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Baking helps family survive Covid-19 lockdown

Los Angeles that we want to become.” Finally, No Going Back includes a For advertising, call (818) 552-4503 • email: advertising@balita.com CAREGIVERS CAREGIVERS CAREGIVERSCAREGIVERSCAREGIVERS RN CAREGIVER Female RN edu reliever live-in w/ meals. Care for wife 240/day xtra sleep, res time over time & holiday pays. Located at Anaheim CA area. CAREGIVER NEEDED Asap. Boarding care facility, papers or w/o papers, live-in preferred, salary negotiable. W/ or w/o experience, we can train. Call 909-354-2271. MALE CAREGIVER Needed in Board & Care in Woodland Hills. Call 818-288-5406. LIVE-IN CAREGIVER Board & Care in North Hollywood is looking for a caring & responsible part-time caregiver. No experience necessary. Call 818-982-6518. CAREGIVERS For elderly facility. Must be Call 760-680-7755. 15-chapter policy report. The dozens of policy recommendations within provide policymakers, community-based organizations and engaged residents with a comprehensive platform for replacing a broken system with a just society at every level of government. “The time is now to forego lip service to equality and policies rooted in inequality,” said Jacqueline Waggoner, vice president and Southern California When the going gets tough, the tough get going. For couple Myro and Jhoy Fernandez, baking helped them go through the tough times brought by the impact of the coronavirus 310-480-9716 Paul. It pays to advertise on Weekend BALITA or USAsian Post BOARD AND CARE LOOKING FOROFFICE PERSONNEL Balita Weekend Balita, Sat. - Fri., September 1 - 8, 2018 market leader of Enterprise Community Partners. “There are encouraging signs of greater awareness and widespread willingness to confront the racism embedded in our systems. There is a new understanding of how income inequality and racial discrimination threatens the health and well-being of our communities, and there are Fortunately, the couple from Barangay Muzon in Malabon did not have to start from scratch in their baking business as the two already had their "M.S. Baked Goods" up and running for some time, usually catering to family and friends craving for some homemade cookies, cakes, and pies during the holidays. disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic.

Elderly Filipino Couple in Sun Valley, CA Seeking female companion/caregiver Preferably in home, 3-5 Days/Week Please leave your contact info at: (818) 773-0869 • Female & Male Caregivers needed for DD Facilities in Anaheim, CA. • Offers sick leave benefits & potential Bonuses. • Must be strong & energetic With SS#. Medical Background Desirable. Please call (714) 357-5617 CAREGIVERS STAFF But with their funds running low as Myro's job as a teacher at a nearby private school was affected by the pandemic, Jhoy said they decided to bake and sell "pandesal", "ube pandesal", "Spanish bread", "putok" and "ensaymada" to the community. "Paubos na kasi yung income tapos wala nang pumapasok kaya hindi namin alam kung kailan magkaka-work ulit si Utoy (Myro's nickname) kaya kahit ayaw sana namin kasi delikado kasi madalas lalabas para bumili ng ingredients tapos mag deliver. Wala naman kaming choice, ayaw naman namin i-asa kay Nanay lahat ng gastos. Kaya iyon dasal nalang at tiwala na makakaya namin kahit may pandemic (We are slowly running out of funds out since no one was able to work during the lockdown and also, we have no idea on when 'Utoy' will be called to report to work again. Initially, we are scared to bake as it would mean we will be out often buying ingredients for our baking business and delivering items to the customers. We have no choice as we don't want to get our living expenses from 'Nanay' (mom). And thanks to prayers and trust to God Almighty, we managed to survive the pandemic)," Jhoy said in an interview on Monday. Jhoy, a mother of two, was also pleased to note that FULL TIME 6 DAYS A WEEK IN WEST HILLS PART TIME ALSO AVAILABLE NIGHT SHIFT NEEDED (NEAR CANOGA PARK AND WOODLAND HILLS AREA!) LIVE-IN MALE/FEMALE CAREGIVER (818) 704-9090 (PLEASE CALL BETWEEN 9 AM. AND 5 PM. Now Hiring For: RN/ LVN CCF Administrator (RCFE or ARF) Caregivers/ DSP/ CNA • Boulevard Apparel is in need of Office Personnel with knowledge on ecommerce (i.e, Amazon, Overstock, Ebay). • Knows how to construct marketing campaigns. • Quickbooks and photoshop skills are a plus. Eugene Kaplan Tel.# 213-614-1800 Email: sales@blvapparel.com WTD is seeking for an Administrative Assistant that is driven, enthusiastic, self-motivated and able to do multi-tasking of various administrative tasks, to provide support for the activities of the Executive Management Team • Must have pleasant attitude and is a team player • Must be proficient in Microsoft Outlook, Word and Excel and other computer software • Office is located in La Mirada, California, office hours is from Monday to Friday 08:00-17:30 Please email your resume to Camille at camille@wtdus.com EXECUTIVE ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT For advertising, call (818) 552-4503 • email: advertising@balita.com FOR SALE FOR RENT ROOM FOR RENT Lake Balboa. Preferably female. No kids, no pets. Near to all. $550/Mo. include utilities, cable, internet. Share bathroom. Call 818-997-9770; 818438-9866. SELL ADVERTISE RENT HERE!Balita Weekend Balita, Sat. - Fri., September 1 - 8, 2018 courageous, talented leaders emerging from community-based organizations guiding us forward. The No Going Back blueprint equips us to create solutions for a greater LA that includes everyone.” To realize such a massive overhaul of the status quo, the Committee’s next phase includes: Building awareness and consensus, by engaging dozens of stakeholders in conversation about the report and the need for systemic outcome-driven change; Research and prioritizing policies, including additional analysis to identify which recommendations to take on first, estimated costs, and who has the power to enact them; Advocacy for change, by developing strategies and investing in an organizational infrastructure; Amplifying and supporting community-based movements; and Moving hearts and minds to build community empathy and the will for change, through artistic expression. The Committee invites the entire community, including policy makers BAKING BUSINESS. Couple Myro and Jhoy Fernandez from Malabon bakes “ensaymada” and other kinds of bread and pastries to make ends meet. Many Filipinos have shifted to engaging in the food business, among others, amid the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic. (Photo courtesy of Jhoy Fernandez). their baked goods were received warmly by family, friends, and their neighbors. Right now, their average sales range from PHP700 to PHP9,000. "Hindi pare-pareho yung naging benta, PHP700 pinaka maliit na benta tapos PHP9,000 pinaka-malaki panahon lang ng pandemic yan (Sales aren't uniform, our lowest was PHP700 while our biggest sale was PHP9,000, this took place during the strictest phase of the lockdown for the pandemic," she added. Aside from fresh bread and other baked products, Jhoy said she also shifted to selling other items as a means to earn additional income during the quarantine period. "Bukod sa tinapay, nag-aalok na din ako ng ibang paninda na kahit maliit lang yung maging tubo, pwede na din pag madami naman bumili lumalaki na din yung maliit kasi hindi naman parating may benta or may order ng madaming tinapay (Aside from bread, I also now selling other items even if the profits are small, that could go up if there are more orders, and besides sales or orders of bread are not always high,)" she added. (PNA) and candidates for elected offices to fILIPINO... fROM PAge 3 Los Angeles area (near LAX airport)join us in making the #NoGoingBackLA promise--a commitment to build a families in Long Beach and Carson through the Bayanihan Community Response (BCR) network. purpose in life but to be stronger, to go abroad and try to support my family.” When talking about why she decided to speak out against her Norwalk area North Hills area For advertising, call (818) 552-4503 • email: advertising@balita.com more equitable and inclusive Los Angeles--by signing up at nogoingback.la. The Committee for Greater LA comprises a diverse group of civic and what age.” Performances include Sophia Reyes, a youth program alumni, who sang “Ang Mahalaga” a

FMC partnered with the National Alliance for Filipino Concerns (NAFCON) to create multiple BCR networks across Southern California, which was part of NAFCON’s nationwide BCR campaign to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic by providing groceries and meals, education about workers’ health and rights, and social support for families isolated in their homes. Several “Bayanihan Awards” were given to key volunteers in the different BCR networks. Awardees included Katherine Chua (Los AnPlease call 626-926-7186 for inquiries or email resume at hrqagandres2@gmail.com Escondido (San Diego) areaFOR SALE FOR RENT ROOM FOR RENT Lake Balboa. Preferably female. No kids, no pets. Near to all. $550/Mo. include utilities, cable, internet. Share bathroom. Call 818-997-9770; 818438-9866. SELL ADVERTISE RENT community leaders and a joint USC/ UCLA research team, backed by local philanthropy, who came together to address the racial disparities that the COVID pandemic exposed. In the wake of the murders of Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, and George Floyd, and the subsequent nationwide protests, its focus expanded to encompass a broader understanding of systemic racism. Over the past trafficker she said, “Don’t be afraid, just fight for your life.” Through FMC, labor trafficking survivors are educated on their rights and are empowered to seek justice against their traffickers and also connect with legal resources for their cases. Over the last decade, FMC has helped over 50 Filipino trafficking survivors with various services and also helped a significant amount reunite with their families after years of separation. song about justice and peace, originally performed by the Filipino band, Asin. The last song was a surprise rap performance by FMC staff detailing the ten years of Filipino Migrant Center’s organizing and social justice work. Attendees also participated in an interactive activity where they shared which words they associated with FMC. Some of the most common were Justice, Power, Hope, and Community. Emcees Angelica Tan and Lester Ramos, engeles), Kathleen Porras (Long Beach/Carson), The last awardee of the day was Cherlin Ong- couraged all the attendees to embody FMC’s five months, drawing on new research

Bayanihan Kollective (Orange County), and Jessica May Barcelona (San Diego). Other key BCR partners include API Forward Movement, keko, who received the Outstanding Volunteer Award for her contribution to FMC’s Census outreach efforts, the Kapwa Kids program for HERE! mission for justice, power, and hope by continuing to volunteer for FMC’s programs, becoming a member, hosting future fundraisers, and personal testimony, the Committee assembled a comprehensive picture of the massive racial disparities and

Romeo Chocolates, and Island Pacific Super- young children, and also her participation in and supporting campaigns to fight for workers economic disparities that pervade the market. the Kabataan Unite social justice youth lead- and migrants’ rights. region’s interconnected social systems,

The “Courage Award” was given to two Fili- ership program. In keeping tradition with most Filipino par- and a vision of a comprehensive policy pino labor trafficking survivors from Los An- Speaking about her volunteer experience, ties, the celebration ended with a virtual dance agenda to build a more equitable Los geles who were brought to America and were Ongkeko stated, “I wanted to get in touch with party where attendees danced & celebrated on Angeles for all. exploited, underpaid, and threatened by their my Filipino roots and support the community screen together. No Going Back is online at nogoingemployers. Both of the survivors’ cases in court as much as I could. While volunteering with The Filipino Migrant Center will continue ed- back.la and on social media on Twitare currently ongoing, but they had the cour- children through seniors in FMC’s programs, ucating, organizing, and mobilizing the Filipino ter (@nogoingbackla) and Facebook age to share their stories. One of the survivors I learned the spirit of ‘Bayanihan’ is about con- community of Southern California for their (https://www.facebook.com/nogoingshared, “I am a single mom, I have no other necting and empowering people, no matter rights and welfare for years to come. backLA).

COUNTY... fROM PAge 1

ARE YOU READY TO Citizen. Officials encouraged residents to download the app to expand local efforts to posal to halt the spread of COVID-19 –– from wearing masks to keeping our distance to can use to empower themselves to best take care of their health, and the health of those to potential exposures. Any users who have meaningful contact with another user who GIVE UP USING PLASTIC STRAWS? track COVID-19 for L.A. County’s 10 million residents. “The County’s partnership with SafePass is a valuable tool to help slow the spread of COVID-19 throughout our region,” said Suavoiding large gatherings –– and contact tracing is an absolutely essential part of our effort to track this virus and save lives,” said Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti. “The Citizen SafePass app puts the power around them.” “It's promising to hear one of the greatest cities in America is embracing technology to fight this epidemic,” said Citizen CEO Andrew Frame. later tests positive for COVID-19 will receive a notification to get tested. The app also offers immediate access to eligible users for a free at-home testing kit for those who have been notified of exposure SAVE OUR OCEANS AND pervisor Kathryn Barger, Chair of the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors. “The success of the SafePass app relies of public health in the palms of our hands, equipping us with another way to expand our tracing programs, bend the COVID curve in “With a possible second wave on the horizon, it's critical we prepare now for the future. The way to contain the virus until the through the app and provides up to date information about all active testing sites in Los Angeles County (terms and conditions MARINE LIFE! on a continued sense of community impact among our residents by asking individuals the right direction, protect our families and friends, and build on recent progress against vaccine arrives is to do our part by wearing masks, social distancing, contact tracing, apply see https://citizen.com/tracing/tests). All location data is anonymized and deto do their part to protect themselves and this deadly pandemic.” and to get tested frequently through the free leted after 30 days. To learn more about their neighbors.” “We must continue to use all available re- weekendbalita.comtesting resources provided by the City of SafePass, visit citizen.com/safepass.

“Contact tracing relies on residents shar- sources, data, and technology to fight CO- Los Angeles." The County of Los Angeles and City of Los ing with us key information to identify close VID-19,” said Long Beach Mayor Robert Garcia. The Citizen SafePass mobile app comple- Angeles have tested more than two million Grab a copy of WEEKEND BALITA every Saturday contacts, and today we are adding additional capacity for our program through SafePass,” said Barbara Ferrer, PhD, MPH, MEd, Di“In addition to our face coverings and physical distancing, contact tracing is an important part of beating this global health ments the existing local COVID-19 response efforts in Los Angeles County by introducing an innovative tool that ramps up the critipeople since the start of the pandemic at testing sites located across the region. Similarly, over 2,600 County and City rector of Public Health. crisis.” cal contact tracing process. Following three workers have been deployed by the L.A.

“This new tool allows everyone to share “COVID-19 knows no City boundaries, so months of testing with more than 700,000 County Public Health Department to conresponsibility for protecting each other, and we are thankful to have such strong part- users, SafePass was recently made available duct critical contact tracing services. I want to thank Citizen for their innovation nerships with our neighboring Cities and to users across the United States. For more information about available and commitment to helping us slow the the County to better serve our community,” Using Bluetooth technology and an- testing in Los Angeles, visit https://covid19. spread of COVID-19.” said City of Pasadena Mayor Terry Tornek. onymized data, SafePass tracks any close lacounty.gov/testing/ or coronavirus.lacity.

“We have to deploy every tool at our dis- “This app is another tool that our residents contacts with other users, and alerts them org/testing.

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PRAYER TO THE HOLY SPIRIT

Holy Spirit Thou who make me see everything and show me the way to reach my ideal, You who give me the divine gift to forgive and forget the wrong that is done to me and who are in all instances of my life with me. I, in this short dialogue, want to thank You for from You no matter how great the material desires may be. I want to be with You and my loved ones in Your perpetual glory. Amen. (A person must pray this for three consecutive days without stating his wish. After the 3rd day the wish will be granted, no matter how been granted. Grateful Thanks) - God bless - ATE VIV

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PRAYER TO SAINT JUDE

Most Holy Apostle St. Jude Thaddeus, faithful servant and friend of Jesus, the name of the traitor who delivered your beloved Master Balita Weekend Balita, Sat. - Fri., September 1 - 8, 2018 into the hands of the enemies has caused you to be forgotten by many, but the Church honors and invokes you universally as the patron of hopeless cases and of things despaired of. Pray for me who am so needy; make use, I implore you of that particular privilege accorded to you to bring visible and speedy help where help is almost despaired. Come to my assistance in this great need that I may receive the consolations and succor of heaven For advertising, call (818) 552-4503 • email: advertising@balita.com in all my necessities, tribulations, and sufferings particularly (here mention your petition) and that I may bless God with you and all the elect throughout eternity. I promise you, O blessed Jude to be ever mindful of this great favor, and I will never cease to honor you FOR SALE FOR RENT ROOM FOR RENT SELL as my special and powerful patron and to do all in my power to Lake Balboa. Preferably female. No encourage devotion to you. Amen. THANK YOU - ABAkids, no pets. Near to all. $550/Mo. include utilities, cable, internet. Share ADVERTISE PRAYER TO SAINT THERESE PRAYERSbathroom. Call 818-997-9770; 818438-9866. RENT O Glorious St. Therese, whom Almighty God has raised up to aid and inspire the human family, I implore your Miraculous Intercession. You are so powerful in obtaining every need of body and spirit from HERE! the Heart of God. Holy Mother Church proclaims you ‘Prodigy of Miracles... the Greatest Saint of Modern Times.’ Now I fervently beseech you to answer my petition (mention here) and to carry out your promises of spending Heaven doing good on earth...of letting fall from Heaven a Shower of Roses. Little Flower, give me your childlike faith, to see the Face of God in the people and

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COVID-19 vaccine availability depends on gov't negotiations with developers — PCHRD

MANILA (Mabuhay) — The availability of an effective COVID-19 vaccine to the Philippines will depend on the negotiations between the government and the vaccine developer, even if the country is a participant in clinical trials, the Philippine Council for Health Research and Development (PHCRD) said Wednesday.

PCHRD executive director Dr. Jaime Montoya made the remark during the House panel deliberations on the proposed budget of the Department of Science and Technology for 2021.

During the hearing, House appropriations panel vice chair Ruffy Biazon asked if the Philippines' participation in clinical trials will allow it to get priority in the distribution of these COVID-19 vaccines once they are proven effective.

Montoya, in response, assured that an effective COVID-19 vaccine will be available to Filipinos, but there is no assurance on when this will be available. "Basta ang isang vaccine developer ay naggawa ng clinical trial sa isang bansa, they will make that vaccine available. Ang tanong lang is kaagad ba? Alam natin na itong panahon ng COVID-19, lahat ng bansa ay nag-uunahan na makakuha ng bakuna," he said. "Ang kasiguraduhan lang po niyan, sigurado magkakaroon tayo. Depende na sa negosasyon na maaaring gagawin ng ating pamahalaan sa mga vaccine ng developer ng mga bakuna na magiging successful kung paano tayo mauuna sa pila," he added.

Back in May, the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) approved the DOST's recommendation that the Philippines participate in the clinical trials for COVID-19 vaccines.

The collaborating organizations for the clinical trials include the Adimmune Corporation, Acedemia Sinica, the Chinese Academy of Science - Guangzhou Institute of Biomedicine and Health, and SinoPharma - Wuhan Institute of Biological Products and Beijing Institute.

The Philippines also joined the upcoming Phase 3 clinical trials for Russian COVID-19 vaccine Sputnik V running from October 2020 to March 2021, with Russia expected to shoulder the costs.

But even if the country is a participant of these clinical trials, DOST Secretary Fortunato Dela Peña said it does not mean that the Philippines is committing to purchase vaccines from these developers. "Kung ang bakuna na ito ay okay, 'yung isang bakuna ay okay din, hindi naman tayo puwedeng patali habang nagki-clinical trials," he said. "Kung bibili tayo sa kanila, obligado sila dahil dito nila ginawa 'yung trials. Pero hindi tayo magco-commit na bibili tayo sa kanila kahit dito ginawa trial. Dahil tayo ay magko-compare pa rin. Dadaan 'yan sa procurement process," he added.

Dela Peña said the IATF has already approved the DOST's recommendation to create a sub-technical working group (TWG) for vaccine procurement. "Doon sa vaccine procurement, DBM (Department of Budget and Management) na ang magche-chair ng sub-TWG at pitong ahensya ang kasali. Pero magsasabi pa rin kung ilan at alin ang bibilhin ay DOH (Department of Health)," he added. (MNS)

DOH backs ban on home quarantine to prevent community transmission

MANILA (Mabuhay) — The Department of Health has backed the National Task Force’s proposal for prohibition on home quarantine for COVID-19 patients and their close contacts to prevent community transmission.

Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire made the announcement a day after Interior Secretary Eduardo Año said that the government is eyeing a ban on home quarantine and that such measure will be enforced within a week.

“Based on observations of the National Task Force, marami ang naka-home quarantine at preferred ito ng mga tao, at nagkakaroon ng community transmission. Kaya ayon po sa proposal ng National Task Force, mas preferred na po ng gobyerno na iyong mga symptomatic at mga close contact [ng COVID-19 patients] ay ma-isolate sa TTMF instead of home quarantine," Vergeire said in an online briefing.

The health official said as of September 5, which is the latest available data , 84.9% of 1,742 clusters of COVID-19 cases in the country are due to community transmission.

Meanwhile, as of September 6, at least 41% of the 167,000 beds in state-run quarantine facilities are occupied.

The highest occupancy rate at 59% is recorded in Metro Manila where the bulk of COVID-19 cases are, followed by Region 5 at 56%, and Region 2 at 51%.

The Cordillera Administrative Region, Region 3, and Region 4, on the other hand, did not meet the minimum standard of having one bed in a quarantine facility per 2,500 of the population.

In an interview on Unang Hirit, Año said 50,000 more contact tracers will be hired in the coming days in addition to the 238,000 that were already recruited. The additional contact tracers to be hired can be deployed in areas where workforce for contacting is really needed.

He said 20,000 contact tracers will be deployed to Luzon; 15,000 to the Visayas; and another 15,000 to Mindanao. (MNS)

Task force vs. COVID-19 eyes prohibiting public from going to cemeteries during Undas

MANILA (Mabuhay) — The National Task Force against COVID-19 will recommend that the public be prohibited to go to cemeteries during the Undas holidays due to the COVID-19 pandemic, an official said Wednesday.

At a press briefing, deputy chief implementer of the national policy against COVID-19 and testing czar Vince Dizon said nothing is final yet as this will still be discussed by concerned agencies. "'Yung specifics kung ano 'yung guidelines, 'di ko pa masasabi ngayon. Definitely, ang irerekomenda ng NTF is 'yung ating kinagawian na pagpupunta ng maraming tao sa sementeryo, hindi natin 'yan puwedeng gawin ngayong 2020 dahil sa COVID-19," Dizon said. "Ngayon, kung ano 'yung magiging guidelines, kung sarado ba ang sementeryo, 'yan po ay idi-discuss pa," he added.

This came a day after Manila City Mayor Isko Moreno said that public and private cemeteries in the city would be closed from October 31 to November 3.

Moreno said this measure could further prevent the transmission of COVID-19.

The mayor said he made an early announcement so that the public could still have time to visit their deceased loved ones.

Meanwhile, Dizon said the NTF against COVID-19 respects and admires the move of Moreno. "Sa City of Manila, nirerespeto natin at hinahangaan natin ang desisyon, ang matapang na desisyon ni Mayor Isko para sa City of Manila," Dizon said. (MNS)

Frontliners lauded as PH fl attens Covid-19 curve

MANILA (Mabuhay) — Testing czar and National Policy Against Covid-19 deputy chief implementer Secretary Vince Dizon lauded medical doctors, nurses, and other frontliners for their work and sacrifices which greatly contributed to the flattening of the Covid-19 curve in the country.

During the Coordinated Operations to Defeat Epidemic (CODE) team visit in Taguig on Tuesday together with the National Task Force (NTF) Against Covid-19 and the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATFEID), Dizon encouraged front-liners to just continue with what they are doing.

Dizon acknowledged the important role being played by the frontliners in the fight against the pandemic as he stressed that the government will not be effective in its fight against the coronavirus pandemic without them as they are the ones directly dealing and taking care of Covid-19 positive patients.

“Never get tired from doing what you have been doing all this time and please just continue,” Dizon said in a mix of English and Filipino.

Dizon also stressed the important role of the local government units (LGUs) and the cooperation of the whole community in following protocols enforced by the LGUs.

Citing the report made by the University of the Philippines OCTA Research Team that “the curve has already flattened”, Dizon said the country's Covid-19 fight is still far from over.

“While it is true that the easiest thing to do is to claim that we have won, but the truth is, this war is not yet over and it is still far from being over. This virus is a traitor because just when we start being at ease and not wear a mask or no longer wash our hands frequently or do not observe physical distancing anymore, the virus will hit us, consistency is the key, let us not stop in our efforts,” he said.

Meanwhile, NTF special adviser Dr. Ted Herbosa shared their experiences in visiting other LGUs in the country and discussed the best practices of Cebu City and Navotas.

He said Cebu City once became the epicenter of Covid-19 in the country because they found out that barangay officials themselves do not implement the imposed health safety protocols in their areas.

Cebu City has contained Covid-19 through the help of the national government and that now, Bacolod has become a hotspot.

“This fight is in the communities and the role of the local chief executives and the head of the barangay is very important,” he said.

Dizon assured Taguig City officials that the national government will continue to support them.

The team also delivered face masks courtesy of the national government, the DOH, and the IATF, to be given to residents of Taguig as he promised that they will also provide the city government test kits for their new laboratory. (MNS)

DOH clarifi es: Process of crushing of dolomite hazardous to health

MANILA (Mabuhay) — The Department of Health clarified Tuesday that the process of crushing dolomite was harmful and not the product itself.

The agency had earlier warned that crushed dolomite may cause respiratory issues as the environment department began dumping artificial white sand in Manila Bay. "Ito pong proseso ng pagka-crush ng dolomite, dun po tayo nagkakaroon ng hazardous event or effects sa katawan. As long as it is processed already, hindi na po ganun ang kaniyang epekto sa mga population o sa mga tao," DOH Undersecretary and spokesperson Maria Rosario Vergeire said. "Sinisiguro naman po ng DENR (Department of Environment and Natural Resources) na ito po ay will not harm the environment nor the population. Hindi naman po yan bibigyan ng clearance ng DENR kung ito ay makakasama sa kalusugan ng ating mga kababayan."

Wearing of face masks will also prevent possible harmful effects to a person's respiratory system, Vergeire added. "Tayo po ay nagpapatupad ng minimum health standard. Tayo po ay nakamask kung sakali there would be this kind of effect to our respiratory system, by using the mask we can be able to prevent that," she said.

The DENR's move to dump synthetic white sand nearby Manila Bay has received criticism, with environmental groups saying it violated several laws. (MNS)

Philippines will go for cheapest COVID-19 vaccine — Duterte

MANILA (Mabuhay) — Given the country's scarce funds, President Rodrigo Duterte said the Philippines will buy the cheapest COVID-19 vaccine that will be available in the market, saying all vaccines have the same effect. "It's there. I think it's Moderna, it is a US company, I think they are ready by September. . . . Sinovac, China is also ready," he said in a taped address aired nationwide Monday. "Kung sino magbigay ng mura dun tayo pupunta. We know we don’t have much money, kung mahal masyado, we will go for the less expensive ones," Duterte added.

Under the proposed Bayanihan to Recover as One Act, which is awaiting Duterte's signature, a P10 billion standby fund for COVID-19 vaccines and for testing has been set aside.

Duterte earlier said the Philippine government will pay for the vaccines that would be made available to Filipinos to fight COVID-19.

He also added that he will be asking the Russian and Chinese governments for loans for the vaccines due to the “economic hemorrhage” the country is facing.

In his message, Duterte declared that the Philippines has "flattened the curve" in its campaign against the spread of COVID-19 in the country. "We had obedience and people followed that meant a lot and contributed to what is happening now that there's a flattening of cases," he said. "Yung local government also played a vital role in the [enforcement] of anti-virus measures. I salute you for doing your duty very well," he added.

He called on the people to remain vigilant despite the positive development, adding this does not mean that COVID-19 is gone but remains "floating." (MNS)

ONE HOSPITAL COMMAND CENTER REPORTS 90% SUCCESS RATE

MANILA (Mabuhay) — The The Department of Health (DOH) on Monday reported that the One Hospital Command Center (OHCC), a health care referral network linked with service providers such as hospitals, quarantine facilities, and medical transportation, has successfully closed 2,202 out of 2,447 cases to date, indicating a 90 percent success rate in its ability to quickly connect Filipinos needing medical attention.

Part of the nation’s response to coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19), or the Prevent-Detect-Isolate-Treat-Reintegrate framework, the OHCC is a centralized system that Filipinos can call prior to seeking medical assistance so that they are guaranteed a slot at an available and appropriate healthcare facility.

“The high success rate in closing cases is also attrib- uted to the increasing Covid-19 bed capacities in different hospitals and facilities across t he country, with the OHCC ensuring that the demand for beds and facilities is appropriately and adequately met,” Health Secretary Francisco T. Duque III said.

He said the OHCC continues to work with hospitals and health facilities to meet the prescribed Covid-19 bed allocation of 30 percent for public beds and 20 percent for private beds asset by Administrative Order 2020-0016.

“According to the latest health system capacity report as of September 6, there was an overall increase in the number of dedicated beds from 20,620 last September 2 to 20,888 on September 6,” he added.

Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Singh-Vergeire said the government through the help of local governments will build OHCC in different regions.

“Magkakaroon narin po tayo ng ganitong center sa iba't-ibang region natin to coordinate our referral system sa ating overall response. Sa bawat hakbang laban sa Covid-19, patuloy po nating bibigyan ng emphasis ang people-centered care (We will have this kind of center in different regions to coordinate our referral system for our overall response. In every step of our fight against Covid-19, we will continue to give emphasis on the people-center care),” Vergerie said in a media forum. Vergeire added that the OHCC was created not only to help provide patients with quicker access to medical services, but also to help relieve the burden on the health care system by ensuring that cases are referred to facilities where there is still capacity. She noted that it will help prevent overloading of hospitals, as well as healthcare workers. According to OHCC Operations Manager, Dr. Bernadett Velasco, OHCC provides patients with 24/7 access to healthcare referral through its off-site center.

Agents at that command center are able to check availability of medical staff at the different healthcare facilities in the network, and can even check for available beds at both private and private hospitals as well as the temporary treatment and monitoring facilities (TTMF) through the DOH’s bed tracker.

It takes about three to five minutes for an agent to gather information from a stable patient, including symptoms, location, Covid-19 status, and whether the patient prefers to be admitted to a private or public health center.

Callers are then given feedback on how to proceed to an available facility, and in the case that they need assistance with transportation, the OHCC also helps arrange transportation through one of the partners, such as Bureau of Fire Protection, the Philippine Red Cross, and the local government units.

For emergency cases that require urgent attention, Velasco said patients are usually transported to a facility within the day.

“Unti-unti po nating ini-improve ang ating serbisyo sa One Hospital Command Center at unti-unti rin po tayo naga-augment ng mga manpower natin dahil kailangan po natin sila i-train para sumagot ng mga medical inquiries at mag-facilitate pong coordination to different facilities (Let us gradually improve our services at One Hospital Command Center and slowly augment our manpower because we need to train them how to answer medical inquiries and facilitate coordination to different facilities,” Velasco said.

The center can be accessed in three different ways: by downloading the free Pure Force Citizens application, through the dedicated hotlin es;02-886-505-00,0915-777-7777 and 0919-977-3333, and by scanning its Quick Response (QR) code. (MNS)