BACOLOD City Councilor El Cid M. Familiaran proposed a resolution requesting the City Ordinance Enforcement Unit to implement stronger measures to regulate the access of minors to internet cafes and video houses during class hours.
Familiaran is alarmed at the proliferation of minors at internet cafes even during class hours.
Some of the students skip their classes and waste their money just to play online games. He believes that, if left unchecked, the propensity of these minors to play online and other computer games instead of attending their classes will be detrimental to their own welfare as well as to that of their families.
Internet cafes and beer houses are everywhere, particularly in areas very near the schools. Thus, students are sorely tempted to skip classes and play computer games while drinking intoxicating beverages.
On the other hand, Familiaran also exhorted the City Health Office (CHO) headed by Dr. Salome Biñas to continue the intensified implementation of the preventive campaign against dengue, even though there has been a decrease in the number of dengue cases lately.
CHO records showed that there was a 28 percent decrease in the number of dengue cases from January to Kuly 3 this year, compared to the same period this year.
There are 343 dengue cases with two deaths from January 1 to July 3, 2010 as compared to the 480 dengue cases with four deaths in the same period in 2009.
The resolution urged the CHO to be proactive in dealing with this health challenge confronting the people, especially the children in depressed areas whose parents do not have the financial resources to provide for their children's medical and hospitalization needs.
He made his request through a Sangguniang Panlungsod (City Council) resolution, which was approved by the City Council.
Meanwhile, Bacolod Representative Anthony Golez also joins the fight against dengue as he recently donated screens for the windows of public schools in Barangay Taculing and Barangay Villamonte. (Carla N. Cañet)