The Zamboanga Post (June 1-7, 2020) by Mindanao Examiner Regional Newspaper

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HE NATIONAL government has extended until June 15 the implementation of the general community quarantine or GCQ in Zamboanga City following new cases of novel coronavirus or Covid-19 in recent days. Zamboanga has suspected infections al- Force on Emerging Infecnearly 150 positive most 1,200. tious Diseases or IATFCovid-19 cases and four The decision to ex- EID approved and signed confirmed mortalities, tend the GCQ was based by Health Secretary Franalthough related deaths on Resolution 40 issued cisco Duque, the Continue on page 3 were more than 130 and by the Inter-agency Task

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June 1-7, 2020

IACT closes shop, warns GCQ violators and illegal businesses

City Administrator Apple Go and concurrent chairperson of the Zamboanga Inter-Agency Compliance Team during a meeting with her focal persons.

THE INTER-Agency Compliance Team (IACT) has closed a shop selling personal care products for violating the quarantine guidelines set by the government and warned establishments illegally op-

erating or those without necessary permits. The IACT, chaired by City Administrator Apple Go, said they will continue to strictly implement the quarantine guidelines and all existing laws.

“We are just doing our job here to protect the public from those taking advantage of the (health) crisis and those who think they can just violate the quarantine Continue on page 2

Zambo working with gov’t agencies to help OFWs, stranded folks ZAMBOANGA CITY – Mayor Beng Climaco said the local government continues to work closely with national government agencies in efforts to bring back home residents stranded outside their place of origin. She said the program is also in support to the directives and guidelines set by the Department of the Interior and Local Government and the In-

ter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases. Just last week, overseas Filipino workers who returned to Zamboanga after weeks of self-quarantine in the National Capital Region were welcome by the local government. And dozens of residents of various towns in Zamboanga del Sur province were also sent home after weeks of being

stranded here due to the strict enhanced community quarantines imposed by the government to prevent the spread of the deadly coronavirus disease. The return of 38 people to the province was made possible through the efforts of the Department of Tourism (DOT) in Mindanao, the Zamboanga del Sur government, and the Zamboanga City Continue on page 9

Photo from the Department of Tourism shows Mayor Beng Climaco speaking to returning overseas Filipino workers at the Zamboanga International Airport.

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IACT closes shop, warns GCQ violators and illegal businesses Continued from page 1 guidelines,” she told The Zamboanga Post. She said IACT focal persons have reported their accomplishments a week after Mayor Beng Climaco signed the Executive Order 568-2020 creating the IACT as a response measure to the coronavirus pandemic. Go said the IACT focal persons are tasked to assess compliance of the quarantine guidelines by the different sectors. The IACT focal persons are Business Permits and Licensing Officer Benjie Barredo for Business Establishments Compliance Team; Albert Santa Teresa for the Roving Patrol Compliance Team; and Assistant City Administrator Cesar Raz for the Transport Compliance Team. Barredo confirmed that they have closed one shop which is not allowed to operate under the general community quarantine guidelines or GCQ.

He said they also inspected over a dozen establishments and market area in downtown Zamboanga. Each establishment was given GCQ guidelines and checklists and instructed its owners to strictly comply by it. Santa Teresa and Raz also reported to IACT that over 170 people had been issued citation tickets for quarantine guidelines, mostly apprehended for not wearing face mask which is mandatory when outside of residence and not having a quarantine pass, and for using tampered quarantine pass. Seven motorcycles were also impounded for various violations of traffic laws and ordinances. More than 100 public utility drivers were also given citation tickets for not wearing of gloves and not observing social distancing, overloading of passengers, and having no quarantine pass. Others had no valid driver’s license and cited for reck-

less driving. Go said the IACT teams are composed of the following: City Health Office, City Treasurer’s Office, City Engineer’s Office, City Hall Community Police Action Center, Bureau of Fire Protection, City Planning and Development Office, and the Office of the City Environment and Natural Resources. And also the Office of the City Veterinarian, Office of the City Agriculturist, Department of Trade and Industry, Department of Labor and Employment, the Task Force Ordinance, City Police Mobile Patrol Group, Task Force Zamboanga, Office of the Barangay Affairs, Liga ng mga Barangay, Zamboanga City Integrated Bus Terminal, Tricycle Adjudication Board, Land Transportation Franchise Regulatory Board, Land Transportation Office, and the Traffic Management Group. (Zamboanga Post)

June 1-7, 2020

The Zamboanga Post

June 1-7, 2020

GCQ extended Continued from page 1 IATF-EID chairman; and Cabinet Secretary Karlo Alexei Nograles, co-chairman. In Mindanao, only Zamboanga City and Davao City are under an extended GCQ while the rest of the provinces and cities in the southern region, including the Muslim autonomous region are placed under moderate GCQ until June 15. Mayor Beng Climaco, chairperson of the local Task Force Covid-19, said the local government adopted the IATF-EID resolution. “We are calling on residents to continue strict compliance of GCQ guidelines and help curb the spread of the virus,” she said, adding, the wearing of face mask and physical distancing will strictly remain to prevent the spread of the deadly respiratory disease. Climaco said hotel operations are now partially allowed, but limited only for existing longterm bookings. She said public and private construction projects shall be allowed subject to strict compliance with the Revised Construction Safety Guidelines of the Department of Public Works and Highways such as the fol-

lowing: Only 21-59 years old without pre-existing health conditions are allowed to work and construction personnel shall undergo quarantine for 14 days prior to deployment or undergo any available FDA-approved (Food and Drug Administration of the Philippines) Covid-19 test; workers housed in barracks for project duration, with segregated facilities and initial transport via private shuttle; quarantine passes for onsite employees for local government and private construction projects; quarantine pass shall be issued by the City Engineer’s Office while for other government projects, it shall be issued by the implementing agency. And during deployment, Climaco said workers shall practise safe distancing and must be disinfect every day and errands outside the construction site should be minimized. There must also be mandatory quarantine for all personnel returning from outside and deliveries and disposal of garbage or wastes should be handled by a separate team and protective suits must be available for all employees. There must also be safety officer to ensure compli-

Mayor Beng Climaco carries a box of medical supplies donated recently by the U.S. Special Operations Task Force 511.2 in support to the local government’s efforts to fight the spread of the new coronavirus disease. (City Hall Photo) ance of the Revised Construction Safety Guidelines. Climaco said residents must strictly follow quarantine guidelines, saying, the current curfew hours from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. will also stay. The mayor has been praised many times over for how the local government handles the health and humanitarian crisis brought about by the pandemic. Dr Tony Leachon, of the Manila Doctors Hospital, who visited Zambo-

anga recently to inspect the Covid-19 testing facilities, praised Climaco for her leadership in battling the pandemic. “We are extremely impressed by

the able leadership of City Mayor Isabelle ‘Beng’ Climaco,” he said. The local government has been effective in controlling the spread

of the pandemic because of the early imposition of the enhanced community quarantine and continued information campaign in villages. (Zamboanga Post)

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.

Pagadian City Airport, ready na!

Pagadian City airport in Zamboanga del Sur province PAGADIAN CITY - Nagpahigayon og simulation exercise ang Pagadian City Airport para sa tanang umaabot nga departing ug arriving passengers kung mabalik na ang byahe sa eroplano sa syudad.

Ang airport management nag butang og mga physical distancing markers sa sulod og gawas sa airport building, hand washing area, foot bath mat, og moagi tanang pasahero og thermal gun

checking sa dili pa mosulod sa airport building. Kining mga preventive measures sa airport kay hingpit pagatumanon gayud. Tanang bagahe o kargo sa mga pasahero (de-

(Photos and news by Asenso Pagadian) parting & arriving) kay i-disinfect pa sa dili pa isulod sa airport o sa dili pa igawas sa arrival area inig abot. Gi-awhag ang tanang mga umaabot nga pasahero sa eroplano nga

mo adto na sa Pagadian City Airport kung mahimo 2 hours before the flight para iwas aberya og mapatuman gyud ang mga protocols. Atol sa simulation, anaa nag obserba ang

Pagadian Covid-19 Task Force nga gipangulohan ni Dr. Noel Ceniza og City Administrator Vince Quipot, Integrated Provincial Health Officer Dr. Ramon Blancia ug Dr. Maria Rovel Blancia. (Asenso Pagadian)

The Zamboanga Post

June 1-7, 2020

Zamboanga Pictures in the News Local government of Zamboanga City at work. This is where your taxes go. (Photos by Bong Serondo)

June 1-7, 2020

The Zamboanga Post

Zamboanga Pictures in the News

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June 1-7, 2020

The Zamboanga Post

June 1-7, 2020

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June 1-7, 2020

Zambo working with gov’t agencies to help OFWs, stranded folks Continued from page 1 government, including the Task Force Zamboanga. DOT Mindanao Assistant Secretary Myra Abubakar said the provincial government sent two buses to Zamboanga City over the weekend and picked up those who had been stranded here. Abubakar said those who returned to the province were cleared to return home. “They all complied with the requirements for the departure such as medical clearance certificate, travel authority and certificate of acceptance from the receiving local

government,” she said. She also thanked provincial government and the Tourism Office of Zamboanga del Sur, the Turismo Local de Zamboanga, Task Force Zamboanga, Zamboanga City Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office, and Zamboanga City Integrated Bus Terminal for the coordination and assistance in bringing back home the stranded residents. Abubakar also urged other stranded people in Zamboanga City to coordinate with their office in Zamboanga City or email them at dot9@tourism.

gov.ph or call the DOT regional office at (062) 9930030 and 955-2477. The Zamboanga City Integrated Bus Terminal has already put up protocols and operation guidelines under the “new normal” to prevent the spread of the coronavirus disease, according to Supervising Transportation and Regulation Officer Rafael Derick Garcellano Evangelista III. He said they have painted the path walk leading to the entrance and even the chairs at the departure lounge and arrival area have signs to ensure that social distanc-

ing protocol is strictly followed. At present, Evangelista said commercial travels remain closed in Zamboanga City and its neighboring provinces of Zamboanga del Sur and

Zamboanga del Norte based on the guidelines issued by the Inter-Agency Task Force. But utility buses are allowed to travel within Zamboanga City only. Climaco has been reg-

ularly visiting the bus terminal and inspecting its infrastructure and beautification projects. The terminal now has a covered path walk and is one of the cleanest and biggest in the region. (Zamboanga Post)

Pagadian City transitions to MGCQ PAGADIAN CITY has been placed under modified general community quarantine or MGCQ until June 15 after it was included in the list of areas approved by the Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases or IATFEID. The IATF-EID chaired by Health Secretary Francisco Duque approved and passed the Resolution No. 40, s.2020 placing the entire city under MGCQ starting June 1. MGQC, as per IAFTEID definition, refers to the transition phase be-

tween GCQ or general community quarantine and “new normal” when the temporary measures are relaxed and become less necessary like limiting movement and transportation, the regulation of operating industries, and the presence of uniformed personnel to enforce community quarantine protocols. Mayor Sammy Co has told residents to continue personal preventive measures such as but not limited to hand washing frequently, wearing of face mask at all times and

observance of physical distancing in an effort to prevent the spread of novel coronavirus or Covid-19 infection. In a recent advisory, the local government said the remaining Covid-19 case had been tested again and came out negative for the deadly respiratory disease. “The patient is now discharged, but will undergo 14 days strict home quarantine and under close monitoring by our health authorities,” it said. (Asenso Pagadian. With a report from the Zamboanga Post.)

Photo from the Department of Tourism shows Mayor Beng Climaco speaking to returning overseas Filipino workers at the Zamboanga International Airport.

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Strict guarding vs. ASF continues: Mayor Beng

HE LOCAL government is strictly implementing safety measures to ensure that Zamboanga remains free from the African swine fever or ASF despite the humungous work it is currently doing in combating the spread new coronavirus or Covid-19 pandemic. Mayor Beng Clima- free from ASF,” Clima- break of ASF in Davao reco said the City Veteri- co told The Zamboanga gion and the province is nary Office continues to Post. considered under the red strictly implement the Climaco said strict zone, meaning no pork Department of Agricul- protocols are being ob- product from the Davao ture or DA guidelines served to monitor and region is allowed to enter of zoning and proto- regulate the entry of hog any province or region in cols with regards to the and pork products here Mindanao. movement, sale, and as a measure against the Arriola echoed Clitrade of hogs, pork and contagious animal dis- maco’s statement that pork products to con- ease. Zamboanga remains tain the spread of ASF City Veterinarian ASF-free due to the vigiin the country. Climaco Mario Arriola also ex- lant and stringent measigned early this year plained that the zoning sures launched by the lothe Executive Order and movement plan is a cal government. The local 543–2020 in support to map guiding local gov- government, he added, the DA guidelines and ernments on where hogs, barred the entry of hogs, also in pursuant to Pres- pork, and pork products pork, and pork products ident Rodrigo Duterte’s can be transported, sold, from countries and areas order urging local and or traded according to with ASF, including pork national government classified zones. products that do not have agencies to harmonize These zones, he said, shipping permit and vetefforts with the DA in are based on geographi- erinarian certificate. stopping the spread of cal limits established by He previously called ASF. authorities upon identi- on residents to avoid Checkpoints have fication of infected and feeding hogs and pigs been in placed in entry quarantine zone as well with swill or kitchen reand exit points in Zam- as ASF status of provinces fuse and scraps as this boanga since last year to and regions. may contain contaminatensure that no infected Arriola said there are ed pork products. hogs and its pork prod- two general zones – conLast September, ucts slip past the city. tainment zone and free Climaco organized the She said personnel zones. The containment “Task Force Karne” with from the City Veteri- zone is further catego- the local government narian Office continue rized into four zones working closely with the to inspect and conduct depending on the area’s Food and Drugs Admindisinfection of trucks ASF status: red (infected istration (FDA) and DA in transporting live pigs zone), yellow (surveil- conducting inspections and other animals to lance zone), pink (buffer in support to the nationZamboanga to protect zone), and light green al ban on the importation, distribution and the hog population (protected zone). against the ASF. “ZamHe said early this sale of all processed pork boanga City remains year, DA reported an out- products from countries

Photo from the City Veterinary Office shows personnel working day and night to ensure Zamboanga remains free from the African swine fever. infected with the ASF such as China following the breakout of the disease in July 2019, mostly backyard pigs in the provinces of Rizal and Bulacan and then spread elsewhere in Luzon. The task force is comprised of representatives from City Veterinary Office, National Meat Inspection Service, Task Force Ordinance, and Business Permits and Licensing Division. The FDA previously ordered the pull-out from the markets of all processed pork products such as luncheon meat

imported from Russia, Ukraine, Czech Republic, Moldova, South Africa, Zambia, Hungary, Bulgaria, Belgium, Latvia, Poland, Romania, Mongolia, Vietnam, and Cambodia. AFS is a large, double-stranded DNA virus in the Asfarviridae family. The virus is transmitted to pigs through direct contact with infected pigs, their waste, contaminated clothing, feed, equipment and vehicles, and in some cases, some tick species. Although ASF cannot be transmitted to hu-

mans through contact with pigs or pork, the virus causes a haemorrhagic fever with high mortality rates in domestic pigs; some isolates can cause death of animals as quickly as a week after infection. Climaco also reminded personnel manning the checkpoints at the boundaries to always wear face mask and disinfect or wash their hands with soap and water frequently to ensure the safety of their health against Covid-19. (Zamboanga Post)

Zambo traffic enforcers get new motorcycles

Mayor Beng Climaco and City Administrator Apple Go during the turn over of motorcycles to traffic enforcers. (Carlo Ezer Camins)

ZAMBOANGA CITY – Mayor Beng Climaco has turned over recently 10 brand new motorcycles to the Traffic Enforcement Team as part of the local government efforts to equip enforcers for them to effectively implement the laws. The Traffic Enforcement Team is under the Office of the City Administrator Marie Angelique Go who thanked Climaco for the

additional motorcycles. Those who received the motorcycles said it will make them more efficient in the strict implementation of traffic laws and related ordinances. Climaco said the project is part of the administration’s priority programs on Security, Health and Education. In the past, Climaco - who is also very supportive to the security forces - donated many brand new cars

and pickup trucks to the police and military to serve as quick response to emergency situations. The local police and the Task Force Zamboanga and Philippine Marines have repeatedly praised Climaco for her unwavering and strong support to security forces for the safety and protection of all Zamboanguenos. (Zamboanga Post)