Send refugees back to Philippines, Sabah leaders insist SABAH LEADERS have taken Deputy Home Minister Azis Jamman to task over his remark that many IMM13 refugee card holders wish to remain in the state, urging him to send them back to the Philippines. Former Petagas Assemblyman James Ligunjang said Azis should take a leaf from
Founded July 2019
Malaysia’s experience with the Vietnamese refugees in Pulau Bidong, Terengganu in the 1970s. The island, which was opened as a refugee camp on Aug 8, 1978, sheltered some 250,000 refugees who fled communist rule after the end of the Vietnam War. It was officially closed on Oct 30, 1991. Ligunjang said the
international community would not tolerate any refusal by the Philippines to accept its own citizens back into the country. “The IMM13 holders cannot be treated differently from the Vietnamese,” he said. Parti Gagasan Rakyat Sabah adviser Francis Goh meanwhile said Azis should prioritise Malay-
sia’s sovereignty. “Nobody should come and stay in Sabah and then later give all sorts of excuses not to leave,” he said, adding that Azis should not continue defending the IMM13 holders by allowing them to remain in Sabah. Many holders of the IMM13 document originally came to Sabah as
refugees fleeing the civil unrest in the southern Philippines in the 1970s. Azis had said that many of them, who are mostly second and third-generation descendants, had no more family ties in the Philippines and preferred to remain in Sabah where they had been since birth. However, Parti Solidariti Tanah Airku leader
ADVERTISING DEPARTMENT, PLEASE CALL (062) 9925480 or (0995) 5202358
P10
Jeffrey Kitingan said it was not right for a deputy minister to speak on behalf of the Philippine government. “Refugees normally come under UNHCR, and their repatriation should also be discussed with the UN agency,” he said, adding, Malaysia and the Philippines have Continue on page 5
December 2-8, 2019
‘Barangay officials, Netizens praise Climaco’
Garbage trucks ready to roll Mayor Beng Climaco holds the trucks’ manufacturer authenticity documents. (Kathy Wee Sit)
B
ARANGAY OFFICIALS and Netizens have praised Mayor Beng Climaco for donating brand new Isuzu garbage trucks which are all part of the 96 units the local government purchased just recently.
Zambo tops ‘2019 Regional Disaster Preparedness Index’
Mayor Beng Climaco (Nasser Fernando Hadjula)
ZAMBOANGA has topped other cities and municipalities in the “2019 Regional Disaster Preparedness Index” or RDPI, according to the Department of the Interior and Local Government or DILG in Western Mindanao. DILG said Zamboanga City and Dipolog City Continue on page 2
Read Story on page 3
Zamboanga bans entry of pigs, pork products ZAMBOANGA CITY government has prohibited the entry of live pigs, pork and processed pork products, including bore semen from provinces or areas infected with the African swine fever (ASF) which is deadly to pigs. This, after Mayor Beng Climaco issued a notice supplementing her Executive Order BC-500 dated November 19 to protect
the local hog industry following the continuous emergence of new ASF cases in Luzon. Climaco said food and establishments were also told to strictly comply with the order, especially those that are using pork and pork products from Luzon. Food establishments are also ordered to comply with the proper disposal
of its kitchen refuse or left-over organic matter or waste, and not allowed to give or sell it to individuals to prevent it from being used as feed for hogs. She also warned individuals or officers of companies or businesses that will be caught or apprehended transporting, selling, and facilitating Continue on page 3
2
The Zamboanga Post
December 2-8, 2019
Zambo tops ‘2019 Regional Disaster Preparedness Index’
The service vehicle of Barangay Rio Hondo is spotted Sunday, November 17, 2019 at the Golf Course and Resort in Barangay Calarian. (Zamboanga Post)
Earn More, Be an Advertising Agency! Do you want to earn more? Be an ADVERTISING AGENCY and DEALER for The Zamboanga Post and earn hefty commissions. Apply now. This offer covers Zamboanga Peninsula, Basilan, Sulu, and Tawi-Tawi provinces. ZAMBOANGA CITY OFFICE: 3rd Floor, JLC Building, Don Alfaro Street, Tetuan Phone: 062-9925480 Mobile: 0995-5202358 URL: mindanaoexaminer.com E-mail: mindanaoexaminer@gmail.com
Continued from page 1 were ranked Number 1 in RDPI “Top Performing and Most Improved Local Government Units.” The RDPI is developed locally by DILG to ascertain the level of preparedness of the local governments in Zamboanga Peninsula and provides a snapshot of their standing and performances. DILG said the RDPI has categorized the local governments according to its level of disaster preparedness compliance - high, basic, partial and non-compliance – and those cities and municipalities rated with high compliance qualify for the top awards. Just recently, Mayor Beng Climaco was invited to speak at the “2019 Top Leaders Forum” where she discussed Zamboanga’s human security and disaster resilience, citing the many challenges besetting the city and how the local government and the locals managed to overcome all these – from natural calamities to man-made disasters. She joined top-level
executives from both the private and public sectors at the forum - which aims to find concrete measures that would make businesses more resilient against disasters - organized by SM Prime Holdings, in partnership with the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction, ARISE Philippines and the National Resilience Council (NRC). Some of the speakers were USEC Ricardo Jalad, of the Office of Civil Defense; Congresswoman Lucy Gomez, Bataan Governor Albert Garcia, Cagayan De Oro City Mayor Oscar Moreno, Naga City Mayor Nelson Legacion, and Ormoc City Mayor Richard Gomez. And also Unilever Philippines Chairman Benjie Yap, Maynilad Water Services CEO Ramoncito Fernandez, IBM Philippines President and Country General Manager Aileen Jiao, San Miguel Properties Inc. Project Lead Cecile Ang, Jollibee Group Foundation Executive Director Gisela Tiongson, Aboitiz Foundation, Inc. COO Maribeth Marasigan, and Fr. Jet Vil-
larin, Ateneo de Manila President. Climaco said through the facilitation of the Zamboanga City Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office headed by Elmeir Apolinario, students from the Ateneo de Zamboanga University represented the local team for the “Young Leaders for Resilience Program” and presented their innovative solutions that can address the resilience challenges. With the theme “From Risk to Resilience: Forging Pathways and Milestones,” the forum highlighted the private sector engagement with the small and medium enterprises to ensure the same level of preparedness for disasters; and for the NRC’s Adopt-A-City program to engage the private sector in a more innovative and strategic partnership for resilient local government systems; and engage the youth in co-creating solutions that will address the resilience challenges of NRC’s partner local governments. (Zamboanga Post)
3
The Zamboanga Post
December 2-8, 2019
‘Barangay officials, Netizens praise Climaco’
Garbage trucks ready to roll
Barangay officials, who are recipients of the first batch of garbage trucks, are all smile and praised Mayor Beng Climaco for the donation. (Kathy Wee Sit) Climaco initially turned over 20 trucks last week to Barangay Santa Maria, Labuan, Cawit, San Jose Gusu, Calarian, Canelar, Camino Nuevo, San Roque, Pasonanca, Maasin, Limpapa, Tetuan, Tugbungan, Putik, Pasobolong, Boalan, Guiwan, Vitali, Curuan and Zambowood. She said the local government purchased 96 trucks to help augment
or provide garbage trucks to the different barangays and enable officials to effectively maintain cleanliness in their respective areas. Climaco also thanked the City Council members and all those who supported the purchase of the trucks. Eight of these trucks will be for the use of the Office of the City Environment and Natural Resources which is in-charge
of collecting garbage in the central business. Not only barangay officials expressed their appreciation to Climaco’s efforts in providing garbage trucks, Netizens who follow her Facebook account were all praises for the mayor. “Thank you Mayor, good governance,” said Rey Masil. Bolido Michael also thanked Climaco for the
purchase of the trucks. “Bravo Mayor, thank you,” he wrote in his comment. But for Edwin delos Reyes, he said residents should also do their share in keeping Zamboanga clean. “Thank you. Along with it, we need to strengthen our educational campaign on the 3Rs among our people.” “It isn’t enough that we provide them with trucks. Our people also need to their share of dumping their garbage properly. The local government cannot do it all alone. We have to rally behind our leaders in keeping our City clean and progressive,” he said. For Gani Leaño, he said: “This is good news and I hope the local government will execute this properly. Back when I was in high school, we were urged to practice SWMP (solid waste management program) in school. But since we notice how the garbage collection is treated (mixing all three bins together), it discouraged us to keep segregating waste as time pass by and as well as preaching among fellow students how to do so.” “I hope this time it will be implemented not only in the segregation process, but as well as the
handling and eventually processing of waste. Let’s help each other because this is an impossible goal if we don’t help each other. Good luck Zamboanga,” Leaño said. Ecological Solid Waste Management And he Leaño was right because despite the efforts of the local government to strictly follow the Republic Act No. 9003 or Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000, garbage collectors themselves - especially in Barangay Tetuan - destroy garbage bags to collect bottles and plastics and other things they can sell and virtually use up their time in this malpractice. Under this Act, the solid waste shall be characterized for initial source reduction and recycling element of the local waste management plan. A separate container is required
for each type of waste for on-site collection properly marked as “compostable”, “non-recyclable”, “recyclable” or “special waste.” Waste segregation shall primarily be conducted at the source including household, commercial, industrial and agricultural sources. The local governments are also mandated to establish Materials Recovery Facility in each barangay or cluster of barangays designed to receive, sort, process and store compostable and recyclable materials efficiently. The residual wastes shall then be transferred to a long-term storage or disposal facility or sanitary landfill. No open dumps nor any practice or disposal of solid waste that constitutes open dumps for solid waste shall be allowed. (Zamboanga Post)
Zamboanga bans entry of pigs, pork products Continued from page 1 the sale and transport of prohibited pork products shall be prosecuted and charged in court. “All Punong-Barangays, local stakeholders and other concerned sectors and individuals are hereby directed to be more vigilant and take the necessary actions in order to protect our City against the ASF,” Climaco said in her order. Despite the spread of ASF in Luzon, Zamboanga City remains free from ASF virus because of the tight watch of the local government on the entry of processed pork products and meat here. Climaco said random and surprised inspection in public markets and grocery stores, barter trade centers and supermarkets continue to ensure that no canned pork products, particularly those imported from countries where ASF had been reported. She said the Task Force Karne and the Food
and Drugs Administration and the Department of Agriculture were conducting inspections as part of the strict implementation of the executive order and the national ban on the importation, distribution and sale of all processed pork products from countries infected with the ASF such as China. The task force is comprised of representatives from City Veterinary Office, National Meat Inspection Service, Task Force Ordinance, and Business Permits and Licensing Division. Climaco said strict protocols will be observed to monitor and regulate the entry of hog and pork products here as a measure against the contagious animal disease. The Department of Agriculture said the first ASF outbreak started on July 25 in mostly backyard pigs in the provinces of Rizal and Bulacan and then spread elsewhere in Luzon.
The Food and Drug Administration in May ordered the pull-out from the markets of all processed pork products such as luncheon meat imported from Russia, Ukraine, Czech Republic, Moldova, South Africa, Zambia, Hungary, Bulgaria, Belgium, Latvia, Poland, Romania, Mongolia, Vietnam, and Cambodia. AFS is a large, double-stranded DNA virus in the Asfarviridae family. The virus is transmitted to pigs through direct contact with infected pigs, their waste, contaminated clothing, feed, equipment and vehicles, and in some cases, some tick species. Although ASF cannot be transmitted to humans through contact with pigs or pork, the virus causes a haemorrhagic fever with high mortality rates in domestic pigs; some isolates can cause death of animals as quickly as a week after infection. (Zamboanga Post)
4
The Zamboanga Post
December 2-8, 2019
Newly-rehabilitated market opens to public THE LOCAL government has opened to the public the newly-rehabilitated market building in downtown Zamboanga as part of Mayor Beng Climaco’s continued infrastructure programs and projects. Climaco was joined by Vice Mayor Rommel Agan in the opening ceremony of the main public market building which houses the fish and dry
sections. There were also new stalls for vendors. “The projects were undertaken by private contractors under the supervision of the City Engineer’s Office,” Climaco said, adding, two rest rooms are also up for construction as part of the rehabilitation project. The mayor also called on tenants and vendors, including market-goers,
to strictly observe cleanliness. “Necesita observa el limpieza y bota con el maga basura na garbage bins y mantene quita el limpiesa,” she said. Market tenants thanked Climaco for the rehabilitation of the market building and vowed to support the local government’s cleanliness campaign. (Zamboanga Post)
More SCAA militias deploy in Zamboanga City
Mayor Beng Climaco during the opening of the rehabilitated main public market in downtown Zamboanga. (Kathy Wee Sit)
DOZENS OF local government militias have graduated from a 2-month basic military training conducted by the Philippine Army and would be deployed here under the supervision of the Task Force Zamboanga. Some 66 militias under the Special Civilian Active Auxiliary (SCAA) forces will help authorities secure villages. Captain Danilo Mutoc, of the 5th Infantry Battalion’s Bravo Company, presented the new militias, including a woman who topped their class, to Mayor Beng Climaco last week during a flag ceremony. Climaco and Vice Mayor Rommel Agan, and other city officials, led the donning of the Task Force Zamboanga insignia on the SCAA members. They will be under the command of Task Force Zamboanga commander, Colonel John Divinagracia. The mayor, who is supportive of the military and police forces here, hailed the SCAA members for “their dedication and commitment and urged them to continue to be models of exemplary leadership in field of security and peace and order.” Climaco has been cited and recognized multiple times by the military
and police and other law enforcement agencies for her support. Only recently, the Philippine Marine Corps also recognized her and the continued support of the local government to the soldiers which contributed to their numerous accomplishments. Climaco was given a plaque of recognition during the 69th anniversary of the Philippine Marine Corps. The plaque cited Climaco’s “invaluable support rendered to the security forces particularly to the Marine Battalion Landing Team 11 by assisting the unit in performing the mission ranging from intensive security operations to civil engagements particularly in the East Central Areas of Zamboanga and by providing additional assets that greatly boosted the unit’s capability which significantly contributed to the successful accomplishments of the mission of the Corps.” The Philippine Marine Corps and the local police force, and the Task Force Zamboanga were among the recipients of brand new vehicles donated by the local government this year as part of its support to the security sector. Apart from the dona-
tion of vehicles, the local government also shells out about P22 million for the police force for its fuel, vehicle maintenance, among other necessities. Colonel Thomas Joseph Martir, the city police chief, received the prowl cars from Climaco during a simple ceremony attended by policemen who praised the mayor for her “relentless support” to the Zamboanga City Police Office. Climaco also handed over a pickup truck to General Alvin Parreño, the Philippine Marine Corps Commandant; and Task Force Zamboanga Chief, Army Colonel Leonel Nicolas and Marine Battalion Landing Team 11 Commandant, Lieutenant Colonel Michael Ariel de los Reyes. Parreño presented Climaco with a token of gratitude and thanked her for the donation. “Thank you for your love and support to the Marines. God bless you more!” reads an inscription on the token. Climaco said: “The City Government will never get tired of supporting and assisting the police and the entire security sector in Zamboanga and all these for the dedication of the soldiers and policemen in securing our city and our people.” (Zamboanga Post)
Mayor Beng Climaco, accompanied by Task Force Zamboanga commander, Colonel John Divinagracia, dons a military insignia to a member of the Special Civilian Active Auxiliary. (Kathy Wee Sit)
December 2-8, 2019
5
The Zamboanga Post
Send refugees back to Philippines, Sabah leaders insist Continued from page 1 a duty to settle the issue. “I have heard and read that they are ready to receive their people back home. So what is Azis talking about?” he asked. He said the Philippines consulate had also come to Sabah to provide consular service, including the provision of passports and other docu-
Bring and promote your business in Western Mindanao, ADVERTISE with us. ZAMBOANGA CITY Jeng Fernandez 3/F, JLC Bldg., Don Alfaro Street, Tetuan Phone: (062) 9925480 Mobile: (0995) 5202358 PAGADIAN CITY Richard Suarez Kismet Cable TV, Aquino cor. Cabrera sts., Gatas District Phone: (062) 2142706 Mobile: (0910) 7348600
mindanaoexaminer@gmail.com
Villamero’s Enterprises For all your newspaper publications or subscription to The Zamboanga Post and The Mindanao Examiner regional newspaper, please call or text Villamero’s Enterprises at these numbers (062) 955-8677 and 0917-1223496. Located at Campaner Street, Zamboanga City and serving Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi.
ments. “ Un d e r s t a n d a b l y, there may be children or grandchildren of IMM13 holders who prefer to stay in Sabah, but that is not the issue. The issue is IMM13 holders or refugees. The same applies to holders of the kad burung-burung and census cards,” he said. Many Sabah leaders
have been urging the government to repatriate the 1MM13 holders, saying the unrest in the southern Philippines has ended. There are an estimated 600,000 migrants in Sabah, including dependents or families of the original IMM13, kad burung-burung and census card holders. (Jason Santos – Free Malaysia Today)
NOTICE Please report to us any individual or persons who are illegally soliciting money or donations for or in behalf of THE ZAMBOANGA POST newspaper. We have a strict company policy against solicitation in any forms and the Company shall not be responsible for illegal practice of unscrupulous persons, who pass themselves off as Reporter, Stringer, Correspondent or Sales Executive of The Zamboanga Post newspaper. When in doubt, please call or SMS us at these numbers (062) 9925480 or SMS 0995-5202358 or email us – mindanaoexaminer@gmail.com
6
The Zamboanga Post
December 2-8, 2019
Across : 1. Use a broom 6. Quiet! 9. Foldaway bed 12. Florida seaport 13. Cow’s cry 14. Cigar residue 15. Mediate 17. Hockey surface 18. Pains 19. Nest eggs (abbr.) 20. Atop, poetically 22. President ___ Roosevelt 25. Deny 28. Hewing tool 29. Fragrances 30. Spring, e.g. 34. Fall mo. 35. Mad 36. Sport with webbed rackets 40. Limb 41. Bait 42. Dandy’s neckwear 45. Had a meal 46. Bruce Springsteen, e.g. 50. Bossy Stooge 51. Wayside hotel 52. Craze 53. Egyptian cobra 54. Acquired 55. Slumbered Down : 1. Amtrak terminal (abbr.) 2. Conflict 3. Trade prohibition 4. Heroic 5. Garden walk 6. Hit show 7. Fiery 8. Gardening tool 9. Egypt’s capital 10. Movie award 11. Not those 16. Quizzes again 19. Thoughts 20. ___ wing and a prayer (2 wds.) 21. Poet’s always
The Zamboanga Post
An Edition of the Mindanao Examiner Regional Newspaper
Maritess Fernandez (On Leave) Publisher/Executive Producer
Al Jacinto
Acting Publisher/Editor-in-Chief
Reynold Toribio Graphics/Video Editor
Mindanao Examiner Productions Web Master
REGIONAL PARTNERS Mindanao Daily Business Week Mindanao Star
ADVERTISING Jeng Fernandez (0917) 7930652 Zamboanga Peninsula
Answer to last week’s crossword:
23. Least difficult 24. Plow-pulling animals 26. Love, in Rome 27. Mexican dish 31. Soup cracker 32. ___ in a million 33. Not pos. 36. Peruvian animal 37. Detroit products 38. Crawl 39. Holy person 43. picture takers,for short 44. Uttered 46. Band’s booking 47. Numero ___ 48. Small taste 49. Tif for ___
Weekly Sudoku:
Richard Suarez
(0910) 7348600 Kismet Cable TV, Aquino cor. Cabrera sts., Gatas District, Pagadian City, Zamboanga del Sur
The Zamboanga Post
is published weekly in Mindanao, Philippines.
ZAMBOANGA CITY OFFICE:
3rd Floor, JLC Building, Don Alfaro St., Tetuan, Zamboanga City Phone & Fax: (062) 9925480 Mobile: (0995) 5202358 URL: mindanaoexaminer.com E-mail: mindanaoexaminer@gmail.com
Answer to last week:
CEBU CITY G/F Dreamfield bldg, Sanciangko Street, Kamagayan (0923) 1670009
Rodil P. Ybañez
DAVAO CITY Door 2, 402 Nidea Street, Barrio Obrero, Davao City, Philippines (082) 2841859 / (0932) 4323301 / (0997) 3172021
Marilou Cablinda
NORTH COTABATO KIDAPAWAN CITY CENTRAL MINDANAO COTABATO CITY Rhoderick Beñez (0927) 4757936
PAGADIAN CITY
Kismet Cable TV, Aquino cor. Cabrera st., Gatas District, Pagadian City, Zamboanga Del Sur (0910) 7348600
Richard Suarez
ZAMBOANGA PENINSULA BASILAN, SULU, TAWIͳTAWI ΈBARMMΉ
3rd Floor, JLC Building, Don Alfaro Street, Zamboanga City (062) 9925480 / (0995) 5202358 / (0917) 7930652
Jeng Fernandez mindanaoexaminer.com mindanaoexaminer@gmail.com
7
The Zamboanga Post
December 2-8, 2019
LOTTO TIPS KARON SEMANA
Timbo karon, timbo ugma, timbo kada adlaw ug timbo kada semana!
HEALTH Bakit Kumukulubot Ang Mukha?
Ni Dr. Willie T. Ong
Maraming bagay ang nagdudulot ng wrinkles. Ang balat natin ay gawa sa isang matibay na balot (keratin) na hindi pinapasok ng tubig. Sa ilalim ng balat ay may collagen, elastin fibers, ugat (nerves at blood vessels), at may makapal na layer ng taba. Sa edad 20 hanggang 30, nababawasan na ang paggawa ng collagen ng balat. Parang isang rubber band ang collagen at ito ang nagpapa-kinis ng balat. Pero sa
pag-edad, ang mga collagen at elastin fibers ay kumakapal at lumuluwag. Ito ang dahilan ng pag-kulubot ng balat. Nababawasan din ang moisture sa balat at lumiliit ang mga fat cells (taba) sa ilalim ng balat. Sa edad 40, titigil na ang paggawa ng collagen ng balat. Ang natitirang collagen at elastin fibers ay unti-unting nababali, tumitigas at parang rubber band na lumuluwag. Ito ang nagdudulot ng wrinkles.
RECIPE
Ginataang Manok with Papaya
panlasangpinoy.com INGREDIENTS : • 1 lb chicken cut into serving pieces • 1 piece green papaya small, sliced into wedges • 1 cups spinach • 2 cups coconut milk • 6 pieces chili pepper
• • • •
1 piece onion chopped 4 cloves garlic minced 2 thumbs ginger julienne Patis and ground black pepper to taste • 4 tablespoons cooking oil
INSTRUCTIONS : 1. 2. 3. 4. 5.
Heat oil in a cooking pot. Pan-fry chicken for 1 1/2 minutes per side. Remove from the pot. Set aside. Saute onion, ginger, and garlic in the remaining oil until onion softens. Put- the pan-fried chicken into the pot. Cook for 1 minute. Pour coconut milk into the pan. Let boil.
6.
Add chili pepper. Cover the pan and adjust heat between low to medium. Cook for 30 minutes or until the chicken becomes tender. 7. Add papaya. Stir. Cook for 5 minutes. 8. Put the spinach into the pot. Cook for 2 minutes. 9. Season with patis and ground black pepper. 10. Transfer to a serving bowl. Serve. Share and enjoy!
Sa edad 50, ang balat ay nanunuyo at madaling masugat o magasgas. Nababawasan ang mga oil glands. Kapag ang babae ay nag-menopause, manunuyo at magiging manipis din ang balat. Ang pag-kulubot ng balat ay namamana din sa magulang. Kapag makinis ang mukha ng iyong magulang ay marahil makinis din ang iyong balat. Ang pag-edad ay hindi natin maiiwasan. Pero mayroon tayong magagawa para gu-
manda ang ating kutis. Heto ang aming payo: 1. Huwag magbilad sa araw. Ang araw ay nagpapakulubot ng balat, nagdudulot ng freckles at posibleng magka-skin cancer pa dahil sa UV light. Magtago sa matinding sikat ng araw mula 10 ng umaga hanggang 4 ng hapon. 2. Gumamit ng sunblock na may taglay na SPF 15 o 30. 3. Itigil ang paninigarilyo at pag-inom ng alak. Ang paninigarilyo ay nakatatanda dahil nababawasan ang daloy ng dugo sa balat. Ang alak naman ay nagdudulot ng
wrinkles dahil hihina ang iyong resistensiya at babagsak ang iyong katawan. 4. Uminom ng 8 basong tubig araw-araw para manatiling malambot ang iyong balat. 5. Kumain ng 2 tasang prutas at 2 tasang gulay araw-araw. Sagana ito sa vitamins A, C, E at biotin na tinuturing na anti-oxidants. Umiwas sa pagkaing matataba, mamantika at sitsirya. 6. Magbawas sa stress, at maging masiyahin. Totoo ang kasabihan na tumawa ka at ikaw ay gaganda.
Founded July 2019
ADVERTISING DEPARTMENT, PLEASE CALL (062) 9925480 or (0995) 5202358
P10
December 2-8, 2019
Anti-polio immunization begins ‘Basilan girl tested positive’
M
AYOR BENG CLIMACO has renewed her calls for parents and guardians to have their children ages 5 years old and below vaccinated against polio. “This is very import- tion. ant because recent findings Three others cases of poshowed that there were liovirus were also recorded confirmed polio cases in in Mindanao. The first case Mindanao,” Climaco said. is a two year-old girl from A nine-year old girl Maguindanao province; the from Basilan’s Maluso town second is a one year-old boy was tested positive for po- from Cotabato City and the lio, a potentially deadly in- third is a four year-old girl fectious disease. from North Cotabato. All of Health Undersecretary them are currently admitDr. Myrna Cabotaje went to ted at the Cotabato Regional Basilan, one of 5 provinces Medical Center. under the Muslim autonThe first two cases were omous region, and con- unvaccinated with the polio firmed the new case, bring- vaccine, while the third reing to 8 the number of those ceived incomplete doses. infected with the poliovirus. Polio or poliomyelitis The girl had not received is a crippling and potentialany vaccines for Polio. ly infectious disease caused Samples taken from by the poliovirus. The virus the girl and sent to the Re- spreads from person to persearch Institute for Tropical son and can invade an infectMedicine and the National ed person’s brain and spinal Institute of Infectious Dis- cord, causing paralysis. eases in Japan came out Zamboanga City Health positive. A sample of throat Officer Dr. Miravite said secretions, stool or a col- polio may also be caused orless fluid that surrounds by intake of contaminated the brain and spinal cord is food and water. Symptoms checked for poliovirus. include fever, body pain, Climaco, an advocate weakening of limbs and of children’s rights to health difficulty in breathing. She and education, appealed said polio has no medicines to parents to bring their or treatment but only vacchildren to the health cen- cine-preventable. ters for the anti-polio shots “That is why we really as part of the campaign advocate for children zero dubbed “Sabayang Patak to 59 months to avail of the Kontra Polio,” where chil- vaccine,” Miravite said, adddren regardless of immuni- ing, for the last 19 years the zation status will be given a country has never had any dose of the oral polio vac- polio cases until recently, cine by health workers who only last September, when seven confirmed polio cases will go house-to-house. Health centers, govern- were reported, mostly from ment hospitals, fixed vacci- Mindanao. BARMM nation posts in villages will The Department of also be providing vaccina-
Mayor Beng Climaco spearheads the ceremonial kick off of “Sabayang Patak Kontra Polio” with officials from the Department of Health and Ciry Health Office. (Kathy Wee Sit) Health said it is currently coordinating with the Ministry of Health in the Muslim autonomous region to intensify polio vaccination efforts in Basilan as it reminded the public to take advantage of the immunization in Mindanao until December 7. It said during the campaign, all children regardless of immunization status will be given a dose of the oral polio vaccine by health workers who will go houseto-house to ensure that all children are vaccinated. Health centers, government hospitals, fixed vaccination posts in villages will also be providing vaccination. Three others cases of po-
liovirus were also recorded in Mindanao. The first case is a two year-old girl from Maguindanao province; the second is a one year-old boy from Cotabato City and the third is a four year-old girl from North Cotabato. All of them are currently admitted at the Cotabato Regional Medical Center. The first two cases were unvaccinated with the polio vaccine, while the third received incomplete doses. WHO, UNICEF join campaign The World Health Organization (WHO) and United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) are also supporting the government’s syn-
chronized polio vaccination campaign. “The polio outbreak is a wakeup call for the Philippines. We must act now to protect children against polio and other vaccine-preventable diseases through immunization,” said acting WHO Representative in the Philippines Dr. Rabindra Abeyasinghe. “To stop this outbreak, we aim to reach nearly two million children within two weeks. We will work closely with the Department of Health to achieve this target. We need bayanihan from everyone – the parents and caregivers, mayors, governors, community and reli-
gious leaders, health workers, volunteers, and media partners,” Abeyasinghe added. The Philippines has seen a decline of immunization coverage in the past few years, including for protection against polio. In 2018, at least 66% of children completed their oral polio vaccine (drops) doses and 45% received their inactivated polio vaccine (injection) dose. At least 95% of children under 5 years old need to be vaccinated, irrespective of their current vaccination status, to stop the spread of polio in the country. (Zamboanga Post)
First Standard Finance Corporation Zamboanga City 0995-5202358 FOR SALE FOR SALE FOR SALE RUSH SALE Fortuner G P635,000
Mitsubishi Strada HONDA CITY SPORT P899,000
P475,000
Hyundai Accent P550,000