MORE NEWS, CAGAYAN

Cagayan tops rabies cases in Region 2
By Armand Tamaray

TUGUEGARAO CITY – Already at risk by outbreaks of dengue and other mosquito and water-borne illnesses, this country’s northernmost Cagayan province is also being plagued with rising rabies cases

Based on reports, at least 3,000 residents have already been affected with rabies since last year.

Of these, 11 persons have succumbed to it, the latest being 65-year-old Elena Palattao of Rizal town, making this province the region’s topmost in rabies cases.
As a result, the provincial health office here is now running out of supply of vaccines for rabies patients.

“We are trying to give even the first dose of anti-rabies vaccines to patients but even this, we could no longer afford to provide as our present budget is no longer enough, more so to complete the needed dosage,” said Dr. Danilo Alonzo, provincial health officer.

Rabies is a deadly viral disease which is spread through the bite of infected animals, mostly dogs, wherein infected people show various symptoms like hydrophobia, fear of bright lights and unstable actuations.

Alonzo said even the provincial government could now hardly afford to provide rabies patients with the first dose of anti-rabies vaccines for free as funds allotted this year for the procurement of said vaccines were already exhausted.

RP’s second windmill project set in Cagayan
By Armand Tamaray

TUGUEGARAO CITY – The Arroyo administration is also set to put up here the country’s second windmill project after announcing plans to build a P5-billion international airport in this northernmost province.

President Arroyo disclosed the plan to construct a multimillion-peso windmill along Cagayan’s northern coastline during the first regional peace and security assembly recently held here.

The President earlier also announced government plans to establish call centers at the Cagayan Economic Zone Authority, now being strengthened as North-Luzon’s economic and tourism hub, and the continued rehabilitation of the Bagabag airport in Nueva Vizcaya, the threshold to Cagayan Valley.

The region also covers Isabela, the country’s topmost corn and rice-producing province, Quirino and the island province of Batanes.

The country’s first windmill project, which generates energy from wind, is located in Bangui, Ilocos Norte. It is a joint project of the Dutch and Philippine governments.

Globally, wind power generation has increased more than fivefold in the last seven years.

“Along with other projects being readied for this region is the construction of a windmill, which is part of our efforts to further develop the region’s capacity as the country’s food basket,” the President said.

She said the windmill project is also in line with the government’s thrust to increase the use of renewable fuels and save dollars from the importation of petroleum products.

Experts have recommended wind power as a cheap and renewable energy source. It is now one of the major sources of electricity in most developed countries such as Denmark, Spain, Portugal, Germany and Ireland.