San Jose, Antique – Disease surveillance activities have been intensified provincewide following onslaughts of typhoon Frank, especially in evacuation centers where source of potable water supply has been affected and the sanitary environmental conditions would likely occur due to over congestion in living quarters.
Provincial Health Officer In Charge Dante Debit said among barangays hardest hit by the recent calamity were San Pedro in San Jose, the capital town, barangays Bugo, Bagumbayan, San Rafael, Trinidad, Sitio Durog- Iguirindon and Cadolonan in San Remigio and Minoro-Tica in Bugasong, the source said.
A total of 343 barangays, 25,883 families and 35,652 persons were reportedly affected, DSWD/PDCC data showed.
Nebit has enjoined affected families to boil their drinking water if they are in doubt of water source/supply. Affected residents were likewise oriented on the chlorination process to treat their drinking water, the source pointed out.
Observance of personal/community hygiene, including the use of sanitary toilets to combat spread of diseases have been part of surveillance and health advocacy, Nebit explained.
PHO forewarned the affected sectors and individuals to refrain from consuming contaminated food especially coming from drowned animals to avoid food poisoning.
Likewise, school buildings used as evacuation centers are thoroughly sanitized to make classroom conducive to learning and to safeguard the health of pupils, students and teachers.
Nebit further pointed out that disease surveillance, vaccination/immunization for measles, oral polio vaccines (OPV), vitamin A for children 6 months to five years old and distribution of sodium hypochlorite for water treatment have been sustained to ward off disease outbreak.
The personnel fromDOH-Central Office – National Epidemiology Center came over last June 26 to assist the Provincial Health Office in disease surveillance activities. So far no disease outbreak has been monitored or reported in the province, Nebit concluded. (EA Abasquez/PIA).
‘Frank’ affected families move on with support from government, private sectors
San Jose, Antique – “Typhoon Frank was over, but it left many families homeless with source of livelihood destroyed and worst some even lost their loved ones. These families have to move on with support from government, non-government organizations and private sectors”, said Lazaro Petinglay, Provincial Social Welfare and Development Officer.
PSWDO reported that ‘Frank’ has affected 26,199 families, in 352 barangays leaving 13,065 houses damaged with 41 deaths, 33 injured and 60 still missing, in Antique.
Relief goods was given to affected families by various sources/donors with the hope of alleviating the situation of victims who are in evacuation centers and in shelters of relatives and friends, said Petinglay.
The disaster management team of the province is also on the process of preparing financial assistance to bereaved families and victims of recent disaster. Stress debriefing were also conducted by social workers to help victims cope with trauma and nightmares and keep them optimistic of the future despite their present situation, said the source.
Long term plans for rehabilitation include, core shelter program, food for work and livelihood assistance.
In Agriculture, Nick Calawag, Provincial Agriculturist reported damaged in crops in the total amount of P164,834,671.00 and P62,341,248.00 for fisheries. Damaged crops include rice, corn, banana, peanuts and other vegetables with 8,551 affected farmers. For poultry and livestock, a total amount of P28,979,985.00 was reported damaged including deaths and missing farm animals like cattles, carabaos, goats, swine and poultry, said Dr. Romeo Magdato Provincial Veterinarian.
Damages in irrigation facilities summed up to P50 million for Communal Irrigation Systems and Sibalom San Jose Irrigation System which affected more than 1,600 farmers in about 5,000 hectares of farmlands, reported Engrs. Jose Oredina and Jose Estaris Jr of the National Irrigation Administration.
Rehabilitation plan for Agriculture include alternative livelihood program for affected farmers, provision of soft loans/interest free loans, rehabilitation of damaged farms, and structures (irrigation systems), provision of seeds (rice and vegetables), provision of farm implements and working animals, among others.
For schools, 86 classrooms were reported damaged, according to Corazon Brown, Schools Division Superintendent with textbooks, computers and other schools supplies and materials in the total amount of P42.55 million.
For roads and Bridges, DWPH and PDCC reported more than P120 million worth of damages in national and provincial roads and bridges. Extent of damage include road cuts, slips/depression, landslides, flooding, washed out surfaced materials, pavement and damage in bridges which affected the rescue and relief operations during the calamity.
PSWDO Petinglay enjoined everyone whether in government, private sector or even in individual capacities to help families/victims of the recent disaster move on with their life, reconstructing remnants of the typhoon, building new houses, having decent livelihood activities determined to embrace a bright future. (PS Mabaquiao/PIA)
Philippine Information Agency
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