BY ALEX ALAGON
BY RHUELLA SALDUA & ANDRE MARCO AMPIG/UM Interns
THE SOUTHERN Philippines Medical Center (SPMC) continues to intensify its Safe Motherhood Program by focusing on prenatal care, family education, and the growing number of high-risk pregnancies.
Dr. Katrina A. Abarcar, volunteer consultant at SPMC’s Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, said the program primarily aims to protect both mother and child through early and continuous medical care.
“Safe motherhood means focusing on the mother, ensuring proper prenatal care, regular check-ups, and proper management of pregnancy, and we are making sure that the mother gives birth to a healthy baby,” Abarcar said.
The program extends beyond the mother by involving partners, families, and communities in maternal care, educating them on how to take care of pregnant women, identify warning signs, and understand when to seek immediate medical consultation.
According to Abarcar, high-risk pregnancies are commonly linked to age-related risks and medical conditions such as hypertension and diabetes.
“Patients aged 35 years old and above are already considered high-risk,” she said.
SPMC accommodates a large volume of such cases daily. In the outpatient department, the hospital handles around 40-50 high-risk pregnant women per day, while low-risk prenatal consultations can reach up to 300 daily.
Despite the high numbers, Abarcar noted that the hospital has dedicated services specifically designed to manage these cases.
Abarcar pointed out that modern lifestyle habits are significantly contributing to the increase in high-risk pregnancies, considering Obesity as a major factor, because if a woman is already overweight before becoming pregnant, she automatically falls into a high-risk category.
She stressed the importance of maintaining a healthy body before conception.
“We need to optimize our health before getting pregnant. A healthy mother provides a healthy environment for the baby,” Abarcar said.
Proper diet and exercise were highlighted as key preventive measures, and she added that physical activity is generally safe as long as it avoids injury and excessive fatigue.
Abarcar clarified that pregnancy beyond 30 years old is not necessarily dangerous, but risks do increase as women age. However, she reassured that successful pregnancies are still possible.
“It’s okay as long as prenatal care is consistent and regular. We perform detailed examinations, including congenital anomaly scans, to monitor the baby’s condition,” Abarcar said.
Abarcar recommends that women consider pregnancy when they are physically and mentally prepared. She also advised proper spacing between pregnancies to allow the body to fully recover.
“We recommend at least more than 1 year before conceiving again, and for mothers who had cesarean sections, at least 18 months,” she explained.
The Safe Motherhood Program also underscores the importance of the first 1,000 days of a child’s life, beginning from pregnancy.
“What happens during pregnancy reflects on the baby’s development. Proper prenatal care and breastfeeding play a vital role in ensuring a healthy start for the child,” Abarcar said.
Abarcar urged women to seek medical attention as soon as pregnancy is suspected so that any potential problems can be detected early.
JUSTINE AMORA & ANDRE AMPIG/UM Interns
A MEDICAL expert advised girls and women to undergo screening and vaccination for cervical cancer, a deadly but totally preventable disease caused primarily by the Human Papillomavirus (HPV).
Dr. Maria Patricia Angelica Quinto, a volunteer consultant at the Southern Philippines Medical Center’s Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, debunked the myth that a cervical cancer diagnosis is an automatic death sentence.
“Cervical cancer is not a death sentence. It’s actually one of the cancers that is very preventable, if we catch it at the right time,” she said during the Kapehan at SM City Davao on Monday, May 25, in observance of Cervical Cancer Awareness Month.
Quinto noted that cervical cancer is the second leading type among Filipino women, next to breast cancer.
She emphasized that Cervical Cancer Awareness Month was established not only to keep pace with breast cancer advocacy campaigns, but also to inform women on how to avoid and prevent the disease through three simple steps.
“Number one, proper screening, pagpapa-check-up sa doctor para ma-check ang cervix. Number two is vaccination. Very few cancers ang may vaccination available, and cervical cancer is one of them. And three, if you catch it early enough, maganda ang survival rates,” Dr. Quinto stated.
She also highlighted that cervical cancer is covered under PhilHealth’s Z Package, meaning that from the moment a patient is diagnosed and qualifies under the program’s criteria (up to Stage 3), all procedures, including CT scans and treatments, will be shouldered by PhilHealth.
For those seeking free vaccination, Dr. Quinto mentioned that Gardasil 4, a cervical cancer vaccine, is available at local government units and is offered to school-aged girls between 9 and 15 years old, serving as an accessible alternative to costly private hospital services.
In terms of treatment, Dr. Quinto shared that SPMC is equipped to provide all modes of treatment, including surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy. However, she acknowledged that the hospital’s system can become overwhelmed due to the high volume of patients it serves, and that they are currently looking into expanding their facilities to accommodate more patients.
Quinto recommended that women begin cervical cancer screening at age 30, even without symptoms. HPV-DNA testing is available at SPMC and private hospitals.
A negative test result means the next screening is due five years later, while a positive result calls for a referral to a specialist. Pap smear was also cited as a more affordable alternative, as well as barangay health workers who have been trained to conduct screenings.
Quinto also addressed those who remain hesitant about getting vaccinated.
“These vaccines can potentially save their lives kasi if maiiwasan mo naman magkaroon ng virus na yun, ba’t mo ire-risk na magkaroon ka? The second-best way, next to abstinence, is to get the vaccine,” she said.
She urged Filipino women, particularly those engaged in high-risk behaviors, to undergo screenings regardless of age to maximize early detection and prevent the virus from progressing into a life-threatening condition.
QUEZON CITY – The Social Security System (SSS) has deployed its mobile e-Wheels to public markets and barangays across selected towns and cities nationwide as part of a weeklong Palengke Caravan, aimed at reducing travel time, long queues, and transaction difficulties experienced by workers, pensioners, and beneficiaries.
The caravan supports the directive of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. to bring public services faster and closer to the people, particularly in underserved and hard-to-reach communities.
“For many pensioners, informal workers, and members in underserved communities, even a single branch visit can mean transportation expenses, lost income, and hours spent in line,” SSS President and Chief Executive Officer Robert Joseph M. De Claro said.
“Through the SSS e-Wheels / Palengke Caravan, we are bringing government services directly to communities so people can access assistance and complete transactions closer to where they live and work,” he added.
He explained that the SSS is holding a caravan in public markets to bring its services directly to market vendors and ambulant sellers who are unable to visit branch offices because they cannot leave their small businesses unattended.
The SSS e-Wheels will be deployed in Metro Manila starting on May 25, targeting to serve around 21,500 clients. It will be followed by caravan activities in Calapan, Oriental Mindoro; Legazpi, Albay; Silay City, Negros Occidental; and Siargao Island, Surigao del Norte on May 27. The nationwide caravan will conclude on May 28 in Virac, Catanduanes.
The mobile caravan will offer services including employer registration, inquiries and verification, Annual Confirmation of Pensioners or ACOP, updating of member data records, issuance of SSS numbers and forms, and online-related transactions such as My.SSS registration, password resetting, Payment Reference Number generation, pension loan applications, and benefit claim applications.
SSS will also deploy for the first time the newly launched facial authentication with liveness check for ACOP verification during mobile service operations, allowing eligible pensioners to complete verification faster and more conveniently without visiting branches.
From January to April 2026, the SSS conducted a total of 3,294 e-Wheels activities nationwide, serving 239,367 members and residents in last-mile communities. In 2024, the SSS e-Wheels Program received the ASEAN Social Security Association Recognition Award in the innovation category.
“By bringing services closer to the people, we are making SSS more accessible, more responsive and convenient for workers, pensioners, and their families,” De Claro said.
THE NAVAL Forces Eastern Mindanao (NFEM) officially deployed the offshore patrol corvette BRP Artemio Ricarte (PS37) on Sunday to secure the country’s southern maritime boundaries alongside the Indonesian Navy.
The send-off ceremony, held at Captain Feranil Pier inside Naval Station Felix Apolinario in Panacan, marks the commencement of the second leg of the Coordinated Patrol Philippines-Indonesia (CORPAT PHILINDO-40-2026).
Authorized by NFEM commander Commodore Ireneo D. Battung, the bilateral deployment focuses heavily on the shared maritime borders between the two Southeast Asian neighbors—a critical sea lane heavily susceptible to transnational crime.
According to naval public affairs officer LCDR Reynante L. Villela, the BRP Artemio Ricarte will represent the country in the joint border sweeps to maintain a constant naval presence and deter security threats.
The CORPAT PHILINDO is a long-standing, quarterly bilateral framework designed to strengthen communication protocols, foster mutual trust, and sharpen tactical interoperability between the two navies.
Naval officials emphasized that the joint maneuvers are vital to mounting a synchronized, rapid response against piracy, smuggling, illegal fishing, terrorist infiltration, and other unlawful seaborne activities along the porous border zone.
FOLLOWING recent adverse weather conditions across the region, the Davao City Police Office (DCPO) has officially mobilized a public information drive, releasing “safety tips” to safeguard residents against sudden flash floods.
The localized safety directive aims to mitigate casualties and streamline community-level emergency responses, particularly in low-lying and flood-prone barangays.
In its official safety brief, the DCPO highlighted five emergency protocols that residents must memorize and implement as heavy rains continue to affect parts of Mindanao:
- Prepare Emergency Kits: Households are urged to assemble basic survival packs containing first-aid supplies, non-perishable food, water, and essential documents.
- Seek Higher Ground: If water levels begin to swell, immediate evacuation to elevated areas or designated evacuation centers is strongly advised.
- Avoid Floodwaters: The police heavily cautioned the public against wading or swimming through floodwaters to prevent drowning incidents and waterborne infections.
- Shut Off Electrical Supplies: To prevent accidental electrocution during severe inundation, residents must cut off main power switches before evacuating.
- Stay Informed: The public is instructed to maintain strict situational awareness by monitoring verified news bulletins and adhering to local disaster response orders.
“This is part of the PNP’s active stance on community safety and preparedness,” the DCPO stated, emphasizing that public cooperation with emergency hotlines and barangay leaders is vital during climate disruptions.
For immediate emergency assistance, residents can contact the DCPO via their hotline at 0998-579-7054, PLDT at 227-5777, or dial Central 911.
- Senator’s wife makes urgent judicial appeal to block ICC ‘surrender’
THE WIFE of Senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa entered the political fray by appealing to Supreme Court justices to protect her husband from being whisked by government authorities to the jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court in The Hague.
Nancy Dela Rosa posted her statement on Facebook on Monday, May 25, on the heels of the arrest warrant issued by the ICC Trial Chamber III’s against the senator for his role in the deadly drug war launched by former President Rodrigo Duterte.
In her open letter addressed directly to the country’s judges and legal institutions, she said that complying or surrendering a Filipino citizen to an international tribunal would be an admission of institutional weakness and a severe blow to national sovereignty.
“Granting the people in power permission to voluntarily surrender another Filipino is an admission that you are weak and incapable of handling this case,” Dela Rosa stated. “This is just another case sensationalized only by politics. Please do not waver or give in.”
Dela Rosa emphasized that the judiciary does not have the luxury of time for extended technical debates, claiming that political adversaries are actively closing in on her husband.
Drawing sharp contrasts between past and present administrations, she argued that while the older Duterte administration went to great lengths to bring overseas Filipinos home, the current political establishment is doing the exact opposite.
“If we must learn from the Duterte case, it is that we must not give up another Filipino,” she stressed. “Please do not give up your responsibility for our countrymen. Please fight for our sovereign rights.”
Framing the battle as both a personal struggle for her family and a legal fight for the nation, Dela Rosa rallied the public to amplify her message across digital platforms until it reached the highest offices of the judicial branch.
As of press time, representatives from the Supreme Court and the Department of Justice have not issued an official response to the statement.
THE DAVAO City Police Office (DCPO) arrested 101 individuals over a seven-day synchronized law enforcement operation.
City police director Col Peter Bauzon Madria said the operations covered the period from May 17 to May 23, primarily focused on illegal drugs, illegal gambling, wanted persons, and loose firearms.
The weekly crackdown yielded significant results in the local anti-illegal drugs campaign, with tactical units launching 46 anti-illegal drug operations.
The operations led to the arrest of 51 suspects and the seizure of 53.46 grams of shabu and 202.82 grams of marijuana, with a combined street value of ₱408,316.
Concurrently, 13 separate anti-illegal gambling operations led to the arrest of 13 suspects, the seizure of ₱4,245 in bet money, and the immediate filing of 13 criminal cases in court.
DCPO units also served 30 warrants of arrest against wanted individuals. Out of the 30 captured, 14 were classified by intelligence units as “most wanted persons.”
Meanwhile, the campaign against loose firearms resulted in 21 specialized operations.
Police operatives recovered, seized, or received a total of 19 illegal firearms—including seven confiscated from seven arrested suspects, 10 surrendered by residents, one recovered, and seven turned in for safekeeping.
Madria credited the operational success to the deepening of the collaborative partnership among local police precincts, barangay officials, and the local government unit.
PUBLIC works personnel have mobilized a round-the-clock construction effort to erect a temporary Bailey bridge in Barangay Callawa following its structural collapse last week.
The original bridge was swept by raging flash floods on Tuesday, May 19, triggered by heavy torrential rains from the combined effects of the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) and the easterlies.
Emergency teams have transitioned to an accelerated 24/7 shifting schedule to expedite the construction.
Local authorities emphasized that rebuilding accessibility is a top priority to restore the flow of goods, services, and daily commuters to and from the affected rural sectors.
While heavy machinery and construction crews occupy the site, local traffic and safety officials have urged the public to exercise heightened caution when navigating the vicinity.
Commuters and residents are strongly advised to strictly adhere to posted traffic advisories, detour signs, and safety protocols laid out by personnel on the ground to prevent accidents and ensure the safety of both motorists and construction workers.
FIVE Davao City Police Office (DCPO) personnel, led by city director Col Peter Bauzon Madria, received the prestigious Medalya ng Kadakilaan (PNP Heroism Medal) on Monday over a sting operation that seized ₱15.6 million worth of illegal drugs.
Police Regional Office (PRO) XI regional director BGen Leon Victor Z. Rosete handed the awards during a short ceremony at Camp Quintin M. Merecido parade grounds in Buhangin on May 25.
The highest commendation stemmed from a high-stakes tactical operation on May 14, 2026, which led to the arrest of a high-value suspect, identified as alias Bai.
The sting operation resulted in the seizure of illegal drugs valued at ₱15,640,000 under current Dangerous Drugs Board guidelines, alongside a serial-less .356 revolver and live ammunition.
Aside from Madria, the heroism medal was conferred upon Maj Harold S. Untalan, PSSg Rey Almerez Manligoy, Cpl Stephen Louie P. Bancua, and Patrolman Jake Michael Z. Permito.
According to regional leadership, the awards highlight the unit’s swift enforcement of Republic Act 9165 (The Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002) and Republic Act 10591 (The Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act).
“This recognition serves as a testament to the relentless pursuit of peace and security by the Davao City Police Office,” the DCPO said in a statement, adding that the commendation underscores the teamwork, professionalism, and high standards maintained by the local force to protect Davaoeños.
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