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UEP graduates collapse due to exhaustion, heat exposure
CATARMAN, Northern Samar – Protests and hate comments flooded the social media after several graduating students collapsed on their seats during the 58th Commencement Exercises at the University of Eastern Philippines (UEP), this town, held on Saturday (June 15).
Records from the university clinic disclosed that 23 graduating students collapsed due to exhaustion and too much exposure to sun.
Unlike in previous commencement exercises, UEP hold this year’s graduation rites early morning which ended in the afternoon due to the big number of graduates.
The occasion was held at the uncovered UEP R.A.B. Amphitheater.
The processional started at exactly 6 am as scheduled even if the commencement speaker, Senator Cynthia Villar, has not even arrived.
Ronnie Ballado, dean of Student Affairs, told Leyte Samar Daily Express that the change of schedule for the graduation rites was to accommodate Villar who was said to arrive at 10 am, or four hours ahead of the start of the graduation rites.
“It was really our plan to start with the program without the guest speaker and when she arrives, she will directly deliver her speech then she will leave immediately for her other commitments. We understand she had a meeting scheduled at lunch,” Ballado said.
Villar arrived at 9:45 am while the distribution of diplomas was ongoing.
After the formal introduction by Rolando Delorino, the university president, the senator gave her 30-minute commencement address to the 2,361 graduating class after which she was excused.
Villar’s staff, Candy Buenaventura, said that some students were already fainting before the senator arrived.
After the speaker left the venue, some more graduates collapsed one after another as the distribution of diplomas was ongoing.
On its Facebook page the university campus paper “The Pillar” posted that 23 graduates collapsed “due to complaints of dizziness, diarrhea, headache, and difficulty in breathing”.
They were rushed to the university clinic where the university physician, Elizabeth Dubongco, explained that the patients’ conditions were the results of “too much exposure to heat”.
The paper tried to reach Delorino for his comment but the latter has not yet answered as of press time.
Many netizens, who witnessed the affair, took to social media and vent on their disappointment about the incident.
It was learned that the graduating students were told to be at the venue as early as 5am with the ceremonies ending at 1 pm.
“This is outright stupidity on the part of the (UEP) administration. They fully know that the sun’s heat is at its height at 8am to 3pm why would they hold the ceremony at that time? It must have been a nightmare for the (graduates) wearing that toga…’ a netizen said.
“Shame on UEP for allowing this to happen,” another one remarked.
A father of a graduate expressed his pity for all the graduates who he said apparently did not enjoy their moment.
“I’m sure walang retention sa graduates ang speech ni Cynthia Villar. Kasi uneasy sila because of their hellish situation,” he said.
(RACHEL V. ARNAIZ)
DOH renews call for a heightened anti-dengue campaign
With over 4,400 cases and 17 deaths
GOVERNMENT CENTER,PALO,Leyte- The Department of Health (DOH) here in the region has renewed its call for local government units and other sectors to help them intensify the campaign against dengue fever.
This after the health regional office reported that cases of mosquito-causing ailment has surged for the past six months of the year.
As of June 15, dengue fever cases across the region was at 4,437 with 17 deaths.
Boyd Cerro, DOH-8 regional epidemiologist, said that the current number of cases is more than double compared to last year covering the same period.
Last year’s record covering its first six months was 2,011 cases with 14 deaths.
“This increase of dengue fever cases of the region is very alarming. And considering its current trend, there is a possibility that last year’s entire dengue fever cases will be surpassed,” Cerro said in an interview.
Cerro said that there were 11,023 dengue fever cases in the region last year with 61 deaths.
The health official said that as a precautionary measures, they are calling anew close cooperation with the local government units, even school managements, to help them address the ballooning cases of dengue fever in the region.
“The DOH could not do this alone so we need the cooperation of everybody,” Cerro said.
Cleaning the sorroundings, particularly the breeding places of the dengue-causing mosquitoes should be conducted regularly.
“The hot weather that we have also contributes to the high number of dengue fever cases because these mosquitoes easily hatches, thus easy for them to grow and spread. And for some reason, they also attracts to our perspirations,” Cerro said.
Of the 17 fatalities, three were from Guiuan town, Eastern Samar and two in Tacloban City.
The following areas had one fatality each: Kawayan, Biliran; Sogod, Southern Leyte; Mahaplag, Babatngon, Merida and Babatngon, all in Leyte; Calbayog and Catbalogan cities, all in Samar; General MacArthur, Hernani, Mercedes, Quinapondan, where the last casualty on June 1 was recorded, all in Eastern Samar.
Of the 4,437 cases, Leyte to include its cities of Tacloban, Ormoc, and Baybay, posted the highest number of dengue fever at 1,240 followed by Samar to include cases in Catbalogan and Calbayog cities at 1,056; Northern Samar, 946; Eastern Samar to include Borongan City, 611; Biliran, 355; and Southern Leyte, to include Maasin, 229.
BY JOEY A. GABIETA
Senior high school in Leyte gets a three-storey classroom building from DPWH
JULITA, Leyte – The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Leyte field office here has recently completed the construction of a three-storey six-classroom school building at Julita Senior High School, this town.
According to school head Erlinda Daya, the new facility will be used as regular classrooms while the old buildings will be utilized as laboratories and office for teachers.
The school has a total of 308 enrollees for this year.
The high-rise building is worth P15 million funded under the Basic Educational Facilities Fund (BEFF) of 2018.
BEFF is an annual budget for school building program, which covers the improvement and maintenance of school facilities in the country.
“This building is provided with standard toilet and sanitary facilities, storage rooms and proper ventilation, each classroom installed with two oscillating ceiling fans. It is also equipped with fire alarm system and fire extinguisher,” said Engr. Gerald Pacanan, DPWH Leyte 2 district engineer.
He added that with the addition of junior and senior high, the number of students in high school has increased prompting the government to allocate more funds for school facilities.
“This is in support to the government’s strengthened education program. We, at the DPWH and in coordination with the Department of Education commit to provide more conducive learning facilities for students,” he ended.
For 2018 BEFF, the district is tasked to implement 25 school building projects worth P371.39 million.
(LIZBETH ANN A. ABELLA)
DPWH to widen primary road in Leyte
CAPOOCAN, Leyte – As part of the “Build, Build, Build” program of the government, the Department of Public Works and Highways is set to convert primary highway into a four-lane road, this town.
With a total budget of P90.6 million, the road widening and off-carriageway improvement will involve asphalt overlay on the 1,583.55 km length road link.
“To avoid complaints while undertaking the project, our office met the officials and affected residents in a pre-construction meeting to explain the program and scope of work of this project,” clarified District Engineer Gerald Pacanan.
The district engineering office will also install 537.77-meter canal lining for an improved drainage and sewerage system to minimize flooding in the area.
“We commend the DPWH for holding a pre-construction meeting before starting the project. This gave us a clear understanding on the road-right-of-way law and their project plans and implementation,” said Florence Misagal, chairwoman of Barangay Poblacion Zone 1.
This infrastructure program of the administration seeks to reduce poverty by generating jobs and attracting foreign investments through a more efficient transport of people and goods. (PR)