Bukidnon gov’t answers open letter re: dengue problem, sends letter to physician, media
BUKIDNON ONLINE | BUKIDNON NEWS | CONTROVERSIAL | GOVERNMENT IN BUKIDNON – The open letter of a certain Malaybalay City-based physician, Dr. Janet Molina, has caused quite a stir online. After her open letter about the alleged alarming dengue problem in the Province of Bukidnon (you can read a copy of the letter here) was published on Facebook, was re-posted by others and eventually got the attention not only of certain members of the local media but of national and local government officials as well, it’s now the Bukidnon government’s turn to air their side.
The Provincial Government of Bukidnon, through the Office of Bukidnon Governor Alex Calingasan, has sent a letter addressed not only to Dr. Molina but to two media personalities – Ana Ninfa Bago-Caballero (DXBU Bukidnon State University radio) and Ben Cyrus Ellorin (Mindanews columnist). Caballero, through her Facebook account, republished Molina’s open letter and tagged all of the parties concerned – from Sen. Juan Miguel Zubiri to Rep. Florencio Flores, Jr. to even Sen. Zubiri’s wife, Audrey. Ellorin, on the other hand, tackled the issue through his Mindanews column.
The letter was also duly signed by Bukidnon Vice Governor Jose Ma. Zubiri, Jr.
Here’s a copy of the letter sent to the three:
September 28, 2010
DR. JANET Q. MOLINA, MD, DPBS, FPSGS
ANA NINFA BAGO-CABALLERO
Radio Station of Bukidnon State University
Malaybalay City
BEN CYRUS G. ELLORIN
Minda News
Dear Madams and Sir,
This refers to An Open Letter of Dr. Janet Molina and Commentary in Minda
News dated September 24, 2010, regarding Dengue problems.
First and foremost, we are very glad that we are all in this together and we
appreciate your genuine concerns.
We deem it appropriate, however, to clarify certain matters aired in both the
open letter and commentary in Minda News.
Right after the new administration started in the month of July 2010, the
Provincial Government of Bukidnon immediately acted on the very pressing
problem of Dengue cases in our province.
As early as its 2nd Regular Session, the 11th Sangguniang Panlalawigan headed by
Vice-Governor Jose Ma. R. Zubiri, Jr., passed a SP Resolution No. 2010-029
urging our provincial hospitals and its different rural health centers to set up an
express lane for the diagnosis of Dengue fever and for other private hospitals to
set up a similar arrangement for the prevention and cure of dengue.
To monitor and focus on the problem, same SP passed a Resolution No. 2010-
032 on the same day for the creation of Provincial Dengue Task Force and
enjoining city and municipal LGUs to create their respective task force
Also, sometime in August 2010, the SP passed another Resolution No. 2010-101
urgently alerting all the 20 towns and 2 cities in our province of the increasing
cases of dengue in their areas and for the declaration of state of calamity so they
can very well use their calamity fund for this purpose.
To date, our provincial hospitals are equipped with intensive care units, platelet
extractors, ventilators, and dialysis units. To add to our existing health
manpower, we also now have volunteer nurses and medical technicians working
in our provincial hospitals. Further, we purchased emergency medicines and
medical supplies for dengue amounting to PhP 1,325,254.51.
It is not true, therefore, that the Provincial Government of Bukidnon is not doing
anything about the Dengue outbreak. It greatly pains us when we are judged as
not doing anything especially that we have friends and close relatives of our own
who were inflicted with dengue.
As earlier stated, we are very grateful for all your efforts and may this problem
unite us and make us stronger not only to prepare ourselves for the next
possible dengue outbreak but also in all our endeavors.
Together, with one heart and mind, we deeply believe that we can conquer any
obstacles and problems.
More power and may God bless us all.
Very truly yours,
SGD.
HON. ALEX P. CALINGASAN
Provincial Governor
SGD.
HON. JOSE MA. R. ZUBIRI, JR.
Provincial Vice-Governor
(Note: This letter-reply was also sent to Senators Juan Miguel Zubiri, Teofisto Guingona III and Congressmen Florencio Flores, Jr. and Jesus Paras)
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