Forensics and mass casualties in disaster-prone PH tackled in UP Manila forum

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<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2019/news/07/09/up.jpg"/><figcaption>The facade of the UP Manila College of Arts and Sciences is shown in this file photo.<em> Calvin de los Reyes/contributed photo</em></figcaption></figure></div><p>MANILA -- A multi-disciplinary approach to handling mass casualties from disasters both natural and man-made will help give dignity to the dead while helping design public health policy, University of the Philippines-Manila faculty members said Tuesday.</p><p>For the second straight year, UP Manila is mounting a short course on forensic science, a timely exercise as the country braces for the onset of typhoon season, said anthropologist Tess de Guzman, chairperson of the UP Manila Department of Behavioral Sciences.</p><p>Identifying dead bodies has always been a challenge for Filipino authorities, who have handled calamities on the scale of Super Typhoon Haiyan in 2013 and shooting incidents such as the siege on the Resorts World casino hotel in 2017.</p><p>&quot;It&#x27;s not just about counting dead bodies and body bags,&quot; De Guzman told ABS-CBN News. &quot;We&#x27;re not emotional, it&#x27;s more of respecting our culture, the dignity of the individual.&quot;</p><p>On top of forensics to identify dead bodies and determine causes of death, the lecture will also include behavioral science and anthropology approaches, such as respecting religious customs on the dead, she said.</p><p>Handling grieving relatives will also be included in the short course, de Guzman said.</p><div class="media-content"><div class="slider-for"><div><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2019/news/07/09/up1.jpg"/></div><div><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2019/news/07/09/up2.jpg"/></div></div><div class="slider-desc"><div class="item-desc"><p>Scenes from the first Forensics forum at UP Manila in July 2018.<cite> Contributed photo</cite></p></div><div class="item-desc"><p>Scenes from the first Forensics forum at UP Manila in July 2018.<cite> Contributed photo</cite></p></div></div></div><p>One practice that needs to be changed is allowing relatives to personally identify dead bodies, which could be traumatic as some may have begun to decompose. De Guzman said relatives only need to be shown photos of the remains while scientists handle the rest of the identification process.</p><p>&quot;Forensics involves many disciplines,&quot; she said.</p><p>Resource persons for the lecture include forensic pathologist Raquel Fortun and Mahar Lagmay, who helped start the government&#x27;s flood forecasting effort, Project NOAH.</p><p>&quot;Forensics plays an important role, in say, the accuracy of death certification. Other than being mandated by the law, it serves as an essential medical scientific document, complementing other sources of vital statistics and epidemiological data, useful in designing public health policy and measures in the country,&quot; said Calvin de los Reyes, an MA in Health Policy Studies senior lecturer at UP Manila.</p><p>With the strong response to the annual short lectures, De Guzman said UP Manila could soon offer a masters program in forensic science, which will be first in the Philippines to offer a multidisciplinary approach.</p><p>At least 100 participants, including doctors and criminal investigators signed up for this year&#x27;s short course, nearly double the number from 2018, De Guzman said. It will be held on July 22 to 26 at the City State Hotel in Manila. Interested parties can contact Leonie Florendo at (02) 310 1949.</p><p>The special course is spearheaded by the UP Manila College of Arts and Sciences, College of Medicine and College of Dentistry.</p>

<p>For the second straight year, UP Manila is mounting a short course on forensic science, a timely exercise as the country braces for the onset of typhoon season.</p>

For the second straight year, UP Manila is mounting a short course on forensic science, a timely exercise as the country braces for the onset of typhoon season.

Forensics and mass casualties in disaster-prone PH tackled in UP Manila forum | ABS-CBN

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Forensics and mass casualties in disaster-prone PH tackled in UP Manila forum

Forensics and mass casualties in disaster-prone PH tackled in UP Manila forum

ABS-CBN News

Published Jul 09, 2019 12:12 PM PHT

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Updated Jul 09, 2019 03:06 PM PHT

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University of the Philippines

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