Delta Variant
Founded July 2019
ADVERTISING DEPARTMENT, PLEASE CALL (062) 9555360 or (0915) 3976197
P10
June 28-July 4, 2021
‘Indian Covid variant now in the country’
T
HE DELTA Covid variant, also known as the Indian variant, has now reached the Philippines with health officials saying over a dozen cases had been detected, mostly from returning overseas Filipino workers. The World Health Or- spread to more than 80 have found that the Delganization (WHO) said countries and continues ta variant also causes the Delta variant has now to mutate. Some reports Continue on page 2
More Covid facilities up in Zambo
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said the Delta variant from India is now a “Variant of Concern.”
Covid vaccination bonus: Senior citizens, PWDs get free ride to jab centers THE LOCAL government has offered free rides to senior citizens and those with disabilities who are scheduled for Covid-19 Continue on page 2
The Zamboanga City Government offers free ride to the elderly and people with disabilities who are scheduled for Covid-19 vaccination.(Special Events Team)
A DPWH photo shows Public Works Undersecretary Emil Sadain, who heads the agency’s Task Force for Augmentation of Health Facilities, with Mayor Beng Climaco and other officials looking at a map. The DPWH is ramping up on-going construction of additional Covid-19 isolation facilities in Zamboanga City. ZAMBOANGA CITY is putting up more isolation facilities and targeting at least 2,000 beds as part of the local government’s Covid-19 response, sup-
plementing the mass vaccination program aimed at fighting the spread of the deadly respiratory virus. “We are boosting our
DILG orders barangay officials to put up own isolation centers THE DEPARTMENT of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) has ordered all barangay officials to mobilize their Continue on page 7
Cientos de personas detenidas por violar los protocolos de salud
Un miembro de la Joint Task Force Zamboanga en un puesto de control en la costa oeste. (Zamboanga Post)
Zamboanga Peninsula
LA FUERZA de policia local y la Fuerza de Tarea de Barangay Sita continuan deteniendo a cientos de infractores del protocolo de salud todos los dias a pesar de la implementacion mas estricta del estado de cuarentena de la ciudad de Zamboanga. La mayoria de los detenidos no tenan pases Continue on page 3
Basilan
isolation facilities and efficiency of ambulances,” said Mayor Beng Climaco, head of the local Covid-19 task force. Continue on page 3
A December 2016 photo shows Zamboanga City Mayor Beng Climaco with then AFP Chief-ofStaff Eduardo Año and now DILG Secretary.
StaySafe QR code not a substitute to Quarantine Pass THE CITY Government said the Quick Response (QR) code generated by the StaySafe.Ph applica-
tion cannot be used as a Quarantine Pass in Zamboanga. The StaySafe.Ph is the
Sulu
government’s official digital contact tracing system and not a Continue on page 7
Tawi-tawi
2
The Zamboanga Post
June 28-July 4, 2021
Delta Variant ‘Indian Covid variant now in the country’
Continued from page 1 more severe symptoms, but more research is needed to confirm those conclusions, according to WHO. The Department of Health (DOH), the University of the Philippines - Philippine Genome Center and the University of the Philippines - National Institutes of Health have confirmed the presence of the Delta variant. The DOH said three Filipino crew of the MV Eastern Hope now docked in South Korea were all sent home on June 3 after testing positive for the Delta variant. Two of them completed the 10-day isolation after arrival in the Philippines and were eventually discharged after recovering from the disease. The third Filipino remains in the hospital. Another Filipino worker who arrived home from Saudi Arabia on May 24 was also positive for the Delta variant and also recovered on June 10, but he remains under strict home quarantine because of the health protocols imposed by his local gov-
ernment. The DOH said at least 17 cases of Delta variants had been recorded so far. It did not say or identify the places where those found positive or recovered from the Delta variant. Aside from the Delta variant, the Philippines also has confirmed cases of Covid-19 variants – the Alpha variant or the United Kingdom variant; the Beta variant, also known as the South African variant; and Theta variant or the Philippine variant. The DOH has not reported any Gamma variant or the Brazil variant of the deadly respiratory virus. But it noted a spike in Covid-19 cases in central and southern Philippines. “The DOH, UP-PGC, and UP-NIH assure the public that bio-surveillance activities for the detection of Covid-19 variants shall continue amidst the increase in cases in Visayas and Mindanao,” the DOH said in a communique. In Zamboanga City, health officials confirmed the presence of the South
African variant which resulted in the surge of Covid cases from 30 to over 2,800 beginning in mid-March. The local government managed to slow down the spread of the virus after Zamboanga City was placed under stricter quarantine control on May 8. Now, the number of active Covid-19 cases is just a little over 700, said Mayor Beng Climaco. The DOH also released P180 million to the UP-PGC in May for the purchase of reagents for whole genome sequencing for the rest of the year. These reagents will allow the DOH, UP-PGC, and UP-NIH to sequence samples of Covid-19 cases regularly until the end of the year, ensuring that the government will have essential information in mitigating the spread of virus. According to the Pharmaceutical Technology, the Delta variant continues to spread, prompting fears it will become the most dominant strain globally. There is also concern that while data is being shared, countries with
weaker monitoring systems may not have detected the strain’s presence. It also reported that Covid-19 vaccines from Pfizer Inc. and AstraZeneca Plc are highly effective after two doses at preventing hospitalization of those infected with the
Delta variant, underscoring the urgency in getting people fully vaccinated. The Pfizer and BioNTech SE shot is 96% effective against hospitalization after two doses, while the AstraZeneca and University of Oxford Covid inoculation is 92%
effective, according to an analysis announced recently by Public Health England. Those results are comparable with the protection offered against the Alpha variant, which first emerged in Britain, the data show. (Zamboanga Post)
Covid vaccination bonus: Senior citizens, PWDs get free ride to jab centers
Image (Special Events Team)
FOR SALE
Memorial Lawn Lot P300,000
Good for two. Golden Haven Boalan in Zamboanga. Near main gate about 20 meters, beside, pathwalk, near a tree. Prime location, Phase 1, Section 1.
Please Call 0915-3976197
Continued from page 1 inoculation, as it continues with the mass vaccination program, strictly following the prioritization categories of the Department of Health (DOH). The DOH has prioritized those under the A1, A2 and A3 categories. A1 refers to workers in frontline services; A2 are the senior citizens and A3 are those with comorbidity or those with more than one disease or condition which is present in the same person at the same time. Mayor Beng Climaco, head of the local Covid-19 task force, said over 50,000 people under those categories had been vaccinated. “As soon as we receive the vaccines, we roll this out immediately for the A1, A2 and A3 (categories) in compliance with the DOH prioritization framework,” she said. The DOH also allowed the vaccination of 898 people who are under A4 category or frontline personnel in essential sectors, including uniformed personnel. Climaco said there are now more vaccination sites
to serve the public more efficiently and among them are the Ateneo de Zamboanga University, SM Mindpro Mall, KCC Mall de Zamboanga, Barangay Santa Maria and Baliwasan multi-purpose covered courts, the Western Mindanao State University and Zamboanga Chong Hua High School. Barangay health centers also offer Covid-19 vaccination. The mayor thanked all those which offered their facilities as vaccination sites. To ensure the smooth flow of vaccination process, Climaco said the City Health Office strictly follows the DOH guidelines
where five stations are set up in each of all the vaccination sites. She said a vaccinee or a person who receives a vaccination will have to pass register their name for verification purposes and then goes to the Counselling (informed consent), then the next step is to the medical screening and finally gets inoculated and stay for at least 15 to 30 minutes for vital signs monitoring which is used to measure basic physiologic parameters such as non-invasive blood pressure, oxygen saturation, pulse rate, and temperature. (Zamboanga Post)
Images (Special Events Team)
3
The Zamboanga Post
June 28-July 4, 2021
More Covid facilities up in Zambo
DPWH Secretary Mark Villar says the on-going conversion of the old Zamboanga Convention Center in Pasonanca, Zamboanga City will provide additional isolation or quarantine facility for treatment of asymptomatic and moderate Covid-19 patients. Photo shows DPWH Undersecretary Emil Sadain inspecting the project.
Villamero’s Enterprises For all your newspaper publications or subscription to The Zamboanga Post and The Mindanao Examiner Regional Newspaper, please call or text Villamero’s Enterprises at these numbers (062) 955-8677 and 0917-1223496. Located at Campaner Street, Zamboanga City and serving Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi.
Cientos de personas detenidas por violar los protocolos de salud
Los policías vigilan un puesto de control en Calarian. Continued from page 1 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,” dijo Climaco.
La situacion de salud local cambio rápidamente despues de que el IATF-MEID del gobierno nacional relajoo sus protocolos de viaje en todo el pais y permitio a las personas ir de un lugar a otro sin certificados medicos ni pruebas de RT-PCR. Los hospitales publicos y privados de este pais han instalado salas adicionales para atender al creciente numero de pacientes con la mortal enfermedad respiratoria, pero ni siquiera son suficientes. Climaco enfatizo que al enfrentar la pandemia, el gobierno debe equil-
ibrar 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)
Continued from page 1 The mayor said she tasked Elmeir Apolinario, head of the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office and also the Chief Implementer of the policies of the local Covid-19 task force, to build the facilities. Climaco said she expects the project to be completed soon. The Department of Public Works and Highway (DPWH) said it is also ramping up the on-going construction of additional isolation facilities here with construction of an “off-site modular hospital and pop-up dormitory” for health workers. DPWH Secretary Mark Villar said the on-going conversion of the old Zamboanga Convention Center in Pasonanca, Zamboanga City will provide additional isolation or quarantine facility for treatment of asymptomatic and moderate Covid-19 patients. DPWH Undersecretary Emil Sadain who heads the agency’s Task Force for Augmentation of Health Facilities, said the “repurposing” works for the Pasonanca Quarantine Facility is almost completed and meets public health’s standards for isolation and quarantine. He said the 182-bed facility in Barangay Pasonanca can provide space for hospitals to discharge non-emergency Covid-19 cases and effectively allocate hospital beds for more severe and critical patients. Sadain said the quarantine facility was also inspected by Department of Health (DOH) Assistant Secretary Romeo Ong, Mayor Beng Climaco, and DPWH Region 9 Director Cayamombao Dia. Sadain said the project is intended to augment the two quarantine tents with 20 beds also in Pasonanca which was
completed in March. Both facilities shall be managed and operated by the City Health Office and City Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office (CDRRMO) under supervision by the DOH. The DPWH is also constructing a modular hospital with 22 beds for moderate, severe to critical Covid-9 patients at the Mindanao Central Sanitarium General Hospital (MCSGH) in Barangay Pasobolong and will be operated by the Zamboanga City Medical Center (ZCMC) with equipment supplied by the DOH; and a dormitory with 16 rooms and double decker beds medical personnel. Sadain said he and Abdel Kanti, of the CDRRMO; and DPWH Region 9 Construction Division Chief Engr. Atila Barre have - after their assessment - 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. He said the projects at the MCSGH were also discussed in a meeting and inspected by Dia and the Chief of Hospital, Dr. Hannah Turco, including ZCMC Chief Dr. Afdal Kunting. Hate, Prejudice Climaco thanked President Rodrigo Duterte, Villar, Duque and Ong for all the Covid-19 projects. But while Climaco and the DPWH and DOH continue efforts to address the pandemic and respond to the health crisis, social media trolls and black propagandists also heightened their attacks against the mayor ahead of next year’s polls. Climaco’s foes peddled fake news and false information aimed at bringing down the may-
or, who is on her third and final term. Political propagandists resorted to spreading misinformation about Covid-19 and even denounced the isolation facilities in Barangay 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. Law But Climaco is undeterred by black propaganda and said the law shall take its course. Police have previously arrested dozens of people and filed charges against them for spreading fake news and unverified information on social media amid the pandemic. Those who spread fake news and false information can be charged with violations of the “Unlawful Use of Means of Publication and Unlawful Utterances under Article 154 of the Revised Penal Code as amended, concerning Sec 4c4 (online libel) and Section 6 of Republic Act 10175 or the Anti-Cybercrime Law.” Violators face imprisonment of one to six months and a fine ranging from P40,000 to P200,000. They could also be punished under the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012 and could be held for violating Presidential Decree Number 90 which makes rumor-mongering and spreading false information as unlawful because it may cause or tend to cause panic, divisive effects among the people, and undermine the stability of the government. (Zamboanga Post)
4
The Zamboanga Post
June 28-July 4, 2021
Zamboanga Pictures in the News Local government of Zamboanga City at work. This is where your taxes go.
June 28-July 4, 2021
The Zamboanga Post
5
Zamboanga Pictures in the News Photos by : ZCPO, Giana Andrion, Eugene Elnar, Special Events Team, Verna Navarette, Rosie Grace Balambao, ADZU, Christine Lim, CHO, Capt. Aimee Cabato, and IRDT.
6
The Zamboanga Post
June 28-July 4, 2021
Across : 1. Pupil’s transport 4. Wound covering 8. Tater 12. List-ending abbr. 13. Gap 14. Fork feature 15. Corn spike 16. Constant companions (2 wds.) 18. ___ Beta Kappa 19. Not as tight 20. Indigent 22. Not appropriate 26. Boat with two hulls 30. Remote 31. Adjoin 32. Anchorman ___ Rather 33. Model 34. Miles ___ hour 35. Napoleon ___ 37. Guide 39. Concern 40. Rodeo ropes 43. Vane dir. 46. Apologetic 49. Cry of surprise 50. Rock’s ___ Clapton 51. Unfasten 52. Electrified particle 53. Dryer outlet 54. Withstand 55. Small spot Down : 1. Horn’s sound 2. Nevada neighbor 3. Sacred writings 4. Hebrew greeting 5. Boulder’s state 6. Female voice 7. Stinging insects 8. Strict 9. Porker 10. One (Sp.) 11. ___ Moines 17. Harness part 21. Certain grain 23. Spoken of earlier 24. Time gone by
The Zamboanga Post
An Edition of the Mindanao Examiner Regional Newspaper
Maritess Fernandez
Publisher/Executive Producer
Al Jacinto
Editor-in-Chief
Reynold Toribio Graphics/Video Editor
Mindanao Examiner Productions Web Master
REGIONAL PARTNERS Mindanao Daily Business Week Mindanao Star
ADVERTISING Jeng Fernandez (0917) 7930652 Zamboanga Peninsula
Answer to last week’s crossword:
25. Sycamore or oak 26. Bottle tops 27. Aid in crime 28. Sped 29. Large boa 33. Average 35. Dietary fiber 36. Minister 38. Vote in 41. Ticket part 42. Reasonable 44. Begone! 45. Crave 46. Clergy mem. 47. Before, to Keats 48. Brooch
Weekly Sudoku:
Richard Suarez
(0910) 7348600 Kismet Cable TV, Aquino cor. Cabrera sts., Gatas District, Pagadian City, Zamboanga del Sur
The Zamboanga Post
is published weekly in Mindanao, Philippines.
ZAMBOANGA CITY OFFICE:
3rd Floor, JLC Building, Don Alfaro St., Tetuan, Zamboanga City Phone & Fax: (062) 9555360 Mobile: (0915) 3976197 URL: mindanaoexaminer.com E-mail: mindanaoexaminer@gmail.com
Answer to last week:
CEBU CITY G/F Dreamfield bldg, Sanciangko Street, Kamagayan (0923) 1670009
Rodil P. Ybañez
DAVAO CITY Door 2, 402 Nidea Street, Barrio Obrero, Davao City, Philippines (082) 2841859 / (0932) 4323301 / (0997) 3172021
Marilou Cablinda
ADVERTISE WITH US IN ZAMBOANGA!
NORTH COTABATO KIDAPAWAN CITY CENTRAL MINDANAO COTABATO CITY Rhoderick Beñez (0927) 4757936
PAGADIAN CITY
Kismet Cable TV, Aquino cor. Cabrera st., Gatas District, Pagadian City, Zamboanga Del Sur (0910) 7348600
Richard Suarez
DAVAO CITY OFFICE
ZAMBOANGA PENINSULA BASILAN, SULU, TAWIͳTAWI ΈBARMMΉ
Door 2, 402 Nidea Street, Barrio Obrero, Davao City, Philippines (082) 2841859 / (0932) 4323301 / (0997) 3172021
3rd Floor, JLC Building, Don Alfaro Street, Zamboanga City (062) 9555360 / (0915) 3976197 / (0917) 7930652
ZAMBOANGA CITY OFFICE
Jeng Fernandez
mindanaoexaminer.com
mindanaoexaminer.com mindanaoexaminer@gmail.com
3/F, JLC Building, Don Alfaro Street, Tetuan Zamboanga City (062) 9555360 / 0915-3976197
June 28-July 4, 2021
7
The Zamboanga Post
Barangay certification hindi puwedeng gamitin bilang Quarantine Pass HINDI PINAHIHINTULUTAN ng pamahalaang lokal ng Zamboanga ang paggamit sa mga barangay certification bilang “Quarantine Pass” upang makalabas ng bahay habang nasa ilalim ng mahigpit na quarantine status ang buong lungsod. Ang Quarantine Pass pangangailangan. Ito ang paglilinaw ng Muli itong ginamit Zamboanga Inter-Agency “A” at “B” ay ipinamahagi Task Force (IATF) matapos ng pamahalaang lokal sa ng ideklara ni Pangulong na malamang ginagamit mga residente ng magsim- Duterte noong Mayo 8 na ito ng mga residente bil- ula ang pandemya noong isailalim ang Zamboanga sa nakaraang taon habang Modified Enhanced Comang Quarantine Pass. Sinabi ng IATF na ang nasa General Community munity Quarantine dahil pagbibigay ng barangay Quarantine sa Zamboan- sa tumataas na bilang ng certification ay isang re- ga. Ito ang nagtatakda ng Covid-19 cases dito. quirement lamang upang araw kung kalian puweSa kabila ng napamakakuha ng electronic deng lumabas ng bahay karaming mga Quarantine version ng Quarantine Pass ang isang Quarantine Pass Pass na ipinamahagi noon o E-Quarantine Pass ang holder at substitute nito ay libo-libong mga residenmga residenteng wala nito. upang makabili ng kanilang te na naman ang nangan-
gailan nito. Kung kaya’t sa halip na kunin ito sa mga barangay offices ay minabuti na lamang ng IATF na maglabas ng E-Quarantine Pass upang maprotektahan ang publiko laban sa Covid-19. Online na lamang ang rehistrasyon sa pagkuha ng E-Quarantine Pass at ang barangay certification ang requirement ng isang residente upang mabigyan nito. “Barangay-issued certification for non-essential
activities are not recognized by the local IATF. Barangays may only issue certification for the purpose of residents’ application for E-Quarantine Pass which is submitted online, as well as for business reasons. Zamboanga City’s Covid-19 situation remain fluid and volatile, thus, movement and gathering restrictions should be sustained and reinforced.” “Some residents are observed to be exploiting the use of barangay certifi-
cates defeating the purpose of community quarantine. Police and military authorities manning quarantine checkpoints are directed to confiscate all unauthorized barangay-issued certification and disallow non-essential movements or activities,” ayon pa sa pahayag ng pamahalaang lokal. Maraming mga residente na rin ang hinuli sa mga checkpoints dahil sa paggamit ng mga pekeng Quarantine Pass. (Zamboanga Post)
DILG orders barangay officials to put up own isolation centers Continued from page 1 Barangay Health Emergency Response Teams (BHERTs) and establish their own Barangay Isolation Units (BIUs). “Malaking bagay ang pagtatayo ng BIU sapagkat dito natin maaaring ilagak ang mga coronavirus patient na hindi kritikal ang mga sintomas. So that hospitals can concentrate on serious symptoms needing medical interventions,” DILG Secretary Eduardo Año said. He said all barangay of-
ficials must lead in the enforcement of strict quarantine rules and to ensure that residents follow the quarantine guidelines and health protocols. Barangay officials who do not follow the order will face sanctions. Año said barangay officials should also ensure citizens are practicing proper quarantine and social distancing measures, and that immediate health protocols are in place. He said that barangay officials may face charges of
gross neglect of duty, gross negligence and insubordination for failing to perform their responsibilities under the state of public health emergency. Many local barangay officials have nothing to say, but complain. Some claimed they do not have sufficient funds for BUIs while other barangay officials said they have no available space for isolation facilities and have always relied on the City Government. (Zamboanga Post)
StaySafe QR code not a substitute to Quarantine Pass Continued from page 1 substitute for a printed Quarantine Pass or its electronic version. “The StaySafe QR code is not and cannot be used as a Quarantine Pass to access food and other essentials under MECQ. It is for contact tracing purposes and presented upon entering establishments or offices where we visit for transactions.” “The printing of the QR code with the template provided in the City Government website is not mandatory. The public may opt to use the auto-generated QR code/ StaySafe ID in the StaySafe.Ph application. It can be saved in android phones or printed on paper,” the local government said in an advisory. Climaco issued Executive Order BC 657-2021 adapting the StaySafe.Ph application as the official digital contact tracing system in Zamboanga City. She said all city and national government offices, including private establishments, and the public are enjoined to use the application and utilize a uniformed QR code in all entrances; and designate a help desk or customer assistance desk for the registration with the StaySafe.Ph or for the generation and printing of the QR code for those who do not have smartphones.
The executive order makes it mandatory for citizens - whether local residents or visitors who will enter, work or do business in all indoor and enclosed public and private establishments in Zamboanga - to download and register at the StaySafe.Ph application which can be accessed on App store for iPhone, Google Play for Android devices and App Gallery for Huawei. There is also a penalty for those, including establishments, which fail to adapt the digital contact tracing system and for the first offense, the penalty is P2,000 and P3,000 for the next offense, and P5,000 for the third offense. The application was developed by Multisys Technologies Corporation in collaboration with PLDT-Smart Group and PLDT Enterprise, and the national government’s Inter-Agency Task Force on the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases and the National Task Force on Covid-19. The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) said the online application is an effective tool for contact tracing nationwide to ensure consistent, and unified contact tracing reporting. “Instead of using other apps, it is imperative for local governments to use the StaySafe app for a unified system
that will allow seamless, fast, and efficient contact tracing efforts,” it said, adding the digital contact tracing application will make it easier for government authorities and medical experts to keep track of the cases all over the country and carry out decisive actions to stem the rapid transmission of the virus. The StaySafe.Ph application is currently being used by some 15 million people and 700 local governments in the country, according to the DILG. It aims to reach at least 50 million users and connect all 1,634 city and municipal governments across the country. David Almirol, President and CEO of the Multisys Technologies Corporation, said the digital contact tracing application is designed to aid in the management of Covid-19 cases by reminding people to maintain physical distance, as well as recording and monitoring symptoms of the deadly respiratory disease. The application engages the public against the spread of Cobid-19 and aggregates all reports available in desktop and mobile versions, allowing the government to respond quickly to people’s needs and make informed and timely decisions to keep the public safe during this time of the pandemic. (Zamboanga Post)
8
The Zamboanga Post
June 28-July 4, 2021
June 28-July 4, 2021
The Zamboanga Post
9
Founded July 2019
ADVERTISING DEPARTMENT, PLEASE CALL (062) 9555360 or (0915) 3976197
P10
June 28-July 4, 2021
OFWs now part of Covid-19 vaccination priority
M
AYOR BENG Climaco has urged overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) to avail of the vaccination program of the government after the Department of Health (DOH) included them in the A1 category. The DOH has prior- grow professionally,” the immediately available. itized those under the mayor said. The DOH said all A1, A2 and A3 categories The DOH has pledged Covid-19 vaccines issued in the government mass to send more Covid-19 with Emergency Use Auvaccination program. vaccines, including Pfiz- thorization (EUA) by the A1 refers to workers in er-BioNTech, to Zam- Food and Drug Adminisfrontline services; A2 are boanga City. Climaco tration (FDA) is safe and the senior citizens and thanked President Rodri- effective and urged the A3 are those with comor- go Duterte and DOH Sec- public to get inoculated bidity or those with more retary Francisco Duque and prevent the further than one disease or con- and his Assistant Secre- spread of the deadly respidition which is present tary, Romeo Ong for allo- ratory disease. in the same person at the cating additional Pfizer Climaco said the losame time. vaccines for Zamboanga cal government’s Covid-19 Climaco said she City. vaccine information camwas told by Dr. Manolo The national govern- paign continues in an Alpichi, DOH Assistant ment has sealed a deal effort to fight misinforRegional Director, to in- recently with Pfizer and mation and at the same clude the OFWs in the BioNTech for 40 million time promote awareness vaccination for A1 cate- doses of Covid-19 vac- and public acceptance as gory. She said the DOH cines which is expected to more medicines arrive in order is a welcome de- arrive by September. an effort to achieve herd velopment for all OFWs Many Filipinos pre- immunity in Zamboanga in Zamboanga City. fer the Pfizer-BioNTech, City. She said the series of “This will give you 28 Moderna and AstraZendays or at least a month’s eca over the Chinese Covid-19 information sestime to prepare your Covid-19 vaccines Sino- sions with different sectors overseas contract and vac and Sinopharm or and groups here are aimed to help you in your live- the Russian Sputnik V, but at providing clear and aclihood for your families health officials said the curate information about and the opportunity to best vaccines are those the virus and the goal of im-
munizing Zamboanguenos against Covid-19. “Por favor, no crea todo lo que lee en las social media. Always check the information from official government sources. Las va-
cunas son seguras y salvan vidas,” the mayor said. The DOH in April also launched the #ChecktheFAQs campaign to emphasize the importance of ac-
curate information in the fight against the virus and encourage the public to fact-check information that they come across. (Zamboanga Post)
Sunday Reflection by Mayor Beng Climaco
12th Sunday. God bless all Fathers! Psalm 107:23-24, 25-26, 28-29, 30-31 and 2 Corinthians 5:14-17 and Mark 4:35-41 AMIDST THE storm of the global pandemic of Covid-19, Jesus assures us. “Quiet! Be still!” In the Gospel, Jesus orders the storm. “The wind ceased and there was great calm. Then he asked them, “Why are you terrified? Do you not yet have faith?” Today is Father’s Day. We pray to God to bless all our fathers. Being the youngest, I would say I am Daddy’s girl. He allowed me to discover my potentials by bringing me around Zamboanga City. I remember a photograph were I was a flower girl in a wedding and hesitant and afraid to make my steps down the aisle. In the middle was my Dad, tall and big, offering his hand to guide his little girl to make it and do my duty. I know my Daddy would be there to wrap his arms to protect me when I was afraid and fearful. There were Sunday afternoons we went on biking with my brother and Dad. We reached the airport area and I lost control of the bike and almost fell into the canal. My Dad steadily stirred our leisure biking with his gentle strength. It was him who taught the family our devotion to our Mother of Perpetual Help. He was a devotee in Baclaran as a student of Law. Then he introduced us to St. Joseph whom he and my brother are named Jose. He also told me to drive the Tamaraw at 17 years old with my student driver’s license from practic-
Zamboanga Peninsula
Basilan
Sulu
es in Santa Maria Elementary grounds to the pueblo. He also made me drive the motorcycle. My Dad had confidence in me so I could conquer my fears to achieve my goals. That was how Jesus was on the boat, he was not afraid of the storm because He had faith in God, the Father. Fr. Jack Sheaffer shares that in his Homily from Fear to Faith! In 12 months, my term as Mayor ends. But this picture of my oath in June 30, 1989 marks God’s providence that led me to make my Daddy proud! We experienced a loss in his last bid as Mayor, and with God’s grace, his youngest daughter took on his path. He wore a pink polo and on that day stood beside me and my Auntie Letty amidst the shower for the Inaugural. He watched me take my oath with hands trembling, being sworn by the same lawyer who administered his oath. He guided me to be honest and to be a fiscalizer as a neophyte in the City Council. We studied the agenda and gave me the Local Government Code as my first gift after my oath. He was hesitant for me to run. “Politics is a thankless job!” All these teachings I try to live out, always bearing in mind Daddy’s teachings. We have been on lockdown. In this uncertainty, I know I can do this, just like how my Daddy gave his hand for me to walk down the aisle to fulfil my role as a flower girl. He is standing outstretched with God’s hands to guide me to fulfil my duty por amor de Dios, Projimo y Ciudad de Zamboanga! I love you Daddy. (MBC)
Tawi-tawi