(File image) LEGAZPI CITY -The Department of Health (DOH) 5 (Bicol) on Saturday reported an increase in cases of dengue fever and new cases of Japanese encephalitis, both mosquito-borne diseases, in the region. In a report that was based on its dengue surveillance, DOH-5 noted that 77 dengue cases were recorded from May 22 to June 4, compared to 23 in the same period last year. "This represents a 235 percent increase," the report said. Camarines Sur logged 49 dengue cases; Camarines Norte, 17; Masbate, 5; Catanduanes, 4; and Albay and Sorsogon, one each. Meanwhile, the department also recorded seven cases of Japanese encephalitis from January to April 30. No such case was reported in the same period last year. Camarines Sur had four (one each in the towns of Bula, San Jose, Lagonoy, and Minalabas); Sorsogon had two, (one each in Sorsogon City and Gubat town); and one in Manito, Albay. Dengue is transmitted by a day-biting mosquito that lays eggs in clear and stagnant water fo
NATIONAL ID. Thirty two-year-old Jan Aizel Tura from Barangay Pangilao in San Miguel, Catanduanes shows her national ID during an interview on Friday (Feb. 4, 2022). She said she will use it as proof of identity when applying for a job. (Photo courtesy of John Reale Barba) LEGAZPI CITY - The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) in Albay reported on Friday that at least 794,075 individuals have finished the input of their biometric information for the national ID registration as of February 2. In an interview, Cross Doreh Lee, PSA-Albay spokesperson, said the number represents 73 percent of the 1,085,367 target residents of the province for enlistment in the Philippine Identification System (PhilSys). The Step 2 process validates supporting documents and captures biometrics including iris and fingerprint scans and front-facing photographs at local registration centers. Lee said PSA-Albay is now also accepting walk-in clients for the PhilSy registration in different centers across the p