DOH FORMULARY EXECUTIVE PANEL AGAINST DENGVAXIA PURCHASE,

            A former undersecretary of the Department of Health (DOH) on Wednesday said that the department's Formulary Executive Council did not give the go-signal for the government's purchase of P3.5 billion worth of Dengvaxia vaccine.

            "Ang Formulary Executive Committee ng DOH simula't sapul tutol sila dito. They did not want to use Dengvaxia on a mass scale," former DOH undersecretary Susan Mercado said in an Unang Balita interview.

            Mercado added that panel had also denied the request then of the DOH leadership, under former secretary Janette Garin, for "exceptional approval for one year only."

            She said that when the council finally approved the purchase of Dengvaxia from Sanofi Pasteur, it recommended that it be done in a stage procurement and advised the government not to buy the vaccine in bulk or the whole P3.5 billion deal.

            The Food and Drug Administration Philippines approved the sale of Dengvaxia in December 2015. Mercado, however, clarified that "license to sell is different from the approval for the government to buy it. "The World Health Organization had said that it did not recommend the use of Dengvaxia.

            She said that the P3.5-billion Dengvaxia deal and the actual administration of the vaccine during the administration of President Benigno Aquino III was a scam because it did not go through the required government processes.

            Mercado also said that among the recommendations of the Formulary Executive Council was to administer the vaccine in small population only.

            In January 2016, Garin announced that Aquino had approved the administration of the vaccine to public school children from nine to 10 years old in three regions, including Metro Manila, Calabarzon and Central Luzon.

            The goal of the program, which was launched in April 2016, was to administer the dengue vaccine to a total of 1,077,623 children. The DOH said more than 733,000 public school children had been vaccinated since the immunization program was launched, and more than 200,000 children have been given three shots.

            Mercado said in the interview that the immunization program was launched without the school children's parents and health workers being given the proper information on Dengvaxia.

            "I hope it was not intentional, there was not enough information. Pumayag ang mga nanay na pabakunahan ang kanilang mga anak dahil ang alam nila ito ay proteksyon laban sa dengue. Ang totoo niyan, ang bakunang Dengvaxia hindi naman masama iyan. However, you have to use it properly. Kailangan gamitin mo ito sa batang nagkaroon na ng dengue," the former DOH undersecretary said.

            More than a year after the dengue immunization program started, Sanofi Pasteur came out with an advisory last week that the vaccine should not be given to those who have not had dengue before.

In her Facebook account, Mercado said that at least 200 parents have provided her names and some photos of their dengue-free children who have been vaccinated with Dengvaxia.

She promised the parents that the list that she has will be submitted to congressional bodies that will investigate the P3.5-billion dengue vaccine mess.

The Department of Justice (DOJ) had announced that it will also investigate the dengue vaccine purchase of the Aquino administration.

In her post, she said that she received several messages from parents that say their children got dengue after being vaccinated and they required hospitalization.

"I am now analyzing this data and am thankful for those who gave birth dates and locations so I can figure out if age and location is a factor in some of the reactions," Mercado wrote on her Facebook wall.

The Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption, which requested the DOJ to investigate the dengue vaccine deal, had claimed receiving reports of at least three deaths of children who were vaccinated with Dengvaxia.

Sanofi Pasteur had denied that Dengvaxia is a deadly vaccine. /MP

BORACAY NEEDS BETTER PORT FACILITIES FOR CRUISE SHIPS

BY BOY RYAN B. ZABAL

            Better port facilities in Malay, Aklan will attract more cruise ship companies to include Boracay Island in their list of destinations. This was stressed by Aklan Governor Florencio T. Miraflores emphasized this as he is optimistic, tourism industry in Aklan, particularly in Boracay will thrive faster with the entry of larger cruise ships.

            Miraflores said the cruise ships stay at anchorage near Boracay Island and tourists on board are ferry back and forth by tender boats to the island.

            “Improving the port facilities in Caticlan and Boracay ports will ease the inconvenience of cruise tourists,” the governor stressed. 

            Two luxury ships are scheduled to make port calls to Boracay Island with a total of 14,700 passengers and crew on board this December 2017. MS World of Dreams with a capacity of 6,000 passengers and crew will return to Boracay on December 13 and December 20 while MSC Lirica with 2,790 passengers and crew will sail to Boracay Island on December 25. To date, the tourism department recorded 12 cruise ships in Boracay from January 1 to December 5 with over 32,000 passengers and crew. 

            Cruise port calls also create economic impact as tourists toured around Boracay Island. Each cruise ship passenger and crew visiting a cruise port spends $140 on the average for their food and beverages, transportation and retail shopping.  Tendering is slightly more inconvenience which takes place when no pier facilities are available or when the water is too shallow for the cruise ships to get closer to shore. 

            Vessels drop anchor at a short distance away and use small boats, called tenders, to shuttle passengers. Tendering can be dangerous in bad weather; if the seas are too rough near a particular tender port, the cruise ship might be forced to skip the call altogether./MP

FASHION SHOW TO BENEFIT ATI-ATIHAN TRIBES

BY BOY RYAN B, ZABAL
 
            A Night of Glamour, a fashion show to support Ati-Atihan tribes will take place on December 9 at Kalibo Pastrana Park covered court in Kalibo, Aklan. The show will feature top-tier collections of designers from Iloilo and Aklan, plus the candidates of Mutya it Kalibo Ati-Atihan and Kalibo Ati-Atihan Festival King. 

            Part of this show proceeds will go registered Ati-Atihan tribes and groups, initiated by the Kalibo Sto. Nino Ati-Atihan Foundation, Inc. (Kasafi) to raise funds to subsidize the Ati-Atihan costumes.

            The runway will feature local and notable designers in Aklan like Mel Grecia Quimpo, Adriano Samar, Peter Rian Casidsid, Ayein Sun, Jonard Abanco, Bobn-bon Ybarra, Nico Concepcion, Ryan Lopez, Romar Tolentino and Nino Jade Gonzales.

            The local designers in Aklan will have the chance to take home the “Best in Local Designer” from Kasafi, according to festival organizer Albert Menez.

            The performers are Melky Arboleda, Philippine representative to ASEAN+3 Song Contest 2017 last August in Vietnam and Aguinaldo T. Repiedad, Sr. Integrated School  Arts Power and Gymnast.  The show will be hosted by Rey Lebaquin, Jr. 

            The aspirants of Mutya it Kalibo Ati-Atihan and Kalibo Ati-Atihan Festival King are also on the runway to wear the latest trends and creations of Daryl Amar and Ram Silva, two of Iloilo’s most-sought designers.

            The 16 Mutya candidates are Louise Emerald Nadua, Shyna Angel Rivera, Clarynce Ada Concepcion, Angelica Marie Lim, Sheiney Jage Mationg, Janine Maglantay, Gracel Gilongos, Ina Donna Jean Pendon, Mila Mariella Simera, Riechelle Macaraeg, Elmarie Dewara, Eloisa Mitch Hormillosa, Buena Kristel Pelayo, Marijo Mariz Ureta, Annicka Pauline dela Cruz and Stephanie Palomata. 

            The 16 Festival King aspirants are Paolo Benedict Ibuyan, John Rafael Villar, Ronald No, Jasper Sy, Marc Philip Niemeyer, Charles Ed Manuel Laserna, Alvin delos Santos, Stewart Kenneth Magbanwa, Odelon Bartolo I, Marc Sebastian Hauer, Erol Pestano, Jann Vincent Regalado, Frank Jared Rafailes, John Karl Solano, Earl JaztinBeboso and Armando Tandez, Jr./MP

SERENO IMPEACH PROCEEDINGS

SC CLERK OF COURT DODGES QUESTIONS FROM HOUSE PANEL INVOKES CONFIDENTIALITY

By NICOLE-ANNE C. LAGRIMAS

            Supreme Court Clerk of Court Felipa Anama last week repeatedly refused to disclose which Supreme Court justice served as the member-in-charge for the transfer of venue of Maute case proceedings from Mindanao elsewhere even as lawmakers pointed out that the matter was “academic” since it has been resolved.

            While Anama confirmed that the case, which stemmed from a letter of request from Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II, was raffled to a justice, she invoked confidentiality rules of the High Court when she said she could not say who became the member-in-charge, despite a sustained round of questioning by members of the House Committee on Justice.

            Anama cited Rule 7, Section 3, of the Internal Rules of the Supreme Court, which stipulates that the result of the raffle of bar matters, administrative cases, and criminal cases where the penalty imposed by the lower court is life imprisonment “shall be treated with strict confidentiality.”

            According to this rule, matters outside of the confidentiality clause shall be made available by the Clerk of Court to parties to the case or their duly authorized representatives. It was raised by members of the panel that the confidentiality matter was “academic” because the case has been “disposed of.”

“Kung natapos na po ang kaso, wala na tayong pakialam doon sa raffle,” said committee Vice Chairperson and former Court of Appeals Justice Vicente Veloso.

            Anama was then asked by panel Chair Reynaldo Umali that the lawmakers were not discovering the identity of the justice to whom the case was raffled, but were trying to “isolate that it is not the Chief Justice who was the member-in-charge.”

            To this, Anama said: “Hindi po kay Justice [Noel] Tijam, kaya doon po sa labing-apat mamili na po kayo doon.”

            Anama’s reply seemed to frustrate the panel members, including Umali, who said, “Attorney Anama, ‘wag po tayong maging pilosopo dito,” and urged the clerk of court to “cooperate” in the impeachment proceedings. For her part, Anama said she “respects the committee.”

            `In the impeachment complaint of lawyer Lorenzo Gadon against Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno, he alleged that the transfer of Maute cases was assigned to Associate

Justice Noel Tijam. Gadon alleged further that despite this initial assignment, Sereno “caused” the matter to be “raffled” to her.

            The Chief Justice herself, in her verified answer to the complaint, said she was the member-in-charge for the matter. The subject at hand picks up from last week’s hearing, where Aguirre testified on the series of events surrounding the supposed “50- to 52- day delay” in the granting of his letter to the Supreme Court requesting for the transfer of Maute cases from the then-wartorn part of Mindanao, citing a lack of facilities and the obvious danger to prosecutors and judges.

            The cases were ultimately transferred to Taguig City Trial Courts, but the allegation centers on the alleged “intentional delay,” which Sereno’s camp has called “baseless” on the grounds that the processing of the Aguirre’s request was first taken up for a shorter period of time.

            Sereno's lawyers said the High Court acted on Aguirre’s initial request within 8 days, took another 14 days to discuss Aguirre’s request for reconsideration, and another 14 to issue its resolution granting the Cabinet official’s motion for reconsideration. 

            Sereno’s camp also refused to comment on Anama’s motive behind her repeated denial of disclosing the information asked of her.

            “As to the state of mind of Attorney Anama, I cannot speak for her, but to be fair I think she’s only invoking the Supreme Court internal rules at kung anuman yung rationale no’n, kung anuman yung dahilan sa likod no’n, ay dapat din nating igalang dahil ‘yan ay alituntunin ng Supreme Court,” Sereno lawyer and spokesperson Josa Deinla told reporters.

It also could not be said that Anama was “covering” for the Chief Justice, she said.

            “Feeling ko, sarili niya namang desisyon ‘yun, hindi naman namin masasabi na... Remember Clerk of Court [siya] for the Supreme Court en banc, ang loyalty niya is to her office at sa buong Korte Suprema. So ‘di natin pwedeng sabihing pinagtatakpan niya si Chief Justice dito,” she said. /MP

KALIBO WATER DISTRICT PUMPING STATION FACES ‘IMMINENT DANGER’

BY BOY RYAN B. ZABAL, AMJ

        Severe river bank erosion is threatening the safety of residents and the pumping station of Metro Kalibo Water District (MKWD), a local water utility in Kalibo, Aklan.

            The pumping station in Barangay Tigayon is in danger of collapsing, according to MKWD information officer Frederick Buenavidez in  Bombo Kalibo report.

            Buenavidez said the soil from riverbank has been eroded due to strong stream of water in Aklan River. There are also families living in the area at risk of losing their homes and land to erosion.  

            He stressed that short-term and long-term solutions for the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) are needed to solve the impending danger to lives and properties of residents.

            In 1990s, the Tigayon pumping station was put up around 50 meters away from the riverbank, but, after the assessment this week, the erosion is just two meters away from the pumping station.

            Buenavidez said the MKWD Water Services Division tasked to operate and maintain pumping stations is also closely coordinating with DPWH to address the anxiety felt by residents.  

            MKWD is serving the water requirements of consumers in Kalibo, New Washington and portions of Banga, Batan and Balete. It sourced its water from Aklan River with its six pumping stations in Kalibo and Banga.

            The water utility also has a bulk water agreement with Datem Water, which sourced its surface water for treatment in Aklan River.

            MKWD also served Numancia Water District of the town of Numancia through a bulk water supply agreement since 2012./MP

CAUSE FOR SAINTHOOD OF CEBUANO BISHOP REACHES 'ROMAN STAGE'

            For the second time this year, documents of a Filipino candidate for sainthood will be submitted to the Vatican soon.

            Fr. Mhar Balili, the vice-postulator for the cause for sainthood Archbishop Teofilo Camomot, said the diocesan process has been declared valid by the Congregation for the Causes of Saints of the Vatican.

            "The result came out so fast seven months after its submission," he said on his social media account.

            "Now, we begin the ROMAN STAGE wherein we will make the "positio" - a dissertation that will prove his heroic virtues and fame of sanctity. This will be submitted to Rome and reviewed by theologians and cardinals," he added.

Balili explained that the Congregation for the Causes of Saints will then submit a recommendation to the Pope, who will make his judgment declaring the candidate "Venerable."

            "One miracle is needed for his beatification. Then, another miracle is required for him to be canonized. Let's continue to pray," he said.

            Camomot was born in Carcar, Cebu on March 3, 1914. He studied at the Seminario de San Carlos and was ordained priest on Dec. 15, 1940. He was named coadjutor Archbishop of Cagayan de Oro City and appointed parish priest of Sta. Rita, Balingasag, Misamis Oriental.  He later returned to Cebu as an auxiliary bishop to Julio Cardinal Rosales.

            He founded religious congregations for women. He was known for his generosity towards the poor and have the ability to bi-locate. In March this year, the Diocese of Dipolog announced that the diocesan process cause for sainthood of Jesuit priest Francesco Palliola has ended and that documents are set to be submitted to the Vatican. Palliola was born in Naples, Italy but spent many years in Mindanao, particularly in the Zamboanga Peninsula. He was martyred at Ponot, now Jose Dalman town, on Jan. 29, 1648./MP

WV AIRPORTS GET ‘ONE STAR’ OTP RATINGS

BY BOY RYAN B. ZABAL

            Three regional airports in Western Visayas earned ‘One Star’ ratings based on the latest On-Time Performance (OTP) Stars Ratings Programme.  

            OTP is an ongoing accreditation programme of  Official Aviation’s Guide (OAG) which awards all airlines and airports a star rating twice yearly based on 12 months' rolling performance.

            The OAG Star Ratings range from one to five stars with the top 10 percent airports with the best on-time performance receive five stars. The awards are then distributed, across all airports with the poorest performers receiving one star.

            On-time is defined as departures and arrivals that take place strictly less than 15 minutes after scheduled departure/arrival time. Airlines and airports must have a minimum of 600 operations per month.

            Regional airports in the list with “One Star” ratings were Iloilo, Bacolod, Davao, Tacloban, Cagayan de Oro,  Kalibo, Puerto Princesa and the Manila Ninoy Aquino International Airport.

            In Western Visayas,  Iloilo International Airport had 15,624 operations for 67.5 OTP rating, Bacolod Airport with 13,113 for 64,1 and Kalibo International Airport with 17,698   for  57.2 OTP rating.

            The latest OTP ratings for the world’s airports and airlines were measured from October 2016 to September 2017.  OTP program uses the most reliable, comprehensive flight status database in the world. The star ratings are awarded twice a year – April and October.

            The top three airports with OTP ‘Five Star’ ratings are Tokushima, Japan in North East Asia with annual OTP of 92.8 and Kochi, Japan (91.5) and Hilo, USA in North America (91.3)

Philippine Airlines garnered one star (61.9), with Air Asia Zest (61.1) and Cebu Pacific (55.9) for the airlines category.

            OAG's annual Punctuality League is available only for the largest airlines (Top 200 based on ASKs, 30,000+ scheduled flights) and airports (min 2.5 million departed seats) - a ranking based on performance in a single calendar year rather than an ongoing accreditation.

            OAG is the leading global provider of digital flight information. It provides accurate, timely and actionable information and applications across the travel sector to the world’s airlines, airports, government agencies, aircraft manufacturers, consultancies and travel related companies./MP

October 29- November 4, 2017

KALIBO ATI-ATIHAN FESTIVAL KING ASPIRANTS GEAR UP FOR TITLE

BY BOY RYAN B. ZABAL

           

                       

        Check out your favourite as 16 young candidates vie for Kalibo Ati-Atihan Festival King kicks off. They are now busy preparing to take home the title this January 2018.

            The event is one of the side lights of the Ati-Atihan festival in Kalibo, Aklan, which is scheduled on January 12 to 21, 2018

            The Lakan it Kalibo Ati-Atihan, which is now known as Kalibo Ati-Atihan Festival King, has been building up excitement for local fans leading to the grand finale.

            According to pageant organizer Mr. Albert Menez, the candidates will have their preliminaries on December 16 in Boracay Island for the swim wear competition. They will also showcase their talent and creativity on December 22 at Kalibo Pastrana Park. 

            A fashion show is also slated on December 9 to model the design of top designers in Aklan and Iloilo at Kalibo Pastrana covered court. 

            Menez said the Ati-Atihan Festival King pageant continues to heat up as they will vie for the crown and title on January 15 at Kalibo Magsaysay Park at 7 o’clock in the evening. 

            The next batch of ambassadors are Paolo Benedict Ibuyan, John Rafael Villar, Ronald No, Jasper Sy, Marc-Philip Niemeyer, Charles Ed Manuel Laserna, Alvin delos Santos and Stewart Kenneth Magbanwa.

            The other candidates are Odelon Bartolo I, Marc Sebastian Hauer, Erol Pestano, Jann Vincent Regalado, Frank Jared Rafailes,  John Karl Solano, Earl Jaztin Beboso and Arnaldo Tandez, Jr./MP