PIA Dispatch - Friday, October 16, 2009

PGMA inaugurates ‘sugar bridge’ in Hinigaran town

HINIGARAN, Negros Occidental - President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo formally opened here today a “sugar bridge” for the benefit of both sugar millers and farmers.

Upon arrival here from Moises Padilla where she led its 58th charter day anniversary, the President boarded a pick-up that drove through the bridge, signaling its formal opening to traffic. This was followed by the unveiling of the project marker.

The bridge makes it possible to buy sugar cane directly from the milling plant that explains the moniker.

The P54 million pre-stressed concrete girder Binalbagan (Bagacay) Bridge on Hinigaran-Isabela Road was completed on July 25, 2009. It is 90 meters long and more than seven meters wide.

Joining the President in the inaugural drive-through were Negros Occidental Governor Isidro Zayco, Negros Occidental 3rd District Rep. Ignacio Arroyo, Hinigaran Mayor Hermilo Aguilar, Isabela Mayor Renato Malabor, Public Works and Highways regional director Rolando Asis, and Public Works and Highways engineer Leah Delfinado.

“We sincerely thank you Madam President for the realization of this project,” Mayor Malabor said, adding the long-delayed project was implemented only in her administration.

The newly completed project replaces to the steel-truss old bridge built during the Japanese occupation.

The President, enroute to Binalbagan (Bagacay) Bridge, made a surprise visit and tour inspection to the Ignacio L. Arroyo Memorial Hospital and talked to the hospital staff

PGMA to inspect P14.4M jathropa project in Iloilo

PASSI CITY, Iloilo --- President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo will check on the P14.4 million jathropa plantation in this newly created component city of Iloilo province tomorrow (Saturday, Oct.17).

Jathropa (“tuba-tuba” in Filipino and “kasla” to the Ilonggos) is a source of alternative fuel.

Run by the Philippine National Oil Co. (PNOC) and the Alternative Fuels Corp. (AFC), the plantation covers 16 of the 51 barangays of the city.

In July, PNOC-AFC, the Gemomua-Agahon Multi-Purpose Cooperative, and the city and barangay officials of Passi led by Mayor Elyzer Chavez signed a memorandum of agreement (MOA) for the 810-hectare jathropa plantation.

The project requires P14.4 million funding for one year and eight months of land preparation, planting, cultivation and harvest.

Of the total 810 hectares, 506 hectares have been planted, 104 hectares have been cultivated, and 200 hectares have been prepared.

The project now benefits 626 farmers, who are paid P3.00 for every seedling they plant.

PNOC director Jesry Palmares will brief the President on the project PNOC provides the seedlings and will buy the harvested jathropa.

The President has directed the PNOC to spearhead the biofuels project in the country after signing Republic Act 9367 or the Biofuels Act of 2006.

Palace assures enough medicine supply for leptospirosis

MANILA, Oct. 16 — Malacanang assured the public that the government has enough supply of medicines for leptospirosis.

Press Secretary Cerge Remonde, during his weekly media briefing at Malacanang on Friday, said President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo was informed by Health Secretary Francisco Duque III regarding the increasing number of leptospirosis cases after several areas in Metro Manila were flooded during the height of typhoon Ondoy.

Remonde also said the drug firm Pfizer donated medicines for leptospirosis and assured the government would purchase more if needed.

Duque said that leptospirosis has afflicted more people in Metro Manila in the last two weeks than it typically did in an entire year.

In Metro Manila alone, the Department of Health has recorded 1,027 leptospirosis patients, with 89 deaths, for a high 8.6 percent mortality rate.

“The fatality rate of leptospirosis this year could easily be one of the highest ever," according to the DOH chief.

Duque singled out Marikina  where the infectious disease spread rapidly, with Tumana, Concepcion, and Malanday as the most affected communities.

Meanwhile, Dr. Eric Tayag, National Epidemiology Center  chief, projected that nearly 4,000 people might eventually be afflicted by leptospirosis as floodwaters remained in several areas in Metro Manila.

Tayag assured the government was doing measures to prevent leptospirosis from reaching the projected number of victims.

Leptospirosis is spread through animal urine mixed with floodwater entering openings in human skin.

Dr. Yolanda Oliveros, director of the National Center for Disease Prevention and Control (NCDPC), said that outbreak levels vary from one area to another.

Duque said the best prevention is to stay out of polluted floodwaters.

Quezon City has recorded the highest number of leptospirosis cases, with 122; followed by Marikina, 82; Manila, 49; Paranaque, 26; Pasig, 25; and Malabon, 24.

Despite the higher mortality rate this year compared to the same period last year, the country's leptospirosis situation remains at the “low end" in Asia.

The DOH said it could end up spending P13.8 million for the 1.3 million people believed to have been exposed to the Leptospira bacterium after wading through Ondoy’s floods.

Cyclone Lupit seen to intensify before entering PAR

MANILA, Oct. 16 -- Generally good weather, except for light afternoon rains can be expected in most parts of the country until Saturday, but the storm moving near Bicol region will roll off another wet and stormy days ahead.

"The storm is still far, we will not feel any of its effects here in Southern Luzon, including Metro Manila, and some parts of Visayas until it makes a landfall early next week," Robert Sawi, Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) forecasting division chief said.

The cyclone which threatens the calamity-stricken central and northern Luzon  was spotted 1,300 kilometers east of Bicol Region as of 10 a.m. Friday.

Lupit is packing maximum sustained winds of 75 kph and gustiness of up to 90 kph.

It is moving west northwest at 26 kph in the general direction of central and northern Luzon-Taiwan area.

It shall bear the name Ramil once it enters the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR), which forecasts say is Friday evening.

This weather system is expected to further intensify before it enters the PAR.

The Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) will continue to affect Southern Luzon and Visayas which will bring mostly cloudy skies with scattered rainshowers and thunderstorms, Sawi said.