In medicine, prompt reporting of diseases is often the key to treating it before complications set in.
The same mindset applies to communicable disease, where prompt reporting of cases can halt the spread of diseases before it reaches epidemic or even pandemic levels.
So it was no small feat for the city government of San Pedro, Laguna to receive not just one, but four awards from the Department of Health (DOH) – Laguna for its measures to halt the spread of diseases through timely and accurate surveillance and information.
The San Pedro City Health Office’s City Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit (CESU) received these awards during the DOH Laguna’s Surveillance Program Implementation Review for 2026 last October 27 in Quezon City.
The San Pedro CESU emerged as the sole LGU in Laguna province receiving the most awards.
First is a Plaque of Recognition for Outstanding Innovation in developing the E-MARITES Mo! Application, demonstrating excellence, creativity and commitment to strengthening disease surveillance and improving public health reporting.
The E-MARITES Mo! (Maagap at Agarang Report Impormasyong Tama Eksakto at Sapat Mobile) is a mobile-based reporting tool used by disease-reporting advocates (DRA) to report notifiable diseases and health events, including dengue, influenza-like illnesses, measles, leptospirosis, and chicken pox.
“Ito ang kauna-unahang mobile application na ginamit upang magreport ng mga Notifiable Diseases at Health Event sa probinsya ng Laguna,” officials of the City Health Office told OpinYon Laguna.
The second award recognizes the CESU’s “exemplary performance” in achieving its target for measles case reporting, contributing to the timely detection, monitoring, and public health response to measles in the province.
While cases of measles in San Pedro City rose by 30 percent last year, the CESU attributed this to the timely and active reporting of cases by hospitals, barangay health stations, school and private clinics, and other health facilities.
“Dahil sa agarang pagre-report, nakakagawa ng hakbang upang maiwasan ang pagdami ng nagkakasakit tulad ng outbreak response immunization o ORI at Disease Prevention Awareness sa ating komunidad,” officials added.
The third award honors the CESU’s exemplary performance and commitment to acute flaccid paralysis (AFP) Surveillance in achieving its target for AFP case reporting, contributing to the timely detection, monitoring, and public health response to polio and other vaccine preventable diseases in Laguna Province.
The fourth and final award gives the CESU a “fully functional” compliance at 2026 ESU Functionality Assessment (2025 Data Review), a measurement of its readiness and capacity to handle the onset of communicable diseases in San Pedro City.
“Ang ‘Fully Functional’ Compliance ay isang indicator sa Integrated Monitoring and Evaluation Tool (IMET) for Local Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit (ESU) upang makita ang kahandaan at kapasidan ng isang Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit (ESU) sa mga banta ng Notifiable Diseases and Health Event sa komunidad. Makakakuha lamang neto kung nagawa ang lahat ng criteria sa ‘Functional’ level,” according to CHO officials.
These awards, for the city government, are a testament to the continuing efforts of the administration of Mayor Art Mercado to ensure that San Pedro City becomes “Una sa Laguna” when it comes to disease surveillance and prevention, ensuring the safety and well-being of every San Pedrense.
(OpinYon News Team)
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