Dengue cases in Calabarzon up 124%

Fogging operations in Barangay Tambo, Lipa City. (photo by Barangay Capt. Joel Katigbak)

 

Lipa City, Batangas – The Department of Health (DOH)- CALABARZON (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, Quezon) reported an increase of 124 percent, higher than the reported cases during the same period in 2021.

DOH-Calabarzon Regional Director Ariel Valencia said all provinces in CALABARZON have recorded an upward trend in dengue cases due to the rainy season and increased mobility.

“Patuloy ang pagtaas ng cases natin sa dengue, dahil parin sa patuloy na mga pag-ulan at ang pagtaas ng mobility dahil sa economic activity,” Valencia said.

He added that CALABARZON posted 11,842 dengue cases which is 124 percent higher than the 5, 287 cases recorded during the same period last year.

There were 19 deaths recorded. Data also showed that the primary age group affected by dengue ranged from 1 to 10 years old.

Laguna province logged the highest number of cases at 3,705 followed by Rizal with 2,554; Cavite with 2, 077; Quezon 1, 799; Batangas with 1, 599; and Lucena with 108.

DOH encouraged residents to take the necessary precautions as cases continue to rise since the rainy season is not over.

“Nananawagan ako sa lahat ng mga residente na gawin ang lahat ng mga pag-iingat para maiwasan natin ang paghantong sa epidemic,” Valencia said.

“Ngayong nagsimula na ang face-to-face classes, pinaalalahanan din natin ang mga guro na gawin ang mga kaukulang hakbang para maprotektahan natin ang mga bata habang nasa loob ng paaralan,” he advised.

Before the opening of classes last August 22, DOH CALABARZON in collaboration with the Department of Education has launched the “Para sa Henerasyong Healthy, Balik Sigla sa Pagbalik Eskwela” in selected schools in CALABARZON.

The campaign highlights the school-based Dengue Awareness Campaign with 4S strategy, 7 healthy habits, COVID-19 vaccination, and Konsultayo campaigns of the DOH.

DOH Calabarzon has distributed anti-dengue and other vector control supplies to schools and the Local Government Units , highlighting the ceremonial installation of Olyset nets.

The DOH likewise reiterated its reminder to the public to follow the 4S strategy, referring to search and destroy breeding places, secure self-protection, seek early consultation, and support fogging or spraying in hotspot areas to prevent an outbreak.

Dengue is transmitted through the bite of a female mosquito (Aedes aegypti). Symptoms include a sudden onset of fever with severe headache, severe pain behind the eyes, muscle and joint pain, rash, easy bruising, and nose or gum bleeding.

 

Batelec 2 lowers power rates in August

Lipa City, Batangas – Batangas Electric Cooperative 2 (Batelect 2) will lower electricity rates this August.

In a statement released on the cooperative’s official Facebook page on August 20, the management of Batelec 2 said that the electricity bill for residential consumers will decrease from P14.0649 per kilowatt hour in July 2022 to P14.0506 per kWh this August 2022.

The charge to commercial consumers will also decrease from the previous P13.6805 per kilowatt hour in July 2022 to P13.6850 per kWh this August 2022.

Meanwhile, it is estimated that residential consumers will be reduced by P0.0142 per kilowatt hour while commercial – low voltage consumers will be reduced by P0.0045 per kWh.

According to Batelec, there was a slight decrease in the residential rate for the month of August 2022 caused by the blending of the new power supplier of BATELEC II which lowered the price Generation cost.

Batelec also explained that the generation charge is a pass-through charge and Batelec only acts as a collector of the said fee.

The cooperative continues to remind consumers to be prudent in the use of electricity. (Marlon Luistro)

Election Protest vs Calaca Mayor Ona, dismissed by the court

Former Vice Mayor Renante Macalindong (left) has filed an election protest against Calaca Mayor Nas Ona (right) but it was dismissed by the court. (Marlon Luistro).

Calaca, Batangas – The Balayan Regional Trial Court dismissed yesterday the election protest filed by former Vice Mayor Renante Macalindong against Calaca Mayor Sofronio Leonardo “Nas” Ona.

In a two-page resolution issued by Presiding Judge Cristino Judit of the Balayan Regional Trial Court Branch 10, he said there is no “substantial recovery” that can be established from the pilot clustered protested precincts to merit the continuation of counting the remaining contested precincts.

“With that in mind, the Court is very much disposed and has all the reason to dismiss the protest without any further proceedings,” said Judit in his decision.

The Comelec earlier proclaimed Ona as the winning candidate for mayor of Calaca in the last May 2022 election after Ona got 31,285 votes against competitor Macalindong who got 21,305 votes, with a margin of 9,980 votes.

But Macalindong filed a protest to request a recount of the vote in the contested precincts.

Under Section 4, Rule 10 of the 2022 interim amendments to the 2010 rules of procedure for municipal election contests by the Supreme Court that the pilot clustered protested precincts which shall not be less than and nearest to 20 percent of the total number of protested precincts that will best illustrate the merits of the protest “shall be subject of an initial recount of the ballots.”

Macalindong seeks to establish a substantial recovery of 1,996 votes from Ona’s total margin.

Based on the submitted revision reports, 184 ballots were considered stray and from the said ballots, 14 were claimed by Macalindong while 21 were claimed by Ona.

Based on the physical count of the revision committees, Macalindong got 14 ballots while Ona got a gain of 17 ballots.

Because of this, according to the judge, even assuming that the protestant can only recover 28 ballots and the actual gain based on the physical count, he can only recover 28 ballots, which is “way below than the intended substantial recovery needed”

Worse, with the same assumption afforded accordingly, Ona can recover 38 ballots which will actually widen the overall vote lead.

“Based on the above determination, it is correct to state that there can be no substantial recovery that could be established from the pilot clustered protested precincts to merit the continuation of the revision of the remaining contested precincts,” said Judge Judit in his decision.

“With that in mind, the Court is very much disposed and has all the reason to dismiss the protest without any further proceedings,” he added.

Mayor Ona was elated with the court’s decision.

“Let’s continue with proper governance and the continued development of our beloved Calaca! And to my political opponents, let’s just focus on the development of our town and move on. The election is over and it’s time to to work for the betterment of our people,” said Ona speaking in Filipino, in a message posted on his official Facebook page on August 22.

Macalindong’s camp has yet to comment on the said decision.

Batangas will remain on Alert Level 1 until August 31 – DOH

Metro Manila. Philippines — Batangas province and four other areas in Calabarzon will continue to be under Alert Level 1 status, along with dozens of other regions and areas from August16 to 31, the Department of Health (DOH) announced on August 19.

Also under Alert Level 1 status are the provinces of Cavite, Laguna, Rizal and Lucena City.

Likewise, Quezon province remains on Alert Level 2.

The average daily attack rate and total bed utilization of an area were used as the basis for setting the said alert level.

DOH-Calabarzon Center for Health Development data reported on Sunday 50 new cases, bringing the total number of active cases in the region to 3,882. Two more deaths were reported, increasing the death toll to 13,692.

On the other hand, there were 148 new recoveries reported, leading to a total of 505,046 recovered COVID patients since the start of the pandemic more than two years ago.

So far, Calabarzon has 522,620 total COVID cases.

In Friday’s press briefing , DOH officer-in-charge Maria Rosario Vergeire told that as of August 18 at least 72.3 million Filipinos have already been fully vaccinated against COVID19.

About 6.8 million senior citizens have been vaccinated while more than 9.8 million adolescents as well a 4.5 million have been fully vaccinated, she added.

Also, more than 17.3 million individuals have had their first booster dose while more than 1.9 million Filipinos have received their second dose.

P144.3 M-worth shabu shipment seized in NAIA

Manila, Philippines – Authorities led by the led by the Bureau of Customs (BOC) Port of Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) have seized a shipment of methamphetamine hydrochloride, commonly known as shabu, leading to the arrest of a South African courier at the NAIA in Pasay City on August 19.

Agents from BOC NAIA, together with the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) and the NAIA Inter-Agency Anti-Illegal Drugs Task Group have monitored the courier’s travels from South Africa and Qatar until his arrival at NAIA.

The passenger’s luggage was subjected to K9 sweeping and X-ray scanning, resulting in the discovery of 21,215 kilos of shabu in his possession.

The suspect is now under investigation in the custody of the PDEA and eventual inquest for violation of Republic Act No. 9165, or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, and RA 10863 also known as the Customs Modernization And Tariff Act (CMTA).

Army-NPA clash once again in Lobo

Lobo, Batangas – Another encounter between military forces and at least 10 members of the rebel New People’s Army occurred at Kulapihan site, Barangay Pinaghawanan here on Thursday afternoon, the 59th Infantry Battalion (IB) Philippine Army said.

No casualties from the military side were reported after the gunfire which lasted for 20 minutes.

The military said it seized from the encounter site various war equipment such as an M16 rifle, IED and explosive devices, bandoliers with magazines and high ammunition counts as well as bags with personal and other war items.

Residents told the soldiers that there were wounded rebels.

Presently, the 59th IB said they continue to conduct Focus Military operations.

They continue to coordinate with police personnel and the local government of Lobo with regard to the incident.

“Once again the leadership of 59IB is calling the terrorist CPP-NPA-NDF to return to the government before it reaches to the point that you are the one’s being visited in a wake. Just surrender before it’s too late for you,” the 59th IB told the rebel forces in its Facebook post.

 

 

Motorcycle rider killed in Bauan road mishap

Bauan, Batangas – A motorcycle rider here died after accidentally hitting a post in Barangay Manghinao Uno here on Thursday evening, police said.

Police identified the victim as Edgar Anonuevo, a resident of Barangay Mataas na Lupa in the neighboring San Pascual town.

Initial police investigation said at about 8:35 pm, the victim, who then was under the influence of liquor, was on his way home aboard his driven Rusi motorcycle when he accidentally buped and hit a concrete post.

Because of this, the driver fell down on the road and sustained injuries on different body parts.

The victim was immediately rushed to Bauan General Hospital but was declared dead on arrival by Dr. Winston Ilagan.

The doctor said he died of hypovolemic shock due to blood traumatic brain injury loss secondary to vehicular accident.

Hypovolemic shock refers to an emergency condition in which severe blood or other fluid loss makes the heart unable to pump enough blood to the body.

COVID cases in Calabarzon, down 14% in 1 week

Calamba City, Laguna – The number of active cases in the Calabarzon Region dropped to 3,695 as of August 18, according to the Department of Health (DOH).

That’s 14 percent less than the 4,299 active cases recorded by the health department on August 11.

The number of people who have recovered from COVID has also reached 504,078, which is higher by 0.77 percent compared to the 500,180 recoveries recorded on August 11.

The number of deaths from the disease likewise increased by 36 from 13,649 to 13,685.

To sum up, the total number of COVID cases in the region has reached 521,458 since the pandemic began more than two years ago.

Cavite province has the most active cases of COVID-19 with 1,094, followed by Laguna (1,364) and Batangas (657), respectively.

Quezon has the fourth most active cases with 294, followed by Rizal with 248 while the city of Lucena has the least number of active cases in the region with 38.

Just this August 17th, as he had his second booster vaccination, President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Jr. called. to the public to join the government’s COVID-19 booster rollout.

The president said the booster will help open the economy and prevent harmful lockdowns.

In his message at the launch of the PinasLakas Vaccination Campaign at SM City Manila, Marcos emphasized the importance of getting vaccinated with a booster shot in the midst of the threat of COVID-19 and its infectious variants.

He said this is a big step to address the problems facing the country’s economy and recover from the negative effects of the pandemic.

 

Woman shot dead by live-in partner in San Jose

 

San Jose, Batangas – A 33-year-old woman died after she was gunned down by her live-in partner on Sunday dawn.

Police identified the victim as Rona May Coranez, a resident of Barangay Lalayat.

Initial police investigation said at about 4:20 pm, the victim and her partner, also a suspect, Bin Nazzer Aguila had a heated confrontation until the latter shot the victim on her head.

Coranarez was rushed at the Metro San Jose Medical Center but she was pronounced dead on arrival at about 4:20 am.

Police investigators cited jealousy as possible motive for the killing based on the statements by the victim’s relatives.

They have already launched a manhunt operation against the suspect who immediately escaped aboard Mitsubishi Lancer (Plate No. UAE-319) towards Lipa City direction after the killing.

6 volcanic tremors, 3,000-meter-high plume recorded in Taal Volcano

Talisay, Batangas – The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) said on Saturday that six volcanic tremors and a 3000-meter tall plume was recorded in the Taal Volcano for the past 24 hours.

In its 8 a.m. bulletin issued today, Phivolcs said the volcanic tremors lasted three to seven minutes.

A 3,000-meter or 3-kilometer tall “voluminous” plume had been emitted from the volcano.

It was expected to drift north, northeast, and southwest of the volcano’s main crater.

Phivolcs said Taal’s sulfur dioxide or SO2 emission averaged 13,572 tons per day when it was last measured on Aug. 11.

The upwelling of hot volcanic fluids also continued, causing volcanic smog or “vog” over the Taal Volcano and neighboring communities.

Likewise, Taal Volcano remained under Alert Level 1, which means it was still in an abnormal condition and “should not be interpreted to have ceased unrest nor ceased the threat of eruptive activity.”

Should an uptrend or pronounced change in monitored parameters forewarn of renewed unrest, Phivolcs said “the Alert Level may be raised back to Alert Level 2.”

“Conversely, should there be a return of monitoring parameters to baseline levels after a sufficient observation period, the Alert Level will be further lowered to Alert Level 0,” it further said.

Under Alert Level 1, sudden steam-driven or phreatic explosions, volcanic earthquakes, minor ashfall and lethal accumulations or expulsions of volcanic gas can occur and threaten areas within the Taal Volcano Island (TVI).

“Phivolcs strongly recommends that entry into TVI, Taal’s permanent danger zone or PDZ, especially the vicinities of the main crater and the Daang Kastila fissure, must remain strictly prohibited,” it said.