Ang Caviteno Newsweekly January 14-20, 2019 Issue | Page 6

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Enero 14-20, 2019
Save the Children PH pushes vaccination vs
measles to prevent rising deaths of children
MAKATI CITY -- Save the Children Philippines called on
parents and health workers to intensify measles vaccination
due to the steady rise of deaths among children caused by
complications from the preventable disease.

Lawyer Albert Muyot, chief executive officer of
Save the Children Philippines said there is a need to dispel
the public scare against vaccination in general as it has
prevented mothers from having their children immunized.
A scare against vaccination spread in the Philippines
because of the Dengvaxia vaccine against dengue.

“Parents and community health workers must be
at the forefront of the campaign to dispel the public scare
against measles vaccination to make sure children do not
die from the preventable disease,” said Muyot.

The number of deaths from measles, mostly
children climbed five times to 17,289 between January to
November 2018, compared to 3,706 cases recorded during
the same period in 2017, according to the Department of
Health.

The recently passed First 1,000 Days law
highlights the need for complete immunization of babies including measles vaccines before they reach one year old.
It also ensures children’s health and nutrition and better
performance in schools.

Dr. Amado Parawan, health and nutrition advisor
of Save the Children Philippines said immunization is
important to ensure herd immunity of children from the
airborne virus of measles.

He said measles vaccine has been used in the
country for four decades and has prevented deaths and
diseases among children since then.

“We cannot compare measles vaccines which
have been proven to be effective in saving the lives of
children from the life threatening disease to the newly
developed Dengvaxia, which is the subject of the public
scare,” said Parawan.

He said measles virus is airborne and easily
transferred among infants and children who have not been
vaccinated.

“Complications from measles are pneumonia
and diarrhea, which are also the top two leading causes of
deaths among children,” said Parawan.
Save the Children Philippines has been
implementing maternal and child health and nutrition
programs among poor families in Navotas, Malabon,
Caloocan through access to immunization, prenatal check-
ups for pregnant mothers and training of community health
workers.

Under Project NURTURE, the group is
implementing nutrition-sensitive measures in eight poor
barangays in Navotas with focus on the first 1,000 days
of the child to prevent stunting and improve the health
of pregnant and lactating mothers. The program includes
prenatal check-up, food vouchers for pregnant and
lactating mothers as well as health and nutrition services
for undernourished children.

Save the Children Philippines pushed for the
enactment of the First 1,000 Days law that scales up the
nutrition support for mothers and children in the first
1,000 days of a child’s life, which is the crucial window
of opportunity to ensure that mothers and children in
Philippines achieve optimum development. (Save the
Children)
MANILA -- The Bureau of Customs as one of the lead
agencies in border security is upgrading its facilities by
adding 50 new x-ray machines in various airports and
seaports nationwide.

Fifteen (15) units of fixed baggage x-ray machines,
25 units of hand-carried baggage x-ray machines, 4 units
of mobile baggage x-ray machines, and 6 units of portal-
type x-ray machines amounting to more than P1.2 billion
will be installed this year, according to Customs chief Rey
Leonardo Guerreero.

According to the BOC X-Ray Inspection Project,
these x-ray machines are capable of identifying dense
areas and apply the high penetration feature only to the
dense area of the shipment. These can provide a function
that automatically detects organic substances with relative atomic numbers one after another or highlighting a region
or the system that may display organic substances in orange
color. It is also capable of discriminating between organic
and inorganic materials and with Threat Image Projection
(TIP) which is capable of automatic projection of threat
images to enhance the alertness of the system operators.

Strengthening customs efforts and capabilities
against smuggling and other customs fraud is among
the top priorities of the bureau under the leadership of
Customs chief Rey Leonardo B. Guerrero.

“We need to immediately install and upgrade
our x-ray machines to strengthen vigilance and prevent
the entry of smuggled and contraband goods in the
Philippines,” said Commissioner Guerrero.

The Customs chief also added that the upgrade is significant for the enhancement of the BOC’s non-
intrusive inspection of shipments using x-ray machines.

This measure has helped the BOC intensify its
campaign against illicit trade, resulting to the successful
apprehension of billion worth of illegal drugs.

In 2017, the BOC also installed 19 new x-ray
units in the three terminals of NAIA, including Davao
International Airport, and another seven (7) new hand-
carried x-ray units were installed in NAIA terminals in
2018.

At present, about 66 units of x-ray machines are
installed and operating in various airports and seaports
nationwide.

The installation of the x-ray machines will be
completed before the end of the year. (BOC)
QUEZON CITY -- The Department of Social Welfare
and Development (DSWD) is set to provide Emergency
Shelter Assistance (ESA) to families whose homes were
partially and totally damaged during the onslaught of
Tropical Depression Usman.

This was confirmed by DSWD spokesperson,
Assistant Secretary Glenda Relova as part of the relief
efforts of the government to help survivors to return to
their normal lives.

“Kapag maayos na ang mga lugar na binaha ay
bababa ang ating mga kawani sa DSWD upang magsagawa
ng komprehensibong assessment sa mga damages na
nakuha ng mga kabahayan dahil sa bagyo upang malaman
kung ito ay partially o totally damaged at upang mabigyan
sila ng emergency shelter assistance ng DSWD (Once
the weather condition returns to normal, personnel
from the DSWD will go to the affected areas to hold a
comprehensive assessment and determine if the damaged houses are partially or totally damaged. This will be the
basis for the amount of emergency shelter assistance that
the affected families will receive),” Asec. Relova said.

As of the latest report of the DSWD Disaster
Response Management Bureau (DRMB), there are
already 11,312 reported damaged houses in Regions
CALABARZON, MIMAROPA, V, and VIII which are set
to be assessed by the DSWD in coordination with their
respective local government units (LGUs).

The Department is also continuously delivering
food and non-food items to affected LGUs. It also
continues to conduct psychosocial interventions in
evacuation centers. Processing of financial aid for medical
and burial assistance is also ongoing in affected regions.

To date, aid given by the DSWD now amounts to
P30,932,864.94.

Meanwhile, Asec. Relova encouraged the public to work hand-in-hand with the government to intensify
relief efforts for the families affected by the recent
disasters.

“Hinihikayat po namin ang ating mga kababayan
na nais tumulong na pagsamahin ang ating mga efforts
para sa higit na mas sustenableng pagtulong sa ating mga
nangangailangang kababayan. Patuloy tayong makilahok
sa mga programa ng ating pamahalaan at magkaroon tayo
ng responsibilidad sa bawat isa dahil sa pamamaraang ito
mas ma-mimitigate natin ang magiging mga problema
natin sa kalamidad sa darating na panahon (We are
encouraging the public to work together and combine
our efforts in providing sustainable assistance to our
countrymen in need. We enjoin everyone to continue to
participate in government programs and to learn to take
responsibility for each other in order to lessen the impact
brought by disasters in the future),” she ended. (DSWD)
BOC installs 50 more x-ray units
DSWD to provide emergency shelter assistance to ‘Usman’ survivors
DepEd calls on gov’t, public to shift approach to disaster
risk reduction, management
PASIG CITY -- Following the onslaught of tropical
depression “Usman,” Department of Education (DepEd)
Secretary Leonor Magtolis Briones underscored that it is
high time for the government and the public to transform
the country’s approach to the reduction and management
of disaster risks in the face of a continuously changing
climate.

“In previous years, DepEd schools were damaged
by strong winds brought about by tropical cyclones [and]
we have been busy preparing for the perfect storm. In
Metro Manila, we are bracing for the perfect earthquake.
We better prepare for the perfect flood,” Briones stated.

Presenting the emerging challenges in disaster
risk reduction and mitigation before fellow members of
the Cabinet during a situation briefing last January 4 in
Pili, Camarines Sur, the Education chief remarked that
although “Usman” was technically described as a tropical
depression, its resulting floods and landslides left extensive
damage to school buildings and facilities in affected areas.
Repair and replacement of damaged facilities due to
“Usman,” typhoon “Ompong,” and typhoon “Rosita”
are estimated to use up DepEd’s entire P2-billion Quick
Response Fund (QRF) for 2019. She further emphasized
that such damage demands enormous budget for slope
protection, higher elevation, or transfer of building sites.
However, DepEd has funds for site titling but none for site
acquisition.

As floods and landslides happen with greater
frequency and inflict severe damage to property, facilities,
and equipment even without strong winds as measured by
warning system, the Secretary also called on the Cabinet
to consider the policy implication of this irreversible trend
and make the necessary recommendations to the President.
“We have seen this in Guinsaugon [Southern Leyte],
Biliran, Leyte, Quezon, Los Baños [Laguna], Cagayan de
Oro, and Iligan, as well as in Lanao del Norte,” she noted.

The Secretary further proposed the review of
protocols for government action before, during, and after
natural disasters – case in point is the public mindset of
relying on typhoon signals as basis for assessing potential
danger to life and property, which needs to be corrected
through sustained public communication and education.
She also highlighted the need to revisit the progress on
the proposed creation of a separate department on natural
disaster.

“The financial, organizational, and administrative
requirements for dealing with natural disasters cannot be
managed by the government alone. All sectors of society
have to be mobilized and activated to help ensure the safety
of lives and the continuity of education,” the Secretary
concluded. (DepEd)
EXTRA-JUDICIAL SETTLEMENT OF ESTATE WITH WAIVER OF
RIGHTS
Notice is hereby given that the estate of the late ROLANDO DIAMSE
DEQUIÑA, who died on February 22, 2017 in PARAÑAQUE DOCTORS
HOSPITAL, PARAÑAQUE CITY, leaving a parcel of land located at
LOT 10 BLK. 11 AVIDA RESIDENCES, BRGY. OF PALIPARAN,
MUNICIPALITY OF DASMARIÑAS, covered by Transfer Certificate
of Title No. T-1303315 containing a total area of ONE HUNDRED (100)
SQUARE METERS, respectively, of the register of Deeds of Mun. of
Cavite has been extra judicially settled by his heirs as per Doc. No. 273,
Page No. 55, Book No. LX, Series of 2018, Notary Public Atty. BRIAN
P. PELLAZAR.
Ang Caviteño
January 14, 21 & 28, 2019