DAVAO CITY – This city remains free from avian influenza (AI) or bird flu virus, the city veterinary office (CVO) declared Thursday. “Davao City is Avian-Free, and we are requesting people in the barangays if you observe cases of sick or dying chickens you may report to the City Veterinarian’s Office or call 225-0511,” said Dr. Cerelyn Pinili, CVO chief, in a statement. Currently, Pinili said the CVO is closely coordinating with the Department of Agriculture (DA) for the implementation of stricter quarantine measures in all checkpoints on poultry and by-products to prevent the entry of bird flu here and

MANILA – The mask mandate remains even when coronavirus cases continue to drop, Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said Thursday. In a televised public briefing, Duque cited as example European nations Austria, Denmark, France and Germany now experiencing a spike in coronavirus infections after dropping their mask mandates. “Matuto tayo sa iba’t ibang karanasan ng mga bansa sa Europa na kung saan tinanggal nila ang mask mandates, naglipana na naman ang mga kaso (Let’s learn from the experience of other countries in Europe. They removed the mask mandates and they saw an increase in cases),” he said. Duque assured the

TACLOBAN CITY – Two leaders of the New People’s Army (NPA) were killed in a clash when they fired upon patrolling policemen in Jiabong, Samar on Wednesday. The Philippine National Police (PNP) identified the two killed rebels as Amado Adelantar alias “Butil” and his wife in the communist movement, Maria Norie Adelantar alias “Cedang”. Amado, charged with murder, robbery, and homicide, was the commander of the NPA scout ranger orientation course (SROC); while Marie Norie is a finance officer of NPA SROC. They were both under the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP)–NPA Eastern Visayas Regional Party Committee. The police

ZAMBOANGA CITY – The local government has warned residents to be vigilant and implement dengue-prevention measures amid the rising cases of the disease here. Dr. Dulce Amor Miravite, city health officer, said Thursday that while there is no outbreak, dengue local cases have continued to increase, with already nine deaths and 505 cases since January this year. Miravite said statistical trends also indicate that dengue outbreaks occur every two to three years. She noted that the city’s last dengue outbreak occurred in 2019. “The more that we ask people to be vigilant, especially in our ‘4S’ campaign strategy,” she said.