Saturday, January 18, 2025

Tag: NSM

COMELEC Prepares for 2025 Elections, Issues Voter Guidelines

Posted on by cmn

MISAMIS ORIENTAL – The Commission on Elections (COMELEC) announced that the number of registered voters in Northern Mindanao has surpassed 3 million, covering the provinces of Bukidnon, Lanao del Norte, Misamis Occidental, Misamis Oriental, and Camiguin. Misamis Oriental leads with over 1 million voters

Atty. Carlito Ravelo, Misamis Oriental’s Provincial Election Supervisor, highlighted that Region 10 ranks among the Philippines’ vote-rich regions, with a total of 3,190,362 voters across five provinces.


“Region 10 ranks among the vote-rich regions of the Philippines, with 3,190,362 voters spanning five provinces,” Ravelo said.


Ravelo also provided a breakdown of voter distribution across two congressional districts in Misamis Oriental:
• District 1 (Balingasag to Magsaysay, including Gingoog City) has 302,235 registered voters and 429 clustered precincts.
• District 2 (Lugait to Jasaan, including El Salvador City) has 393,285 voters.


In Cagayan de Oro, the 1st District (24 barangays) has 212,016 registered voters and 233 clustered precincts, while the 2nd District (56 barangays) accounts for 204,885 voters and 249 precincts. Combined, Misamis Oriental and Cagayan de Oro have 1,112,421 voters and 1,452 clustered precincts.


Election Schedules and Processes


As the 2025 elections approach, COMELEC emphasized the importance of key dates and processes:
• The national campaign period begins on February 11, 2025, and ends on May 10, 2025.
• The local campaign period starts on March 25, 2025, and ends on May 10, 2025.


Election Day, May 12, 2025, will see voting from 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM. Special voting hours for persons with disabilities (PWDs), senior citizens, and pregnant women will be from 5:00 AM to 7:00 PM, with priority polling places operating from 5:00 AM to 5:00 PM.


Special arrangements will be made for persons deprived of liberty (PDLs), with special electoral boards ensuring that PDL voters can cast their ballots from 7:00 AM to 3:00 PM.


Voters will elect 12 senators, one party-list representative, one congressional representative per district, a provincial governor, a vice governor, provincial board members, mayors, vice mayors, and municipal councilors. Misamis Oriental voters will elect five board members for each district, while Cagayan de Oro voters will select eight city councilors per district.


Ensuring Transparent and Secure Voting


COMELEC assured the public of the security of the Automated Counting Machines (ACMs) used in the May 2025 elections. These machines are equipped with rechargeable batteries to prevent interruptions, and backup machines are on standby, along with technical personnel for repairs.


To prevent transmission issues, COMELEC will utilize satellite technology, including Starlink, to ensure 100% nationwide transmission from ACMs. The transparency of the process will be further supported by parallel counting conducted by accredited organizations and political parties, ensuring credible results.


Election results will be transmitted to the City/Municipality Board of Canvassers, Central Server, Accredited Citizens’ Arms 1 and 2, Dominant Majority, Dominant Minority, and Media Server.


Voters are reminded to check the list of registered voters posted outside their precincts to confirm their sequence and number. After identity verification and ensuring their finger is not marked with indelible ink, voters will follow the procedure to cast their ballots and feed them into the ACM.


Voters are advised to shade the circles fully on their ballots for accurate counting. Ballots contain security features, so it is prohibited to mark them in any way that may cause rejection. Voting receipts will be issued and must be deposited in designated compartments at the precinct.


COMELEC reiterated its commitment to upholding electoral integrity and maintaining public trust and encouraged citizens to exercise their right to vote and actively participate in the upcoming elections. (Jan Albert K. Araña/PIA-10)

Focal prophylaxis for schistosomiasis administered in Barangay St. Peter

Posted on by Melchor Madera

MALAYBALAY CITY (May 22, 2024) – The City Health Office (CHO) conducted focal prophylaxis for schistosomiasis in Barangay St. Peter, a non-schisto-endemic area

This demonstrates a commitment to preventive healthcare and addressing potential health risks before they become significant problems.

By conducting such interventions, they’re not only protecting the health of individuals in Barangay St. Peter but also working towards preventing the spread of schistosomiasis to other areas.

Individuals aged 5 to 65 years old were administered a single dose of Praziquantel (40mg/kg) on a full stomach.

This intervention followed Malacological and Parasitological surveys by the City Health Office, which identified the presence of schistosomiasis in Barangay St. Peter.

During the malacological survey, the snail Oncomelania quadrasi, the intermediate host of Schistosoma japonicum, was found.

In a subsequent parasitological survey, 100 stool samples were examined using the Katokatz method, revealing that less than 1 percent were positive for schistosomiasis and soil- transmitted helminthiasis in the place.

In response, the Department of Health Center for Health and Development Northern Mindanao (DOH-CHDNM) provided Praziquantel, the preferred drug for treating schistosomiasis.

Following health advisories, a mass treatment approach was adopted, providing prophylactic treatment to the entire eligible population, regardless of infection status.

By treating everyone within the eligible age range, the intervention aims to prevent new infections and reduce the overall burden of the disease in the community. (CHO-NADA/melbmadera)

Northern Mindanao gears up for 34th NSM celebration

Posted on by cmn

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY (PIA)–Preparations are underway for the 34th National Statistics Month (NSM) celebration in Northern Mindanao

To mark the celebration, the Regional Statistics Committee (RSC)-10 has endorsed a series of regional activities designed to accentuate the importance of data and statistics in enhancing health outcomes.

Dr. Janith Aves, officer-in-charge of the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA)-X, said NSM is celebrated in October of every year to enhance awareness and appreciation of the value and importance of statistics to the different sectors and to elicit the support and cooperation of the public in upgrading the quality and standards of statistics in the country.

This year, NSM bears the theme “Accelerating Progress: Promoting Data and Statistics for Healthy Philippines,” which underlines the use of quality health-related statistics to accelerate development and promote a healthier populace.

Opening the month-long celebration are activities to be spearheaded by the Department of Health-X, which include a motorcade, Zumba, and health forum on October 3. The other activities lined up are a tree-planting activity (October 6), an interagency statistical exhibit contest (October 16-20), an infographics-making contest (October 16-20), and a data appreciation seminar for media and statistics quiz show – media edition (October 13).

All Provincial Statistical Offices of PSA-X will likewise hold the 27th Philippines Statistics Quiz Provincial eliminations on October 19 with participants from Higher Education Institutions in the region.

A dissemination forum on the results of the 2018-2020 Water Flow Accounts and financial health literacy activity will highlight the closing ceremony on October 27 to be hosted by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas – Cagayan de Oro Branch.

RSC chairperson and NEDA-X Regional Director Mylah Faye Aurora Cariño said the lined-up activities will significantly promote the importance of statistics in every sector of society. She also urged RSC member agencies to support the NSM and conduct activities that would enunciate the significance of the celebration. (APB/PIA-10)