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TATLONG REBELDENG NPA SA AGUSAN DEL NORTE, SUMUKO SA GOBYERNO
Tatlong regular members na naman ng New People’s Army (NPA) na nagnanais magkaroon ng mapayapang buhay ang nagbalik-loob sa gobyerno dala-dala ang kanilang mga armas sa 29th Infantry Battalion, Philippine Army.
Kahirapan ng buhay sa bundok, walang katuparang pangako, at pagmamahal sa pamilya ang naging dahilan ng kanilang pagsuko.
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Si alyas Zhia, vice commanding officer at political instructor ng Sandatahang Yunit Pampropaganda (SYP) 16B, Guerilla Front 16, North Eastern Mindanao Regional Committee (NEMRC), sumurender kasama ang kanyang amang si alyas Jing at kasamahang si alyas Dondon.
Ayon kay alyas Zhia, hinkayat sila ng kanyang ina na sumuko at mabuhay na ng payapa.
Dahil sa hirap ng buhay sa bundok at sa kagustuhang mabigyan ng maayos na buhay ang anak, napilitan ding sumuko si alyas Dondon.
Isa ding nabubulok na bangkay ng vice commanding officer ng NPA na kinilalang si Elmer Delarmente ang hinukay ng mga sundalo kasama ang pulisya sa Barangay Maraiging, Jabonga, sa tulong ng isang dating kasamahan nito sa kilusan. Namatay umano si Delarmente sa bakbakan sa naturang barangay at iniwan ng mga kasamahan.
Nanawagan naman si 29IB commanding officer Lt. Col. Jason M. Saldua sa mga nalalabi pang NPA na sumuko na sa gobyerno.
Samantala, narekober naman ng 23rd Infantry Battalion ang mga high-powered firearms at mga materyales na pinagmamay-ari ng mga CPP-NPA-NDF matapos ang dalawampung minutong bakbakan sa Sitio Tud-ol, Barangay Tungao sa lungsod ng Butuan. (NCLM/PIAAgusan del Norte)
MINDANAO NEWS
DA opens P500-M loan for typhoon-affected farmers in NorMin
The Department of Agriculture in Northern Mindanao (DA-10) has allocated PHP500 million worth of credit for farmers in the region affected by Typhoon “Odette” last year.
In a statement Monday, DA-10 Executive Director Carlene Collado said the fund forms part of the Agricultural Credit Policy Council (ACPC) whose implementation is guided by the Survival and Recovery (Sure) Assistance program across the country, including areas in Norther Mindanao that were declared under state of calamity after the typhoon entered the country in December 2021.
“Of the total amount, we have an allocation for Region 10 amounting to PHP75-M in support of the government’s goal in helping agricultural households badly hit by the typhoon,” he said. Data from DA-10 indicated that the region has a total of 17,000 affected farmers and fishers due to the onslaught of “Odette.”
Under the Sure program, small farmers and fishers may borrow with no interest and collateral, while loan amount is payable up to three years, wherein only one borrower is allowed per household.
Noel Clarence M. Ducusin, DA-ACPC program development division chief and Visayas-Mindanao head, said the loan amount is intended to provide relief and aid in rehabilitating the farming and fishing activities of affected farmers and fisherfolks thru credit for the purchase of production inputs, repair of farm or fishery assets, and acquisition of livestock or work animals. Priority shall be given to farmers and fishermen identified and endorsed by the agricultures offices of provincial and local governments and are duly registered in the Registry System for Basic Sectors in Agriculture (RSBSA) and the Fisherfolk Registration program.
DA-10 Technical Director Carlota S. Madriaga said no calamity or pandemic can hinder the services of the agency, especially in these trying times where the agency is needed the most.
“This is our way of helping our small farmers and fisherfolk, as they play a crucial role in ensuring food availability and security in our region,” she said. (PNA/Nef Luczon)
Maguindanao town gets P27.5-M infra projects
The Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) is building infrastructure projects worth PHP27.5 million in the town of Guindulungan, Maguindanao.
Lawyer Naguib Sinarimbo, Ministry of the Interior and Local Government in BARMM (MILG-BARMM), said Saturday the projects include a PHP25 million public terminal and PHP2.5 million multi-purpose building.
He said the two projects will be built in honor of the late Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) founding chairperson Hashim Salamat.
Sinarimbo described the public terminal as one of the modern transportation hubs in BARMM. It is funded through MILG’s Bangsamoro Local Economic Support Service (BLESS) program.
“This public terminal has complete facilities and features (that include) coffee shops, public bath system, and will also house tourism center and display center where locals may showcase their products,” said Sinarimbo, who is also
INFRA PROJECTS. The municipality of Guindulungan, Maguindanao, receives two infrastructure projects worth PHP27.5 million from the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM). Mayor Midpantao Midtimbang Jr. (2nd from left) and BARMM’s Minister of the Interior and Local Government Naguib Sinarimbo (center) led the groundbreaking ceremony Friday (Feb. 11, 2022) signaling the start of the two projects. (Photo courtesy of BARMM Information Office) the BARMM spokesperson.
He said funds for the construction of the multipurpose building were given after Guindulungan town was conferred the Salamat Excellence Award for Leadership (SEAL) during the celebration last month of the 3rd BARMM anniversary.
Sinarimbo cited the town leadership, saying “they are not only a recipient of the project but performancewise, they are deserving.”
“Your local executive is one of the six recipients of SEAL award—the highest form of award given by the regional government to local chief executives and this is a manifestation of a good leadership which emulated from the founding chairman of MILF,” he said.
Mayor Midpantao Midtimbang Jr. thanked and lauded BARMM leadership for the “gift.”
“With this development, we will be promoting our place as the center of trade and commerce. Hopefully, we can expand to other barangays as well,” he said. (PNA/Edwin Fernandez)
NATIONAL NEWS
New normal roadmap, to be presented to President Duterte next month
The National Task Force (NTF) Against COVID-19 will present to President Rodrigo Roa Duterte next month a new normal roadmap, which will aid the country exit the pandemic.
“The National Task Force and the experts of the Department of Health are currently working very hard to develop a new normal roadmap and we are confident that this will be ready to be presented to you, Mr. President, by the beginning of March,” Presidential adviser on COVID-19 response Vivencio Dizon said during President Duterte’s Talk to the People on Monday.
“And this will really signal our move towards some semblance of normalcy after this very difficult two-year where we have dealt with the pandemic.”
The new normal roadmap is expected to signal the return to a robust and healthy growth of the economy that will bring back jobs, investments, and normalize the operation of many industries, as well as the tourism sector.
Presidential Adviser for COVID response, Secretary Vivencio Dizon prepares his presentation to President Rodrigo Roa Duterte during a meeting with key government officials at the Malacañan Palace on February 14, 2022. KING RODRIGUEZ/ PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO
that starting March, if all goes well, the country could start the new normal to prepare it to finally “close the book on COVID-19″.
“Hopefully po, barring any other new variants that may come our way,” the Presidential adviser on COVID-19 response said.
At the same time, Dizon said the country’s vaccination rate is very critical as it enters the so-called new normal.
In terms of inoculating children, Dizon reported that government pediatric vaccination rollout was a success especially for those aged 5 to 11 years.
“We are already nearing almost the 12 million mark of our target. Nasa 9 million na po tayo for 12 to 17, and there are roughly about 15 million children aged 5 to 11, which we need to vaccinate as soon as possible para po makapasok na sila sa eskuwela at makalabas na po sila after two years of staying at home,” he said.
Overall, the government’s priority is to focus on immunizing Mimaropa, Bicol Region, Soccsksargen, Caraga Region and Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).
The government targets to provide complete doses of COVID-19 vaccine to at least 90 million Filipinos by the end President Duterte’s term in June this year. PND
President Duterte to unvaccinated: ‘Get COVID-19 jab now’
President Rodrigo Roa Duterte on Monday, February 14, made a renewed call to unvaccinated Filipinos to get COVID-19 shot, saying massive vaccination is the only way to return to normalcy.
“I am pleading to you, in behalf of government na mahinto na sana itong COVID. And the only way to do it is if most or not all Filipinos are vaccinated,” President Duterte said in a meeting on government’s COVID-19 interventions.
According to the President, people’s refusal to get the jab, whether it’s because of a belief or mere indifference, only exacerbates the health crisis that has gripped the world in the past two years.
“Wala pa tayo diyan sa herd immunity. Do not… The COVID is here and it can afflict everybody. No one is still safe. You have to avoid, wear a mask, and listen to what government says,” he said.
“Paulit-ulit ako nakikiusap sa mga tao na ‘yun naman sanang hanggang ngayon hindi pa nabakuna, huwag nilang pahirapan ang sarili nila balang araw, mga anak, and your neighbors of contaminating them pagka tinamaan kayo,” he stressed.
President Duterte assured Filipinos that there’s nothing to be afraid of regarding the safety of coronavirus vaccines as these have been
scientifically proven to be effective in reducing infections, severe illness, hospitalization, and death.
“Maniwala na lang kayo sa gobyerno tutal ito ang hinihingi namin. Malibre tayong lahat. Someday, COVID-free talaga tayo, lalo na if most of the people are vaccinated,” he noted.
Meanwhile, the country’s vaccine czar Carlito Galvez Jr., who was also present in the meeting, reported that vaccine uptake in the country has significantly improved with the pediatric vaccination in full swing.
Galvez said 9.3 million minors aged 12 to 17 years have received the first dose of COVID-19 jab while 8 million are now fully vaccinated.
The launching and mini-rollout of pediatric vaccination for children aged 5 to 11 years was also successful, he reported, noting that more than 100,370 children 5 to 11 years old are partially immunized against the deadly coronavirus disease. Galvez, who is also the National Task Force Against COVID-19 chief implementer, lauded local government units (LGUs) and the private sector for their extensive preparations in making pediatric vaccination sites a fun and enjoyable place for children.
“Ibang klase po ang naging preparasyon ng mga LGUs and private sector at nakakaengganyo po na magpabakuna ang mga bata dahil naging masaya, parang carnival po ang naging vaccination site,” he said. “Kaya natutuwa po kami kasi naka-100,000 po tayo na nabakunahan at we never expect na ma-breach natin ‘yung 100,000.”
The vaccine czar also expressed his gratitude to the private sectors, medical associations, as well as parents who supported the immunization drive.
Figures are expected to double in the coming weeks as the government opens more vaccination sites across the country and as more vaccines come in, he added. PND
President Rodrigo Roa Duterte talks to the people after holding a meeting with key government officials at the Malacañan Palace on February 14, 2022. KARL ALONZO/ PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO
PRRD recognizes gov’t officials’ ‘teamwork’ to fight Covid-19
President Rodrigo R. Duterte recognized the “teamwork” exhibited by the government’s frontline officials to combat the Covid-19 pandemic during the last two years.
In his prerecorded Talk to the People on Monday night, Duterte acknowledged again Health Secretary Francisco Duque III for his job in spearheading the fight against pandemic.
“I’d like to say something konting ano lang (just a few) — that you’ve done good sa trabaho mo (in your job) and the Filipino [people] will never forget that,” Duterte said.
Duque recently went under fire for the supposed mismanagement of pandemic funds.
“This is a sacrifice really for you to continue doing it. I have to ask you several times to stay on the job because we need you,” Duterte said, referring to several calls for Duque’s resignation in the middle of the health crisis.
“Thank you, sir,” Duque, chairperson of the InterAgency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID), replied.
Duterte also lauded the “tireless toil” of Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. as the National Task Force (NTF) Against Covid-19 Chief Implementer and vaccine czar of the country, Interior Secretary Eduardo Eduardo Año as NTF vice chair, and National Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana for his guidance.
He also thanked NTF deputy chief implementer and testing czar Vince Dizon, advising him to join a political party after the Duterte administration.
“Vince Dizon, saan ka man pumunta (wherever you will go) after this administration, join a political party. ‘Yan ang forte mo, (That’s your expertise) it’s organizing,” Duterte said.
“If there is somebody I would like to thank publicly, it is never too late to say thank you. Salamat sa lahat (Thank you everyone),” Duterte said. “Sila yun nag teamwork (They are the one who showed teamwork) to defeat this [Covid-19 pandemic]. So someday magpapasalamat ang Filipinos sa inyo (Filipinos will thank you),” he added.
On Monday, the DOH logged reported 2,730 new Covid-19 cases, the lowest rise this year.
The country’s active cases dropped to 76,609 after the DOH recorded 7,456 new recoveries. In his report, Dizon said over 61 million Filipinos are now fully vaccinated against Covid-19, hoping to reach 90 million before Duterte ends his term in June this year.
Duque reported to Duterte that the Philippines reached a low-risk case classification with a negative two-week growth rate of -74 percent and a lowrisk average daily attack rate of 5.26 per 100,000 individuals.
He particularly noted that all regions in the country are under low risk except for Region 11 (Davao), Cordillera Administrative Region, Region 6 (Western Visayas), and Region 12 (Soccsksargen), which are all under moderate risk classification.
Duque said the intensive care unit utilization rate nationwide is at low risk at 34.12 percent.
Meanwhile, he said the country’s total Covid-19 beds and mechanical ventilators utilization are at less than 50-percent usage.
“We are able to manage our cases and our health system’s capacity is very much prepared for any eventuality na kung magkaroon na naman ng saka-sakaling pagtaaas (in case there would be another surge in cases),” Duque said. (PNA/ Lade Jean Kabagani and Filane Mikee Cervantes)
VAX FOR KIDS. A Department of Health staff guides the aviation cargo operator while handling the shipment of the newly delivered Pfizer vaccine at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3 in Pasay City on Wednesday (Feb. 16, 2022). The reformulated coronavirus vaccine, procured by the national government through the World Bank, is intended for the vaccination of children aged 5 to 11 years old. (PNA photo by Robert Oswald Alfiler) More doses of reformulated Pfizer coronavirus vaccine arrive Wednesday night, beefing up the country’s vaccine inventory intended for children aged 5 to 11 years old.
A total of 780,000 doses, procured by the national government through the World Bank, arrived at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport, an addition to the 2.3 million reformulated doses the Philippines received this month.
Deputy Peace Adviser Undersecretary Isidro Purisima, representing National Task Force Against Covid-19 (NTF Against Covid-19) chief implementer Carlito Galvez Jr., urged parents and guardians to get their children inoculated against the disease.
“We need the vaccine to open up the economy, the classes, especially among children,” said Purisima, who was among the officials that welcomed the latest vaccine delivery.
The vaccine will be used in the ongoing vaccination program for minors 5 to 11 years old. It has a lower dosage and lower concentration than those given to minors aged 12 to 17. pediatric vaccination as it is the only jab that has received an emergency use authorization for kids aged 5 to 11 years old from the Food and Drug Administration.
“We thank the US government for helping us again to facilitate the delivery of these vaccines. We also thank the World Bank for its financial assistance,” Purisima said.
In a briefing Wednesday, NTF Against Covid-19 special medical adviser Ted Herbosa said all regions have been allowed to inoculate minors.
“The government is also ramping up the provision of complete doses for adolescents aged 12-17 years old,” Herbosa said, adding that the country has enough vaccine supply.
Based on the Department of Health’s Covid-19 vaccination dashboard, over 128 million doses of vaccines against Covid-19 have been administered as of February 9. (PNA/Ma. Cristina Arayata) February 12-18, 2022 | 29
Over 9M minors now vaccinated against Covid-19
PROTECTING THE FUTURE. Health Secretary Francisco Duque III injects the reformulated Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine to 9-year-old Aeon Calyx Estrellado, accompanied by his mother Abigail, at the Theatre at Solaire, Parañaque City on Monday (Feb. 14, 2022). National Task Force Against Covid-19 chief Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. (rightmost) also witnessed the vaccination for children aged 5 to 11. (PNA photo by Ben Briones) More than 9 million minors aged 12 to 17 years old have already completed their twin Covid-19 doses while 91,000 aged 5 to 11 have availed of initial shots as of Monday.
There have been no reported serious adverse events following vaccination in the country, according to National Task Force Against Covid-19 chief Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr.
“Wala po kayong dapat ikabahala (You have nothing to worry about),” Galvez said at a vaccination activity for the 5-11 age group at the Theatre at Solaire in Parañaque City.
Inoculation of the youngest age bracket began February 7 using the lowerdosed Pfizer jab.
Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said vaccinating children will allow them to go out and attend physical classes and restore social skills development and cognitive function affected by the pandemic.
“Ako po ay nananawagan sa lahat ng mga magulang sa buong Pilipinas na sige na po, samantalahin na po natin ang pagkakataong ito. Libre, ligtas, epektibo, dekalidad, ang lahat po ng ating mga bakuna (I am appealing to all the parents in the country to avail of this opportunity. All vaccines are free, safe, effective, and of good quality),” he said.
Duque noted that not one among an estimated 8.7 million fully vaccinated children in other countries reported serious side effects. In the Philippines, Duque said less than 1 percent of vaccinated children experienced mild fever, headache, itchiness, and pain on the injected arm.
So far, 482 hospital and nonhospital sites for pediatric vaccination are operating nationwide, 82 of which are located in Metro Manila.
“Hindi po kumpleto ang proteksyon ng pamilya kung si bunso ay hindi bakunado. Ngayon, pwede na tayong mag-staycation at bumisita sa ibang areas dahil bakunado na sina lolo, lola, tatay at nanay, kuya at ate, at si bunso (Vaccination is not complete if the youngest has no jab yet. Once everyone is vaccinated, going on staycation and visiting other areas are already possible),” Galvez said. (PNA/Lade Jean Kabagani)
61 million Filipinos now fully vaxxed as of Feb. 13
FEAR OF NEEDLE. A young boy closes his eyes as he gets inoculated against Covid-19 at a mall in Antipolo City on Sunday (Feb. 13, 2022). Filipinos aged at least 5 years old are eligible to receive the jabs. (PNA photo by Joey Razon) The Philippines has already administered 130,741,152 doses of the Covid-19 vaccine, with 61,058,862 Filipinos now fully vaccinated, including those who received the single-dose Janssen and Sputnik Light jabs.
Data from the National Task Force (NTF) against Covid-19 on Sunday showed that 52,262 children aged 5 to 11 years old have also received their first dose of the reformulated Pfizer jabs and 8,011,994 have booster shots.
NTF chief implementer and vaccine czar Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. previously said vaccines would help in the revival of the country’s economy and safely send children back to schools for physical classes.
The emotional and mental impact of staying mostly at home for almost two years now will also be reduced, he added.
For this month alone, the country received 5,906,550 Covid-19 doses, including the reformulated doses for the youngest age group. The total acquired vaccines, both procured and donated, have reached 222,463,020 doses, nearly a year since the first shipment of 600,000 Sinovac doses donated by China arrived on Feb. 28, 2021. (PNA/Lade Jean Kabagani)
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