang Bayans’ ordinances that before it were approved, public hearings were conducted so that whatever inputs that we are going to receive from the public will be made as parts of the amendments to the proposed ordinance.”

Lagumbay who is in-charged of conducting the public hearings in the 4 IDs of the province implied that he has already made some schedules and has contacted the Mayors and Vice-Mayors of each municipality for such activities. He also claimed that the lengthy discussions concerning the re-filed ordinance were considered as the first and second reading. His motion was seconded by Almario. “This ordinance,” he said, “was already deliberated many times in our previous sessions.”

The abovementioned ordinance prohibits the use, sale, distribution and advertisement of cigarettes and other tobacco products in certain places, imposing penalties for violation and providing funds thereof and for other purposes otherwise known as the smoke-free ordinance of the province of Southern Leyte.

Since not one of the 12 SP members including the 3 ex-officio members has opposed, it is apparent that the third and final reading will be unanimously approved by all SP members. (Quirico M. Gorpido,Jr.)

In the Philippines, 98 Filipinos died everyday of the dreaded disease with a total of 115,000 deaths per year. Financially, the TB disease has caused an annual income lost of P6B due to morbidity, P27B lost annually in forgone wages and P8B in actual wages.

TB which is caused by a “rod-shaped” bacteria known as mycobacterium tuberculosis commonly affects the lungs (pulmonary disease) but also cause extra-pulmonary disease (such as in lymph glands, bones, joints, abdomen, brain, kidney, others). The effective treatment of this disease will be achieved thru the public-private collaboration, studies revealed.

It is disclosed by the health experts that tuberculosis is spread thru the air from one person to another via coughing, sneezing, talking, spitting and other similar mode of transmission.

On a slideshow presentation, Dr. Liza Orito-Rich, Medical-National TB Coordinator said that the TB- infected 2B individuals, one in every 10 persons will become sick with active TB in his/her lifetime. And that an untreated TB patient will contaminate 10 to 15 persons a year.

Another cause why some TB patients have not been cured is because of improper use of TB drugs, wrong dosage and have stopped taking their medicine during the length of coverage.

To find the correct solution to the spread of TB, health experts conducted studies and have discovered that to push thru with the goal of eradicating TB in the Philippine and in the global scale, there’s the great need to involve the private sector composed of medical private practitioners, barangay health workers, nurses, herbalists and the traditional healers.

In 1997, 36% of TB patients seek the care of private MDs. Fewer than it are those seeking care in health centers.

The result of the July 2002 NTP external evaluation conducted by WHO, JICA, USAID, CIDA-World Vision and Medicos del Mundo are: a) Acknowledge the remarkable expansion and coverage of public sector DOTS; b) Need to focus on quality-control as far as DOTS implementation is concerned; c) Correct some problems in drug supplies; d) Focus on promoting private-public mix (PPM) in DOTS implementation.

The program, explained Dr. Zenaida Bantug –Abiera, PHILCAT (Philippines Commission Against TB) provincial coordinator, the so-called PPM- DOTS collaboration was organized several years back to make the approach of treating TB more effective. This could be done by close partnership and cooperation between the government doctors and the private doctors in all areas of the country where there are RHUs and existing PPM-DOTS (Public-Private Mix-Direct Observe Treatment Standard) units.

Private medical practitioners, in this scheme of treating TB patients are obliged to refer their suspected TB patients to the RHUs- PPM-DOTS units in their respective localities. Patients referred to these units are given free TB antibiotics for the short term duration of six months.

Her statement was supported by Dr. Rich saying that with the existing program of the DOH-PPM –DOTS it is now the policy that infected TB patients who consulted private medical practitioners should be referred to the PPM-DOTS hospitals or at the RHUs-PPM-DOTS. Concerned TB patients are likewise advised by the doctors to religiously follow the prescribed dosage recommended and to complete the period of treatment to make it very effective.

The PHILCAT coordinator also urged those people who are both healthy and sick to have a good night sleep of at least 8 hours or even more depending upon a person’s body condition, eat nutritious foods, avoid smoking, avoid too much alcoholic drinks and exercise regularly. This is to make the immune system strong to fight disease.

Abiera further revealed that installation of PPM-DOTS units has now reached across the country. As of 2009, there are 1 NCC, 16 RCCs and 221 PPM-DOTS units with coverage of 36M or around 40% of the total Philippines population.

The Provincial Coordinating Committee co-chairman confided that as against the belief of many people, TB cannot be spread by shaking of someone’s hands, sharing food or drink, touching bed linen or toilet seats, sharing toothbrushes and kissing. Nevertheless, TB can be transmitted from person to person via coughing, sneezing, talking and spitting.

Common signs and symptoms of persons affected with pulmonary TB are: cough for two weeks or more, with or without fever, chest and back pain, poor appetite, weakness, weight loss, night sweats and blood in sputum or phlegm.

Although not all who have coughs for 2 weeks or more have TB, the doctor clarified, she strongly urged those who have such symptoms to consult the doctor in their respective localities.

On the other hand, Rich intimated that while the City of Maasin has involved itself in the 2nd batch PPM-DOTS implementation starting in 2007, the province of Southern Leyte which is under third batch has just started this year.

The Monday TB campaign awareness held at the bus terminal during the recent Provincial World TB Day was also attended, aside from the members of the IPHO technical staff, by nursing students from the College of Maasin and Saint Joseph College, some Maasin City College students, some SK chairmen, barangay officials, common city folks and two media representatives. Guest speakers were SP-MD Roberto Lagumbay, SP Committee Chairman on Health, Provincial Hospital Head and PPM-DOTS Committee Chairman Dr. Joselito Trumata and City Councilor Narciso “Ricky” Montalbo who represented Mayor Maloney Samaco. (Quirico M. Gorpido,Jr.)

SP Roberto Lagumbay, himself a medical practitioner in his hometown Hinunangan for decades, was the leading opposition to the aforesaid ordinance sent to them for final approval.

His objection was likewise supported by Vice-Governor Miguel Maamo,saying that” it’s prejudicial to the interest of the medical profession and that the midwives have not studied medicine. It’s offending, undermining and degrading on the part of the doctors”, he said.

Lagumbay pointed out that the midwives have no knowledge on pharmacology.” If ever they (midwives) have to dispense emergency drug”, Maamo butted in, “it should be under the supervision of a licensed physician who prescribes the medicine”.

Esalier, the medical practitioner has informed the august body that he met Silago’s Sangguniang Panglunsod member Dollente, Chairman Committee on Health and Sanitation.

He said he told the later concerning his firm opposition to his hometown’s ordinance and emphasized to him that midwives should not be allowed to administer any drugs by their own decision to the expectant mothers.

“They have not study medicine and no knowledge in pharmacology”, he repeatedly underscored what he said before his colleagues during their session.” And the medicines mentioned in the Silago ordinance like magnesium sulphate and oxytocin have very serious side-effects if administer without the direct supervision of a physician”.

The veteran doctor moreover revealed he received information from a reliable source in his place that Silago-LGU has recently received a foreign funding. The source requires the local officials to enact an ordinance on health for the utilization of such funds in its implementation.

The SP-Doctor further enunciated to his co-representatives that he also talked to the Provincial Midwives head Vicky Generan several days ago regarding the controversial ordinance.

However, the midwives head, who obviously understands the work of a physician, was amenable to the former’s stand that the midwives will only be allowed to administer drugs under the supervision of a physician.

When Lagumbay also discussed the matter to the provincial hospital head, Dr. Joselito Trumata, the latter did not express directly his objection to the controversial provision. Instead he told the former that it’s better and prudent to rush the expectant mothers to the nearest hospital for the proper giving birth of their babies.

The raised of objections from among some concerned SP members to the risky approach of providing medical care to expectant mothers, has prompted them to make an amendment of the provision with the following statement: “Magnesium sulphate for the prevention and management of enclampsia to be used only under the supervision of a physician”.

Lagumbay confided that magnesium sulphate and oxytocin are powerful drugs that if somebody use it not following the exact dosage it will cause cardiac and respiratory arrest to the patient. (Quirico M. Gorpido,Jr.)

This is in order to response to any emergency call that may arise in times of various rescue operations in the city and in other areas of the province. The seminar activities were held at the Ruperto K. Kangleon Function House located at Brgy. Mambajao here in this small city. They were billeted at Crises Child Center building adjacent to the office of the Provincial Department of Social Services and Development.

In the past, Roman Mancio revealed that the Red Cross had also conducted series of DMP trainings to Red Cross volunteers and other government employees from various LGUs representatives in different municipalities of the province.

Roman Mancio is one of the Red Cross trainors and Chapter Service Representative Safety Services in an interview at the Red Cross office in Brgy. Abgao here.

He pointed out that the training-seminar has the following objectives: 1) To be able to have a proper system of emergency rescue; 2)To gather concrete and concise data from the area of disaster so that the needs of the disaster victims can be addressed properly.

The trainings that imparted skills to the 55 participants, which has a funding of P298,000.00 from the provincial government, were composed of provincial and city employees and some Red Cross volunteers, who some of them were college students.

The skills trainings have covered Disaster Management, first aid, swift water rescue specialty, basic life support and swimming, in front CPR(cardio-pulmonary resuscitation), hazard mopping, situational assessment, evacuation of victims of floods, earthquakes and landslides, guidelines for emergency care, immobilization and bandaging, extrication (removing of victims from difficult situation), common medical emergency, basic swimming rescue, swift water rescue, basic rope technique and rappelling, water survival, basic life support for adults, child and infants CPR; foreign body airway management for adults, child and infants; and training for chocking instances.

The Chapter Service Representative also revealed that the seminar-training’s series of lectures and activities were translated into actual performances by the participants themselves under the supervision and guidance of their respective Instructors-trainors. These were in places where the untoward incidents were presumed to happen.

The equipments used during the actual trainings which was also being managed and supervised by the OIC-Red Cross head Noli Casas and Capitol consultant Jason Calva, were provided by the Provincial Disaster Management Council(PDMC) headed by Dodi Hernandez.

Aside from the interviewee, other resource persons who were all Red Cross staff were Noli Casas, Rogelio Aca-Red Cross-Davao City, Dominique Kagadas, Liex Sandoval, Edgardo Donato and Rene Panghuron.(Quirico M. Gorpido,Jr.)

The one-day afternoon affair, which was divided into two categories, has a total of 1,150 participants composed of men and women.

The 3-K run for the heart was participated in by 311 men and women, while the 6-K run has exceeded beyond the double number of3-K’s men and women, reaching its division’s participation to 839.

The 3-K run route started from City Hall playground towards the cemetery road, then turned left to R.K. Kangleon Street in Brgy. Mambajao and back to the finishing line at the City hall.

The 6-K run which also started at City Hall passing the National Highway and up to the Capitol compound. From there the runners went back from where they have started en route to Brgy. Canturing and passing by the “Tulay Sa Pangulo” steel bridge, then proceeded to the highway and back to City Hall.

Earlier, Daryl Cadavos Cinco of the Maasin City Sports Council Office said that before the start of the competition all participants were required to register to qualify them, paying one hundred pesos each.T-shirts that served as uniforms emblazoned with red-colored heart on its frontage and backgrounded with black letters, were given.

Cinco informed that the first, second and third winners in the 3-K in men’s and women’s divisions have respectively received prizes of P1, 500.00, P1, 000.00 and P500.00 each. While the three winners in the 6-K run of similar two divisions have received P2, 000.00, P1, 500.00 and P1, 000.00.

Winners of the 3-K run for men were: First-Jeffrey Bellota wearing no.1415 had a clocking time of 16:19 from Brgy. Lonoy; Second-Edgar Castillano #1745 with a clocking time of 16:48 from Brgy. Mambajao; Third-Enrico Ramos #1635, clocking time 16:52-Yawyan Club member from Brgy. Asuncion.

Winners of 3-K run for women were:First-Nory Ann Dumagat #1242,clocking time 27:35,a teacher of the Maasin City College; Second-Jilma Maraon #1629,clocking time 28:52-Maasin City Sports Council office; Third-Marlina Sabalo #1081,clocking time 29:45-City Hall Accounting Office employee.

Winners of 6-K run for men’s division were: First-Narciso Deterala #85,cloking time 23:23 from Tolosa,Leyte; Second-Miguel Egido #139,clocking time 26:42- Brgy. Hanginan 2; Third-German Egido #34, clocking time 28:52-Brgy. Hanginan 2.

Winners of 6-K run in women’s division have a tie: Mary Ann Lapasanda #110 and Joyce Jane Mancesa #105 who were both members of the Philippine Natonal Police have the same clocking time of 45:16. Second-Ritchiele Abiñon #100 with a clocking time of 45:57-PNP.

The MCSC employee further confided that the proceeds of the run for the heart were used to buy sacks of rice for the Guinsaugon survivors during the recent Feb. 17, 2011 5th commemorative day of the Guinsaugon massive landslide when more or less 2,000 people have been buried alive in cement-like mud. “One hundred repacked pieces of 4-kilo rice each were brought to St.Bernard by the heads of city hall offices led by Mayor Samaco”, she said.

Furthermore, Samaco pointed out that the previously concluded marathon aims to foster agenda for Sports Excellence; to increase participation amongst constituents in Sports and various wellness activities; to promote physical activities like sports as effective way of maintaining healthy lifestyle amongst employees of the City Government in particular and the constituency in general; to raise funds to the victims of landslides in Southern Leyte. (Quirico M. Gorpido,Jr.)

This was the disclosure of our source P02 Aldous Dexter Roa of the Maasin Police Station who received the message. He said that responding joint team of PNP personnel of San Rafael and Maasin Police officers led by SP04 Nicasio Flores Sunit, together with P02 Canny Alconaba Araba and 6 other policemen and 3 P01’s who were undergoing FTP (Field Training Program) have proceeded to San Jose .

They were met by the barangay officials and have accompanied them to the said place. They trudged up road for one hour towards the mountainous place where a secluded area was planted to suspected marijuana.

Araba said they have uprooted the plant, which were about two feet tall, and has a total number of one hundred seventy eight (178) pieces.

The police officer said they have also discovered several plantation equipments, fertilizer, chemical pesticide and sprayer. The confiscated farm equipments and other plants’ support for its growth, he said, were brought to the MPS as part of evidence if a case would be filed in court.

However, an owner of the marijuana plantation was not yet identified, since no person has come to claim ownership of the cultivation.

Other police officers who underwent FTP and barangay officials who went with the joint raiding team were P02 Victor Espera Roa, P02 Rene Tumulak, P01 Aldwin Alinsub Capa, P01 Roderick Eugeniero, P01 Alberto Patindol, Garry Odias, Geovan Acedillo, Police Superintendent Hector Flores Enage; Barangay Councilors Teodoro Lagusad Orais and Aquilina Elicito, Barangay Tanod (barrio guard) Maximo Gonador and DYDM’s Rodrigo Credo.

The abovementioned 178 pieces suspected marijuana plants, Araba said, were brought to the PNP Regional Laboratory in Tacloban City for examination and analysis. Ten days later the result was made known.
As of press time the plants’ examination result has proven that the confiscated marijuana plants were genuine, our source confirmed. (Quirico M. Gorpido, Jr.)

According to him, symptoms of the Dengue Fever are fever, rashes on skins or bleeding. “However, Dengue Fever currently doesn’t show symptoms recorded on the book. Sometimes patients experience only the fever without rashes. Sometimes there’s no bleeding… That’s why, the patient should be brought immediately to the hospital for immediate checkup and treatment,” the doctor said.

Dr. Trumata added that the two elementary grader who died this month of August were not immediately brought to the hospital before the illness’s worsen. The first victim was an 11 year-old girl from Barangay Abgao who studied at the St. Joseph College and the other victim was a resident of Barangay Mantahan and a pupil of the Tomas Oppus Pilot School.

However, the number of patients admitted at the SOYMPH who are suffering from Dengue Fever, according to Dr. Trumata,  has decreased compared to the number of patients last month of July. (Report by Jade G. Nombrado /English Translation by Sustines Laplana /Image credit to thinkquest.org )

Two schools have suspended their classes already. These schools are the Philippine Science High School – Palo Campus where the 14-year-old infected student enrolled and the Sacred Heart College in Catbalogan, Samar where the daughter of the infected seaman is studying.

Currently, there are 344 confirmed cases of the H1N1 infection here in the Philippines according to the DOH.

The whine flu virus that has been spreading since April 2009 is identified already in 74 countries and there are almost 30,000 cases around the world and took 141 lives already.

In the Philippines, there are 92 confirmed cases already. Swine flu A cases in the Philippines is only mild but the number of cases will keep increasing if we’re not vigilant against it. What we need to do is to maintain proper hygeine, increase resistance of our immune system, and take distance from any people. So far, the swine flu cases in the Philippines did not result to death. (Junith Laplana)