Leyte, Philippines

The Department of Health (DOH) has confirmed one death in a possible typhoid fever outbreak in Matag-ob town in Leyte province.

Health units in the province had also recorded the cases of 40 people who had been experiencing on and off fever for the past several days.

The DOH has confirmed that contaminated water in the town was the reason for the cases of fever. The department has sent chlorine to treat the contaminated water.

Health authorities said the typhoid outbreak in the town has been controlled.

However, in Bato town, health authorities noted an increase in number of cases of cholera. From 81, it was increased by 19 more cases.

ABS-CBN News

Tacloban City  — The shores of Tanauan, Leyte is fast becoming known as a haven of ocean ambassadors, the sea turtles.

On May 21, another Olive Ridley sea turtle was guided towards the sea where it rightfully belongs and where other endangered sea turtles await, by Tanauan Mayor Roque Tiu, members of the Bantay Dagat, the fisherman who caught it, several members of the media and the staff of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.

It would be recalled that two Olive Ridley sea turtles were successively found by a local fisherman of Tanauan, in the first week of October 2007. Two weeks after, another sea turtle was found and returned to the sea after the DENR staff put a tag on the creatures.

Just recently, a big green sea turtle was found by a local fisherman and then less than one month later, the Olive Ridley sea turtle measuring 18 inches in width and 20 inches long was found and guided by towards its natural abode after being tagged by Mr. Tito Simbulan of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.

Asked to comment on the Tanauan shores as becoming to be known as a Haven for ocean ambassadors, Mayor Tiu said it is an honor to host the endangered species of sea turtles even as he gave the assurance that the officials and the people of the municipality will see to it that these creatures will be always be safe in their own rightful abode.

Mr. Simbulan said that scientists refer to sea turtles as the only living remnants of the dinosaur age, but maybe not for long. Unless sincere efforts are undertaken, sea turtles might follow dinosaurs into extinction.

There are more than 220 species of sea turtles, popularly known in the Philippines as pawikan, in the world, but only seven are considered marine (saltwater).

Five of these seven species are present in the Philippines. These are the Green (Chelonia mydas). Hawksbill (Eretmochelys imbricata), Loggerhead (Caretta caretta), Olive Ridley (Lepidochelys olivacea) and the Leatherback turtles (Dermochelys coriacea).

The most common species in the Philippines is the Green Sea Turtle, which is also found in all tropical and sub-tropical seas. Its most distinct feature is a more blunt and wider head than that of the Hawksbill Turtle. It grows up to 1.5 meters long and weighs up to 185 kilograms.

The largest species is the Leatherback Turtle, which grows more than two meters in length. The Hawksbill Turtle, as its name suggests, can be identified with its pointed beak and attractively marked shell of overlapping plates. On the other hand, the Loggerhead Turtle is known for its disproportionately bulky head. Of the five Philippine species, only the Olive Ridley Turtle is considered as carnivorous.

The olive ridley sea turtles, named for the olive color of its heart-shaped shell, are considered as the smallest marine turtles measuring only 2 to 2 ½ feet and weighing 35 to 40 kilos.

Mayor Tiu said that municipal government and the fishermen of Tanauan are aware that the Philippine government has launched the Pawikan Conservation Project which is aimed at securing the protection of all the Philippine Sea Turtles. The LGU is bent on doing its best to support and make this program a success, Mayor Tiu added. (PIA

Tacloban City  — The launching of “Paggalang sa Watawat” campaign on May 26, the National Flag Day on May 28 and the 110th Philippine Independence Day, were the issues discussed during Harampang Ha PIA conducted on May 26, 2008 at 1:30 in the afternoon.

Present to help enlighten the media and the televiewers about the issues in focus, were Dr. Alejandrito L. Yman, Regional Information Officer of the Department of Education Regional Office 8, DILG Leyte Provincial Director Jose P. Yee, Jr., and Mr. Myles Joseph Colasito, DILG Regional Information Officer.

PIA 8 Director Olive Tiu said that the Harampang Ha PIA edition on that day , had two aims: to get the support of the members of the tri media in the Region to help in the Paggalang sa Watawat Campaign and to promote public awareness of good citizenship values such as love of country, respect for the flag and the elderly and nationalism.

The Department of Education, Dr. Yman said has already received a Memorandum pertinent to the conduct of the Paggalang sa Watawat campaign, the National Flag Day and the Philippine Independence Day celebrations, in order to ensure the participation of all the schools in Region 8.

Director Yee disclosed that DILG has already issued two memo circulars to all the Local Government Units in Region 8, one is on the National Flag Day and the other one is on the celebration of the 110th Anniversary of Philippine Independence.

The members of the media present were informed on the prohibitions regarding the use of the flag and the National Anthem. Dr. Alejandrito Yman said that the students are taught to stand up straight and stop whenever the flag is being raised and while the Philippine National Anthem is being sang. They are also taught to tip off their hats.

Director Yee added that government employees both in the local government units and in the national agencies are also doing the same.

Unfortunately, there is a need to remind the public to do the same and to make them realize that the flag is the symbol of the country’s independence and freedom from foreign invasion.

That is one way of showing respect and reverence to the flag. The flag must not be faded or tattered. No one is allowed to trample the flag. The flag must not be used as drapery, costume, handkerchief or hats.

Director Yee said that the tattered or torn flags must not be thrown or buried. They are discreetly burned.

A member of the media observed that during several rallies of militant groups, the red part of the flag is up and not the blue one. He asked who should reprimand these people. Director Yee said that it is only when the country is at war that the red portion is up and the blue down. The Philippine National police is the agency responsible for the reprimand of such act, he said.

Director Tiu informed the group about Republic Act 8491 which is known as an Act Prescribing the Code of the National Flag, Anthem, Motto, Coat of Arms and other Heraldic Items and Devices of the Philippines. She said that this law provides the guides on how to show respect and reverence for the flag, among others. (PIA

Tacloban City — Amidst the controversies surrounding the new law on juveniles, Republic Act No. 9344, otherwise known as the “Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act of 2006″, the recently concluded convention of the Probation and Parole Officers League of the Philippines, Inc. (PPOLPI) in Metro Manila revolved around the theme “Embracing Children in Conflict with the Law: A New PPA Challenge.”

Under Section 42 of RA 9344, “the court may, after it shall have convicted and sentenced a CICL, and upon application at any time, place the child on probation in lieu of service of his/her sentence…” With this new mandate of PPA-DOJ, probation and parole officers throughout the country were updated on the law during the one-day training held at Bayview Park Hotel, Manila.

DSWD Undersecretary Alicia R. Bala gave the “Situationer on CICL” while UP, Philippine General Hospital Consultant Dr. Norieta Calma Balderrama discussed the “Psycho-Dynamics of and Interventions for CICL.” Atty. Aberto T. Muyot, UNICEF Child Protection Specialist, on the other hand, tackled the Latest Rulings and Updates on RA 9344.

According to Dr. Bala, there is an existing high rate of CICL incidence in urbanized cities especially those in Regions 11, 10, 7 and 3, which ranked next to NCR, consecutively.

Dr. Bala likewise mentioned the following issues, which confront the implementation of the law: 1.) limited number of detention homes; 2.) limited number of foster families; 3.) limited knowledge about the law of various stakeholders; and 4.) general perception that the law would allow children to commit offense and that they could be used by syndicates in the commission of crimes. But she pointed out that based on the data gathered from PNP and BJMP, there has been a significant decrease in CICL incidence since the passage of the law.

Atty. Muyot, on the other hand, emphasized that the age of criminal responsibility of a CICL is reckoned on the day after the 15th birthday of the child such that even if he is only 15 years and 1 day old at the time of the commission of the offense, he is already criminally liable.

Another speaker during the training is Mr. Rodrigo G. Cornejo, Special Assistant to the President and Head, Community Relations, GMA Network (Channel 7). He handled the topic “Role of Media in Raising Public Awareness on CICL,” which he capsulized into the following:

1) to make the public aware; 2) to make the public beware; 3) to discourage the youth from committing such offenses; and 4) to remind parents and guardians of their responsibility. He encouraged PPA-DOJ to have a regular forum with the media regarding CICL.

The training was part of the program of activities during the 11th National Convention, 9th Training Institute and 4th Physical Fitness and Sports Olympiad of PPOLPI attended by around 500 delegates from the different regions in the country.

The Region 8 delegation was led by Regional Director Arturo O. Gabrieles, Assistant Regional Director Josefina N. Singco and PPOLPI Chapter President Jesus C. Berongoy. (PIA)