Typhoon damage assesment mission The Naval Intelligence and Security Group Southern Luzon and the Philippine Navy Islander headed by its commander, Commodore Jose Ma Ambrosio Q Ezpeleta conduct typhoon damage assessment mission in Catanduanes area. Catanduanes were adversely hit by the onslaught of Super Typhoon ‘Rolly’. All units of the Philippine Navy in areas affected by the Super Typhoon were put on heightened HADR stance and will continue to assist local government units and national agencies in responding to the needs of the people that were affected by this calamity.
RDRRMC Bicol team led by OCD5 DRRM Div. Chief Jessar B Adornado, DSWD FO V Regional Director Arnel B Garcia, Mr. Niño Luces of PIA5, BGen. Adonis R Bajao PA of TF Sagip 9ID, BGen Rommel K Tello of 902nd Infantry Brigade, and Philippine Air Force led by Col Randy M Pascua provided affected families with 2,000 family food packs, while 6,600 family food packs, water supplies and 100 laminated sacks will also be given to other municipalities in the coming days.
PCOO
intensifies information dissemination amid the pandemic Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) Secretary Martin Andanar during the Coordinated Operations to Defeat Epidemic (C.O.D.E.) Team visit in Bukidnon outlined communications initiatives of the PCOO and its attached agencies to keep the public informed of the country’s response and programs to curb the spread of the virus. “Halos siyam na buwan na ngayon nang nagsimula tayong maapektuhan ng COVID-19 dito sa Pilipinas. Binago nito ang ating pang-araw-araw na pamumuhay. Ang epekto nito ay hindi lamang sa individual at community level, kundi maging sa economic, governmental at iba pang level na nakasanayan na natin bago nangyari ang pandemyang,” Sec. Martin Andanar said. “Dahil naniniwala kami na ang involved public is an informed public, kami sa Presidential Communications Operations Office ay walang tigil at walang kapaguran sa pagpapalaganap ng impormasyon tungkol sa mga responses, actions, at programs ng administrasyong Duterte para mabawasan ang epekto ng COVID-19,” he added.
Philippine Red Cross
tumulong sa mga taga-Olongapo Isang libong pamilya sa Olongapo na naapektuhan ng pandemya ang binigyan ng P3,500 cash grant ng Philippine Red Cross na maaari nilang magamit sa panggastos sa gamot, pagkain, at sa panimulang negosyo. “Lagi nating sinasabi noon, bawat oras sama-sama sa hirap at ginhawa; basta’t magkasama ang lider at ang tao, lalabas ang galing ng Pilipino,” ayon kay Senator at PRC Chairman Richard Gordon. 1 PIA Bulletin Online
Among the communications programs they are undertaking to intensify information dissemination are the Laging Handa Public Briefing, Network Briefing News, The Virtual Presser, Alerto: a COVID-19 special, Leading Forward Virtual Town Hall meeting, COVID-19 radio, Cabinet Report, creation of the Laging Handa COVID-19 website, production of Balita Central digital tabloid, and the Dismiss Disinformation campaign. Secretary Andanar, who is the Cabinet Officer for Regional Development and Security of Region 10 (CORDS X), has been regularly engaging with local chief executives in the region to discuss COVID-19 responses of the localities.
Duterte urges Congress to hasten establishment of Department of OFWs By Janine Alexa Tinsay - PIA/IDPD
stands firm with his stance seeing To strengthen how OFWs were care and protection greatly affected for Filipino migrant by the COVID-19 workers, President pandemic. Rodrigo Roa Duterte The establishment calls on Congress of this department to expedite the was one of the creation of the President’s “Department of proposals during his Overseas Filipino campaign period Workers (OFWs)”. which was aimed at In PRRD’s Talk to centralizing service the People message that focused on on October 26, the needs of the the President country’s OFWs.
Editorial Director Benjamin Felipe Editor-In-Chief Marie Angelie Villapando Associate Editor Melinda Quiñones Staff Writers IDPD headed by Joselito Reyes Art Department CPSD headed by Bradley de Leon Layout Artist Gabriel Villanueva Production/ Aggregation DDCU with Team Leader Kate Shiene Agna
“Iba ‘yung Department of Labor, it takes care of the internal [workers] dito, [iba] ‘yung nasa labas so I proposed in
the coming months, to come up with a Department of Overseas Workers,” stated the president. Currently, the Philippines has over
10 million migrant workers around the world under which the proposed office will be the focal point of service and support.
CHED, PH embassy in Phnom Penh launches Developing Global Filipino Teachers program By Adora Rodriguez - PIA/IDPD
and the Philippine Normal University. The Commission on Higher Under the Developing Global Education, in cooperation with Filipino teachers program, the the Philippine Embassy in Phnom following OFWs in Cambodia will Penh, launched the “Developing Global Filipino Teachers” program be assisted: 1.Professionals who are not to professionalize 1,152 Filipino graduates of the teacher education teachers based in Cambodia and program who intend to take the help them qualify for teaching Philippine licensure examination positions with higher salaries. for teachers (LET); “The Philippine Embassy in 2.In-service teachers who want 2019 alerted CHED on the plight to enhance their competencies of some 1,152 Filipinos working and their impact in the classroom as teachers in Cambodia. The majority of these teachers are not and beyond to understand global issues; licensed to teach because they 3.Graduates of education lack the proper credentials,” said program but have not passed the CHED Chairperson Prospero E. Philippine LET; De Vera, Jr. Teaching English to Speakers of Through a Memorandum of Other Languages (TESOL). Cooperation together with the Meanwhile, Foreign Affairs Philippine universities -- Saint Paul University, Cebu Normal University Secretary Teodoro L. Locsin Jr.
lauded the program and is hopeful that the program will be replicated in other parts of the globe. De Vera on the other hand said “ This program is one of the manifestations of the Filipino Bayanihan spirit driving the Philippine higher education during this COVID-19 crisis. We grappled with the pandemic individually, we will conquer it together as one –a one unified higher education sector and government.” PIA Bulletin Online 2
DOH, LGUs begin MR-OPV supplemental immunization activity amidst typhoon By Josephine L. Babaran - PIA/IDPD
Department of Health (DOH), in partnership with the Local Government Units (LGUs), conducted the Measles, Rubella and Oral Polio Vaccine Supplemental Immunization Activity (MR-OPV SIA) on October 26 amidst the heavy rainfall brought about by Typhoon Quinta and the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. For MeaslesRubella (MR) immunization
conducted in Cordillera, Ilocos, Cagayan Valley, MIMAROPA, Bicol and Mindanao Regions, the overall coverage is 231,996 or 5% of infants and children ages 9-59 months old were vaccinated. For bivalent Oral Polio Vaccine (bOPV) immunization in Luzon Region, the overall coverage is 35,927 or 2% of infants and children ages 0-59 months old were vaccinated. “In our fight
against these vaccine-preventable diseases, we need to ensure that NO child is left behind unvaccinated. We have a month to implement a quality immunization activity,” stressed DOH Secretary Francisco T. Duque III. Minimum public health standards and infection prevention and control measures were strictly observed in all vaccination posts to ensure safety and minimize
transmission of COVID-19. Several municipalities have yet to begin their implementation
because of extreme weather conditions and strict quarantine protocols in areas with increasing cases of COVID-19.
E-Nutribun bread being prepared by 76 technology adoptors - Nograles
Nutribun is a bread product used in elementary school feeding programs during the Seventies to combat child malnutrition. Nograles, who heads the government’s Task Force on Zero Hunger, expressed confidence that 3 PIA Bulletin Online
the DOST-FNRI would continue to push for greater adoption and production of the modern and scientifically updated version of the product during the opening of the third leg of the “Kasapatan at Ugnayan ng Mamamayan sa Akmang Pagkain At Nutrisyon” o KUMAIN webinar series. The Palace official relayed that the Task Force has received 76 letters of intent, nine adoptors have attended the virtual training, and 12 more have signed technology licensing agreements. According to the Zero Hunger Czar, “The KUMAIN initiative, from the name itself, is geared towards the goal of eliminating hunger and poverty in the entire country. It’s a lofty goal but we need to start somewhere. Our webinars are small steps in the implementation of a general plan.”
DOE explains foreign investors’ 100% ownership of largescale geothermal projects
By Melinda Quiñones - PIA/IDPD
Department of Energy (DOE) issued a statement explaining the circular allowing 100% ownership of foreign investors of large scale geothermal projects. “Foreign companies may now be allowed to participate in large-scale geothermal exploration, development, and utilization activities, under the third Open and Competitive Selection Process (OCSP3) in the awarding of RE Service Contracts,” the statement read following the conditions that foreign investors to meet before they would be allowed to participate. it should be large-scale, with a minimum investment cost of about US$50 million, and (2) it should be under Financial and Technical
Assistance Agreement (FTAA) as provided under the Constitution. In its determination to push for more renewable energy resources in the country, the energy department opened the competition for exploration and development of geothermal resource among foreign investors and Filipino corporations and one with the best offer will get the renewable energy contract. “The exclusive right to develop a geothermal resource will be granted through an Open and Competitive Selection Process (OCSP). In this process, all proponents, whether foreign or Filipino corporations, will have to compete,” the statement further reads.
Israel donates 10,000 COVID-19 test kits By Janine Alexa Tinsay - PIA/IDPD
The Department of National Defense (DND) received polymerase chain reaction (PCR) coronavirus tests kits from Israel’s Ministry of Defense’s Directorate for International Defense Cooperation (IMOD-SIBAT) as the latter’s support to the Philippine government’s efforts to control the spread of COVID-19. Israel announced its donation on October 26 of 10,000 test kits manufactured by Israeli company Biological Industries (BI), which manufactures test kits for Israel’s Ministry of Health. Philippine Ambassador t o Israel Nathaniel G. Imperial expressed gratitude to IMOD-SIBAT for its generous gesture, considering that Israel is also currently in the midst combatting COVID-19 and noted that the donation is “a testament to the strength of Philippine-Israel defense relations which have gradually deepened and expanded over the past few years.” According to the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), DND confirmed that the donation was delivered to the Philippines on October 16 and the country will hold a handover ceremony to formally accept the donation this November.
Photo: From left: Defense and Armed Forces Attaché Col. Raul Villanueva, Consul General Randy Arquiza Philippine Ambassador to Israel Neal Imperial, Brig. Gen. (Ret.) Yair Kulas, Ms. Nuni Sella PIA Bulletin Online 4
GSIS P20B
By Adora Rodriguez - PIA/IDPD The Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) allotted Php20 billion in its Study-now, Pay-later loan in support to President Duterte’s call for credit support to education of GSIS members’ kins. “We will allow GSIS members who have at least 15 years of government service to avail of an educational loan for their kins in college. The loan has a term of ten years but we will not require them to pay anything in the first five years. So they don’t have to worry about the tuition of their children for the first five years,” GSIS President and General Manager Rolando Ledesma Macasaet explained. A GSIS member may nominate up to two studentbeneficiaries related to the member up to the third degree of consanguinity or affinity; enrolled in a four-or five-year course in a private or public educational institution. Through the GFAL-Educational Loan (GFAL-EL), the maximum amount 5 PIA Bulletin Online
study-now, pay-later loan allotment
one can borrow per academic year is Php100,000 covering tuition and other school fees with 8% interest annually. The loan proceeds will be directly paid to the school under the student’s account every semester or trimester until the beneficiaries finish
their courses. Members, who have at least 15 years of service, who can apply for the loan are those who are currently not on leave of absence without pay, without pending administrative or criminal case, and have no past due GSIS loans (including housing loans), and
Facebook page, @gsis.ph; email gsiscares@gsis. gov.ph; or call the GSIS Contact Center at 8847-4747 (if in Metro Manila) or 1-800-8-847-4747 (for Globe and TM subscribers) or For other details, 1-800-10-847-4747 visit the GSIS (for Smart, Sun, website, www.gsis. and Talk ‘N Text gov.ph, or official subscribers). with net take-home pay of Php5,000 after deduction of monthly premium contributions and loan amortizations from their active organization may apply for the loan.
What should you do if you’re positive for Covid-19? By Dr. Dean Hernando Zenarosa
1) Contact your local city/municipal/ barangay hotline to notify health staff of your situation. You may also contact your personal/family doctor. If in doubt, call the DOH COVID hotline at 89426843 (894-COVID) and 1555. This will start the process of Contact Tracing. This will identify and help protect your family, friends, neighbors, co-workers and anyone whom you may have met from two days before your symptoms appeared (or when your swab was done, for those with no symptoms) to 14 days later. 2) Practice self isolation starting with the date of either a) when symptoms first appeared, or b) if without symptoms, when the swab for RT PCR was done. This will be day zero of isolation. Complete the full 14 days from that date. Ideally, it is preferable that confirmed CoVid cases should be placed on isolation at a Temporary Treatment and Monitoring Facility (TTMF)/ LIGTAS COVID Center or one of the several HOPE Community Caring Facility of QC . There may be options depending on your city/municipality/barangay. If you choose home isolation, make sure that local authorities are aware and will approve. It should satisfy key requirements: - separate room with own bathroom for the patient - no high-risk persons such as elderly, or those with co-morbidities (hypertension, diabetes, immunocompromised and the likes) in the house. Strict monitoring of appearance
of symptoms related to Covid should be noted (fever, dry cough, sorethroat, body aches and weakness, loss of smell, loss of taste, difficulty of breathing). If this ensues, call your doctor or Barangay Health Center for immediate medical attention.
3) A balanced diet with lots of fruits and vegetable, and
lots of water or juice should be okay. Avoid caffeine, alcohol or any other vises.
4) Doing exercise with 8 hours of sleep is encouraged. 5) Maintain physical distancing but be socially connected
through calls, text, Facebook, Twitter and other social media platforms.
6) It is normal to feel anxious during this time. Avoid
further stress by setting a time when you will check COVID-19 updates, and limit how long you spend reading or watching them each day.​ For further questions and comments, please call the DOH COVID hotline at 894-26843 PIA Bulletin Online 6