Day: April 13, 2024

MANILA: Malaria cases in the country almost doubled in 2023 and the Department of Health (DOH) believes that climate change contributed to the uptick.

Latest data from the DOH Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM) showed that about 6,248 cases were recorded in 2023 or 90 percent higher than the 3,245 cases posted in 2022. Of these cases, 11 deaths were reported and still under investigation.

“While the cases and deaths have significantly decreased over the past decade, comparing 2022 and 2023, the cases doubled,” DOH Disease Intervention and Prevention Bureau medical officer Kim Patrick Tejano said in a media Kapihan forum on Friday.

Tejano noted that while several factors contributed to the increase, climate change is being considered one of the major reasons.

“Kung makikita po natin ‘yung pattern ng pag-ulan nung nakaraan sa Palawan, as early as January, February, nakaka-experience po sila ng bagyo, nagkakaroon pa ng maraming (If we look at the pattern of rain last time in Palawan, as early as
January, February, they were experiencing typhoons, there was an increase in) streams or breeding sites of anopheles mosquito,” he explained.

Another reason that can be factored into the increase is the lifting of the restrictions imposed during the pandemic.

This provided access to areas where active transmission of malaria cases is present, Tejano said, adding that 684,735 individuals nationwide are now at risk of malaria.

A total of 72 provinces, however, have been declared malaria-free.

Of the 82 provinces, Palawan remains the only province with active cases. It reported a total of 6,188 malaria cases last year.

“Palawan and the City of Puerto Princesa are the remaining areas with active malaria transmission,” Tejano said.

Malaria is a life-threatening disease caused by parasites transmitted through bites of infected female Anopheles mosquitoes on people.

Its symptoms include chills, fever, and sweating, which may repeat every two or three days.

Globally, there are 249 million cases of malaria wit
h 608,000 deaths in 2022.

About 96 percent of malaria deaths were reported in 29 countries, including the Philippines.

Children five years old and below comprise the vulnerable group affected by it.

Malaria is curable and preventable.

The DOH encourages targeted testing and treatment for malaria, which must be directly observed and supervised, with smear examination follow-up to ensure complete parasitological clearance.

Moreover, the DOH provides long-lasting insecticidal nets and materials for indoor residual spraying in malaria-afflicted areas.

Source: Philippines News Agency

LAOAG CITY: Fully grown marijuana plants with a total estimated value of PHP7.5 million were destroyed in Sugpon, Ilocos Sur over the weekend.

Joel Plaza, Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency Region 1 (Ilocos) Director, said 37,700 marijuana plants were uprooted from seven plantation sites on Friday and Saturday.

The first five plantation sites, with a total land area of 4,200 square meters in Sitio Tangilig and worth about PHP5.3 million, were discovered on Friday.

Two more plantations were discovered on Saturday, valued at PHP2.2 million, Plaza said.

Officers of PDEA Ilocos Norte and Ilocos Sur, Regional Mobile Force Battalion and police stations in the towns of Sugpon, Cervantes, Suyo, Sigay, Lidlidda, Tagudin, San Emilio, Nagbukel, Galimuyod, Salcedo, and Gregorio del Pilar conducted the operations.

‘Law enforcement agencies stand united, determined, and vigilant in safeguarding our communities against the menace of narcotics,’ Brig. Gen. Lou F. Evangelista, chief of the police regional office, said.

S
ource: Philippines News Agency

MANILA: Malacañang on Saturday said it followed due process when it ordered the 60-day preventive suspension of Davao del Norte Governor Edwin Jubahib.

The Office of the President (OP) made a thorough assessment of the administrative complaint filed by Board Member (BM) Orly Amit against Jubahib, according to a statement by Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin, who signed the suspension order on April 8.

Bersamin said Jubahib was ordered suspended ‘to prevent any undue interference in the conduct of the investigation.’

Amit filed the complaint against Jubahib on Nov. 24, 2022 for grave abuse of authority and oppression in connection with last year’s barangay (village) elections.

‘The OP found that the complaint sufficiently alleged grave abuse of authority and oppression on the part of Gov. Jubahib in connection with the recall of BM Amit’s service vehicle without legal basis,’ he said.

‘Secondly, the preventive suspension of Gov. Jubahib was ordered only after the issues were joined in accordance with Sec
tion 63 (a) of Republic Act No. 7160 (Local Government Code) and Sections 1 and 4, Rule 6 of Administrative Order No. 23 series of 1992 (rules and procedures on the investigation of administrative disciplinary cases),’ Bersamin added.

Bersamin said the OP ‘remains committed to ensuring transparency and fairness in all administrative proceeding.’

The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) on Thursday served the suspension order, but Jubahib refused to heed the directive, which he dismissed as ‘harassment, injustice and power tripping.’

DILG Secretary Benjamin Abalos Jr. said the order followed the lodging of an administrative complaint filed by ‘various parties’ against Jubahib for ‘alleged misuse of authority, potential oppression, and the utilization of government funds to advance the interests of a private company.’

Source: Philippines News Agency

ANKARA: World oil production rose by more than 0.4 percent, or around 410,000 barrels per day (bpd), to nearly 102.35 million bpd in March, with a recovery in the US production, according to the International Energy Agency’s (IEA) latest report on Friday.

According to the energy agency’s Oil Market Report for March, crude oil production by the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) increased by approximately 110,000 bpd in March to 27.05 million bpd.

The group’s total oil production reached approximately 32.51 million bpd over the same period.

Daily oil production in non-OPEC countries rose by 410,000 bpd in March to an estimated 69.84 million bpd as production recovered from steep North American weather-related losses in January.

‘The United States and Canada accounted for 200,000 bpd of the monthly gains, while output in China and Norway rose by 60,000 bpd and 40,000 bpd, respectively,’ the report said.

According to the report, world oil demand growth continues to lose momentum with the f
irst quarter of 2024 growth of 1.6 million bpd, 120,000 bpd below the previous forecast due to exceptionally weak OECD deliveries.

‘With the post-COVID rebound now largely complete, and vehicle efficiencies and an expanding EV fleet acting as further drags on oil demand, growth in 2024 and 2025 slows to 1.2 million bpd and 1.1 million bpd, respectively,’ the IEA said.

The agency predicts that this year’s global oil demand will be 103.17 million bpd, up almost 1.21 million bpd from the previous year.

Demand is expected to increase by 1.14 million bpd to 104.31 million bpd next year.

Source: Philippines News Agency

MANILA: New Zealand’s Katie Sadlier and Meile Rose Green foiled the quarterfinal aspiration of local duo Gen Eslapor and Kly Orillaneda with a 21-18, 16-21, 15-12 win in the FIVB Volleyball World Beach Pro Tour Futures at Nuvali Sand Courts in Santa Rosa City, Laguna on Saturday.

The Philippine Air Force spikers managed to secure the second set but fell behind early in the decider as the New Zealand pair claimed victory after 55 minutes.

‘It was mostly because of our errors. We gave them some crucial points and it’s disappointing because we knew we could pull it off. We just didn’t execute,’ Orillaneda said in an interview.

‘We need to be able to convert points in transition,’ Eslapor added.

Sadlier and Green, who scored a 24-26, 21-13, 15-4 victory over Latvians Rezija Puškundze and Loreta Cabule of Latvia in the Round of 12, will be up next against Germans Chenoa Christ and Anna-Lena Grne.

The other Filipino pair of Alexa Polidario and Jenny Gaviola also bowed out of the competition with a 10-21, 7-21
loss to Lithuania’s Marija Karaliute and Urte Andriukaityte.

In other preliminary results, Thailand’s Charanrutwadee Patcharamainaruebhorn and Woranatchayakorn Phirachayakrailert rallied past Canada’s Devon May and Kaitlin Lomas, 19-21, 21-18, 15-7; and Japan’s Harumi Sakai and Mayu Kikuchi clobbered Malaysia’s Mashitah Muhama Nasir and Shamsulrizal Nur Auni Maisarah, 21-10, 21-8.

Meanwhile, Thailand’s Banlue Nakprakhong and Wichaya Wisetkan booted out the Philippines’ AJ Pareja and Ran Abdilla in men’s play, 21-12, 21-17.

Yusuf Özdemir and Batuhan Kuru of Turkey trounced New Zealand’s James Sadlier and Juraj Krajci, 21-13, 21-15; Germany’s Philipp Huster and Bennet Poniewaz downed Japan’s Ryo Tatsumi and Shiro Furuta, 21-11, 21-14; and Hungarians Csanád Petik and Domonkos Dóczi defeated compatriots Bence Tari and Bence Attila Stréli, 21-18, 21-14.

The tournament, featuring 38 teams from 16 countries, is supported by the Philippine Sports Commission and Philippine Olympic Committee.

Source: Philippines
News Agency

BACOLOD CITY: At least 1,102 personnel from various security forces and force multiplier groups led by the Philippine National Police (PNP) were deployed Saturday to secure the Panaad Sa Negros Festival on April 15 to 21.

Negros Occidental’s “festival of all festivals,” whose name is derived from the Hiligaynon word Panaad, which means vow or promise, is held yearly at Panaad Park and Stadium in Barangay Mansilingan, this city.

Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson and Col. Rainerio de Chavez, officer-in-charge of the Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office (NOCPPO), led the send-off ceremony from the police headquarters’ grandstand.

In his message, Lacson said the role of the PNP is critical in ensuring public safety as the province has set more activities, including band concerts and major competitions, for a larger celebration and anticipates a significant influx of people.

“We are looking at several thousands of Negrenses and tourists attending the festival. As such, we want our festival-goers not only to b
e safe but to feel safe as well to be able to truly enjoy what we have prepared for them,” he added.

Lt. Col. Joem Malong, NOCPPO deputy director for operations and commander of Panaad 2024 Site Task Group, said that with thorough security preparations, they see not just a successful, but even better staging of the festival this year.

“We have carefully prepared the security plan and already implemented its initial phases,” she added.

The security personnel are assigned to maintain peace and order, manage traffic congestion, control crowds, and provide security at each event.

A gun ban will also be enforced in the entire Negros Occidental from 12:01 a.m of April 15 to 11:59 p.m. of April 21.

During this period, all permits to carry firearms outside of residence will be suspended.

The Panaad Festival’s main feature is the showcase of the themed pavilions of the 32 local government units, including highly-urbanized Bacolod City, designed as replicas of their municipal or city halls or the products they ar
e known for.

Among the major events are the Best of Festival Dances Competition after the grand opening on Monday afternoon, the Panaad Trade Fair and the Lin-ay Sang Negros beauty pageant.

Now on its 28th edition, this year’s Panaad Sa Negros Festival is themed ‘Living the Promise.’

Source: Philippines News Agency