TACLOBAN CITY – A total of 2,716 disadvantaged and displaced workers from Eastern Samar received financial assistance through the Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers (TUPAD) program in a payout ceremony held on October 30 in Borongan City.

The beneficiaries included members of the Tricycle Operators and Drivers Association (TODA) from San Julian and various women’s organizations from Borongan City. Each received P4,050 in cash assistance.

The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Eastern Samar Field Office facilitated the payout in cooperation with the provincial government, represented by Governor Ben Evardone, and funded by the Office of the President through House Speaker Martin Romualdez.

Gov.Evardone, along with provincial officials including Governor Maricar Sison-Goteesan, Board Member RV Evardone, Vice Board Member Annabelle Capito, Board Member Byron Suyot, Board Member Jun Quelitano, and labor and employment officer Philip John Eynard Pinarok, attended the event.

“Iton TUPAD talaga in para makabulig kita hit aton mga igkasi Estehanon. Yana, sana magamit niyo iton makakarawat yana, magamit hin maupay ha iyo pagkaon, garamitan hit mga estudyante, pakabuhi ha iyo asosasyon,” the governor said.

He added that he hopes the assistance, though modest, will aid the beneficiaries.

“Kun ano it makaka-upay ha iyo, hit iyo organisasyon, gamita it niyo hin maupay. Kunta ini nga guti nga bulig, makabulig unta ha iyo. Hi kamo an akon napili pagrekognisar hit iyo pakabuhi para hit iyo tagsa-tagsa nga pamilya,” he said.

Evardone also pledged to allocate a livelihood fund for various organizations, to be facilitated by DOLE.

(ROEL T. AMAZONA)

TACLOBAN CITY – The Police Regional Office 8 (PRO-8), led by Regional Director B/Gen. Jay Cumigad, held a heroes’ welcome ceremony on Monday, November 4, to honor the Region 8 Disaster Response Deployment Contingents who returned from Bicol after their relief mission following Tropical Storm “Kristine.”

The ceremony, held at the PRO-8 gymnasium, recognized the personnel’s dedicated service in aiding Bicol residents during the crisis.

Cumigad expressed his gratitude for the team’s successful mission, emphasizing the importance of unity and compassion in serving Filipinos during times of need.

“Your unwavering support in the ‘Otso Para Sa Singko’ rescue and relief efforts in the Bicol Region has been truly inspiring. You went above and beyond the call of duty in aiding typhoon-stricken communities,” he stated, acknowledging the collective efforts of the public and all partner agencies in making the mission a success.

Tropical Storm “Kristine,” which hit the Philippines on October 22, brought severe flooding and widespread devastation to the Bicol region.

In response, PRO-8 organized an emergency send-off on October 24, deploying personnel from multiple agencies, including the Philippine National Police (PNP), Regional Maritime Unit 8, Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), and the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) Region 8.

This inter-agency team worked tirelessly to maintain law and order, ensure public safety, and provide essential humanitarian assistance in the hardest-hit areas. Their efforts included rescue operations, relief distribution, and peacekeeping to support community recovery.

To further aid the relief efforts, PRO-8 activated the PNP Help and Food Bank, initially donating P100, 000 to support affected families in the Bicol region.
(LIZBETH ANN A. ABELLA)

With more than 14,400 cases with 25 deaths

TACLOBAN CITY—The Department of Health (DOH) in Eastern Visayas has reported a surge of dengue fever which now reached 14,414 cases from January 1 to October 26, 2024, with 25 recorded fatalities.

This number represents a staggering 314% increase compared to the same period last year, which saw 3,485 cases and 9 deaths.

From October 20 to 26 alone, cases rose by 8,720%, with 441 reported cases compared to just five in the previous week, according to Jelyn Malibago, the DOH regional information officer, on Monday, Nov. 4.

Malibago clarified, however, that this spike was largely due to delayed reporting from their provincial and city health offices.

“This is mainly because of late reporting. Generally, we have noted a decrease in the number of cases across all provinces compared to previous months, thanks to the concerted efforts of local government units, national agencies, and the public,” she explained.

Malibago said that the delay was due to the needed verification process and cleaning of data to ensure that the information falls as dengue cases.

Despite the downward trend in recent weeks, the DOH has renewed its call to the public to strictly implement the 4S strategy to prevent the spread of dengue.

The 4S strategy includes search and destroy mosquito breeding sites by eliminating potential mosquito habitats both indoors and outdoors, ensuring stored water is covered and kept clean; seek consultation promptly, especially if experiencing sudden high fever within two days along with other symptoms; self-protect by using insect repellent, and wearing long sleeves, light-colored clothing, and long pants; and support fogging activities in communities if a dengue outbreak is anticipated.

Hospitals and health facilities have also been urged to ensure the availability of dengue fast lanes, sufficient healthcare providers, and necessary dengue medicines to provide prompt care, Malibago added.

Of the six provinces in the region, Leyte recorded the highest number of dengue cases, with 6,116, followed by Samar with 3,621 cases; Southern Leyte, 2,551; Northern Samar, 855; and Biliran, 271.

The 25 deaths attributed to dengue were recorded in the following areas: Samar with 11, Leyte with 6, Eastern Samar and Northern Samar with 3 each, and Southern Leyte with 2.
Dengue fever is a mosquito-borne viral infection caused by the dengue virus, primarily transmitted through the bites of infected Aedes mosquitoes, especially Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus.

Symptoms include high fever, severe headaches, pain behind the eyes, joint and muscle pain, nausea and vomiting, fatigue, and a skin rash.

In severe cases, the disease can progress to life-threatening conditions marked by severe abdominal pain, persistent vomiting, bleeding, blood in bodily excretions, and breathing difficulties.
(LIZBETH ANN A. ABELLA)