Beng gets emotional as she appeals to Zamboangueños CHIEF COVID frontliner Mayor Beng Climaco has appealed anew to the residents to strictly follow health protocols and always wear face mask and face shield when in public places due to the rising number of Covid-19 cases. In an emotional appeal broadcast on social media, Climaco said
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the increasing number of Covid-19 cases in Zamboanga is now at an alarming rate with over 2000 active cases and 300 deaths and hospitals are now full with patients. Below was the text of the mayor’s statement: “Querido compueblanos de ciudad na Zamboanga, este tiempo el caso del Covid na Zamboanga
mas de 2,000 - compueblanos de atun enfermo y mas de 300 el ya muri. Ta hace yo el apelo cay el de
Mayor Beng Climaco tries to fight her emotion as she again appeals to residents to strictly follow health protocols following the spike in Covid-19 cases due to the complacency of the people.
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atun maga isolation facilities bien falta, el de atun maga hospital bien lleno, mismo na de mio familia ya despedi, mio tio y tia na de ila edad na mas de 95 hasta 99 anos. Cosa pa gaha que puede hace para puede ustedes entende que bien peligroso gayot el Covid y ta causa muerte Continue on page 3
May 24-30, 2021
Zamboanga under MECQ needed ‘DOH, Health Sector Favor Stricter Quarantine Status’
W
HILE POLITICAL propagandists and peddlers of fake news continue to criticize the extension of the stricter quarantine status of Zamboanga City and efforts of the local government to control the spread of the deadly Covuid-19, the Department of Health and the local health sector said otherwise. The DOH and med- the national government’s eases or IATF-MEID for ical professionals have Inter-Agency Task Force placing Zamboanga City welcomed and strongly for the Management of under Modified Continue on page 2 supported the decision of Emerging Infectious Dis-
Las autoridades detienen a los infractores del MECQ LA FUERZA de policia local y la fuerza de Tarea de Barangay Sita contin-
uan deteniendo a cientos de violadores del protocolo de salud todos los dias
a pesar de la implementacion mas estricta Continue on page 2
Thousands get Covid jabs in Zambo Zambo rolls out e-QPass Health protocols violators spotted in Barangay Tetuan. (Zamboanga Post)
Read Story on page 3
Encoders work double time to validate thousands of e-QPass applications. Mayor Beng Climaco listens to a briefing at the Covid-19 Data Center (See photo inside).
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THOUSANDS OF senior citizens and people with comorbidities (those with more than one disease or condition at the same time) have been inoculated against the deadly Covid-19 respiratory Continue on page 7
The ongoing Zamboanga City vaccination program. Mayor Beng Climaco speaks to an elderly woman waiting for her turn at a vaccination site.
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Zamboanga under MECQ needed ‘DOH, Health Sector Favor Stricter Quarantine Status’
Health protocols violators spotted in Barangay Tetuan. (Zamboanga Post) Continued from page 1 Enhanced Community Quarantine status until end of May. DOH Regional Director Joshua Brillantes appealed to residents to strictly follow health protocols, especially now that Covid-19 cases are increasing. “This is with regards to the decision of the (national government’s) IATF(MEID) on the extension of MECQ for Zamboanga City. So, first of all, as you can see in the matrix that Zamboanga now is the number one city in the whole country that has presented a severe increase in the number of Covid cases, and with that (high) number of Covid cases, the number (also) of those that need to be hospitalized ay mataas na rin and our hospitals were already reporting severe to critical level, especially in the utilization of health care capacity and this is one of the thing that the health sector is very afraid of, especially if we will be overwhelming too much the hospitals, so our health care (system) will collapse and (with that) alam na natin na patients can no longer go to the hospitals so ang kawawa doon is yun may severe or critical, and even those with moderate (Covid) cases,” Brillantes said. “So we are already fighting this Covid (pandemic) for over a year now and our health care workers are also becoming tired. They are also human being at kailangan rin nila ng rest. So with the declaration of MECQ, what we want to happen is really to reduce or limit the movement ng mga tao and we have observed this last year and we can see the re-
duction of (Covid) cases ng ma-implement ang ECQ, then MECQ so that’s why, since maganda naman ang result niya, we hope now with this MECQ - the government is putting Zamboanga City we can reduce the infection, transmission rate and if we reduce the people who are sick or treated with Covid-19, yun hospitalization will also reduce,” he added. Brillantes said health care workers are now overwhelmed with Covid-19 patients, both in private and government hospitals. “So second, yun problem natin especially sa hospitalization, our health care (workers) have already started to be overwhelmed, so pagod na sila and some of them have accepted other job opportunities abroad or they transferred to other work which is more safer that what they are doing (in the hospitals). Komo-konti (na) yun personnel natin and then ko-konti rin ang (mga) nag-apply kasi medyo takot nga. Yum immunization talaga is very important and it reduce the number of infections, we encourage yun mga kababayan natin, na this time we are in MECQ, dapat susundin talaga natin (ang health protocols), dapat we have to limit yun movement, kundi naman essentials yun gagawin ng mga tao, huwag na munang lalabas (ng bahay). Let us all preserve our health care (system) kasi once yun health care (workers) natin ay ma-overwhelm or they cannot manage, especially in the number of cases, lahat tayo maa-apektuhan,” he said. Mayor Beng Climaco, head of the local Covid-19 task force, has repeatedly
appealed to residents to follow the health protocols, but many locals are complacent while others, who are ignorant of the grave risks posed by the virus, think the deadly respiratory disease was simply not true. “La situacion ahora es muy peligrosa debido al Covid-19. Muchas personas estan infectadas y muchas mueren a causa del virus. Quien mas necesita morir para que la gente siga los protocolos de salud? Serea tu amigo, tus vecinos, tu familia o tu? Covid-19 no es una broma: el virus no elige personas, lugares o tiempo y todos pueden enfermarse y morir,” Climaco said. Climaco’s political critics have nothing to do, but blame the mayor for everything from the high number of Covid-19 cases to the lack of vaccines and probably even for the past typhoons. They also doubled their efforts in spreading black propaganda and fake news on social media – ahead of next year’s polls and in an effort to cast doubt on the local government’s Covid-19 response despite the mayor’s various awards and commendations from DOH and the Department of the Interior and Local Government or DILG, among others. For the past six years since Climaco defeated former congressman Celso Lobregat, the political attacks never ends with every social ill being blamed to the mayor. Everything but the kitchen sink was thrown at Climaco. The sudden spike in Covid-19 infections here - from just under three dozen active cases in early
March to probably around 3,000 by end of May - occurred following the easing of travel restrictions by the national government and the revival of the tourism industry in the country. The uniformed travel protocols were approved by IATF-MEID under Resolution No. 101 which foregoes documentary requirements such as RTPCR testing and medical certificate for travellers across the country. It was crafted by the DILG, the Philippine National Police, the Union of Local Authorities of the Philippines, the League of Provinces of the Philippines, the League of Municipalities of the Philippines, and the League of Cities of the Philippines to revive the economy. Covid-19 Variants It was aggravated by the spread of the new Covid-19 variants and the surge in Covid-19 cases in Zamboanga City may have been caused by these strains that are now plaguing the National Capital Region and other provinces in the country. The Department of Health has confirmed the presence of Covid-19 U.K. variant in the provinces of Zamboanga del Norte and
Zamboanga del Sur from 2 overseas Filipino workers who arrived home from Kuwait and Abu Dhabi in February. The sudden spike in Covid-19 cases in the country was largely blamed on the new variants of SARS-CoV-2 or Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 that originated in the Chinese city of Wuhan in December 2019 and quickly spread across the globe. But there are also other variants and these are the following: A variant identified in the U.K. (B.1.1.7). This Covid-19 variant appears to spread more easily and might have an increased risk of death. A variant identified in South Africa (B.1.351). This variant appears to spread more easily. It also has a moderate impact on the effectiveness of monoclonal antibody medications and moderately reduces the effectiveness of antibodies generated by a previous Covid-19 infection or Covid-19 vaccine. A variant identified in Japan/Brazil (P.1). This variant has a moderate impact on the effectiveness of monoclonal antibody medications. It also reduces the effectiveness
of antibodies generated by a previous Covid-19 infection or a Covid-19 vaccine. A variant identified in the U.S. (California) (B.1.427). This variant appears to spread more easily. It also has a significant impact on the effectiveness of some treatments and moderately reduces the effectiveness of antibodies generated by a previous Covid-19 infection or Covid-19 vaccine. A variant identified in the U.S. (California) (B.1.429). This variant appears to spread more easily. It also has a significant impact on the effectiveness of some treatments and moderately reduces the effectiveness of antibodies generated by a previous Covid-19 infection or Covid-19 vaccine. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is also monitoring two variants identified in New York — B.1.526 and B.1.525 — and another variant identified in Brazil — P.2. But a new Covid-19 variant, officially designated as Lineage P.3, was also detected in the Philippines in March this year as reported by the Philippine Genome Center. (Zamboanga Post)
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Zambo rolls out e-QPass
Beng thanks USAID for continued support
USAID donates tarpaulins. THE UNITED STATES Agency for International Development or USAID donated over 100 tarpaulins showing the steps and processes of the local government’s vaccination program. Noel Tarrazona, of the USAID’s ReachHealth Project handed over the tarpaulins to the local government and the City Health Office or CHO under Dr. Dulce Amor
Miravite. It will be distributed to the different health districts. CHO’s Dr. Cathy Garcia and head nurse Cora Pagotaisidro witnessed the donation. “The donated tarps will serve as a guide to priority sectors on the steps and processes of the vaccination program,” said Mayor Beng Climaco, head of the local task force Covid-19.
She thanked Washington and the American people for the support to the local government through the USAID. The USAID has expanded its project to support the Covid-19 emergency response in the Philippines and has provided additional funding to help local governments in preventing and minimizing the impact of the pandemic. With this funding, ReachHealth, implemented by RTI International, a nonprofit research and global development institute, will strengthen the capacity of municipalities, cities, and communities in approximately 10-15 local governments across the country to manage Covid-19 outbreaks through rapid response, case management and prevention, and other disease mitigation measures. (Zamboanga Post)
From page 1 THE CITY Government is developing a new system for e-QPass (Electronic Quarantine Pass) application to allow residents without quarantine pass to register online. The e-QPass is being developed by the Covid-19 Data Center after Zamboanga City has been placed under a stricter Modified Enhanced Community Quarantine (MECQ) status by the national government’s Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases due to the rising cases of coronavirus disease. Upon complete submission, the applications will be validated and processed for the generation of QR (Quick Response) Codes. Once the e-QPass is validated, an email will be sent to the applicants attaching their e-QPasses. Since the start of the MECQ on May 8, the
Covid-19 Data Center received over 30,000 applications for e-QPass and overwhelmed staffs validating the requests. Because of the huge number of requests and in an effort to serve the public better, the local government’s Computer Services Division led by Alan Aizon and Friyanti Ismael will now allow applicants to directly encode their personal information in the website – http://zamboangacity.gov.ph:82 and attach a photo of valid identification cards of the main and alternate users, and also the barangay certificate. Most of those applying for e-QPass have either lost their original quarantine passes or people using fictitious names and forged documents to try getting an extra pass so they can go out any day of the week, except Sunday, thus the need for proper validation of all re-
quests. Many applications also lack information or insufficient data and incomplete addresses, among others and making it more difficult for the Covid-19 Data Center to complete the process. Over two dozen encoders and geo-taggers continue to follow-up deficient e-QPass applications. At the same time, the local government has put up on-site orientation on the use of e-QPass in various checkpoints, shopping malls and even in the different barangays. The Covid-19 Data Center has so far validated thousands of applications and emailed them their e-QPasses so they can use it to access essential needs during their designated days. The barangay of Tumaga, Calarian, San Roque, Tetuan, and Putik have the highest number of e-QPasses applications. (Zamboanga Post, Jasmine Mohammadsali)
Las autoridades detienen a los infractores del MECQ Continued from page 1 del estado de Cuarentena Comunitaria Mejorada Modificada (MECQ) de Zamboanga. La mayoria de los detenidos no tenian pases de cuarentena ni tarjetas de identificacion validas, no llevaban o usaban indebidamente mascarilla o protector facial y no observaban distanciamiento fisico. Otros violaron las horas del toque de queda. El alcaldesa Beng Climaco ha pedido repetidamente a los residentes que sigan estrictamente los protocolos de salud. “Necesitamos seguir las reglas, los protocolos de salud en un esfuerzo por detener la propagación
del virus. Esta es la responsabilidad de todos,” la alcaldesa dijo. La situacion de salud local cambio rapidamente despues de que el Interinstitucional del gobierno nacional (IATF-MEID) relajo sus protocolos de viaje en todo el pais y permitio a las personas ir de un lugar a otro sin certificados médicos ni pruebas de RT-PCR. Los hospitales gubernamentales y privados aqui han instalado salas adicionales para atender el creciente numero de pacientes con la enfermedad respiratoria mortal, pero ni siquiera son suficientes. Climaco enfatizo que
al enfrentar la pandemia, el gobierno debe equilibrar la ciencia medica, los hechos y las oportunidades para que las personas se curen. Reitero que la gente tiene que cooperar y apoyar plenamente al gobierno en la lucha contra Covid-19 para evitar un mayor aumento en el numero de infecciones aqui. El alcaldesa dijo que el gobierno local esta poniendo a disposicion los recursos necesarios para ayudar a las personas afectadas por cierres granulares temporales en los barangays en caso de que los casos de Covid-19 se propaguen rapidamente. (Zamboanga Post)
Beng gets emotional as she appeals to Zamboangueños Continued from page 1 na familia. El de ustedes gobierno local sin descanso ta hace el todo le que debe para puede empuja na favor de Dios el curada y comida hasta na de atun maga barangay todo ta hace esfuerzo para protege con el maga
familia. Ta apela gat yo con todo con ustedes, pabor gayot coopera usa el necesario proteccion del face mask, face shield y distancia fisica. Duele para con migo queda bajo (el ciudad de Zamboanga) para na MECQ cay por causa con-
tinua kita hace maga esfuerzo que el otro maga vivientes ta sinti el tormento poreso quierre yo apela con todo con ustedes – si na maga otro lugar (como) na NCR y na Cebu que tiene alto caso de Covid y ya puede sila uni y combate, kita
pa gaha maga Cristiano, Muslim, Lumad Zamboanguenos? Poreso ta pide gat yo todo con ustedes, por amor del de atun mismo cuerpo y familia, y amor de Dios, uni kita todo somete el de atun familia, de atun cuerpo para man bakuna cay
este dale canatun solusyon. Yo, como el Alcaldesa y maga compañeros na gobierno local, ta hace el esfuerzo para dale mas solusyon y bakuna na de atun ciudad. Poreso este tiempo de ustedes cooperacion por amor del de atun ciudad, amor de
familia Zamboangueño, coopera kita para tene victoria contra el Covid y junto kita con fe na Dios, amor na familia y esperanza na nuevo ciudad de Zamboanga puede kita combate con el Covid por favor coopera.” (Zamboanga Post)
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Zamboanga Pictures in the News Local government of Zamboanga City at work. This is where your taxes go.
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Across : 1. Cow’s cry 4. ___ Vegas 7. Range 12. ___ de toilette 13. Imitate 14. Respect 15. Endeavor 17. Door sign 18. Rains ice 20. Folding beds 21. Totals 23. Wonderland girl 25. Out ___ limb (2 wds.) 26. Did again 30. Foremost 33. Green shade 34. Was present at 38. Ump’s kin 39. Pilfered 40. Extremely 41. Deuces 44. ___ worker 46. Desert haven 48. Mentor’s student 51. Farm buildings 52. Poetic contraction 53. Family member 54. Pebble 55. ___ Plaines, Illinois 56. Instant lawn
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Governors, mayors now on vaccination priority list THE NATIONAL government’s Inter-agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-MEID) has passed a resolution prioritizing provincial governors and city and municipal mayors in the government’s vaccination program. They now belong to the A1.5 category of the vaccination program regardless of the risk classification of their respective local governments. Interior Secretary Eduardo Año praised the IATF-MEID Resolution Number 115-B, saying all governors and mayors are also frontliners and head of their respective Covid task force. “They are frontliners in our Covid-19 response, as well as the delivery of public service amid the pandemic and they must be in the best of health to be able serve their constituents,” he said, calling the resolution as a “is a good move by the national government.” He said as elected officials, governors and mayors are expected to always be at the forefront of the health crisis hence
increasing their chances of exposure and infection. “Our governors and mayors are the heads of the local Covid-19 task forces, so it’s just right that they are prioritized since they perform a vital role in defeating the pandemic on the local level. In fact, all major programs of government are implemented locally by the mayors, therefore they are critical to the success of everything that we do,” Año said. “Sa anuman pong krisis, laging hinahanap ng mga mamamayan ang ating mga LCEs, lalo na ngayong pandemya. Kaya naman buo ang suporta ng DILG sa pagpapasya ng pamahalaan na iangat sa A1.5 vaccination category ang mga pinuno ng pamahalaang lokal,” he added. Año said governors and mayors are bound by the law to be on top of all the Covid-19 efforts and enforce all related policies and measures, including prevention, detection, isolation, treatment, and rehabilitation efforts. Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque echoed Año’s statement,
saying “Sila po ang nagpapatupad ng localized lockdown, vaccination. Sila po talaga ang ating instrumento dito sa paglaban natin sa COVID-19. They may not be doctors, but they are equally frontliners dahil lahat po ng istratehiya natin ang mga humaharap po ang mga lokal na opisyales, si mayors at si governor.” Año said that since the pandemic is still raging, requiring the immediate delivery of services to people in need, governors and mayors are at the forefront in fighting the pandemic and helping people. Just last month, Sulu Governor Sakur was infected with Covid-19 and had to isolate himself for several weeks until he fully recovered. But Tan is back again working hard in fighting the spread of the deadly respiratory disease. Zamboanga City Mayor Beng Climaco also underwent multiple RTPCR tests after exposing herself to infected constituents and civil employees while fighting the pandemic. (Zamboanga Post)
Hundreds apprehended for violating health protocols
Barangay Tumaga BION Rey Javier shares a photo of residents being oriented on the importance of strictly following the health protocols. THE LOCAL police force and the Barangay Sita Task Force continue to apprehend hundreds of health protocol violators every day despite the stricter implementation of Zamboanga’s Modified Enhanced Community Quarantine status. Most of those apprehended had no quarantine passes or valid identification cards, and not wearing or improperly use of face mask or face shield, and not observing physical distancing. Others violated the curfew hours. Mayor Beng Climaco has repeatedly appealed to residents to strictly follow the health proto-
cols. “We need to follow the rules, the health protocols in an effort to stop the spread of the virus. This is the responsibility of everybody,” she said. The local health situation quickly changed after the national government’s Inter-Agency IATF-MEID relaxed its travel protocols across the country and allowed people to go from one place to another without medical certificates and RT-PCR tests. Government and private hospitals here have put up additional wards to address the growing number of patients with the deadly respiratory disease, but are not even
enough. Climaco stressed that in confronting the pandemic, the government has to balance medical science, facts and opportunity for people to be healed. She reiterated that people have to fully cooperate and support the government in the fight against Covid-19 to prevent further increase in the number of infections here. The mayor said the local government is making available the needed resources to assist people who are affected by temporary granular lockdowns in the barangays should Covid-19 cases spread rapidly. (Zamboanga Post)
Thousands get Covid jabs in Zambo Continued from page 1 disease in Zamboanga City as the local government continues its vaccination program despite the lack of supply of the medicine needed to prevent the further spread of the virus. Mayor Beng Climaco, head of the local task force Covid-19, has repeatedly urged residents - especially the elderly sector and those with comorbidities - to register online. “Residents who are 18-years old and above are encouraged to register for vaccination online by following this URL: www. zambocovax.com or by visiting the nearest health center,” she said. Health workers, Climaco added, are also conducting house-to-house visits in different barangays to get the names of those who want to be vaccinated and include them in the vaccination master list. But since the number of health workers are limited and due to the high risk of Covid-19 infections, online registration is the best option. Climaco has been visiting various vaccination sites and encouraging citizens to avail of the free inoculation. She said residents must get themselves inoculated as soon as the vaccines are available as an added protection and to help reduce virus transmission and deaths, and ultimately help restore the economy. “Este vaccines para de ustedes contra Covid. No mas tiene miedo porcausa este buen para de atun todo,” she said. The mayor, who already signed a $2 million (or roughly P100 million) deal with the British-Swedish multinational pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca, said local
government’s vaccination program will cover 694,696 residents or 70% of the projected 2021 population of 992,423 inhabitants. 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. Climaco said the local government will allocate P100 million more for additional Covid vaccines. The City Health Office and representatives from the World Health Organization (WHO) continue to monitor the vaccination program in different inoculation sites here. Based on the latest data, nearly 17,000 people from priority groups A1 (Medical frontliners), A2 (Senior citizens) and A3 (People with comorbidities) had been inoculated. According to data, some 2.92 million of doses had been given out in the Philippines with 676,000 people fully vaccinated which are just 0.6 percent of the total populations in the country. Despite the lack of vaccine supplies, President Rodrigo Duterte said the government is excellent on its mass inoculation program. Duterte said he is even prepared to invoke the police power of the state to effectively respond to the pandemic, allaying fears that government is running out of interventions in the present health crisis. “Kapag sinabi na we are at a critical condition, there is no space for the doctors
and the nurses to move and stay healthy, then we begin to exercise the police power of the state. When we are pushed to the wall, either by the microbe itself or by external, internal, I can always order the military and the police to go there and confiscate the operation of the hotels. So kayong mga kababayan ko, huwag kayong matakot diyan sa ano. Hindi naman tayo talagang walang-wala eh. We are not really at a total loss of what to do. We know what to do,” Duterte said. But he was quick to say that he will only invoke such power to control private facilities once the country’s healthcare system is at maximum capacity. Duterte said that his administration is doing all it can to come up with interventions that mitigate, rather than aggravate, the medical and socio-economic impact of the pandemic. Duterte admitted that the only hope to fully recover from Covid-19 lies solely on massive vaccination program, noting, however, that the country has to compete with other nations in securing sufficient supply considering the current global vaccine shortage. “Do not be afraid. Government is working. Government is busy doing everything, not nothing. Government is trying to get the things to fix all of us. Iyong mga bagay ngayon nandiyan pero wala sa ating mga kamay. Nandiyan ang bakuna, hindi sa ating kamay. Sa kamay ng ibang tao. And this will go I think before it gets better, we’ll have to go to the worst of times,” he said. (Zamboanga Post)
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Good job Navy! Z
AMBOANGA MAYOR Beng Climaco lauded the Philippine Navy for intercepting two motorboats loaded with smuggled cigarettes worth P17.5 million during a recent operation here. “Muchisimas gracias ed recently off Ayala and believed to have originated from Sulu. The Naval Forces Western Sinunuc villages. Mindanao for your comIt said the MB Nur- watercrafts were escortmitment and dedication shida, manned by 7 crew- ed to the Naval Station in the fight against smug- men, was loaded with Romulo Espaldon for a gling in support of Presi- 228 cases of Cannon joint inspection and indent Duterte’s war versus cigarettes worth about ventory. In all, the two all forms of illegal activi- P7.9 million when it was seized vessels were carties as well as our admin- stopped by patrol boats rying a total of 502 casistration’s flagship pro- near the shoreline of Aya- es of assorted cigarettes worth P17.5 million,” the gram on security, health la village. While the MB Dream- Navy said. and education,” she said. The Navy did not The Naval Forces boy was carrying 274 casWestern Mindanao said es of assorted cigarette disclose the names of the boats - MB Nurshida brands worth about P9.6 the owners of the boats and MB Dreamboy – orig- million. The boat had a or its crew, and the coninated from Sulu prov- crew of 5 men. traband. (Zamboanga ince and were intercept“Both watercrafts are City)
A Philippine Navy photo shows the confiscated cigarettes.
Sunday Reflection by Mayor Beng Climaco
Mayor Beng Climaco speaks to a senior citizen at a vaccination site. ‘Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord’ Acts 1:1-11 Psalm 47:2-3, 6-7, 8-9 Ephesians 1:17-23 Mark 16:15-20 JESUS said to his disciples: “Go into the whole world and proclaim the gospel to every creature!” Before going up to the Father, Jesus commissioned the Apostles to go and proclaim the Gospel to everyone. We are also directed by Je-
sus to proclaim God’s great love and salvation. Lately with the re-imposition and extension of MECQ, our City has suffered with Covid 19 patients in need of medical care and worst, we also saw an increase in mortalities. People’s anger, frustration led to critical demand for government to attend to their needs. These are the realities that haunt and hound me and I must respond to the best that we can even
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WHAT IS URGENT AND UNIVERSAL!” Quiere decir na monton de trabajo, necesita pone attention na cosa bien importante hace y el mejor de ayuda puede dale. Because of all of the needs, I have set to focus on Covid response to HEAL THE SICK AND FEED THE HUNGRY WITH GOD’s GRACE! Occasionally a problem arises, but I chose to focus on the urgent need. Social media is a very powerful means of communication; however people have used their freedom to express themselves without minding the consequences that leads to bickering and misinformation. That is why I needed to shut off comments for the page to do its mission of in-
formation. Those who misinform have no place to comment because we need to be responsible enough to courageously contribute rather than cowardly criticize and complain hiding from the true identity by using fake accounts. Amidst the grim realities, I find hope in being vaccinated and allowing others to be vaccinated. We have a goal of 694,700 people to be vaccinated (to achieve the) for 70% Herd Immunity. I see dedicated health workers on the ground administering the needed protection for our people. This is indeed a way forward. Looking at the numbers (of Covid cases) rising, I am fearful that the 3 week MECQ
will not fully lower cases. But in moments of helplessness, I feel blessed by God, by the help given to us by NIATF (national government’s Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases), by friends and those who silently respond. Seeing dedicated, hardworking frontliners is an affirmation of God’s hand to offer solutions to the problems. In the Lord’s Ascension, I commit in faith to do as Jesus calls me knowing that the mission is great, but Our God is the greatest! We need to be instrumental to bring God’s good news in difficult times. (MBC)
if the situation is bleak. As I write this piece, there is a need for 10 doses of Remdisivir, which has been out of stock, and Tocilizumab for a patient. Others wait to be hospitalized. Others expect care for the sick at home. We try our best to source out even if the solutions are uncertain. The challenges of Covid require full focus. I remember Fr. Ben Y. Sim, in College, who taught me the Ignatian principle: “TO DO
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