VOL. 20 NO. 28 ORMOC CITY P 15.00 at the newsstands AUGUST 5-11, 2019 Website address: www.evmailnews.net For feedback/inquiries: e-mail [email protected] Dengue situation in Ormoc City becomes “alarming” Ormoc under ‘state of calamity’ BY EV MAIL EDITORIAL TEAM ORMOC IS now under a State of Calamity because of the dengue epidemic. It was declared such on the evening of August 7, after the Health Board and the City Disaster Risk Reduc- tion Management Council recommended its declaration to Mayor Richard Gomez. The city council, on the other hand, convened for a special ses- sion on this afternoon, August 8, to pass a resolution declaring the city under a state of calamity. The resolution was passed on mass motion by the council members. In both instances, city disaster risk reduction management of- ficer Ciriaco Tolibao, City Health Department OIC Dr. Edmund ORMOC FIGHTS BACK WITH BRIGADA KONTRA DENGUE. Though now under a ‘state of calamity’ due to the dengue epidemic hounding the Kierulf, and infectious disease city of beautiful people, Ormoc is not wavering but is fighting back the deadly menace through the conduct of a “clean-up drive” in all of the villages, dubbed monitor nurse Elsie Jaca were as Brigada Kontra Dengue, whole day of Friday, August 9, 2019. In the photos are Cogon barangay officials and volunteers to include the PNP cleaning up present to clarify questions on the the various areas in the barangay and destroying possible breeding places of Dengue-carrying mosquitoes. (By Dailyn Cabarse) need for the declaration. Dr. Kierulf described the she said, Ormoc’s number of cases dengue situation in Ormoc City exceeds by 63% compared to 2018. as “alarming”. On August 1, two Councilor Gerardo Penser- Ormoc hosts successful national private hospitals in the city re- ga, a doctor, on the other hand, ported admissions of 20 dengue stressed in the joint health board positive patients. and CDRRM council meeting simultaneous earthquake drill Yesterday, on August 5, nurse the need to “search and destroy” Jaca said, 21 admissions were re- breeding areas of mosquitoes. He ORMOC CITY proudly hosted the protocols in one’s respective local- by Director Edgard M. Esperan- ported in the city’s hospitals. also warned of a dire future, say- third quarter National Simultane- ity/office.” cilla, CESO III (Regional Direc- Jaca said the number of cases ing that “half of Ormoc will be ous Earthquake Drill (NSED) 2019 At exactly 2 o’clock in the tor, DOST-8), Assistant Secretary have already breached epidemic dying next year if the community of the Office of the Civil Defense’s afternoon, City Mayor Richard Alan Silor (Assistant Secretary for level. Ormoc chalked up 426 cases will not participate in the search campaign of #BidaAngHanda I. Gomez together with Assistant Resilient Government Emergency already up to August 6, 2019, and destroy activities.” on August 8, 2019 and held at the Secretary Kristoffer James E. Puri- Communications, DICT), As- higher than the 262 cases last year Penserga stressed that clean- Ormoc City Grandstand. sima (Civil Defense Deputy Ad- sistant Secretary Manuel B. Felix for the same period. up is not enough. He also said it The purpose of the drill is to ministrator for Administration, (Assistant Secretary for Peace She explained that an epi- should be done weekly, and that test the “overall efficiency and OCD) initiated the ceremonial and Order, DILG), and Under- demic is announced when the the City Health needs more search usefulness of the preparedness, pressing of the button, which sig- secretary Felicisimo Budiongan number of cases for the current and destroy teams and fogging response and recovery plans, naled the conduct of the 3rd quar- year exceeds that of last year’s by systems of existing policy and ter NSED 2019. They were joined SEE NSED P. 6 more than 10 percent. This year, SEE DENGUE P. 6 RICE NO LIMIT!!! ... and more Filipino favorites MILAGRINA RESTAURANT now with a better and fresher ambiance. At exactly 2 o’clock in the afternoon, August 8, City Mayor Richard I. Gomez together with Assistant Secretary Located at Kristoffer James E. Purisima (Civil Defense Deputy Administrator for Administration, OCD) initiated the cer- 134 Real St., emonial pressing of the button, which signaled the conduct of the 3rd quarter NSED 2019. (Photo grabbed from Ormoc City the City Government of Ormoc FB page) 2 AUGUST 5-11, 2019 Child sex traffickers Hontiveros meets divorce advocates, nabbed in Biliran NAVAL, BILIRAN – Two – were rescued from a sepa- gears up for bill’s “historic fight” child sex traffickers were rate location after being nabbed for allegedly sexu- identified during the police AKBAYAN SENATOR Risa ally exploiting six minors investigation of the female Hontiveros on Monday met online, including their suspect’s online activities. with major advocacy groups two children in this town “OSEC perpetrators to step up efforts to pass a Tuesday (August 6). think they can evade the divorce law in the country, The Women and Chil- law. But they are completely which she described a “his- dren Protection Center- mistaken,” WCPC-VFU toric fight to free Filipinos Visayas Field Unit (WCPC- Chief Romeo Perigo said. from abusive, loveless and VFU) received information He then urged the pub- unhappy marriages.” about Monique’s (not her lic to be vigilant and report Hontiveros, who is the real name) suspicious on- OSEC incidents immedi- Chairperson of the Senate line activities June this year. ately to law enforcers to Committee on Women, filed WCPC’s investigation protect children from the Senate Bill Number 356 or revealed that Monique had trauma said crime brings. the Divorce Act of 2019 last been offering online sexual Non-government or- July 10, shortly before the abuse of minors in exchange ganization International formal opening of the 18th for money from foreigners. Justice Mission (IJM) Cebu Congress. The Senator seeks An entrapment opera- Field Office Director John to make “psychological in- tion was then carried out, Tanagho praised the coor- capacity of either spouse,” wherein the live-in couple dinated efforts of the PNP- “irreconcilable marital dif- who brought two 14-year- Women and Children’s Pro- ferences,” marital rape, “This is history in versions of the bill, setting According to a 2017 old boys, whom Monique tection Center, Department or being “separated for at the making. This meeting the appropriate committee survey by Social Weather offered to sexually abuse on- of Social Welfare and Devel- least 5 years” grounds for marks an important stage hearings and talking to like- Stations (SWS), 53% of Filipi- line in exchange for money opment and Biliran police divorce, among others. in the larger work to have minded legislators. nos agree to legalize divorce. were caught by the opera- to rescue and protect the Five major groups at- a divorce law in the coun- “I believe in and sup- Meanwhile, a 2018 Philip- tives from around 11 A.M. children from online sexual tended the meeting: Di- try. It’s time that we gave port the institution of mar- pine Statistics Authority Both boys were res- abuse and exploitation. vorce Advocates of the Filipinos the chance to free riage. I myself was happily (PSA) report found that 1 in cued, while a 15-year-old “When these govern- Philippines (DAP), Boses themselves from abusive, married. However, I also 4 women experience spousal girl was removed from the ment agencies work togeth- ng Kababaihan, Divorce loveless and unhappy rela- believe that Filipinos, es- violence. Unhealthy mar- room along with the cou- er to end OSEC, traffickers for the Philippines Now tionships, and to help them pecially women and their riages bring trauma that are ple’s two young children don’t stand a chance, and International (DIPI), Di- find love and start all over children have the right to passed on for generations – a 2-month-old girl and a one day OSEC will only vorce Philippines Coalition again,” Hontiveros said. second chances to turn the through children. 1-year-old boy. be read about in history (DPC), and Divorce and Hontiveros said that page and live good and The Philippines is the only The girl and the cou- books, not breaking news,” Dissolution of Marriage her office is in the process of happy lives. This measure is nation in the world that does ple’s children will undergo he stressed. Philippines (DDoMPh). consolidating the different for them,” Hontiveros said. not have a divorce law. (PR) assessment to determine if Monique, 18, and her they, too, were victims of live-in partner, 28, will be online sexual exploitation charged for violation of the Ormoc clears access roads of sidewalk vendors of children (OSEC). Anti-Trafficking in Persons Meanwhile, four more Act or Republic Act (RA) 9208 ORMOC CITY – The city tion, in answer, said: “The victims – three boys aged as amended by RA 10364. By recently conducted a clear- memo was released on July 17 and a woman aged 20 Marie Tonette Marticio ing operation of the back of 29, prior to that the city was Terminal 1, Barangay Dis- already giving them warn- trict 2 to finally make use ings to vacate the place. We of its access road, as this gave them a good 7 days to Tornado, quake hit has been used by sidewalk voluntarily self-demolish vendors in the year 2013 their stalls starting July 29.” until August 6 of this year. There was one seller, Northern Samar Police officers, Civil Se- however, who did not com- curity Unit (CSU) and per- plain about the demolition, TACLOBAN CITY – A earthquake’s epicenter 21 sonnel from the Ormoc City saying, “We just borrowed tornado damaged at least kilometers northwest of General Services Depart- some space from the gov- 11 houses and part of Pambujan town.