Naga City ready for Penafrancia feast

By Analiza S. Macatangay

NAGA CITY, Sept 5 (PIA) –- The Naga City government has laid down plans and measures to ensure safety of devotees and visitors, expected to join the annual celebration of the feast of the Our Lady of Penafrancia.

Mayor John Bongat has issued Executive Order 2012-012 or the Inter-Agency Task Group and the Unified Command Joint Operations Center to oversee significant tasks of giving out commands, control, coordination, collaboration and the management of an effective communication system that would speedily respond to any emergency calls or incidents during the duration of the celebration.

Closely coordinating with this endeavor are officers and personnel of the Philippine National Police (PNP), which will deploy more than 500 police in strategic sites in the city, particularly at terminals, hotels and in downtown Naga.

The augmentation force will also man three command posts, which will specifically oversee the peace and order situation during the busy days of the celebration.

The Archdiocese of Caceres will be spearheading the religious activities starting off with the Traslacion procession on Friday, where the image of Our Lady of Penafrancia will be brought from the Penafrancia Shrine to the Naga City Metropolitan Cathedral.

Ina’s pilgrim image, after visiting parishes and corporate offices in Manila will be brought back in Naga City via the Philippine National Railways (PNR) special pilgrim train today.

To ensure the easy flow of traffic, the city’s Public Safety Office led by executive director Lito Del Rosario, will work closely with the PNP for the implementation of the re-routing scheme.

On Friday, portion of the Padre Garcia street in Barangay Balatas will be close to the public at 5 a.m. in preparation for the dawn procession.

Portions leading to Magsaysay Avenue, including sections of Blumentritt leading to the Colgante Bridge, towards Penafrancia Avenue will also be closed to the motorists.

To avoid heavy congestion, visitors and devotees who wish to join the Traslacion procession are advised to come early and avoid bringing their vehicles in the downtown area.

Highlights of this year's Penafrancia Fiesta celebration include the Search and Coronation of Miss Bicolandia 2012 tonight at the Jesse Robredo Coliseum; BSP/GSP marching competition on September 12; civic parade and float competition and Voyadores Festival on September 13; Regional Military Street Parade Competition on September 14 and the Grand Fluvial Procession on Saturday, September 15. (MAL/LSM-PIA5, Camarines Sur)


Camarines Sur declared a malaria-free province – DOH

By Analiza S. Macatangay

CADLAN, Pili, Camarines Sur, Sept 5 (PIA) -- The province has been declared free from malaria during today’s launch of the Byaheng Kulambo Campaign at Villa Del Rey here.

Under the Medium Term Development Plan 2011-2016, the target year for total elimination of malaria in the country is 2025.

The official statement was announced by Camilo Aquino, Department of Health – Regional Mosquito Borne Diseases coordinator, during the highlights of the “Travelling long lasting Insecticidal Net (LLIN)” campaign yesterday.

Aquino said Camarines Sur was able to keep malaria-carrying mosquitoes from inhabiting areas in the province by implementing various health initiatives to combat the occurrence of the infectious disease.

Camarines Sur OIC Provincial Health Officer Dr. Wilfredo Baniqued said the 2010-2011 annual malaria report showed a dramatic reduction of malaria incidence in the country, thus the shift of their campaign from control to elimination took its full course this year.

With the help of local government units, the DOH, together with the World Health Organization and the Global-Fund Malaria through the Filipinas Shell Foundation, Inc. will be embarking on a new advocacy campaign for malaria under the theme: “Saving lives, preventing deaths and sustaining investments for malaria.”

This would be the principle that will support malaria control programs with the objective of totally eliminating malaria in the country.

In spite of its malaria –free status, Aquino reminded the constituents of Camarines Sur never to become complacent of the non existence of the mosquitoes carrying the said disease.

“We should exert more effort to ensure that there is no way that this contagious disease will find its way in our homes and in our community. Let us all continue, with renewed efforts, what we have started to make our neighborhood free from malaria,” he said.

The travelling LLIN will serve as a reminder to every malaria endemic areas up tom malaria- free provinces that the government is serious in its campaign to totally eradicate the occurrence of the fatal disease in the Philippines.

A manifesto was also signed by attending local chief executives as their declaration of support to the said campaign. (MAL/LSM-PIA5/Camarines Sur)