AUGUST 27 - SEPTEMBER 2, 2017 6 DR. JENNY LIND ELMACO-CARDENAS


A SOUTHPAW’S MUSINGS


jenny.elmaco@gmail.com T Alma Mater.


he month of August is the Founders’ month of Silliman University, my


when I was four years old, and while I have missed many celebrations as I have lived outside of Dumaguete most of the time, I am always happy to take part in the festivities when I am home.


I started school in Silliman


special because it is the 20th year of my High School batch. Yes, it was 1997 when we donned our togas and caps, and very confidently declared we would conquer the world. We were the generation that grew up to the music of Nirvana, the Eraserheads, No Doubt, and the Backstreet Boys. We witnessed the ‘birth’ of the Spice Girls and Britney Spears. We got hooked on Dawson’s Creek and Buffy the Vampire Slayer. We still had paper library cards, we saved unto floppy disks, and we searched


This year is even more


government units to promote the health and safety of the people within their respective territorial jurisdictions. In Dumaguete, Ordinance


T


Reunions and 1997 batchmates about their most


memorable times in high school, and here are some of them: Lara Nuque, a successful events organizer, remembers we were a mischievous lot and we used to play pranks on our unsuspecting teachers.


inspiration of something being done and going on other than classroom life.” I remember we loved sitting under the acacia trees while we waiting to move to another classroom for our next class. Christmas parties and other parties were always a lot of fun. Cookie Dames- Tiglao, certified


he Local Government Code of 1991, specifically Section 16, mandates local


WILLIAM E. ABLONG EYE OPENER wea_129@yahoo.com


our ordinance ready for implementation which ensures preparedness for the eventual entry of this contagious virus. Amo ng oth e r s ,


No. 26, Series of 2006, entitled “An Ordinance for the Prevention and Control of Avian Influenza”, also known as Bird Flu Ordinance was enacted during my leadership and management of the City Council as City Vice-Mayor. The law was drafted in the light of the growing concern regarding the Bird Flu outbreak affecting the country’s immediate Asian neighbors like Vietnam, South Korea, Japan, China, Hongkong, Thailand, Indonesia, Laos, Cambodia, Thailand, Taiwan, and Pakistan. The outbreak led to severe diseases, deaths, and the demolition of chickens and ducks. The ordinance is aimed to contain, control , prevent, regulate and otherwise restrict the entry, movement, proliferation of poultry, birds, fowl, and other animals, including their products that are infected, or suspected to be potential carriers of the Avian Influenza virus.


ordinance provides for the following:


situated within seven- kilometer radius from quarantine zone level 2 after the declaration of the latter. Quarantine, the limitation


Control Zone, an area th e


traveling to the Philippines in search of food and temporary shelter. They migrate for survival. These birds, especially White Herons and Egrets, are also visible during certain months of the year in some barangays of Dumaguete City. I have personally observed them, especially in Bgy. Junob in September to November and February to April.


of freedom of movement of exposed persons or domestic animals thereby preventing them from spreading the disease.


1, an area situated within a three-kilometer radius from the suspected farm. Quarantine Zone Level


Quarantine Zone Level


2, an area declared upon confirmation of a bird flu case and control zone of seven kilometers


is also


Migratory Birds Behavior Studies have shown that they need to move to more temperate habitat because they cannot survive the cold. In like manner, the hottest regions can also be a harsh environment for raising chicks, therefore, these birds decide that t is safer to lay eggs in cooler areas. So they come and go to our country and to our city.


Several scientists theorized that migratory birds may be spreading viruses that cause


Monitoring entry points of migratory birds, poultry


without Google. We chatted online via ICQ, had huge, brick-like mobile phones, and it took forever to connect to the Internet. There was no Netflix; instead, we had VHS tapes to watch movies. We took photos with cameras using film. Facebook did not exist. Neither did Youtube. In our day, Tweeting was passing secret notes while in class. I asked some of my


The fabulous Yul Yarden Yee, now a local legislator, dreaded physical exams which we had every year where the boys had to strip and would have everything checked and measured. One of our more prominent products, former Mayor Karen Villanueva, enjoyed the club and organization meetings. She says, “It gave a certain kind of fulfillment, affirmation, and


Zumba instructor and power Mom, had this to share, “I will never forget the day I met my best friend in high school. He taught me to both laugh and cry unabashedly. He hugged me tightly during my first heartbreak. He appreciated every little thing I did for him, whether it was a head massage during cheering practices, or giving him half of my favorite piyaya and calamansi juice combo at Channon Hall, or sharing anecdotes as a fellow transferee. He was the big brother I always wish I had.” Cooking was sharing about Gino Dionaldo, a close friend to many of us who was shot and killed due to election- related violence. We remember with love Clarissa Jo Legaspi, Archie Siwa, Donna Mae Siwa and Vhaneza Romero who also have passed on, and


TO PAGE 15


Eleven years after the ordinance’ enactment, the deadly, highly pathogenic influenza virus invaded the Philippines on August 11, 2017 wherein the province of Pampanga has declared a state of calamity following an outbreak of bird flu virus in the town of San Luis. Seven days after the penetration and spread of the deadly virus in Pampanga, the authorities announced on August 18 a similar outbreak in at least two towns in the neighboring town of Nueva Ecija. Agriculture Secretary Manny Piñol said tests confirmed that the avian flu virus strain found in San Luis, Pampanga, has also been found in the towns of Jaen and San Isidro in Nueva Ecija, about 32 kilometers away. Despite the confirmation,


the Department of Health advised the public to remain calm since there is no threat to public health and the problem remains an animal health concern, at the same time, people are encouraged to stay vigilant.


of Dumaguete is closely monitoring the manifestation of similar cases. Despite a probable threat, we have


Currently, the City


concomitantly declared. Biosecurity measures to be undertaken by commercial poultry owners such as control points, inaccessibility of the holding point to stray animals and free-flying birds, proper disposal of mortalities, no domestic ducks and free-range poultry in migratory bird areas, no mixing of poultry and swine in the same holding facility, and record of movement to and from facility. Under Section 4 of the Ordinance, the Dumaguete Avian Influenza Task Force is created and is composed of the City Mayor as chairman, City Vice-Mayor as vice-chairman and the following members: City Veterinarian, City Health Officer, City Agriculturist, City PNP Chief, Liga Ng Mga Barangay President, two NGO representatives, City Information Officer, Poultry Raisers Association president, Civil Defense deputized coordinator, and president of the Federation of Homeowners Association. As a general precaution,


people should avoid wild birds and observe them only from a distance; should avoid contact with domestic birds (poultry) that appear ill or have died; and avoid contact with surfaces that appear to be contaminated with feces from wild or domestic birds. The outbreak in Pampanga may have been caused by migratory birds such as the long-distance flyers from China, Japan and Syberia


bird flu around the world. However, a number of scholars say the contrary and further elucidate that there is currently no evidence pointing to the fact that migratory birds are the source of this virus. Prevention


received any report of bird flu cases in the city, as a protective measure, it is imperative that we keep a close watch of the entry points of poultry animals and their products – airport, seaports, and bus terminals. City Mayor Felipe Antonio B. Remollo said that authorities are closely monitoring the flow of poultry products in to Dumaguete.


Though we have not


Through this column, we respectfully ask the Philippine Coast Guard to monitor our coasts regarding the smuggling of fowl, and we also ask the Department of Transportation and Communication to monitor trucks passing the nautical highways that might be loading poultry products from Luzon to stop their entry to the Visayas and Mindanao entry points.


METROPOST


Most of all, we need the vigilance of all residents in the community. Please report to the local agriculture office or the local veterinarian office for any unusual death or sickness of chickens and other fowl. Reporting to the nearest health worker for any suspected case of bird flu is a must. Furthermore, please report


TO PAGE 10 BACONG....FROM P. 2 NOTICE


ALVIOLA JR., VICTOR EMMANUEL B. ALVIOLA, both of Bais City, DOLORES MAXIMIANA B. FRAMPTON, of Michigan, USA, and ANDREA B. ALVIOLA, of Dumaguete City, have executed an AFFIDAVIT OF CLAIM WITH WAIVER OF RIGHTS over the Savings Deposit Account of DELIA B. ALVIOLA with Philippine Veterans Bank, Dumaguete City Branch, with Account Number 0047619870- 100 on August 2, 2017, and which is registered as Doc. No. 293, Page No. 19, Book VIII, Series of 2017 in the Notarial Register of Atty. Karissa Faye R. Tolentino.


MetroPost August 13 • August 20 • August 27, 2017 The public is hereby informed that LUCIANO B.


Where dining is always a pleasure!


Ms gr. Heruela, meanwhile, also expressed thanks for the restoration of the four side altars, which he said took long to complete because trained restorers had to look for hard wood that would closely match the original pillars and other parts while gold leaf used for gilding also had to be imported. The St. Augustine of


Hippo Church in Bacong is one of more than 20 colonial churches in the Philippines chosen for restoration by the NCCA, said Engr. Avignon. A few years ago, the retablo mayor or main altar of the said historical church was restored. The church in Bacong is


Tels. 225-7725, 422-9209, 225-4488


70 Rizal Boulevard, Dumaguete City


also popular for its restored pipe organ, which originally came from Zaragoza, Spain in the late 1890’s. The St. Augustine of


Rizal Ave., Dumaguete City TEL. NOS. 225-4491, 422-6933


Hippo Church in historic Bacong is one of the oldest in the Diocese of Dumaguete. (With a report from Judy Flores Partlow/PNA)


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