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04 May 2016
  • President Aquino leads launch of expanded anti-HPV vaccination campaign in Iloilo
  • Administration’s election success to sustain reforms, says President Aquino
  • Palace echoes business groups’ views on economy

President Aquino leads launch of expanded anti-HPV vaccination campaign in Iloilo
(ILOILO CITY, Iloilo) President Benigno S. Aquino III on Tuesday led the launch of the nationwide Expanded Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Community-Based Vaccination Program, aimed at combating cervical cancer in the country.“Ang sa atin nga po: Prevention is always better than the cure. Wala po sigurong tututol na kung pwedeng iwasan at agapan ang sakit, dapat lang itong gawin agad para hindi na lumala o kumalat pa,” the President said in his speech during the launch held at the Sarabia Hotel here.

“Sa Daang Matuwid, pinalawak natin ang ating national immunization program, para magkaroon na rin ng access ang ating mamamayan, lalo na ang mga nasa laylayan.”

The Chief Executive noted that the nationwide vaccination campaign against HPV is part of government efforts to fight cervical cancer, which claims 12 lives each day in the country.

“Kaya naman pinalawak natin ang programang ito; mula sa implementasyon nito sa mga paaralan lamang, ipinapatupad na rin natin ito sa buong komunidad simula noong nakaraang taon. Suma-tutal po, ang target na mabakunahan ng Phase 1 at Phase 2 ng programa: 690,000 na kababaihan, mula 9 hanggang 10 taong gulang, sa 47 na probinsya, kasama na ang Iloilo,” he said.

The President also reported that the government has already launched an anti-dengue vaccination campaign that targets school children across the country.

“Nito pong Abril, inilunsad natin ang dengue vaccine immunization sa mga public schools sa Region 3, 4-A at NCR (National Capital Region),” he said.

“Ito po ang mga lugar na unang tinutukan dahil sila ang may pinakamaraming insidente ng dengue. Ang sabi nga po sa akin, hindi 100 percent maiiwasan ang pagkakaroon ng sakit gamit ang bakuna. Pero sa tulong nito, 93 percent ang nabawas sa severity o malubhang epekto ng dengue, at 81 percent naman ang naibaba sa hospitalization ng mga nagkaroon dengue.”

He said that according to Health Secretary Janet Garin, pentavalent vaccines against hepatitis B, meningitis and pneumonia, which have been sold to the private sector since 2003, have been made available to the general public for free since 2012.

“Ang pneumonia vaccine para sa bata na meron na rin sa pribadong sektor noon pang 2006, ay libre na ring naipagkakaloob sa publiko mula noong 2013. Isipin din ninyo: 1985 pa available sa pribadong sektor ang booster dose para sa measles, mumps at rubella. Nito pong 2015, sinimulan na rin natin ang school-based immunization laban sa mga ito, pati na rin sa tetanus at diphtheria,” he added.

The President further noted that under his term, the budget of the Department of Health has increased by more than 300 percent.
“Gamit ang pondong ito, pinaunlad natin ang mga pasilidad pangkalusugan sa ating bansa. Sa ilalim ng ating Health Facilities Enhancement Program, P682.54 million na ang inilaan natin sa pagpapaunlad ng 94 barangay health stations, 46 rural health units at urban health centers, at 12 na ospital dito sa Iloilo. Mula naman 2010 hanggang 2015, nag-deploy tayo ng 12 na doktor, 1,456 nurses, 263 midwives, 2 dentista, 4 nutritionists, at 20 public health associates sa inyong mga liblib na komunidad,” he said, adding that PhilHealth now covers 1.8 million Ilonggos.

The HPV, the most common viral infection of the reproductive tract, causes a range of conditions in both females and males, including precancerous lesions that may progress to become cancerous.

Although, the majority of HPV infections do not cause symptoms or disease and resolve spontaneously, persistent infection with high-risk HP genotypes may result in disease.

In women, persistent infection with specific types of HPV, most frequently types 16 and 18, may lead to precancerous lesions, which, if untreated, may progress to cervical cancer.

The HPV vaccines should be introduced as part of a coordinated and comprehensive strategy to prevent cervical cancer and other diseases caused by HPV.

The HPV vaccination is a primary prevention tool and does not eliminate the need for screening later in life, since the vaccine does not protect against all high-risk HPV types. PND (as)


Administration’s election success to sustain reforms, says President Aquino
(ILOILO CITY, Iloilo) President Benigno S. Aquino III on Tuesday enjoined Ilonggos to support the administration’s candidates on May 9 to ensure the continuity of his reform initiatives.

In a speech during a meeting with the local community here, the President reported on the accomplishments of his administration with the help of this allies in Iloilo province.

He cited the nearly threefold increase of the province’s infrastructure budget from P10.05 billion for the 2005-2010 period under the previous administration to P28.05 billion for the 2011-2016 period under his government.

Some P1.16 billion of the fund was spent on farm-to-market roads, and P228.75 million on production and post-harvest machinery and equipment, he said.

The administration has also aggressively implemented the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) in Iloilo, he said, noting the expansion of its coverage in the province from 5,085 beneficiaries in 2005 to 91,992 at present.

Moreover, the government has expanded PhilHealth coverage to 1.8 million in the province, and to 93 million across the country, he said.

The President further noted that under the government’s Health Facilities Enhancement Program, barangay health stations now have nurses and midwives.

In Iloilo, the program has a budget of P682.54 million, he added.

Meanwhile, under the sitio electrification program, the government has energized 1,964 sitios in Iloilo, part of the 32,688 sitios already energized across the country.

Another significant Iloilo project is the Jalaur River Multipurpose Project that has boosted tourism in the province, the President said. PND (as)


Palace echoes business groups’ views on economy
The next administration should build on the foundation established by the Aquino government for economic developments to continue, the Palace said on Wednesday.

Business groups and other investors have voiced their concern about the election and the next leader who will succeed President Benigno S. Aquino III, resulting in a weaker peso and a slowdown in trading.

“As observed by business leaders, the Aquino administration has established the foundations for sustainable and inclusive growth,” Communication Secretary Herminio Coloma, Jr. said.

“It is important that the incoming administration follow through by building upon the present platform of good governance that has earned the confidence of business and industry.”

Reforms achieved by the Aquino administration should serve as a springboard to propel further growth for the Philippines, private sector leaders said in a recent media forum.

The business groups emphasized the crucial role of President Aquino’s successor in sustaining investor confidence after the May 9 elections.

Makati Business Club chairman, Ramon del Rosario, Jr., said they will extend their support to the next president but noted that the qualities of the leader the people will choose next week will make a huge difference.

Economists are wary about the impending change in leadership, saying it is the biggest risk to the Philippines’ outlook at the moment as the country picks a new leader.

Running for president are former interior secretary Manuel Roxas II, Vice President Jejomar Binay, Senators Grace Poe and Miriam Defensor-Santiago, and Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte. PND (as)