Female ex-rebel grateful for new home in Agusan Norte

Alias “Kris”, a female former rebel from the province of Agusan del Norte, was delighted as she received the good news that she and her family now have a permanent home. “As we surrender, we were able to receive aid and support from the government. I’m thankful because I feel the real concern of our government,” shared Kris. Kris was one of the 100 former rebels in the province who benefited from the housing program of the government wherein these houses will be built in a 1.4-hectare of land donated by a private mining company. According to the

By Jennifer P. Gaitano local government unit, the construction of the houses which is worth almost half a million pesos per house will immediately start. This lot is located in Barangay Del Pilar, Cabadbaran City. Agusan del Norte Governor Dale Corvera thanked the San Roque Metals Incorporated (SRMI) for taking part in the government’s effort to provide the welfare of the former rebels. “I’m happy to receive this donation of 1.4 hectares of land from the SRMI, where the houses for our former rebels will be built. The FRs could now start a new life in this community,” he said.

Meanwhile, Agusan del Norte 2nd District Representative Maria Angelica Rosedell Amante-Matba also called on the former rebels to encourage other New People’s Army (NPA) members to leave the terrorist group and surrender to the government’s fold. “You encourage them not to put their lives to waste fighting for a senseless cause. It doesn’t give them a better future,” Matba underscored. These former NPAs have surrendered to the 29th and 23rd Infantry Battalions, both based in Agusan del Norte. (JPG/ NCLM/PIA-Caraga) Caraga INFOCUS

MINDANAO NEWS

The Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) is introducing the Environmental Farming Program which will promote the planting of fruit trees, especially the highvalue Hass Avocado, in the deforested highlands of Mindanao.

With government-initiated reforestation programs hardly succeeding, I thought of combining my advocacy on environmental protection with the effort to increase productivity and address rural poverty. I had earlier introduced to officials of Dole Philippines, a Japanese-owned multinational agricultural company, the idea of expanding their Hass Avocado production areas through a growership program. Under the initial concept which I presented to Dole Philippines officers who visited my farm in Kidapawan City two months ago, I asked Dole Philippines to provide technical assistance and Hass Avocado planting materials to farmer-growers who will be asked to sign a marketing agreement with the company. MinDA, on the other hand, will seek the support of its financing partner, the Development Bank of the Philippines, to provide

ENVIRONMENTAL FARMING: AVOCADO GROWING PUSHED FOR MINDANAO HIGHLANDS

loan packages to Hass Avocado Growers. Dole Philippines, which is now exporting to China, started the Hass Avocado Program in Mindanao several years ago from its farms in Calinan, Davao City, South

Cotabato and Bukidnon. It was under the term of President Rody Duterte when the company was able to gain access to the China market with the help of the Department of Agriculture when I was Secretary. It has also pending requests to export Hass to Japan and South Korea. Hass is the most popular Avocado variety mainly because of its taste and long shelf life, making it a potential major dollar earner for Mindanao. Ideally grown at elevations of at least 1,000-meters above sea level, Hass Avocado would be a perfect crop for the high elevation logged over areas in Bukidnon, Lanao del Sur, Misamis Oriental and Davao Del Norte. Yesterday, I received a report that officials of Dole Philippines liked the concept of a growership. Dole Philippines, formerly an American corporation, has been acquired by Japan’s Itucho Corporation. It is now the only exporter of Hass Avocado from the Philippines to China. The planting of Hass Avocado in the deforested highlands fits into the Green Mindanao Project of MinDA which seeks to encourage fruit tree or tree farming in logged-over areas of Mindanao. The high demand and good price of Hass Avocado in the export market could also boost the income of Filipino farmers and trigger Mindanao’s economic recovery. (Minda)

‘UBE JAM WITH WILD HONEY,’ MINDANAO’S UNIQUE PRODUCT

Mindanao’s Purple Yam or Ube, grated and flavored with honey from the forests and milk from well-fed goats, will soon be in the market as “Mindanao Ube Jam.” Braveheart Farms & Nursery of Kidapawan City which I and my children own as a family farm will be producing this new product which we will launch this December. This is part of the Complete Value Chain advocacy for our farmers’ products which I have embraced since I entered public service in 1995. The production of the “Mindanao Ube Jam” which I will personally promote and market is the result of the “Adopt-

a-Tribal Family” program which I and Davao del Norte Governor Edwin Jubahib launched last month. Among the livelihood projects which we wanted the AtaManobo families to be involved with is the growing and production of Ube or the Purple Yam. While looking for sources of Ube planting materials, I found out that many farmers in Bukidnon have existing Ube farms which are ready for harvest. With the movement of people and goods restricted by the COVID 19 quarantine protocols, Ube farmers faced another season of failure and losses. In the recent MinDA Tienda in Manila, about 3 tons of raw Ube were displayed but only 2.5tons were sold at very low prices. This made me realize that unless the Ube is processed into a high-value product ready for sale to direct end users, there will also be a problem on the marketing. Next week, the application for Production Registration will be

submitted to the Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) but pending that I will ask FDA to allow us to share the products to friends. We have to work on this fast because by December, Mindanao’s Ube farmers expect to harvest about 100 tons and unless this is absorbed, I will again see sad faces. That I cannot take anymore because all my life as a farm boy, I had seen those sad faces of the farmers. The production of the Mindanao Ube Jam is a risk that I am willing to take if only to see smiling faces of farmers. (Minda)

INVESTMENT SCAMS RISE AMID COVID CRISIS: SEC

The Securities and Exchange CommissionDavao Extension Office (SEC-DEO) has raised concerns over the continuing presence of investment scams that are looking for new ways to lure people on quickrich schemes, especially amid the impact of the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) on the economy. In a statement Friday, SEC-DEO office pointed out that investment scams have been “doubly challenging” as the perpetrators use the Internet in recruiting unwitting individuals-many of them poor people who have borrowed money in an attempt to earn big profits in very short periods of time. SEC-DEO also found out that aside from using By Che Palicte November the traditional Ponzi and pyramiding schemes, some unscrupulous entities and individuals have also propagated new illegal investment schemes such as cryptocurrencies and the so-called foreign exchange trading. “The Securities Regulation Code requires that the offer or sale of securities must be duly registered with the Commission and that the concerned entity or its agents must have appropriate registration and/or license to sell such securities. Those who want to solicit investments in forms of foreign exchange, on the other hand, also need to secure appropriate licenses from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas,” the agency said. It also urged anyone

planning to join in any invest schemes to visit its website (www.sec.gov. ph) to be able to make informed decisions and avoid being duped by unscrupulous individuals. “The public must always be prudent in dealing with recruiters because, most often, when offers are too good to be true, they really are. It added that those who have money to invest should ensure that the platforms that they are investing in must have a good track record and not just an overnight presence in cyberspace,” SEC-DEO said. The public is also urged to report unauthorized investmenttaking to the SEC Enforcement and Investor Protection Department through email at epd@ sec.gov.ph. (PNA)

NATIONAL NEWS

SEC. MARTIN ANDANAR

PCOO

NEWS CORNER

PAETE WOOD CARVING INDUSTRY GRADUALLY RECOVERING FROM COVID-19 IMPACT

With lesser number of people going to the town of Paete due to the threat of COVID-19, Vice Mayor Aurelio Paraiso said that wood carvers there have gone online to market their products as means to cushion impacts of the pandemic. In an interview on Monday, he said that selling their products and services online have helped revive the livelihood of their constituents, especially now that Christmas season is already approaching and many are patronizing their decorative products. “Medyo nakakabangon na nang paunti-unti ang ekonomiya ng bayan ng Paete [The economy of Paete is gradually recovering],” he said during the Network Briefing News with host Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) Secretary Martin Andanar. He also noted that they are monitoring the situation of their seabased and overseas Filipino workers, who were affected by the travel restrictions back to their jobs abroad. Paete is known as the wood carving capital of the Philippines and its industry is gradually returning to its feet amid the pandemic, while the local government continues to aid them. “Nagbigay po ng ayuda ang pamahalaang bayan dun sa mga small and medium entrepreneurs ng puhunan na walang tubo para unti-unting makabangon yung ating mga maliliit na nagnenegosyo [The municipal government has provided loan without

interest to small and medium entrepreneurs so they can recover],” Vice Mayor Aurelio added. Typhoon-hit farmers in Visayas receive assistance from DA In the same episode, the Office of the Presidential Adviser for the Visayas (OPAV) Assistant Secretary Jonji Gonzales reported initiatives of the Department of Agriculture (DA) across the islands of Visayas. He said that the regional counterpart of the DA continues to implement its programs for its farmer-beneficiaries, especially in typhoon-hit areas such as Iloilo, as part of the Typhoon Ursula rehabilitation Program of DA - Western Visayas. The said program was sourced under the agency’s quick response fund. “The program aims to distribute Caraga INFOCUS

PAETE WOOD CARVING INDUSTRY GRADUALLY RECOVERING FROM COVID-19 IMPACT

2,695 heads of native chicken. Inaasahang makukumpleto ng DA ang distribusyon ng mga ito under the DA quick response fund for Typhoon Ursula before the end of the year,” Asec. Gonzales said. Livestock were distributed in the towns of Batad, Concepcion, and

Estancia. Meanwhile in Central Visayas, the DA turned over farm machineries and hybrid rice seeds to farmers in Jagna, Bohol. DA-7 distributed 4 units of Pump Irrigation System Open Source (PISOS) complete with pump and engine sets and pipes. Along with these is a unit of hand tractor. According to Asec. Gonzales, the municipality of Jagna is one of the LGUs that responded to the challenge of DA Secretary William Dar of increasing farm production by at least 10%. (PCOO)

SAP DISTRIBUTION. Cash assistance distribution under the government’s social amelioration program for low income families affected by the coronavirus-related lockdowns. Malacañang on Thursday (Nov. 5, 2020) expressed hope that Filipinos’ quality of life would improve once a vaccine for Covid-19 becomes available. (PNA File photo)

PALACE HOPES QUALITY OF LIFE OF MORE FILIPINOS TO IMPROVE

Malacañang is saddened by results of a Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey which showed that four out of five Filipinos said their quality of life By Azer Parrocha has worsened in the past 12 months. Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque acknowledged that Filipinos would feel that their life worsened due to the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) pandemic. “Siyempre po nalulungkot tayo diyan pero ‘yan naman po ay

dahil sa pandemiya (Of course, we are sad to hear that, but that’s because of the pandemic),” he said. However, he expressed hope that Filipinos’ quality of life would improve once a vaccine for Covid-19 becomes available. “Tingin ko naman po, bubuti naman ang buhay natin, palabas na po ang bakuna at natututo na rin tayo mabuhay bagamat nandiyan ang Covid-19 (I think our lives will improve, a vaccine will soon be available and we are living to live with Covid-19),” he added. The SWS survey, from Sept. 17 to 20, showed that 82 percent of adult Filipinos believed that their quality of life worsened (termed by SWS as “losers”), while 11 percent said it was the same, and only 6 percent said it got better (termed as “gainers”). The resulting net gainers score in September 2020 is -76 which is considered by SWS as “catastrophic.” Net gainers score is computed by subtracting the percentage of “losers” from the percentage of

“gainers.” The SWS considers the score “catastrophic” if it is -50 and below. “The September 2020 score joins SWS’s worst trends in survey history, having recorded -78 in May and -72 in July during the Covid-19 crisis. The only other time the score reached catastrophic level was in June 2008 (-50), during rice and oil price hikes,” the SWS said. It showed that net gainers score stayed “catastrophic” across the country, with a score of -80 in the Visayas, -76 in Metro Manila, -75 in Balance Luzon, and -74 in Mindanao. Net gainers scores have worsened in all areas in the country compared to figures in July with Mindanao experiencing the biggest drop of nine points; Visayas, five points; Metro Manila, four points and Balance Luzon, one point. The SWS said the net gainers score is significantly worse among those who did not graduate from college, but the net gainers score hardly varies by job status. The survey also showed that adults from families that were involuntarily hungry in the last three months posed a higher losers’ score than gainers and among the unchanged. Net gainers score was -84 among the hungry, compared to -72 among those who did not experience involuntary hunger, the SWS said. The survey also found that hunger rate is significantly higher among losers. Among “losers,” 34 percent experienced involuntary hunger (24 percent moderate and 10 percent severe). Meanwhile, 23 percent of gainers and 17 percent of those whose quality of life was the same in the past 12 months went hungry. The SWS survey was conducted using mobile phone and computerassisted telephone interviews of 1,249 adult Filipinos or those aged 18 and above. It had a sampling error margin of ±3 percent for national percentages, ±6 percent for Metro Manila, ±5 percent for Balance Luzon, ±6 percent for Visayas, and ±6 percent for Mindanao. (PNA)

PRC GIVES HOPE TO FAMILIES WHOSE LIVES WERE SHATTERED BY ‘ROLLY’

Giving hope to the most vulnerable families whose lives were shattered by the onslaught of Super Typhoon Rolly, the Philippine Red Cross (PRC) continues to extend assistance to the affected families to help their lives return to a semblance of normalcy. In a news release issued Friday, Senator Richard J. Gordon, chairman, and CEO of the PRC, said they have been providing what the affected families are in dire need of, based on the assessment of their teams on the ground. “We have made an assessment of their primary needs and we provide that. It is our mission to alleviate human suffering and uplift human dignity. That is why we will help them rebuild their lives. We want to help them get back on their feet faster,” Gordon said. During the height of “Rolly’s” onslaught, the PRC conducted search and rescue operations and attended to the wounded. It extended psychosocial assistance by tracing relatives who got separated and has been providing hot meals to almost 11,000 individuals in Catanduanes, Camarines Sur, Albay, and other affected areas. As part of its relief operations, the PRC distributed tarpaulins, jerry cans, hygiene kits, and sleeping kits to some 173 families in Albay and Catanduanes, and gave

PRC GIVES HOPE TO FAMILIES WHOSE LIVES WERE SHATTERED BY ‘ROLLY’

away non-food items in Sorsogon. In Catanduanes, the PRC Chapter provided the only form of communication after the typhoon through its satellite phone. In areas where power lines were

damaged, the PRC sent generator sets to ensure unhampered delivery of service. It also deployed water tankers, LMS, and bladders to ensure sufficient potable water supply in areas where water access has been rendered limited, such as Catanduanes and Albay. Water treatment units were also installed. “We are continuously assessing what is needed. We have also been distributing GI sheets to those with partially damaged houses so the families can stay in their own homes. We also established health/first aid station in evacuation centers to prevent the spread of, not only Covid-19 (coronavirus disease 2019) but also other diseases,” Gordon said. “We will also further assess sanitation needs in the affected communities and evacuation centers. We can provide portable comfort rooms and shower rooms, in areas where they are needed,” he added. (PR) November 7-13, 2020 |

RED CROSS DISTRIBUTES AID TO OVER 300 TYPHOONAFFECTED FAMILIES

The Philippine Red Cross (PRC) sent additional relief supplies to be distributed to more than 300 families that were affected by Super Typhoon Rolly (international name: Goni) in the provinces of Catanduanes and Albay. On Thursday, PRC Chairman and CEO Senator Richard J. Gordon ordered the dispatching of emergency relief packages to both provinces that include food items such as rice, noodles, canned goods and coffee. Each family also received non-food package consisting of hygiene kits such as shampoo, bath soap, toothpaste and toothbrush; sleeping kit containing sleeping mat, mosquito net and blanket; tarpaulins to serve as emergency shelter; and 10-liter collapsible water containers. “We are sending more critical relief supplies in Bicol so that our fellowmen there will have additional food to eat and items to be used in their daily lives. We will continue to support them until they are back on their feet again,” Gordon said in a news release issued on Saturday. Gordon visited the affected communities in Catanduanes and the damaged areas in Albay last Tuesday. “We are horrified by the devastation caused by this typhoon in many areas. It has smashed into people’s lives and livelihoods on top of the relentless physical,

Photo courtesy of NDRRMC

emotional and economic toll of Covid-19. Most of them lost their livelihood and their homes, and we assure them that we are here to help,” he said. On Monday, the PRC already deployed a humanitarian caravan to Bicol consists of a rescue truck, two ambulances, a food truck, a payloader, a fuel tanker, two 10-wheeler trucks, a Humvee, two water tankers, a 6-wheeler truck, a 6×6 truck, two Land Cruisers, and a HiLux vehicle. Some 500 family tents were also sent to be used as temporary shelters, as well as generator sets to provide emergency power supply as many affected areas are struggling with power outage. (PR)

SENATE PASSES COOP DEVELOPMENT OFFICER BILL

The Senate has approved on third and final reading Senate Bill No. 1855, which seeks to amend the Local Government Code of 1991 to authorize the creation of the Cooperatives Development Officer (CDO) as a mandatory position in all local government units. “The National Cooperative Month has just ended, but I hope the sector finds more reasons to celebrate with the approval of this bill,” said Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri, principal sponsor of the measure. Under this bill, all provinces, cities, and municipalities will have a dedicated CDO, who will Caraga INFOCUS

be in charge of assisting promising groups and sectors in organizing and forming their own cooperatives. CDOs will also bridge regional cooperatives with the Cooperative Development Authority and other national government agencies to help them harmonize their goals with the national cooperative movement. Local governments may choose to appoint a full-fledged CDO, or they may merge the responsibilities of a CDO with an existing position, should this be more feasible with respect to the size of the local cooperative sector, or the capability of the local government to carve out

Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri

the proper emoluments from its budget. “The cooperative sector is such a huge economic driver, especially in the countryside. We have over 28,000 registered cooperatives in the country, which is a good, healthy number, but I believe we can have an even more robust national cooperative movement if we strengthened government support for the sector,” he said. “Once we have CDOs in all our LGUs, we will be able to more easily reach communities in our most far-flung areas, and they will be able to deliver vital and immediate support on the grassroots level.” (PR)

HOT MEALS. Task Force Zero Hunger chair Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles leads distribution of hot meals from both the government and private sectors to over 3,000 Super Typhoon Rolly victims at Bacoor Elementary School in Bacoor City on Nov. 6, 2020. The meals were prepared and provided by McDonald’s Kindness Kitchen and San Miguel Food Corporation. (Photo from Karlo Nograles FB page)

3K BENEFICIARIES IN TYPHOON-HIT CAVITE RECEIVE HOT MEALS By Azer Parrocha More than 3,000 Sineguelasan, Bacoor, Cabinet Secretary beneficiaries affected Cavite received hot Karlo Nograles, who by the onslaught of meals from both the headed the distribution Super Typhoon Rolly in government and private of hot meals last Nov. Barangays Alima and sector. 6, said the meals were

prepared and provided by McDonald’s Kindness Kitchen (MKK) and San Miguel Food Corporation at Bacoor Elementary School. He said the packed meals consisting of chicken fillet, rice and bottled water from the Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC), with the assistance of San Miguel Corporation, Coca Cola, DOLE Philippines and Metrobank are part of a comprehensive feeding program to families displaced by the recent typhoon. “It’s crucial that we provide sustenance and nutrition assistance to those who were affected by one of the strongest typhoons to hit the country in recent memory. We’re very thankful to the private individuals, volunteer groups and corporate partners who made this relief effort possible,” Nograles said in a statement on Sunday. Nograles, chair of the Task Force Zero Hunger, pointed out that food and hunger concerns become more heightened during calamities, and the need for urgent, life-saving

action is important. “We were informed by our private sector donors that they will continue supporting our #GoodbyeGutom advocacy. As head of Task Force Zero Hunger, I’m very glad to hear this. We in government will provide the necessary resources and opportunities to expand this effort,” he added. He also assured that despite the prevailing pandemic, assistance to Filipino families will not stop. “Hunger is among our foremost concerns and we will claim victory over this adversary through a robust partnership between government and the private sector,” he said. During the distribution, Nograles was joined by Bacoor Mayor Lani Mercado, Kenneth Yang (McDonald’s President & CEO & RMHC President), Margot Torres (McDonald’s Managing Director & RMHC Vice President), Marie Angeles (RMHC Executive Director), Kin Lichauco (Vice President and Head of Corporate Affairs of San Miguel Corporation) and the barangay leaders. The RMHC is the charity arm of McDonald’s Philippines and was established in 1995. One of its missions is to improve the lives of Filipino children through aid efforts in nutrition, housing, and education. Since the declaration of community quarantine in March of this year, McDonald’s Philippines and RMHC have supported health workers and medical front-liners through food donations. So far, 320,000 meals have been provided for free by the McDo Kindness Kitchen to hospitals, police precincts, LGUs and local communities. In January, President Rodrigo Duterte issued Executive Order 101 creating the Inter-Agency Task Force on Zero Hunger which is tasked to formulate a national food policy (NFP), to ensure the attainment of zero hunger and poverty eradication. The NFP seeks to address food production, food accessibility and availability, nutrition and food resiliency. (PNA)

House project for Super Typhoon Yolanda victims (File photo)

NOGRALES WANTS ‘YOLANDA’ RESETTLEMENT SITES CLOSER TO SCHOOLS

Resettlement sites should have schools close by so that students don’t have to walk too far to have access to basic education, Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles said Sunday. Nograles, who heads Task Force Yolanda, said he raised the matter before Education Secretary By Azer Parrocha Leonor Briones, who was “willing to consider” his proposal. “Kawawa kasi ang mga bata kung malayo ang mga komunidad na ito sa mga paaralan (It’s pitiful if students had to walk too far to get to school). So it’s good that the [Department of Education] has this Last Mile Schools Program, wherein they work to provide geographically isolated, disadvantaged, and conflict-affected (GIDCA) areas with access to basic education,” Nograles said in a statement. Last Mile Schools are schools that have multigrade classes, with less than five teachers, and a student population of less

than 100 learners, more than 75 percent of which are usually indigenous people. He said he also reached out to the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and the Department of Health (DOH) to put up day care and health centers in resettlement sites. “We cannot just stop with building their houses; we have to make sure that these displaced families also have access

to basic necessities: schools, day care centers, health centers. Naiintindihan naman nina [DWSD] Sec. Bautista at [DOH] Sec. Duque ito (Sec. Bautista and Sec. Duque understood this concern), and they said their agencies will be helping out in this regard,” he added. Nograles said it is important to make sure that resettlement sites are not just built, they should also allow families to “thrive, not just survive.” “We want to do more than rebuild their homes -- we want to help the victims of Super Typhoon Yolanda rebuild their lives,” he said. He emphasized the importance of bringing education and livelihood closer to ensure that communities live and work successfully. “We know that livelihood and education would be concerns that need to be factored in to ensure the longterm viability of these relocation sites,” he added. (PNA)

President Rodrigo Duterte (Presidential Photo)

PH TO BORROW $300-M TO PURCHASE COVID-19 VACCINES

The government is planning to borrow USD300 million to purchase doses of coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) vaccine for all Filipinos, President Rodrigo Duterte said Tuesday night. Duterte, however, acknowledged that it might take some time before the country acquires doses of a vaccine since pharmaceutical By Azer Parrocha companies would prioritize their nations first. “(Finance Secretary) Sonny (Dominguez) says that he can borrow money of USD300 million. So malaki iyan. Makakabili tayo but I think it would do as well to also realize that unahin talaga nila iyong mga tao nila (That’s huge. We can purchase the vaccine but I think it would do as well to also realize that they would prioritize their people first),” he said in a taped public address. “So, you can expect that within the few months until next year, all of those vaccines produced will be used for the Americans.” The President acknowledged that purchasing the vaccines early would be expensive but noted that the threat of Covid-19 has

become less scary as some pharmaceutical firms in the US and China have made progress in developing the lifesaving vaccines. US pharmaceutical firm Pfizer, which developed the vaccine with the German drugmaker BioNTech, announced that its potential Covid-19 vaccine was 90 percent effective, based on its clinical trials. “China na o Pfizer of America, mayroon na sila. So hindi na nakakatakot talaga ang Covid. But sa pagka ngayon magbili ka, mahal (China or Pfizer of America, they already have a vaccine. Covid isn’t so scary anymore. But if you buy them now, you get vaccinated. they’ll be expensive),” he When? Just wait. said. Money? We could borrow Duterte also said immediately. The supply that once the vaccine is the problem. Naturally, supply is available, the the country that invents government would the vaccine would prioritize the poor in the prioritize its people. That’s distribution. the reality of life),” he “As I have promised, said. ang gastos ng gobyerno The President itong bakuna para sa said recent vaccine lahat ng Pilipino. Kaya developments mean nga uumpisahan natin sa hope that life would mga mahihirap, pataas return to normal. na ano (the government “The vaccine is will shoulder the cost near. There is a hope for of the vaccine for all mankind. Pero ako, wala Filipinos. That’s why we will pang bakuna ito, hindi start with the poor going na ako takot. Maybe, up),” he said, noting that maybe not, depende sa middle- to high-income suwerte mo sa buhay. Filipinos could pay for But for the succeeding their own vaccine. generations, mga anak Duterte sought ko, mga apo ko, I am patience from the quite confident with the public, reiterating that thought that they have the challenge lies in the a refuge which they can vaccine supply rather take shelter dito sa Covid than the acquisition of storm (But for me, even funds. without the vaccine, “So iyan mga I am not scared. kababayan ko, basta Maybe, maybe not, mabakunahan kayo. depends on how lucky Kailan? Maghintay lang you are in life. But for the tayo. Pera? Makahiram succeeding generations, tayo kaagad. Ang suplay for my children, my ang problema. Kung sino grandchildren, I am iyong country nakapag- quite confident with the imbento, naturalmente thought that they have a unahin niya iyong mga refuge that they can take tao niya. That’s the reality shelter from the Covid of life (Let’s make sure storm,” he said. (PNA)

(Screenshot of Laging Handa public briefing on Nov. 10, 2020)

EMERGENCY USE OF PFIZER’S COVID-19 VACCINE UNLIKELY IN PH: DOST

The emergency use of Pfizer’s vaccine candidate against coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) is unlikely in the Philippines, Department of Science and Technology (DOST) Secretary Fortunato de la By Ma. Cristina Arayata Peña said on Tuesday. “We need to verify the accuracy of (Pfizer’s) claim that the vaccine is 90 percent effective. If (Pfizer) will apply to conduct a clinical trial here, the Vaccine Expert Panel will check the data, and would verify the claim,” he said during the Laging Handa public briefing. On Monday, Pfizer announced that its candidate vaccine was found to be “more than 90 percent effective

Contributed photo

in preventing Covid-19 could not rely on Trial for Covid-19 would in participants without Pfizer’s announcement, commence. evidence of prior SARS- since it was the firm’s “As of November 10, CoV-2 infection in the first announcement. “We do we have not received the interim efficacy analysis”. not know the data that list of vaccines and the The pharmaceutical supports (the claim),” he protocols from the WHO,” firm plans to submit said. he said. an Emergency Use In case Pfizer would Most probably, the Authorization to the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) around the third week of November. Pfizer’s announcement was based on a Phase 3 clinical study. De la Peña pointed out that the Philippines requires not conduct a clinical trial in the Philippines and would submit an application to the Philippine FDA for supply purposes, that would still be referred to the Vaccine Expert Panel for analysis, he added. Meanwhile, de la vaccines in the WHO’s list would be those that have finished the Phase 3 clinical trials, according to de la Peña. Protocols from the WHO would include the age group of clinical trial participants, the number Phase 4 clinical trials for Peña said there is no date of doses, the required the vaccine candidates. yet as to when the World temperature for storage, The DOST chief noted Health Organization among others, de la Peña that Philippine authorities (WHO) Solidarity Vaccine said. (PNA)

91% OF 50K CONTACT TRACERS START WORK: DILG

By Christopher Lloyd Caliwan

DILG Secretary Eduardo Año. Contributed photo

More than 91 percent of the 50,000 contact tracers hired by the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) started in their jobs. In a televised Cabinet meeting with President Rodrigo Duterte on Thursday night, Interior Secretary Eduardo Año reported that around 45,742 contact tracers have been deployed and started working while close to 4,000 are just waiting for the release of their appointment. “Ito ay malaking tulong sapagkat nabigyan din natin ng trabaho ang ating mga kababayan, lalo na po ‘yung mga bumalik na OFW (overseas Filipino worker) at saka ‘yung mga nawalan ng trabaho (This is would be a big help because we were able to provide jobs to our fellow Filipinos, especially for returning OFWs and those who lost their jobs),” Año said. Under the guidelines drafted by the DILG, the contact tracers would be hired under a contract of service status and would get a salary of around PHP18,000-PHP19,000. Among their responsibilities are to interview, profile, and perform an initial public health risk assessment of Covid-19 cases and their identified close contacts; refer the close contacts to isolation facilities; conduct enhanced contact tracing in collaboration with other agencies and private sectors; conduct daily monitoring of close and general contacts for at least 14 days, and perform such other tasks in relation to the Covid-19

response. Año earlier said the government needs to boost contact tracing to further contain the spread of the virus. Meanwhile, he also reported that 183 village chairpersons are now facing raps over anomalies in the distribution of the social amelioration program (SAP). “Sa 781 complainants ay mayroong 1,259 suspects. At nakapagconduct tayo ng 363 investigations. Ang 266 po ay nasa piskal na, ang 29 ay nasa korte, at nairefer naman natin po ang iba sa Ombudsman. At 183 barangay chairmen po ang kinasuhan natin. Nakapaglabas ng suspension naman ang Ombudsman sa 89 barangay captains (From 781 complainants, we have 1,259 suspects. We have also conducted 363 investigations. 266 of them are with the fiscal’s office, 29 are now in court and some were referred to the Ombudsman. With that, we have filed complaints against 183

village chairpersons. The Ombudsman has also issued suspension orders against 89 barangay captains),” Año said. The cases filed are in violation of the Republic Act 3019 of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, RA 6713 Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards, and the Bayanihan to Heal as One Act, among others while cases of robbery extortions and grave threats have been filed against some of the officials. (PNA)

STOPPING SINOVAC CLINICAL TRIAL MUST BE STUDIED FIRST: DOH By Ma. Teresa Montemayor

Stopping the clinical trial of potential Sinovac coronavirus disease (Covid-19) vaccine in the Philippines must be studied first, a health official said Wednesday. Department of Health (DOH) Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire made this reaction following reports that the clinical trial of Sinovac vaccine in Brazil was halted after a volunteer recipient experienced an “adverse effect”. “Kailangan pag-

Maria Rosario Vergeire Contributed photo aaralan pa rin. Hindi porke discussions with them it was claimed in some and we will have our country na may adverse experts evaluate this if it is effect, immediately i-stop really valid and [the trial] natin (We still need to has to be stopped first,” study this. Not because Vergeire said. it was claimed in some The local vaccine countries this has adverse effect, we will just stop),” she said. Vergeire said the DOH experts have to evaluate first the reported “adverse effect” of the Sinovac vaccine. “It has to be through experts have already cleared the Sinovac Biotech’s vaccine. The DOH earlier said the company needs to secure approval from Single Joint Research Ethics Board and the Food that manufacturer also and Drug Administration that they will inform before it can conduct us and we will have clinical trial. (PNA)

EDITORIAL BOARD 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 AURELIUS P. ARAIS MA. CRISTINA ARAYATA CHRISTOPHER LLOYD CALIWAN NEIL MAYNARD C. CONDE 1LT. ROEL T. MAGLALANG NOELLE B. MANANSALA MA. TERESA MONTEMAYOR CHE PALICTE AZER PARROCHA ROBERT E. ROPEROS 2LT. CECILLE TAPPA OWWA-REGIONAL WELFARE OFFICE PSA CARAGA, DA CARAGA INFORMATION OFFICER, SEC CMO OFFICER, 23IB PA, 26IB TESDA-AGUSAN DEL NORTE LANDBANK, MINDA PNA, PCOO Business Managers ZARINA O. LASTRA MARIESH F. CELEDEÑA MAY AMOR O. ALABADO Photographer ROBESPIERRE C. TRADIO RUDOLF BONNIN E. SANICO

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