Maniolas

President Benigno Aquino III is still studying available options to ensure the protection of Filipino peacekeepers facing possible threats in Liberia and the Golan Heights, Malacañang said Saturday. Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said this following reports that the Department of National Defense is mulling recommending pulling out Filipino peacekeepers from those areas. “We’re still trying to see what are available protection to soldiers there. My impression is the president has not made a decision yet,” Valte said on government-run dzRB radio. She said Aquino last year had also asked about the options to ensure the safety of Filipino peacekeepers in Golan Heights, after some of them were abducted. Valte said that once Aquino is briefed on the available protection to Filipino soldiers, he can continue evaluating proposals – including pulling out the Filipino peacekeepers. “Once that question is answered, tuloy ang pag-evaluate ng pangulo sa proposal,” she said. “(S)iyempre ayaw niya malagay sa peligro ang ating mga sundalo lalo dahil sa pagkalat ng merong mga maraming reported cases and deaths related to Ebola sa Liberia. He wants to know available safeguards in place,” she added. Earlier reports indicated the DND is considering the pullout of Filipino soldiers personnel serving as United Nations peacekeepers in Golan Heights and Liberia. It cited the worsening security situation in the Middle East and the Ebola outbreak in West Africa. — Joel Locsin /LBG, GMA News

INQUIRER.net US Bureau 11:06 am | Saturday, August 16th, 2014 Officials of the Apl.de.ap Foundation and Children’s Hospital Los Angeles receive giant check for $150,000 towards the campaign against childhood blindness. From left to right: Ted Benito, Sonia Delen, apl.de.ap, Thomas Lee, MD, and Bobby Fan, westernunion.com director of marketing in the US. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO LOS ANGELES, California – A major remittance company has joined rap icon Apl.de.ap’s fight against preventable blindness in Filipino babies. Western Union Digital donated  $150,000 to the Apl.de.ap Foundation’s Campaign for Filipino Children, a two-year effort to help in the diagnosis and treatment of retinopathy of prematurity, an eye disease that affects premature babies. This preventable eye disease affects at least 10 percent of all premature births in the Philippines and causes irreversible blindness if left untreated. The Campaign for Filipino Children estimates it can protect and treat 4,380 babies each year by providing education and support to Filipino medical professionals. The Apl.de.ap Foundation has partnered with renowned pediatric eye surgeon Thomas Lee, MD, and his team of experts in The Vision Center at Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles with their groundbreaking sight-saving work. Lee has developed methods that allow him to monitor eye exams and surgeries halfway around the world. He’s already tackled retinopathy of prematurity in Armenia, China, Mexico, and Mongolia. Western Union’s donation is a huge step towards the two-year fundraising goal of $650,000.The drive kicked off last June 8 with a benefit concert at the Greek Theatre in Los Angeles. A Read More …

Health authorities over the weekend warned the public against an unregistered appetite suppressant guava-flavored juice being sold in the market that contains an ingredient with potential cardiovascular risk. The Food and Drug Administration identified the product as “Vita Slim Appetite Suppressant Guava Flavored Juice” manufactured by United States Konmeger Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd. “Field Regulatory Inspectors from Department of Health-Center for Health Development Tuguegarao City, Cagayan Valley collected samples of Vita Slim Appetite Suppressant Guava Flavored Juice as part of post-marketing surveillance,” FDA head Kenneth Hartigan-Go said. He said the product is “not registered in the Philippines,” and the FDA found the product contains Sibutramine but did not state this in its label. The FDA said the product violates the FDA Act of 2009 and has suspended the manufacture, importation, distribution or marketing of Sibutramine products due to “unnecessary cardiovascular risks to patients.”” It also noted the product claims to be for a “slender figure.” The FDA instructed distributors, retailers, hospitals, pharmacies and clinics to discontinue further distribution, sale and use of the product. Also, it said its officers have orders to confiscate the products in the markets. The FDA also sought help from local government units to make sure the products are not sold.  — Joel Locsin /LBG, GMA News

POEA Administrator Hans Leo Cacdac. INQUIRER.net FILE PHOTO MANILA, Philippines—Manning agencies must now include information on the deadly Ebola virus from the Health department and the World Health Organization (WHO) in predeparture seminars for Filipino seafarers, the Maritime Industry Authority (Marina) and the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) said in an advisory. In similar advisories, the Marina and POEA also asked shipping companies to make sure that seamen are “aware of the risks posed by Ebola, how the virus can be spread and how to mitigate the risks.” Poea administrator Hans Leo Cacdac said that as additional precaution, “shipping principals and employers of ships operating or calling on Ebola-affected countries in West Africa should provide seafarers with medical masks, gloves and goggles to limit their exposure (to) or contamination (from) the virus.” Marina chief Maximo Mejia, Jr., and Cacdac also advised ship masters to avoid crew changes and to disallow seamen from availing themselves of shore leaves while calling on Ebola-affected ports. “Unauthorized personnel should not be allowed to board the ship throughout the duration of the vessel’s stay in those ports,” the two officials added, referring to commercial sex workers who offer their services to the crew of docked ships. Close to 400,000 Filipino seafarers are manning cargo and passengers ships worldwide. Joint advisory In its Flag State Advisory, the Marina urged ship owners and manning agencies to “follow (the) guidelines and recommendations issued by the WHO and the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS).” Early this month, a joint Read More …

The Manila International Airport Authority will seek the help of the Department of Health in boosting an awareness campaign on the threat from the Ebola virus at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport. MIAA general manager Jose Angel Honrado said he wants the awareness campaign to be for government and non-government personnel who have direct interaction with passengers. “To the best we can and as far as allowable under government regulations, we are willing to support the Bureau of Human Quarantine to run an awareness campaign in NAIA,” Honrado said. NAIA’s frontline personnel include airline and ground handling staff, Customs and immigration officers, doctors, bridge operators, janitorial personnel and public relations staff. Honrado maintained the call for an awareness campaign is not meant to alarm the public or airport workers. “The intention is to keep everyone informed about Ebola and how they can do their jobs everyday without living in fear or anxiety,” he said. A statement from the MIAA said the move is in line with the call of the World Health Organization to step up public awareness on Ebola. MIAA said it has collaborated with the Bureau of Quarantine against the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome in 2002.  — Joel Locsin /LBG, GMA News