Disaster management network condemns brutal killing of Dutch NGO worker

The Citizens’ Disaster Response Network (CDRN) condemns the brutal killing of one of its officers -- Alay Bayan-Luson, Inc. (ABI) Executive Director, Willem Geertman. Willem was gunned down by motorcycle riding gunmen at 12:28 pm on July 3, 2012 in front of his office in San Fernando, Pampanga. He was shot at close range.

CDRN, where Geertman was an Executive Council officer, is a national network of community-based disaster management organizations focusing its assistance to the most affected, least served and most vulnerable sectors of the population through disaster preparedness and mitigation, emergency relief, and rehabilitation programs.

Geertman, a Dutch national, lived in the Philippines for 46 years and actively championed the rights and welfare of disaster-affected people in rural communities of Central Luzon.

Geertman is the second European NGO/community worker killed recently. In October last year, Fr. Fausto “Pops” Tentorio, an Italian priest in Mindanao, was shot as well.  Fr. Pops was also a Board Member of one of CDRN’s member organizations, the Mindanao Interfaith Services Foundation, Inc. (MISFI).

Both Geertman and Tentorio were active in several environmental, anti-mining and indigenous peoples’ advocacies.

“The death of Willem is a big loss to the entire network. We mourn and condemn his brutal killing . But as we mourn the loss of a committed development worker, we also vow to continue his good works for vulnerable communities and humanitarian response,” CDRN Chairperson, Jimmy Khayog, said.

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The Citizens’ Disaster Response Center (CDRC) serves as the secretariat of the CDRN.

Dialysis patients in CL stands at 1,136

By Joelyn G. Baluyut

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga, July 3 (PIA) -- Latest figures from the Philippine Renal Disease Registry (PRDR) show that 1,136 of the 9,769 dialysis patients nationwide are from Central Luzon.

Central Luzon Organ Sharing Effort (CLOSE) head Joy Mallari said this during Thursday's press conference at the Philippine Information Agency Regional Office III.

She said Pampanga topped the list in the region with 434; followed by Bulacan, 202; Nueva Ecija, 178; Tarlac, 140; Bataan,100; Zambales, 81; and Aurora with one.

Most of the patients were male at 607; females numbered at 529.

On the age bracket, the 51-to-60 bracket topped with 282 patients, followed by 61-70 with 262, and the 71-80 at 166 patients.

“And 37 patients were kidney transplanted in Region 3 alone,” Mallari added.

With this, Mallari advised the public to prevent dialysis, "one must maintain a healthy diet, exercise, lessen the intake of alcohol, and do regular check-ups.”

Central Luzon has a total of 65 dialysis centers and two transplant centers which are Angeles University Foundation Medical Center located in Pampanga and Jecsons Medical Center in Tarlac.

PRDR is a joint three-year project of National Kidney and Transplant Institute - Renal Disease Control Program and the Philippine Society of Nephrology, which started in May 2000.

The objective of the research is to provide a national perspective ofkidney disease and its treatment. (CLJD/JGB-PIA3)

Dengue cases in CL up by 12%

by: Carlo Lorenzo J. Datu

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga July 3 (PIA) -- Department of Health-Center for Health Development 3 (DOH-CHD 3) recorded a 12-percent surge in dengue cases in Central Luzon from January to June 30 this year compared to the same period last year.

Regional Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit chief Jesse Fantone disclosed in a press conference in Pampanga last Monday that Central Luzon placed second to National Capital Region with the highest cases in the entire archipelago at 6,241.

Of the seven provinces, Nueva Ecija has the most number of cases at 1,785 followed by Bulacan with 1,745, Pampanga- 1,167, Bataan- 677, Tarlac-488, Zambales-348 and Aurora- 31.

Fantone added that Dengue deaths in Region 3 totaled to 11 during the period with Nueva Ecija registering the most at five followed by Pampanga with three, and Bataan, Bulacan and Tarlac with one each.

As the number of cases continues to rise, DOH-CHD 3 urges the public to conduct clean-up drives in their respective communities and destroy all possible breeding sites of mosquitoes such as old tires and tin cans.

The agency emphasized the importance of cleaning not only the homes and schools but also places like churches and markets as well as the streets and public playgrounds as you cannot pinpoint where one gets bitten by a dengue-carrying mosquito.

Dengue is a disease caused by the bite of Aedes aegypti mosquito.

These mosquitoes bite during daytime. Headache, fever, muscle and joint pains and skin rashes characterize the disease. In extreme cases, bleeding of the gums and nose may occur. (WLB/CLJD-PIA 3)

TMC to implement agreement with TRB at NLEX by July 1

GUIGUINTO, Bulacan—Vehicles with top load above seven feet will be charged for class two vehicle category at North Luzon Expressway (NLEX) toll plazas starting July 1.

This came as the Manila North Tollways Corporation and its NLEX operator, the Tollways Management Corporation (TMC) implement an agreement with the Toll Regulatory Board (TRB).

Bobby Bontia, TMC Vice President for tollways operation said that under the MNTC and TRB agreement, vehicles with two axles and top load above seven feet are supposed to be charge under class two.

However, in the past years, such vehicles were only charge for toll fee under class 1.

Bontia that TMC has been distributing leaflets to motorist since last month to inform them of the changes on toll fees for the said vehicles.

”We are implementing the agreement by July 1,” he said noting that vehicles with top loads above seven feet were being charged under class two category at the South Luzon Expressway (SLEX) for a long time.

 Bontia said that vehicles with two axles and top load below seven feet are considered as class one vehicles and are only pays and initial P45.

But class two vehicles which were describe as with two axles and top load beyond seven feet pays and initial toll fee of P114 along the NLEX.

As head of the toll operations of the TMC, Bontia said they will place market on every toll plaza along the NLEX in order to serve as reference for motorists on the actual height of their load.

This developed, Bontia also announce that by next month, the MNTC will open the new Bocaue Interchange on the northbound of the NLEX.

Like its south-bound counterpart, the new interchange will have three toll booths for TMC to start collecting toll fees.

Road approaching said interchange from the NLEX was widened to accommodate more vehicles.  The MNTC and the TMC are also coordinating with Bocaue municipal government to widen the road after the interchange that leads to Bocaue and Sta. Maria towns.

Bontia clarified that the Bocaue north-bound interchange is not part of the open system implemented by the TMC along the NLEX.

He said the open system is only between Marilao and Balintawak interchange.  (Dino Balabo)

DOST automated rail transport is back on track

By George Robert Valencia III, S&T Media Service

The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) switches on the green light to make way forthe continuation of the development of the first all-Filipino mass transport system in a ceremonial awarding rites on June 19, 2012 at the Traders Hotel.

The awarding of contract to Miescor Builders Inc to construct the 465-meter test tack in the University of the Philippines Diliman campus is part of this year’s celebration of the Metals and Engineering (M&E) Week, according to DOST’s Metals Industry Research and Development Center.

The AGTS will run on a track that curves from the CP Garcia Avenue near the CHED building to the area of the College of Arts building. To construct the track is the Miescor Builders Inc.,a leading construction and engineering company wholly owned by the Meralco Industrial Engineering Services Corp.

“The Automated Guideway Transit System or AGTS willbe the future of mass transport systems,” DOST Secretary Mario Montejo said.

The AGTS is one of DOST’s high-impact technology solutions and is the first among DOST’s several proposed public transportation systems for Metro Manila, Sec. Montejo added.

Composing the project team are engineers from DOST-MIRDC, UP Diliman, and the Project Management Engineering and Design Service Office (PMEDSO). The team aimsto create a fully-automated, driverless electric transportationthat travels on an elevated rail or guideway.

The guideway will stand at an elevation of 6.1 meters supported by high-quality concrete material, while the train bodywill be composed of two adjoining coaches, each having 30-people capacity. Also, the coaches will roll on rubber tires instead of metal wheels to minimize track noise, andwill have bogies to ensure comfort and stability.

According to Engr. Jonathan Q. Puerto, Officer-in-Charge of the office of the Deputy Executive Director of DOST-MIRDC, the test track in UP Diliman will help MIRDC to fine-tune the technology’s mechanisms and operation, which include speed, stability, brake distance and power, among others.

“If all goes as planned in the construction of the guideway, we will be able to initiate the testing in October,” said Engr. Puerto.

Aside from being locally developed, theDOST’sAGTS isenvironmentally soundas it is non-polluting. It is also reliablebecause it is fully automated, and safe because the elevated guideway will not get derailed or cause road accidents. The AGT also helps reduce traffic congestion and its economic costs, estimated at P140 billion annually.

Some countries that are reaping benefits from the AGTS technology at presentinclude the United States, Japan, Singapore and Canada.

“If these countries can do it, so can the Philippines,” Sec. Montejo said.

The AGTS project is monitored by the DOST’s Philippine Council for Industry, Energy and Emerging Technology Research and Development.

Rains halt classes in Bulacan, Ipo dam spills water

MALOLOS CITY—Heavy rains on Sunday night to Monday morning led officials in Bulacan to suspend classes in selected schools yesterday.

This developed as the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office (PDRRMO) allayed fears of possible flooding after Ipo dam started spilling 30 cubic meters of water per second at 6 a.m. yesterday.

The Pampanga River Flood Forecasting and Warning Center (PRFFWC) also issued related warning to communities in low-lying and high tide-affected areas in Bulacan and Pampanga.

Provincial Administrator Jim Valerio said that as early 6 a.m. yesterday, Mayor Orencio Gabriel of Obando town declared suspension of classes in all levels in his town.

The schools covered included the Bulacan Polytechnic College (BPC) campus in Obando town along with elementary and high schools.

Valerio said that the most part of Obando went underwater due to heavy rains which aggravated the daily rise of tidal water.

In Norzagaray town, Mayor Feliciano Legazpi also suspended classes in elementary and high schools due to heavy rains.

Classes in elementary schools were suspended in the mountain town of Donya Remedios Trinidad.

In the coastal town of Hagonoy, school administrators decided to suspend classes in elementary and high school due to heavy rains and high tide.

In Malolos City, classes were also suspended in Barangays Dakila, Tikay, Sumapang Matanda and other low lying villages.

Mayor Christian Natividad of Malolos said the impact of night-long heavy rains varied from place to place with some areas in the city hardly affected.

“We left the decision to school administrators,” he said.(Dino Balabo)

DOST to launch nationwide disaster mitigation program

The Department of Science and Technology is set to put into place a nationwide disaster mitigation system that will help key agencies and personalities make informed decisions to save lives and properties.

Called NOAH or the National Operational Assessment of Hazards and Risks, the program is designed to serve as sentinel that will address the serious challenges brought by extreme hazard events.

“The NOAH Project will enable the government to address the serious challenges brought by extreme hazard events,” DOST Secretary Mario Montejo said. “We will apply advanced S&T tools, such as enhanced vulnerability maps and a shortened six-hour monitoring and warning system for communication along the major river basins.”

NOAH will have seven components that will address major needs in various disaster situations. These include Hydromet sensors development, DREAM-Lidar, FloodNET, Hazards information media, Landslide hazards mapping, Doppler system development, and Storm surge inundation mapping.

With the DOST on the lead, NOAH brings together experts from 21 institutions in close collaboration, including  DOST’s PAGASA, PHIVOLCS, Advanced Science and technology Institute, and Science and Technology Information Institute; Department of Interior and Local Government; University of the Philippines National Institute of Geological Sciences and Department

In a country frequently visited by typhoons, tsunamis, earthquakes and volcanic eruptions, some of them highly-destructive, the NOAH project comes as helpful as Noah’s ark in biblical times. Natural hazards inflict loss of lives and costly damage to property, with economic losses amounting to billions of pesos each year. Moreover, the continued development in the lowlands and the rapid growth of the population contribute to the damage to infrastructure and human losses.

“This project is so far the most advanced measure implemented by the government in disaster mitigation,” added Sec. Montejo.

NOAH will be formally launched at the National Institute of Physics in UP Diliman, QC. on 18 June 2012 at 2:00 PM. (Framelia V. Anonas, S&T Media Service)