Military ‘deployed’ in watch vs SARS

President Arroyo called upon the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) yesterday to do its share in preventing the entry of the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) epidemic into the country.

In her speech during the installation of Gen. Narciso Abaya as the new AFP chief, the President noted that the change of command at the AFP came amid the alarming threat of the worldwide increase in SARS cases.

"The full force of all government agencies, including the Armed Forces, must be consolidated," she said.

With SARS now considered as a national security concern, Mrs. Arroyo urged the soldiers and the people for their continued cooperation, support and sobriety.

"Together, with heart and mind, we will beat this menace," she said.

In a teleconference in Malacañang yesterday, she disclosed that she has discussed with Agriculture Secretary Luisito Lorenzo the possible temporary suspension of importation from China and Hong Kong where the SARS infection reportedly originated.

The other day, Mrs. Arroyo also announced the setting aside of a P1.5 billion contingency fund at the disposal of the anti-SARS management team headed by Health Secretary Manuel Dayrit.

As of yesterday, there are eight new suspected cases confined at the Research Institute of Tropical Medicine (RITM) and the San Lazaro Hospital (SLH).

Dayrit, however, downplayed the eight cases — five in SLH and three in RITM — saying that all seemed to be highly unlikely to be SARS and were just confined to isolation units "to be sure."

While the Philippines remains SARS-free, measures are already being prepared for the possible outbreak of the mysterious pneumonia-like disease in worksites.

In an advisory to all commercial establishments nationwide, the Department of Labor and Employment’s (DOLE) Occupational Health Safety and Health Center (OSCH) called on both employers and workers to undertake necessary precautions against the disease.

According to Dr. Dulce Gust, OSCH chief, information on how to avoid the infection were already sent out to various companies and organizations nationwide.

In case a worker is infected with SARS in the workplace, Gust said he or she is entitled to compensation under the law, provided he or she can prove that the disease was acquired on the job. For OFWs who contacted the disease abroad, financial benefits will be extended by the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA).

In cases of death, relatives can seek monetary benefits from the Employees Compensation Commission (ECC) and the Social Security System (SSS). — With Mayen Jaymalin and Rainier Allan Ronda