South African variant of Covid-19 harder to detect, difficult to treat! THE SOUTH AFRICAN variant of the deadly Covid-19 respiratory disease in Zamboanga City is harder to detect and more difficult to treat, and there are still other strains of the virus in the community – the U.K. and Philippines variants. With these new Covid-19 strains, Dr. Ivy Iturralde who heads the
Founded July 2019
Zamboanga City Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit, underscored the need for public support in stemming community transmission, especially the South African variant which is more contagious and easier to spread due to its mutation. “Mas mabilis po yung pagkalat ng virus, mas dadami ang mao-ospital
Dr. Maria Ivy Rozeth Iturralde (PIA)
o mapupunta sa health facilities and, most probably, mas marami po ang mamamatay. This (South African) variant is harder to detect and more difficult to treat.” “Itong variant of concern po natin, meron siyang impact sa ating testing and even sa ating mga gamot na kasalukuyang ibinibigay sa ating
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mga Covid-19 patients. Pwedeng hindi na ito ma-detect gamit ang ating testing kits dahil sa mutation nito at pwede rin hindi na magre-respond sa mga gamot na binibigay sa kanila,” Iturralde explained. She urged residents to strictly comply with the health protocols by Continue on page 3
June 14-20, 2021
Beng’s Covid-19 response ‘very commendable and impressive’
T Spread of Covid in Zambo slows down
HE REGIONAL Coordinated Operations to Defeat Epidemic (CODE) Team commended Zamboanga City Mayor Beng Climaco, who heads the local Covid-19 task force, for her active role in addressing the health crisis. Continue on page 2
THE SURGE in the Covid-19 cases in Zamboanga City has drasti-
cally slowed down following the implementation of the stricter Modified
Enhanced Community Quarantine or MECQ Continue on page 3
Is there a new majority block at City Council? Mayor Beng Climaco.
Climaco wants essential workers, trikes and jeepney drivers vaccinated WHILE MAYOR Beng Climaco is strongly urging the national government to include local essential workers and uniformed
Those who approved the supplemental budget are Councilors Kim Elago, Cesar Jimenez , Khymer Olaso, El King Omaga, Jerry Perez, Pinpin Pareja, Bong Atilano, Jihan Edding, VP Elago, Jimmy Villaflores, Gerky Valesco, Cary John Pioc, and Tungkuh Hanapi. Read Story on page 3
ERRATUM
We deeply apologize for the error in placing the photo of JERRY ATENARA PEREZ which was mistakenly used by our layout editor for the picture of COUNCILOR JERRY PEREZ in the June 7-13, 2021 issue of The Zamboanga Post.
personnel under the A4 priority list in the mass vaccination program to protect them from the deadly Covid-19 disease,
the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases Continue on page 7
Zambo puts up layers of protection vs. Covid-19 THE ZAMBOANGA City Government reminded travellers coming here to register online and use the Safe, Swift, and Smart Passage (S-PaSS) Travel Management System.
City Tourism Officer Sarita Sebastian said the S-Pass mobile application, which is being used across the country, ensures smooth entry to Zamboanga City during
this pandemic period. The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) also said the S-PASS, of the Department of Science Continue on page 2
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June 14-20, 2021
Beng’s Covid-19 response ‘very commendable and impressive’ Continued from page 1 Manuel Lusi Ochotorena, the regional director of the Office of the Civil Defense and other members of the CODE Team, cited the Covid-19 response and efforts of the local government, especially the creation of the Inter-Agency Compliance Team, the Barangay Sita Task Forces and Barangay Information Officers Network which ensure compliance of health and safety protocols and community quarantine guidelines. The CODE Team recently held its first leg of virtual townhall consultation with various local governments in Zamboanga Peninsula or Region 9 in Western Mindanao, particularly those where high Covid-19 cases have been reported. Ochotorena described the local government’s Covid-19 initiatives as “very commendable and impressive” and complied with the PDITR strategy in fighting the spread of the deadly virus which are Prevention, Detection, Isolation, Treatment and Reintegration. From 2,800 active cases in previous months, the number of Zamboanga’s Covid-19 infections is just below 1,000 now after the city was placed under the stricter Modified Enhanced Community Quarantine
since May 8 following a sudden spike in coronavirus. Ochotorena said the CODE, which was approved in September last year by the national government’s Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-MEID) on the recommendation of the Department of Health (DOH) , aims to demonstrates active case finding strategies to prevent and eliminate clusters of community transmission of the virus and to provide guidance and recommendations to strengthen the implementing measures and mechanisms in fighting against the impact of pandemic while maintaining the balance between health and economy. CODE is headed by the National Task Force on Covid-19. Good Job Last March, DOH Assistant Secretary Romeo Ong congratulated Climaco and the local government for keeping the number of active Covid cases below 100. Zamboanga’s lowest active Covid-19 cases were only about three dozen. “I congratulate the City (Government of Zamboanga) for keeping the active cases to below 100, we should not keep our guards down, especially on our bor-
ders,” he said. Ong also urged residents to follow the strict health protocols, especially after Covid cases spiked in other parts of the country, especially in the National Capital Region and nearby provinces. “This pandemic proves again this is not only a national, but a global challenge. The virus recognizes no national boundaries, no difference in political system, in culture, in religion whatsoever. It attacks all of us the same way. So there is an even greater need for closer and more effective cooperation, it has to be a whole of government and whole of society approach,” he said. “My message is to always keep the minimum health standards, keep masks and face shields on, social distance and washing of hands. No matter whether it is the variant or not, it is the same virus and the transmission is the same. For our health care workers, get vaccinated. We are about to go to the next batch of vaccines,” Ong added. Climaco said the “raging battle” to stop, if not reduce the spread of the deadly respiratory virus and other Covid variants, is not only the work of government alone, but of everyone as ev-
erybody is vulnerable to the dreaded disease. She again reminded residents not to be complacent and always use face mask and face shield in public places, and sanitize or wash hands with soap and water frequently, and comply with the community quarantine guidelines. “I am enjoining the public to please cooperate with and help government in the implementation of these health protocols,” she said. City Health Officer Dr. Dulce Amor Miravite also echoed the same appeal. “While we have the vaccines, this is no time to relax and we still have to practice proper wearing of face mask and face shield, practice hand hygiene and observe physical distancing. Until we get 70% of our population vaccinated, we will not be really protected from infection and surges,” she said. Climaco has repeatedly ordered the strict enforcement of health protocols at the borders and in different barangays to prevent the spread of Covid-19. She emphasized anew the need for mandatory RT-PCR testing for all travellers. “The strict enforcement of the regulations and protocols is being done to ensure that Covid-19 will not thrive in the city. All persons
OCD Regional Director Manuel Luis Ochotorena should be subject to compliance with the IATF-MEID and local government health protocols for everyone’s safety and protection. No queremos que se enfermen porque al final el gobierno local tiene que cuidarlos,” she said. “We reiterate the need for public compliance on all safety and health protocols to prevent a spike in Covid cases. The wearing of face mask and face shield, washing hands often with soap and water, or alcohol,
and the strict observance of physical distancing remain to be our main defense against Covid-19,” the mayor said. But the emergence of a new Philippine variant of Covid-19, and also the U.K. and South African variants in Zamboanga City resulted in the surged in fresh coronavirus cases here and is being handled aggressively by Climaco in an effort to lower the tab and at the same time vaccinate the residents. (Zamboanga Post)
Zambo puts up layers of protection vs. Covid-19 Continued from page 1 and Technology, was institutionalized this year as a one-stop-shop application or communication for travellers. “To complement the S-PaSS, we are also encouraging the public to install the mobile application StaySafe. ph. It shall be utilized as the primary contact tracing system,” said DILG Undersecretary Jonathan Malaya. The StaySafe.Ph is now being used in Zamboanga City after Climaco, head of the local Covid-19 task force, issued Executive Order BC 657-2021 adapting the StaySafe.Ph mobile application as the official digital contact tracing system here. She also imposed the “No RT-PCR Test, No Entry Policy” for all travellers, including those from Sulu, Tawi-Tawi, Basilan, Zamboanga Sibugay, Zamboanga del Norte and Zamboanga del Sur. She said travellers must have negative Covid-19 test results – whether by Saliva RT-PCR test or nasopharyn-
geal RT-PCR test. Climaco earlier issued Executive Order 651-2021 that mandates all inbound passengers, whether APOR (Authorized Persons Outside Residence) or private individuals, regardless of reason or purpose of entry, including transit travellers to present negative RT-PCR test result within 5 days from date of specimen collection, whether swab test or Saliva RT-PCR test, together with their valid identification cards to entry into Zamboanga City. “These are temporary measures designed to curb the sudden spike in Covid-19 cases in order to promote the health and safety of the general welfare of the citizens,” the mayor said. Zamboanga City has over 1,000 active Covid-19 cases and now slowly decreasing since the implementation of the Modified Enhanced Community Quarantine on May 8 and extended until June 15 following the discovery of three new strains of novel corona-
virus here – the South African, U.K. and Philippines variants, on top of the original Wuhan virus. City Health Officer Dr. Dulce Amor Miravite said residents must at all times wear face masks and face shields while in public places, and frequent washing of hands and physical distancing. “All these health protocols remain effective measures for the prevention of Covid-19 infections. These measures will work no matter what the variant is,” she said. Miravite said discipline among residents is the key to curb the spread of the respiratory virus. “Our policies are in place, implementation is in place, we have to be disciplined and we really have to follow these minimum health standards,” she said. Many residents are not only undisciplined, but complacent and continue to ignore the health protocols resulting in Covid-19 infections in the community. (Zamboanga Post)
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June 14-20, 2021
Is there a new majority block at City Council? Councilors John Dalipe, Lilibeth Nuño, Litlit Macrohon, BG Guingona and Mike Alavar voted against the approval of the Covid-19 supplemental budget.
Spread of Covid in Zambo slows down Continued from page 1 here since May 8. From 2,800 Covid-19 cases the past months, Zamboanga now has a little over 1,000 active coronavirus infections and the number continues to go down as the local Task Covid-19 headed by Mayor Beng Climaco has imposed aggressive measures to fight the spread of the deadly respiratory disease that has already killed more than 400 people, mostly those with other illnesses or comorbidity. The spike in Covid-19 cases here was due to the complacency of residents and the presence of the more contagious variants of the virus – the South African, the U.K. and the Philippines variants of the novel coronavirus. The Department of Health has confirmed this after it detected the three Covid-19 strains in Zamboanga City and warned the public that it is “one of the most virulent variants” today. The DOH also said in March that the U.K. variant was also present in Zamboanga del Sur and Zamboanga del Norte after two overseas Filipino workers returned home in February infected with it. With the alarming increase in active Covid-19 cases, the national government placed Zamboanga City and later on the whole of Region 9 or the Zamboanga Peninsula region under MECQ. Under the MECQ status, Climaco re-imposed
the use of the Quarantine Passes and residents are only allowed to go out three times a week to buy provisions, except those in essential services and APORs or Authorized Persons Outside Residence. And also imposed total lockdown on Sundays to allow the disinfectionof commercial establishments and government buildings. The mayor also issued an executive order forming the so-called Barangay Sita Task Force in every village to ensure residents strictly follow the health protocols and MECQ guidelines. The Department of Health (DOH) has previously commended the local government for its critical role in addressing the Covid-19 pandemic and the implementation of various health programs here. In a letter to Climaco, the DOH said it recognizes Zamboanga City as an “outstanding local government unit that has greatly contributed to the regional response against the Covid-19 pandemic, and at the same time pushed for the unhampered implementation of other critical health programs.” The mayor renewed her strong commitment to the national health programs and vowed to continue supporting the DOH in the implementation of critical programs for the welfare of the people. In addition to its pandemic response, the local government championed DOH
health programs and advocacies, including the measles-rubella supplemental immunizationactivity in December, and the BIDA Solusyon sa Covid-19 which aims to encourage the Filipinos to take an active role in the fight against the coronavirus. The campaign promotes the active role of individuals in the fight against Covid-19 by practicing BIDA, a battle cry or slogan meaning: “Bawal walang mask; I-sanitize ang mga kamay,iwas-hawak sa mga bagay; Dumitansya ng isang metro at Alamin ang totoong impormasyong.” Climaco thanked medical frontliners and all those who are in the forefront of the battle against the pandemic, saying, all credits to the local government’s outstanding pandemic response go to them. City Health Officer Dr. Dulce Amor Miravite said residents need to cooperate with the local government and follow the health protocols. “We started MECQ on May 8 and more than 3 weeks under MECQ ta mira kita hinay-hinay ya ta abaja el de aton active cases. Hopefully, this trend will continue and we need everybody’s help to bring down our Covid-19 cases by following health protocols such as wearing of face maskand face shield, physical distancing and frequently washing hands with soap and water or sanitizing them,” she said. (Zamboanga Post)
From page 1 IS THE majority bloc at the City Council in peril or is it now fragmented, making the minority group allied with Mayor Beng Climaco the new majority body? This was the question raised by political supporters and followers of Climaco following the quick approval of the P1.368-billion Supplemental Budget requested by the local government. “The bulk of the budget will be utilized for the City’s Covid-19 response, such as the procurement of equipment, medicines and social assistance to be given to affected families para asegura el curada y comida que ay puede ayuda alivia vida na tiempo de pandemia,” Climaco said. The 54-year old mayor thanked the 13 council members, including political allies of former congressman and defeated mayoralty candidate Celso Lobregat, for approving the supplemental budget. “We thank the move of the majority of the Sangguniang Panlungsod members who went beyond party lines and treated the approval of the Supplemental Budget No.1 amounting to P1.368 Billion with a sense of urgency - this is a clear indication that in a period of financial challenges and public health crisis, we, as servants of the people, can unite over common goals and respond to a more genuine conscience call - to heal the sick, feed the hungry and promote the general health and welfare of all our people,” Climaco said.
“We thank our SP members for showing unity and a whole-of-society approach for our Covid-19 response and capacity management. With God’s grace, hay puede kita dale curada y comida para ayuda alivia el vida del diatun maga vivientes na este tiempo de pandemia. Muchas gracias,” she added. Climaco said those who voted for and approved the supplemental budget were Councilors Bong Atilano, Jihan Edding, Kim Elago, VP Elago, Tungkuh Hanapi, Cesar Jimenez, Khymer Olaso, El King Omaga, Pinpin Pareja, Jerry Perez, Cary John Pioc, Gerky Valesco and Jimmy Villaflores. And those who voted against it were Councilors Litlit Macrohon, Mike Alavar, BG Guingona, John Dalipe and Lilibeth Nuño – all staunch supporters of Lobregat and fiercest critics of Climaco. The 73-year old Lobregat, now sick with Covid-19 and in hospital, released a photo of himself on his Facebook page – a towel partially covered his neck and making a thumb signal that everything is okay. Accompanying the photo is a caption that reads: “Getting the best care from our doctors and nurses. Thank you so much to everyone who has sent me their love and prayers. I appreciate all of you. I am well on my way to recovery! No man lingasa. Taqui lang iyo.” But the latest photo bolstered suspicions and persistent rumors that Lobregat is also undergoing
dialysis through the neck. Lobregat has not said anything whether he was on dialysis or not. There are three different types of dialysis access used for hemodialysis, a process in which blood is transported from the body for cleaning and one of them is the Central Venous Catheter (CVC) also called Central Line. The CVC, which is a flexible, long, plastic, y-shaped tube that is threaded through the skin into a central vein in the neck, chest or groin. A CVC is not usually intended to be a permanent type of access. If the patient needs immediate or emergency dialysis or cannot receive and do not have an arteriovenous fistula or graft, then it will require a CVC. CVC is quick to replace and remove and may be used immediately for dialysis and it is an outpatient procedure. However, its disadvantages are the following: It may damage central veins; may increase the length of the hemodialysis treatment; bathing and swimming are not recommended and complications can include infection and catheter clotting. Whether Lobregat is sick or not, will his allies at the City Council remain loyal to him or will they switch side with Climaco and help her “heal the sick, feed the hungry and promote the general health and welfare of our people?” As former Indian Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda said: “No permanent friends or enemies in politics.” (Zamboanga Post)
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South African variant of Covid-19 harder to detect, difficult to treat! Continued from page 1 wearing face masks and face shields and observe physical distancing and washing or
sanitizing hands more often. “Zamboangueños can contribute to fight against Covid-19 by complying with
the minimum public health standards to avoid a mirroring of the experiences in other countries. Ayaw nating mat-
ulad sa ibang lugar o ibang bansa na kung saan hindi na nakakayanan ng healthcare workers, nagkakaroon na
ng burnout among medical professionals so eventually nagco-collapse ang health system. Mas mahihirapan
po tayo sa pagsugpo nitong pandemya” Iturralde said. (Zamboanga Post, Claudine Uniana)
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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. Distribute 5. Taxing agcy. 8. Pretzel seasoning 12. Sword fight 13. Police officer 14. Toast spread 15. Albany’s canal 16. Creepiness 18. Taxi 20. Puts into effect 21. Colony 25. Eminent conductor 26. On the peak 30. Can.’s neighbor 31. Monsters 34. ___ had it! 35. Workout spots 37. Clothing 39. Legislature, in the UK 42. Medicinal amount 45. Explosive initials 46. Coffeehouse selection 48. Baseball’s Babe ___ 52. Exclamation of woe 53. Actor ___ Hanks 54. Not ashore 55. Love to excess 56. Compass reading (abbr.) 57. Superman’s alter ego
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Cop eludes capture, 2 others arrested in drug sting
A trike driver not wearing a face mask and face shield waits for passengers in Barangay Tetuan. (Zamboanga Post)
Climaco wants essential workers, trikes and jeepney drivers vaccinated Continued from page 1 (IATF-MEID) has begun inoculating those in the National Capital Region. The IATF-MEID of the national government expanded the list of individuals for priority vaccination to the A4 priority list, to include those who work outside their homes and have high levels of interaction with the public. To help jumpstart the safe reopening of the economy, A4 vaccination will also start in areas with dense economic activity and high risk of exposure to Covid-19 such as the National Capital Region – the Metropolitan Manila area, Batangas, Cavite, Laguna, Rizal, Bulacan, Pampanga, Cebu province and Metro Davao, which includes the cities of Davao; Digos in Davao del Sur
province; Tagum, Panabo and Samal in Davao del Norte province. Those who were vaccinated on June 7 under the A4 priority list were call center employees, travel guides, tricycle drivers, household staffs, SM Supermalls personnel, representatives from the entertainment sector, drivers, teachers, government workers, fast food crew workers, food delivery riders, and news reporters from the Malacanang Press Corps. But Zamboanga City, not even Region 9 or Zamboanga Peninsula in Western Mindanao which is under Modified Enhanced Community Quarantine (MECQ), were not included in the A4 priority list despite the high number of Covid-19 cases. In her request to the
IATF-MEID, Climaco said: “Hinihiling po namin na masagawa na po ang pagbukas ng A4 priority category (sa Zamboanga).” And at the same, the mayor thanked President Rodrigo Duterte and members of the IATF-MEID for prioritizing Zamboanga City in the allocation of vaccines. Climaco said the mass vaccination in Zamboanga City continues and urged residents to register online through - zambocovax. com – or to the nearest barangay health centers. More than 42,000 residents, mostly medical frontliners and healthcare workers and those with comorbidity or other illnesses, had been inoculated so far with more than 12,000 people fully vaccinated. (Zamboanga Post, Jasmine Mohammadsali)
POLICEMEN, BACKED by soldiers, arrested 2 suspected drug dealers during an undercover sting operation, but a third trafficker - a cop managed to escape and is being hunted down in Zamboanga City. City police chief, Colonel Rexmel Reyes, said security forces recovered about a kilogram of crystal meth worth P6.8 million following the arrest of Nasher Abdulkadil and Alhisar Nawadil. Their companion, Patrolman Jidkhan Raji remains at
large. He said the trio is listed as “high value targets” in the war against illegal drugs. He lauded all those involved in the June 7 operation which were participated by members of the Police Stations 1 and 9, the 2nd City Mobile Force, and the Philippine Marines. “The Zamboanga City Police Office is sustaining the momentum of the anti-illegal campaign with more aggressive operations against high-value targets and prominent drug person-
alities,” Reyes said. Policemen and soldiers also seized from the suspects one 9mm pistol and two magazines with 14 bullets and marked money used in the drug sting by undercover agents. A pickup truck used by the trio in transporting the drugs. Mayor Beng Climaco also lauded the police force and the Marines for a “job well done.” “Gracias por su dedicacion y por proteger a los residentes de la ciudad de Zamboanga,” she said. (Zamboanga Post)
COVID-19 vaccines reduce risk of infection by 91% for fully vaccinated people A NEW study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) finds the mRNA Covid-19 vaccines authorized by the Food and Drug Administration (Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna) reduce the risk of infection by 91 percent for fully vaccinated people. This adds to the growing body of real-world evidence of their effectiveness. Importantly, this study also is among the first to show that mRNA vaccination benefits people who get Covid-19 despite being fully vaccinated (14 or more days after dose 2) or partially vaccinated (14 or more days after dose 1 to 13 days after dose 2). “Covid-19 vaccines are a critical tool in overcoming this pandemic,” said CDC Director Rochelle P. Walensky. “Findings from the extended timeframe of this study add to accumulating evidence that mRNA COVID-19 vaccines are effective and should prevent most infections — but that fully vaccinated people who still get Covid-19 are likely to have milder, shorter illness and appear to be less likely to spread the virus to others. These benefits are another important reason to get vaccinated.” The findings come from four weeks of additional data collected in CDC’s HEROES-RECOVER study of health care workers, first responders, frontline workers, and other essential workers. These groups are more likely to be exposed to the virus that causes Covid-19 because of their occupations. Preliminary results from this study were first
announced in March this year. In the new analysis, 3,975 participants completed weekly SARSCoV-2 testing for 17 consecutive weeks (from December 13, 2020 to April 10, 2021) in eight U.S. locations. Participants self-collected nasal swabs that were laboratory tested for SARS-CoV-2, which is the virus that causes Covid-19. If the tests came back positive, the specimens were further tested to determine the amount of detectable virus in the nose (i.e., viral load) and the number of days that participants tested positive (i.e., viral shedding). Participants were followed over time and the data were analyzed according to vaccination status. To evaluate vaccine benefits, the study investigators accounted for the circulation of SARSCoV-2 viruses in the area and how consistently participants used personal protective equipment at work and in the community. Once fully vaccinated, participants’ risk of infection was reduced by 91 percent. After partial vaccination, participants’ risk of infection was reduced by 81 percent. These estimates included symptomatic and asymptomatic infections. To determine whether Covid-19 illness was milder, study participants who became infected with SARS-CoV-2 were combined into a single group and compared to unvaccinated, infected participants. Several findings indicated that those who became infected after being fully or partial-
ly vaccinated were more likely to have a milder and shorter illness compared to those who were unvaccinated. For example, fully or partially vaccinated people who developed Covid-19 spent on average six fewer total days sick and two fewer days sick in bed. They also had about a 60 percent lower risk of developing symptoms, like fever or chills, compared to those who were unvaccinated. Some study participants infected with SARS-CoV-2 did not develop symptoms. Other study findings suggest that fully or partially vaccinated people who got Covid-19 might be less likely to spread the virus to others. For example, fully or partially vaccinated study participants had 40 percent less detectable virus in their nose (i.e., a lower viral load), and the virus was detected for six fewer days (i.e., viral shedding) compared to those who were unvaccinated when infected. In addition, people who were partially or fully vaccinated were 66 percent less likely to test positive for SARS-CoV-2 infection for more than one week compared to those who were unvaccinated. While these indicators are not a direct measure of a person’s ability to spread the virus, they have been correlated with reduced spread of other viruses, such as varicella and influenza. Overall, the study findings support CDC’s recommendation to get fully vaccinated against Covid-19 as soon as possible. (With additional reporting from Zamboanga Post)
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Dengue cases down in Zambo ‘Beng tells folks to clean backyards’
M
A dirty and stagnant water at a neighborhood in Barangay Tetuan puts residents at risk of getting infected with dengue fever. (Zamboanga Post)
AYOR BENG Climaco reminded residents to keep their back yard clean and destroy breeding places of mosquitoes even as dengue cases in Zamboanga decreased by nearly 70% for the first five months of this year compared to the same period in 2020. Dengue fever is a caused by mosquito bites, mosquito-borne tropi- mainly of the species Aecal disease caused by the des aegypti. dengue virus. Its sympShe ordered barangay toms typically begin 3 to officials to help in the cam14 days after infection and paign against dengue and these may include a high lead villagers in the cleanfever, headache, vomiting, liness drive by destroying muscle and joint pains, breeding grounds of mosand a characteristic skin quitoes. “Please keep our rash. Climaco renewed calls for public cooperation and community involvement in the campaign against the spread of the deadly dengue virus
surroundings clean at all time and destroy breeding places of mosquitoes, such as discarded containers, tires and broken (flower) pots,” Climaco said. Last year, the first dengue casualty was in Barangay Kasanyangan and also recorded over 300 dengue cases in June in Barangays Santa Maria, Mercedes, Talon-Talon, Tetuan, and San Roque. To prevent dengue fever, the City Health Office
advocates the practice of 4S habits – search and destroy mosquito breeding places, self-protection measures, seek early consultation, and say no to indiscriminate fogging. In 2019, the City Health Office recorded 23 deaths from dengue fever and over 4,000 suspected dengue cases in the first 8 months alone. (Zamboanga Post, Jasmine Mohammadsali)
Free vitamins for barangay health workers, tanods lauded
Sunday Reflection by Mayor Beng Climaco ‘The Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ’ Exodus 24:3-8 and Psalm 116:12-13, 15-16, 17-18 Hebrews 9:11-15 and Mark 14:12-16, 22-26 Today on the Feast of Corpus Christi we give God all Glory and Praise. Jesus addresses the Apostles: “Take it; this is my body.” Then he took a cup, gave thanks, and gave it to them, and they all drank from it. He said to them: “This is my blood of the covenant, which will be shed for many. Amen, I say to you, I shall not drink again the fruit of the vine until the day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God.” Here our Lord gives Himself to us in totality. Can we do likewise? Love made perfect in death so that we might have life. In June 6’s anticipated mass in St. Joseph Church, Monsignor Chris Manongas calls us to have gratitude and forgive those who have wronged us, in offering ourselves to Jesus. A life of gratitude to God even for misfortunes. A life of union to share in the body of Christ. To forgive those who wronged us. Eucharistic life share same bread and cup. A life of Hopeful expectation. Eucharist is God’s love beyond compelling. The entire week, we worked at the Emergency Operations Center to respond to our people in this pandemic. Using virtual meetings, we had multiple sessions with the RIATF (Regional Inter-Agency Task Force), even dual meetings with National Resilience Council to include Mayor (Oscar) Moreno of
Cagayan de Oro; Mayor Richard Gomez of Ormoc, and Mayor Madeline Alfelor of Iriga. On the part of City Government, we needed to step-up our efforts on PROTECTION, DETECTION, ISOLATION, TREATMENT and REINTEGRATION with Test, Trace, Treat and Vaccination. I visited Barangays and met the Chairpersons, Kagawads, BHERTS (Barangay Health Emergency Response Teams) and Contact Tracers with their efforts very evident to respond to the medical emergency. I reminded them to wear face masks, face shields at all times. I found the work of contact tracers of the Department of the Interior and Local Government and the City Government with previous Largo Vida staffs all working very hard to reach and contact affected families. I could see their dedication and hard-work and the pride; they have been doing a special mission. With 2,107 Active Cases on May 31, 2021, God showed a miracle of decreased cases on June 2, 2021 at 1,833 Active Cases. On June 5, 2021, the Active cases are 1,461 and the number continues to go down. God is sending us hope in new recoveries. We give our gratitude to God. It is in this moments amidst the loss of lives that we mourn and pray for the dead and the families who are in pain. We seek the Lord who gave Himself to us, who suffered, died, was buried and rose again. He gives Himself to us to find life in Him because of His penultimate love to save us! Jesus, bread of Life, hear our prayer. (MBC)
Zamboanga Peninsula
Basilan
Members of the City Council help in the distribution of vitamins to barangay frontline workers. BARANGAY FRONTLINERS and barangay officials, including tanods and volunteers have thanked Mayor Beng Climaco for the vitamins they received from the local government to ensure their well-being as they continue with their jobs in fighting the spread of Covid-19 disease. Health workers from various barangays have received the vitamins from the group of Councilors Al Jihan Edding, Pinpin Pareja, Kim Elago and Jimmy Villaflores who are helping distribute the vitamins. Among the barangays which received the vitamins were Mampang, Tugbungan, Lunzuran, Divisoria, Santa Barba-
Sulu
ra, Santa Catalina, Boalan, Mercedes, Talabaan, Culianan, Cacao, Guisao, Tolosa, Lanzones, among others. The mayor has repeatedly and publicly praised the barangay health workers and barangay officials and tanods, and also the volunteers for their sacrifice and hardwork in ensuring the health and
safety of residents from the deadly respiratory disease. “Ta pide yo gracias con el todo del de atun maga health workers na diferente barangay, el de atun maga capitan y kagawad, el maga tanod y otro pa por de estos sacrificio para contene la proliferacion del virus” she said. (Zamboanga Post)
Tawi-tawi