Articles by Sun Star Davao Digital

Health

Davao City keeps Malaria-Free Zone status

THE City Health Office (CHO), through the Tropical Disease Prevention and Control Unit, confirmed that the city maintained its status as a Malaria-Free Zone since 2021.Melodina Babante, program manager of the Tropical Disease Prevention and Control Unit, said in an interview with the Madayaw Davao Live on Friday, that to date, CHO has not recorded any local or indigenous cases from areas in the city where Malaria was endemic.Malaria is a life-threatening disease that spreads through the bites of some infected female Anopheles mosquitoes. It is preventable and curable, and does not spread from person to person.The symptoms of Malaria include fever, chills and headache. For severe cases, the infected individual may experience fatigue, confusion, seizures, and difficulty in breathing.It can be prevented by avoiding mosquito bites and through medication. Vector control is also a vital aspect in malaria control and elimination strategies as this is effective in preventing infection and reducing disease transmission. Interventions include distribution of treated mosquito nets and indoor residual spraying.Babante said that even after the city was declared Malaria-Free Zone in 2021, the CHO continued to conduct monitoring and surveillance activities in Paquibato and Marilog Districts, where malaria was endemic.“Every six months ang City Health Office naga-conduct mi og monitoring and surveillance sa mga areas nga ginatawag nato og endemic districts. Naga-conduct mi didto og mass blood survey, gina-examine namo ang mga tao didto nga didto nagapuyo through blood survey then nagahatag mi og mga vector control like mosquito nets distribution ug indoor residual spraying para maprotektahan ang mga tao didto (The City Health Office conducts monitoring and surveillance activities in the endemic districts every six months. We also conduct mass blood survey in the area where we examine the residents through blood survey, and we also do vector control like mosquito net distribution and indoor residual spraying to protect the people living in those areas),” she said.In line with the Malaria Awareness Month celebration in November, CHO also visited endemic areas to conduct interventions and ensure that Dabawenyos remain healthy and prevent the spread of Malaria.She also clarified that reported cases of malaria in the city were not indigenous or local in nature. Those patients acquired the disease outside the city. This is different from indigenous cases which are malaria cases acquired within the endemic areas in Davao City.The CHO also urged Dabawenyos to continue supporting its health and wellness programs and services as well as its disease prevention and control initiatives. CIO

Politics

Davao City hosts 1st Balik Islam Congress 2025

THE Davao City Muslim Affairs, in collaboration with the Task Force Davao, hosted the first Balik Islam Congress 2025, marking a significant milestone in recognizing the Balik Islam sector and its role in Davao City’s diverse cultural landscape.The Congress, which was held at the World Palace Hotel on November 16, 2025, gathered sectoral representatives, city officials, and security forces to raise awareness about the presence and contributions of the Balik Islam sector, while strengthening ties among communities and reinforcing the city’s culture of security.Abdul Hakeem Omalay, chief of staff of the Balik Islam Davao City under the Davao City Muslim Affairs Office, said that the congress was not just a gathering but also a collective effort to raise awareness that the Balik Islam exists and is recognized by the city.“We are informing the public that we have an upcoming event which is the 1st Balik Islam Congress 2025. It is of course sa pag tinabangay sa pag implementar niini wala’y lain kundi sa Task Force Davao og sa laing ahensya diria sa Davao (We are informing the public that we have an upcoming event, which is the 1st Balik Islam Congress 2025. It is of course, we cooperate in implementing it with the Task Force and other agencies in Davao City),” he told Madayaw Davao over Davao City Disaster Radio on November 14, 2025.Omalay added that Balik Islam refers to individuals who embraced Islam after previously practicing other faiths such as Christianity, Hinduism, Judaism, or Buddhism. For many, it represents a spiritual return to Islam, which is considered the original or the faith of ancestors before Spanish colonization.Davao City is also the first local government unit to formally recognize the Balik Islam sector, underscoring its commitment to inclusivity and cultural respect.Danilo Ali Garcia, sectoral representative of Balik Islam under the Davao City Muslim Affairs Office, during an interview with Madayaw Davao over Davao City Disaster Radio (DCDR) on November 14, 2025, emphasized that while current efforts are concentrated in the downtown area with 400 to 500 Balik Islam residents in the city, the sector’s coverage will expand across all three districts.Major Ronnel Avanzado, commanding officer of the Task Group Agila Task Force Davao, stated that initiatives like the Balik Islam congress empower communities while reinforcing Davao’s culture of security.“We have to adopt kasi yung ang nakikita natin, ang Task Force Davao lagi naman nandito serving the Dabawenyos. Not only na makita kami physically na naka-uniform, nakatayo kami diyan. But, there are other initiatives na tingin namin na crucial din in protecting Davao City, which is this, it is also a part of our initiatives. With this kind of activities, gina-empower nato ang bawat community (We have to adopt because the Task Force Davao is always here serving the Dabawenyos. You may not always see us physically in uniform, but we are here. But, there are other initiatives that we think are also crucial in protecting Davao City, which is this. It is also a part of our initiatives. With this kind of activities, we empower every community),” he told Madayaw Davao over Davao City Disaster Radio on November 14, 2025.Davao City’s Balik Islam Congress 2025 is a milestone of awareness and inclusion ensuring that the Balik Islam residents are no longer on the margins but at the center of dialogue, peace and unity. CIO