25 minute read
DUTERTE’S GREATEST LEGACY IS PEACE IN MINDANAO: PIÑOL
Former Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) chief Emmanuel Piñol (chief) and President Rodrigo Duterte (PNA file photo) Former Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) chief Emmanuel Piñol said Wednesday night that the greatest legacy of President Rodrigo Duterte was turning the main lair of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), Camp Abubakar, in Maguindanao into a peaceful community.
He said that it was all because of the peace negotiation efforts of the Duterte administration.
Advertisement
“Today, things have changed and credit should go to President Duterte for personally handling the peace negotiations with the MILF. This is his greatest legacy to the people of Mindanao,” he said in a public post. considered his visit 10 years ago in Barangay Karim, Buldon, Maguindanao to be an outright suicide.
“For most of the years that I was the Governor of Cotabato, I was considered enemy number one by the MILF (Moro Islamic Liberation Front) but I survived several assassination attempts,” he said.
But during his most recent trip to the same area on November 17, he said it is now peaceful and ready for development.
“In my trip to Buldon today, I am joined by retired Marine Commandant Maj. Gen. Alvin Parreño and his wife, Anna, president of Support Our Troops, Phils (SOTPh) Inc,” he said. Along with him are representatives of four major seed companies -- Seedworks, East-West, Kaneko, and Condor/Allied Botanicals, he said. Piñol brought 1,000 giant bamboo planting materials, the first batch of 1,200 breeders of Manok Pinoy, 100 Abuyog Sweet Langka seedlings, and mulberry and trichantera planting materials.
“The interventions were turned over to Brig. Gen. Jonas Lumawag of the 1st Marine Brigade as a joint project with SOTPh,” he said.
The Marines, on the other hand, will distribute the planting materials and the chicken to the residents of Barangay Karim as part of their socio-civic assistance to the residents of the area.
The technical staff of the seed companies will also evaluate the suitability of the area for high-value vegetable production.
“These efforts will serve as the Seeds of Peace in the former conflict area where hundreds of lives were lost in over 50 years of fighting,” Piñol added. He said that it will be followed by a Vegetable Demo Farming and Derby, similar to what was done in Pagalungan, Maguindanao last week. (PNA/ Che Palicte)
NATIONAL NEWS
PCOO, Bukidnon State University ink MOU on FOI program
The Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) and the Bukidnon State University signed a memorandum of understanding on Tuesday for the implementation of freedom of information programs in the said university.
During the Bukidnon leg of the 2021 Transparency Roadshow, Secretary Martin Andanar said that the gesture is a step closer towards a more transparent and accountable Filipino community. For the academe, this translates to a wider and more open access to information which can be utilized for academic research.
Secretary Andanar also turned over FOI Library Materials to BSU President Dr. Oscar B. Cabañelez followed by a joint undertaking to sign on the transparency wall.
The said roadshow, which aims to raise awareness on the transparency efforts of the Duterte administration and how the government has put much emphasis on its support for democracy.
The PCOO chief also stressed that promoting transparency is one of the most important tools against corruption in government.
“Transparency and accountability, particularly in the government, have never been more alive in the Philippines, and it is only under the Duterte administration that we have put forward such a cause, as part of our fight against all forms of corruption,” he said.
“Our transparency initiative does not only ensure that corruption will be avoided by knowing where your taxes go, but also empowers all of you to participate in the affairs of our government,” he added.
Secretary Andanar mentioned the creation of the Presidential Anticorruption Commission (PACC) and the Ease of Doing Business Law, which has helped the government’s campaign.
“We are confident that all of you will be partners of the Duterte administration in upholding transparency and accountability, not only in the executive branch, but also in other branches that we aim to achieve through this undertaking,” he said.
Other officials who joined the Transparency Roadshow were National Housing Authority (NHA-10) Regional Manager Engr. Rolando I. Teves, Department of Social Welfare and Development 10 (DSWD-10) Regional Director Mari-flor DollagaLibang, 403rd Infantry “Peacemaker” Brigade Brigadier General Ferdinand Barandon, and officials of local government units.
November 13-19, 2021 | 27
Philippines, Japan agree to strengthen strategic partnership
President Rodrigo Roa Duterte and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida on Wednesday made renewed commitment to further deepen their strategic partnership to address challenges of mutual interest such as peace and security, infrastructure development, and the coronavirus pandemic. “Japan is unrivaled among our bilateral partners,” said President Duterte during his telephone conversation with Prime Minister Kishida, acknowledging Japan’s support for the administration’s Build, Build, Build program, the peace process and grassroots development in Mindanao and the ongoing transition process of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).
A statement released by the Palace quoted the President saying Japan has shown that it is “indeed a friend closer than a brother” through its timely assistance in the Philippines’ COVID-19 pandemic response and recovery efforts.
At the same time, President Duterte said he looks forward to seeing the successful implementation of projects and activities aimed at enhancing Philippines-Japan cooperation in maritime security, particularly maritime domain awareness, maritime connectivity and preservation of the marine environment.
The Philippine President also congratulated Kishida on his election and the government of Japan on the success of the Tokyo Olympics and Paralympic Games.
For his part, the Japanese prime minister said that PhilippinesJapan relations have indeed reached its golden age under President Duterte’s administration, adding Japan will continue supporting the Philippines’ peace and development agenda in Mindanao, Build, Build, Build program and efforts to combat the COVID-19 pandemic. his government’s readiness to further strengthen PhilippinesJapan partnership in maritime security, including extending support in upgrading the country’s maritime law enforcement capabilities.
Also during the phone conversation, the two leaders agreed on the necessity to pursue deeper security engagement and coordination by launching a Foreign and Defense Ministerial Meeting or 2+2 meeting.
They also expressed similar views on the need to undertake an exchange of visits at a mutually agreed time to further reaffirm the Philippines-Japan partnership and personal friendship.
Regional developments and multilateral issues, including the South China Sea, the Myanmar situation, the Korean Peninsula and nuclear nonproliferation were also tackled during the telephone conversation.
The Philippines and Japan celebrate this year two milestones – 65 years of normalized diplomatic relations and 10 years of Strengthened Strategic Partnership. PND
Davao City Mayor Inday Sara Duterte visits tribal leaders of various Indigenous Tribes of Marilog District on Wednesday afternoon, 18 November 2021.
Mayor Sara had a dialogue with the tribal leaders on matters of peace and order, health, preservation of the ancestral domain, and the showcasing of their beautiful and unique culture through cultural toursim. Mayor Inday also announced that a creation of an Interim Office for Indigenous People Affairs is on its way.
The office shall address the concerns, and look after the welfare of the Indigenous People of Davao City. (OSD)
Davao City Mayor Inday Sara Duterte graced the inauguration of Marilog Hospital’s Botika ng Bayan, Lingap Para sa Mahirap, Electronic Hospital Information System, and Philhealth Electronic Portal System, Wednesday morning.
Marilog District Hospital offers the following services: Out Patient Services, Admission, Isolation, Delivery, Minor Surgical Procedure, Diagnostics, Swabbing Collection, Animal Bite Treatment Center, Maternal Health Care, ENT Services, Lingap, Botika ng Bayan, and Community Extension Program.
Mayor Sara expressed her gratitude to the people behind the success of the hospital,” Ginapasalamatan nato ang atuang mga City Government employees, ug atoang mga volunteers, ug atoang mga doctors, gipangunahan ni Doc Ely Buenaventura, sa ilahang pagpaningkamot. Gipakita nila na kung dunay mga tao nga dunay kasingkasing para sa pagtabang sa mga tao, mabuhat gyud nato tanan kung maghiusa ta tumong sa isa ka direksyon.“
The hospital serves the medical needs of far flung barangays in Davao City particularly in Marilog District. (PR)
Calamity and fire victims in Cagwait, Surigao del Sur receive aid from Bong Go to help their community build back better
Senator Christopher “Bong” Go’s office, in coordination with the National Housing Authority, delivered assistance for individuals affected by various disasters and emergencies in Cagwait, Surigao del Sur on Thursday, November 18.
Go’s staff handed out meals and masks to 183 beneficiaries composed of typhoon and fire victims at Barangay ArasAsan Gymnasium. The team likewise provided financial assistance to the fire victims. They also gave bicycles and computer tablets to select residents.
Meanwhile, the NHA provided necessary financial assistance through its Emergency Housing Assistance Program to further help the victims rebuild their homes.
“Ako ay nagpapasalamat sa ating mahal na President Rodrigo Roa Duterte, kay Senator Bong Go at sa NHA sa kanilang mga tulong na pinansyal. Salamat po talaga. Blessed po talaga ako ngayon at God bless to you po, Senator Bong
Go. Maraming salamat po,” Marites Vasquez, a 52-year-old calamity victim, enthused in an interview.
In a video message, the senator urged the public, especially those in the priority groups, to avail of the vaccines against COVID-19. He reminded them that the vaccines are free and that the government continuously strives to acquire more to ensure that the country attains population protection and herd immunity soon.
“Tuluy-tuloy na po ang pagbabakuna sa iba’t ibang lugar. Kung nasa priority list kayo, magpabakuna na kayo. Ang bakuna ang susi para makamtan natin ang herd immunity ngayong taong at makabalik tayo sa ating normal na pamumuhay,” said Go.
“Nakikiusap ako sa mga (local government units), magtulungan tayo sa national government. Kung kailangang suyurin natin ‘yung mga senior citizens at may sakit para protektado sila, gawin po natin,” he added.
Go, who is also the Chair of the Senate Committee on Health and Demography, offered aid to residents in need of medical attention. He advised them that they may conveniently avail of medical assistance from the government through the Malasakit Centers at the Lianga District Hospital in Lianga and the Adela Serra Ty Memorial Medical Center in Tandag City.
The Malasakit Center is a one-stop shop that brings together the desk representatives of the Department of Health, Department of Social Welfare and Development, Philippine Health Insurance Corporation and Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office.
As part of his commitment to ensure that the government can proactively address any disasterrelated incident, Go highlighted the need for a department that will specifically focus on holistic disaster preparation and response. He called for the passage of Senate Bill No. 205, which provides for the creation of the Department of Disaster Resilience.
“Dapat maging mas proactive tayo at ipasa na ito sa lalong madaling panahon dahil madalas pong tamaan ng bagyo, lindol at iba pang kalamidad ang ating bansa. Kailangan nating i-scale up ang preparedness and resiliency against disasters,” Go said.
“Kung maitatatag ang Department of Disaster Resilience, tunay na magiging handa tayo sa anumang krisis o sakuna. Mas magiging mabilis ang pagtugon ng pamahalaan, mas maiibsan ang masamang epekto ng kalamidad, at mas mabilis makakabangon ang ating mga kababayan,” he explained.
The senator went on to thank the local officials, including Mayor Lillian Yu-Lozada and Vice Mayor Melchie Tuscano, for their service. He then appealed to continue their dedication to ensure that their community recovers from the pandemic and other crisis situations.
As Vice Chair of Senate Committee on Finance, Go also pledged to support the concretion of various roads in the municipality to improve public service delivery.
He had earlier supported, among others, the improvement of roads in Barobo, Carmen, Madrid, Marihatag, San Agustin, Tago and Tandag City; construction of an Indigenous People’s center and a multipurpose center in Hinapoyan; construction of a public market in Lanuza; and purchase of ambulances for Lianga and Lanuza.
Previously, Go’s team conducted a similar distribution to typhoon victims in Cortes.
Bong Go
Vulnerable groups in Buenavista, Jordan, Nueva Valencia, San Lorenzo and Sibunag, Guimaras get a boost from Bong Go as his team assists communities in distress
Senator Christopher “Bong” Go called for greater support for struggling sectors in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic as his team conducted a series of relief efforts for residents in Buenavista, Jordan, Nueva Valencia, San Lorenzo and Sibunag in Guimaras on November 19 and 20.
Go’s team distributed snacks and masks to 5,000 beneficiaries from various sectoral groups at Buenavista Commercial Complex, Jordan Municipal Grounds, San Lorenzo Municipal Covered Court, and the respective municipal gymnasiums of Nueva Valencia and Sibunag.
The team also gave new pairs of shoes and bicycles to select residents to help them in commuting. They also gave computer tablets
to help children access educational materials.
Meanwhile, personnel from the Department of Social Welfare and Development handed out financial assistance through its Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation program. The Department of Trade and Industry and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority also conducted assessments of potential beneficiaries for their respective assistance programs. to the beneficiaries, the senator, as Chair of the Senate Committee on Health and Demography, appealed for the cooperation of the public and encouraged those eligible for vaccination to take part in the inoculation drive so they can protect themselves and others from the most harmful effects of the virus.
“Mga kababayan, tuloy-tuloy na po ang pagbabakuna ng mga senior citizens, persons with comorbidities, economic frontliners at mga indigent. Magpabakuna na kayo para protektado kayo at maiiwasan niyo ang mga grabeng sintomas ng COVID-19. Huwag makumpiyansa at may mas delikadong variant na tinatawag na Delta variant,” said Go.
The senator further offered medical aid to residents with health concerns and advised them to seek medical assistance from the the government through the Malasakit Center in the Dr. Catalino Gallego Nava Provincial Hospital in Jordan.
Primarily authored and sponsored by Go, Republic Act No. 11463 or the “Malasakit Centers Act of 2019” mandates all hospitals managed and administered by the Department of Health and Philippine General Hospital to establish their own Malasakit Centers to help particularly poor and indigent patients nationwide with their medical expenses.
“Mga kababayan ko, kung mayroon po kayong mga pasyente, mayroon na ho tayong
Bong Go
149 na Malasakit Centers. Ang Malasakit Center po’y handang tumulong po sa inyo para po ‘yan sa mga poor and indigent patients. Zero balance po ang target niyan. One-stop shop na po ‘yan. Lapitan niyo lang po ang Malasakit Center diyan po sa inyong lugar,” Go explained.
Noemi Barrera, one of the beneficiaries, extended her gratitude toward the Malasakit Centers program as it has immensely helped one of her family members with their medical needs, saying, “Yung pinsan ko po ay inoperahan sa ospital sa Iloilo kung saan may Malasakit Center. Wala silang binayaran dahil sa Malasakit Center.
Salamat kay Senator Bong Go sa tinulong niya sa aking pinsan.”
Ending his remarks, Go recognized and thanked the local officials of Buenavista and Jordan for their leadership and commitment to help their respective constituents overcome the challenges brought by the national health crisis.
As Vice Chair of the Senate Committee on Finance, Go continues to support infrastructure development to improve the delivery of public service in and provide more economic opportunities in the province. In Buenavista, he supported the completion of seawall protection in Barangays Zaldivar, Magsaysay and Sto. Rosario. He likewise supported the acquisition of a dump truck for the local government of Jordan.
Bong Go aids fellow Davaoeños; reiterates appeal to provide cash incentives for fully vaccinated 4Ps members
In his video message during a two-day relief effort conducted for 4,000 low-income residents in Davao City last November 18 and 19, Senator Christopher “Bong” Go appealed to the local governments to continue helping the national government in its vaccination campaign. He reassured that he will continue to push for ways to raise vaccine awareness in more remote areas.
Go, the Chair of Senate Committee on Health and Demography, had earlier asked the government to look into the possibility of providing cash incentives to fully vaccinated members of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) as he believes that this would significantly help the country achieve population protection leading to herd immunity soon.
“Sa paraang ito, hindi lang natin maeengganyo silang magpabakuna, mabibigyan pa natin sila ng dagdag na tulong. Bagama’t wala itong
Bong Go
pilitan, dapat din wala tayong tigil sa paghikayat sa kanila dahil ang bakuna ang tanging susi patungo sa pagbalik sa normal nating pamumuhay,” Go explained.
“Kasi kung mas marami nang bakunado at patuloy na bababa ang bilang ng nahahawa, maaari na nating luwagan ang mga patakaran para pwede na kumain at pumasyal sa labas, makatrabaho at makagalaw nang wala masyadong restrictions,” he continued in his appeal.
Senator Go’s staff distributed snacks and masks to the beneficiaries at the respective covered courts of Barangays Bantol, Malamba, Suawan, Tamugan, Salaysay, Magsaysay, Lumot and Gumitan. The team also gave bicycles to some residents, as well as computer tablets for children’s use in their classes.
Meanwhile, staff from the Department of Social Welfare and Development also provided the residents with financial assistance. The Department of Trade and Industry and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority, in turn, assessed potential beneficiaries for their respective assistance programs.
Go likewise offered additional aid to the residents and encouraged them to take advantage of the government’s medical assistance programs conveniently accessible through the Malasakit Center at Southern Philippines Medical Center in the city.
Senator Go principally authored and sponsored Republic Act No. 11463, otherwise known as the “Malasakit Centers Act of 2019”, which mandates all hospitals managed and administered by the Department of Health and the Philippine General Hospital to establish their respective Malasakit Centers to help particularly poor and indigent patients access quality healthcare services.
The senator, who also serves as the Vice Chair of Senate Committee on Finance, had also extended his support to various initiatives in the city to help improve its public service delivery.
Among these projects are the construction of multi-purpose buildings in Barangays Ilang, Mintal, Panacan, San Antonio, Tigatto, Waan, Pampanga and Gov. Vicente Duterte; and the construction of drainage systems in Barangays Mintal, Mudiang, Wilfredo Aquino, Ubalde, Buhangin Proper, Centro, Gov. Paciano Bangoy, Bunawan Proper and Kapitan Tomas Monteverde Sr.
Go also supported the acquisition of multipurpose vehicles and mini dump trucks in Brgys. Callawa, Panacan, LapuLapu and Cabantian; construction of drainage systems in Brgys. Centro, Agdao, Gov. Paciano Bangoy, Bunawan Proper, Tomas Monteverde Sr. Agdao and Mintal; construction of multipurpose buildings in the SPMC Institute of Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine and in the City Library Complex; and acquisition of ambulance units and construction of a 300-bed capacity infectious disease building in SPMC.
“Mga kababayan ko, kaunting tiis lang po. Alam ko pong nahirapan kayo. Kami rin po ni Pangulong Duterte ay nahirapan din po. Subalit kayo po ang nagbibigay lakas sa amin na makapagserbisyo pa po sa inyong lahat upang malampasan po natin itong krisis na ating kinakaharap,” he ended.
1.3M Moderna jabs to boost 3-day nat’l vax drive
MORE JABS. Officials of the National Task Force Against Covid-19 and the Department of Health welcome the arrival of the 1.3 million doses of Moderna vaccines at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 1 on Friday (Nov. 19, 2021). The jabs are expected to boost the government’s national vaccination drive set from November 29 to December 1. (PNA photo by Jess Escaros) The fresh batch of more than 1.3 million doses of Moderna’s anti-coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) vaccine that arrived in the country on Friday would augment the government’s vaccine supply for the conduct of the national vaccination drive from November 29 to December 1.
A total of 1,306,000 government-procured Moderna doses arrived via a China Airlines flight at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 1.
Deputy Presidential Peace Adviser Undersecretary Isidro Purisima, who led the officials who welcomed the shipment, said the additional doses would help ramp up the government’s Covid-19 vaccination program, particularly the mass immunization event dubbed as “Bayanihan Bakunahan”, which aims to vaccinate 15 million individuals over three days. “We have enough vaccines for the ramping up of our vaccination. We are encouraging our people to be vaccinated, and we will have national vaccine days,” Purisima told reporters.
The shipment, he said, brings the total Covid-19 vaccine doses delivered to the country at more than 130 million.
“This will be our best gift for ourselves, for our family, and for our community, and the Filipino people,” he added. Purisima assured that there would be enough vaccines as the government began administering booster shots for health care workers (HCWs) on Wednesday, with senior citizens and persons with co-morbidities set to get theirs starting next week. The government targets to complete the administration of booster shots to at least 1.6 million health care workers by end-November and it will be followed by other priority sectors. The National Vaccine Operations Center is currently drafting guidelines for the booster vaccination of senior citizens and those who are immunocompromised. (PNA/Filane Mikee Cervantes)
Gov’t allots up to 2M booster doses for health workers
BOOSTER FOR HCWs. Healthcare workers (HCWs) receive their booster shots against Covid-19 at the NKTI in Quezon City Wednesday (Nov. 17, 2021). The DOH said the HCWs have the option to receive a homologous or heterologous booster dose, depending on the availability of vaccine brands at the vaccination site. (PNA photos by Robert Alfiler) The government has set aside up to two million doses of Covid-19 vaccine for the third dose vaccination of fully inoculated healthcare workers nationwide, National Task Force (NTF) against Covid-19 chief implementer Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. said Wednesday.
Welcoming the arrival of 3,530,400 doses of governmentprocured Sinovac vaccine, Galvez said the government is crafting guidelines for the administration of booster shots to senior citizens, immunocompromised, and persons with comorbidities. boosters,” he said. Galvez said the government is targeting to complete the administration of booster shots to healthcare workers by end of this month,to ensure that medical front-liners will get strong protection against the infection “once the cases will spike again.”
“Kasi iba yung protocol ng handling ng boosters for the healthcare workers, iba rin ang protocols and guidelines doon sa para sa mga elderly at immunocompromised (Because we have different handling protocols and guidelines of booster shots for healthcare workers, elderly and immunocompromised),” Galvez said in an interview during the ceremonial booster inoculation at the National
“We are also expecting that more or less five million senior citizens will be accommodated for the third dose or the
Kidney and Transplant Institute in Quezon City.
Once the National Vaccine Operations Center (NVOC) issues the final guidelines, Galvez said the administration of booster doses to other priority sectors “may start by early next week or end of the month.”
Meanwhile, Health Secretary Francisco Duque III assured that the administration of booster shots to the general public “will eventually happen.”
“Pero syempre tapusin muna natin ‘yung vulnerable groups (but of course, we need to finish the vulnerable groups,” Duque said, adding that there is still a need to scale up the administration of primary doses.
“We hope to see there will be a lesser infection and more importantly sana mas kakaunti, sana mawala ang severe to critical cases sa hanay ng ating mga healthcare workers (we hope to lessen or eliminate severe to critical cases among our healthcare workers),” he said.
The government has started the booster vaccination in various hospitals on Wednesday following the issued interim recommendation of the Strategic Advisory Group of Expert connected to the World Health Organization last month. (PNA/Lade Jean Kabagani)
1.5M doses administered per day possible: NTF
UPDATES. National Task Force Against Covid-19 chief Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. provides updates to President Rodrigo Duterte during a meeting in Malacañang on Monday (Nov. 15, 2021). Galvez is confident the government can achieve population protection, or about 77.1 million out of the total 110 million, by the end of the year. (Presidential photo/Karl Alonzo)
The government is confident it will surpass its goal of 1.5 million doses administered per day, based on the increasing vaccination output in the previous days.
The latest data from the National Covid-19 vaccination dashboard showed the Philippines has administered a total of 70,677,771 doses nationwide, with 31,868,120 Filipinos now fully vaccinated.
The average daily jab rate during the period November 2 to 16 was 811,501 doses, while the weekly throughput was at 5,582,227 doses as against the 5.4 million the previous week.
Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr., the chief implementer of the National Task Force (NTF) Against Covid-19, said the government is on its way to fully vaccinate up to 70 million Filipinos before the end of the year.
“Ang kagandahan po, Mr. President, paakyat ng paakyat ang ating highest weekly output. Noong last week po, nung nagreport kami sa inyo ay 5.4 [million], ngayon po ay 5.5 na.
Meaning lumalapit na po tayo sa ating monthly output na at least maka25 million po tayo ngayon (The good thing here, Mr. President, is our highest weekly output is increasing. Last week, we reported to you a 5.4 million doses, now we have 5.5 million doses.
Meaning, we are nearing our monthly target of at least 25 million doses this)
November,” Galvez told President Rodrigo Duterte during the pre-recorded Talk to the People televised Tuesday morning.
“Malaki po talaga ang (There is a huge) improvement and we are very confident to surpass the 1.5-million mark,” Galvez said.
Of the 124,914,000 doses received, 81,256,780 were procured by the national government.
A total of 54,236,229 are still in the stockpile and ready for distribution.
Galvez said 17 million more doses will be delivered in the coming days, including 3,530,400 doses of government-procured Sinovac that will arrive Wednesday morning, purchased through the Asian Development Bank.
“Meaning ‘yung ating quota for the year of 70 million, makukuha po natin at ‘yung darating po ng December ay ‘yun po, pwede na po nating ilaan po sa first quarter ng (Meaning, we will be able to reach our quota for the year of up to 70 million. Those vaccines that will be arriving in December can be allocated for the first quarter of) 2022,” he said.
Update on Covid-19 vaccine administration per region. (Screengrab from RTVM)
Nationwide program
Galvez reported that the National Capital Region has vaccinated 102.92 percent of its 9,776,356 target population with at least one dose, while 9,005,703 individuals or 92.12 percent people have completed their two doses.
It is followed by the Cordillera Administrative Region, with 572,047 individuals or 44.83 percent out of its 1,275,903 eligible population, now fully vaccinated. Other regions also posted increasing full vaccination rates such as Davao, with 41.92 (1.5 million out of 3.7 million); 41.21 percent in Calabarzon or Region 4-A (4.7 million out of 11.4 million); 40.85 percent in Central Luzon or Region 3 (3.5 million out of 8.7 million); and 35.54 percent in Northern Mindanao or Region 10 (1.2 million out of 3.5 million).
The Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), meanwhile, has the lowest vaccination rate so far at 10.85 percent or only 322,246 people out of its 2,989,135 target population with full protection against the disease.
Galvez said vaccine hesitancy in various isolated communities contribute to the measly output.
He said the NTF will tap other government agencies such as military and security forces, the Transportation department, and even the private sector, to fasttrack the deployment of Covid-19 vaccines to farflung and geographically isolated areas like BARMM. (PNA/ Lade Jean Kabagani)
Executive Editor ABNER M. CAGA
Associate Editor FRYAN E. ABKILAN Managing Editor NORA CL MOLDE Copy Editor VENUS LIM GARCIA Layout Artists RONNIE E. MADANGUIT JOHN CHARLES B. MALAZARTE Contributors JENNIFER P. GAITANO
Agusan del Sur NIDA GRACE B. TRANQUILAN
Surigao del Sur SUSIL D. RAGAS
Surigao del Norte/Dinagat Islands DOREEN MARIELLE N. ROSALES
Regional Office Filane Mikee Cervantes Lade Jean Kabagani Jessica O. Mellejor Sonny Montilla Shena Mae Pabia Che Palicte Estela Marie M. Vallespin Bislig City-Chamber of Commerce 4th Infantry Division, PA LGU-Agusan del Norte POPCOM-Caraga DILG-Caraga DA-Caraga PNA, PND, OSD
Business Managers ZARINA O. LASTRA MARIESH F. CELEDEÑA MAY AMOR O. ALABADO Photographer ROBESPIERRE C. TRADIO RUDOLF BONNIN E. SANICO Regional Office
Jose Rosales Avenue, Butuan City piacaraga@gmail.com; pia_caraga@yahoo.com.ph (085) 341-5285; (085) 815-1991 Philippine Information Agency Caraga @PIACaraga
Information Centers
AGUSAN DEL NORTE
Jose Rosales Avenue, Butuan City (085) 815-1991 pia.northagusan@gmail.com PIA Agusan del Norte
AGUSAN DEL SUR
Provincial Government Center, Patin-ay, Prosperidad, Agusan del Sur 0917-723-3455 pia.agusandelsur@yahoo.com.ph PIA Agusan del Sur
SURIGAO DEL NORTE/DINAGAT ISLANDS
Parrucho corner Magallanes St., Surigao City (086) 826-9450 piasurigao@gmail.com PIA Surigao del Norte; PIA Dinagat Islands
SURIGAO DEL SUR
Old DPWH Bldg., Telaje, Tandag City (086) 211-3353 piasurigaosur@gmail.com; sds_pia@yahoo.com.ph PIA Surigao del Sur
