DOH Thanks Everyone for Successful Anti-Firecracker Campaigns

Wazzup Pilipinas!

“We would like to extend our gratitude for the support of other national agencies, the local government, non-government organizations, and the media during the anti-firecracker campaigns. Every year, we see the things that we need to strengthen in order to achieve our goal, and eventually, we do hope that we will attain zero casualties from fireworks/firecrackers during the holidays. The cooperation of local government units to organize public firework displays contributed to success of this campaign” Health Secretary Paulyn Jean Rosell-Ubial expressed.

As of 6:00 AM, January 1, 2017, a total of 350 fireworks-related injuries were recorded by DOH sentinel sites. This is 520 cases (60 %) lower than the five-year (2011-2015) average and 524 (60%) lower compared to the same time period last year. Of the total 350 cases, 348 were from fireworks/firecrackers injuries, and 2 cases of fireworks/firecrackers ingestion.

132 (38%) out of 348 injuries were caused by Piccolo, a prohibited firecracker in the country. Other fireworks causing injuries were from kwitis (44 cases or 13%), luces (19 cases or 5%), and fountain (19 cases or 5%).

Most fireworks-related injuries came from the National Capital Region (NCR) with 211 cases (60%), followed by Western Visayas with 34 cases (10%), and Central Luzon with 29 cases (8%). In NCR, most cases were from Manila with 81 out of 211 cases (38%), 48 cases (23%) were from Quezon City and 23 cases (11%) from Marikina. Majority of cases, are children less than 15 years old (58%).

The Firework/Firecracker related Injuries Surveillance of DOH started last December 21, 2016 and will end in January 5, 2017. Consolidated report of 50 hospitals reporting to DOH nationwide will be disclosed on January 6, 2017.

“Nais naming pakiusapan lalo na ang mga bata na huwag mamulot ng paputok na nagkalat sa kalsada. Siguraduhin din na pumunta sa ospital kung ikaw ay nagkasugat ng dahil sa paputok, maliit man o malaki ang sugat na iyong nakuha, dapat pa rin itong lapatan ng tamang gamot, Ang tetano ay nakamamatay, at ito ay nakukuha sa sugat nananggagaling mula sa paputok” Secretary Ubial added.

The health chief added that it is the responsibility of adults, especially parents or guardians to make sure that after the festivities, their surroundings must be cleaned up immediately so that children will not be tempted to pick-up firecrackers on the streets.

DOH clarified that the Iwas Paputok Campaign will not end in January 2017. It will strengthen its campaign by pushing the approval of the Executive Order to ban individual firecracker use and foster community fireworks instead in local government units, in order to achieve its goal of zero casualties due to firework/firecracker related injuries.

“Ngayong 2017, bigyan natin ng magandang simula ang ating pamilya. Hangad ng DOH na magkaroon tayo ng isang malusog, ligtas at manigong BagongTaon,” Secretary Ubial concluded.

FDA Issues Cease and Desist Order vs Sanofi

Wazzup Pilipinas!

The Philippine Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a Summons with Cease and Desist Order against pharmaceutical giant Sanofi Pasteur Inc. for airing television and radio advertisements of its dengue vaccine, Dengvaxia. The airing of the advertisement is in violation of Administrative Order No. 65 s. 1989, prohibiting advertisement in any form of prescription or ethical drug.

The FDA's Center for Drug Regulation and Research (CDRR) has monitored the airing of the advertising materials on dengue vaccination. It has also reported the unauthorized promotion of dengue vaccine in the malls.

In the Summons issued by FDA last December 13, 2016, Sanofi was directed to cease and desist from disseminating advertisements for Dengvaxia in any form of mass or social media. Sanofi was also directed to stop activities promoting and marketing the vaccine. However, as of December 15, 2016, the company has failed to comply with FDA’s directive to take down the said advertisements.

"Since Sanofi has not complied, we have issued summons directing them to cease and desist from airing the advertisements and Show Cause why they should not be penalized for violating the law." FDA Director General Nela Charade G. Puno said.

Puno added that to ensure immediate compliance, "the FDA already sent letters to TV and Radio Stations directing them not to air the said unauthorized ads."

Puno also said the FDA will monitor compliance by Sanofi and the stations.

"We are looking forward to their cooperation in our mandate to ensure that the public is provided only with the correct information on the food, drugs, cosmetics, and health devices that they use,” Puno pointed out.

MMFF ExeCom Withdraws FPJ Memorial Award of Oro Due to Death of Dog

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Above is a screenshot of the poor dog that was killed in the Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) movie "ORO". The dog was put in a sack, beaten to death, skinned and gutted. Are the good reviews and awards the film got worth it at the cost of an an innocent creature's life?

ORO truly boasts of an excellent ensemble of actors with superb acting skills! Truly world class, no doubt! Surely no one will dare question all the recognition and citation they are getting for they are all indeed well-deserved. These things make us proud that we are Filipinos. But I'd be bold and daring and go ahead and say the whole team stopped their advocacy right there! While the actors display stellar performance, sad to note that film making is objectionable! In the process, an innocent dog was killed. Though they claim that the dog was not slaughtered for the movie itself, they opted to show the ordeal. The fear and panic in the eyes of the dog was unbearable to watch. I tried to cover my eyes but the whimpering sounds lingered. It broke my heart and had to see the rest of the film pained and preoccupied with the unfortunate fate the dog suffered. We call on everyone who plans to see ORO. DON'T!!! An innocent life was taken. A DOG WAS KILLED!!!!"" - Ann Millendez

Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) executive committee has announced the withdrawal of Fernando Poe Jr. Memorial Award granted to Alvin Yapan’s “Oro” after receiving several complaints on one of its scenes.

Here is the full text of MMFF execom’s statement:

'Upon consultation with the family of the late Fernando Poe, Jr., the Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) Executive Committee announces the withdrawal of the Fernando Poe Jr. Memorial Award recently granted to the film "Oro." Without making any judgment on the artistic merit of the film or cinematic depiction, the MMFF finds the present controversy on the alleged killing of a dog in the course of the filming of the movie effectively casts a doubt on the movie's ability to exemplify the human and cultural values espoused by the late Fernando Poe, Jr.'

In the film, a disturbing dog-slaughter scene has caught the attention of the viewers, which served as the basis of a formal complaint filed by the Philippine Animal Welfare Society (PAWS) on Monday.

However, Yapan, earlier, denied the alleged dog abuse. “Hindi po totoo na pumatay kami ng aso para lang sa pelikula. Hindi rin totoo na kinain iyong aso sa set. Sa pagkakatanda ko ibang araw shinoot iyong inuman scene doon sa mismong pagkatay ng aso. Baboy ang ginamit nila. Nasa pag edit na po iyon,” he said.

Aside from the stripped award, Oro bagged two other awards during the MMFF Gabi ng Parangal including the Best Actress for Irma Adlawan and Best Ensemble of Cast.