The Zamboanga Post (November 8-14, 2021) by Mindanao Examiner Regional Newspaper

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November 8-14, 2021

Quarantine facilities, health workers hailed

COUPLE who stayed for weeks at the Pasonanca isolation facility after contracting Covid-19 praised the local government’s medical services during their quarantine period, saying they were accommodated and served well. Florencio Fernan- transferred to the isola- stayed for more than two dez and wife Lydia were tion facility where they Continue on page 2

Zamboanga City Medical Center praises Climaco Fernandez’s residence while under lockdown in Barangay Tetuan. (Zamboanga Post)

Beng urges parents to have their children vaccinated CHIEF COVID frontliner Mayor Beng Climaco has urged parents to have

their children inoculated against the deadly Continue on page 3

Zamboanga City Medical Center Chief Dr. Afdal Kunting receives the P5 million cheque donated by Mayor Beng Climaco. (Bong Serondo) THE ZAMBOANGA City Medical Center (ZCMC) lauded Mayor Beng Cli-

maco for her administration’s continuing support to the health sector, es-

pecially at this time of the Covid-19 pandemic. Continue on page 3

Barangay officials need to do more in Covid response BARANGAY OFFICIALS have to level up their efforts in combating the spread of the deadly Covid-19 virus, especially

in the implementation of the public health protocols among others. Mayor Beng Climaco has repeatedly told barangay

Zamboanga Peninsula

officials to do their job and not to depend or rely solely on the local government in fighting the pandemic. Continue on page 7

Basilan

A minor poses for the camera as Mayor Beng Climaco and Dr. Dulce Amor Miravite witness the start of the pediatric vaccination at the Zamboanga City Medical Center. Joining them are ZCMC Chief Dr. Afdal Kunting, DOH Assistant Regional Director Dr. Manolo Alpichi, Regional Medical Coordinator for the National Immunization Program Dr. Gem Punzalan, CHO Immunization Coordinator Cora Pagotaisidro, and ZCMC medical officers. (Bong Serondo)

Number of Covid cases going down WITH ZAMBOANGA under Moderate Enhanced Community Quarantine

status, the number of active Covid-19 cases are slowly decreasing, but

Sulu

medical experts and the local government Continue on page 3

Tawi-tawi

The Zamboanga Post

November 8-14, 2021

Quarantine facilities, health workers hailed patients at the Mindanao Central Sanitarium General Hospital (MCSGH) in Barangay Pasobolong and will be operated by the Zamboanga City Medical Center with equipment

Mayor Beng Climaco inspects the Talisayan mega isolation facility.(Bong Serondo) Continued from page 1 weeks after both had been tested for Covid-19. His wife also has kidney disease and barangay health workers were patient enough to bring the woman to the Zamboanga City Medical Center for her three-times a week dialysis treatment. He said they said medical frontliners took very good care of them until their last day at the quarantine facility after new RT-PCR tests turned out negative for the virus. And they were even brought home by barangay workers from Tetuan where they reside. “Nohay gat yo cosa puede habla. Buen bueno el maga frontliners hindi lang comigo y de mio mujer hasta na maga otro paciente alla na Pasonanca isolation poreso ta pide kami gracias con Mayor Beng y health workers, el Barangay Tetuan,” Florencio told the Zamboanga Post. He said even the food served at the facility is even better at what they have at home. And he was bragging that their room is complete with air conditioning unit and a bathroom. “Nohay gat falta el comida y bien sabroso pa. Battered chicken, bijon bien y otro pa, todo sabroso. Dol na hotel kami alla cay tiene pa air con poreso bien frio,” he said. New facility The local government is also set to open another mega isolation facility at Barangay Talisayan and is one of the biggest in Zamboanga. Each room has an air condition unit, a comfort room and lavatory, and a bed with an IV (intravenous) pole. The facility also has a power generator and water tanks to ensure steady supply of potable water and elec-

tricity. The brainchild of Mayor Beng Climaco, head of the local Covid-19 task force, the new facility located at the Zamboanga Economic Zone and Freeport Authority complex has 320 beds and is part of the local government’s response to address the growing number of active Covid-19 cases and the shortage of hospital beds. While the public and medical frontliners welcomed the construction of more Covid isolation facilities here, black propagandists and political foes of Climaco continue their criticisms against the projects and spread fake news and false information in social media. The mayor has publicly said that the local government is putting up more isolation facilities and supplementing the mass vaccination program aimed at fighting the spread of the deadly respiratory virus. “We are boosting our isolation facilities and efficiency of ambulances,” she said. Dirty politics The attacks on Climaco by her foes were all aimed at destroying local government efforts in addressing the pandemic and use these as election propaganda ahead of next year’s polls. Climaco, now on her third and last term, is running for a congressional seat in District 1 and is likely to win by a landslide again due to her huge number of followers and supporters. She has no record of defeat since joining politics in 1998 as a councilor up to 2004; vice mayor from 2004-2007; and congresswoman from 20072010, and 2010-2013 and won as mayor after defeating veteran politician

Celso Lobregat. Even incumbent Vice Mayor Meng Agan, of the United Nationalist Alliance (UNA), and running for mayor, is supporting the candidacy of Climaco, of the Partido Prosperidad y Amor para na Zamboanga. But Climaco’s foes and social media trolls supporting other political candidates have nothing good to say about the projects and would always look for ways to criticize and even fabricate and spread fake news. The isolation facilities here are being managed and operated by the City Health Office and City Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office under supervision by the Department of Health. Even the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) was not spared by political trolls and had denounced the isolation facilities it constructed in Pasonanca, saying it would put residents at risk of being infected with Covid-19 because the “virus can jump out of the tent.” They also called on Pasonanca residents to oppose the project while others have “demonized” those living near the facility to protest it. The spread of black propaganda, fake news and false information have alarmed Pasonanca residents and has prejudiced public tranquillity. In May, the DPWH said it is also ramping up the construction of additional isolation facilities here with an “off-site modular hospital and pop-up dormitory” for health workers. It is also constructing a modular hospital with 22 beds for moderate, severe to critical Covid-9

supplied by the DOH; and a dormitory with 16 rooms and double decker beds medical personnel. It also identified five buildings and a covered court at the Regional Drug

Treatment and Rehabilitation Center also at the MCSGH compound as a potential 300-bed quarantine facility and dormitories with 30 beds for health workers. (Zamboanga Post)

The Zamboanga Post

November 8-14, 2021

Zamboanga City Medical Center praises Climaco

Beng urges parents to have their children vaccinated Continued from page 1 Covid-19 respiratory disease. Pediatric vaccination for 12 to 17 years old has began late last month in Zamboanga and in other parts of the country to ensure protection from Covid-19. “We need to vaccinate our children, especially those who have comorbidity and we are doing our best to get more vaccines for Zamboanga,” Climaco said. The Department of Health said only Pfizer and Moderna vaccines are to be used in pediatric vaccination provided children passed the pre-vaccination assessments of doctors. “Pfizer and Moderna vaccines will still be used among children during the nationwide rollout,” said DOH Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire. According to the Philippine Statistics Authority, there are around 12.7 million children aged 12 to 17 in the country as of this year. Last month, Climaco asked the Department of Health (DOH) and the National Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (NIATF-MEID) for additional Covid-19 vaccines and critical care supplies, among others as the City Government continues to battle the spread of Covid-19 in the community. The surge in Covid-19 cases pushed the local healthcare system to the verge of collapse with private and government hospitals overflowing with patients and medical frontliners overworked. The spike in infections also resulted in the shortage of medical oxygen and antibiotic medicines begun in September.

Climaco, who was among local chief executives invited to the virtual meeting organized by the NIATF-MEID and the National Vaccination Operations Center, aired her concerns, especially in the supply of Covid-19 vaccines. She said the continuous and steady supply of vaccines will enable not only the city, but other parts of the Zamboanga Peninsula region to accelerate vaccination rollout and ensure added protection for the people against the disease. “I have so much faith in our vaccination teams and they can accomplish and administer 5,000 to 7,000 doses daily,” she said, but there is not enough supply to sustain the mass vaccination program. Carlito Galvez, who is in-charge of the government’s vaccine procurement program, has trumpeted that there are enough supply of the medicines, but the truth is Zamboanga City only gets little compared to Davao City, Davao region and even Cebu and the National Capital Region which incidentally are all vote-rich areas. Many local government executives are also complaining about the unequal distribution of Covid-19 vaccines and private companies and corporations, including business groups and chambers of commerce have long wanted to purchase their own vaccines directly from the manufacturers, but the government has rejected this. Climaco also said that there is a dire need for the DOH and the Department of Interior and Local Government to hire and deploy

more contact tracers and medical frontliners such as additional doctors and nurses to Zamboanga City and to extend their contracts longer. In September, over 45,000 doses of Covid-19 vaccine from the British-Swedish multinational pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca were delivered to Zamboanga City and some 36,42o additional doses are also expected to arrive soon. The delivery of the vaccine was part of a $2 million (or roughly P100 million) deal Climaco signed with AstraZeneca early this year. The initial P200 million for the purchase of the vaccines are included in the P4.38-billion 2021 Executive Budget of the local government, according to Climaco, who is also a member of the Committee on Vaccine Availment of the League of Cities of the Philippines. Zamboanga is one of the first cities that entered into a multilateral agreement for the purchase of vaccines through the League of Cities. The shipment was the second since July this year after AstraZeneca delivered some 11,800 doses of Covid-19 vaccines purchased by the Climaco administration. The latest delivery of 4,580 vials or 45,800 doses of AstraZeneca vaccines will benefit local residents. Climaco said the local government’s vaccination program targets to cover almost 700,000 residents or 70% of the projected 2021 population of 992,423 inhabitants. She said more than 460,000 doses of vaccines have been administered in Zamboanga with or about 25% of the targeted population now fully vaccinated. (Zamboanga Post)

Continued from page 1 Climaco has vowed to support and assist the ZCMC so it can continue to effectively and efficiently serve the public. She recently handed over to the ZCMC a cheque worth P5 million as part of the local government’s assistance to the operation of the hospital. Dr. Afdal Kunting, the chief of hospital, received the cheque during a simple ceremony and thanked Climaco for her unwavering support. “Kami aqui na Zamboanga City Medical Center, ta rindi gracias na City Government of Zamboanga for its undying support kanaton. Bien grande ayuda gayod el City Government na

operation del de atun ospital, o jala continua kita el de atun good cooperation,” Kunting said. He also appealed to residents to strictly follow the public health protocols as he expressed optimism the pandemic would end soon and people return to their normal life. “Na maga vivientes de Zamboanga, ta intende kami cansao ya ustedes, cansao ya gat kita todo. It’s been nearly two years pero habla pa sila pagsubok lang este mga kapatid and this too shall pass. Insha’Allah, bira siempre el de atun former life so pacensia lang anay creer lang anay kita con el de atun minimum health standards and protocol.

In the future, serca ya man este, we go back to normalcy,” Kunting said. Climaco also praised Kunting and all medical frontliners at the ZCMC, especially those at the Covid wards, Emergency Room and at the Intensive Care Unit, for their dedication, sacrifices and patience the past two years. “Firmi kita ta pide gracias con el de atun maga medical frontliners, el maga barangay health workers and y oficiales de barangay por de estos dedicacion na trabajo. Muchas gracias,” she said. The Climaco administration has been assisting ZCMC since the start of the pandemic. (Zamboanga Post)

Number of Covid cases going down Continued from page 1 reminded residents not to be complacent and follow public health protocols. The number of active Covid-19 cases is expected to fall further under 2,000 from nearly 3,000 in October. Among the barangays with the highest number of Covid-19 cases are Santa Maria, Tumaga, Tetuan, Pasonanca, Calarian, Putik, San Roque, Mercedes, Tugbungan, Talon-Talon, Guiwan, Baliwasan, Ayala, San Jose Cawa-Cawa, Divisoria, San Jose Gusu, Santa Catalina, Canelar, Culianan and Boalan. The Zamboanga City Medical Center (ZCMC) also reported that the number of its Covid-19 cases is also declining from more than 200 in October to over 100 now, although it considers the number of admitted patients still high. But what worries doctors at the ZCMC is that 92% of its Covid-19 patients were unvaccinated. Mayor Beng Climaco, head of the local Covid-19 task force, has repeatedly appealed to residents, particularly those under

the government’s priority list, including children 12 to 17 years old, to get vaccinated as soon as the medicines are readily available. She also reminded the public to strictly follow the health protocols to prevent the spread of the deadly virus. “We urge residents to go to the health center and get listed for vaccination and for the public to follow the health protocols such as the wearing of face masks and face shields and to frequently sanitize 0r wash hands,” she said, but many locals ignore the public health protocols thinking the Covid-19 is just another flu which can be remedied by over-the-counter medicines. The local government also issued a public notice, saying people who manifest Covid-19 symptoms or who have had close contact with a suspected or confirmed Covid-19 case should submit themselves for Covid-19 testing to prevent spreading the virus. It further explained that Covid-19 symptoms are similar to the flu symptoms and persons

with the virus can have cough, colds, fever and sore throat and/or lose their sense of smell and taste. “Confirmed positive cases should give truthful information about their close contacts. Concealing your status, lying about your exposure to positive cases and evading Covid-19 tests (RTPCR) for fear of lockdown and isolation could result in greater risks that might cause severe infections or even your life and that of your loved ones.” “No tiene miedo manda man swab cay este ay ayuda salva tu vida y el vida del dituyu familia y otros pa que accidentalmente ay man tapon contigo. Swab testing should be done 5-7 days following exposure to someone with suspected or confirmed Covid-19 cases. And if you get tested, you should self-isolate or stay away from others pending test results and follow the advice of health workers. Coopera y ayuda controla el calayat del virus para todo kita librao y protegido contra Covid,” the advisory said. (Zamboanga Post)

The Zamboanga Post

November 8-14, 2021

Zamboanga Pictures in the News Local government of Zamboanga City at work. This is where your taxes go.

November 8-14, 2021

The Zamboanga Post

Zamboanga Pictures in the News Photos by : Bong Serondo, Christine Lim, BION Agnes Wee, ZCPO, and BION Ron Aballe.

The Zamboanga Post

November 8-14, 2021

Across : 1. Weapons 5. Vim 8. March date 12. Electronic reminder 13. Nest egg (abbr.) 14. Pharaoh’s river 15. Students 17. Pit 18. Actress ___ Burstyn 19. North African 21. Kickoff device 22. Society girl 23. Frazier’s rival 25. “___ Pie” 30. Movie fish 32. Raced 33. Not false 34. Sugarless soft drink (2 wds.) 36. Conceit 37. Actor ___ Robbins 38. Find a sum 40. Gymnast’s kin 44. Egypt’s capital 47. Mollusk 48. Skilled 50. ___ Scotia 51. Skating surface 52. Pine ___ 53. Paradise 54. Cape ___ 55. Greek mythology figure Down : 1. Competent 2. Rod’s partner 3. Lunch hour, e.g. 4. Shopping binge 5. Diner dessert 6. Does wrong 7. Rose Bowl city 8. Reside in 9. Designer Chritian ___ 10. She, in Seville 11. Beheld 16. Wind dir. 20. Pronoun 23. Plus 24. Maui garland 25. Fragrant 26. Irate

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The Zamboanga Post

November 8-14, 2021

Barangay officials need to do more in Covid response Continued from page 1 Even the Regional Inter-Agency Task Force on the Management of Infectious Diseases (RIATF-MEID) has observed that most of the barangay are “heavily” dependent on the local government in their Covid-19 responses. The RAITF-MEID has deployed special Covid teams in Zamboanga City and other parts of the Zamboanga Peninsula region last month to assess and monitor how well the responses of the barangay units in preventing the spread of the disease in their locality. It also urged barangay officials in Zamboanga to use their “disaster quick response” funds in the battle against Covid-19. Climaco said she was also told of the RIATF-MEID recommendation and ordered barangay officials to comply with it. The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) has also ordered an evaluation of every barangay’s performance in curbing the spread of the Covid-19, according to Climaco. “There are gaps (in the Covid response) in the barangays, thus the Covid special team has requested DILG to evaluate the compliance of the barangays,” the mayor said. She also appealed to residents to strictly follow the public health protocols, saying fighting Covid-19

is the responsibility of everybody. “Zamboanga City is under MECQ due to the record number of Covid cases. Ta pidi gayod kita cun el diatun 98 barangay, if you have contributed to our peace-keeping efforts resulting in zero bombing, zero kidnapping and zero piracy, then this time we really have to aggressively utilize whatever resources of the government at your disposal,” Climaco said. She said all barangay units were provided with funds for managing disasters, including the Covid-19 pandemic so that officials can - at their level – address the situation. There was no immediate statement from the Liga ng mga Barangay. The RIATF-MEID special Covid teams were led by Manuel Luis Ochotorena, the regional director of the Office of the Civil Defence. Ochotorena also met with Climaco, head of the local IATF-MEID and other task force members, and discussed the prevailing health situation here. Zamboanga now has over 2,000 active Covid cases which forced the RIATF-MEID to recommend to the national government’s IATF-MEID to impose stricter quarantine measures. The city has been placed under MECQ since last month and shall stay until the end of November. Ochotorena said they went around different barangays to see and assess the

situation, especially those with a high number of Covid cases. “Binibisita namin yun mga ibat-ibang barangays to check and see how they manage Covid cases. We need to assess the situation to come up with various measures and recommendations sa local government, sa local IATF so we can mitigate the spread of the virus,” he told the Zamboanga Post. He echoed Climaco’s appeal and said residents must strictly follow the public health protocols and community quarantine guidelines set by the local government. “People should strictly follow all these health protocols and the quarantine guidelines to prevent the spread of the virus in the community. This is very important to ensure the safety of every one because Covid-19 is a serious disease,” he said. Ochotorena also lauded the health protocols imposed by Climaco at the Fort Pilar shrine during the October celebration of the Zamboanga Hermosa Festival. “Mabuti nga at mahigpit yun implementation ng health protocols natin sa Fort Pilar. It was really a potential (Covid) super spreader event and delikado talaga to allow more people sa Fort Pilar,” he said. He also commended Climaco and the local IATFMEID for their efforts in battling Covid-19. (Zamboanga Post)

HEALTH

Sa Gout: Puwede ang Monggo, Okra at Sitaw Ni Dr. Willie T. Ong

a artikulong ito, na-interview ko si Doc Ging Zamora-Racaza, isang magaling na Rheumatologist sa UP-PGH. Ang gout ay isang pangkaraniwang sakit. Ang sintomas ng gout ay ang matinding pamamaga at pananakit ng mga kasu-kasuan ng mga daliri ng paa, bukung-bukong (ankle) at tuhod. Para malaman kung gouty arthritis ang sakit, kailangan suriin ang Uric Acid sa isang blood test. Kapag mataas ang iyong uric acid sa dugo, puwede itong mag-buo at pumunta sa iyong kasu-kasuan (joints). Sobrang sakit ang pakiramdam sa gout.

Heto ang Payo: 1. Kapag mainit ang panahon o dehydrated ang katawan, mas nagbubuo ang uric acid sa joints na sumasakit sa gout. 2. May tulong ang pag-inom ng 8-10 basong tubig sa gout. Ito ay dahil mas naaalis ang Uric Acid crystals sa katawan. 3. Ang alak, karne at laman loob ang nagpapalala ng gout. Masama din sa gout ang matatamis at maaalat na pagkain. 4. Mali ang paniniwala na masama sa gout ang mga gulay tulad ng monggo, okra, sitaw at kamatis. Ang mga gulay ay gawa sa Vegetable protein na mabuti sa katawan. Mas madaling maalis ang vegetable protein sa katawan

kumpara sa karne. 5. Ang bawal sa gout ay ang Animal protein tulad ng karne at laman loob. Ano ang Gamutan? 1. Kapag inatake na ng gout, hindi na sapat ang pagdi-dyeta sa pagkain lamang. Kailangan ng maintenance na gamot para bumaba ang iyong uric acid levels sa dugo. Nagrereseta ang doktor ng Allopurinol o Febuxostat para sa gout. 2. Sa oras ng pagsumpong ng gout, nagbibigay kami ng Colchicine tablets, 4 na beses sa maghapon. Puwedeng uminom ng Mefenamic Acid din para sa kirot. Magpa-check-up sa inyong doktor.

Probe on-going in fire that destroyed thousands of Covid vaccines PAGADIAN CITY – The Zamboanga del Sur provincial government has ordered an investigation into the fire that destroyed tens of thousands of Covid-19 vaccines at its cold storage facility in Pagadian City. The fire destroyed the ground floor of a building where the medicines, intended for pediatric vaccination and those in the priority list of the Department of Health, had been stored. The provincial government said the October 31 fire also affected the storage used by the Philippine Red Cross, Integrated Provincial Hospital Office, among others. “Sumala sa inisyal nga impormasyon, nagsugod ang kalayo sa maintenance area sa ilawom nga bahin sa building, gikan sa ground floor, mikatag ngadto sa unang palapag sa building kun asa nahimutang ang buhatan sa IPHO, RED CROSS og PDOHO. Tungod sa maong sunog, nadamyos ang Covid vaccines (AstraZeneca, Moderna, Pfizer ug Sinovac) nga naka-stock sa IPHO lakip na ang mga routine vaccine alang sa mga bata. Padayon pa ang imbestigasyon sa mga otoridad labot sa maong insidente,” the provincial government said in a statement.

A provincial government photo shows the building used as Covid-19 vaccine storage in fire. Nearly 149,00 doses of Covid-19 vaccines are destroyed in the October 31, 2021 fire in Pagadian City in Zamboanga del Sur. (Based on initial information, the fire begun at the maintenance area at the ground floor of the building and it quickly spread where the IPHO, Red Cross and PDOHO storage are located. The fire burned the Covid vaccines Astra Zeneca, Moderna, Pfizer and Sinovac, including those intended for the children. The investigation is going.) The government said it was saddened by news that some 148,678 doses of Covid-19 vaccines went to waste. “We are saddened that 148,678 doses of COVID 19 vaccines were damaged during the fire that broke out at the Provincial Health Office of Zamboanga del Sur on the evening of October 31.

The three-storey building which is occupied by different offices and departments of the provincial government also served as the provincial cold chain storage facility for Covid-19 vaccines allocated for 26 municipalities and one component city,” it said. The fire destroyed some 9,176 doses of AstraZeneca; 14,400 doses of Moderna; 88,938 doses of Pfizer and 36, 164 doses of Sinovac. Pfizer and Moderna are the vaccines allowed for the pediatric vaccination program of the government. It was unknown why the vaccines were not immediately sent out to the municipal health centers. (Mindanao Examiner)

The Zamboanga Post

November 8-14, 2021

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November 8-14, 2021

Pump prices remain high

HE DEPARTMENT of Energy (DoE) has failed to address the spike in fuel prices not only in Zamboanga City, but in the entire country and cited the global demand and limited supply after the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) slashed its output the past months. Mayor Beng Climaco has reDoE Secretary Alfonso Cusi, in a rels per day, which is around 0.4% peatedly asked the DoE for help statement, said they have asked Con- of the world supply. after the business sector and trans- gress to amend the Oil Deregulation “The DOE has also met with the port groups complained about the Law to provide a framework for the oil industry stakeholders to ensure successive increases in pump pric- government to intervene and address supply while the problem persists, es. “The pandemic surge plus the sudden, prolonged oil price spikes, and asked if discounts could be exincrease of fuel cost is really going including the unbundling of the cost tended to the public, especially to to be a burden to our residents. of petroleum retail products to deter- the public transport sector. Supply Ang gobyerno po ay handang gawin mine their true and passed-on costs. was assured and some companies kung ano ang dapat para makatuIn a letter addressed to the (Jetti, Seaoil, Shell, Phoenix, Unioil) long sa mga transport sector at sa Committee on Energy Chairmen agreed to extend discounts to the ating mga mamamayan,” Climaco Senator Sherwin Gatchalian and Rep- public transport industry on top of said during a virtual meeting with resentative Juan Miguel Arroyo, Cusi existing discounts currently given the DoE. But Rino Abad, the head of said the DoE mentioned several rea- like vaccination and loyalty incenthe DoE’s Oil Industry Management sons on the prolonged oil price spike tives,” Cusi’s statement said. Aside Bureau, emphasized that while due to a continuing rise in world mar- from the DoE’s immediate response, global oil prices have continuously ket prices resulting from the sudden a Whole-of-Government Approach surged since the start of this year, global increase in demand and an and medium and long-term policy local issues such as freight costs and unanticipated lack of supply. directions were also taken in cona high industry intake may have He said the demand, which is sideration of this matter. The DOE also contributed to the high costs of estimated at 103.22 million barrels a required the unbundling of the cost oil prices in Zamboanga. day, is attributed to the following: of retail products to determine their He said the increase in fuel (1) the surge of economic ac- true and passed-on cost. prices was largely due to the global tivities due to the containment of The DOE maintains that the demand and supply of oil products Covid-19 as a result of measures ad- unbundling of oil prices would result which is controlled and restricted opted and implemented worldwide in greater market transparency by esby OPEC, as well as import costs (i.e. mass vaccination, control of the tablishing the trends in the prices of and fees. “It’s not only happening Delta and other variants, Europe's oil and finished petroleum products. in Zamboanga City, it’s happening "no-lockdown" policy, and China's This, in turn, would help ensure a leveverywhere in the Philippines and economic boost). This led to a sud- el playing field within the oil industry, the global arena. This is actually an den demand in energy utilization, while upholding the best interests of increasing trend,” Abad explained. including the demand on oil prod- consumers. Climaco said the local He said the high cost of ucts in the transportation sector like government is also supporting Cusi’s call to amend the Oil Deregulation freight, on the other hand, can be gasoline and diesel; (2) the stocking of petroleum Law to better manage and respond to due to the lack of an import terminal or oil depots and other fuels and products' inventories as winter price spikes. Oil cartels petrochemical products in Zambo- approaches to cover demand from With the skyrocketing pump anga City which leads to a signif- October this year to March of next icant spike in transhipment costs year, with stocking expected until prices, even US President Joe Biden February 2021; blamed OPEC for withholding supand this has to be accounted for. Abad also noted that the (3) slowed production due to ply. Oil prices jumped after OPEC and city’s industry take – which refers the current global direction of sourc- allied oil producing countries stayed to operating costs throughout the ing energy from low-carbon emitting with their gradual approach to restordownstream oil industry chain sources. This has limited the opti- ing output slashed during the panplus profit of oil companies and mum level of production, causing demic, agreeing to add only 400,000 retailers – is high at P12.82. the halt and event withdrawal of in- barrels per day in November. “It must be noted that the lo- vestments in the development and The decision by the Viencal cost of doing business may also expansion of the fossil fuel industry; na-based oil cartel along with be reviewed with the retailers to jus(4) International sanctions to non-members including Russia tify the remaining differential cost,” oil-producing countries like Iran and tracks with its established schedule of Abad said, adding that “it is import- Venezuela that stopped the drilling of adding back that amount of oil every ant to unbundle the industry take oil companies and the buying of oil month until deep cuts made in 2020 with local retailers as well as delve products from these countries; to support prices during the depth of deeper into market competitive(5) Hurricane Ida, a category the pandemic recession are restored ness among the players. 4 storm that hit the US gulf coast on next year. The situation has changed Abad said the local govern- August 29, had caused an estimated since then as the global economy ment should convene its econom- loss of US crude oil production by as recovers. The decision comes amid ic cluster to meet with major oil much as 30 million barrels. stronger demand for oil products like companies and propose the esBefore the pandemic, the lat- gasoline and jet fuel, as driving and tablishment of a direct import ter- est recorded total worldwide supply flying pick up around the globe due minal in Zamboanga City and to is, more or less, 104 barrels a day. To to the easing of restrictions aimed at hold a business meeting with local cope-up with the supply, the Organi- containing the pandemic. outlets and retailers and to engage zation of Petroleum Exporting CounOn top of that, unusually high with the Philippine Competition tries (OPEC) committed to increase prices for natural gas are pushing Commission. Climaco said she di- the production and supply of crude some electricity producers in Asia rected a team to act on the recom- oil by 400,000 barrels per day. to switch from natural gas to oilmendations of the DoE to address Cusi said the Philippines uti- based products, helping support the local concerns. lizes the equivalent of 425,000 bar- prices. (Zamboanga Post)

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Image :(Sippakorn Yamkasikorn / Unsplash)

Sunday Reflection OPINION

by Mayor Beng Climaco

“FEAR THE LORD, your God!” This is taken from the Old Testament. “Hear, O Israel! The LORD is our God, the LORD alone! Therefore, you shall love the LORD, your God, with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength. Take to heart these words which I enjoin on you today.” Per Fr. Manoling Francisco, S.J., The Shema Yisrael is like the version of “Our Father!” I first heard it from Msgr. Chris Manongas about the Jewish prayer which is the basis of today's Gospel. In the Second Reading, these words struck me: “The Levitical priests were many because they were prevented by death from remaining in office, but Jesus, because he remains forever, has a priesthood that does not pass away!” This phrase caught my attention about the temporary state of “my office.” For politicians, we, who are elected every 3 years, renew our “employment” depending on voters’ preferences. Things are very unpredictable and the reality of losing is a possibility for me because of dissatisfaction brought about by the Pandemic. I have thought about this and it has added to the stress and discomfort even at midnight! What gives me strength is my oath of office to SERVE the people to the very end of my term as Mayor. So grateful to God and people for this opportunity to serve as Mayor from the Humani-

tarian Crisis during the 2013 Siege and now to the global pandemic. My love for God and Zamboanga City has made real mediante a dificuldade. . Este para con migo cosa quiere decir when I proclaim: I Love GOD! I Love ZC! Yet, reading closely, this speaks of Jesus as a “priest forever” who has once and for all made His office permanent by the penultimate sacrifice in the cross to save us. The permanent office of Jesus has no term limit because his magnanimous great love put an end to the temporary. Buhus el amor que ya basya el Dios! His outpouring love has once and for all put an end to death and the opportunity of a permanent new life with God forever! In the New Testament, Jesus summarizes the Greatest Commandment: Jesus replied “The first is this: Hear, O Israel! The Lord, our God, is Lord alone! You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.” And the second is this: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” There is no other commandment greater than these. Love determines our actions. If we love God and our neighbors, we want to do good. Let love dictate our motives and it will make all the difference. I enjoy washing dishes and while I was washing the spoon, fork and plates that needed a second swirl of sponge. I realized if I would be working as a dishwasher and if I do my work with love then the outcome and quality would be excellent because love makes a difference. St. Therese of the Child Jesus taught us to do all things for the love of God. “Therese of Lisieux, also known as the Little Flower, lived her life in childlike simplicity. By surrendering herself completely to the everlasting love of God, she learned to do all things – no matter if big or small, with great love. “I love you, Lord, my strength” Ps. 18. The future is unpredictable. The pandemic has brought us to our knees in prayer, clasping our hands, imploring God to save us. Loss of livelihood, breathing and lives have affected and infected us. Jesus teaches us to Love God and neighbor and if we do so our love as one City will save us! (MBC)

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