RP still ‘very far’ from being SARS emergency

ANGELES CITY — President Arroyo said yesterday that the government is still "very, very far" from declaring a national emergency due to the presence of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) in the country, but warned that the illness has become "a more dangerous threat to the economy."

The President, in a chance interview by local reporters, said that despite the reported SARS cases in the country, the Philippines has not been listed by the World Health Organization (WHO) as among the SARS-affected countries to be avoided.

The President arrived in Barangay Anunas here for the groundbreaking of a 148-meter bridge destroyed in 1991. The reconstruction of the bridge is estimated to cost about P46.6 mllion.

Mrs. Arroyo went to the groundbreaking after visiting the hometown of Adela Catalon, a nursing aide who died of SARS, in Barangay Vacante in Alcala, Pangasinan. Catalon died on April 14, days after she arrived from Toronto, Canada where she was reported to have contracted the infection.

She said she reminded Alcala barangay officials that "the fear of SARS is bigger than SARS itself." Alcala Mayor Juanito Collado is hopeful that Mrs. Arroyo’s visit would remove the stigma of SARS on the town, following the death of Catalon and her father.

Mrs. Arroyo added that while people need to be "fearful" of SARS, such fears should not be allowed to escalate to the level of paranoia.

"I thank the people of Vacante for their sacrifice and good example," she said. Hundreds of residents in Catalon’s hometown observed voluntary quarantine for 14 days. Collado said no one among the residents fell ill.

The President also urged all local executives in this city to attend the SARS summit, which is being held today at the Philippine International Convention Center in Manila, to enable them to better cope with the threat of SARS in their respective areas. – Ding Cervantes