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Vigan forms group vs swine flu
By Freddie Lazaro

VIGAN CITY — Vigan City Mayor Eva Marie Singson has created a task force to monitor visitors and balikbayans visiting this city in an effort to prevent the spread here of the dreaded AH1N1 virus.

The task force, jointly led by City Health Officer Loida Ranchez and City Veterinarian Liburio Arca, will also monitor livestock getting in and out of this city.

"Although, there’s no AH1N1 virus case reported yet in our country, we need to act to prevent the possible entry of this virus in our city," Mayor Medina said.

Ranchez said the main responsibility of the task force is to conduct monitoring and surveillance of foreign visitors, tourists, and newly arrived Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs).

"We had already coordinated with the owners of hotels and restaurants in Vigan City to cooperate with the task force in monitoring all visitors and tourists who checked in their establishments," Ranchez said.

"The strict enforcement of health measures in the Mindoro-Vigan domestic airport is also observed," she said.

Ranchez said protective devices such as gloves, masks and gowns are available for use by the members of the health-monitoring team.

To gain the cooperation of the barangay residents, Ranchez said, the barangay health monitoring team was also organized.

"Part of the responsibility of the task force is the conduct of advocacy and information education campaign (IEC) about the AH1N1 virus or the so-called swine flu, its prevention and control on the barangay level," Ranchez said.

Meanwhile, Dcotor Arca said that all livestock animals entering the city are being checked.

"The most probable carriers of AH1N1 virus, aside from humans, are swine, wild birds, ducks and chicken," Arca said.

He said that the best way to prevent the infection of AH1N1 virus in human beings is to maintain personal hygiene which could strengthen body resistance to any disease.

Man shot dead in front of his daughter’s house

VIGAN CITY – Police are still looking on identity of motorcycle-riding men who shot to death a 50-year-old man in front of the house of his daughter at Sitio Nalasin, Barangay Camanggaan here May 21.

The victim was talking with his neighbors when he was attacked by the armed men from behind.

Police identified the victim as Benjamin Petate, 50, resident of Nalasin, Camanggaan, Vigan.

The victim suffered several bullet wounds that caused his death. Investigators recovered shells of Cal. 45 bullets at the crime scene. – Freddie Lazaro