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Use of face shield now mandatory! T
HE WEARING of face shield and face mask are now mandatory in public conveyance following the order of the Department of Transportation (DOTr) effective August 15 in an effort to stop the spread of the deadly coronavirus disease. The country has re- of transmitting the coro“Sa mga kababayan corded nearly 50,000 ac- navirus disease in public ho natin, huwag sana tive cases of Covid-19, transport facilities, saying, nating isipin na panibaaccording to the Depart- health authorities have gong gastusin o dagdag ment of Health (DOH). pointed out that the use abala ang pag-require The DOTr said man- of face shields and masks natin sa paggamit ng datory use of face shield reduces exposure to and face shield. Let us reand face mask aims to emission of respiratory member that no amount further reduce the risk droplets considerably. Continue on page 3
Malaysia again trashes Philippines, Sultanate claims on Sabah A woman, wearing face mask and shield, reads a sign at a commercial establishment in Zamboanga City. (Zamboanga Post)
Zambo Covid labs lack RNA extraction kits ‘Shortage due to spike in coronavirus, delays test results’ THE LACK or unavailability of RNA extraction kit and the increasing number of Covid-19 specimens from other provinces and Zamboanga City have caused delay in the results of laboratory tests. The RNA extraction kit is used concurrent-
ly with the Real-Time Reverse Transcriptase (RT-PCR) test kits which extracts RNA from the samples. This is one of the several steps in the complex procedures in testing Covid-19 swabs. Dr. Justine Paber, a spokesman for the Zamboanga City Medical
Center (ZCMC) - which operates the GeneXpert - and the Department of Agriculture (DA) laboratories, explained that the number of specimens to be tested for Covid-19 has dramatically increased and attributed the increase to patients coming Continue on page 3
Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein MALAYSIA STOOD firm again over its claim on the mineral-rich Sabah or North Borneo, just several hours by boat from the
Filipino province of Tawi-Tawi. The Sultanate of Sulu, founded in 1457, continues to lay claim to Sabah
which it obtained from Brunei as a gift for helping put down a rebellion on Borneo Island. The Continue on page 2
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Malaysia again trashes Philippines, Sultanate claims on Sabah Continued from page 1 British leased Sabah and transferred control over the territory to Malaysia after the end of World War II. The Sulu Sultanate said it had merely leased North Borneo in 1878 to the British North Borneo Company for an annual payment of 5,000 Malayan dollars then, which was increased to 5,300 Malayan dollars in 1903. The Sultanate of Sulu is believed to exist as a sovereign nation for at least 442 years. It stretches from a part of the island of Mindanao in the east, to Sabah, in the west and south, and to Palawan, in the north. But North Borneo was annexed by Malaysia in 1963 following a referendum organised by the Cobbold Commission in 1962, the people of Sabah voted overwhelmingly to join Malaysia. Sabah, part of Federation On August 5, Malaysian Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein said his country will not recognise any foreign claim for Sabah, adding, it belongs to Malaysia and will always be part of the Federation. “We will not recognise, what more meet any foreign claim for Sabah. At the same time, I want to categorically state here that Sabah is, and will always be, part of Malaysia. I also rebuked Philippines Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr and what I said is clear, Malaysia condemns and rejects his Twitter post that claimed Sabah is not part of Malaysia,” Hussein said. Locsin, in a Twitter post, said: “Sabah is not in Malaysia if you want to have anything to do with the Philippines.” His tweet was in response to the U.S. Embassy in Manila’s tweet on their donation of hygiene kits to the deported Filipinos from Sabah who arrived in Tawi-Tawi province and Zamboanga City recently. The U.S. Embassy said: “USAID donated 500 hygiene kits to the @ dswdserves Region IX for the 395 returning Filipino repatriates from Sabah, Malaysia who arrived in
Zamboanga City and Bongao, Tawi-Tawi.” Locsin said until now the U.S. Embassy has not taken down its tweet. “It started with a US Embassy tweet that hasn’t been taken down. When the country united around (Philippine President Ferdinand) Marcos, including his critics, the US discouraged an attempt on our part to concretely assert our claim. The US didn’t want us to add to their growing problem in Vietnam. History,” he said, referring to the Philippines’ claim of Sabah. Marcos said the Philippines “acquired sovereignty and dominion over the territory of Sabah in accordance with a series of events, acts, agreements and transactions, including the Deed of Cession from the Sultan of Sulu of 1962 to the Philippines.” “I also wish to say that the Philippines will pursue its right to Sabah by peaceful means in accordance with the provisions of its Constitution, our Constitution, which renounces war as an instrument of national policy, and that our country is also committed to the principles of the United Nations binding member states to the pacific settlement of international disputes,” Marcos said in September 22, 1968. Hussein branded as “irresponsible” Locsin’s statement, saying, it could jeopardize bilateral ties between Malaysia and the Philippines. Sulu Sultans In Sulu, Paramount Sultan Ibrahim Q. Bahjin-Shakirullah II, said North Borneo is an inextricable part and parcel of the Sultanate of Sulu. In a statement released August 3, he said the Sultanate of Sulu asserts its position on the following: 1.) The Sultanate of Sulu and North Borneo was never lawfully ceded to the Republic of the Philippines, and therefore remains a sovereign and independent state; 2.) The stipulation in the Deed of 1878 that the lessees of North Borneo shall administer the territory for “as long as they choose or desire to use them” places it in the
category of a “perpetual lease”, effective for 100 years under international law. The contract of lease has therefore expired and possession over North Borneo should now be exercised by the Sultanate of Sulu, its rightful owner. And 3.) The heirs of Jamalul Kiram II do not have private ownership of Sabah. The territory continues to be owned by the Sultanate of Sulu, and not any private person. He said in view of the history of the Sultanate and the circumstances surrounding the lease of Sabah, “we desire the recognition of the independent statehood and sovereignty of the Islamic Sultanate of Sulu and North Borneo.” But Sultan Muedzul-Lail Tan Kiram, who claims to be the 35th Sultan of Sulu and North Borneo, said his grandfather, Sultan Mohammad Esmail Enang Kiram, who was recognized by the Philippine government in 1957, “transferred the rights of North Borneo under the government of President Diosdado Macapagal in 1962.” He said - in a statement released by the Royal House of Sulu on August 4 – that his father, Sultan Mohammad Mahakuttah Abdulla Kiram and him being the Crown Prince of Sulu, confirmed the transfer of the rights of North Borneo to the Philippine government and this was made official through Memorandum Order No. 427 issued by President Ferdinand Marcos in 1974. “We aspire for an amicable solution to the predicament that affects us all in this region,” Kiram said, adding, “The Royal House of Sulu firmly believes that diplomacy will allow us to move forward as governments and other parties involved play a crucial role from alleviating our people from poverty.” The two are only among the 5 recognized sultans in Sulu. The others are Sultans Mohammad Venizar Julkarnain Jainal Abirin, Muizuddin Jainal Abirin Bahjin and Phugdalun Kiram II with Sulu Governor Dr. Sakur Tan, also called Datu Shabandar, as their Special Envoy. (Mindanao Examiner)
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August 10-16, 2020
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August 10-16, 2020
Use of face shield now mandatory!
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African Swine Fever, deadly sa babuyan KIDAPAWAN CITY – Malaking perwisyo sa mga babuyan ang dala ng African Swine Fever o ASF sa bayan ng Magpet sa North Cotabato na kung saan ay daan-daang mga baboy ang namatay. Sinabi sa Mindanao Examiner ni Department of Agriculture Regional Director Arlan Mangelin na mas lalo pa nilang hinigpitan ang inspeksyon sa ibat-ibang bayan upang maiwasan at masigurong hindi kakalat ang ASF. Ayon naman kay Dr. Rufino Sorupia, ang hepe ng Provincial Veterinary Office, mahigit sa 600 mga baboy na apektado ng ASF mula sa ibat-ibang barangay ang pinatay na lamang. Patuloy din ang kanilang pagkuha ng blood sample sa mga kalapit na lugar mula sa ASF-infected areas at isinasailalim sa test upang malaman kung naapektu-
han din ng virus ang kanilang mga baboy. Mas lumawak din ani Sorupia ang mga lugar na apektado ng ASF virus dahil sa huli na nang malaman at dumating ang resulta ng kinuhang mga blood sample. Sa ngayon, pinoproseso na ng Department of Agriculture Regional Office ang P5,000 cash assistance sa mga apektadong magbababoy sa bayan ng Magpet. Ipinagbabawal na rin ng Zamboanga City ang pasok ng mga karne ng baboy at mga produktong gawa sa nasabing karne sa takot na makapasok doon ang ASF. Sa utos ni Mayor Beng Climaco, hindi na pinapayagan ang anumang karne ng baboy mula sa Luzon at ilang lugar sa Mindanao – ang Panabo City, Talaingod at Santo Tomas sa Davao del
Norte, at lahat ng munisipyo sa Davao del Sur maliban sa bayan ng Hagonoy; at bawal rin ang mga galing sa bayan ng Jose Abad Santos, Don Marcelino, Malita at Santa Maria sa Davao Occidental. At maging mga karne ng baboy mula sa Kidapawan City, at sa mga bayan ng Magpet, Makilala, Matalam, M’lang, President Roxas, Tulunan, Antipas, Arakan dito sa North Cotabato; at bayan ng Columbio sa Sultan Kudarat, at bayan ng Alabel, Glan, Malapatan at Malungun sa Sarangani. Ang ASF virus ay naisasalin sa mga baboy mula sa mga hayup na may infection at sa kanilang mga dumi. Puwede rin itong kumalat sa damit, animal feeds, sasakyan at iba pa na maaaring kapitan ng virus at lubha itong nakamamatay sa hanay ng mga baboy lamang. (Rhoderick Beñez)
Zambo Covid labs lack RNA extraction kits ‘Shortage due to spike in coronavirus, delays test results’ Continued from page 1 from nearby provinces. He said aside from the bulk of specimens for testing, the DA RT-PCR machine, which could run 186 tests a day is now being operated manually the past days due to the unavailability of extraction kits, thus, the facility can only run 130 tests a day. Paber added that the GeneXpert machine at the ZCMC could run 16 tests every 2 hours or 96 tests daily. “Just the same, the machine’s capacity could not match the bulk of specimens to be tested every day,” he said. The GeneXpert is a technology that revolutionized TB molecular diagnostic testing and is capable of running tests for multiple diseases. Dr. Dennis Dacayanan, of the Regional Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit (RESU) of the Department of Health, confirmed Paber’s
statement on the delayed laboratory test results. He said the RESU conducts surveillance on 26 “notifiable diseases”, including Covid-19, and in Zamboanga City the numbers of Covid-19 positive cases have increased way beyond the daily test capacity of two laboratories here. A notifiable disease is any disease that is required by law to be reported to government authorities. Coronavirus cases spiked in many areas after the national government allowed the return of thousands of stranded persons (LSIs) and overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), and even deportees (ROF) from Sabah, to their places of origin as part of the “Balik-Probinsya” program introduced by Senator Bong Go. Zamboanga now has nearly 300 active Covid cases and more than 200 in the Muslim autonomous region
and the Philippines’ active cases are nearing 50,000, according to the Department of Health. “As we have all anticipated, the opening of commercial flights, the entry of local stranded individuals and returning overseas Filipinos, and the easing of restrictions will put the city at greater risk for illnesses due to Covid-19,” said Zamboanga City Mayor Beng Climaco. “We need the support and cooperation of everybody in fighting the spread of Covid-19.” Climaco said residents should all the more be compliant of quarantine guidelines and follow the minimum health standards. “Strict compliance of the guidelines and the minimum health standards should be a personal responsibility of each and every resident of the city,” she said. (Zamboanga Post and Mindanao Examiner)
Health Secretary Francisco Duque, Undersecretary Leopoldo Vega, and Chief Testing Czar Secretary Vivencio Dizon wear face shield and face mask during a recent visit in Navotas City. (DOH) Continued from page 1 of protection is too much when it comes to health and safety, especially that we are battling an invisible enemy.” “What we are addressing is not a transport issue, but rather a health issue. Kaya nga ho hinihingi ko ang kooperasyon ng bawat isa,” said DOTr Secretary Arthur Tugade, adding, the order applies to all public transportation throughout the country, involving the aviation and airports, railways, road, and maritime sectors. DOTr Undersecretary Artemio Tuazon Jr. echoed Tugade’s order and he urged the cooperation of everybody. “Ipatutupad po natin ang mandatong ito sa lahat ng pampublikong sasakyan tulad ng sa mga tren, bus, jeepney, taxi, passenger vessels at maging sa eroplano. I will not elaborate more on the practical benefits the face shield offers, but we know that the use of face cover-
ings and masks for superior protection is adopted widely,” he said. Tuazon said the face shield should sufficiently cover the nose and mouth. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), however, said it is not known if face shields provide any benefit as source control to protect others from the spray of respiratory particles. The CDC, which is under the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, said it does not recommend use of face shields for normal everyday activities or as a substitute for masks. “Some people may choose to use a face shield when sustained close contact with other people is expected. If face shields are used without a mask, they should wrap around the sides of the wearer’s face and extend to below the chin. Disposable face shields should only be
worn for a single use. Reusable face shields should be cleaned and disinfected after each use. Plastic face shields for newborns and infants are not recommended,” it said. But it strongly recommends that people wear masks in public settings and when around people who do not live in the same household, especially when other social distancing measures are difficult to maintain. It said face masks may help prevent people who have Covid-19 from spreading the virus to others. And masks are most likely to reduce the spread of the disease when they are widely used by people in public settings, and should not be worn by children under the age of 2 or anyone who has trouble breathing, or is unconscious, incapacitated, or otherwise unable to remove the mask without assistance. (Mindanao Examiner)
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Sulu Pictures in the News Sulu provincial government at work. This is where your taxes go. (Photos from the Office of the Provincial Governor, Task Force Covid-19, and Jolo Municipal Government)
August 10-16, 2020
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Sulu Pictures in the News
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August 10-16, 2020
Across : 1. Use a broom 6. Quiet! 9. Foldaway bed 12. Florida seaport 13. Cow’s cry 14. Cigar residue 15. Mediate 17. Hockey surface 18. Pains 19. Nest eggs (abbr.) 20. Atop, poetically 22. President ___ Roosevelt 25. Deny 28. Hewing tool 29. Fragrances 30. Spring, e.g. 34. Fall mo. 35. Mad 36. Sport with webbed rackets 40. Limb 41. Bait 42. Dandy’s neckwear 45. Had a meal 46. Bruce Springsteen, e.g. 50. Bossy Stooge 51. Wayside hotel 52. Craze 53. Egyptian cobra 54. Acquired 55. Slumbered
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August 10-16, 2020
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Residente pinag-iingat sa tuwing may ulan NORTH COTABATO – Muling nagpaalala ang pamahalaan sa publiko na maging maingat sa tuwing may malakas na ulan, partikular sa mga barangay na madalas lubog sa baha. Kamakailan lamang ay 5 bayan sa lalawigan ang Midsayap, Aleosan, Pigcawayan, Mlang at Alamada ang lubog sa baha matapos ng walang humpay na ulan, ayon kay Arnulfo Villaruz, ang warning chief ng Provincial Disaster risk Reduction Officer. Maraming mga kabahayan ang pinasok ng
Lumutang ang refrigerator na ito matapos na bahain ang isang bahay sa North Cotabato na kung saan ay sinalanta ng malakas na ulan ang mga bayan ng Midsayap, Aleosan, Pigcawayan, Mlang at Alamada, baha maging ang mga pananim ay sinalanta din. Sa ngayon patuloy pang
inaalam ang danyos ng nasabing baha. (Rhoderick Beñez)
Family massacred in Zambo town PAGADIAN CITY – Police launched a massive hunt for the killers of a family who were found dead and burned in Zamboanga del Norte’s Siocon town. Police said five family members were murdered and then burned inside their house in the village of Candiz. Among those killed were two minors – 17 and 13 years old – and a sexagenarian. Two other victims were aged 20 and 45 years old. “I already ordered the
manhunt against the suspects. They must face the consequences of their vicious acts,” said Brigadier General Jesus Cambay Jr., the regional police chief, who also condemned the massacre which occurred recently. Cambay said minutes before the killings, one of the victims, Aldrin Aban, 20, managed to phone his brother Tairon telling him that they were being attacked by armed men led by Elpidio Obiniana. “He
said that Elpidio Obiniana, alias Balondong, and other unidentified suspects were in the place and burned their house and then started shooting them one by one,” Cambay said, quoting Aban. He said the police launched an investigation into the killing. He identified the other victims as Carlito Advincula Aban, 60; Shannyn Cris Aban, 17; Stephen Aban, 13; and Rosalia Quirit, 45. (Mindanao Examiner)
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August 10-16, 2020
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Go for reusable cloth face masks, says environmental group
E
NVIRONMENTAL HEALTH group EcoWaste Coalition pushed the public to go for reusable cloth face masks to control the unbridled use and disposal single-use masks made of non-biodegradable and non-recyclable plastic. Its latest plea for sus- carded masks in the oceans firmed with coronavirus. In light of the pandemic, tainable resource use fol- will break down into extremelowed its discovery of soiled ly small particles and may the EcoWaste Coalition also medical or surgical face contribute to the microplas- pointed to the need to intemasks in several areas in tic contamination of the food grate in the National Plan of Action for the Prevention, the country. “While we fully supply chain.” She said limiting the use Reduction, and Management support the wearing of face coverings or masks as part of of medical masks will also of Marine Litter (NPOA-ML) the basic health protocol to ensure adequate and steady concrete policies and steps stem the spread of Covid-19, supply for those who need to cut down on coronaviwe are deeply upset by the them the most, citing a World rus plastic waste and to stop unchecked consumption Health Organization (WHO) such waste from entering the and disposal of soiled masks advisory on who wears med- oceans. The NPOA-ML is curthat are ending up on our ical and fabric masks, where rently being finalized by the streets and in the beaches and when. According to the WHO, Department of Environand seas,” said Aileen Lucero, the group’s national coor- medical masks (also known ment and Natural Resources as surgical masks) should be (DENR) through the Environdinator. “This is very concerning worn by health workers, peo- mental Management Bureau as these throw-away masks, ple who have Covid-19 symp- and the Biodiversity Managewhich are supposed to pro- toms and those who take care ment Bureau. (With a report tect us and others from the of someone suspected or con- from the Cebu Examiner.) dreaded virus, pose a real threat to aquatic life,” she said, warning marine animals might mistakenly eat, get choked or become entangled in them. Aside from disposable masks, the EcoWaste Coalition also found rubbing alcohol and hand sanitizer plastic bottles washed up on beaches along with mostly plastic garbage such as carry bags, product sachets, polystyrene containers, straws and other single-use items. “To discourage the unrestrained use and disposal The Mactan-Cebu International Airport Authority said of throw-away masks, we it expects recovery of the air travel industry amid the urge the public to don re- plunge of passenger traffic by plotting a long-term deusable fabric masks, which velopment plan. (John Rey Saavedra) can be easily washed with detergent or soap and safely CEBU CITY – Anticipating the MCIAA General Manager and recovery of air travel amid the Chief Executive Officer, said the reuse,” Lucero said. “By opting for reusable public health crisis, the Mac- second runway will be dedicated or washable face masks, we tan-Cebu International Airport for take-offs while the existing avoid generating non-bio- Authority (MCIAA) is bent on one will be for landings. “We will degradable and non-recy- pursuing the construction of continue with our projects. We’re clable trash that only adds the parallel runway as part of its slowly catching up to full blast the construction of the second to the worsening plastic pol- long-term development plan. Lawyer Steve Dicdican, runway. We hope to finish it belution crisis. Over time, dis-
Discarded face masks. (EcoWaste Coalition)
Mactan-Cebu airport eyes 2nd runway as air travel recovery looms fore the end of this administration, probably early 2022,” Dicdican said, adding the need for continued capital spending to boost future growth despite the plummeting income currently. He said tourism can bounce back once travel restrictions are eased and anxieties of travellers are gone. “We anticipate future growth. We need to ensure we are sustainable. We will grow as the market grows. Our airport has a modular design so we can always expand. We are built for growth,” he said. Although he said they are seeing passenger traffic plunging to three million in 2020 - a level that was last seen more than 10 years ago – because of the dismal air travel demand due to the coronavirus pandemic, the MCIAA is plotting a long-term goal as it slowly recovers from the impact of the crisis. Dicdican said it will take
about two years for the airport to regain its pre-Covid passenger traffic. In 2019, the country’s second biggest air gateway recorded some 12.6 million passenger traffic. “The impact is really big. Prior to Covid, we had 12.6 million in passenger traffic last year. Starting February this year onwards, traffic drastically went down,” he said. Last June, MCIA’s passenger volume only reached 26,018, marking a 98-percent drop from the 1.074 million recorded in June last year. The passenger traffic for the first half of 2020 reached only more than 2.463 million, down 61 percent from 6.353 million in the comparable period last year. Dicdican said at least four foreign airlines have already resumed operations at the airport. These are the Qatar Airways
(Doha-Cebu-Doha), Jeju Air (Incheon-Cebu-Incheon), Silk Air (Singapore-Cebu-Singapore) and Jin Air (Incheon-Cebu-Incheon). Local carriers Cebu Pacific, AirAsia and Philippine Airlines also have also resumed flights at limited frequencies. MCIA used to have 28 commercial airline companies mounting flights to and from MCIA before the Covid-19 crisis. While MCIA has started to resume airport operations, he added it will take time for the airlines to respond. Before the Covid-19 pandemic, MCIA can accommodate some 1,900 commercial flights weekly and 31,100 passengers daily. Airlines resuming flights to and from Cebu will also have to work to market their routes as travel demand remains low this time, according to Dicdican. (Carlo Lorenciana)
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