Amid the announcement of rising dengue cases by the Department of Health, PhilHealth is reminding the Filipino public that there is a benefit package for Dengue. From the previous Php 16,000 coverage rate, the cost of hospitalization for severe dengue is now covered up to Php 47,000. Meanwhile, coverage for mild dengue cases is now at Php 19,500 from the previous Php 10,000.
The new package rates for Dengue are among those enhanced and rationalized last year in accordance with President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Jr.’s directive to continually improve and sustain better health insurance coverage for members seeking medical treatment.
While PhilHealth covers the benefits of hospitalization, PCEO Edwin M. Mercado advises everyone to practice preventive measures and seek early consultation, especially if experiencing dengue symptoms: high fever, severe headache, pains behind the eyes, muscle and joint pain, nausea and vomiting, and skin rash.
“Kung nakararamdam ng sintomas ng dengue o anumang sakit, pumunta na po agad sa inyong napiling Konsulta Package Provider. Ang Konsulta Package ay agad na magagamit ng lahat ng miyembro at dependents nila. Wala po itong bayad.”
For more questions on benefit packages for dengue and other conditions, members can call the following 24/7 touch points: (02) 866-225-88; mobile numbers 0998-857-2957, 0968-865-4670, 0917-1275987 or 0917-1109812. (PR)
ORMOC CITY– Two students, including a minor, were temporarily detained by local police after allegedly robbing a fellow student in the early hours of Saturday, February 15, along Vicentillo Street, Barangay P.I. Garcia, Naval, Biliran.
Authorities identified the victim as alias “Yan,” 23, a resident of Vicentillo Ex., P.I. Garcia. The suspects were identified as alias “Bensoy,” 18, and alias “Tommy,” 17, both students and residents of Sitio Mangga, Barangay Calumpang, also in Naval.
According to the police, the victim, accompanied by witnesses alias “Bin,” 22, and alias “Nel,” 26, reported the incident at around 3:20 pm on the same day.
They claimed that the suspects struck “Yan” on the head with a hard object and forcibly took his smartphone, valued at P7,500.
The witnesses saw the incident and attempted to chase the suspects, but they managed to escape. However, they were later identified by the witnesses.
A follow-up investigation led to the arrest of the suspects and the recovery of the stolen phone.
The suspects were informed of their rights under the Miranda Doctrine in a language they understood.
“Tommy,” the minor suspect, was turned over to the Women and Children Protection Desk (WCPD) for proper disposition, while “Bensoy” remains in police custody at the Naval Municipal Police Station.
EVRAA HOSTS. The municipalities of Can-avid and Dolores, both in Eastern Samar, are playing hosts in this year’s Eastern Visayas Regional Athletic Association(EVRAA) Meet. Mayors Vilma Germino(right) of Can-avid and Rodrigo Rivera(center) of Dolores both said that they are just happy that their respective towns are playing hosts in this year’s regional athletics meet. (PHOTO COURTESY)
In Eastern Samar
EVRAA HOSTS. The municipalities of Can-avid and Dolores, both in Eastern Samar, are playing hosts in this year’s Eastern Visayas Regional Athletic Association(EVRAA) Meet. Mayors Vilma Germino(right) of Can-avid and Rodrigo Rivera(center) of Dolores both said that they are just happy that their respective towns are playing hosts in this year’s regional athletics meet. (PHOTO COURTESY)
TACLOBAN CITY – The mayors of Dolores and Can-avid, both in Eastern Samar, have expressed their gratitude for the opportunity to provide playing venues and billeting areas for the 2025 Eastern Visayas Regional Athletic Association (EVRAA), hosted by the Department of Education (DepEd) Eastern Samar Division.
Can-avid Mayor Vilma Germino highlighted the significance of this collaboration, emphasizing that co-hosting the athletes with Dolores is a testament to the strong partnership between their municipalities.
“We are very happy to assist the host municipality of Dolores to ensure the success of this momentous occasion,” she said during the opening ceremony.
Can-avid has prepared four billeting sites for EVRAA athletes and playing venues for futsal, table tennis, and softball. Meanwhile, Dolores hosts events for billiards, boxing, sepak takraw, and baseball.
Mayor Germino assured that all delegations are safe and well-supported, with medical assistance readily available through the Can-avid Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office and the Can-avid Municipal Hospital.
Dolores Mayor Rodrigo Rivera, in his address welcoming the 13 delegations, expressed deep gratitude to groups and individuals who contributed to the success of their hosting.
Despite challenges, including the lack of support from some municipal officials who did not approve their request for funding, they successfully pulled through.
“Not all our requests for EVRAA hosting were approved due to budget and resource constraints, but we made sure that everything was well-prepared to make this EVRAA meet a success,” Mayor Rivera said.
The mayors credited the success of the event to the support of the Dolores Municipal Police, the Philippine Army, barangay officials and community volunteers, parents, LGU staff, and DepEd personnel, who all played crucial roles in preparing the billeting and playing areas.
Mayor Rivera also extended his thanks to Governor Ben Evardone and House Minority Floor Leader 4Ps Partylist Representative Marcelino Libanan for their support in making the event possible.
Eastern Samar hosts the first of the three legs of EVRAA 2025.
The second leg will be held in Maasin City from February 27 to March 2, featuring competitions in arnis, badminton, basketball, chess, football, pencak silat, volleyball, and wushu.
The final leg will take place in Tacloban City from March 6 to 9, covering archery, athletics, dance sports, gymnastics, special games, swimming, taekwondo, tennis, and wrestling.
ASF. The municipal government of Catarman in Northern Samar reported of deaths of more than 100 pigs after they exhibited symptoms associated to African Swine Fever (ASF). The LGU is currently conducting investigation on this incident.
ASF. The municipal government of Catarman in Northern Samar reported of deaths of more than 100 pigs after they exhibited symptoms associated to African Swine Fever (ASF). The LGU is currently conducting investigation on this incident.
TACLOBAN CITY – The local government of Catarman, Northern Samar, is investigating suspected cases of African Swine Fever (ASF) following the deaths of around 100 pigs in several barangays.
The affected pigs, which exhibited ASF-like symptoms, were from the villages of Bocsol, Old Rizal, Cag-abaca, Quezon, Salvacion, Washington, Tinowaran, and Cularima.
“We have yet to confirm if these pigs died due to ASF, but they have displayed ASF-like symptoms,” said Rachel Arnaiz, municipal information officer.
The symptoms observed included high fever, skin redness, loss of appetite, vomiting, weakness, and coughing.
In line with standard protocols, hog raisers buried the sick pigs in pits to prevent further spread.
Vivencio Moreno, slaughter master and meat control officer, stated that the exact number of ASF-related pig deaths remains unclear.
“This is because some owners either butchered their pigs and sold them or immediately disposed of them,” he said in an online interview on February 22.
But he said that the number of pigs which died due to suspected ASF could have now reached to around 100.
Moreno also assured that any pigs slaughtered at the municipal facility that showed symptoms were culled and buried to prevent potential spread.
Moreno revealed that the outbreak may have started last year but was not immediately detected.
More than 50 backyard hog raisers have been affected by the incident, though the source of infection remains undetermined.
Currently, Catarman is classified as a pink zone—a buffer zone that is either near an infected area or still ASF-free. Pink zones indicate proximity to ASF-positive areas, while dark green zones are ASF-free.
To contain the potential outbreak, Mayor Francisco Aurelio Rosales III has instructed the Municipal Agriculture Office to conduct blood sampling on pigs in barangays near suspected ASF cases. Slaughterhouse personnel have also been directed to test pigs before slaughtering.
Meanwhile, Northern Samar Governor Edwin Ongchuan issued an executive order on February 12 restricting the movement of live pigs and pork products from suspected ASF-affected areas, including Las Navas, Catubig, and Laoang. Quarantine checkpoints have been set up across all municipalities in the province.
The governor emphasized that the measure aims to prevent the further spread of ASF in Northern Samar.
ASF is a highly contagious viral disease affecting both domestic and wild pigs. It can spread rapidly through direct contact with infected animals.
Currently, there is no known treatment or vaccine for ASF.
TACLOBAN CITY – The city government of Calbayog is set to launch a localized social pension program for senior citizens who are not included in the national social pension program implemented by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).
Mayor Raymund Uy announced this initiative last month during the third leg of the Calbayog Caravan 2025 in Barangay Migara.
Last week, the local chief executive, along with Vice Mayor Rex Daguman, led a public hearing at the Calbayog Convention Center attended by senior citizen representatives from various barangays, who shared their insights and emphasized the importance of this pioneering initiative in providing financial support to elderly residents.
Vice Mayor Daguman assured that the city legislative council will work towards approving the ordinance and securing proper funding allocation, ensuring that no senior citizen is left behind. The legislative action aims to address gaps in pension support and create a more inclusive assistance program for the elderly.
Based on Mayor Uy’s announcement, the local government unit (LGU) plans to provide a P500 monthly social pension to eligible senior citizens in the city.
To ensure the success of the program, the mayor stressed the importance of gathering accurate and comprehensive data on senior citizens in Calbayog.
This will enable the local government to effectively identify and serve all eligible beneficiaries of the program. (ROEL T. AMAZONA)
ORMOC CITY-A newly identified female drug peddler and her patron were arrested by operatives of the Station Drug Enforcement Team of the local police during a buy-bust operation on Wednesday afternoon, February 19, in Barangay Cabalquinto, Calubian, Leyte.
Cpt.Alexander Alfonzo, town police chief, identified the suspects as alias “Wena,” 40, a jobless resident of Brgy. Cabalquinto, and alias “Joseph,” 34, a married farmer from Brgy. Kawayanan, who was present at the scene during the operation.
According to PCPT Alfonzo, “Wena” was the primary target of the operation following complaints from neighbors about disturbances caused by her visitors.
During the sting, she was caught selling a sachet of suspected shabu worth P500 to an undercover operative. A subsequent body search, conducted in the presence of mandated witnesses, led to the recovery of a self-sealing plastic package hidden in her underwear, containing 88 sachets of suspected shabu, along with the marked P500 bill and three P100 bills believed to be drug proceeds.
Meanwhile, a search of “Joseph” yielded a maroon body bag containing four sachets of suspected shabu, six P100 bills, and one P50 bill, also suspected to be drug proceeds.
Both suspects were informed of their rights under the Miranda Doctrine in a language they understood.
They are now facing charges for violations of Sections 5 (selling illegal drugs) and 11 (possession of illegal drugs) under Article II of Republic Act 9165, the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.
The charges have been filed at the City Prosecutor’s Office against the suspects who are temporarily detained at the Calubian Municipal Police Station.
