Caraga InFocus – January 1-7, 2022

Volume VI, No. 01 January 1-7, 2022

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PSA-CARAGA ENJOINS SUPPORT FOR THE CONDUCT OF CSS FOR 2022 DISTRIBUTION OF RELIEF PACKS IN SIARGAO UNHAMPERED OVER 1M CARAGA RESIDENTS NOW FULLY VAXXED ZERO FIRECRACKER-RELATED INJURIES SA SURSUR IBINIDA MATAPOS ANG PAGTAWID SA BAGONG TAON BOOSTER SHOTS NG COVID-19 VACCINES, PINILAHAN SA SURSUR NORMIN AGENCIES, GROUPS CONTINUE RELIEF OPS FOR ‘ODETTE’ VICTIMS

NATIONAL NEWS

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PCOO, BG PARTY LIST, ISRAELI EMBASSY SEND AID TO ODETTE VICTIMS IN CARAGA

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VACCINE CZAR: GOV’T SHOULD BOLSTER ADMINISTRATION OF COVID-19 BOOSTER DOSE

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DILG, PND PRAISED FOR SUCCESSFUL ANTI-ILLEGAL DRUG CAMPAIGN

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COVID-19 NEWS DON’T LEAVE YOUR HOMES OR GET JAILED, PRRD TO VAX DECLINERS PH READY FOR POSSIBLE OMICRON VARIANT WAVE: DOH EXEC NEARLY 50M FILIPINOS ALREADY FULLY VACCINATED

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CONTENTS

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COVER

Caraga

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Our government is working: RDRRMC chief “Our government is working.”

This was the statement of Caraga Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (RDRRMC) chairperson Liza Mazo on the ongoing disaster response launched by the government to typhoon-stricken areas in Caraga Region.

According to Mazo, blocked roads and the continuous heavy rain experienced in Caraga just after Typhoon

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Odette ravaged the region, aid for more than 287,000 families or over 1.5 million individuals affected continues to be provided.

as logistics is concerned, the OCD facilitated the transportation and even warehousing... everything to hasten the delivery of relief assistance to the “As far as logistics is destination, especially concerned, ang OCD the island provinces (Office of Civil Defense) Dinagat Islands, Siargao, nagfacilitate talaga ng and even mainland mga transport and even Surigao del Norte),” she warehousing.. lahat para said. mapabilis ang delivery of relief assistance to the The OCD is closely destination, especially coordinating with the the island provinces Armed Forces of the Dinagat Islands, Siargao, Philippines (AFP) for and even mainland faster mobilization of the Surigao del Norte. (As far said assistance through Caraga INFOCUS

AFP’s assets such as deployed quad teams vehicles, sea vessels, and in the towns of Burgos, aircrafts.

Dapa, Del Carmen, General Luna, Pilar, San With these resources, Benito, and San Isidro relief items are being in Siargao Islands; the transported daily, Mazo municipalities of San said, except on instances Jose, Dinagat, Basilisa, where gale warnings are Cagdianao in Dinagat issued, which prohibts Islands; and in Surigao small boats from sailing.

City to address primary medical concerns “Yung ating target such as basic medical ay mareach ito sa services, pyschosocial mga community at support, nutrition, matransport ito everyday and water quality (Our target is to reach managament. and transport these everyday),” she added.

The Department of Social Welfare and The Department of Development (DSWD), Health (DOH) is also as the head of the actively providing RDRRMC-Regional medical services to Disaster Response distressed residents.

Committee (RDRRMCRDRC), is also leading The agency has the distribution of

food and non-food items, management of internally displaced persons, and even the dead.

Even after the typhoon, the Council is providing relief assistance non-stop even during the holidays.

“Araw-araw yan, walang pahinga, even 24 ng gabi and New Year, New Year’s Eve, walang tulugan, walang pahinga... no letting down, even from the start. (That is done everyday, even in the 24th [of December] and on New Year, New Year’s Eve, we didn’t sleep, we didn’t rest... no letting down even from the start),” said Mazo.

(DMNR/PIA-Caraga)

News Briefs PSA Caraga regional director Dr. Rosalinda C. Apura assured that all the data and information collected by the hired statistical researchers (SRs) from sample households during the Palay and Corn Stock Survey (PCSS1) shall be kept strictly confidential and shall not be used for purposes of taxation, investigation or regulation as provided under Article 55 of RA 10625. xx

Republic Act No. 11598 which authorizes the Department of Agriculture to provide for direct cash assistance to farmers who are tilling two (2) hectares and below of rice land until 2024, and use for the purpose the annual tariff revenues in excess of ten billion pesos (P10B) of the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund created under Republic Act. No. 11203, entitled “An Act Liberalizing the Importation, Exportation, and Trading of Rice, Lifting for the Purpose the Quantitative Import Restriction on Rice, and For Other Purposes.” (PCOO) According to RDRRMC chair and OCD Caraga regional director Liza Mazo, the Emergency Telecommunication Cluster has deployed and established the DICT’s GECS-MOVE in Surigao City, Siargao Island and Dinagat Islands, as well as provision of VSAT in the said areas to ensure means of communication to the LGUs affected and the Caraga RDRRMC for proper and harmonized interventions in the area, especially that the government’s relief operations are ongoing.

The Police Regional Office (PRO) 13 has received a total of Php4,649,442 worth of donated goods and Php876,670 worth of cash as of January 4 from various PROs, partner stakeholders and PRO13 units that were administered in assisting the victims of Typhoon Odette.

PSA-Caraga enjoins support for the conduct of CSS for 2022

The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) Caraga will conduct its monthly Commercial Stocks Survey (CSS) for the year 2022.

PSA-Caraga regional director Dr. Rosalinda C. Apura enjoins all stakeholders to provide support to the conduct of the CSS, which aims to generate estimates of the current stocks inventory of rice and corn in registered grains businessmen/firms in the country.

“The survey had been transferred from the Caraga INFOCUS

National Food Authority (NFA) to PSA, per Section 3 Rule 3.5 of the Implementing Rules and Regulations of Republic Act No. 11203 or the Rice Tariffication Law,” said director Apura.

SRs and field supervisors to strictly observe proper health protocols in dealing with respondents during the survey.

The survey will be undertaken by hired statistical researchers (SRs) and/or regular staff through face-toface paper and pencil interview (PAPI) during the first four days of the reference month with the 1st day of the month as the reference period.

“All the data and information collected by the hired SRs from sample households shall be kept strictly confidential and shall not be used for purposes of taxation, investigation or regulation as provided under Article 55 of RA 10625,” Apura added.

(NCLM/PIA-Caraga)

Apura also reminds the

Likewise, data collected will be kept confidential.

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Distribution of relief packs in Siargao unhampered The distribution of relief packs in the different municipalities in Siargao Island, Surigao del Norte remained unhampered as support continued to grow from different sectors, both in the government and private sectors.

Surigao del Norte First District Representative Francisco Jose Matugas II, in a statement Friday, said the number of relief packs delivered to distressed residents in the island has increased since December 30 last month.

From 81,000 relief packs on December 30, the number of deliveries has doubled to 190,000 relief packs as of Friday, Matugas reported.

“We have built more fluid supply links to sites hard to reach, such as Socorro. The distribution rate there has moved up from December’s 83 percent to the recent rate of 202 percent,” Matugas said.

Data provided by the office of the solon showed that 20,543 relief packs have already been delivered to Socorro town as of Friday benefitting around 10,143 families.

The same data also indicated that 20,691 relief packs have been distributed as of Friday to 2,980 families in Santa Monica town; 6,652 packs to 1,876 families in San Benito; 28,659 packs to 8,441 families in Del Carmen; and 7,414 packs to 1,405 families in Burgos; and

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CONTINUING DISTRIBUTION. Surigao del Norte Governor Francisco Matugas (3rd from left) leads the distribution of food packs to affected residents in the towns of Pilar, Sta. Monica, Del Carmen and Gen. Luna in Siargao Island on Thursday (Jan. 4, 2022). Matugas II said a total of 190,000 relief packs were already distributed to residents of nine towns on the island as of Friday (January 17). (Photo grabbed from Cong. Bingo Matugas FB Page)

9,440 packs to 2,302 families in San Isidro.

The data added that 16,988 packs have already been given to 3,539 families in the town of Pilar; 24,994 packs to 8,383 families in Gen. Luna; and 57,908 packs to 14,153 families in Dapa.

Matugas also clarified that since December 30, distribution rates in the towns in Siargao have increased as more relief assistance has arrived on the island.

In Santa Monica, as of Friday, six rounds of relief distributions have already been conducted; five rounds in Burgos; four rounds in the towns of San Isidro, Dapa, and Pilar; three rounds in Del Carmen and San Benito; and two rounds in Gen. Luna and Socorro.

“Big thanks to our partners and all the workers on the ground. We are mobilizing relief

goods non-stop, inspired by our communities’ will to move beyond damage,” Matugas said.

Meanwhile, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) 13 (Caraga) said 2,500 additional family food packs (FFPs) have arrived in Siargao Island on Friday through the support of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), Philippine National Police (PNP), and the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP).

The additional FFPs will be distributed starting Saturday in the towns of Gen. Luna, Pilar, Burgos, and San Isidro.

“Despite the ongoing challenge of transporting the goods into the island municipalities, in coordination with PNP, BFP, and the PCG, the said FFPs were transported and are now in transit to each municipality,” the DSWD-13 said. (PNA/ Alexander Lopez)

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Over 1M Caraga residents now fully vaxxed It added that 1,283,594 residents in the region have so far been inoculated with their first doses of Covid-19 vaccines.

FULL PROTECTION. A woman gets vaccinated against the coronavirus disease 2019 in Caraga on Tuesday (Jan. 4, 2022). The health department in the region said that a total of 1,031,277 residents in the Caraga Region have so far been fully vaccinated, representing 53.93 percent of its 1,912,163 target population. (Photo courtesy of DOH-13)

The Department of Health in Caraga (DOH13) on Tuesday reported that a total of 1,031,277 residents in the region have completed their full doses of coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) vaccine.

During a meeting of the Regional Vaccination Operations Center and Response Cluster, DOH13 Director, Dr. Cesar Caraga INFOCUS

“There is a need for all sectors to constantly work together to prevent the region from having a high number of Covid-19 cases considering the existence of another variant of the virus,” Cassion said referring to the Omicron variant which has been seen in several cases throughout the country.

Cassion said the agency Cassion, said the number will continue to work with other agencies and the of fully vaccinated local government units individuals represents for the speedy conduct 53.93 percent of the of vaccinations. total target population for vaccination in the As of Monday, the region. agency has tallied a total of 49,258 A total of 1,912,163 cumulative Covid-19 residents were set as the infections in the region target population for with 47,293 recoveries, 66 Covid-19 vaccination remaining active cases, in Caraga Region, the and 1,899 deaths. (PNA/ Alexander Lopez) agency said.

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Zero firecracker-related injuries sa SurSur ibinida matapos ang pagtawid sa bagong taon Magkakatugma ang ulat ng pinakamalaking pampublikong pagamutan ng Department of Health (DOH) sa Surigao del Sur, Police Provincial Office (PPO), at Provincial Health Office (PHO) tungkol sa zero firecracker-related injuries sa pagsalubong sa bagong taon.

Sa hiwalay na mga panayam, sinabi nina Adela Serra-Ty Memorial Medical Center (ASTMMC) information officer Recklyn Ruaza, Police Provincial Office (PPO) Public Information Officer (PIO) P/Lt. Col. Ray Sorreda, at Health Education Promotion Officer (HEPO) Helbert Lugo na tagumpay ang patuloy na kampanya ng gobyerno laban sa paggamit ng bawal na mga paputok.

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Abot-abot naman ang pasasalamat ng Surigao del Sur Police Provincial Office (SDSPPO) sa pamumuno ni PNP provincial director Col. Joseph Boquiren dahil sa pakikiisa ng publiko sa kampanyang Oplan Iwas-Paputok.

Pambungad na araw pa lang ng buwan

ng Disyembre nang nagtalikod na taon ay agad inilunsad ng Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) ang kampanya tungkol sa Oplan IwasPaputok tampok ang ginawang pag-iikot ng mga firetrucks ng bumbero sa kada local government unit (LGU).

(DXJS RP-Tandag/PIASurigao del Sur) Caraga INFOCUS

Booster shots ng COVID-19 vaccines, pinilahan sa SurSur

Sa layunin na ma-mitigar o mapigilan ang paglaganap ng COVID-19 sa lalawigan ng Surigao del Sur, sinimulan na sa Surigao del Sur ang pamamahagi ng booster shots ng bakuna kontra COVID-19.

Pinilahan ang isinagawang dalawang araw na special operations ng pamamahagi ng booster shots ng Provincial Health Office (PHO) sa pakikipagtulungan sa Provincial Department of Health (DOH) Office.

Idinaos ang dalawang araw na aktibidad sa Provincial Capitol Lobby sa Tandag City noong Disyembre 29 at 31, 2021.

Sa panayam kay Herbert Lugo, Health Education and Promotion Officer ng PHO, kinumpirma niya na nasa 400 indibidwal ang nabakunahan ng Caraga INFOCUS

booster shots kontra COVID-19 sa nasabing okasyon. Karamihan sa mga nabigyan ng booster shots ay mga empleyado ng gobyerno.

Sa Bislig City naman, patuloy ang pagtuturok ng 1st at 2nd dose sa mga adult at kabataan na may edad 12-17 taong gulang mula alas 8 ng umaga hanggang alas 3 ng hapon na isinasagawa sa Bislig City Cultural and Sports Center (BCCSC).

Sa datus na ibinahagi ni Lugo, nakapagtala ang PHO ng 335,975 indibidwal ang nabakunahan ng 1st dose mula Marso hanggang Disyembre 31, 2021. Samantala, umabot naman sa 242,784 o 55.45% ng total target ng papulasyon ang fully vaccinated na sa lalawigan. (PIASurigao del Sur) January 1-7, 2022 |

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NorMin agencies, groups continue relief ops for ‘Odette’ victims

RELIEF DISTRIBUTION. The team from the Department of Public Works and Highways in Northern Mindanao (DPWH10) unloads relief packs in Surigao City on Tuesday (Jan. 4, 2022). The packs were donated by different groups and organizations from the Northern Mindanao region. (Photo courtesy of DPWH-10)

Government agencies and private organizations in the Northern Mindanao Region on Tuesday continued to conduct relief operations in communities affected

by Typhoon Odette that hit parts of the Visayas and Mindanao last month.

In a Facebook post on Tuesday, the Department of Public Works and Highways in Northern Mindanao (DPWH10), along with civic organizations, distributed relief packs to 1,145 families in Surigao City.

In a statement, the DPWH-

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10 received an instruction from Secretary Roger Mercado to extend immediate assistance to the survivors, which has now been dubbed as “Tabangan ta ‘Kaw Surigao”.

“The relief operations were coordinated with the Barangay Government Units (BGUs) which were greatly affected by the typhoon, particularly, Barangay Rizal and Barangay San Juan in Surigao City. They have lost homes, livelihoods, and other necessities,” the statement said.

The agency has pooled its resources through various district engineering offices in Bukidnon and Lanao del Norte.

It also received donations from the District Engineers’ League of the Philippines (DELP), Inc., and the Philippine Institute of Civil Engineers (PICE) – Iligan Bay Lanao del Norte Chapters.

Bags of rice The National Food Authority (NFA-10) also shipped a total of 4,499 bags to NFA-7 to replenish Caraga INFOCUS

the stocks there between December 28 and 30.

Each bag weighs 50 kilograms and came from Bukidnon, Misamis Occidental, and Lanao del Norte, three of the top “palay” (unhusked rice) procuring areas of NFA-10.

“The transfers were coursed through marine transport; 1,800 bags were shipped from the ports of the cities of Ozamiz and Iligan while 2,700 bags were dispatched from the port of Cagayan de Oro City,” the statement added.

As of Tuesday, the remaining 1,600 bags are scheduled to be shipped as the NFA-10 committed to send a total of 6,100 bags to the typhoon-hit Central Visayas Region.

In this city, Acting Administrator Teodoro Sabuga-a Jr. and City Social Welfare and Development’s executive overseer Michael Christopher Fabello thanked food and beverage giant, Nestle Philippines, represented

by Human Resources specialist Christine Maybuena, for its more than PHP1 million worth of donation of goods intended for typhoon Caraga INFOCUS

survivors. The goods included instant coffee, powdered milk, and powdered chocolate drink.

Proposed law During his visit to this city last month, Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri said there was an urgent need for the two houses of Congress to pass legislation that will create the Department of Disaster Resilience (DDR).

Zubiri said he filed Senate Bill 1139 or the Department of Disaster Resilience Act in 2019 when Taal Volcano erupted.

Aside from SB 1139, Zubiri has also filed the National Mapping Act, to determine the country’s high-risk areas and danger zones.

“We need a go-to department where you can call up one secretary and mobilize the response with haste,” he said.

After going around Visayas and Mindanao to hand out sacks of rice and evacuation tents to displaced residents, Zubiri noted the slow-moving delivery of assistance due to protocols, especially in the release of fuel.

“In times of crisis, there should be no red tape, no unnecessary protocols.

Stumbling blocks and bottlenecks should be removed during the time of catastrophe,” he added.

The lawmaker said he was dismayed that until now, both Senate and the House of Representatives have not acted on his proposed legislation.

Among the complaints that he received from local officials and residents were the alleged sluggish action of the Department of Public Works and Highways in road-clearing and the Department of Energy on the restoration of power.

With the DDR, Zubiri said response to calamities will be quicker as there will be a single government agency that will focus on response, rescue, and rehabilitation including the building of disaster-resilient infrastructure.

To date, Zubiri has donated 2,000 sacks of rice and 1,200 pieces of evacuation tents to displaced residents in Iloilo, Bacolod, Cebu, Bohol, Agusan del Sur, and the cities of Butuan and this city. (PNA/Nef Luczon and Jigger Jerusalem) January 1-7, 2022 |

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NATIONAL NEWS

PCOO, BG party list, Israeli Embassy send aid to Odette victims in Caraga

More help is on the way for residents of Caraga Region who have been affected by the onslaught of Typhoon Odette, which ravaged most parts of the region on December 16, 2021.

generator, baking tools and equipment such as 50 pieces of oven sheet trays; one set of Planetary dough mixer Onboard a C130, boxes with a 15-liter bowl; one containing household rolling pin, and other items, appliances, and household items such as even back-up power the two units of extension In addition to establishing sources were transported cord. a communication center by the Philippine Air in Siargao Island and Force to Siargao Island, The Israeli Embassy has facilitating the provision where thousands of also chipped in 92 boxes of augmentation families are still coping of relief goods and 14 and various types from the losses sustained sacks of rice, ready of assistance, from the recent disaster. to be repacked and the Presidential distributed.

Communications The said relief assistance Operations Office is comprised of two sets With approximately (PCOO), in partnership of chainsaw with two 288,000 families or with the neophite 5-liter gasoline; one set of more than 1.5 million party list “Bisaya water pump; one unit of individuals affected Caraga INFOCUS

Gyud,” has extended relief assistance to Siargaonons which arrived Friday, January 7.

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disaster so we cannot imagine just how difficult all of this is for them especially since they had to spend their holidays not enjoying but coping, trying to find ways to survive,” said Garay. in the region, the PCOO vows to continue assisting and complementing the efforts of the national government to help affected residents.

coming from the Israeli Embassy and local aid coming from the Bisaya Gyud party list,” he added.

Bisaya Gyud president Victorino Garay also “This is just several of the echoed the passion of many assistance that our the communications office will provide and chief in helping facilitate help for our distraught Bisaya affected kababayans. kababayans which is We are doing our best why Garay and other to transport these relief members of the party assistance as fast and as list pooled in resources consistently as we can to contribute to the because, really, our main nationwide relief goal here is not just to operations for Odette-hit augment but help them areas. recover sustainably,” said PCOO chief Martin “We are most Andanar. concerned with the welfare of our Bisaya “In this scenario, kababayans who are following a whole-ofnow experiencing a nation approach is crisis. From where I live, crucial which is why we we were lucky enough have international aid to be spared from the

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“We have established our party list mainly because we want to be of service to our people and what better way can we help achieve that mission than by being there for the people of Caraga?” he added.

At the height of the crisis, Secretary Andanar has renewed his call for cooperation among all sectors in light of the disaster aftermath.

“This situation is bigger than any of us. Thousands of our kababayans are literally at the brink of their demise. We have to once again cultivate the spirit of bayanihan and extend help in any way that we can,” said the secretary. ## Caraga INFOCUS

Vaccine czar: Gov’t should bolster administration of COVID-19 booster dose The government should ramp up the administration of COVID-19 booster shots to maintain protection on vaccinated population particularly in major cities in the country, the country’s vaccine czar has said.

“We just have to remind the key cities which have more than 70 percent to 100 percent vaccination coverage,” vaccine czar Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. said in his report to President Duterte during the latter’s weekly public address aired on Wednesday.

“We need to revisit the realities that our people’s protection should be further expanded and enhanced through the administration of boosters.”

A December 28 data on the National Capital Region (NCR) showed that the region has 12.6 million eligible population, including those aged five and above. It has 10.4 million fully vaccinated individuals with 6.5 million due for a booster dose.

The statistics also showed that only 30 percent of new

Caraga INFOCUS

eligible population is fully protected against severe illness, hospitalization and death.

“Meaning, dahil nakikita natin na may waning effect po ang ating mga vaccine, 3.8 (million) po ang inaassume natin na ito sa ngayon, ito po ‘yung may malakas pa na tinatawag na antibodies,” he said.

Galvez also enumerated cities and provinces with 70 to 100 percent full vaccination coverage that could strengthen the administration of boosters.

These include the NCR with its 17 cities; Central Luzon, seven cities; Calabarzon, 12 cities; Luzon, 10 cities and provinces; Visayas, 11 cities; and Mindanao, eight cities

and provinces.

And to counter the rising number of COVID-19 cases, apparently triggered by the fast-spreading Omicron variant, Galvez said the government should focus on key tasks such as finding and vaccinating the unvaccinated, administering booster doses, and expanding the current inoculation drive to cover children five to 11 years old.

Vaccine demand must also be increased to efficiently manage the government’s vaccine administration and prevent unnecessary wastage.

“Kung tayo po’y samasama at mayroon pong disiplina at may bakuna, may laban po tayo sa pandemya,” he said. PND

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DILG, PND praised for successful anti-illegal drug campaign

suspected drug offenders surrendered, while a single casualty was recorded during drug operations.

“At sa buo pong operation ngayong linggong ito ay nakapagkumpiska tayo ng shabu at marijuana amounting to P143,938,870 worth of shabu and marijuana. Tuloy-tuloy pa rin po ang ating kampanya dito,” he said.

President Rodrigo Roa Duterte has lauded the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) for their sustained anti-illegal narcotics campaign in the country, as he hopes the police and the DILG to continue their efforts in the coming months.

“It has to be a sustained campaign with no end in sight because nakita mo naman during my watch sa kaistrikto ko sa droga ganoon rin,” President Duterte said during his weekly Talk to the People aired on Wednesday morning.

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“May mga tao talaga na…

It’s always money. So iyan ang magiging problema.

But I’d like to congratulate the DILG and the police for the, I said, the fervor that they are nurturing in fighting the drug problem.”

In his report to the President, Interior Secretary Eduardo Año said their anti-illegal drug operations continue, manifesting the government’s seriousness in eliminating the drug menace.

Last week, he reported that law enforcers conducted 547 anti-illegal drug operations, resulting in 797 arrests. Some 52

Last December, Año reported at least P74.3billion worth of illegal drugs have been confiscated since the Duterte administration launched its war on drugs in 2016.

Over 15,000 kilos of shabu, marijuana and Ecstasy tablets were destroyed by the authorities, while 982 dens and 18 clandestine laboratories were dismantled, according to the interior chief.

Eliminating illegal drugs, fighting corruption and crime, were President Duterte’s major campaign pledges when he ran for the presidency in 2016.

PND Caraga INFOCUS

Don’t leave your homes or get jailed, PRRD to vax decliners nagpabakuna ka, wala na akong problema tsaka wala ka nang problema. Ngayon kung mamatay ka, bahala ka sa sarili mo (Now, if you ask help from me, I’ll tell you that I won’t help because you didn’t get vaccinated. If you’re vaccinated, I won’t have a problem and you won’t have a problem. Now if you die, you’re on your own),” he said.

President Rodrigo Roa Duterte (File photo)

President Rodrigo Duterte on Tuesday said those who refused to get vaccinated against Covid-19 should just “stay home” or risk getting jailed and arrested.

Duterte made this statement after Metro Manila mayors agreed to pass local ordinances that will restrict the movements and activities of unvaccinated people amid a steep increase of infections in the region.

“Yung hindi magpabakuna at nalaman ng barangay captain, sabihin na lang nila ‘Huwag kang lumabas’ at kung lumabas ka (If barangay captains know you are unvaccinated, they can just say ‘Don’t leave your homes’ but if you leave), you will be escorted…If you force the issue, the barangay captain can place you under arrest and dalhin ka sa estasyon (bring you to a police station),” he said.

Citing health experts, Duterte said those who refused getting

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their jabs are at higher risk of contracting severe illness, complications, and death.

“Malaki ang tsansa na pag mahawa ka talagang mamatay ka. So, kokonti naman ang namamatay sa awa ng Diyos, hindi masyadong marami. Pero may namamatay pa rin. Sigurado ‘yan walang bakuna (There is a high chance that if you get infected, you will die. So there are few deaths, thank God. But there still are. Perhaps they’re unvaccinated),” he said.

Duterte said vaccines are necessary because these provide a defense, no matter how small, against the deadly virus.

He also said it is the only way to avoid more problems from arising.

“Ngayon, kung maghingi kayo ng tulong sa akin, sabihin ko hindi ako tutulong sa iyo kasi hindi ka nagpabakuna. Kung

On Monday, Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) chairperson Benhur Abalos announced that Metro Manila mayors have agreed to impose stricter measures on individuals who are unvaccinated against Covid-19 after the National Capital Region (NCR) was placed under Alert Level 3 from Jan. 3 to 15.

Under Alert Level 3, Abalos said unvaccinated individuals must remain in their residences at all times except during the procurement of essential goods and services.

The NCR mayors have likewise decided to prohibit the unvaccinated people in indoor and outdoor dining areas, leisure or social trips to malls, hotels, events venues, sports and country clubs, and similar establishments.

Unvaccinated people are also restricted from domestic travel via public transportation except for essential reasons like buying goods and services. (PNA/Azer Parrocha)

Caraga INFOCUS

PH ready for possible Omicron variant wave: DOH exec The country is ready for a possible Omicron variant wave which Department of Health (DOH) Undersecretary Leopoldo Vega said on Monday seems to be upon the Philippines as the Covid-19 infections continue to increase.

“Well, it looks like the Omicron wave is upon us,” Vega, also the country treatment czar, said in an interview with ANC television.

Vega said the Philippines has been experiencing a “steady increase” in terms of the Omicron just like what happened across South Africa and Europe.

“Our numbers have doubled and this is the start and we are very sure that this will peak.

When it will crest down and decelerate, we don’t know.

But what is very important is that we are prepared for this omicron virus,” he said.

For the last two days, the Department of Health (DOH) reported more than 4,000 new daily cases, including 4,600 logged on Sunday, the highest infections since the country’s lowest 168 new cases recorded on Dec. 21, 2021.

While the Omicron variant causes mild symptoms, Vega emphasized its high transmissibility factor may bring a large volume of infected patients.

Caraga INFOCUS

Health Undersecretary and Treatment Czar Leopoldo Vega (File photo)

“We are preparing our health systems capacity, our testing, our isolation so that we are all prepared for another ride in the waves of this Omicron virus,” he said.

He added the government is also preparing its temporary treatment and monitoring facilities (TTMFs).

“We only have about 115 TTMF beds all over the country.

That means if you have an exponential growth in this Omicron, we might have problems in terms of isolation or quarantining these Covidpositive patients,” he said.

Earlier, the DOH said a surge or peak of Omicron infections can be delayed through public health interventions – proper wearing of face masks, social distancing, frequent and proper handwashing,

good indoor ventilation, and vaccination.

In a separate online media forum on Monday, Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire reported 11 imported and three local cases of Omicron variant.

She said of the 11 cases, nine are returning overseas Filipinos while none of the cases presented severe symptoms or had resulted to fatality as they were either asymptomatic or had mild symptoms.

“All reported local Omicron cases – located and traced – have completed the minimum 10-day isolation and have been tagged as recovered prior to the release of the whole genome results,” Vergeire said. (PNA/Ma. Teresa Montemayor)

January 1-7, 2022 |

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Nearly 50M Filipinos already fully vaccinated is another chance to encourage the unvaccinated to get jabbed and for the eligible ones to avail of booster shots.

Local government units must also continue to strengthen their preventdetect-isolate-treatreintegrate (PDITR) strategies and impose granular lockdowns if necessary.

PROTECTING THE ELDERLY. Medical workers administer Sinovac Covid-19 booster shots to the elderly at a mall in Mandaluyong City on Monday (Jan. 3, 2022). Rising cases prompted the Inter-Agency Task Force to place the National Capital Region under Alert Level 3 until January 15, thus the continued reminder to get vaccinated against the dreaded virus. (PNA photo by Joey O. Razon)

The Philippines has already administered 108,853,491 doses of the coronavirus vaccines, including second shots for 49,853,264 Filipinos and 1,847,926 booster or additional doses, as of Monday.

The country’s total vaccines doses received stand at 210,633,110, both procured and donated, as of the end of 2021.

He reminded of the need to inoculate more Filipinos as much as possible, especially the elderly and those with comorbidities.

“As what we have said, vaccine supply is no longer a concern, as we now have sufficient doses to fully inoculate more than 100 million Filipinos. The greater challenge now is how to get these Covid-19 jabs into the arms of our countrymen as soon as possible,” Galvez said in his year-end message.

National Task Force (NTF) Against Covid-19 chief implementer, Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. warned the country is “not yet out of the woods” as the cases are The start of the year, spiking once again. according to Galvez,

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|January 1-7, 2022

“We also need to continuously upgrade our Covid-19 health care facilities throughout the country by adding more beds, oxygen tanks, and Covid-19 medicines,” he added.

Galvez said the NTF is adamant to achieve its target population protection of at least 77 million fully vaccinated Filipinos by the first quarter this year.

“As the Duterte Administration enters its final year, the National Task Force on Covid-19 is committed to fulfilling its mandate of protecting the health of the Filipino people, as we revive our nation’s economy,” he stated. (PNA/ Lade Jean Kabagani)

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