DAVAO CITY, Oct. 14 -- The Provincial Government of Davao Oriental clarified on Tuesday that reports of a 300-percent bed occupancy rate and 200 to 300 daily patient admissions at the Davao Oriental Provincial Medical Center (DOPMC) are not attributable to illnesses related to the ongoing El Nino phenomenon.

In an official statement from Governor Nelson Dayanghirang, he said the figures represent separate indicators of hospital utilization and reflect the existing demand for health services in the province.

"The reported 300 percent bed occupancy rate and 200 to 300 patient admissions per day at the DOPMC represent distinct indicators of hospital utilization," he added.

The provincial government stressed that the figures should not be...