Construction worker tinamaan ng kidlat, dedbol

by Mervin Reyes @News | October 11, 2026

Photo: File

Nasawi ang isang 51-anyos na construction worker matapos tamaan ng kidlat habang nagtatrabaho sa isang tambakan sa Brgy. Bokong, Labangan, Zamboanga del Sur, nitong Biyernes ng hapon, Oktubre 9.

Kinilala ng Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office ang biktima na si Dominador Labora, ng Purok Santan, Upper Pulacan, Labangan.

Batay sa paunang imbestigasyon ng Labangan Municipal Police Station, alas-3 ng hapon nang mangyari ang insidente sa Purok 7, malapit sa National Irrigation Administration (NIA) Dam.

Kasama ni Labora ang tatlo niyang katrabaho nang bigla siyang tamaan ng kidlat at magtamo ng malubhang pinsala.

Government braces for “very strong” El Nino, urges public to prepare

by Info @Brand Zone | September 27, 2026

File / DA

The government is readying measures to address the impact of what the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAG-ASA) described as “moderate to very strong” El Nino for the rest of the year that could have tremendous impact on agriculture and pose health risks to people.

The Department of Agriculture is seeking P10 billion to fund scientific measures to mitigate the effects of El Niño on farms on top of the P6.2 billion that the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) already released for fuel and fertilizer subsidies to affected farmers and fisherfolk.

Another P3.5 billion is being earmarked for building solar irrigation facilities. Agriculture Assistant Secretary Arnel de Mesa said the DA’s interventions are targeted at specific areas will use scientific methods.

PAG-ASA has warned that a very strong El Nino cause droughts, water shortages, power-supply interruptions, and extreme heat that could pose health risks to people especially children and the elderly.

On a video posted on state media, PAG-ASA weather specialist Chris Perez, weather specialist of Pag-asa said it is important that the public is fully made aware of the effects of El Nino and what they can do to protect themselves and mitigate its impact.

“Kapag may El Nino ay karaniwang nagiging madalang ang ating weather systems na nagdudulot ng pag-ulan … at kadalasan ay nakakaranas ng kakulangan sa suplay ng tubig, mapa-irrigation, power generation, just to name a few,” Perez said.

He said the water and energy sectors should have plans in place to address anticipated water- and power-supply and demand problems. He cited the need for proper management of the water supply.

“Siyempre kapag nandiyan na ang El Nino, dapat ‘yung pagtitipid natin sa tubig, imaximize po natin ang paggamit ng tubig dahil alam natin na magiging madalang ang mga pag-ulan sa ating bansa sa panahon ng El Nino,” Perez noted.

PAG-ASA has consistently warned that El Nino will affect the country from the middle of this year up to the first half of 2027. Perez said PAG-ASA will continue monitoring El Nino and other weather system and how they will affect specific areas of the country so that appropriate measures can be taken, “Dapat continuous ang monitoring natin … para maabisuhan natin ang mga kababayan natin at iba’t-ibang sektor at makapaghanda at makapag-plano,”

Perez added. In the 2024 Executive Order No. 53 signed by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. he has reactivated and reconstituted the Task Force El Nino to enable government to effectively address severe dry spells and droughts and ensure food security, water safety and public health.

DOH, LGUs link up to combat leptospirosis spread by house-to-house visits to distribute antibiotic doxycycline

by Info @Brand Zone | September 9, 2026

Photo: File / Olongapo City Information Center

The Department of Health (DOH) and local health officials began working together to identify communities that often flood and distribute doxycycline, a medicine for leptospirosis, to people who must wade through floodwaters for their daily activities. Health Secretary Edwin Mercado said in an interview that he told DOH staff to work with barangay health workers to find people who have walked through floods and give them doxycycline.

Mercado admitted that going to barangay health centers or getting a doctor’s prescription for doxycycline can be difficult and time-consuming. “Ang ginagawa po natin pro-actively ay tayo na po ang pumupunta sa bawat barangay at inaalam natin sino po ba ang hindi maiiwasang lumusong sa baha, tulad ng mga riders at trabahador.

Ang mga health workers ay ating binibigyan ng payo na hanapin sila sa mga barangay para makapabigay tayo ng doxycycline, para hindi na sila pupunta sa mga barangay health stations,” Mercado said. Mercado said that tracking people exposed to floods is currently slow and difficult, so they are looking into using technology to get real-time data, like mapping flooded communities for faster health response.

“Kailangan mayroon tayong sistema (for forecasting) na computerized para real time ang ating data. Iyon po ay ginagawaan ng paraan. Pati na rin po ang supply chain, stock level, pati na rin ang ordering cycle (ng doxycycline),” Mercado said.

In a separate interview, Dr. Grace Padilla, the officer in charge and Manila City Health Officer, said that barangay health workers in Manila are actively going house to house as part of the city’s efforts to control the spread of leptospirosis.

Nearly 200,000 doses of doxycycline have already been given to residents, as the City Health Office expects more leptospirosis cases because of the constant rain and flooding in some parts of the city. Padilla said Manila hospitals and health facilities are on alert because leptospirosis cases could rise as the rains continue.

Padilla said that six Manila hospitals set up to care for leptospirosis patients are now operating beyond their usual bed capacity. Under standard procedures, hospitals are expected to increase capacity by adding 10 percent more beds for severe leptospirosis cases.

Manila has started using its infectious disease facilities and wards, including areas that were once used for COVID-19 patients, to handle the growing number of leptospirosis patients at Sta. Ana Hospital. The Manila City Health Department is also monitoring other water- and weather-related diseases, such as cholera, typhoid fever, and flu-like illnesses, as the rains and flooding continue.