Tacloban City residents take advantage of
Diskwento Caravan
(TACLOBAN CITY, Leyte) Enduring the scorching
sun, thousands of typhoon victims lined up as the Department of Trade and
Industry (DTI) again organized a Diskwento Caravan Wednesday.
Eight trucks coming from Cebu City arrived here
loaded with basic commodities such as bread, canned goods, water, hygiene
products, laundry detergents, among others.
The caravan, for the first time, also offered
hardware materials such as light bulbs, nails, and GI sheets to help typhoon
Yolanda victims in rebuilding their houses.
Price of GI sheets varies depending on sizes.
They are being sold at P170 (8 ft.); P210 (10 ft.) and P250 (12 ft.).
DTI representative from Biliran Ronald Napales
said the prices of GI sheets are much cheaper than those being sold outside
Tacloban City.
"In Dulag I heard that GI sheets are being
sold at 500 pesos," he said.
Products being sold at the caravan are 5 percent
cheaper than the market price.
The caravan, with various private companies
participating, was held at the RTR Plaza from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
It was organized by the DTI to help typhoon
victims by selling basic goods at low prices.
DTI OIC Regional Director Stanley Tabiando said
they are looking for other areas to hold longer caravans that will help the
people here until the resumption of business establishments. PND (jb)
Government conducts dental, medical missions in Tacloban
(TACLOBAN CITY, Leyte) Ensuring the health of
typhoon victims housed in evacuation centers, the Philippine Army alongside the
Japan Disaster Relief-Self Defense Forces (JDR-SDF) Units held dental and
medical missions here Wednesday.
"We have started the dental and medical
mission at 9 a.m.," said AFP Major Luther Punzalan of the 8th Infantry
Division.
Punzalan said they are offering extraction and
consultation services for the evacuees who are temporarily housed at Tacloban
City Convention Center.
The AFP dental team assisted at least 27
patients as of 11a.m. There were also doctors treating evacuees with ailments
and minor wounds. The government earlier assured enough supply of medicines to
assist typhoon victims.
Punzalan said they will be visiting other 31
evacuation centers in Tacloban to give free medical and dental aid to affected
families.
The Japan Disaster Relief Forces, meanwhile,
offered free immunization for measles, oral polio, and vitamins and health
supplements for the evacuees.
Tetsuro Amano, minister and deputy chief of the
Mission Consul General, said they have deployed four doctors to administer the
vaccination.
Amano said they are expecting more than 200
evacuees who will avail of the free medical services.
"We give vaccinations to children ages 5
months old up to 6 years old," he said.
This activity was in coordination with the World
Health Organization, United Nations and the Department of Health. PND (jb)
More hospitals open in Tacloban City
(TACLOBAN CITY, Leyte) Three weeks after super
typhoon "Yolanda" ravaged this city, eight hospitals are now fully
operational and are ready to treat various medical conditions.
DOH Assistant Secretary Paulyn Rosell-Ubial said
of the eight hospitals, five are tertiary level, which offers operation
services; and three primary level hospitals that accept outpatients but do not
perform operations.
The five tertiary-level hospitals are: Eastern
Visayas Medical Center, RTR Medical Center, St. Paul's Hospital, Bethany
Hospital and field hospitals of the Australians located near the airport.
The three primary-level hospitals, meanwhile,
are the Mother of Mercy Hospital, Tacloban Doctors Hospital and Tacloban City
Hospital.
For those patients who need major operations
with sophisticated facilities, the DOH refers them to the Chinese hospital ship
"Peace Ark", which arrived in the country last Sunday.
"Now, we don't need to airlift patients to
Cebu and Manila if they need major operations," Ubial said.
She noted medical practitioners and specialists
from St. Lukes Hospital, Makati Medical Center and DOH hospitals in Manila have
volunteered in some hospitals here to render medical aid to typhoon victims.
As of the latest report, Ubial said there were
two persons who died due to neonatal tetanus.
"As much as possible, we refer all pregnant
mothers to give birth in hospitals to avoid recorded two neonatal tetanus due
to unsterile conditions," she said.
The two pregnant women allegedly gave birth in a
market place while the other in a house.
"I hope we can work together to move our
pregnant women to safer facilities," Ubial said.
Ubial also said that they have referred other
tetanus cases outside Tacloban – two in Cebu and two in Manila.
She also reported one person who died due to
leptospirosis and 13 other suspected cases.
Aside from tetanus, the DOH is also keeping tab
on dengue cases.
"Tacloban is endemic to dengue. Since
January to August, there are 3,000 reported dengue cases in Tacloban but now we
have no reported case yet that's why we are wary of it," said Ubial.
The DOH has 12 fogging machines designed to kill
adult mosquitoes. Three machines will be used in Tacloban and nine in Leyte.
The DOH also launched mass vaccination on
measles here and in Leyte.
Ubial said the DOH medical teams are also ready
to visit remote islands to distribute medicines and provide medical aid to
typhoon victims. PND (jb)
President Aquino approves Yolanda recovery,
rehab plan 'in principle'
President Benigno S. Aquino III on Wednesday
approved in principle a three-phase plan by the Cabinet for the recovery and
rehabilitation of residents affected by super typhoon "Yolanda"
(Haiyan).
This was after the President called in the
Cabinet for a meeting on the matter, Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda
said.
"The plan has three phases: to provide
immediate assistance to affected areas, expand initiatives and programs in the
medium term, and reach full recovery and rehabilitation in the long term,"
Lacierda said in a statement.
He also said the President instructed the
Cabinet to act soonest on what can be done.
“Dapat gawin, kayang gawin, ngayon na,” he
quoted the President as saying.
Socio-economic Planning Secretary Arsenio
Balisacan presented the Yolanda Recovery and Rehabilitation Plan during the
meeting, he added.
But the President also asked Balisacan and other
Cabinet members concerned to give more specific details, Lacierda said.
He added that the Cabinet will again meet with
President Aquino on Friday to present further refinements to the said plan,
including the immediate actions to be taken. PND (jl)
Tacloban continues to recover after typhoon
'Yolanda,' more businesses reopen
(TACLOBAN CITY, Leyte) More establishments,
banks, restaurants and gasoline stations are now re-opening here three weeks
following the wrought of super typhoon "Yolanda."
City administrator John Tecson Lim, during an
inter-agency meeting, said the city is gradually getting back on its feet with
more and more businesses resuming operations each day.
Lim gave credit to Landbank, which brought in
four mobile ATMs to provide faster banking services to typhoon victims. One of
the mobile ATMs is stationed in Tacloban City Hall.
Lim also noted that while grocery stores have
yet to reopen, there are several small sari-sari stores and satellite markets
opening to cater to the needs of affected families.
"Marami nang sari-sari stores na nakabukas
which is a very very good sign," he said.
Lim reminded the people to remain vigilant
against overpricing noting that it is punishable by law.
"Kung meron ho kayong napansin na presyo na
masyadong mataas, it is also provided for by law in the Disaster Risk
Management Law...The increasing of prices during times of calamities is an
illegal act that may be duly prosecuted upon. So please report it to us,"
he said.
Six out of the 26 gasoline stations here have
resumed operations, he added.
He also announced the reopening of Detti Panis
Salon along Burgos Street for those who want to avail of haircuts and other
beauty services.
Several hardware shops and auto-repair shops
have also resumed operations such as Hyundai Tacloban Service; RRC Tire Master
and Leyte Home Depot, one of the biggest hardware shops in Tacloban.
Courier and remittance centers that have
reopened include Cebuana Lhuillier along Del Pilar and Marasbaras in front of
Robinsons; Palawan Express along Real Street open; and USSC Service Center in
Sto Nino. These remittances centers are open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Hotels that are now operational include: Welcome
Home Pensione, Asia Stars Hotel, Grand D' Manor, Hotel Alejandro, Hotel
Consuelo, Hotel Lorenza, Layrico Hotel, Leyte Park Hotel, Luxury Suites,
Primrose Hotel, among others.
"Most of the hotels reopened but with
limited capacity due to damage in some of the rooms," Lim said. PND (jb)
