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Andanar allays public’s fear of COVID-19 Regional News

By Venus L. Garcia

During his recent visit in Caraga region, Andanar also urged the Caraganons, especially the netizens and youths to be responsible sharers and users of information and to avoid spreading unverified information on COVID-19. BUTUAN CITY - Amid the threat of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), Philippines’ top communications officer Secretary Martin Andanar appealed to the public not to panic and overreact but to remain calm, vigilant, and maintain taking preventive measures to protect oneself from the strain of the virus.

“The virus can affect anyone regardless of race, ethnicity, nationality, gender or age. Stop blaming anyone or any country for the spread of the virus. Think and discern everything that you have read or heard. Efforts were made by the PCOO to avert the proliferation of fake news and updates about the COVID-19,” said Andanar. Regional News

This he said, referring also to the PCOO’s effort of promoting the students’ involvement to curb the distribution of wrong information about the COVID-19 though the Youth for Truth program under the Dismiss Disinformation campaign of the government in which the PCOO has been working on at the same time.

“The youths are the perfect age group capable of fighting the fake news on COVID-19 because they are identified to be digital natives who are active and exposed to social media,” said Andanar.

Moreover, Andanar strongly discouraged everyone to engage in xenophobic behaviors and discrimination, saying that Filipinos should continue to be level-headed and compassionate.

“Rest assured that the government is doing its best to protect the health and welfare of the Filipinos. For now, Filipinos from China, Hongkong or Macao are given the chance to come back to our country, provided that they would strictly follow the imposed rules for quarantine. But those who wanted to go back to the countries affected by the virus are prohibited to travel until further notice,” Andanar said.

Meanwhile, the local government of Tandag, Butuan and Surigao cities, together with the Agusan del Norte and Surigao del Norte provinces in Caraga region, have already issued an executive order directing the creation of the response team and formulation of guidelines to monitor, contain, and prevent the spread of the COVID-19.

“The LGUs have prioritized the issuance of the executive order as a proactive action to strictly implement the protocols and to prevent the entry of the COVID-19 in our region. We also wanted to focus our attention and preparation for such situation,” said Agusan del Norte governor Dale Corvera.

By citing the necessary preparations, the Agusan del Norte Provincial Hospital and Butuan City Medical Center were prompt with their readiness to accommodate patients where COVID-19 infection is yet to be confirmed.

According to Dr. Odelio Ferrer, provincial health officer of Agusan del Norte, the government-run hospital has already designated a holding area and an isolation room intended for COVID-19 suspected cases, if there is any.

“It’s much better that we follow the universal precautionary measures such as the regular washing of hands and use of face mask. We are also

ready to assist patients when needed to be referred to the Caraga Regional Hospital with Level II facility for COVID-19 cases,” said Ferrer.

Regional News their efforts in the delivery of timely, accurate and reliable information; public service reminders and news about the COVID-19 pandemic.

DSWD-Caraga top management capacitated on ICS With the earlier declaration of the nCoV, now called COVID-19, outbreak as a public health emergency of international concern, Andanar guaranteed that the PCOO and its attached agencies are intensifying Andanar said the public can also get updates from the Department of Health’s (DOH’s) official webpage ( w w w . d o h . g o v . p h / 2 0 1 9 - n c o v / updates) dedicated to COVID-19. (VLG/PIA-Caraga)

BUTUAN CITY - The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Field Office Caraga conducted the Incident Command System (ICS) Executive Course for its heads of offices held recently at Grand Palace Hotel, this city.

The said course was aimed to impart knowledge, skills and develop a positive attitude in the application of the general concepts and principles of ICS from a manager’s/supervisor’s standpoint. Regional News

It can be recalled that on the 27th of May 2010, the Philippine government enacted Republic Act (RA) 10121, otherwise known as the Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (DRRM) Law.

It is a proactive approach to manage the disaster consequences and reduce disaster risks by institutionalizing several mechanisms. Among these is the Incident Command System (ICS).

The ICS is a standard, on-scene, all-hazard incident management concept introduced by the US Forest Service that can be used by all DRRM Councils, emergency management and response agencies. It is a disaster response tool that coordinates the actions of all response groups.

ICS has been proven effective in managing potential and actual disaster consequences. It has significantly enhanced the mechanisms for resource management, reporting and documentation, promotion of responder safety, and optimum achievement of response objectives as evident in past major disaster response operations to include management of planned high-density population gatherings.

The Disaster Response Management Division (DRMD) of DSWD collaborated with the Office of Civil Defense on the conduct of the said one-day training. This was specifically designed for office executives to understand and fully acknowledge the need to prepare an ICS even during planned events.

The identified participants for the training are the Regional Management Development Committee (RMDC) members of DSWD FO Caraga, composed of the Regional Director, Assistant Regional Director for Operations, Assistant Regional Director for Administration, Division Heads, Section/Unit Heads and other executive officers. (DSWD-13/PIA-Caraga)

DSWD-Caraga ensures timely, appropriate assistance to clients in crisis situation Regional News

BUTUAN CITY - The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Field Office Caraga was able to hit its target in providing assistance to individuals under distress or in crisis situation for 2019.

DSWD, through the Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS), a frontline service under the Crisis Intervention Unit (CIU) of the Protective Services Division (PSD), was able to hit its target of clients served.

For calendar year 2019, CIU has served a total of 54,555 clients. This shows that there is an increase of 125% from the 2018 accomplishment with 24,268 clients served. A total of Php 251,881,594.30 was granted to the clients for the year.

CIU is the lead unit in implementing Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS) and Assistance to Families and Communities in Need (AFCN). AICS and AFCN are considered the social safety net mechanism of the government to assist families who are confronted with crisis situations and financial deficiencies.

Through the AICS and AFCN, clients who are in a crisis situation are able to access funds for medical, burial, transportation, and education assistance. Clients applying for the said service are assessed by DSWD social workers, who review their case and