JINGGOY EXTENDS RELIEF TO FIRE VICTIMS IN SAN JUAN CITY

MANILA, December 31, 2012-Senate President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada spent an afternoon during the New Year’s Eve with the homeless families affected by the tragic fire incident which happened on the early dawn of Christmas day.

 

Sen. Estrada conducted a relief operation today in San Juan City Sports Arena for scores of affected residents of Brgy. St. Joseph. The nearby Brgy. Corazon de Jesus basketball court serves as temporary shelter for approximately 1,400 families or an estimated 6,000 individuals who were rendered homeless for the holiday season because of the fire.

 

St. Joseph covered court and Pinaglabanan Elementary School also serve as evacuation and relief centers for more than 400 families. Initial reports from Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) indicate at least 1,700 families all in all were displaced due to the incident.

 

Former President Joseph Estrada, with the local government, previously announced resettlement and housing plans and procedure for the affected residents. Meanwhile, the local government has launched a 10-day provision of meals, medical station, tents, among others.

 

Jinggoy, who served as Vice Mayor and Mayor of San Juan City for three consecutive terms, immediately organized a relief operation and dispatched relief items last December 25. Sen. Estrada was then joined by his wife Precy and eldest daughter Janella in the distribution of basic necessities, as they visited the site of ruins and surveyed of the damage brought about by the fire.

 

In the past few days leading to today’s activity, Sen. Estrada provided cooked meals, blankets and other useful materials to the families.

 

“Napakalungkot ng nangyari sa mga taga-San Juan. Kung kailan pa naman dapat masayang nagdiriwang ng Pasko at Bagong Taon nawalan sila ng tahanan at mga ari-arian. Ilang araw bago nangyari ang trahedya ay nakapagsagawa pa kami ng aming taunang Christmas gift-giving para sa mga taga-St. Joseph sa ilalim ng parehong covered court na ngayon ay pansamantala nilang tirahan,” Sen. Estrada laments.

 

One of Jinggoy’s Senate staff was also one of those who lost his home during the incident.

 

Sen. Estrada was assisted by DSWD-San Juan Chief Jessica Quitor, Arena Manager Lyn Manansala, Public Order and Safety Office Chief Rene Ramos, Brgy. St. Joseph Captain Nelly Duka and council.

CL Health Chief urges the public to avoid use of firecrackers for New Year celebration

BALER, Aurora, December 31, 2012-Department of Health (DOH) Region 3 Regional Leonita Gorgolon appealed to Central Luzon revelers to safely welcome 2013 by avoiding use of firecrackers.

In a cellphone interview, Gorgolon said that she urge everyone to use safer materials to create noise such as stereos, vehicle horns, cans, and pots and pans. Also, the celebration could be as happy and complete by participating in community fireworks display, parties and concerts.

For those who would be victims of firecracker-related incidents, the Central Luzon Health chief advised them to bathe the exposed skin with alkaline soap as a home first-aid remedy before rushing to the nearest hospital.

If ingested, patient should be given raw egg whites. Do not apply oils or induce vomiting.

“All emergency facilities of DOH-retained hospitals in the region are on red alert status. All local government unit run hospitals are also ready to give medical attention to firecracker victims,” Gorgolon stated.

Regional Epidemiology Surveillance Unit (RESU) recorded a total of 465 firecracker-related injuries from December 21, 2011 to January 5, 2012.

Most of the victims sustained burns and blasts that include amputation on severe cases while some sustained injury on the eyes and gunshot wound.

For the current holiday season, RESU has already tallied nine injuries of children playing with piccolo.