Press Release
May 4, 2009

LOREN URGES GOV'T AGENCIES TO TIGHTEN GUARD VS. FLU A

Sen. Loren Legarda, chair of the Senate committees on health and agriculture, yesterday (May 4) urged the government agencies concerned to tighten their guard against the influx of the Influenza A (H1N1) virus into the Philippines.

The senator issued the appeal during a joint hearing conducted by the Senate committees on health and demography, trade and commerce and agriculture on the pandemic potential of the H1N1 virus, formerly known as the swine flu, and its possible effect on the Philippines.

Loren warned that the flu has already hit Hong Kong, a next door neighbor of the Philippines, and favorite destination of Filipinos. "It takes just about an hour's flight from Hong Kong to the Philippines, and the possibility of the virus invading our shores has become a real possibility," Loren said.

She further pointed out that there are thousands of Filipino overseas workers in Hongkong, about 130,000 of whom are domestic helpers.

The senator urged local authorities to coordinate and cooperate with the World Health Organization (WHO) in adopting measures to prevent the disease from hitting the Philippines, and at the same time containing it in the areas where it has already appeared.

Senator Legarda aired her appeal to the national, regional, provincial, city and municipal authorities, urging them to closely coordinate activities to stop the Flu A epidemic from hitting the Philippines.

Loren also urged the Department of Health to stock up with sufficient flu virus medicines and vaccines and to prepare isolation wards in various hospitals for suspected HINI victims. He also asked the Department of Agriculture to take steps to prevent the local swine industry from being affected, and to act immediately in cases of suspected infections.

Health Secretary Francisco Duque, who has been designated disease czar of the National Disaster Coordinating Council, told the committees that he has placed on full red alert and standby status all health authorities and facilities, including hospitals and clinics, in Metro Manila, Luzon and even as far south as the Visayas and Mindanao to cope with the swine flu threat.

Agriculture Secretary Arthur Yap said he had mobilized all concerned agencies and offices of the Department of Agriculture, especially the Bureau of Animal Industry and its regional and municipal offices, to be on alert and take immediate action upon any sign of swine flu affecting the industry.

Quarantine areas and isolation wards have been held in readiness when needed by the two departments.

Among those who attended the hearing held at the Recto room, by virtue of Senate resolutions authorizing investigation of the disease threat in aid of legislation, were:

Director Eric Tayag of the National Epidemiology Center, Director Sabitsana of the Bureau of Quarantine, Executive Director Remigion M. Olveda of the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine, Director Leticia Gutierrez of the Bureau of Foods and Drugs;

Dr. Arturo B. Cabanban, chief of the Medical Center of the San Lazaro Hospital; Dr. Tiburcio S. Macias, president of the Philippine Hospital Association; Dr. Rey Melchor F. Santos , president of the Philippine Medical Association; OSCAR ARAGON, President of the Pharmaceutical and Healthcare Association of the Philippines; representatives of the hog industry, international health authorities, and others.

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