OL Trap rolls out in Biliran

When life is at stake, heroes always come running. It was proven true when 132 school principals and school nurses from the elementary and secondary schools in the Biliran Division joined the roll-out training of the Ovicidal-Larvicidal Trap (OL Trap) conducted by the Department of Science and Technology on February 15, 2012 at the Department of Education's Library Hub in Brgy. Larrazabal, Naval, Biliran.

What is noble with the activity is its purview of reducing the deadly dengue menace. Dengue had been one of the growing problem that even caused fatalities mostly among school aged children through-out the country. It is currently the subject of intense campaign of the government to reduce if not eliminate the causes.

Ms. Rosario Canlas, representing Dr. Pedro T Escobarte, Jr., the Biliran Schools Division Superintendent of the Department of Education, welcomed the enthusiastic participants while Ms. Mae Anne Reyes, Supervising Science Research Specialist and OL Trap Project Coordinator of DOST Region VIII, presented the life cycle of the dengue carrier mosquito and the nitty-gritty of operating and using the device to reduce the mosquito population. Mr. Romeo Dignos, Senior Science Research Specialist and Provincial Director for DOST Biliran, encouraged the school principals and head teachers to be serious in accomplishing the tasks required of them since the project's vision is a dignified one.

The OL Trap a sytem developed by DOST's Industrial Technology Development Institute (ITDI) in cooperation with the DOST-Philippine Council for Health Research and Development and the Department of Health is designed to attract the Aedes egypti mosquitoes, the carrier of the dengue virus, to lay their eggs in it and kill the offsprings before it could live and spread further.

DOST VIII  through the project will provide every rooms in all schools about 4 sets of the device including supplies that will be used and monitored for the next 6 months. The school heads will report the data to DOST Biliran Provincial office who will submit the same to the Regional Office for analysis.

The OL trap system roll-out in Biliran is a part of the project of DOST Secretary, Hon. Mario G. Montejo to promote the use of the ingenious gadget throughout the country. "As we are conducting this training, other parts of the country, may also be doing the same this time," Ms. Reyes disclosed.