Tacloban City (October 3) -- Local chief executives from all over the country will converge at the Astoria Plaza on October 4, 2006 in order to tackle the issue on surveillance of, and response to emerging infectious diseases, the Department of Health (DOH) revealed.

The Summit for Local Chief Executives on Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS), Avian Influenza (AI) and other emerging infectious diseases will cap the year-long planned activities under the Regional Technical Assistance (RETA) to support the surveillance, prevention and control of emerging infectious diseases which was financed by the Asian Development Bank.

The Project is being implemented by the Department of Health through the National Center for Disease Prevention and Control and the National Epidemiology Center , with support from the Pacific Rim Innovation and management Exponents, Inc. (PRIMEX).

Most of the planned activities have already been completed and these includes a training of trainors workshop in February of 2006 and a series of regional training courses for LGY health workers nationwide from March to May 2006.

No less than Department of Health Secretary Francisco T. Duque III is expected to be the keynote speaker during the LCE Summit.

Scheduled to be part of the summit is the presentation on the overview of emerging infectious diseases and surveillance. This will be followed by LGU presentations on the budget allocation for bird flu and other emerging infections of Valenzuela City , Bird flu preparedness program in Cagayan de Oro City and Surveillance and reporting for bird flu in local government units.

The available Emerging Infectious Diseases preparedness models for local governance will be then be synthesized.