Disease

A timely call

March 28, 2023 People's Tonight 260 views

WITH the start of the summer season in the Philippines, Filipinos expect the government to come up with a “plan of action” against the possible outbreak of tropical diseases.

This is especially so since the the Weather Bureau has announced the likelihood of a transition to El Nino in the July-August September period and may persist until 2024.

Records show that impoverished Philippines last experienced El Nino, which typically occurs every three to five years, from the last quarter of 2018 to the third quarter of 2019.

Thus, we commend Albay Rep. Joey Salceda, an economist, for urging the Department of Health (DOH) to beef up its contingencies to respond to diseases that occur during summer.

Congressman Salceda said that tropical diseases, such as cholera and chikungunya, can be problematic, citing global studies showing a spike in cases during the El Nino phenomenon.

El Nino and its opposite condition – La Nina – can make extreme weather events more likely in certain areas of the country, according to the Bicolano member of the House of Representatives.

We share Salceda’s view that the government could work on various adaptation measures, such as mandating local government units to clean up and the DOH to do the coordination work.

Fortunately, the government and the public can anticipate what will happen more or less because models teach us when, how long, and how bad El Nino can be, according to Salceda.

Like the Alkbay solon, we hope the Senate approves its version of the “Center for Disease Control and Prevention Bill” when the two-chamber Congress resumes its regular sessions May 8.

The House of Representatives, headed by Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez of Leyte, has already approved its version of the proposed legislation.

Sana mapirmahan ni Pangulong Bongbong Marcos ang panukalang batas na ito bago ang kanyang pangalawang “State-of-the-Nation Address” sa darating na Hulyo.

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