DENGUE TRIPLE DRUG TREATMENT STUDY REJECTED BY PCP & PSMID

In Photo are the ff: Dr. Mario Panaligan, Dr. Francisco Tranquiluino, Dr. Tony Leachon and Dr. Rontgene Solante at the PCP Health Media Forum held every Tuesday at Annabels Restaurant in T. Morato, Q.C. (Original Photo by. Ver Garcia)

Dengue experts reject dengue treatment study;

call on doctors and government bodies  to adhere to ethics in clinical research

Members of the Philippine College of Physicians (PCP), together with the Philippine Society for Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (PSMID), criticized a clinical trial conducted in the Philippines of a novel triple-drug combination for dengue fever.  The two medical professional organizations stated the research study was poorly designed and the data analysis seriously flawed.

Controversy arose in recent weeks over the use of a proposed novel treatment that has three ingredients: oral artesunate, artemether (sprayed under the tongue), and berberine, an oral herbal medication. The triple drug combination has been recommended for use among dengue patients in several DOH hospitals under a “cohort study” protocol.

In a statement published in two newspapers yesterday, the PCP and PSMID said they fully support the global call for urgent research on new treatments for dengue but they cannot condone shortcuts in the search for a safe and effective dengue cure and raised major concerns on the trial. “The rights, safety, and well-being of the trial participants are the most important considerations and should prevail over interests of science and society,” they stated.

PCP President Dr. Anthony Leachon said it is the obligation of health professional groups to call for stopping the expanded use of scientifically unproven treatments, such as this triple drug combination, touted as a “promising” drug for dengue fever.

“The only basis for expanding the use of this drug combination to several DOH hospitals was a study on 290 dengue patients in one medical center. They claimed there were no deaths due to dengue among 145 patients who received this treatment in the clinical trial. However, they are not saying in public that those who did not get this treatment also survived, which does not provided extra benefit in preventing deaths,” said Dr. Mario Panaligan, member of the PCP Board of Regents and Vice President of PSMID.

This drug was also said to help eliminate the dengue virus faster in patients’ blood than those who did not receive the treatment. The PCP and PSMID said the diagnostic test strategy used to detect virus in the blood was not the most accurate test available.

  

Another claim that the drug combination worked in children and adults with dengue was also dismissed by PCP and PSMID. Aside from the flawed study that failed to prove it worked, the groups said it was unethical for the investigators to test drugs in children without first testing them in adults. They said increased vulnerability of children and the elderly calls for special vigilance among the concerned groups.

“The three-drug combination is said to kill viruses, bacteria and parasites. In the case of the malaria parasite, only artemether and artesunate have been unequivocally proven to be effective, while berberine has not. The proponents of this research are not telling the public that unwarranted and widespread use of artemether and artesunate in the community will promote malaria resistance to the drug – a serious public health problem that the government should address immediately,” said Dr. Rontgene Solante, former President of PSMID and one of the experts on infectious diseases in the country today.

Dr. Francisco Tranquilino, PCP Regent for Ethics Committee added that in the interest of patients’ safety and welfare, the DOH, Food and Drug Administration, the Philippine Council for Health Research and Development, the Philippine Health Research Ethics Board, and the doctors-researchers themselves should vigorously ensure that the principles of Good Practice in clinical research are followed. 

“We call on our colleagues to conduct clinical trials in accordance with the ethical principles consistent with the Declaration of Helsinki, Good Clinical Practice Guidelines, and the applicable regulatory requirements,” Tranquilino said.

They also called for transparency, recommending publication of the full trial report for public scrutiny, or at least sharing it to all concerned parties. Lastly, PCP and PSMID reminded researchers and research sponsors that the design of trials should be technically sound. They stated, “The protocol should be approved by an accredited ethics review board, consisting of members who have no apparent conflict of interest.”

Worldwide, dengue fever affects over 50-100 million people a year, leading to 500,000 cases of shock, and 22,000 deaths. In the Philippines, the DOH reported close to 60,000 cases of dengue for January – September 2014, with 242 deaths (or 4 deaths among 1,000 cases), mostly in children. (VerGarcia/TeddyChoBlogs)

Greenpeace Exposes Illegal Catch Of Baby Tuna Undermining The Philippine Tuna Industry By: Ver M. Garcia

 

GREENPEACE showing the illegal catch of baby tuna.

Manila  – Greenpeace releases earlier the results of an investigation into juvenile by catch, showing evidence that ‘baby’ skip jack, yellow fin and bigeye tuna are unloaded regularly at the General Santos fish port.  The investigation is carried out in the lead up to the annual meeting of tuna stakeholders at the 11th Western and Central Pacific Commission (WCPFC) meeting, currently being held in Apia, Samoa.  

Greenpeace compiled evidence that confirmed juvenile ‘baby’ yellow fin and bigeye tuna are being traded at substantially less than the average size at maturity of 1 meter in length, and even below the weight limit of 500g, set by Fisheries Administrative Order (FAO) 226, which allows the catching and trading of juvenile tunas as small as 500 grams in weight or just tens of centimeters long [1]. Bigeye and yellowfin tuna are considered mature and able to reproduce when they are about a meter long.   

A few months ago, the WCPFC Scientific Committee released information that the current population of the Pacific bluefin tuna is now estimated to be only at 4.2%, and bigeye tuna at 16% of its original spawning biomass [2].

“The world’s tuna stocks are in decline and nothing is being done to stop the catching of baby tunas - which are vital in keeping the fisheries alive. This is a direct result of the continued expansion of fishing fleets, and increasing fishing capacity and effort especially through the use of fish aggregating devices, or FADs, by purse seine vessels,” said Mark Dia, Regional Oceans Campaigner for Greenpeace Southeast Asia, and an observer at the WCPFC.  “Despite the red alert on bigeye tuna, fishing companies continue to fish them like there’s no tomorrow.  It is time for the WCPFC to tackle unchecked overfishing and demand that member countries like the Philippines take proactive measures to arrest this alarming decline in the stocks.  Failure to do so only relegates the WCPFC to an expensive talk shop,” added Dia.

Fish aggregating devices, locally known as payaos, are fishing devices that continuously attract fish and other ecologically related species.  When used together with purse seine nets, the catches can be as high as 100% juvenile tuna [3], together with endangered turtles and sharks [4].

Although the WCPFC has already imposed a four-month FAD ban in the high seas, Greenpeace said this is not enough. Backed by strong scientific evidence, the environmental group said any use of FADs by purse seine fleets is simply unacceptable.

Philippine fishing communities are also in favor of banning the use of purse seine on FADs. Small scale fishers who use selective or low impact fishing gear argue that they simply cannot compete with commercial fishing fleets that regularly use FADs which end up depleting fishing grounds, adding to local fishers’ woes.

“There are no more fish left for us to catch, even within our municipal waters. These purse seiners with their FADs rob us of our fish catch and take away everything, including baby fishes,” said Pablo Rosales, National Chairperson of Pangisda Pilipinas. “What’s worse is that our own Philippine government has a promotion policy on FADs. If nothing is done to stop FAD use with unsustainable fishing gear, then we will be fished  out of existence.”

“Six years after issuance of Fisheries Administrative Order 226 to protect tuna, and in the light of amendments to the Fisheries Code, it is time for the Philippine government to strengthen the law and ensure it’s fully enforced,” said Vince Cinches, Greenpeace Philippines Oceans Campaigner. “If we want the Philippine tuna industry to have a future, we should only allow fishing capacity that does not deplete fishing grounds, and ensure fair and sustainable fishing for both small-scale and commercial fisheries.  The government should also provide much needed protection for tuna spawning grounds within Philippines waters. ”

Greenpeace and fisherfolk are demanding that the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) urgently reduce the number of purse seiners, to align with sustainable catch levels and allow overfished bigeye and other tuna stocks to recover. To tackle bycatch of juvenile bigeye and yellowfin tuna, the BFAR must also ban the use of fish aggregating devices (FADS) by vessels using unselective fishing gears such as purse seine nets, and create a fisheries administrative order that prevents the catching, landing and selling of juvenile tuna.  Together, these measures present an   effective strategy to conserve the dwindling tuna stocks. (VerGarciaBlogs)

DOLE CELEBRATES 81ST ANNIVERSARY AND FACELIFT OF ITS ENTRANCE LOBBY.. By: Ver M. Garcia

NEWLY RENOVATED DOLE LOBBY. (from R-L) DOLE Assistant Secretary Katherine Brimon; acting Secretary Reydeluz Conferido; Assistant Secretary Gloria Tango;  Trade and Industry NCR Officer-in-Charge Director Ferdinand Monfoste; and NWPC Executive Director Criselda Sy, lead in the ceremonial ribbon cutting of the  newly renovated DOLE entrance lobby, in Intramuros, Manila,  as part of the opening activities for the 81^st DOLE Anniversary Celebration. (Photo by Jomar Lagmay, LCO)      

DISKWENTO CARAVAN AND LIVELIHOOD FAIR IN DOLE 

INTRAMUROS OPENS.  Department of Labor and Employment acting Secretary Reydeluz Conferido (2^nd from right) and Assistant Secretary Gloria Tango, leads in the ceremonial ribbon cutting during the opening of Diskwento Caravan and Livelihood Fair in DOLE Intamuros, Manila, as a kick-off activity for the 81^st DOLE Anniversary Celebration. Joining the acting Secretary Conferido are (from L-R) Cristy Quismundo, Internal Audit Service Director; Violeta Munoz, Administrative Service Director; Representative from Department of Trade and Industry; Criselda Sy, NWPC Executive Director; and DOLE Assistant Secretary Katherine Brimon. (Photo by Jomar Lagmay, LCO). (VerGarciaBlogs)     

ABU DHABI 3RD MINISTERIAL MEETING IN KUWAIT A BIG SUCCESS..

3RD MINISTERIAL MEETING. Labor Ministers of the Abu Dhabi Dialogue Member-States at their 3rd Ministerial Meeting in Kuwait pose for a posterity photo at the conclusion of the meeting at the Sheraton Kuwait. H. E. Hind Sobeeh Barak Al-Sabeeh, Minister of Labor and Social Affairs of Kuwait, the incoming ADD Chairman, (7th from left) is flanked by Philippine Labor and Employment Secretary Rosalinda Dimapilis-Baldoz, representing the Philippines as the outgoing ADD Chairman. On Baldoz's left is H.E. Qatar Labor Minister H.E. Abdullah Saleh Al-Khulaifi with whom Secretary Baldoz had a bilateral meeting in Doha, Qatar last Sunday.

PH DELEGATION AT 3rd ADD MINISTERIAL MEETING. Philippine Labor and Employment Secretary Rosalinda Dimapilis-Baldoz (6th from left) joins the members of the Philippine Delegation to the 3rd Ministerial Meeting of the Abu Dhabi Dialogue of which the Philippines is the outgoing Chairman. The delegation is composed of (L-R) Dir. Saul de Vries of the International Labor Affairs Bureau; Assistant Labor Attache to Kuwait Lily Pearl Guerrero; Labor Attache to Abu Dhabi Atty. Ofelia Almenario; Overseas Workers Welfare Administration Chief Rebecca Calzado; Undersecretary for Social Protection and POLOs in the Middle East in-charge Ciriaco Lagunzad III; Sec. Baldoz; Philippine Overseas Employment Administration Chief Hans Leo J. Cacdac; Labor Attache to Qatar Leopoldo de Jesus; Labor Attache to Kuwait Cesar Chavez; Labor Communications Director Nicon F. Fameronag; and Technical Education and Skills Development Authority Deputy Director General Irene Isaac.   

(Photo by Judith Mag-uyon). 

________________________________________

Abu Dhabi Adopts Philippines Comprehensive Information and Orientation Program for Migrant Workers

Labor and Employment Secretary Rosalinda Dimapilis-Baldoz recently lauded the success of the 3rd Ministerial Meeting of the Abu Dhabi Dialogue (ADD), hosted by and held in Kuwait, citing the ADD’s adoption of the Philippines’s proposal to implement a Comprehensive Information and Orientation Program for Migrant Workers, a joint undertaking of ADD member-states aimed at fostering professional relationships between migrant workers and their foreign employers, as well as intermediaries.

Officially known as the Ministerial Consultations on Overseas Employment and Contractual Labour for Countries of Origin and Destination in Asia, the ADD was established in 2008 and groups together eleven Colombo Process countries of migrant worker origin, namely, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, China, India, Indonesia, Nepal, Pakistan, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Vietnam; and nine Asian destination countries, namely, Bahrain, Kuwait, Malaysia, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, United Arab Emirates, and Yemen.

                                                        Labor Sec. Rosalinda D. Baldoz

“The Philippines is now prepared to shepherd the implementation of the Comprehensive Information and Orientation Program for Migrant Workers,” said Secretary Baldoz in a statement after the ADD Ministers adopted the Philippine proposal, together with two others.

“The overwhelming support of senior officials of ADD member-states to this project encourages us to accelerate the preparatory work toward the development of the various orientation and education modules of the project,” she added.

The other day, senior officials of ADD member-states overwhelmingly voted, after extensive discussions, to recommend the project for adoption in the Ministerial Meeting.

The Philippine proposal seeks to facilitate workers’ adaptation to their employment overseas and familiarize them with their rights and responsibilities, as well as with grievance mechanisms in their country of destination.

“The project’s objective is to prepare migrant workers for overseas employment through education and timely information for better adaptation. It seeks to ease adjustment difficulties of temporary migrant workers,” Baldoz explained.

The CIOP, which is for two years, involves a joint education module for each of the four stages of migration—before departure, upon departure, upon arrival, and upon return—to prepare migrant workers. It involves the development of a framework for the implementation of a Pre-Employment Orientation Session (PAOS); Pre-Departure Orientation Session (PDOS); Post-Arrival Orientation Session (PAOS); and Reintegration Counseling. It also involves capacity-building for trainors and program managers.

“Once they arrive in their COD, the government and employers of the receiving country shall use the education module to integrate them much faster, not just in the workplace, but also in the society of the receiving country. This will minimize problems attendant to migration,” Baldoz said.

She acknowledged that most, if not all, ADD labor-sending member-states have already institutionalized Pre-Departure Orientation Sessions, or PDOS, for departing migrants, but she said these still can be improved, citing the Philippines’s Comprehensive Pre-Departure Education Program that includes language training, culture familiarization, and stress management.

She also cited the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration’s Pre-Departure Orientation Seminar, or PEOS, which is now online.

She said the project will enable labor-sending and labor-receiving countries to share responsibility in responding to the critical need for relevant orientation and education of migrant workers at the point of decision to work overseas, at the workplace, and upon their return to their home countries.

“All stakeholders must be committed, both in COO and COD, to minimize problems in the entire cycle of migration, and maximize the opportunities offered by international labor migration,” said Baldoz.

She added that the Philippines, as lead of the project management team, is set to meet with other team members, namely, Bangladesh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Vietnam, and Thailand, in the first quarter of 2015 to begin work on the development of the program management framework and the PEOS, PDOS, PAOS, and reintegration counseling modules. (TedyChoBlogs)

WORKS AND GOOD DEEDS OF VICE-MAYOR ISKO MORENO .. ISANG MAGANDANG HUWARAN.. BY: Ver Garcia, Teddy Cho & Rey Montecer

                                           Manila Vice-Mayor Isko Moreno

     "Ang Kahirapan ay hindi Hadlang sa Tagumpay" Ang Kgg. Vice-Mayor Francisco Domagoso A.K.A "Isko Moreno" ay  ipinanganak noong Oct.24,1974 sa Tondo, Manila . Ang kanyang mga magulang ay sina Joaquin at Rosario Domagoso, isang pamilyang pangkaraniwan kung saan ang amain ay isa lamang na simpleng estibador sa North Harbor at sapat lamang ang sahod para sa pamilya. Bagama't salat sa kaginhawahan sa buhay ay di ito naging hadlang sa pagtaas ng antas at pag-unlad ng kabuhayan ni Isko.

     Nang siya'y nasa ika-apat na baitang natuto na siyang mamuhay ng Marangal sa pamamagitan ng Pagtulong sa Kalikasan (GARBAGE SEGREGATOR) hanggang sa siya ay maka-abot ng high school at naglingkod pa rin sa publiko bilang isang pedicab driver. 

     Ninais nyang matupad ang minimithing pangarap kung kaya't nag-enrol siya sa PMI sa kursong Marine Engineering. Dahil na rin sa kanyang kakisigan likas na kakayahan sa pag-awit at pag-arte siya'y natuklasan ni Wowie Roxas at nahirang bilang host sa programang "That's Entertainment" kasama ni Kuya GERMS. Gayunpaman, tiyaga, pagsisikap, sakripisyo ang nagbunsod sa kanya para maging promising actor.

     Noong 1998 nag-umpisa ang pagbabago sa kanyang buhay dahil sa kanyang mga ka-baranggay. Siya'y lumahok sa halalang pang-konseho at di inaasahang magwagi at bukod tanging nanguna sa ika Unang-Distrito ng Maynila. Nuong 2004 naging ikatlong termino niya bilang Konsehal,  dahil na rin sa paglilingkod sa mga maralita na tumalima at tumangkilik sa kanyang mga pagsusumikap. Kabilang na rin ang paglalaan niya ng batas at pag-sponsor sa mga pabahay at gumawa ng mga pamamaran upang matugunanan ang mga adhikain ng distrito. 

     Di naging hadlang ang kahirapan sa Pulitika. Naipagpatuloy nya ang mithiing pangarap sa tulong ni Vice-Mayor Danny Lacuna, kahit na mabigat ang mga responsibilidad. Kumuha siya ng Management sa International Academy of Management and Economics, habang siya'y nasa 2nd year sa Arellano University School of Law. Ang likas na talino at suporta ng butihing maybahay na si Dynne sila'y nabiyayaan pa ng apat na supling na marahil nagdulot ng ibayong inspirasyon sa kanya. 

     Nuong namang May 14, 2007, si Isko ay lumahok sa Halalan bilang Vice-Mayor ng Maynila at muling nanalo sa tulong at awa ng maykapal (Voice of the People is the Voice of God), siya ay nagwagi bilang pinakabatang Vice-Mayor ng Maynila. Nuong siya'y konsehal pa lamang, kanyang naranasan at nakita ang hirap at dusa ng mabigat na suliranin ng mga taong bayan na may kina-uukulan sa pangangailangang Pangkalusugan at mga Gamot. Kung kaya't naitatag niya ang Medical Misssion lingo-lingo at dito na rin naitatag ang BOTIKA NI ISKO - isang mumunting botika sa loob ng kanyang opisina. 

     Nagkaroon din siya ng mga proyekto sa mga maralita tulad ng : Operation Tule, katarata, Oplan Kagat Aso at nagkaroon din siya ng Computer Learning Center in 1999 "ISCOM ISKOLAR NG BAYAN". At Noong 2007, si Isko ay nagkaloob ng mga trabaho para sa mga Manilenos pang-lokal man o pang-abroad sa pamamagitan ng Kaagapay Foundation, isang NGO na ang layunin ay "To make Safe , Healthier and Happiness Place To LIve".

 A tribute to Isko Moreno who rose from the very humble beginnings and become a famous personality... Real Inspirational Life story, Works and Education.
                   
     Vice-Mayor ISKO MORENO advocates a vision for the City of Manila it's unwavering dedication to help his fellowmen, that the welfare and benefits of his beloved city and it's residents is his primary, principal and primordial consideration, priority and concern. Ang Legacy na binigyang diin din niya ay ang pagsasa-ayos sa pagsisikip ng Port of Manila at Traffic sa Maynila sa pamamagitan pagpapatupad ng Truck-ban at pagbabawal ng mga BUS na walang terminal sa lungsod ay nagbigay lunas sa mga matagal ng suliraning pang-trapiko na sinuportahan rin ni Pangulong/ Mayor ERAP ESTRADA. (TeddyChoBlogs)

PINK FESTIVAL IPAPALABAS SA QUEZON CITY THEATERS..
By: Teddy Cho and Ver Garcia

The Quezon City government led by Mayor Herbert Bautista believes in the equality of all people and continues to empower the marginalized sectors like the LGBT constituency of Q.C. A voice and a platform to articulate there issues and concerns under Soxy Topacio's watch as Pink Festival Chairman. Also in Photo were Nick Deocampo and Vice-Mayor Joy Belmonte of Q.C.

Inilunsad kamakailan ng International Pink Film Festival sa Annabel's Restaurant na may pangunahing layunin ipakilala ang International Gender Forum sa madla ang kanilang talino sa sining ng pag-arte at may temang pagkilala sa  karapatan ng ikatlong kasarian.

Nakatakdang ipalabas ang nasabing mga pelikula sa Disyembre 10 hanggang 12, 2014 sa Trinoma Mall Cinema 3. Ang parada ng mga kasali sa mga pelikula at mga panauhing pandangal ay mag-uumpisa ng ika-9 at kalahati ng umaga. Kasabay ng talakayan at review ng mga pelikula sa ika-10 ng umaga.

Ang tatlong araw na Pink Film Festival ay tatalakay sa pamumuhay, karapatan pantao, kalusugan at edukasyon ng mga LGBT o ikatlong kasarian.

Ang pandaigdigan talakayan sa mga karapatan ng mga third sex ay magbubuklod sa mga kilalang personalidad sa ibat-ibang panig ng mundo. Kasama ang mga kritiko, aktibista at mga LGBT na mamumuno sa larangan ng pag-arte o pelikula. Ang talakayan ay inaasahang magbibigay ng pagkaunawa, palitan ng mga kuro-kuro at pagsasanay sa harap ng publiko.

Ang mga beteranong artrista na gaganap sa mga pelikula ay pinangungunahan ni PJ Raval at gagampanan niya ang maselang papel tungkol sa usaping LGBT na may kaugnayan sa karapatang pantao at adbokasiya ng mga ikatlong kasarian.

Ang mga dokumentadong issue sa pangunguna ni Director Kloie Picot sa larangan ng pakikibaka sa mga kaso ng ikatlong kasarian  at mga mamamayan na nawalan ng tahanan ay mag-aambag ng kanilang panukala tungkol sa transgender issue. Sa larangan naman ng pangkalusugan isang kilalang Cambodian na gumagawa ng pelikula at sa issue ng HIV/AIDS, aktibistang Vanna Hem, magtatalakay na may kinalaman sa prostitusyon at mga karapatan nila sa mga ginagalawang komunidad. Mula sa bansang Sweden, si Bill Schiller isang Film maker at Gay Artist ay naimbitahan upang mibahagi ang kanyang mga pananaw tunkol sa LGBT. (VerGarciaBlogs)

DSWD PROMOTES NATIONAL CHILDREN'S MONTH 2014
BY: Teddy Cho and Michael Agawin

                                  National Children's Month 2014

The Dept. of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) through  its attached agency, the Council for the Welfare of Children (CWC) will lead the celebration of the 22nd National Children's Month this October. For this year, the event carries the theme,  "Bata Kasali Ka, Ikaw Ay Mahalaga", to promote children's participation in nation building. 

        Balitaan Sa Hotel Rembrandt hosted by Broadcaster and Media Practitioner Erick San Juan (Original Photo by: Itami Mcfie)

The month long celebration has kicked off recently at the Quirino Grandstand with an Awareness Walk on Chidren's Right. This was participated by children on various schools in the NCR and representative from government and non-government agencies, civil society and people's organizations held simultaneously in all 17 regions. Children's participation is one of the rights of children stipulated in Article 12 of the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC). Based on the CRC the children have the right to participate in the decision making processes that maybe relevant in their lives and to influence decisions taken in their regard - within the family, school or the community.

          UNICEF spearheads the training of  Filipino children through storytelling

One of the highlights of the celebration is the National Children's Congress on Oct. 22 - 26, 2014 which aim to bring out their voices on issues that directly affects them. Through the congress, the children-participants will identify the various emerging challenges that they experienced and will present this to concern government officials for appropriate solutions.