TACLOBAN CITY- With still rising of dengue fever cases in Eastern Visayas, which already claimed 24 lives as of this week, the Department of Health (DOH) has urged cooperation from other government agencies, to include the Church, to help contain further spread of the mosquito-causing ailment.
Dr. Minerva Molon, health regional director, said that addressing dengue fever is not just the concern of their department but of the community members and other government agencies.
“We have (noticed) that during cleanliness campaign, it always involved health workers, barangay health workers,” she said during a press conference Tuesday.
But considering the rising number of dengue fever not only in the region but the rest of the country, it’s about time that other members of society should get involved on addressing the problem, Molon added.
According to her, their office has already sought assistance from other government agencies like the Departments of Education (DepEd), Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Interior and Local Government, and even the Church.
Molon said that the DepEd could help in the clean up around schools considering that most of those who were afflicted with the ailment were children of school age; the DWSWD to include campaign during family development sessions among members of the 4Ps (Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program), the DILG to cascade information campaign to all local government units, and the local Church to urge the faithful who attends masses to conduct their own cleanup on their surroundings and houses.
As of July 19, the DOH in the region has monitored 6,327 cases with 24 deaths.
The current dengue fever cases is about 123 percent higher compare to the same period last year or just 2,833 cases with 20 deaths.
By province, Leyte has the highest number of dengue fever with 1,998 cases and 12 deaths followed by Samar,876 cases with two deaths; Eastern Samar with 609 cases with seven deaths; Northern Samar(563 cases with no death);Biliran(408 cases with one death) and Southern Leyte,272 cases with no fatality reported.
While the dengue fever cases in the region is increasing, Molon said that their office could not yet declare a dengue epidemic considering that there are provinces or municipalities which have low dengue fever cases like Southern Leyte and Biliran.
Among the six provinces of the region, Leyte declared a state of calamity last Friday (July 19), allowing it to make use a portion of its calamity fund to buy needed medicines and even fogging machines.
(JOEY A. GABIETA)

ORAS,Eastern Samar – The TESDA(Technical Education Skills and Development Authority)-Arteche National Agricultural School (ANAS) in partnership with the local government unit of Can-avid and 14th Infantry (Avenger) Battalion successfully conducted a 3-Day Raise Organic Chicken Skills and Livelihood Training to the Former Rebels (FRs) at Multipurpose Hall, Can-avid, Eastern Samar last 16-18 July, 2019.
The 3-day training aims to strengthen our reach and skills training provision for the FRs and give them a chance to earn a decent livelihood in order to become productive member of the society.
The said training benefited 26 FRs from the upstream barangays of Can-avid. Each FRs beneficiaries received twenty-five (25) heads of chicks and one month allocation of feeds.
During the opening ceremony, Mayor Gil Norman “Toytoy” P. Germino encouraged the FRs to cooperate and internalize the knowledge and skills that they will be learning from the said livelihood training.
Likewise, during the closing ceremony, Lieutenant Colonel Pecson said, “After a 3-day livelihood training, I wish that every one of you gained the needed knowledge and skills for the raised organic chicken livelihood training. And to the different agencies present, let us continue to do our job in helping the FRs and other people who needs our services.”
The activity is a collaboration of different agencies in addressing the issues and concerns raised by the affected farmer sector most especially the FRs who were influenced by the CPP-NPA-NDF.
The unit expressed its gratitude to the TESDA-ANAS in collaboration with the LGU of Can-avid for the successful conduct of the livelihood training, which contributed to the sustainment of peace through the efforts of the different stakeholders in the province of Eastern Samar.(PR)

MANILA – The National Economic and Development Authority Board’s Investment Coordination Committee-Cabinet Committee (ICC-CabCom) on July 10, 2019 approved changes in two ongoing projects.
These include the increase in cost for the Mindanao Railway Project Phase 1-Tagum-Davao-Digos Segment (MRP-TDD), and the implementation extension of the Metro Manila Priority Bridges Seismic Improvement Project.
For the MRP-TDD, the project cost increase amounting to PHP82.9 billion—from its previously approved cost of PHP35.9 billion in 2017—will cover changes in cost of structural and construction works, among others.
In terms of scope, the ICC-CabCom also approved the additional Davao Satellite Depot of the MRP-TDD.
For the Metro Manila Priority Bridges Seismic Improvement Project, the cost increases to PHP7.9 billion from PHP4.3 billion will cover the changes in construction technology to be applied to the Guadalupe Bridge, putting up of temporary detour bridges in Guadalupe, and additional work shift to reduce the construction period, among others.
In addition, the implementation extension of one year and eight months until August 2023, inclusive of a one-year defects liability period, will help the project catch up with its target completion date.
The ICC-CabCom also noted the inclusion of the Project Management Consultant with a cost of PHP14.39 billion, inclusive of VAT and contingencies, in the scope of works for the PNR South Long-Haul Project.
“We see changes in scope and cost as opportunities to optimize the project components and update the estimates. The Government aims to speed up implementation while ensuring quality,” said Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Ernesto M. Pernia, who co-chaired the meeting with DOF Secretary Carlos G. Dominguez.
Meanwhile, it was reported in the same meeting that the NEDA Board confirmed ad referendum the ICC-CabCom approval of changes in three projects, namely:
1. Implementation of extension and loan validity extension of the Central Luzon Link Expressway (CLLEX) Project, Phase I of the Department of Public Works and Highways.
2. Change in project cost and scope of works and extension of loan validity and implementation duration of the National Irrigation Sector Rehabilitation and Improvement Project (NISRIP) of the National Irrigation Authority.
3. Change in project scope and loan validity extension of the Metro Manila Wastewater Management Project (MWMP) of the Land Bank of the Philippines.
These latter changes had been approved by the ICC-CabCom on May 17, 2019. (PR)

CALBAYOG CITY – The Road Engineering Association of the Philippines (REAP) conducted its 2-day Region VIII Chapter Seminar and Induction Seminar at DPWH Region VIII Multi-Purpose Hall in Tacloban, Leyte.
DPWH – SFDEO’s District Engineer Alvin Ignacio, Assistant District Engineer Denis Cagomoc, technical section chiefs, and select planning and maintenance engineers attended the event.
The seminar with the theme: “Disaster Mitigation” involved discussions on alternative materials used for disaster-mitigating structures – flood control and slope protection.
Polyvinyl Chloride “PVC” Sheet Piles and Synthetic Fiber Reinforcement Concrete were introduced as possible replacements for traditional steel sheet piles and steel concrete reinforcement.
The conference ended with the induction of Region VIII Executive Officers and Board of Directors and the oath-taking of new members. (MAE ANGELICA R.COMOTA,PIO STAFF/PR)