AWARD-WINNING American actor Tom Hanks and his wife Rita Wilson have tested positive for the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) amid the on-going global outbreak of the disease. Hanks posted a statement on his Instagram account. Hanks and Wilson were in Australia for the
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pre-production of Baz Luhrmann’s currently untitled Elvis Presley film from Warner Bros. Hanks is set to play Presley’s long-time manager Colonel Tom Parker. In his Instagram post, Hanks wrote: “Hello, folks. Rita and I are down here in Australia. Continue on page 2
Tom Hanks, wife test positive for Covid-19
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DOLE goes on 4-day work week THE DEPARTMENT of Labor and Employment (DOLE) said it will implement a four-day workweek as a precaution against the deadly coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19). DOLE Secretary Silvestre Bello III said the new work schedule covers all employees at the central office in Manila as well as its regional offices,
bureaus and field offices, as well as all its attached agencies. The work schedule, he said, will only be from Monday to Thursday starting March 16. “All offices and agencies shall observe a four-day workweek which shall be from Monday to Thursday instead of working for five days a week and work schedule from 7 a.m. to 7
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p.m.,” Bello said. Also covered by new work schedule are the Philippine Overseas Welfare Administration, Overseas Workers Welfare Administration, Professional Regulation Commission, and the National Labor Relations Commission. Bello said employees must follow the Continue on page 2
March 16-22, 2020
COVID-19 cases lumubo na! ‘Duterte, iba pa nag-self quarantine na rin’
P
ATULOY NA tumataas ang bilang ng mga nag-positibo sa Wuhan coronavirus o COVID-19 sa bansa at pumalo na ito sa mahigit apat na dosena at inaasahang lulobo pa ang bilang sa buong bansa matapos na may naitalang mga local transmission. Noong nakaraang emergency” sa kabila ng City sa Hubei province sa linggo lamang nag- malawakang panawagan China noong nakaraang deklara si Pangulong matapos na pumutok ang Disyembre. Continue on page 3 Duterte ng “public health nasabing virus sa Wuhan
Murad pities ARMM employees
Customs officers measure the temperature of a passenger at the Beijing Capital International Airport in Beijing, capital of China, March 7, 2020. Customs across the country have been keeping a close eye on the epidemic at home and abroad. (Xinhua / Chen Jianli)
Bishops hit back at Duterte Filipino women burn an effigy of President Rodrigo Duterte as they stage a protest march in Manila on March 8 marking International Women’s Day. Duterte is now under fire from Catholic bishops for an attack on Cardinal Luis Tagle. (Photo: AFP) READ STORY ON PAGE 2
BARMM Chief Minister Murad Ebrahim speaks in Jolo town. (Sulu Govt. Photo) them to re-apply.
‘
Wala tayong magagawa dahil yun ang batas
‘
CHIEF MINISTER Murad Ebrahim, of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, or BARMM, expressed him sympathies for civil workers who were laid off, and urges
“Wala tayong magagawa dahil yun ang batas, pero kung qualified naman kayo puwede kayong mag re-apply, at sigurado matatanggap kayo,” Ebrahim said during his Continue on page 5
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Bishops hit back at Duterte
Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle. (Giovanni Guida) CATHOLIC CHURCH leaders hit back at President Rodrigo Duterte’s “ludicrous” claim that Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle was removed as the archbishop of Manila because Pope Francis was angry with the cardinal’s involvement in politics. “Unbelievably ludicrous,” Bishop Pablo Virgilio David of Caloocan, vice-president of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP), said in a Facebook post. Later, in a statement issued by the CBCP on March 11, Bishop David urged Duterte to stop wasting time on such baseless allegations. “I suggest that we go back to the real issues of the day,” said Bishop David, adding, the President should focus on the rising cases of the coronavirus in the Philippines. Bishop Ruperto Santos of Balanga said Cardinal Tagle enjoys a clean record with the Church. “All lies. Distortion of truth,” CNN Philippines quoted him as saying. “Cardinal Tagle’s assignment in the Vatican is a grace from God, a gift and blessing to the Philippines,” he said. Cardinal Tagle left Ma-
nila for the Vatican in February to take up office as prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples, also known as Propaganda Fide. Duterte, known for his diatribes against the Catholic hierarchy, made his claim about Cardinal Tagle while speaking at the 2020 General Assembly of the League of Municipalities of the Philippines in Pasay City on March 10. He also accused Cardinal Tagle of channelling church funds to finance the opposition Liberal Party of the Philippines and its supporters, including the Aquino political family and referred to Liberal members as “yellows,” a derogatory term used by Duterte and his supporters. “See, they [the Church] used the money. They contributed to the yellows. Look at what happened. We do not have a bishop now. Don’t you know? He was removed,” Duterte said, adding, Cardinal Tagle’s change of office was punishment for his meddling in politics. “We were only given a caretaker who is a priest. Manila has no more bishop. Pope Francis got an-
gry because he (Tagle) meddled with politics,” Duterte said. Duterte was incorrect in his claim that Manila has no bishop. On February 10, Pope Francis appointed Bishop Broderick Pabillo, auxiliary bishop of Manila, as the apostolic administrator of Manila Archdiocese. Bishop Pabillo has been a vocal critic of the Duterte administration’s war on drugs and the extrajudicial killings linked with it. Duterte has a history of attacking church leaders in the Catholic-majority country. He once referred to Catholic bishops as “idiots” after they criticized the spate of drug-related killings. “You don’t have to go to church to pay for these idiots,” he said in a public speech in November 2018. In his new role in Rome, Cardinal Tagle is responsible for evangelization in the global Church and the nomination of Catholic bishops in Asia, Africa and Oceania. Pope Francis appointed him to the new office on December 8, making him one of nine members of the powerful Roman Curia, the Papal cabinet. (Joseph Peter Calleja – UCAN)
DOLE goes on 4-day work week Continued from page 1 guideline - Friday shall be the day-off of all employees; employees must render not less than 10 hours of work a day, exclusive of meal periods; they may report for work anytime from 7 a.m. to 8 a.m. and end work anytime between 6 p.m. and 7 p.m..; employees who will report for work
beyond 8 a.m. shall be considered tardy; those who do not complete 10 hours in one workday shall be considered under time; off-setting of tardiness or under time shall not be allowed; and the official lunch break shall be maintained at 12 noon to 1 p.m. regardless of the time the employee reports for work.
He said one-day absence shall be considered as a 10-hour absence and shall be deducted proportionately from the employee’s leave credits and employees who are required to report for work on their scheduled day-off shall be entitled to 1.5 days compensatory time-off. (Ferdinand Patinio)
Tom Hanks, wife test positive for Covid-19 Continued from page 1 We felt a bit tired like we had colds, and some body aches. Rita had some chills that came and went. Slight fevers too. To play things right, as is needed in the world right now, we were tested for the Coronavirus, and were found to be posi-
tive,” Hanks said. “Well, now. What to do next? The Medical Officials have protocols that must be followed. We Hanks’ will be tested, observed, and isolated for as long as public health and safety require. Not much more to it than a one-day-at-a-time ap-
proach, no? We’ll keep the world posted and updated. Take care of yourselves! Hanx!” Hanks added. Warner Bros. reportedly was made aware that a company member on the Elvis film had tested positive for Covid-19. (Sputnik International)
March 16-22, 2020
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March 16-22, 2020
COVID-19 cases lumubo na! ‘Duterte, iba pa nag-self quarantine na rin’
Online sellers ng mga alcohol overpriced. Bleach puwedeng panlinis sa bahay. Continued from page 1 Marami ang nanawagan na huwag papasukin ang mga Chinese tourists sa bansa upang maiwasan ang pagkalat ng sakit, subalit hindi naman pumayag si Duterte at baka umano magdamdam ang Beijing sa naturang hakbang. Ngayon, maging si Duterte ay nag-self quar-
antine na rin sa takot nito na mayroon siyang virus. Gayun rin si Senador Sherwin Gatchalian matapos na mag-positibo sa coronavirus ang isang resource person sa Senado, at Manila Mayor Isko Moreno na galing pa sa United Kingdom. Dahil sa lumalalang sitwasyon ngayon, nagla-
bas ng karagdagang surveillance teams ang Department of Health (DOH) upang ma-trace ang mga tao na posibleng nahawaan ng COVID-19. “The DOH and deployed surveillance teams are now conducting extensive information-gathering and contact tracing activities on the new cases. DOH will
provide further details as soon as the information is available,” ani Health Secretary Francisco Duque. Maging ang mga positibo sa coronavirus sa ibat-ibang pagamutan sa bansa ay tinututukan rin ng DOH. “DOH is continuously monitoring the statuses of all patients to ensure that no complications arise throughout their recovery,” wika pa ni Duque. May tinututukan rin ang DOH sa Northern Mindanao matapos na isugod sa pagamutan ang isang pasyente dahil sa hinalang may coronavirus ito. Nakikipagtulungan na rin ang DOH sa mga local governments upang masigurong handa ang mga ito sa coronavirus at mapangalagaan ang kalusugan ng lahat. “DOH is also in close coordination with concerned local government units and Centers for Health Development for the implementation of infection prevention and control measures at the local level, and the Philippine National Police and other government agen-
cies and concerned stakeholders for identification and management of close contacts.” “With the increasing number of cases, I implore everyone to fully cooperate with us in investigation and contact tracing activities. Individuals with a known history of exposure and travel presenting with mild symptoms are advised to self-isolate and undergo home quarantine for 14 days. Those presenting severe and critical symptoms need to be immediately admitted to health facilities. Please contact DOH and call the designated hotline at (02) 8-651-7800 loc 1149-1150 for appropriate management and referral,” ani Duque. “I would like to again remind everyone to please help us help you. Practice personal preventive measures such as proper hand hygiene, cough etiquette, and social distancing. We also advise everyone to avoid visiting public places or attending mass gatherings at this critical
time. Only with your cooperation and support can we win our fight against COVID-19,” dagdag pa nito. Online Sellers Sa kabila nito, sinasamantala naman ng mga online sellers ang pagbebenta ng mga alcohol at isa sa kanila ang nagbebenta ng 500ml na alcohol sa halagang P750, ngunit mabibili lamang ito sa supermarket at botica sa P68.50 bawat isa. Nagkakaroon na rin ng panic buying sa mga alcohol sa ibat-ibang supermarket sa bansa sa takot na magkaubusan. Ngunit tanging tubig at sabon lamang ang tugon ng karamihan upang mapanatiling malinis ang kanilang mga kamay. Ang iba naman ay Clorox na hinaluan ng tubig ang ipinanglilinis sa kanilang mga kagamitan sa bahay. Inihahalo sa isang galon ng tubig ang bleach na puno sa takip ng Clorox at ito ang kanilang sukatan upang masigurong patay ang mga mikrobyo o virus. (Mindanao Examiner)
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Sulu Pictures in the News
March 16-22, 2020
BARMM Chief Minister Murad Ebrahim and his entourage with Governor Sakur Tan and Vice Governor Toto Tan and other provincial and municipal leaders. Governor Tan hosted Ebrahim’s group who visited Sulu. (Photos from the Office of the Provincial Governor)
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March 16-22, 2020
Murad pities ARMM employees
Duty Free holds month-long sale CEBU - Duty Free Philippines Corporation (DFPC) is holding a month-long sale by offering up to 30 percent discount on a wide range of products in celebration of the National Women’s Month. Participating Duty Free outlets are the Mactan-Cebu International Airport, Fiestamall in Parañaque City, Duty Free Luxe in Pasay City, Duty Free stores at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminals 1, 2, and 3. “Women hold a special place in our hearts as we see them as key influencers to the family’s purchasing patterns. They do not just shop for themselves but for the whole family,” said DFPC Chief Operating Officer Vicente Pelagio Angala.
DFPC Chief Operating Officer Vicente Pelagio Angala. The sale applies to select merchandise and brands women usually purchase such as home furnishing products, mom and baby essentials, sporting goods, chocolates, and the following fashion and beauty brands: Gucci, Chanel,
SK II, Jo Malone, Tumi Coach, Michael Kors, Dolce and Gabbana, Versace, Salvatore Ferragamo, Estee Lauder, Lancome, Bulgari, Clinique, Kate Spade, Bally, Mac, Dior, and among others. (With a report from Cebu Examiner)
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BARMM Chief Minister Murad Ebrahim and his entourage with Governor Sakur Tan and Vice Governor Toto Tan. (Photos from the Office of the Provincial Governor) Continued from page 1 recent visit in Sulu, one of 5 provinces under the BARMM. Ebrahim - also the chieftain of the former rebel group Moro Islamic Liberation Front - was referring to employees under the previous Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, or ARMM, who were forced to resign to pave way for the new administration following the 2019 ratification of the Bangsamoro Basic Law. “Kailangan kasi maging magaling ang BARMM, para maayos ang ating sitwasyon at umunlad ang kabuhayan,” he said. BARMM started “phasing out” some 6,000 ARMM employees in November 2019 after Attorney-General Sha Elijah Alba announced it in October. And by end of 2019, only those employed in Education, Health, and Social Services sectors had been spared by BARMM. Alba said those who were laid off shall receive their incentives. She cited Article XVI, Section 10 of the Bangsamoro Organic Law which states that the affected personnel who opt to retire or be separated shall be entitled to any of the following applicable incentives: – 100% of the monthly basic salary for every year of government service computed starting from the first year for those
who have rendered 1 year to less than 5 years of service; – 150% of the actual monthly salary for every year of government service computed starting from the first year for those who have rendered 5 years of service but less than 10 years; or – Two months of actual monthly salary for every year of government service computed starting from the first year for those who have rendered 10 years or more of service. Alba said the first batch can start claiming their separation incentives by November 15 as scheduled by the Department of Budget and Management. The same article also states that the “affected personnel who are retired or are separated from the service shall not be re-employed in any agency of the Bangsamoro Government of the National government, including government-owned or controlled corporations for a period of 5 years. The retired or separated personnel who are re-employed during the prohibited period shall refund, on a pro-rated basis, the separation incentives they received under this Section. Ebrahim and other BARMM officials visited Sulu where they launched
the so-called “Project Tabang” to help some 2,000 families in 3 villages in the capital town of Jolo affected by last month’s conflagration. The humanitarian project is a collaborative service and assistance initiative, providing for those constituents of BARMM in need of government’s aid and intervention. Sulu Governor Sakur Tan led provincial and municipal officials in welcoming Ebrahim’s entourage and thanked them for aiding the fire victims. Tan also hosted Ebrahim’s group in his house in Jolo. Among those with Ebrahim were Minister of Trade Industry, Investment and Tourism Abu Amri Taddik, Minister of Public Safety Hussein Muñoz, Minister of Labor and Employment Romeo Sema, Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Mohammad Yacob, Minister of Transportation and Communication Dickson Hermoso, Ministry of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs Melanio Ulama, Minister of Health Dr Saffrula Dipatuan, Minister of Basic, Higher and Technical Education Mohagher Iqbal, Executive Secretary and Minister of Environment and Natural Resources and Energy Abduraouf Macua, and Minister of Science and Technology Aida Silongan. (Mindanao Examiner)
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March 16-22, 2020
Across : 1. Frenzy 5. Physicians’ org. 8. Besides 12. Genesis man 13. Voice actor ___ Blanc 14. Fleshy fruit 15. Mediocre (hyph.) 16. Coming in 18. Made believe 20. Positive responses 21. Rest 26. Possible 29. Loose flesh 33. Tattered cloth 34. “Heidi” setting 35. Savings account user 38. Capture back 39. short skirts 44. Nonstop 47. Statue base 51. Queue 52. Greet 53. Snaky letter 54. Perpetually 55. Ledger entry 56. Actress Sandra ___ 57. Gull’s kin
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March 16-22, 2020
LOTTO TIPS KARON SEMANA
Timbo karon, timbo ugma, timbo kada adlaw ug timbo kada semana!
HEALTH
Ni Dr. Willie T. Ong
TIPS SA HIKA O ASTHMA
HETO ang mga kaalamang natutunan ko tungkol sa hika o asthma. Puwede ninyo itong subukan. 1. Damihan ang sibuyas at bawang sa inyong pagkain. Ang mga ito ay may quercetin at mustard oil na pangontra sa enzyme na nagpapasimula ng hika. 2. Ang pagkain ng maaanghang, tulad ng sili, ay nagpapaluwag sa daanan ng hangin sa baga. Ito ay may capsaicin na “mukokinetic” na
nagpapaluwag ng plema sa baga. 3. Kapag inaatake ng hika, subukan uminom ng matapang na kape – black coffee. Ang caffeine ay parang gamot na theophylline na nagbubuka ng mga tubo sa baga. 4. Kumain ng mga isda na mataas sa omega-3 fatty acids, tulad ng sardinas, tunsoy, tamban, alumahan, hasa-hasa, tuna at tanigui para makaiwas sa hika. 5. Uminom ng Vita-
min C tablet hanggang 1,000 mg kada araw o uminom ng calamansi juice. 6. Mag-ehersisyo ng 3 hanggang 5 beses bawat linggo. Subukang magbaras at palakasin ang mga braso, dibdib at likod para lumakas ang iyong paghinga. Iwasan ang mga ito: 1. Ang softdrinks ay nakakapagsimula ng hika, lalo na sa mga bata. 2. Ang vetsin ay masama sa may hika. Mas
maraming vetsin, mas malala ang atake. 3. Alamin ang allergy at iwasan ito. Sa Pinoy, kadalasan ito ay pagkaing dagat tulad ng pusit, hipon, alimango, at mga mani, itlog at manok. Ingat din sa mga gamot tulad ng pain relievers at aspirin. 4. Huwag kumain ng pagkaing nagpapakabag tulad ng beans, kasi lolobo at magkakaroon ng hangin sa tiyan. Baka mahirapang huminga. 5. Iwas sa polusyon sa hangin. Ayon sa isang pagsusuri ni Dr. Gerard
Hoek ng Netherlands, ang mga taong nakatira sa tabi ng mga highways o yung mga exposed sa polusyon ay mas maagang namamatay kumpara sa taong malinis ang nalalanghap na hangin. Umiwas sa maruruming hangin at lugar. Puwedeng magsuot ng mask para mabawasan ang usok. Good luck po. DISCLAIMER: The health advice in this forum is only for general knowledge. For your specific questions, kindly consult your personal physician. Thank you.
The women of Kalamansig coffee
Coffe farmers Allen Biore (left) and Leonora Baliguat. SULTAN KUDRAT - The town of Kalamansig in Sultan Kudarat is a haven of economic opportunities. The Moro Gulf, where a variety of fish can be harvested such as tuna and bangus, serves as the major fishing ground of the coastal communities in the town. Both upland and lowland areas are considered agricultural hubs, with corn, banana, and coconut as major produce. Another high-valued crop raised and roasted in the
municipality is coffee. And the women of Kalamansig are making sure that Filipinos are drinking the best cup of it. Leonora Baliguat owns a hectare of coffee farm with 1,000 trees in the village of Santa Clara and she has been farming since 1985, helping his husband, Emegildo. “Ako po ang nagpupruning ng mga puno ng kape, saka naglilinis dito sa farm,” she said. Farmers like Baliguat sell their beans to local
traders at P 85 per kilo, who in turn supply them to big companies like Nestle. “Kapag hindi season ng kape, sa mga traders din kami tumatakbo at umuutang para sa aming pang-araw-araw na gastos,” she said. Another woman coffee farmer, Allen Biore, who lives in the upland community in the village of Wasay, said transporting their harvests also reduces the income derived from coffee. “Tatlong piso kada isang kilo ang bayad
sa habal-habal. Malaking kabawasan po ito sa kita naming mga magsasaka,” she said. Biore is the president of Tinandok Women’s Organization, a group of 32 women farmers that produce coffee in Wasay. According to her, an increase in market price will serve as a cushion for family expenses. Support to farmers The Peace and Equity Foundation (PEF) linked Kalamansig Farmers Agricultural Development and
Marketing Association (KFADMA) to new markets that give higher prices to their coffee. “We entered the value chain of coffee here in Kalamansig, and the nearby town of Lebak, knowing that traders control the prices. We introduced the farmers to a new local trader in Batangas who buys the coffee beans at P 95 per kilo,” said PEF Area Officer Shunie Pearl Palacios. PEF and KFADMA are now looking to build mod-
el farms in Kalamansig for coffee producers to learn new farming techniques that will improve both production and quality. “We will be partnering with other civil society organizations and the local government to make this happen,” Palacios said. PEF said this collaboration is expected to benefit the lives of many farmers like Baliguat and Biore and offer more opportunities to other women in Kalamansig. (With a report from Rhoderick Beñez.)
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Cebu councilman pushes for green open parking spaces
C
EBU CITY – City Councilor Jerry Guardo, chairman of the Committee on Infrastructure, said he is pushing for the passage of an ordinance that will require big commercial and industrial establishments to plant trees on open parking spaces. Guardo said the trees who appeared in a public can provide for a shed to hearing to discuss the draft people who would walk from Green Open Space Ordithe open parking space to nance, Guardo said the soil the establishment they want absorbs rainwater that would to visit. He said the United reduce the risk of flooding Architects of the Philippines during heavy rains. (UAP) in Cebu has expressed “That’s why, being the support for the proposed or- chairman of the Committee dinance. on Infrastructure, I proposed Quoting architect Jan that existing open parking Ann Frances Lee, of UAP, spaces in malls, to those who
would apply for permits, should be required to convert them into green spaces full of trees,” Guardo said. In the proposed ordinance, commercial and industrial establishments such as malls, condominium buildings, and subdivisions, will be required to plant trees in their open parking areas. Engineers from the Office of the Building Officials (OBO) did not object to the draft measure, saying this can be beneficial to the residents. In their position paper,
the plans for green parking areas should undergo a review with the City Environment and Natural Resources. The OBO, however, proposed that 30 percent of the open parking spaces should be allocated for planted trees while structures that will have parking spaces should be required to allot 15 to 20 percent of the spaces for the trees. “If they apply for permit, they should be required to plant trees in open parking spaces in malls, condominium units or in subdivisions.
We need to change our policy so that building owners would construct structures
with open parking spaces for the trees,” Guardo said. (John Rey Saavedra)
Lapu-Lapu City eyes cash-for-work for boatmen CEBU CITY – The city government of Lapu-Lapu is set to implement a cash-for-work program to cushion the impact of the new coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) on boatmen affected by the downtrend in the tourism industry on Mactan Island. Mayor Junard Chan said apart from the protocols established by the multi-sector group tasked to monitor the Covid-19 situation, they have also devised measures to protect the informal sectors affected by the decreasing visitor arrivals and hotel
bookings due to the worldwide coronavirus scare. Chan highlighted the plight of the boatmen who earn from supplying seafood to tourists, saying that they are the first to feel the effect of the viral scare due to decreased booking for island hopping activities in Mactan Island. “What we did, as much as we can, I already instructed our Department of Social Welfare (and Development) to distribute our groceries in stock as well as rice while they are drafting the terms of reference for the cash for work,” he said.
Motorized boats dock at the Hilton Port in Punta Engaño village on Mactan Island, Cebu. Lapu-Lapu City Mayor Junard Chan says they will implement a cash-for-work program for boatmen and other sectors to cushion the impact of the new coronavirus disease scare on their livelihood as a result of the downtrend in tourism activities. (PNA - John Rey Saavedra)
Under the program, boatmen will engage in a 10-day work and will be paid P400 per day. Their job is to clean the coastlines, according to Chan. The cash-for-work program is also aimed at rehabilitating the seawater surrounding Mactan Island so that when tourism activities perk up again after the Covid-19 crisis, visitors would again be enticed to visit the beach and other sites. “I will try to discuss with the City Council that if the crisis will prolong, probably we can use our calamity fund just to make the families of the affected sectors sustain while the coronavirus disease is still there,” Chan said. Chan said the city government is aware of the reeling effect of the global health scare brought by Covid-19 to the tourism players in Mactan Island, saying that the Tourism and Investment Office has been keeping in touch with the hotel and resort owners to help them address their concerns. The tourism and investment office has been coordinating with the hotel, resort
and restaurant operators in Lapu-Lapu City to exchange notes on possible recovery action plans amid the viral scare, said city tourism officer Edward Mendez. (John Rey Saavedra)
City Councilor Jerry Guardo with Mayor Edgar Labella. (From Councilor Jerry Guardo Facebook Page.)
Cebuanos urged to stay calm, avoid crowded places CEBU CITY – Local Mayor Edgardo Labella has encouraged residents to stay calm while observing vigilance and avoid visiting crowded places, following the declaration of President Rodrigo Duterte placing the entire country under a state of a public health emergency. Labella said Duterte asked for the mayors’ help in the national government’s effort to contain the new coronavirus disease (Covid-19). “The national task force formed to fight the coronavirus is in place. Of course, the mayors will be there in the matter of implementing the protocol established by the Department of Health,” he said. He urged Cebuanos not to panic, but to religiously follow
the advice from the Department of Health (DOH) on proper hygiene and sanitation, hand washing, as well as avoiding crowded places to prevent being infected with diseases such as the Covid-19. The mayor said he has been monitoring the local situation through DOH-Central Visayas director Jaime Bernadas. Labella said he supports the idea of early closing of classes so that schoolchildren would be protected from the deadly disease. He said the City Health Office has currently monitored zero patients in Cebu. “I thank the Department of Health and the Bureau of Quarantine for their heightened alert and sur-
veillance in our airports. Lately, our seaports have been included in the monitoring and the Philippine Coast Guard is helping us,” he said. With the active involvement of all government agencies in preventing the spread of the virus in Cebu, Labella said he is confident that the public health emergency will soon be lifted. “Let’s just follow the protocol from DOH. Let’s continue with the level of vigilance that we have now in monitoring people from places worldwide that has been hit by Covid-19. Together with DOH and BOQ and the City Health Office, we are working together to address the problem,” he said. (John Rey Saavedra)
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