Volume VI, No. 02 January 8-14, 2021
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REGIONAL NEWS DOLE-13 RELEASE CASH AID TO “ODETTE” VICTIMS LOCALS IN ODETTE-AFFECTED AREAS IN CARAGA REGION BENEFIT FROM ‘TESDAMAYAN’ PCG ENSURES SAFE, EFFICIENT DELIVERY OF RELIEF GOODS TO ODETTE-AFFECTED AREAS IN CARAGA
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CDRRMO-SURIGAO, PINATUNAYAN ANG PAGKAKAISA NG IBA’T-IBANG AHENSIYA SA PAGTUGON NG MGA PANGANGAILANGAN NG MGA BIKTIMA NG TYPHOON ODETTE
PROVINCIAL NEWS 300 KA BANAY NAKADAWAT SA AYUDA SA AGUSAN DEL NORTE CURFEW SA LUNGSOD SA LAS NIEVES, I-IMPOSAR
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AGNOR NANGUNA SA GRUPO NGA NAG-REPAIR SA MGA NADAUT NGA ATOP SA BALAY SA JABONGA KURYENTE SA BASILISA, DINAGAT ISLANDS MIBALIK NA SURSUR TOWN EXTENDS RELIEF ASSISTANCE TO TYPHOON VICTIMS IN SURIGAO NORTE TOWN COMELEC TANDAG PREPS FOR 2022 NAT’L, LOCAL ELECTIONS
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NATIONAL NEWS No travel restrictions for Davao-bound domestic flights despite looming COVID-19 surge: Mayor Inday Sara
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President Duterte wants increased RT-PCR tests
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GOV’T EYES TO INOCULATE MORE SENIORS, MINORS; ADMINISTER MORE BOOSTER SHOTS
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TYPHOON-AFFECTED AREAS PROVIDED TONS OF RELIEF GOODS, SHELTER ASSISTANCE — OCD CHIEF
COVID-19 NEWS
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PH HITS INITIAL TARGET OF 54M FULLY VACCINATED FILIPINOS
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GOV’T SETS SIGHTS ON 90M FULL DOSES, 71M BOOSTER SHOTS THIS YEAR
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GOV’T SHOULD REMAIN FULLY OPERATIONAL DESPITE RISE IN INFECTIONS
CONTENTS
INFOCUS
COVER
Caraga
‘BISAYA GYUD’ DISTRIBUTES FO
The neophyte party-list group ‘Bisaya Gyud’ visited the typhoon victims in the province of Surigao del Norte and gave food packs to augment the relief efforts of the government. The group, through its “Operation Tabang OdettePh” program,
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distributed a total of 200 food packs items to the typhoon victims in Barangay Canlanipa, Surigao City which was received by punong barangay Joel Cambalon and another 200 food packs items were also distributed to the typhoon victims in Barangay Tinugpahan in Sison town Caraga INFOCUS
OOD PACKS IN SURIGAO NORTE
received by punong barangay Ronnie The ‘Bisaya Gyud’ party-list primarily Robantes. aims to uphold the rights and welfare of the Bisaya and continue the legacy As part of attaining food sufficiency and development programs instituted and provide relief and recovery in this by President Rodrigo Roa Duterte and time of calamity, the group continues Senator Bong Go in the regions of its distributions of food packs to the Visayas and Mindanao. (PIA-Surigao typhoon victims in the province. del Norte) Caraga INFOCUS
January 8-14, 2022 |
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News Briefs (VACCINATION ROLLOUT) As per DOH Caraga Jan. 9, 2022 report, the region now as a total of 1,059,792 individuals vaccinated. Vaccination of qualified individuals still ongoing in the different identified vaccination centers regionwide and giving of booster shots to qualified individuals h also started. xx
The Overseas Workers Welfare Administration continues to provide repatriation assistance for the returning Overseas Filipino Workers back to their home provinces under the ‘Uwian Na’ Program, through a series of chartered and sweeper flights since the widespread global pandemic. In the calendar year of 2021, OWWA Caraga has recorded a total of 12,984 returning OFWs in the region. These returning OFWs were assisted by the Repatriation Team of OWWA Caraga, who are perpetually facilitating the daily arrival of the OFWs at Bancasi Airport. (OWWA 13)
The provincial government of Surigao del Sur, headed by Gov. Alexander Pimentel, has received the 1,000 food packs from the NGCP led by Kristoffer Abellanosa. The said aid was received by Provincial Administrator Esmeraldo Raymundo and PDRRMO chief Abel de Guzman. The National Nutrition Council Caraga Region, in close collaboration with UNICEF Philippines, conducts post-disaster nutrition initial needs assessment at the Province of Dinagat Islands on Day 22 after the Typhoon Odette ravaged the area.
REGIONAL NEWS
DOLE-13 RELEASE CASH AID TO “ODETTE” VICTIMS By MCeledeña
The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE)-Caraga released over PhP34.2 million cash assistance from December 21, 2021, to January 7, 2022 under the agency’s Tulong sa Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/ Displaced Workers (TUPAD) cash-for-work program for typhoonaffected individuals. Some 10,702 individuals in the region received the cash aid, with 6,141
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recipients from Surigao del Norte and 3,112 recipients from Dinagat Islands. These provinces were among the areas most devastated by Typhoon “Odette”. The salaries of beneficiaries for the emergency work were based on the prevailing minimum daily wage of P320 per day plus personal accident insurance. Jobs include house cleaning, de-
clogging of canals, debris, segregation, material recovery, stockpiling, and road cleaning. “Our staff is tirelessly expediting the release of cash aid for the typhoon victims so they can start rebuilding their lives following the onslaught of Typhoon Odette,” said DOLE-Caraga regional director Joffrey Suyao. (MCeledeña/DOLE Caraga/PIA-Caraga) Caraga INFOCUS
LOCALS IN ODETTE-AFFECTED AREAS IN CARAGA REGION BENEFIT FROM ‘TESDAMAYAN’ By Jennifer P. Gaitano
As a way to help locals in Caraga Region who were affected by typhoon Odette, the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) launched the ‘TESDAmayan’ program, wherein TESDA trainers, along with other stakeholders, provide technical assistance and construction materials to residents in select areas of Surigao del Norte and teach them how to build their own houses. According to regional director Rafael Abrogar II of TESDA Region 12, through the trainers, local residents are able to learn carpentry. Apart from providing them means to rebuild their homes, TESDA certificates will also be given to residents actively participating in Caraga INFOCUS
the ‘TESDAmayan’. “We brought together a team of experts on carpentry, masonry, plumbing, electrical. Through the community, we gathered a list of who will undergo the actual training on how to rebuild their houses,” said Abrogar. TESDA Region 12 also conducted assessment on the damaged Provincial Capitol Building as well as the TESDA Provincial Training Center, and necessary logistics were then provided for its rehabilitation. Beneficiaries of the program were overwhelmed by the support from TESDA. Arturo Santillana, Jr., punong barangay of Punta Bilar in Surigao City, was thankful that
their area was able to benefit from the ‘TESDAmayan’ program especially since 9598% of the houses in the barangay were completely damaged. “Thank you very much to TESDA through the efforts of the City LGU and other government agencies involved in the implementation of TESDAmayan,” said Santillana. “Thank you for the help from the government. Rebuilding our houses somehow gives us hope that we would be able to start again, and this is really a great help especially for people like me who have disabilities,” said Diosdado Mique, a resident of the said village. (JPG/PIACaraga) January 8-14, 2022 |
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PCG ENSURES SAFE, EFFICIENT DELIVERY OF RELIEF GOODS TO ODETTE-AFFECTED AREAS IN CARAGA By Jennifer P. Gaitano
The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) leads the fast, safe and efficient delivery of relief assistance to areas hardly-hit by typhoon Odette, particularly the provinces of Surigao del Norte and Dinagat Islands. According to Cpt. Dennis Pandeagua, district commander of
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North Eastern Mindanao Coast Guard, President Rodrigo Duterte directed the Coast Guard along with other government agencies to provide immediate assistance to the affected residents. “President Rodrigo Duterte personally visited Surigao City and also assessed the onslaught brought about by
typhoon Odette in the provinces of Surigao del Norte and Dinagat Islands. He then directed the Coast Guard to facilitate and fasttrack the delivery of the relief goods to the affected residents in the two islands. Also, he ordered that different government agencies converge their efforts to immediately help and Caraga INFOCUS
uplift the condition/ Dinagat Islands. situation of the affected locals,” said Pandeagua. The PCG is also conducting a feeding The PCG has also program especially for established ‘Task Force children, and offers free Kalinga’ to closely charging of cellphones monitor and provide aid and other gadgets in the to all its districts affected affected areas. by typhoon Odette. Sectors from other Pandeagua bared that regions also extended they are also looking help to the Coast Guard into rehabilitating their by providing vessels for office in Surigao City as the transportation of it was also affected by relief goods for coastal the typhoon. Necessary areas and the islands. aid was also provided to their affected personnel. Per Coast Guard, a total of 832 tons of food The Coast Guard official and non-food items encouraged those who were already delivered want to donate relief to Siargao Island and goods and construction
Caraga INFOCUS
materials to coordinate with the PCG to facilitate the delivery of the goods to affected residents. “To those individuals, organizations and government agencies that wanted our help in the transportation of your donations and relief assistance may just reach out to our Task Force Kalinga as we also have a warehouse in our PCG gym and from there we could facilitate the acceptance of your donations so we could then deliver it to the affected residents,” added Pandeagua. (JPG/PIA-Caraga)
January 8-14, 2022 |
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CDRRMO-SURIGAO, PINATUNAYAN ANG PAGKAKAISA NG IBA’T-IBANG AHENSIYA SA PAGTUGON NG MGA PANGANGAILANGAN NG MGA BIKTIMA NG TYPHOON ODETTE By Jennifer P. Gaitano
Patuloy na nagkakaisa ang mga ahensiya ng gobyerno sa isinasagawang response operation sa mga apektadong lugar sa probinsya ng Surigao del Norte at Dinagat Islands. Ito ang binigyang-diin ni Surigao City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Officer (MDRRMO) Threlcie Villaces na saksi mismo sa bawat tulong na natatanggap ng kanilang tanggapan. Sa patuloy na koordinasyon ng CDRRMO sa iba’tibang ahensya ng
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pamahalaan, tiniyak ni Villaces na maayos na ang mga nasirang poste at mga nagkalat na debris dahil sa hagupit ng bagyong Odette. Sa sunud-sunod na clearing operations, madadaanan na muli ang mga daan sa Surigao City. Siniguro din na agarang maibabalik ang kuryente, maging ang malinis na inuming-tubig sa kanilang lugar. “Ang lahat ng bumubuo sa response cluster at committees lalo na ang rehabilitation ay aktibo. Ang ating mayor ay regular na nakikipag-
ugnayan sa mga kawani ng Surigao del Norte Electric Cooperative at maging sa electric cooperatives mula sa iba’t-ibang probinsya kabilang na ang Davao City na nagpaabot din ng tulong. Tinutugunan din ang problema natin sa inuming-tubig,” ani ni Villaces. Pinuri rin ni villaces ang Philippine National Police (PNP), Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), Philippine Army (PA) at iba pang ahensiya sa walang tigil na pagbibigay serbisyo kahit karamihan sa mga ito ay naapektuhan din ng bagyong Odette. (JPG/PIA-Caraga) Caraga INFOCUS
PROVINCIAL NEWS
300 KA BANAY NAKADAWAT SA AYUDA SA AGUSAN DEL NORTE
Mosuma sa 300 ka panimalay sa upat ka barangay sa lungsod sa Jabonga, Agusan del Norte ang unang batch nga nahatagan og shelter assistance sa probinsyal nga panggamhanan nga gipadangat pinaagi financial assistance sa lokal nga panggamhan sa Jabonga nga gisugdan niadtong Enero 12.
Ang unang upat sa 15 ka barangay nga unang nahatagan sa mga construction materials mao ang Barangay Bangonay, Magsaysay, Colorado ug San Pablo.
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Ang nasangpit nga financial assistance base sa Provincial Resolution No. 519-2021 gikan sa Quick Response Fund ubos sa Rehabilitation and Recovery Program sa panudlanan sa probinsya nga ang tanang munisipyo ug syudad sa probinsya makadawat og pinansyal nga assistance tungod sa damyos nga dala ni Typhoon “Odette”. Sumala sa pesonahe sa Municipal Social Welfare and Development Office (MSWDO) sa Jabonga nga ang matag benepisyaryo
makadawat og construction materials sama sa lansang, sin, plainsheet ug plywood nga mokabat og PhP10,000. Dugang sa personahe sa MSWDO nga mosuma sa 659 ka household ang na identify sa 15 ka barangay sa Jabonga ang maka benepisyo sa maong ayuda. Magpadayon ang pagpadangat sa maong ayuda sa mosunod nga mga adlaw. (Shena Mae Pabia, LGU-Agusan del Norte/PIA-Agusan del Norte) Caraga INFOCUS
CURFEW SA LUNGSOD SA LAS NIEVES, I-IMPOSAR Hugot nga i-imposar sa lungsod sa Las Nieves, Agusan del Norte ang bag-ohay pa lamang naaprubahan nga Municipal Ordinance No. 525-2021 o “An Ordinance Implementing curfew hours to all persons 18 years old and above in the entire Municipality of Las Nieves from 10:15p.m – 3:45 am and prescribing penalties thereof”. Ang maong municipal ordinance nga gipangamahanan ni Sangguniang Bayan Member Antonio N. Jongko, gi-aprobahan sa Sangguniang Panlalawigan Sa Agusan del Norte atol sa ilang ika 118th Regular Sesyon Caraga INFOCUS
niadtong December 20, 2021. Ubos sa seksyon 3 sa maong ordinansa, namugna kini aron ipatuman tungod sa katuyoan niining LGU nga mosunod sa health Protocol nga gimando sa IATF tungod sa makatakod nga sakit nga dala sa gikahadlokang COVID-19 aron sa pagmonitor, pagpugong, ug/o personalidad gikan ug ngadto sa munisipyo. Basi sa seksyon 4, pagamultahan ang kadtong nakalapas sa maong ordinansa nga mao ang mosunod: Unang paglapas, tulo
ka gatos (PhP300); ikaduhang paglapas lima ka gatos (PhP500); ikatulong paglapas usa ka libo (PhP1,000.00), ug ang mosunod nga paglapas usa ka libo ug lima ka gatos (PhP1,500). Gi-aprobahan ang maong ordinansa pinaagi sa Sanggunian Resolution No. 522-2021 sa pagpangamahan ni Provincial Board member Dick Victor B. Carmona, tsirman sa Committee on Peace and order, Drug Abuse Prevention and Control kauban ang mga co-authors nga si Hon. Nieva c. Famador ug Hon. Erwin L. Dano. (Jessica O. Mellejor, LGUAgusan del Norte/PIAAgusan del Norte) January 8-14, 2022 |
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AGNOR NANGUNA SA GRUPO NGA NAG-REPAIR SA MGA NADAUT NGA ATOP SA BALAY SA JABONGA
Nanguna ang probinsya sa Agusan del Norte ubos sa ‘Bayanihan Composite Team’ sa pag-repair sa mga panimalay nga labing naguba sa Typhoon Odette, kaniadtong Enero 10, sa Barangay Colorado, Jabonga, Agusan del Norte. Ubos sa ‘Bayanihan Composite Team’ mao ang Probinsya sa Agusan del Norte, sa pagpanguna ni Gob. Dale B. Corvera, 2nd Provincial Mobile Force Company (PMF), Technical Education and Skills Development
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Authority (TESDA)-Agusan del Norte, SR Metals Incorporated (SRMI), 29th Infantry Battalion, ug ang municipal government sa Jabonga. Tahas sa maong grupo nga ayohon ang mga atop sa matag panimalay nga naguba tungod sa bagyo.
lungsod sa Jabonga. Magpadayon pa ang pag repair sa ubang barangay sa nosunod nga mga adlaw.
Apil sa maong kalihukan sa pagpang-repair sila si Provincial Administrator Gerry Joey S. Laurito isip representante ni Gob. Corvera, Rey S. Cueva, Ang naghatag sa roofing hepe sa TESDA-Agusan materials sama sa sin del Norte, PLt. Col. pang-atop, lansang ug Richie M. Yatar nga gi uban pa mao ang SR representahan ni PSMS Metals Incorporated. Vincent Cosicol sa PMFC, ug mga personahe sa Usa ang Brgy. Colorado Jabonga. (Shean Mae sa ubay-ubay nga Pabia, LGU-Agusan del barangay ang napili Norte/PIA-Agusan del isip pilot Barangay sa Norte) Caraga INFOCUS
KURYENTE SA BASILISA, DINAGAT ISLANDS MIBALIK NA Kuryente sa pipila ka mga barangay sa munisipyo sa Basilisa, Dinagat Islands, mibalik na kagahapong adlawa, January 12, 2022.
Kagahapong adlawa nahatagan na ug kuryente gikan sa DIELCO Planta ang Barangay Wilson, San Jose hantod sa Barangay Doña Helene to Barangay Tag-abaca (3P’s na linya) Maagean Paengun sa Barangay Hall, Barangay Gym ug ang Munisipyo sa Basilisa ug kuryente.
Human miigo ang Typhoon “Odette” sa Dinagat Islands kaniadtong Disyembre 16, 2021, nawala na ang kuryente lakip pa ang tubig sa tibook probinsya Dako ang pasalamat sa Basilisa. sa mga residente Caraga INFOCUS
sa tabang sa mga electric cooperative na nagpaluyo aron mubalik ang ilang kuryente sama sa Dinagat Islands Electric Cooperative (DIELCO); Sultan Kudarat Electric Cooperative Inc. (SUKELCO, Inc.); Davao Del Sur Electric Cooperative (DASURECO); ug Cotabato Electric Cooperative (COTELCO). (MCeledeña/LGU-Basilisa Dinagat Islands) January 8-14, 2022 |
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SURSUR TOWN EXTENDS RELIEF ASSISTANCE TO TYPHOON VICTIMS IN SURIGAO NORTE TOWN The local government unit of Carrascal, headed by Mayor Vicente H. Pimentel III, provided relief assistance to fellow Surigaonons in the municipality of San Francisco (Anaoaon), Surigao del Norte province who were affected by Typhoon Odette. A composite team, composed of responders and volunteers from different offices of the LGU and personnel from the municipal police office, was sent to distribute 1,000 food
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packs, 7,000 liters of bottled water, and clothing donations in Barangays Diaz and Honrado in the said municipality on January 6, 2022.
his gratitude for the LGU’s effort to help their municipality.
Amado Sajol Sr., punong barangay of Barangay Diaz and Nicolas L. Bernadez, punong Snack food company barangay of Barangay Rebisco Biscuit Honrado, also expressed Corporation also assisted their gratitude for the LGU-Carrascal’s initiative team’s effort and the and chipped in 70 boxes LGUs effort to extend of biscuits. Carrascalnons assistance to their were also eager to lend barangays. a helping hand and supplied the clothing Likewise, LGU-Carrascal donations. thanked those who San Francisco municipal helped in their initiative. mayor Val Pinat (LGU-Carrascal/PIApersonally expressed Surigao del Sur) Caraga INFOCUS
COMELEC TANDAG PREPS FOR 2022 NAT’L, LOCAL ELECTIONS To ensure a safe, accurate, free and fair (SAFE) elections on May 9, 2022, and per the Comelec resolutions 10695 and 10741, the Joint Security Control Center of Tandag City implemented Comelec checkpoints starting January 9 and will operate until June 8, 2022. According to Tandag City Comelec officer Florephi Botona, the checkpoints are established at the Barangay Mabua, southbound of the national highway, and Barangay San Agustin Sur covering the northbound areas. As part of the preparation, the Comelec has issued the guidelines for mass media accreditation and guidelines for the accreditation of domestic and international observers/monitors for May 9, 2022, synchronized National and Local Elections, through Resolutions No. 10739 and 10740, respectively. Based on the section 5 of COMELEC Resolution No.10739, the guidelines for mass media accreditation, the period for the filing of application for accreditation shall be from the date of the effectiveness
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of the said resolutions until March 11, 2022. The general requirements are fully accomplished COMELEC Media Accreditation Form (CMAF); two recently taken 1.5X1.5 colored photographs; and letter of endorsement from an officer of the broadcast entity. In the case of freelancers, a valid assignment letter from a bona fide media organization shall be presented. Applications for accreditation shall be filed at the Office of the Provincial Election Supervisor (OPES). Applications for accreditation of national, foreign, and other media such as screenwriters, play writers, and those involved in the production of feature films and documentaries, both domestic and foreign, shall be filed at the Education & Information Department (EID) via online through the following links: • National & other media:https://bit. ly/2022NLENationalMedia • Foreign Media: https://bit. ly/2022NLEForeignMedia Botona emphasized that applications with incomplete requirements shall not be processed. (PIA-Surigao del Sur)
January 8-14, 2022 |
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NATIONAL NEWS
Inday Sara Duterte
NO TRAVEL RESTRICTIONS FOR DAVAO-BOUND DOMESTIC FLIGHTS DESPITE LOOMING COVID-19 SURGE: MAYOR INDAY SARA Mayor Inday Sara Duterte has reiterated that the mandatory test-beforetravel requirement for Davao City-bound domestic flights will no longer be reinstated amid the rising COVID-19 cases Caraga INFOCUS
and looming surge. Mayor Inday Sara Duterte The mayor, during the Special Hours program of 87.5 FM Davao City Disaster Radio (DCDR) on Monday, January 10,
2022, said that the Davao COVID-19 Task Force’s direction is not gearing towards the revival of the negative RT-PCR test requirement before flight to Davao City. January 8-14, 2022 |
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Davao City, she said, was among the first ones to ask for the test-beforetravel restriction amid the COVID-19 surge in the past.
gihapon sila’g hospital (They just differ in the severity because the vaccinated will either be asymptomatic or a mild case except for those with severe comorbidities. Even “Even if we had testif they are vaccinated, before-travel, it will not they would still be needing prevent the entry of hospitalization),” she said. COVID-19. It will just force She also said, “The benefit people to spend on tests of travel to screen those and force others to resort who are positive does not to land travel,” she said. outweigh the economic inconvenience that it will The mayor also said bring to the passengers, that it would be good to the airline, and the to consider the city’s economy of Davao City. previous experience and Kaniadto, wala ta’y what other areas are As of January 7, bakuna, kaniadto wala doing if the proposed 2022, Davao City has ta’y tambal so angay ra restriction is effective. administered 1,241,639 first gyud nga heightened doses or 95.52 percent of ang surveillance (Before She added, “Kaniadto, the target herd immunity we didn’t have vaccines, ideal ang screening kay and 1,173,016 second we didn’t have medicines wala may tambal, wala’y doses or 90.24 percent. so the heightened bakuna. Karon naa na surveillance was ta’y bakuna, there is Mayor Duterte necessary).” some sort of population underscored that protection from severe COVID-19 can Such is no longer the case disease. Whether we have infect everybody, today since 1,241,639 a test before travel or not, whether vaccinated Dabawenyos already musulod man gihapon or unvaccinated. received their first doses of gyud ang virus. As we had “Managlahi nalang sya anti-COVID-19 vaccines experienced kaniadto, sa severity because ang or 95.52 percent of the they may be negative vaccinated mahimo target herd immunity and karon because incubating nalang gyud sila og 1,173,016 got their second pa sila and they become asymptomatic or mild jabs (90.24 percent). positive three days after cases except for those Boosters have also been pa because taas kaayo with severe comorbidities. made available for 18 ang week identified na Maski vaccinated sila, years old and above incubation period, which is manginahanglan man individuals. CIO
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14 days (Before, screening was ideal because we didn’t have medicine and vaccine. But we already have vaccines, there is some sort of population protection from severe disease. Whether we have a test before travel or not, the virus will still enter. As we had experienced before, they may be negative now because they’re still incubating and they become positive three days later as the incubation period is long, which is 14 days).”
Caraga INFOCUS
PRESIDENT DUTERTE WANTS INCREASED RT-PCR TESTS President Rodrigo Roa Duterte wants the health department to infuse more money to improve the country’s COVID-19 testing capacity particularly the conduct of reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) testing. “We also need to increase the RT-PCR testing capacity in NCR Plus areas so as to handle the influx of tests and to ensure that laboratories are operational seven days a week,” President Duterte said during his regular Talk to the People on Monday. “Ang universal complaint talaga is kulang ang --- ang facilities ng ano, itong RTPCR.” In response, Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said the Department of Health’s testing expansion is ongoing with the aim of providing every province with RT-
Caraga INFOCUS
PCR testing capability that also include the private sector running more RT-PCR laboratories. Currently, there are 312 laboratories doing RT-PCR tests, according to Duque. Asked by the President if there’s a need to buy additional equipment, the health chief said, “Mayroon naman tayong pera for the 2022 Budget. I think there --kung hindi ako nagkakamali mga P7 billion ang outlay for that. So we will just continue to buy some more.” Experts said that if the country’s positivity rate exceeds its testing capacity, numbers reported in daily case bulletins will no longer reflect the reality of what is happening on the ground. This scenario will make projections unhelpful and will blind analysts to the real situation. To stem the tide of
coronavirus’s further spread, the government placed Metro Manila, Bulacan, Cavite, Rizal and Laguna under Alert Level 3. The President said more localities will be placed under the stricter quarantine period if the situation worsens. Batangas, Bataan, Cagayan, Pampanga, Zambales, Angeles City, Baguio City, Dagupan City, Iloilo City, Lapu-Lapu City, Lucena City, Naga City, Olongapo and Santiago Cities, are also under Alert Level 3 from January 9-15 to contain people’s mobility. The DOH reported Monday 33,169 new COVID-19 infections in the country bringing the active coronavirus cases nationwide to 157,526 and the total count to 2,998,530 since 2020. There were 2,788,711 recoveries and 52,293 deaths. PND
January 8-14, 2022 |
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Galvez, Jr.
GOV’T EYES TO INOCULATE MORE SENIORS, MINORS; ADMINISTER MORE BOOSTER SHOTS The government spelled out its vaccination strategies this year that include inoculating the remaining three million senior citizens, administering additional boosters doses and expanding the vaccination drive to cover minors in preparation for in-person classes.
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In his report to President Rodrigo Roa Duterte on Monday, Secretary Carlito Galvez, Jr. said that aside from focusing on those priorities, the government’s other major tasks are the recruitment and hiring of dedicated vaccinators, as well as working with the local government units (LGUs) and the
private sector to further increase the demand generation both for the primary and booster doses. The government also eyes to expand the vaccine emergency use authorization (EUA) for other vaccine brands in preparation for the immunization of more Caraga INFOCUS
minors, said Galvez, who noted that they are already working with other vaccine brand manufacturers for the issuance of emergency use permits for children three to 11 years old. Galvez, who is also the chief implementer of the National Task Force Against COVID-19, enumerated the government’s main objectives this year that include vaccinating 90 million Filipinos including minors aged five to 11 before the end of June, providing 72.16 million boosters to adult population aged 18 and above, and vaccinating 12.74 million, 12-17 years old with boosters. Other objectives include immunizing 15.56 million, five to 11 years old with boosters; and to vaccinate 11.11 million, zero to four years old with primary series. The vaccine czar told President Duterte during the chief executive’s regular public address that the vaccine formulation for children five to 11 years old might be available by the end Caraga INFOCUS
of January. “Ito po ‘yung last contact po namin sa ating mga manufacturer and we are now making some contingencies to acquire doses that we need to include the ages zero to four years old,” Galvez said. He noted that the 100 million doses in the country’s inventory are enough for the remaining primary series of unvaccinated Filipinos while the 25 million are for those eligible for boosters. Consequently, the government still needs to buy more or less 17 million doses for this year’s boosters and about 26 million for children’s formulations, according to Galvez. “Based on the report of Usec. Mark Joven and the Department of Finance, we have a total of 800 million or 40 billion equivalent available for the procurement of vaccines and boosters for CY 2022 from the Asian Development Bank, World Bank, and the Asian Infrastructure
Investment Bank, additional financing,” he said. This means that with the P45 billion of unprogrammed appropriation under the National Expenditure Program (NEP), there will be P40 billion intended for vaccine procurement. The 2022 National Budget provided additional P2.79 billion to the Department of Health (DOH) for the purchase of COVID-19 boosters. At the same time, the vaccine czar reported that the government targets to pursue the vaccination of the 77 million Filipinos and eyes to conclude the inoculation of 12 to 17 years old before the end of the first quarter this year. “Our last milestone is to finish the boostering of the 71.16 million by end of third quarter and we will push also for the vaccination of the rest of the population to make sure that all Filipinos are protected by the vaccines,” he said. PND January 8-14, 2022 |
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Jalad
TYPHOON-AFFECTED AREAS PROVIDED TONS OF RELIEF GOODS, SHELTER ASSISTANCE - OCD CHIEF
The government has sent more than 7,000 tons of relief goods and more than P400-million worth of shelter assistance to communities devastated by Typhoon Odette last month, the chief of the country’s civil defense agency said on Monday. Undersecretary Ricardo Jalad, the administrator of the Office of Civil Defense (OCD), said in his report to President Rodrigo Roa Duterte that the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) sent a total
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of 6.4 million kilos of relief goods to typhoonaffected regions, with the OCD contributing P122 million.
Based on the President’s instruction, Jalad, who is also the executive director of the NDRRMC, said the government also contracted the services of a bottling company for the supply of bottled water from its plants in Ormoc City and Laguna. “And ang total --kasama na ‘yung mga donations from China, LT Group, and Taiwan, and
other donors, mayroon tayong naibigay na mahigit 2 million, almost 3 million liters of bottled water,” Jalad said during the President’s weekly public address. Aside from that, he said the OCD facilitated the deployment of mobile water treatment equipment. Other entities such as the Manila Water, Local Water Utilities Administration, and S&S Corp. sought government assistance for the deployment and transport of such equipment. Caraga INFOCUS
In terms of repairing and building damaged homes, Jalad said a shelter cluster has been created with the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) serving as lead agency. Included in the cluster are the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), OCD and other government agencies working to provide affected families with shelter assistance.
cash assistance to the survivors whose homes were destroyed by the typhoon. “Ang DSWD naman ay hinahanda na ang pondo in the amount of P4.3 billion through a request for National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Fund. Ang NHA naman ay magsu-submit din ng request for additional funds para sa kanilang emergency shelter assistance,” Jalad said.
In addition, Jalad The OCD chief also said reported that the OCD that the National Housing has received $1-million Authority (NHA) has donation from the downloaded the initial Republic of China, in P487.5 million directly to which the P40 million the local government was transferred to the units tasked to distribute NHA for the agency’s Caraga INFOCUS
emergency shelter assistance. The rest of the money will be retained by the OCD to aid families with reported casualties during the disaster, according to Jalad. Based on the latest official government figures, a total of 2.2 million families or 7.7 million individuals were affected by Typhoon Odette in 11 regions. The disaster also left 1.2 million damaged houses. There were 403 reported deaths with 78 missing. The damage to infrastructures was at P17.6 billion, with P8.9 billion losses to the agriculture sector. PND January 8-14, 2022 |
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GETTING JABBED. Residents availing of free Covid-19 jabs enter the Ponciano Bernardo Elementary School along P. Tuazon Boulevard in Brgy. Kaunlaran, Quezon City on Friday (Jan.14, 2022). Vaccinees from age 12 are welcome but should have confirmed schedules. (PNA photo by Robert Oswald P. Alfiler)
PH HITS INITIAL TARGET OF 54M FULLY VACCINATED FILIPINOS The Philippines has administered 117,337,626 doses of coronavirus vaccines nationwide, with 54,423,286 Filipinos already with complete doses. On Friday, the National Task Force (NTF) Against Covid-19 marked another milestone in the national vaccination program as it hit the 70-percent target for population protection against the virus despite grappling with challenges such as calamities, sudden increase of Covid-19 cases, and the emergence of the Omicron coronavirus variant. The latest data from National Vaccination Operations Center also showed that 4,403,780 out of the total fully vaccinated individuals have received booster shots or additional doses. The government will ramp up its goal to 90 million by the
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first half of the year. NTF chief Secretary Carlito Galvez earlier said the government will prioritize the inoculation of at least three million unvaccinated senior citizens in the coming weeks. The vaccine czar said the elderly sector is more prone to hospitalization and death if they remained unvaccinated against Covid-19. He called on local government units (LGUs) to continue strengthening their vaccination strategies to cover as many Filipinos as possible. “This current Omicron surge will target the unvaccinated. Sa lahat ng ating mga LGU, gawin natin ang lahat ng ating makakaya para mahikayat ang ating mga mamamayan na
magpabakuna na para maka-iwas sa severe cases, pagka-ospital o pagkamatay (To all LGUs, let’s do our best to encourage more citizens to get vaccinated to prevent severe cases, hospitalization and death),” Galvez said in a news release on Friday. He urged LGUs to prioritize the provision of primary doses to the vulnerable sectors, while ramping up the administration of booster shots. The Philippines has so far received 213,655,520 doses of Covid-19 vaccines from various manufacturers, both procured and donated, since February 2021. More than 96 million doses are currently in the stockpile. The mini-rollout for children aged 5 to 11 is tentatively set February 1 to 7. (PNA/ Lade Jean Kabagani)
January 8-14, 2022 |
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GOV’T SETS SIGHTS ON 90M FULL DOSES, 71M BOOSTER SHOTS THIS YEAR More than 71.16 million adult Filipinos are expected to have received booster vaccine doses against Covid-19 by the end of the third quarter this year. They will come from the projected 90 million fully vaccinated Filipinos before the end of June. In his report during President Rodrigo Duterte’s Talk to the People aired late Monday night, National Task Force Against Covid-19 chief implementer Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. also enumerated the various challenges of the vaccination program. On top of the list is the rising infection rate among health care workers that have depleted the manpower of vaccination sites. Some local government units are also busy with electionrelated activities while brand preferences “greatly affect
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| January 8-14, 2022
THIRD SHOT. Severiano Dolatre, 61, gets his AstraZeneca booster shot from Maribeth Sotto, a midwife, at the covered court of Bagong Silang Elementary School in Caloocan City on Jan. 6, 2022. The additional layer of protection against Covid-19 is proven to almost eliminate the chances of developing severe symptoms of Covid-19. (PNA photo by Ben Briones)
and compromise the shelf life of other effective vaccines”. “Though ‘yung 100 million doses na nasa stockpile po natin, mahal na Presidente, ay sapat sa remaining primary series ng unvaccinated at para sa 25 million na eligible ngayong quarter for boosters (Though we still have 100 million doses in the stockpile, Mr. President, we have enough primary series for the unvaccinated individuals and booster shots for 25 million eligible individuals),” he added. Galvez said there is still a need to procure additional 17 million doses for booster vaccination this year while 26 million lower doses are required for the vaccination of the 5 to 11 age group. The regions most devastated by Typhoon Odette still have low vaccination output as electricity has yet to be completely restored.
“We will pursue the vaccination of 77 million Filipinos before the end of [Quarter 1] 2022, while at the same time, finishing the 12-17 years old by end of Q1 also,” Galvez said. The government’s next immediate goal is to meet the original target of fully vaccinating 90 million by the second quarter, he added. “Our last milestone is to finish the booster of 71.16 million by end of the third quarter and we will push also for the vaccination of the rest of the population to make sure that all Filipinos are protected by the vaccines,” he added. Based on the latest data from the National Covid-19 vaccination dashboard, the Philippines has already administered 114,249,221 doses nationwide -- 52,849,101 with complete doses and 3,577,703 with booster shots or additional doses. (PNA)
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GOV’T SHOULD REMAIN FULLY OPERATIONAL DESPITE RISE IN INFECTIONS Despite soaring Covid-19 infections among government workers, the national government should remain fully operational to ensure the effective delivery of public service, President Rodrigo Duterte said on Monday. Duterte made the remark amid an uptick in Covid-19 cases among government personnel, including healthcare workers in public hospitals and members of the Presidential Security Group (PSG).
his own office. As the country’s top official, Duterte said he needed to continue holding regular public address to “communicate to the people what government is doing.” He said part of being a civil servant was the risk of contracting Covid-19.
“Now, if ma-compromise tayo (if we are compromised) that’s part of the game. ‘Yan ang trabaho namin. Ngayon, kung magka Covid kami (If we get Covid), then so be “Alam mo, kung bawalan it. Kasali sa trabaho ‘yan e. tayo tapos lahat sa gobyerno Now, kung mamatay ako (It’s kasi opisina ‘yan. Opisina part of our job. Now if I die) por opisina por opisina. So then so be it,” he added. kung may asymptomatic diyan talagang mahahawa. On Saturday, Malacañang Ngayon if bawalan mo lahat has issued a memorandum magtrabaho (You know, circular (MC) enumerating if we are prohibited from requirements and procedures working it would affect other for reducing the on-site offices. workforce in government offices below the minimum If there is an asymptomatic that was set under the Alert worker then others will really Level System (ALS). be infected. Now, if you prohibit us from working) Under Alert Level 4, then the machinery of government agencies will government will stop remain fully operational with to grind,” he said in a at least 20 percent on-site prerecorded public address. capacity for workers; at least 30 percent on-site capacity He did not elaborate which for Alert Level 3; and at least government agencies 50 percent on-site capacity he was referring to, but it for Alert Level 2. seemed like he was also referring to his experience in On January 6, PSG
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commander Col. Randolph Cabangbang bared that a total of 15 personnel of the PSG tested positive for Covid-19. He, however, assured that the personnel “are not in any way” detailed to the President. Cabangbang also assured that the rest of the PSG personnel remain fit and able to protect the President. The Philippine General Hospital (PGH) on Saturday said it is now operating in a “crisis mode” as nearly 40 percent of its Covid-19 healthcare workers are either infected with Covid-19 or are now in quarantine after being exposed to the virus. PGH spokesperson, Dr. Jonas Del Rosario, said healthcare workers who were quarantined for testing positive for Covid-19 shall report back to work as long as they are asymptomatic. The PGH currently has around 2,000 healthcare workers and ancillary staff members involved in Covid-19 operations. Of this figure, 310 of them tested positive for Covid-19 during the past week. (PNA/ Azer Parrocha)
January 8-14, 2022 |
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