Umakyat na sa 49 ang nasawi sa pertussis habang umabot na sa 862 ang naitalang kaso sa bansa mula

Enero 1 hanggang Marso 23, 2024.

Sa datos ng Department of Health (DOH) na inilabas ni OIC Assistant Secretary at Deputy Spokesperson
Dr. Albert Domingo, ito ay 30 ulit umanong mas mataas kumpara sa mga naitalang kaso sa kahalintulad
na petsa noong nakaraang taon.

Pinakamaraming naitalang kaso ng sakit sa MiMaRoPa,187; National Capital Region (NCR), 158; Central
Luzon, 132; Central Visayas, 121 at Western Visayas, 72

Karamihan sa kaso ay mga paslit o 79% at anim sa 10 o 66% ay hindi bakunado.

Maaari pa umanong magbago ang naturang bilang dahil na rin sa late consultations at reports.

Tiniyak naman ng DOH na patuloy nilang minomonitor at inaaksiyunan ang pagtaas ng mga kaso ng
pertussis na kilala rin sa mga tawag na whooping cough, ubong dalahit at tusperina.
Pinag-iingat ng Department of Health (DOH) ang publiko laban sa mga heat-related illnesses,
gaya ng heat stroke, ngayong nakakaranas ang bansa ng napakatinding init ng panahon.

Nauna rito, iniulat ng PAGASA na ang temperatura ng bansa ay maaaring umabot ng hanggang 45°C
degrees Celsius sa ilang lugar mula Marso 28 hanggang kahapon, Abril 3, 2024.

Ang temperatura na nasa 33-41°C ay kinaklasipika ng PAGASA bilang “extreme caution” o matinding
pag-iingat habang ang 42-51 ay “danger” o mapanganib.

“Such temperatures can lead to heat cramps and heat exhaustion, characterized by symptoms such as
fatigue, dizziness, headache, vomiting, and light-headedness. Prolonged heat exposure increases the
probability of heat stroke, a serious condition characterized by loss of consciousness, confusion, or
seizures, which can be deadly if left untreated,” ayon sa DOH.

Kung maobserbahan ang mga naturang sintomas ay kaagad na magsagawa ng mga first aid measure.

Kabilang dito ang pagdadala sa pasyente sa malilim at malamig na lugar at pagbibigay ng sapat na
bentilasyon, pagtatanggal sa outer clothing ng pasyente at pag-aplay dito ng cold compresses, ice packs,
malamig na tubig o malamig at basang tela sa balat, partikular na sa ulo, mukha, leeg, kilikili, pulso,
bukung-bukong at mga singit.

Kung gising o conscious ang pasyente, dapat na madalas ngunit mabagal itong pasipsipin ng malamig na
tubig. Makabubuti din kung kaagad na tatawag ng emergency services at dalhin ang pasyente sa
pagamutan.

Pinapayuhan rin naman ng DOH ang publiko na regular na i-monitor ang mga ulat mula sa PAGASA at
magsagawa ng mga preventive measures laban sa mga heat-related illnesses.

Kabilang dito ang pag-inom ng maraming tubig, pag-iwas sa iced tea, soda, kape at alcoholic drinks;
paglilimita sa oras sa labas ng bahay, lalo na sa pagitan ng 10AM hanggang 4PM; at paggamit ng
proteksiyon laban sa sunburn gaya ng sumbrero, payong, at sunblock at pagsusuot ng maluluwag at
magagaang damit.
MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has approved the "New
Philippine Passport Act," designed to modernize passport application processes
nationwide.

The law aims to greatly improve accessibility and streamline procedures, especially
benefiting senior citizens, overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), and individuals with
special needs or exceptional circumstances, according to the Presidential
Communications Office (PCO) on Friday.
The recently enacted law, signed on March 11, replaced Republic Act No. 8239, also
known as the Passport Act of 1996.

"The new passport law now authorizes DFA to provide offsite and mobile passport
services in areas outside of the consular offices and foreign service posts (FSPs)," the
PCO said.

"The DFA is also mandated by the new law to arrange accommodations for the
applications of regular passports by senior citizens, PWDs, pregnant women, minors
aged seven years old and below, solo parents, OFWs, and individuals with emergency
and exceptional cases," it added.

To ensure passport security, the PCO explained that the law sets tough penalties for
unauthorized passport handling. Offenders could face at least 12 years in prison and
fines ranging from P1 million to P2 million.

The New Philippine Passport Act addresses offenses such as passport forgery and
misuse, with penalties including imprisonment for six to 15 years and fines ranging from
P100,000 to P250,000.

It also targets unfair practices in passport issuance, prescribing penalties like

suspension, dismissal, fines of up to P250,000, and imprisonment for a maximum of six
years.

According to the PCO, regular passports, meant for Filipino citizens ineligible for
diplomatic or official passports, will be issued under the new law, serving government
officials or employees traveling abroad for personal reasons.

"Government officials and employees and members of their families may, during their
incumbency in office, hold two passports simultaneously," the PCO said.

The New Philippine Passport Act will take effect 15 days after its publication in either
the Official Gazette or a widely circulated newspaper.
MANILA, Philippines — Teachers groups Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT) and
Teachers’ Dignity Coalition (TDC) welcomed a reconciled bill by the Senate and the
House of Representatives that would gradually increase the teaching allowance of
public school teachers starting school year 2025-2026.

Among the key provisions of the reconciled bill is the gradual increase in the teaching
allowance from the current P5,000 to P10,000 per teacher for SY 2025-2026 and
beyond.

“This significant achievement represents a monumental step forward in our ongoing call
for the government to prioritize the welfare and support of our esteemed public school
teachers,” the group said in a press statement.

The ACT said that while it supported the House’s original version of the proposed bill,
filed by ACT party-list, the reconciled version “is still a result of the endless effort of the
public school teachers through lobbying and collective actions in aid of legislation.”

“This progressive enhancement serves as a tangible recognition of the invaluable

contributions made by our teachers and uplifting their work conditions from being
undersupported and underpaid amid being overworked,” the ACT said.

The group, meanwhile, called on President Marcos not to veto the reconciled bill when it
reaches his office.

“The President should keep in mind his responsibility to uphold the rights and well-being
of our educators,” the ACT said.

Marcos had earlier vetoed a bill that seeks tax exemption for teachers’ duty honorarium
during the 2022 elections.

Meanwhile, the TDC said that while it finds the P10,000 teaching allowance to be small,
the passage of the reconciled bill is still a welcome development.

“The TDC says that they will closely monitor this situation and won’t allow another veto
to occur,” the group said.

The TDC also reiterated that the P10,000 teaching allowance must be tax-free.

“This P10,000 per month allowance is really small. Nonetheless, we are still happy as
this is a product of active lobbying and collaboration between our teachers and the
lawmakers,” TDC national chairman Benjo Basas said in Filipino.