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DOH: ‘We are battling disinformation daily’
(PIA) -- As challenging as battling the continuing global health pandemic is, the proliferation of daily disinformation and misinformation especially on social media can be as harmful as the deadly severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2, the virus that causes COVID-19. Health Undersecretary Rosette Singh-Vergeire said that everyday, the health department sorts out evidence to disclaim disinformation and what should be adopted as credible information. “Even right from the start of the pandemic, the challenge facing the Department of Health (DOH) is battling misinformation,” said the health official during the recent Media Seminar on “Media Reporting in Disaster Situation” initiated by the US Embassy. Vergeire said that with the pandemic, the most popular mode of platform today is social media, where people get access to the latest information. Social media, however, also becomes a channel to proliferate fake news in the absence of concrete guidelines to regulate the platform, lamented most. In order to counter disinformation and misinformation, Vergeire said the DOH conducts daily pressers to explain false information and issue social media cards especially on urgent information that needs to be corrected. The health official said they are also maximizing the use of the digital platform to disseminate correct information, such as creating a Facebook Page and Viber community to reach a wider public and giving sit Vergeire said the most difficult misinformation that they encountered was when people started saying that dexamethasone is the drug prevention and cure for COVID-19. In fact, a lot of Filipinos bought the drug, thinking that it can really heal positive COVID-19 cases, she added. Dexamethasone is a corticosteroid
drug with anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive effects. The drug was tested for critically ill patients positive with COVID-19 in the United Kingdom. “We need to inform the people that until now, there is no curative drug for Covid-19. We need to let them know so that the people will not be misguided as this might cause more harm than good,” said Vergeire.
CODE Team Roll-out Vergeire, in the same briefing, said the health department created its Coordinated Operations to Defeat Epidemic (CODE) Team, an initiative that demonstrates active case finding strategies to prevent and eliminate clusters of community transmission of the virus. The CODE Team, which started in August, identified 17 areas in Metro Manila and Calabarzon, said Vergeire, adding that this will be rolled out to other areas in Metro Manila and across the country. The CODE will integrate the various pillars, focused on patients and community. The core activities are prevent, detect, isolate, test, and treat, she added.
Vergeire said that as of Sept. 24, the country has recorded 231,928 recovered cases or equivalent to 78.54 percent out of the 296,755 confirmed active cases with 5,127 deaths or 1.73 percent. She added that out of the 59,700 active cases, 86.47 percent are mild and 5,363 are asymptomatic or equivalent to 9.23 percent. Severe cases are only at 1.28 percent or at 745 cases while critical cases numbered to 1,758 or equivalent to 3.02 percent, as of September 23 data. Nationwide, there are 14,491 dedicated hospital beds for COVID-19 in facilities under the DOH in local government units, while 7,225 dedicated beds are in private hospitals as of Sept. 23, said Vergeire. The seminar was the first-ever virtual format amid the health pandemic and participated in by 140 journalists nationwide. It was the 12th media seminar conducted by the US Embassy and the last one for outgoing US Ambassador to the Philippines Sung Kim, who delivered a farewell message to the media. (fcr/PIA7)
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THE OFFICIAL E-NEWSLETTER OF THE PHILIPPINE INFORMATION AGENCY - SIQUIJOR | WWW.PIA.GOV.PH and the DEPARTMENT OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY - SIQUIJOR | WWW.DOST.GOV.PH VOL. 08| No. 32 October 02 -09, 2020
TESDA Siquijor launches brgy level poverty reduction project in Maria by Rizalie Anding Calibo
(PIA) -- The provincial office of the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) marked the nationwide launching of barangay development projects with the launching of the barangay-level Poverty Reduction, Livelihood and Employment Cluster
Senior TESDA Specialist Elsa Apiag (w/ mic) delivering the message of new TESDA Siquijor Provincial Director, Engr. Enrico Banario, who was under the 14-day mandatory quarantine during the launching. (rac/PIA7-Siquijor w/ TESDA photo)
Project (PRLEC) at Brgy. Cangtugbas, Maria, Siquijor. The project involves hogs and chicken raising as well as production of organic vegetables in the barangay. TESDA Provincial Director Engr. Enrico Banario, in his message read by Senior TESDA Specialist Elsa Apiag, congratulated the local government unit (LGU) of Maria for being the first recipient of the project. He said the project is part of the Bayanihan to Heal as One Act that provides strategy for the continuous activity of farming, production of other agricultural products to ensure the availability food, and fight hunger amid the COVID-19 crisis. “The outbreak of the pandemic COVID-19 has shaken the Philippine economy and brought several issues on how to address its effect in the country. This urges immediate realization and assistance in the probation of the necessities to families and individuals in all communities, especially the indigent and their families,” he said. PRLEC is also one of the strategies of the National Regional task Force to End Local Communist, Armed Conflict (ELCAC), under Executive Order No. 70 or the whole-of-nation approach to provide services to reduce poverty, improve income and employment opportunities and empower communities, as well as provide technical
Prov’l TF seeks public support as 2 LSIs test positive for COVID-19 in Siquijor; The lineup of speakers during the firstever virtual format of the Media Seminar on “Media Reporting in Disaster Situation” initiated by the US Embassy amid the health pandemic and participated in by 140 journalists nationwide.Outgoing US Ambassador to the Philippines Sung Kim (upper left) delivered a farewell message to the media. (PIA) STRAIGHT FROM THE SOURCE interview with Provincial Veterinarian Bernardita S. Tabada talking about responsible per ownership to keep Siquijor a rabies-free island, and other updates from the Provincial Ve t e r i n a r i a n O ff i c e ( P V O ) i n celebrationof the World Rabies Day. To watch the live interview, visit PIA Siquijor FB page.
SIQUIJOR, Oct. 9 (PIA) -- The Provincial Task Force COVID-19 here is appealing for public support as they pray for the fast recovery of the two new Locally Stranded Individuals (LSIs) from Cebu who tested positive for COVID-19. The two LSIs arrived in Siquijor on Sept. 27 via Lite Shipping Lines. They tested positive for COVID-19 based on the results of the swab tests conducted on Oct. 5 and released on Oct. 8. “Let us pray for their fast recovery and take necessary precautions. Walay gusto aning COVID, let us recover and get through this together mga ka-isla,” Provincial Task Force COVID-19 Information Officer Brylle Deeiah Tumarong said as she thanked Siquijodnons and the frontliners for their prayers and strong support. “Let us continue serving Siquijor,” she said. The Provincial Government clarified that the said cases are not local transmissions, as they called on residents to remain calm and follow the health protocols that the provincial and municipal local government units (LGUs) are strictly implementing. Tagged as Patient No. 005 and Patient No. 006, the two LSIs are residents of Enrique Villanueva and Maria.
They stayed in the towns’ designated quarantine facility in Salagdoong Beach Resort. Tumarong said the two patients are part of Batch 4 of LSIs from Cebu who were the first to enter the province without requiring negative swab tests following the new protocols released by the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG). The new protocols were outlined in the DILG advisory dated Aug. 25, 2020 which states that “RT PCR testing will be conducted by the receiving LGUs upon LSIs arrival at their final destination.” “This means that unlike the previous protocols when negative swab tests were required prior to their entry, swab tests for this batch were already conducted in the province as the new provincial protocol only requires that a triage at the Provincial Holding Facility is performed upon the entry of returning Siquijodnons and Authorized Person Outside of Residence (APOR) before they are endorsed to the respective LGUs for the 14-day mandatory quarantine,” she said. The task force assured that the 100 other LSIs who were with Patient No. 005 and No. 006 remain to be negative and will continue their mandatory quarantine. Currently, the two were moved from the LGU Quarantine Facility to the Provincial Isolation
support through building and training, and support in the marketing of farm produce by the identified vulnerable group. Former TESDA Siquijor Supervising TESD Specialist and now TESDA-7 Financial and Administrative Services Division Chief Fletcher Gumahad (L) giving the rationale and objective of the program. (rac/PIA7-Siquijor w/ TESDA photo) As the chairperson of the PRLEC in the province, Banario said it is their responsibility to reach out to the vulnerable group guided with the context of the inclusive sustainable value training program. This is to be implemented by all members of the PRLEC in close coordination with the LGUs in ensuring the food security and inflow of income during the pandemic. Led by TESDA provincial office as part of its 26th TESDA Anniverdsary, the launching was done in close coordination with the partner agencies, namely: LGU Maria, the Department of Agriculture, Department of Trade and Industry, Department of Labor and Employment, Department of Social Welfare and Development, Philippine National Police, Philippine Army, Land Bank of the Philippines, Lazi Technical Institute and the Philippine Information Agency Siquijor, among others. Banario said that the Bayanihan Act stipulates that it is necessary to partner with the private sector and other stakeholders to deliver the measures and programs quickly and effectively. He added that the whole of TESDASiquijor hopes that the Siquijor officials will be inspired to replicate the project to the rest of the municipalities in the province. (rac/PIA7-Siquijor/ EFC/SAID) Facility for treatment and recovery. But as one of the Task Force’s preventive measures, the wife and child of Patient No.006 were also quarantined despite their negative swab test results. “Kini panigurado lang nga lakang sa atung (This is part of the precautionary measures of the) Siquijor Provincial Task Force COVID-19 ,” Tumarong said. It can be recalled that another COVID-19 positive patient was reported on Oct. 1, based on the result of the swab test conducted on another LSI from Cebu on Sept. 28. The patient tagged as No. 004 is a resident of Siquijor, Siquijor who arrived from Cebu on Sept. 20. “Padayon among paghangyo sa mga katawhan nga atung i-ampo ang atung patient nga nataptan sa maong COVID-19 sa ilang paspas nga pagkaayo ug sa mas hugot nga pagtuman sa tanang health protocols (We continue to ask for your prayers for fast recovery of our patients and compliance to all the health protocols),” Tumarong said on behalf of the Task Force. (rac/PIA7Siquijor w/ reports from the Provincial Task Force COVID-19 IO)
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infobits Representative of the Siquijodnon Pulis Moises Lalas Daug’s music video, “Dilaw Asul Pula,” as an official entry of the Siquijor Police Provincial Police Office (SPPO), bagged the Grand Price of the PRO7 Makabayan Song Challenge 2020 Civilian Category. The program is organized by the PRO7 in partnership with NICA 7 which is anchored on the goal of spreading awareness about the atrocities of the CPP-NPA-NDF and encourages every Filipino to resist and reject the Communist Terrorist Groups. -------ooo-------ooo------ The last leg of Diskwento Caravan for the towns of Enrique Villanueva and Larena cluster was conducted at the Larena Queengate Center with a turnover of livelihood kits under the DTI’s Pangkabuhayan sa pagBangon at Ginhawa (PBG) to 14 stall owners affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. -------ooo-------ooo------ After months of being back to zero-COVID-19 positive, Siquijor province has one positive case this time based on Oct. 1 result of the swab test conducted on an LSI from Cebu last September 28. The Provincial Government clarifies that the case is not a local transmission and calls on localls to remain calm and to strictly follow protocols as the provincial and municipal LGUs in six towns are strictly implementing measured and health protocols.. -------ooo-------ooo------ The Siquijor Police Provincial Office (SPPO) conducted a seminar on Crafting Gender Sensitive Information Material to be posted in Different Social Media Platforms and Guidelines and Protocols on Social Media with the PIA as one of the resource speakers. -------ooo-------ooo------ All the 23 barangays in Larena, Siquijor commit to support the End Local Communist Armed Conflict (ELCAC) advocacy following the presentation of the Strategic Communication Cluster’s (SCC) tarp denouncing the NPA and CTGs conducted by the PIA-Siquijor at the Liga ng mga Barangay’s session in Larena SB Session Hall. The association also tasked the PIA to facilitate another briefing on ELCAC with the PNP and the AFP.
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Siquijodnon among 2020 ‘Idols ng TESDA’ nominees
Restaurant Manager Roselio Magsayo of Coco Grove Beach Resort is this year’s “Idols ng TESDA” provincial and regional winner and the Region 7’s national nominee under the Wage-Employed category. (TESDA-Siquijor
SIQUIJOR, Sept. 11 (PIA) -- A Siquijodnon, Roselio Magsayo, was named provincial and regional winner and became Region 7’s national nominee in the recent search for “2020 Idols ng TESDA” under the Wage-Employed category. According to a press release from the Technical Educations and Skilld Development Authority (TESDA) here, Magsayo is a graduate of Hotel and Restaurant Services Technology of Lazi Technical Institute (LTI) and a National Certificate holder of different qualifications under tourism and agri-fishery sectors. He is from Brgy. Tubod, San Juan, Siquijor and is currently working as a restaurant manager in Coco Grove Beach Resort, one of the prestigious hotel-restaurants in the island of Siquijor. He received a plaque of recognition and cash awards during the virtual Institutional Awarding Ceremony of TESDA’s 26th Anniversary celebration. The “2020 Idols ng TESDA” is one of the institutional awards given to TESDA partners, graduates, and trainers in celebration of its anniversary which banners the theme “TESDA@26: Bringing Hope in Times of Crisis.” It is given to hard-working individuals who have become successful in their endeavors through their participation in Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET) programs. (rac/PIA7-Siquijor)
PhilHealth assures Covid-19 packages still available for members
CEBU CITY – The Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) in Central Visayas has assured the public that benefits amid the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic remain available to qualified members. Dina Marie Cinchez, public information officer of PhilHealth-7, said in a statement issued on Monday that the state-run insurer continues to offer Covid-19 packages, six months since the start of the community lockdowns due to the coronavirus pandemic. There are three types of Covid-19 benefit packages that are currently being offered to PhilHealth members: in-patient coverage for the hospitalization of either mild, moderate, severe and critical cases; swab testing; and those who have to undergo community isolation. As of end-August this year, Cinchez said PhilHealth-7 has paid for 505 benefit claims for in-patient care due to Covid-19. Of the total, most are paid for members who have suffered moderate pneumonia. For the testing packages, a total of 6,141 have been covered in the entire region. Currently, PhilHealth hasn’t recorded any claims yet by patients under community isolation. Cinchez also clarified that members who want to avail of the swab testing package may do so in accredited testing laboratories in the region. There are seven accredited testing laboratories in Central Visayas, namely the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Hospital and Cebu TB Reference Laboratory in Cebu City, ARC Hospital and Prime Care Alpha Covid-19 Testing Laboratory in Lapu-Lapu City, University of Cebu Medical Center in Mandaue City, and Governor Celestino Gallares Memorial Hospital in Bohol. There are 22 certified community isolation units in Central Visayas: one in Negros Oriental, three in Bohol, five in Cebu South, seven in Cebu City, and three each in Lapu-Lapu and Mandaue cities. Cinchez assured that other health benefits packages are still available for the members even amid the Covid-19 crisis. (PNA)
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COVID-19 emergency loan program, gibuksan og balik sa GSIS
(PIA) -- Gi-anunsyo sa Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) nga gibuksan nila og balik niadtong Lunes, Setyembre 28, ang COVID-19 Emergency Loan Program alang sa ilang mga miyembro ug pensiyonado. Gihimo sa GSIS ang maong lakang nga pagbukas og balik sa loan window human gilagdaan ni Presidente Rodrigo Duterte ang Proclamation No. 1021 nga nag-uswag sa state of calamity sa nasod tungod sa pandemya. Ubos sa COVID-19 Emergency Loan program, ang mga qualified borrowers nga adunay existing emergency loan mahimong makahulam og P40,000 aron mabayran ang ilang previous emergency loan balance ug makadawat pa gihapon og P20,000. Apan dili na kwalipikado nga maka-apply ang mga naka-avail na sa COVID-19 Emergency loan. Matud pa sa GSIS nga ang maong loan program matapos sa Disyembre 27 ning tuig. Kwalipikadong maka-apply ang mga miyembro nga aktibo sa serbisyo, gawas sa
mga naka leave of absence without pay; walay pending nga administrative o criminal case; adunay “arrears” sa pagbayad sa mandatory life insurance contributions o may mga wala nabayri nga loan sa kapin unom ka buwan. Aron masigurong adunay igong takehome pay pa gihapon ang borrowers human ma-avail ang loan, kinahanglang magbaton og minimum take-home pay nga P5,000 ang miyembro human sa pagkuha sa binuwang premium contributions ug loan amortizations gikan sa ilang sweldo, matud pa sa GSIS. Samtang mahimong mo-apply sa loan ang mga senior citizen ug disability pensioners kun naa na sa 25 nga porsyento sa ilang basic monthly pension ang resulting net monthly pension niini human sa pag-avail sa loan. Mahimong ma-download ang COVID-19 Emergency application form sa https://www.gsis.gov.ph/downloadable-forms. Aron masiguro ang public health ug safety, mahimo usab mag-file ang mga
FDA, nipasidaan sa kakuyaw sa pagtipig og alcohol sulod sa mga sakyanan (PIA) -- Nipasidaan ang Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) sa mga motorista kalabot sa kakuyaw sa pagtipig og mga botelya sa alkohol sulod sa ilang mga sakyanan. Kini human nga nag-viral sa social media ang pagbuto sa botelya sa alkohol nga nahabilin sulod sa sakyanan nga maoy hinungdan sa pagkaguba sa salamin, interior ug lingkoranan niini. Sa usa ka pahayag, miingon si FDA Director General Eric Domingo nga ang tanang matang sa alcohol mahimong mosilaab ilabi na kun ibutang kini sa saradong lugar
sama sa mga sakyanan. Matud pa ni Domingo nga angay nga siguraduhong hugot ang pagkasarado sa botelya sa alcohol ug ibutang sa usa ka lugar nga ang temperatura dili molapas sa 30 °C. Kahinumdoman nga sukad nagsugod ang pandemya, daghan sa mga katawhan ang nagtipig og alkohol tungod kay usa man kini sa nag-unang pangbatok sa coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Apan daghan usab sa mga motorista ang makalimot sa pagkuha niini sulod sa ilang mga sakyanan. (ecb/PIA7-Bohol)
NPC, nagpagawas sa mga angay ug di angay buhaton sa pagpahigayon og online learning Oct. 8 (PIA) -- Sa pagsugod na sa online learning sa mga estudyante, nagpagawas og ‘do’s and dont’s’ ang National Privacy Commission (NPC) nga pwede himuong giya sa mga estudyante, ginikanan, guardians, magtutudlo ug eskwelahan. Una niini, gitambagan sa NPC ang mga estudyante sa pagmugna og lig-on nga passwords sa pag sign-up sa e-learning platforms. Matud pa, ang password angay dili moubos sa 12 ang characters nga may upper ug lower case letters, numbers ug gamitan usab og symbols. Giingong angay magmatngon ug alerto sa panahon sa online classes ilabi na sa pag-share og mga video, larawan ug files. Matud pa nga angay usab mogamit
og mga customized backgrounds aron malikayan ang aksidenteng disclosure sa personal nga mga impormasyon. Gitambag usab sa NPC ang paginstall ug regular nga pag-update sa antivirus program ug pag-mute sa microphone ug pag-off sa camera kun dili mag-estorya o mag-recite. Kun molakaw sa desk o lamesa, i-off una ang camera ug i-mute ang microphone. Nagpagawas usab ang NPC og mga tambag sa mga ginikanan o guardians kun unsaon nila matabangan nga protektado online ang ilang mga anak. Ang mga magtutudlo usab, gipalikay sa NPC sa pag-post og anunsyo nga nagsulod og mga personal nga datos sa mga estudyante. (ecb/PIA7-Bohol)
miyembro ug pensiyonado pinaagi sa contactless method. Mahimo nilang isumiter ang ilang emergency loan application pinaagi sa pension fund’s web based facility nga Electronic GSIS Member Online (eGSISMO). Kinahanglan lamang mo-sign up ang mga miyembro alang sa ilang eGSISMO account nga makita sa http://egsismo.gsis. gov.ph/ ug ibutang ang ilang GSIS business partner (BP) number. Makuha nila ang mga BP number sa ilang office’s agency authorized officer o electronic remittance file handler; sa bisan asang buhatan sa GSIS. Mahimo usab nilang e-email ang ilang emergency loan application sa designated email addresses sa mga branch office nga sakop sa ahensiya sa mga aktibong miyembro ug base sa lugar nga gipuy-an sa mga pensioner sa https://www.gsis.gov.ph/ advisory-on-the-new-email-addresses-of-gsisoffices/. Matud pa sa GSIS nga mahimong mopili ang mga borrower, gawas sa pensioner, aron mag-file og loan application pinaagi sa GSIS Wireless Automated Processing System (GWPAS) kiosk nga makita sa tanang buhatan sa GSIS, Department of Education offices, provincial capitols, city halls, Robinsons Malls ug sa SM Supermalls. Electronically credited sa Unified Multi-Purpose ID UMID card o temporary eCard account sa borrower ang loan. Alang sa dugang pangutana kabahin sa emergency loan ug mga interesado, mahimong mobisita sa GSIS website nga http://www.gsis.gov.ph; GSIS Facebook account, @gsis.ph; email gsiscares@gsis.gov. ph; o motawag sa mga buhatan sa GSIS. (ecb/ PIA7-Bohol)
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is the Island of Siquijor’s first electronic newsletter produced by the Philippine Information Agency-Siquijor Information Center and the DOST Provincial Science and Technology Center. It contains snippets of information about Siquijor, Central Visayas and the Philippine Government.
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