‘P’sinan remains a top tourism destination’

MALASIQUI, Pangasinan, Philippines --“Please don’t panic. Pangasinan remains a top tourism and pilgrimage destination.”

Thus said third district Rep. Rose Marie Arenas who appealed for sobriety following a false television report on an alleged mysterious disease and flesh-eating bacteria slowly spreading in Pangasinan.

In an online statement, the “Bandila” news program of ABS-CBN said it “apologizes for the unintended fear and panic caused by its report on the cases of skin diseases in two towns in Pangasinan.

“In accordance with internal standard procedures, ABS-CBN’s Office of the Network Ombudsman is currently investigating the circumstances that led to the airing of the report.

“ABS-CBN News will take the appropriate actions based on the findings of the Network Ombudsman.”

Arenas expressed grave concern about the report, as one of the two patients afflicted with the alleged mysterious skin disease is a woman who hails from Sta. Barbara town, which is part of her district.

Arenas told The STAR that her office made a formal request to the Department of Health (DOH) to investigate the matter and to extend immediate medical attention to the patients.

The DOH and officials of the provincial hospital have issued their official statements that no such flesh-eating disease exists in the Philippines and that the two cases reported are caused by one, hypersensitive reaction to multi-drugs administered to the patient suffering from Hansen’s Disease or leprosy, and the other, by an auto-immune disorder of severe psoriasis and arthritis, according to Arenas.

“These cases are already receiving thorough medical care in our local hospitals. There is no mysterious disease in Pangasinan,” she added, quoting doctors she had talked to.

Arenas said it is unfortunate that due to “inaccurate reporting,” some people were gripped with fear and panic. A group of 20 visitors of the congresswoman was supposed to visit Pangasinan, particularly the pilgrimage town of Manaoag, but only eight would go on with the trip following the report.

She said she has been barraged by phone calls asking about the two cases. But she assured them that “everything is okay in Pangasinan and officials led by Gov. Amado Espino Jr. are all-out in their support attending to this matter.”

Pangasinan’s tourism industry was also hurt by the sudden cancellation of bookings, especially in Alaminos City, home of the world-famous Hundred Islands National Park, and Bolinao town, the so-called “Boracay of Pangasinan.”

“I would like to reiterate that Pangasinan is a safe, healthy and happy place. We are also one of the great spiritual destinations for millions of pilgrims because we are home of Our Lady of Manaoag,” Arenas said.

With the TV station’s apology, Arenas said, “We hope this serves as a reminder to all that “with great freedom comes great responsibility.” 

She said the incident should also serve as a wake-up call to barangay and local officials to closely monitor incidence of rare diseases in their respective localities, so that proper help and medication could be extended instead of the patients feeling outcast in their own community.

For his part, Espino told local newsmen yesterday that he and his fellow officials were happy with the apology, but added that the damage has been done.

Espino and other officials went to the Pangasinan Provincial Hospital in San Carlos City where the two patients were confined to check on them prior to being discharged from the hospital.

He talked to provincial employees during their Family Day celebration yesterday, and urged them to relay to their relatives here and abroad that there is no truth to the TV report.

“You see we used to be number four in tourism but (under my watch for six years and a half) we are now number one (in Region 1),” Espino said, appealing to those who have cancelled their bookings to reconsider their move.

“No more blaming. Let’s just help one another,” he said.

Anna Maria Teresa de Guzman, provincial health officer, said she has instructed local health workers to go on with their “Kilatis Kutis” drive so that people with similar skin diseases would be treated.

She said the two patients who were the subjects of the report are responding well to their medications and hopefully would recover soon.

Vice Gov. Jose Ferdinand Calimlim Jr. said, “Oh yes, we are thankful that there is an apology, to some it may not be enough, but we are happily accepting it. But they must also work to bring back the good status of Pangasinan in the eyes of the Philippines and the whole world.”  – With Cesar Ramirez