Philippines: State of Calamity Declared in Western Visayas Provinces

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Philippines: State of calamity declared in Western Visayas provinces
<hr style="color: rgb(209, 209, 225);" size="1"> <!-- / icon and title --> <!-- message --> Source: http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakin...ayas-provinces

State of calamity declared in Western Visayas provinces

By Nestor P. Burgos Jr.
Visayas Bureau
First Posted 19:49:00 06/23/2008

ILOILO CITY, Philippines -- The provinces of Iloilo, Aklan and Capiz, Antique and Iloilo City were declared under a state of calamity as the death toll and reports of damage brought by typhoon "Frank" (international codename: Fengshen) in Western Visayas continued to rise.

The officials in these areas have sought relief assistance, such as ready-to-eat food, potable water and dry clothes, as evacuees reached hundreds of thousands.

In Iloilo City alone, 198,545 persons stayed at the 58 evacuation centers as 135 out of the 180 villages were flooded, OIC-Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog said.

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Copyright 2008 Visayas Bureau.

 

[Sally Furniss]

Re: Philippines: State of Calamity Declared in Western Visayas Provinces

Stench of decaying rice bothers villagers in Iloilo City
By David Israel Sinay
Visayas Bureau
First Posted 23:22:00 08/06/2008
ILOILO CITY, Philippines?The stench emitted by decaying rice damaged in the flood triggered by typhoon Frank has been affecting the health of people residing near the National Food Authority (NFA) compound in the village of Quintin Salas here, according to local health officials.
Residents who went to the village health center complained of chest pains, shortness of breath, loss of appetite, vomiting and stomach ache, said Julita Anino, officer in charge of the Quintin Salas health station, on Wednesday.
A significant rise in pulmonary and respiratory illnesses was likewise recorded last July in the village. From a lone bronchial asthma monitored in the first three months of 2008, the number rose to 12 for the month of July alone, said Anne Jean Armonio, supervisory nurse of the Jaro district II health center.
The city health office also recorded an increase in the number of cases of gastroenteritis (eight) and skin infection (40) in the village. There were also 110 cases of upper and lower respiratory tract infection with symptoms of cough and fever, she said.
"The pungent odor released from the rotten rice aggravated the symptoms," Armonio said.
Anino said the health office provided the afflicted residents with medicines supplied by the city government.
Hedy Jardeleza, provincial manager of NFA in Iloilo, reported that floods that hit Iloilo at the height of typhoon Frank in June destroyed 222,066 bags of milled rice and 13,000 bags of palay stocks.
He said they buried the flood-soaked stocks of milled rice and palay when it started emitting a "strong foul odor" and contaminating the surrounding grounds with leachate.
Jardeleza said they also applied inoculants and deodorizers and lime to minimize the foul smell.
The rotting rice and palay were buried in a compost pit at the back portion of the NFA compound while some of the damaged stocks were sold to local manufacturers of organic fertilizers, Jardeleza said.
A backfill with 1.5 meters of soil covered the compost pit, he said.
Anino, however, noted that the area continued to emit a pungent smell that would waft through the village especially during humid weather. Anino resides at the adjacent village of Tacas and regularly passes near the NFA compound.
National Center for Disease Prevention and Control director Yolanda Oliveros said a letter dated July 22 addressed to the village officials, said the foul odor was "just the normal effect (of) any biodegradable materials."
Oliveros said bringing the decaying sacks of rice out in the open would prevent the formation of the toxic gas hydrogen sulfide.
Hydrogen sulfide gas is also known as "sewer gas" because it is produced by the breakdown of waste material. At low levels, hydrogen sulfide gas has a strong odor similar to that of rotten eggs, according to a fact sheet from the website of the Illinois Department of Health.
Jardeleza has assured the city government and the residents in the surrounding communities that they will excavate the damaged rice stocks not later than August 15.
Armonio, meanwhile, said her office also monitored cases of water-borne diseases in Quintin Salas. She said they so far recorded eight cases of suspected typhoid fever and another eight cases of suspected leptospirosis.
The health center would continue to monitor and provide aid to persons with suspected water-borne and air-borne diseases in the area, Armonio said as of Wednesday.


http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breaki...ecaying-rice-bothers-villagers-in-Iloilo-City