Aside from asturias: Infestation of flies also a problem in Bantayan?

CEBU, Philippines - The foul smell and swarm of flies greeted Governor Hilario Davide III during his recent visit to the Bantayan District Hospital in northern Cebu.

 Davide said the patients are eating their meals inside mosquito nets to keep the flies away from them and their food.

 "Luoy kaayo mga pasyente kay nagbutang na og mosquito net pero kasulod gihapon ang langaw," he told the Bantayan town and barangay officials and residents during Tuesday's consultative meeting.

  With this, he has directed the Provincial Health Office to check and take action to eliminate the swarm of flies allegedly coming from a poultry farm at the back of the facility.

 PHO Chief Dr. Rene Catan said they will meet with several agencies next month at the Capitol to address the reported fly infestation, not only in Bantayan, but also in Asturias town in northern Cebu.

 The same problem has also been the concern of residents in Asturias town, which is also a home to several poultry farms.

 Among those invited are representatives from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Provincial Environment and Natural Resource Office, Department of Health, local government officials, poultry owners and residents.

 "Magsabot unsa maayo solution to address this problem. Di man sab pwede nga isirado ang operations ug di man sab pwede papahawaon nimo ang mga tawo. This is a cause for concern," Catan said.

 Bantayan Mayor Art Despi said the stench coming from the farm has been the main problem, but he belies the presence of flies.

 "Dunay problema sa baho pero ang langaw wa ko kadungog niana," he said.

 But Dr. James Nicholas Najarro, Bantayan District chief of hospital, admits the presence of flies at the hospital premises.

 "The problem is dili gyod grabe kay seasonal man gud. Naa gyod langaw. Kakita gyod na si Gov (Davide). Ang baho gikan sa poultry di pud parehas sa una nga grabe kabaho,"he said.

 He said the problem worsened after Yolanda in 2013 after the trees were uprooted, which used to serve as "barrier."

 He said the problem has already been brought to the attention of DOH and local officials.

 In fact, he said the previous administration planned to pass a resolution implementing zoning for the poultry farms to prevent such problem. As of present, he said they have yet no idea on the development of the plan.

 Despi urged though the poultry owners to institute mitigating measures like the use of larvicides or pesticides and to observe sanitation.

  "The presence of flies has to be controlled or eradicated. Na-timing man pud nga silingan nila ang hospital," he said adding that the town's sanitary personnel will inspect the farm.

 Despi said the lot where the hospital sits was donated by the family of the poultry owner in early 1970s.

Bantayan town has 56 poultry farms and all of them have business permits, environmental compliance certificate and other regulatory requirements, Despi said.

 Poultry farms, Catan said are ideal breeding environment for flies.

 He also said this quarter is the breeding season for flies, which by nature, prefer to live in areas with high moisture such as poultry farms.

 He said it has been observed that three days from harvest time, there is no presence of flies in Bantayan town. However, the flies kept coming back.

 Residents in Asturias, for instance, have voiced concern for their health, with other reportedly already falling ill due to the presence of flies, which land on just about anything and anyone.

 But in Bantayan, Despi said he has not yet received any complaints from the residents.

 "Wa ko kadawat. Sa kadugay sa poultry diri sa Bantayan since late 1950s ang mga tawo nakadawat na niana. Pero kadaghan naa control measures," he said.

 Najarro said the patients with respiratory problems and their families complained over the influx of flies as they fear for their health.

He said they were advised to use masks.

 "Fortunately, wala ma'y ni-worsen na case clinically," he said.

 Najarro said no one so far has acquired any contagious disease because of flies. (FREEMAN)