No damage reported as Intensity 5 quake jolts Bicol Friday

LEGAZPI CITY, Sept. 3 (PIA) -- The minute-long magnitude 7.6 earthquake that shook the provinces of Samar, Leyte, and Surigao at about 8:47 p.m. of August 31 was also felt in the Bicol region with lesser magnitude - Intensity 5.

Ed Laguerta, Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Philvolcs) Legazpi resident volcanologist said that their instruments located the quake’s epicenter at 10.83 degrees north and 126.71 degrees east of Guiuan, Eastern Samar with depth of 10 kilometers.

There were no reports of casualties or damage to property.

In Masbate, the tsunami alert 3 declared by Philvolcs in threatened coastal areas prompted disaster managers to keep watch the whole night.

The Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office (PDRRMO) in Catanduanes advised the public to remain alert and be observant especially those living in coastal areas in the eastern seaboard despite the absence of tsunami alert warning.

Camarines Norte PDRRMO Officer Carlos Galvez also alerted people living in coastal areas for possible evacuation.

The local tsunami warning has been lifted by Philvolcs at about 12:10 a.m. of September 1.

Office of the Civil Defense regional director Raffy ALejandro meanwhile reported that the earthquake caused no damage to Bicol area, also noting that the series of regular earthquake drills among Bicolano bolstered preparedness of the residents. (MAL/SAA-PIA5, ALbay)


Albay, 6 other LGUs cited for anti-TB program

By Marlon A. Loterte

LEGAZPI CITY, Albay, Sept 3 (PIA) -- The Department of Health (DOH) in Bicol and TB Linc, in cooperation with USAID, cited Albay provincial government, two cities, and four towns for their top performance and exemplary achievements in pursuing campaigns and programs to prevent infection and control spread of tuberculosis (TB) in the province.

The citation, in accordance with the National TB Program (NTP), was conferred during the program implementation assessment and awarding rites on Wednesday, August 29 at the Pepperland Hotel here.

The NTP is being carried out by the DOH, in collaboration with other government agencies and private sectors to harmonize and unify the TB control efforts in the Philippines and has already made significant advances in improving the quality and extent of its control efforts.

Bacacay town has qualified as the local government most improved Case Detection Rate (CDR), with 92 percent in 2007 and 2008, 100 in 2009, 85 in 2010 and 102 in 2011; while in Cure Rate (CR) with 15 percent in 2006, 76 in 2007, 91 in 2008, 94 in 2009 and 99 in 2010.

Legazpi City has qualified with its strong and robust public-private mixed DOTS (PPMD) carrying out numerous referrals of patients from private physicians; engaging private laboratories, hospitals providing TB services, pharmacy DOTS initiatives; providing treatment to patients with TB inside the city jail.

Tabaco City, on the other hand, has qualified with its innovations in the implementation of anti-TB programs the likes of the first LGU to set up PPMD since 2005 with PhilHealth accreditation on the same year; organization of TB task force in barangays, workplace, and schools; sustained support in terms of medicines and supplies allocating P75,000 annually for the program; and provision of financial support to multi-drug resistant TB patients.

For LGUs with high CDR in all forms and high CR in new sputum positive for two consecutive years, Malinao had 94 percent in 2010 and 129 percent in 2011, Daraga achieved 93 in 2010 and 129 in 2011, and Polangui carried out 98 in 2010 while 114 in 2011.

Albay, meanwhile, has received recognition for the provincial government’s strong support in the NTP.

NTP aims to reduce local variations in TB control program performance; scale-up and sustain coverage of DOTS implementation; ensure provision of quality TB services; reduce out-of-pocket expenses related to TB care. (MAL-PIA5 Albay)