News briefs

TYPHOID IN ALEGRIA?

PROVINCIAL health officials visited barangay Valencia, Alegria town Saturday morning to check the health of its residents after they received reports that some manifested symptoms of typhoid fever.

Municipal Health Officer Samson Dela Peña told Cebu Daily News that he was with the staff of the provincial health office who visited the barangay yesterday.

According to Dela Peña, they only knew of the situation last Friday.

Dela Peña did not confirm if the residents were really sick with typhoid fever pending  several tests.

Health center records showed patients suffered cough and colds.

A staffer of the town’s Reihart Wertgen Memorial Hospital who refused to be named said they admitted  patients suffering from typhoid fever since Monday.

The staffer  did not give any figures.

Dela Peña said a team from the Regional Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit (RESU) will visit the area to conduct a biochemical oxygen demand test on the municipality’s water source.

Late last year, Alegria town declared a typhoid outbreak after number of cases rose to about 200.

The town sources its water from a spring with one chlorinator.

Water sampling conducted  to verify if the bacteria  contaminated the water source yielded negative results.

A monthly inspection of water pipes is conducted monitor the chlorine level and ensure the pipes  function properly. /Correspondent Carmel Loise Matus

SOUTH COTABATO AND CEBU SISTERS

Cebu Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia signed over the weekend   a memorandum of understanding with South Cotabato Gov. Arthur Pingoy Jr. establishing sisterhood relations between their provinces.

The sisterhood ties is aimed at building  up tourism and trade in the two  provinces.

Garcia was invited by Governor Pingoy Jr. as guest speaker for the province’s 45th founding anniversary.

After delivering her State of the Province Address (SOPA) last Friday, Garcia  left Cebu to attend Koronadal City’s annual Tnalak Festival which will culminate today.

The T’nalak Festival is named after a woven cloth created and woven by the women of the province’s T’boli tribe.

T’nalak is an indigenous team for a colourful way of weaving the abaca cloth.

The abaca cloth was chosen as the festival icon and symbolizes the blending of culture and strength and unity of various ethnic groups living in the province.

This celebration kicked off with the Dayana Civic Parade highlighted by a float and cheer dance competition and closes with the T’nalak Parade or Madal Bel.” /Correspondent Carmel Loise Matus