Are the streets safe for our children? What is the possibility of a child getting killed by simply crossing the streets? Is the government concerned and addressing the problem? Are barangay officials doing something to ensure the safeness of the school zones?

A recent study conducted by the Safe Kids Worldwide revealed that the streets in the Philippines are generally unsafe for children. In 2003 alone, records showed that 2,250 children were killed and 93,854 others were wounded due to road accidents!

Dr. Rafael Consunji, the group’s Director for Asian Operation said that there are 18 million children ages 14 years and under who walk to school everyday. These school children are especially prone as pedestrians to road accidents because their cognitive, behavioral, physical, and sensory abilities are not yet fully developed. Aside from this, they are so small, as sometimes they could not be seen from the driver’s seat. He added, “ Our study also found out that sidewalks were missing from the paths most children take to school. And if there are sidewalks, the path is quite often like an obstacle course because of the presence of parked vehicles, garbage, vendors’ stalls, and open manholes!”

When are we going to act and make our streets safe for the children? Maybe, now is the appropriate time to prepare before the class opening.. The child who could be saved from the loss of life and limb could be yours.

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PAIN RELIEVERS RELIEVED. The Bureau of Food and Drugs (BFAD) has recently ordered pharmaceutical giant Pfizer to voluntarily withdraw the Valdecoxib (BEXTRA), and the injectible Paracoxib ( DYNASTAT) from the Philippine market for fear that they might cause serious skin problems.

BFAD Director Leticia Gutierrez through an advisory stated that said pain relievers “posed a risk of rare but life-threatening skin reactions.” Said BFAD order was an offshoot of a similar recommendation by the US Food and Drug Administration (BFAD)

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Here’s an item emailed by Engr. Frank A. of TRANSCO:
Starting this week, the doors of the Sistine Chapel at Vatican will be closed as the conclave starts to elect the next pope among the 115 cardinals. One of the strong candidates is an Italian named Cardinal Scola. We hope Coca-Cola® worldwide will not interpose an objection if ever he got elected.

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A sign seen in a veterinarian’s office: THE DOCTOR IS IN. SIT. STAY. – Gale Shipley

QUOTES:
“Sometimes the road less traveled is less traveled for a reason.” -Jerry Seinfiled, NBC
“We are all pilgrims on the same journey-but some pilgrims have better road maps.
- Nelson De Mille, The Talbot Odyssey
‘The only way to see a rainbow is to look through the rain.”
- PULLMAN LEASING Co. advertisement