by Negros Chronicle Published in Daily News Updates
By EDMUND B. SESTOSO
A partylist solon has urged the House of Representatives to immediately determine the government’s preparedness against swine flu which may develop into a worldwide epidemic.
Montemayor who represents ABA-AKO partylist was also a former secretary of the Department of Agriculture has passed House Resolution No. 1121 where he pointed out that 150 deaths have already been reported in Mexico, while cases of swine flu have also been detected in the United States, Canada, Britain, Spain, Israel and New Zealand.
The former agriculture secretary express fears that that if swine flu will hit the country, other nations may ban meat imports from the Philippines that will result to hurting not less than 2 million hog raisers and corn farmers in the country.
Montemayor visited Dumaguete City as a resource person of the farmer-leaders forum initiated by the Negros Farmers Council and the Negros Farmlands.
“Congress should also inquire if local governments and defense authorities are prepared to meet local outbreaks.
He said the House of Representatives must ascertain if anti-swine flu vaccines and other remedies are readily available or need to be quickly developed and pre-positioned in sufficient quantities in order to ensure people’s health and safety.
Virgin coconut oil: best defense versus swine flu
On the other hand, Rep. Montemayor said that the same crisis can also be turned into a big opportunity for coconut farmers and processors.
He said that the high lauric content of virgin coconut oil (VCO) is known to strengthen the human immune systems against microbes and viruses.
“Research and development of the possible use of VCO against swine flu should be accelerated” he said.
House Resolution No. 1121 directs the House committees on health, agriculture and food, science and technology, transportation and communication, justice trade, local government and national defense and security to come up with recommendations to address the problem.
Historically in 1918, a different type of swine flu brought about a pandemic that resulted to the deaths of at least 40 million people worldwide.
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