Caraga InFocus – September 25-October 1, 2021

Volume V, No. 40 September 25-Oc tober 1, 2021

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REGIONAL NEWS

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HUNGER CZAR ENCOURAGES PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP TO ACHIEVE ZERO HUNGER PNP ANTI-CRIME OPS NET 422 MWPS IN CARAGA 94 MORE VILLAGES IN CARAGA TO RECEIVE AID UNDER RCSP PPVR CARAGA LAUNCHES ANTI-TERRORISM LAW BROCHURES UNDISCLOSED TRAVEL HISTORY LINKED TO RISE IN COVID VARIANTS IN R13

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DICT LAUNCHES NBP RESILIENCY ROUTE ‘DUTERTE LEGACY’ CAMPAIGN REGIONAL LAUNCH SET IN CARAGA REGION DOH WARNS CARAGANONS VS SPIKE OF COVID-19 NEW VARIANTS

PROVINCIAL NEWS SHOWCASES SERVICES DURING DUTERTE 23 TESDA LEGACY: BARANGAYANIHAN CARAVAN

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LAUNCHING IN CARAGA

DA TURNS OVER P3M-WORTH FOOD PRODUCTION FACILITY TO BUTUAN CITY SEMINAR SA FARM PLANNING UG GOOD AGRICULTURAL PRACTICES PADAYONG GIHIMO ALANG SA MGA PARTNER-ORGANIZATIONS SA AGUSAN UP PMO SURIGAO JOINS 2021 NATIONAL COASTAL CLEANUP DAY DENR, FARMER’S GROUP INK MOA FOR GAD LIVELIHOOD PROJECT IN SURIGAO NORTE DA ROLLS OUT EOM FORMS IN DINAGAT ISLANDS EXTENSION SA ASTMMC COVID-19 WARD, NAG-OPERATE NA TANANG MUNISIPYO UG SIYUDAD DINHI SA SURIGAO DEL SUR, ADUNA NAY KAUGALINGON NGA FIRE STATION SIGON SA BFP-CARAGA DA-CARAGA ENSURES FARM MACHINERY SUSTAINABILITY THROUGH TRANSFER OF TECHNOLOGY IN SURSUR

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MINDANAO NEWS P8-M RICE PROCESSING COMPLEX TO RISE IN MAGUINDANAO MINDA-INITIATED STUDY SHOWS NEED FOR JOBS, FOOD SECURITY

NATIONAL NEWS DUTERTE LEGACY BARANGAYANIHAN CARAVAN PORTRAYS WHOLE-OF-NATION APPROACH IN INFORMING THE PUBLIC LOCAL EXEC: ROOT CROPS PRODUCTION BOOMING IN BARCELONA, SORSOGON PCOO EYES TO ATTAIN POPULATION PROTECTION THIS YEAR; 85% OF EMPLOYEES NOW FULLY VACCINATED VS COVID-19

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CONTENTS

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INFOCUS

COVER

Caraga

SECRETARY ANDANAR: FOI IS ONE OF THE BEST SOLUTIONS VS. CORRUPTION TRINIDAD, BOHOL LGU TO COMPLETE GOV’TFUNDED NEW HEALTH UNIT THIS YEAR

FAIR DISTRIBUTION OF PROJECTS ACROSS ALL REGIONS PUSHED AND REALIZED UNDER DUTERTE ADMIN GOVERNMENT MEDIA TRAINING FACILITY TO RISE IN BUKIDNON AGRI CHIEF: IMPLEMENTATION OF DEVOLUTION TO FURTHER STRENGTHEN GOV’T EFFORTS FOR AGRICULTURAL DEVELOPMENTS VACCINATION WILL BRING BACK COUNTRY TO NORMALCY – PRESIDENT DUTERTE

DUQUE: PHARMALLY MUST COMPENSATE GOV’T IF FACE SHIELD EXPIRY DATE TAMPERING IS TRUE VULNERABLE RESIDENTS IN BALUNGAO, PANGASINAN RECEIVE SUPPORT FROM BONG GO AS HE CALLS FOR UNITY AND COOPERATION TO OVERCOME PANDEMIC STRUGGLING SECTORS IN SAN MANUEL, PANGASINAN RECEIVE SUPPORT FROM BONG GO AS HE ASSURES UNHAMPERED PUBLIC SERVICE AMID CRISES BULAKENYOS GET A BOOST FROM BONG GO AS HIS TEAM HELPS COMMUNITIES IN DISTRESS IN BULAKAN, BUSTOS AND GUIGUINTO TOWNS

COVID-19 NEWS

PILOT COVID-19 VACCINATION OF MINORS ON OCT. 15 COVID-19 JABS FOR TEENS ‘VERY DIFFERENT’ FROM DENGVAXIA: NTF OVER 45M COVID VAX DOSES ADMINISTERED IN PH

Caraganons get benefits regional launch of Duter

By Jennifer P. Gaitano

The residents of Cabadbaran City and nearby municipalities have availed of the different programs and services of the government agencies in Caraga region, in time with the regional launch of the Duterte Legacy Campaign: Barangayanihan Caravan Towards National Recovery.

This campaign aims to cascade to the netizens the projects, programs, and accomplishments of the Duterte Administration, and how it directly

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benefited the citizens. It is not limited to information campaign but through the conduct of ‘Serbisyo Caravan’ and outreach activities until the last day of the administration.

Department of Agriculture (DA) and Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), face masks and information, education and communication (IEC) materials from the Part of the services Department of Health provided included the (DOH), and referrals for scholarship program, skills the Department of Social and livelihood trainings Welfare and Development from the Technical (DSWD) benefits.

Education and Skills Mark Lapinosa, 33 years Development Authority old, who lives in the nearby (TESDA), legal services from municipality, came early the Department of Labor to avail the skills training and Employment (DOLE), from TESDA. He lost his job technical consultations in a construction company and seedlings from the during the onset of the

|September 25-October 1, 2021

Caraga INFOCUS

s, services in time with rte Legacy Campaign coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.

“This would be of great help especially to people like us who had been unemployed since the onset of the pandemic. I wanted to enhance my skills in masonry and get my national certificate II from TESDA, so I could use it as I look for a new job abroad,” said Lapinosa.

Agusan del Norte Governor Dale Corvera stressed that the administration of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte has been firm in all its policies and directives, and commended the president for being a strong-willed leader.

“It is only during this administration that we all experience this kind of leadership. Our president is a strong-willed leader and has been doing a lot of great things for the Filipino people,” Corvera cited.

In his recorded speech, Secretary Martin Andanar of the Presidential Caraga INFOCUS

Communications Operations Office (PCOO) emphasized that Filipinos should continue to avail the legacies of the Duterte administration until the remaining months of the president’s term.

Meanwhile, Cabinet Secretary and Cabinet Officer for Regional Development and Security (CORDS) Caraga Karlo Nograles also highlighted that amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the government never fails to let the Filipino people feel their concern over their welfare and even continued to provide the necessary programs and services to the public despite restrictions.

From an information campaign, the Duterte Legacy includes ground activities involving the different government agencies and with the support of civilian volunteers to embody the whole-of-nation approach through good governance and efficient delivery of basic services.

The enhanced Duterte Legacy Campaign showcases the success of the different government agencies following the implementation of new policies, projects, and programs that provided better services to the people and reach far-flung areas and the poorest of the poor. (JPG/PIACaraga)

September 25-October 1, 2021 |

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News Briefs PCOO Sec. Martin Andanar urged the public to continue to support the Duterte administration in fulfilling its promises of bringing the government closer to the Filipino people and providing a comfortable life for all. xx

The Philippine Information Agency (PIA) Caraga team poses with the local chief executives of Agusan del Norte Gov. Dale Corvera and Cabadbaran City Vice Mayor Rey Jamboy and PNP-ADN Provincial Director PCol. Martin Gamba upon the conclusion of today’s Duterte Legacy Caravan in Cabadbaran City. The event enjoined 60 to 100 participants to be informed of the accomplishments of the Duterte administration and avail of the various services of the government.

The 2021 Elderly Filipino Week celebration from October 1-7 is anchored on the theme “Mahalaga sina Lolo at Lola Ngayong Pandemya,” which seeks to promote the health, wellness, and provide support for older persons, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Civil Service Commission has issued Examination Advisory No.07, s. 2021, defferring the conduct of the Fire Officer Examination (FOE), Penology Officer Examination (POE), and the Basic Competency on Local Treasury Examination (BLTCE) until further notice. This is in view of the unstable situation brought about by the Covid-19 pandemic.

REGIONAL NEWS

Hunger czar encourages publicprivate partnership to achieve zero hunger proudly announced the latest initiative under its partnership with the private sector which is the launching of the Scale-Up Nutrition (SUN) Business Network (SBN) in the region which also coincided with the caravan.

“The hunger situation, not only in Caraga Region, has been directly impacted by the pandemic. This is why the public and private partnership for addressing hunger must be expanded and sustained.”

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their initiatives, the government sees the importance of employing a whole-of-nation approach in combating hunger incidents in the country and ultimately, achieving zero hunger.

These were the words of hunger czar and cabinet secretary Karlo Nograles during his keynote speech for the regional launch of the Duterte Legacy Campaign - Barangayanihan Caravan held Thursday, September 30, in Cabadbaran City.

The Inter-Agency Task Force on Zero Hunger (IATF-ZH), created by virtue of Executive Order No. 101 (series of 2020), is mandated to coordinate and rationalize the efforts of concerned government agencies and instrumentalities to ensure a whole-ofgovernment approach to attaining zero hunger.

Much like in many of

The task force chair

|September 25-October 1, 2021

According to the National Nutrition Council (NNC), the SBN will serve as the platform for business and nutrition cooperation, with the aim to reduce all forms of malnutrition among the nutritionally vulnerable as provided in the Philippine Plan of Action for Nutrition, 20172022.

“This indeed is a major response of the private sector and civil society organizations to our call for a whole-ofsociety approach in addressing hunger not only in Caraga but in the country,” he said.

With the government’s gains in addressing hunger and food security, CabSec. Nograles emphasized the Caraga INFOCUS

importance of enjoining the private sector especially in putting an end to a problem that has placed public health and millions of Filipino children at risk.

“There are many the private sector is willing to help but we in government must spell out where and how. The expertise they have as well as the resources can be better harnessed with the government as partners,” he said.

Crushing hunger amid a pandemic

Enhanced Partnership Against Hunger and Poverty (EPAHP) Program in Caraga and reported the highest in sales among regions in the country, gaining a staggering PhP 81,487,872.51.

and medium enterprises’ (MSMEs’) competitiveness by providing machinery, equipment, tools, systems, accessories, and other auxiliary items, skills, and knowledge under a shared system.

“These farmers’ organizati ons are now catering to different institutional buyers such as the LGUs, jails, DSWD Supplementary Feeding Programs, hospitals in both public and private hospitals, among others,” the hunger czar said.

The cabinet secretary In Caraga Region, various also disclosed that the agencies involved in region holds one of the addressing hunger and largest production areas food security have of Adlai in the country, achieved significant a crop explored as an accomplishments in alternative to white rice line with the National that is easy to produce, Food Policy (NFP), which easy to plant, sturdy, and outlines the government’s very resistant to pests. priorities based on a comprehensive In terms of ensuring understanding of the food accessibility, the problem of hunger hunger czar reported and related issues, and DTI-Caraga has already provides a roadmap for established 169 Shared achieving zero hunger.

Service Facilities projects, 71 of which were already CabSec. Nograles fully turned over to reported that in 2020, 24 cooperators. farmers’ organizations under the Department of The Shared Service Agrarian Reform (DAR) Facilities Program aimed have participated in the to improve micro, small, Caraga INFOCUS

Advocacy-related activities and provision of training and capacity building for local government units are also continuously implemented through the nutrition offices even amid the COVID-19 pandemic. The members of the IATF-ZH also released program guidelines to implement key nutrition programs during this pandemic, specifically the DSWD Supplementary Feeding Program and DepEd School-Based Feeding Program.

Meanwhile, to ensure sustainable food systems, resiliency, and food stability for emergencies, DSWD-Caraga has consistently been part of the augmentation and prepositioning of goods support to the local government units through its General Food Distribution and Distribution during Calamities programs.

(DMNR/PIA-Caraga)

September 25-October 1, 2021 |

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PNP anti-crime ops net 422 MWPs in Caraga

At least 422 Most Wanted Persons (MWPs) in Caraga Region were nabbed during the regular conduct of the Simultaneous Anti-Criminality Law Enforcement Operations (SACLEO).

Cabinet secretary and the regional Cabinet Officer for Regional Development and Security (CORDS) Karlo Nograles said Thursday, September 30, during the Duterte

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Legacy Campaign - Barangayanihan Caravan held in Cabadbaran City, that at least 422 MWPs were nabbed during the regular implementation of the one-day SACLEO in Caraga Region.

assorted firearms and 157 explosives and other explosive components.

The CORDS also reported that Lingkod Bayan Advocacy Groups, which support the government’s ongoing campaign This also led to the arrest against communist of 1,395 suspects, of insurgency and extremist which 144 are members terrorism, has now of renowned communist- amassed a membership terrorist groups (CTGs) of 334,855 individuals, and 829 Other Wanted including the youth.

Persons and confiscation and/or turn-over of 601 These groups include the

|September 25-October 1, 2021

Caraga INFOCUS

Kabataan Kontra Droga at Terorismo (KKDAT) to empower the youth with knowledge on the ill-effects of illegal drugs and the deceitful tactics of the CTGs; the Joint Industrial Peace Concerns Office (JIPCO) which serves as the first line of defense from radical labor infiltration in the labor force and industrial zones; the force multipliers who are volunteers that provide the PNP with information or beef up the number of policemen out on patrol; and the barangaybased organizations comprised of the Barangay Development Councils, Barangay AntiDrug Abuse Councils, Barangay Peace and Order Committees and other barangay organizations.

“With the whole-ofnation approach being championed during the Duterte administration, the government has created ways for the community to be more involved in sustaining Caraga INFOCUS

peace and order, hence the creation of these advocacy groups and force multipliers,” he added.

Despite the challenges brought by the COVID-19 pandemic, Philippine National Police (PNP)-Caraga was able to conduct 19,792 Barangayanihan activities regionwide.

The Barangayanihan is the government’s

initiative to bridge the country’s police forces and the community.

“These efforts, coupled with the strategic deployment of PNP personnel across the region, resulted in the decline of crime incidents which created drastic improvements in peace and order in Caraga,” CabSec. Nograles said. (DMNR/ PIA-Caraga)

September 25-October 1, 2021 |

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94 more villages in Caraga to receive aid under RCSP

Ninety-four (94) more barangays in Caraga Region will now be included in the implementation of the Retooled Community Support Program (RCSP), Cabinet Secretary and the region’s Cabinet Officer for Regional Development and Security (CORDS) Karlo Nograles said Thursday, September 30.

In his keynote speech during the regional launching of the Duterte Legacy Campaign - Barangayanihan Caravan held in

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Cabadbaran City, CabSec. Nograles said an addition of 94 conflict-affected and geographicallyisolated barangays will now be included in the implementation of the RCSP in 2022.

“Our endeavor to address local communist armed conflict in the region in order to improve the lives of all Caraganons, especially those threatened by the Communist Terrorist Groups, will not stop amid the challenges posed by the COVID-19

|September 25-October 1, 2021

pandemic,” the regional CORDS said.

The newly added barangays will undergo the same RCSP activities that the initial RCSP priority barangays underwent which include conduct of Serbisyo Caravans, convergence meetings, workshops on crafting/enhancing their BDPs, and capacity development activities for the Barangay Based Institutions, among others.

Meanwhile, CabSec. Nograles is ‘happy’ Caraga INFOCUS

to report that all local chief executives of barangays who are part of the Barangay Development Program (BDP) beneficiaries have expressed support and recognition of the accomplishments of the BDP in uplifting their communities’ living conditions and in improving their areas.

As of September 2021, of the 357 Barangay Development Projects (BDP) of the initial list of 191 priority barangays, 133 projects or 37.25% have been approved and are ready for procurement preparation; 185 projects or 51.82% are now under the procurement process which includes posting, pre-bid conferences, and opening of bids.

The construction of 39 projects is now ongoing, the CORDS reported.

He also noted that a series of peace dialogues and service caravans were also conducted in farflung communities and interventions to address the socio-economic condition in these Caraga INFOCUS

geographically-isolated and disadvantaged areas were also continued which have provided holistic opportunities for residents of these areas.

a dramatic increase of rebel surrenderees resulting to a reduction of insurgency-related crimes in the region.

“The issue of insurgency has been For this, he cites one of the stumbling the successful law blocks for attaining enforcement operations sustainable peace and the collaborative and development in efforts of all the Caraga Caraga. [But] with all Regional Task Force to the accomplishments End Local Communist gained two years since Armed Conflict (RTFits creation, the Task ELCAC) members and Force is well prepared to the joint mechanism sustain the momentum. of the Regional And soon enough, we Development Council will finally attain lasting and Regional Peace and peace and prosperity in Order Council, which the region,” the cabinet yielded encouraging secretary said. (DMNR/ improvements with PIA-Caraga) September 25-October 1, 2021 |

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PPVR Caraga launches antiterrorism law brochures

To enrich the people’s knowledge on the antterrorism law in the Philippines, the People Power Volunteer for Reform (PPVR) in the Caraga region held a regional launching of the Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA) of 2020 brochure in Visayan and Tagalog versions prior the national launch conducted on September 17.

The online event

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was joined by representatives from government agencies, local government units, and individuals of different sectors.

In her opening remarks, Pamela Gracia AsisLayugan, project partner volunteer of the PPVR Caraga, cited the importance of translating the ATA in Tagalog and Visayan languages for the people to understand

|September 25-October 1, 2021

better the salient features of the law.

Layugan said the bedrock of the system is a well-informed citizenry capable of making good judgments, hence the need to simplify the provisions as contained in Republic Act No. 11479 for the Filipinos, especially the laypersons, to have a better grasp of the said law.

Caraga INFOCUS

“While we are battling against the Covid-19 pandemic it’s also important to go back to the basics - the essentials of human rights,” she said.

The brochure provides a contextual understanding for all users; clarity in definitions; the penalties under ATA (curtailment and detention), etc.

The Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA) of 2020 Translation Project of the PPVR Caraga, together with Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom, features the 20 frequently asked questions (FAQs).

According to Layugan, it simply tells why even ordinary people need to know about the ATA. “The details are pretty much laid out. However, it also calls for citizen’s action. We continue to encourage constructive dialogue and urge them to be vigilant and promote a just and peaceful society.

local communities as it will be available in a very accessible medium.

The booklet is also very transparent in its objective of making the people understand the potential risk as a result of this law,” Atty. Ferrer said in his response and reactions on the relevance of the ATA brochure.

Concepcion Asis, PPVR Caraga regional chairperson, also thanked and The brochure is useracknowledged the friendly, educational, significant contributions and explains clearly of the individuals behind the ATA that makes it the project especially understandable when Meanwhile, Atty. Euvic the translators who read even by ordinary Ferrer of the Commission shared their time citizens. on Human Rights (CHR) and efforts in coming Caraga underscored up with a very clear Layugan said the the importance of and comprehensible crafting of these popularizing the Antitranslation. brochures corresponds Terrorism Act (ATA) of to the efforts of building 2020 (R.A. No. 11479) They are Lambert inclusivity by helping Ramirez, a freelance people understand “Popularization is consultant for the better the ATA. best achieved when Tagalog version of the it is written in local brochure, and Feliciano She briefly discussed language or vernacular. Radana, PPVR project the key sections of the CHR is appreciative of partner and volunteer brochure for participants the effort of translating and executive of the to get a glimpse of the ATA into Tagalog Luntiaw Mindanaw, Inc. its content during the and Visayan versions. for the Visayan version. virtual launch.

This will be useful to the (VLG/PIA-Caraga) Caraga INFOCUS

September 25-October 1, 2021 |

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Undisclosed travel history linked to rise in COVID variants in R13

By Doreen Marielle N. Rosales

The sudden spike of cases of COVID-19 variants of concerns (VOCs) in Caraga Region may be linked with inbound travelers purposely concealing their travel history, the Department of Health (DOH)-Caraga said.

In an interview on Monday, September 27, Dr. Glee Valenzona, Medical Officer IV at the DOH-Center for Health and Development in the region said the sudden detection of VOC cases may be due to travelers refusing to disclose their travel history, especially those coming from COVID-19 ‘hotspots’ in the country such as the National Capital Region (NCR).

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Caraga Region remained the only region in the country that did not have any cases of the VOCs until September 6, 2021, when health authorities detected its first Delta case which was a 26-year-old female residing in Barobo, Surigao del Sur with a travel history in NCR. Eleven days later, cases have gone up to 39, having detected other VOCs such as the Alpha, Beta, and P.3 variants as well as local transmission of all four variants in the provinces of Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur, Surigao del Sur, Surigao del Norte, and the city of Butuan.

|September 25-October 1, 2021

Nearly two weeks later, on September 27, cases have nearly quadrupled, with the DOH-Caraga having recorded 149 cases. Delta cases are now at 64; Beta cases at 45; P.3 cases at 21; and Alpha cases at 19.

Six deaths have also been recorded.

Local health authorities are now urging the public to be more compliant with health protocols especially with the travel restrictions imposed in a certain area.

“It also takes the cooperation of all Caraganons and other travelers, to be honest, to really give details and health information for us also and

Caraga INFOCUS

for those assigned in the boundaries [so] that we can extract [the] right information so that we can screen them properly and we can identify and detect suspected cases earlier,” Dr. Valenzona said.

While the presence of VOCs causes greater fear, Dr. Valenzona said this is an opportunity for locals to be more aware of the local health situation, the nature of the virus and its variants, and the pandemic as a whole.

This, coupled with cooperation and compliance with health protocols, can improve the public’s response especially as the serious threat of COVID-19 lingers as seen in the increase of cases recorded in the region daily.

For now, authorities and the public alike have to count on an even stricter implementation and adherence to the Prevention, Detection, Isolation, Treatment, and Reintegration (PDITR) strategies along with the vaccination.

“With the Delta in the region, studies show this is more transmissible so the more that we would need to strictly and aggressively follow health protocols and [these] be implemented in the community,” the local health official said. “[There] should be an early detection as well as early isolation of those identified

Caraga INFOCUS

cases and contacts of the confirmed cases and also treatment.”

Intensified vaccination rollout Of the 149 cases of COVID VOCs in the region, 44 are unvaccinated. The presence of the VOCs and its local transmission puts the public at an even greater risk thus prompting local health authorities to intensify the vaccination rollout as well as its call for the public to get vaccinated.

“With the available vaccines right now, it is really our call that everyone in Caraga Region should participate and be vaccinated when they are already [part] of the eligible population,” the medical officer said.

“Studies show that the vaccines can prevent

symptoms from becoming severe, which outweighs the side effects and it can protect [us] even from Delta and other variants,” she added, addressing vaccine hesitancy that prevails among locals.

“With the availability of the vaccines, we can be vaccinated and be part of the solution,” Dr. Valenzona said.

As of September 26, around 409,461 individuals in the region have now been fully vaccinated, of which 55,281 are frontline healthcare workers (A1); 100,374 are senior citizens (A2); 188,192 are persons with comorbidities (A4); 59,981 are frontline personnel in essential sectors (A4); and 5,663 are from the indigent population (A5). (DMNR/PIA-Caraga)

September 25-October 1, 2021 |

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DICT launches NBP resiliency route

The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) launched the National Broadband Program’s (NBP’s) Resiliency Route with a simultaneous lighting-up activity in the three major metropolitan centers of the country – Metro Manila, Metro Cebu, Metro Davao.

DICT Secretary Gregorio “Gringo” B. Honasan II, Undersecretary Emmanuel Rey R. Caintic, together with the NBP team, led the ceremonial activation

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of the event. Moreover, President Rodrigo Roa Duterte gave his message in support of the event.

benefits to government offices and facilities in the country’s three metropolitan centers.

Other officials present The Resiliency Route to show support in the is a supplemental event were DICT Usec. infrastructure connecting Arnold “Ali” Atienza, the NBP network to OIC Assistant Secretary Singapore. It will serve as Adrian Jude “Randy” a backup or redundancy G. Echaus, Director connection to ensure Emmy Lou V. Delfin, connectivity for the Director Arnold De NBP in case issues are Castro, Visayas Cluster encountered in the 2 Regional Director submarine cables Frederick DC. Amores, connected to the US. Mindanao Cluster 3 Regional Director This is expected to Alimbzar Asum. (DICT provide immediate Caraga/PIA-Caraga)

|September 25-October 1, 2021

Caraga INFOCUS

‘Duterte Legacy’ campaign regional launch set in Caraga region

By Jennifer P. Gaitano

Different government agencies in Caraga region are all set for the simultaneous regional launch of the Duterte Legacy campaign dubbed “Barangayanihan Caravan Towards National Recovery” on September 30, 2021 to be held at the Tennis Court of Barangay 5 in Cabadbaran City.

Despite various challenges during this time of health crisis, the national government never ceased to extend the needed programs and services to the Filipino people particularly the Caraganons.

And during this event, the most vulnerable sectors of Cabadbaran City and its neighboring towns will be able to avail of these free services from the government agencies including the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Department of Agriculture (DA), Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), Department of Health (DOH), Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), and Philippine Information Agency (PIA), among others.

The personnel from the Philippine National Police and other law enforcement agencies will also secure the place to ensure that the conduct of this event will be successful and peaceful.

Secretary Martin Andanar

Caraga INFOCUS

of the Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) will give the overview of the Duterte Legacy Campaign to convey the significant accomplishments of the Duterte administration while Cabinet Secretary Karlo Alexei Nograles, Cabinet Officer for Regional Development and Security (CORDS) being the keynote speaker will share the updates, ways forward and upcoming developments for the region.

Also, Agusan del Norte Governor Dale Corvera and Cabadbaran City Mayor Judy Amante will deliver their messages during this activity. Both have been supportive of the efforts and initiatives of President Duterte’s administration, hence ensured active participation of the local constituents who are greatly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Meanwhile, the beneficiaries of the different programs and services will also take this

opportunity to express their testimonials and messages for President Duterte.

Strict health protocols will be imposed and observed by all the participating sectors at the venue. The activity will also be streamed live via the Facebook pages of PIA-Caraga, DILG and PNPCaraga.

The enhanced Duterte Legacy campaign showcases the success of the different agencies following the implementation of new policies, projects and programs that provided better services to the people and reach the far-flung areas and the poorest of the poor. The main highlight of this campaign is to bring these government services directly to the people in the communities to experience it, and this is made possible through the collective efforts of various government agencies, civilians and other sectors. (JPG/PIA-Caraga)

September 25-October 1, 2021 |

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DOH warns Caraganons vs spike of COVID-19 new variants

vaccines as soon as it is available,” he said.

The Department of Health (DOH) continues to warn the Caraganons against the spike of COVID-19 new variants.

DOH-Caraga regional director Dr. Cesar Cassion emphasized that with the increasing trend of cases in Caraga region, hospitals are at risk of being congested with COVID-19 admissions, slowly consuming oxygen supply and other

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medical logistics. “We are continuously joining our efforts with other agencies and through the One Caraga Shield to provide immediate action to areas declared to be high risk or has a continuous rise of cases.

Still, we remind the public that our actions, whether big or small, can be the determining factors in surviving these perilous times. Follow the health protocols and get your

|September 25-October 1, 2021

Assistant regional director Dr. Sadaila Rakiin of DOH-Caraga also highlighted that despite existence of new variant of COVID-19 in the region, the DOH and all other stakeholders will continue their efforts to secure the health and protection of the Caraganons.

She commended all the frontliners for doing their functions amid risks brought about by the pandemic. She also urged the public to continue to practice the health protocols to prevent the transmission of the dreadful virus.

During the Regional Vaccination Operations Center (RVOC) virtual meeting on Tuesday, the DOH reported that there are additional 36 positive cases for COVID-19 Variants of Concern: 31 Delta Variants, three Alpha Variants, and two Beta Variants bringing a total of 149 variant cases for Caraga. These were the samples sent Caraga INFOCUS

to University of the Philippines - Philippine Genome Center last August 2021.

These cases are distributed in the following areas: Delta Variant Cases: Agusan del Sur (24) — Bayugan City (4), Loreto (5), San Francisco (4), San Luis (3), Talacogon (3), and one each from Esperanza, Prosperidad, Rosario, Sta. Josefa, and Trento; Surigao del Norte (5) — Surigao City (4) and Claver (1), and Cantilan, Surigao del Sur (2). For Alpha Variant Cases: Agusan del Sur (2), one each from Prosperidad and Rosario, and one (1) in Tandag City. Lastly, for Beta Variant, one case each from Prosperidad, Agusan del Sur and Tandag City.

The department further elaborated that as to the case profile, the age range is 9-79 years old with 36 as the median age; 64% (23) are females while 36% (13) are males, and 25% (9) have known comorbidities.

The majority, 50% (18 ) neither have a travel history nor, close contact of a positive case, 28% (10) are close contacts Caraga INFOCUS

of confirmed RT-PCR COVID-19 cases, and 14% (5) are exposed in the workplace. Meanwhile, 5% (2) are postpartum mothers. As to vaccine status, 64% (23) of the cases are unvaccinated individuals.

in the region. Local government units with its vaccination operations centers (VOCs) have increased their health care utilization capacity by increasing beds in addressing the surge of cases, reorganizing manpower complement Of the 36 positive cases to cater more patients, for COVID -19 Variants securing medications and in Caraga region, most medical supplies, and is of the cases or 92% (33) closely coordinating with have recovered, while 8% DOH for the additional (3) cases have died. The supply of oxygen. Remote two Delta variant deaths management or home were female senior care management citizens, of whom one was has been currently diabetic. While the Alpha highlighted to guide variant death was a families in homes on the middle-aged bedridden proper management of female with spinal cord early signs and symptoms injury for 11 months. All of COVID. were unvaccinated with neither travel history nor “Let us not be exposure to a confirmed complacent. Our national case. One died at and local governments, home and two were together with the other hospitalized due to severe stakeholders are working symptoms. All identified towards securing and close contacts have protecting the people completed quarantine against the increase of protocols and tagged as number of cases of this recovered. deadly virus. Help us in our advocacy campaign to The DOH CHD-Caraga remind people to always through the Regional take precautionary Epidemiology and measures, support the Surveillance Unit (RESU) vaccination and adhere is actively coordinating to the imposed health with the local health protocols,” said Rakiauthorities to continuously in. (DOH-13/JPG, PIAmonitor the situation Caraga) September 25-October 1, 2021 |

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PROVINCIAL NEWS

TESDA showcases services during Duterte Legacy: Barangayanihan Caravan launching in Caraga

Services of the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) were showcased during the launching of “The Duterte Legacy: Barangayanihan Caravan National Recovery” held on Thursday in Cabadbaran City, Agusan del Norte.

TESDA-Caraga Regional Caraga INFOCUS

Director Tarhata S. Mapandi said to expand the agency’s reach to put an end to local communist armed conflict and attain peace and development in the country, TESDA Caraga has offered services through the trainings served, employment, and livelihood provisions most especially in the Priority

Barangays Development Program (PBDP) of the region.

Through the Provincial Training Center of Agusan del Norte, the provision of skills trainings is offered to the target beneficiaries during the conduct of the Caravan as well as free face masks and baked buttered cookies.

September 25-October 1, 2021 |

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Further, TESDA has provided scholarship applications, skills demonstration, community-based and enterprise-based trainings, as well as distribution of toolkits and Training Support Fund (TSF) to the TESDA scholars.

“This is just one among the many sustainable government actions and solutions towards stamping poverty and solving local communist conflict and strengthen its reach through skills training provisions to indigent and the vulnerable members of society in close collaboration with our partner LGUs together with other national line member agencies,” Dir. Tarhata said.

Moreover, Dir. Mapandi

assured that in as far as skills training is concerned, TESDA will continue to provide quality TVET through the delivery of relevant TESD programs and services not just in the mainstream but also to far-flung communities.

The caravan hopes to highlight the projects

under the Duterte administration through the “whole-of-nation approach” where government agencies as well as volunteers from the private sectors collaborate and cooperate in showcasing the Duterte Legacy projects at the community or barangay.

It also aims to cascade to the barangays and citizens the projects, programs, and accomplishments of the present Administration and showcase how these services directly benefited the citizens.

(Robert E. Roperos, TESDA Caraga/PIA Agusan del Norte)

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|September 25-October 1, 2021

Caraga INFOCUS

DA turns over P3M-worth food production facility to Butuan City

To further boost its drive for food sufficiency and availability, the Department of Agriculture (DA) – Caraga turned over on Friday, another food production facility to the local government unit of Butuan.

The Urban Agriculture Facility established at Brgy. Pigdaulan amounts to P3 Million. It features a greenhouse, hydroponics, and a nursery with a fertigation Caraga INFOCUS

system. Fertigation is an irrigation system in which the nutrients needed are already mixed with the water. Another component of the project is a season-long training which began in June.

In his message, Butuan City Mayor Ronnie Vicente C. Lagnada said the city government is grateful to the DA for its continued technical and project support for the agricultural development

of Butuan City including the said project. He said the project would be a big support to the food production initiatives of the city especially in this time of pandemic where the need for food sufficiency is really felt. He also urged for the sustainability of the project.

Mayor Lagnada added that Butuan still has vast lands that can be developed for agricultural purposes

September 25-October 1, 2021 |

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II) Urban Agriculture Program. The Bayanihan II is a Republic Act in response to the COVID 19 pandemic.

On the other hand, the Urban Agriculture Program aims to establish a resilient food system through urban farming to ensure food availability and accessibility. and food sustainability will be achieved.

On the other hand, DA-Caraga Regional Technical Director Abel James I. Monteagudo said he hopes the facility, which is a food production system, will indeed be sustained so that more people can benefit from it.

In Caraga, there are five Urban Agriculture Program Coordinator Marco Antonio C. Morido facilities, one each in Patin-ay, Agusan del said the modernized Sur; Bislig City; Bayugan agriculture facility is a City; and Surigao City. project funded by the (Vanessa P Sanchez, DA DA Caraga under the Caraga/PIA Agusan del Bayanihan to Heal as Norte) One Act’s (Bayanihan

Director Monteagudo added that the facility will serve as a model for farmers to see farming as a business enterprise.

He said that one of the thrusts of the Department is to change the mindset of the farmers from production only towards farming as a business.

DA – Caraga High-Value Crops Development

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|September 25-October 1, 2021

Caraga INFOCUS

Seminar sa Farm Planning ug Good Agricultural Practices padayong gihimo alang sa mga partner-organizations sa Agusan Up Gipahigayon niadtong Septiyembre 27, ang ika upat nga hugna nga Good Agricultural Practice [GAP] ug Farm Planning training sa mga organisasyon sa mga mag-uuma sa probinsya sa Carmen Tourism Hall sa Carmen, Agusan del Norte.

Mosuma sa 45 ka representante sa walo ka organisasyon ang mitambong sa pagbansay nga gipasiugdahan sa probinsyal nga panggamhanan pinaagi sa Agusan Up Coordinating Center.

Ang pagbansay sa pagpalambo sa kaumahan gihimo alang sa mga organisasyon sa mag-uuma nga maoy mahimong inisyal nga partner sa probinsya sa pagpatuman sa Caraga INFOCUS

magkaluhang mga proyektong Plant!

Plant! Plant! ug Process!

Process! Process! ubos sa AGUSAN UP!, ang kampanya sa pagpalambo sa administrasyon ni Gob. Dale B. Corvera kaabag ang buhatan ni Kongw.

Angel Amante-Matba.

Ang mga orgainsasyon nga girepresentahan sa maong seminar mao ang Nasipit

Cacao Farmer’s Venture Association (NACAFAVA), Camagong Farmers Multi-Purpose Cooperative (CFMPC), Minbahandi Higaononn Agriculture Cooperative sa lungsod sa Nasipit, Manoligao Higaonon Tribal Workers Association (MAHITRIWA) ug Carmen Coconut Farmers Producer’s Cooperative sa Carmen.

September 25-October 1, 2021 |

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produksyon sa siyam ka priority crops - abaca, saging, kape, cacao, rubber, lubi, rubber, commercial trees, mangga ug uban pang prutas – ug makatanum og mosuma sa 125,000 ektaryas nga luna pagabot sa tuig 2027.

Pipila usab ka indibidwal nga mag-uuma ang mitambong sa maong pagbansay.

Sa pagbansay gitudloan ang mga mag uuma sa hustong paagi sa pagpananum, pagpalambo sa produksyon ug mga good practices sa pagpanguma.

Sa pagpanamum, sumala pa nila ni May-ann Rabuya ug Berz Amoncio, mga personahe sa Agusan Up Coordinating Center nga mga speakers sa maong pagbansay, kinahanglang adunay kaalam ang mga mag-uuma diha sa pagpananum, gikan sa land preparation ngadto sa production unya sa harvesting.

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Gipunting usab sa maong kampanya sa pagpalambo nga makapahiluna og labing Gipahinumdoman usab ubos 60 ka gagmay ang mga nagseminar nga obserbahan diha sa ngadto sa dagkung mga paktoriya nga proseso sa produksyon moproseso sa mahimong ang food safety aron mo-resulta sa pagmugna ani sa mga uma ubos sa Plant! Plant! Plant! og quality food and sa mosunod nga pito non-food agricultural ka tuig. (Shena Mae products.

Pabia with reports from Rotchelie Salas & John Gipunting ubos sa Henry Balansag, LGU proyektong PLANT! Agusan del Norte/PIA PLANT! PLANT! nga Agusan del Norte) palambuon ang

|September 25-October 1, 2021

Caraga INFOCUS

PMO Surigao joins 2021 National Coastal Cleanup Day Volunteers from the Philippine Ports Authority – Port Management Office of Surigao (PPA-PMO Surigao) joined efforts over the weekend to clean coastal and residential communities in the city and at various ports under PMO Surigao as part of this year’s National Coastal Cleanup Day. Cleanup teams made of personnel from the PMO’s Terminal Management Offices as well as porters, dockworkers and other members of the port community, sought to remove solid waste and debris from the coastal areas of Purok Perlas, Barangay Taft in Surigao City and the PMO’s terminal ports.

Various debris and rubbish were collected in

cleanup activities done in accordance with the health and safety protocols established by the IATF-EID amidst the danger still posed by the COVID-19 pandemic.

PMO Surigao Acting Port Manager Froilan Caturla said that the coastal cleanup is a timely initiative to engage people to remove trash

and debris from shorelines or harbor bays and waterways, to identify the sources of the litter, and to change the behaviors that cause pollution.

“Activities like this help raise public awareness about inappropriate waste management practices and convince many agencies, organizations and communities to become better stewards of our environment,” Caturla added.

With the theme, “Seafarers: at the Core of Shipping Future,” the 2021 National Coastal Clean-up Day is hosted by the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG). (FJG Buhisan, PMO-PPA Surigao/ PIA-Surigao del Norte)

Caraga INFOCUS

September 25-October 1, 2021 |

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DENR, farmer’s group ink MOA for GAD livelihood project in Surigao Norte

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources - Provincial Environment and Natural Resources office (DENRPENRO) Surigao del Norte recently signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) between the MainitMalimono Tree Farmers Association (MAMATFA) for the Gender and Development (GAD) livelihood project.

the eco-tourism project under GAD livelihood that will be implemented at the top ridge of their Community-Based Forest Management area located at the municipalities of Mainit and Malimono in Surigao del Norte.

livelihood ventures to its members particularly all the women.

DENR PENRO Officerin-Charge Alejandra B. Boiser together with CENRO Tubod Officer Ruel E. Efren and MAMATFA Chairperson Rev. Matrinilo J, Lucida, The said project on ecoand PO Secretary Jireh tourism is planned to put R. Labadan led the forward series of activities signing of the said MOA. such as camping and (DENR-PENRO Surigao other outdoor activities del Norte/PIA-Surigao del The MAMATFA recently within MAMATFA area Norte) became a beneficiary of providing alternative

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|September 25-October 1, 2021

Caraga INFOCUS

DA rolls out EOM forms in Dinagat Islands To continuously monitor its proponent groups (PG), the Department of Agriculture (DA) - Philippine Rural Development Project (PRDP) rolled out the Enterprise Operations Monitoring (EOM) forms in the province of Dinagat Islands on September 1517, 2021.

The EOM tool will capture data from each member and non-member who have transactions with PRDP’s PG. Likewise, it gathers enterprise information such as, planning and implementation, practices, processes, and procedures that were used in the project implementation, deployment, and execution of business plans, strategies, and all associated activities.

Furthermore, the tool will serve as an immediate reference for the implementing team on the progress and operationalization of the PRDP supported enterprises.

EOM data will be a feedbacking mechanism to the PRDP management Caraga INFOCUS

team whether the desired outcomes and the overall development objectives of the projects are likely or unlikely achieved given the situations and lessons. As the enterprise progresses the management may use the data collected as a basis to introduce innovations to make the subprojects more sustainable.

On the other hand, PGs can use the device to monitor the enterprise’s day-to-day transactions.

PGs can generate documents, such as income statements, sales reports, inventories of assets and products, buyers’ directories, members’ profiles, and many more.

EOM can also be a reference in decisionmaking for the operations

of the enterprise.

Included in the data capture form rollout were the New Mabuhay Seaweed Farmers and Fisherfolks Association, General Aguinaldo Farmers Association, and A&M Multi-purpose Cooperative.

Proponent groups will be responsible for data gathering on quantitative and qualitative information.

The recording involves documenting the accomplished activities then uploading data to the system.

Data gathered will then be developed into a Web-Based Information System to ease the data navigation of the implementing team. (Zenny G. Awing/DA-PRPD13/PIADinagat Islands)

September 25-October 1, 2021 |

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Extension sa ASTMMC COVID-19 ward, nag-operate na Ni: John Cuadrasal

Gibutyag ni Recklyn Ruaza, Information Officer sa Adela Serra Ty Memorial Medical Center (ASTMMC) dinhi sa dakbayan, nga nagoperate na og sugod sa niaging semana ang extension sa COVID-19 ward sa ospital, kung diin anaay dugang nga mga higdaan alang sa mga pasyente kalabot sa

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maong sakit.

Sumala ni Ruaza, sa pagkakarun, anaa nay 30-bed capacity ang COVID Ward nila kung diin ang 10 ka higdaan niini alang sa mga anaa sa “holding.”

Matud niya, ang maong extension anaa sa 2nd floor sa main building sa

|September 25-October 1, 2021

ospital nga kanhi lugar sa usa ka regular ward nga gitransfer na karun.

Sumala pa ni Ruaza, gilihok nila karun ang pagdugang utro ug higdaan sa COVID-CCU apan gihanapan pa nila kini ug lugar. (DXJS-RPTandag/PIA-Surigao del Sur) Caraga INFOCUS

Tanang munisipyo ug siyudad dinhi sa Surigao del Sur, aduna nay kaugalingon nga fire station sigon sa BFP-Caraga

Aduna na karon kaugalingong Fire Station ang tanang mga munisipyo ug siyudad dinhi sa Surigao del Sur. Kini human sa gipahigayon nga blessing ug pag-activate sa bag-ong fire station sa lungsod sa Tago ning miaging adlaw’ng Biyernes.

Sa pakighinabi sa Radyo Pilipinas (RP) – Tandag, gibutyag ni Dir. Fred Trajeras, Regional Director sa Bureau of Caraga INFOCUS

Fire Protection (BFP) – Caraga, nga usa kini sa iyang gitambongan nga aktibidad sa iyang pagbisita dinhi sa probinsya.

kung diin niadtong bulan sa Pebrero ning tuiga gisugdan ang konstruksiyon niini.

Sumala pa nga ang maong lungsod maoy pinakaulahing munisipyo nga nabutangan og kaugalingong fire station, mga bombero, ug fire truck. Mikantidad matud pa sa 7.2 – million pesos ang nasangpit nga proyekto

Samtang gidugang usab ni Dir. Trajeras nga sa umalabot bulan sa Nobyembre, posibleng magamit na usab ang bag-ong gitukod nga fire station sa lungsod sa Madrid ug Cortes, sakop ning probinsya. (RP1Tandag/PIA-Surigao del Sur)

September 25-October 1, 2021 |

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DA-Caraga ensures farm machinery sustainability through transfer of technology in SurSur By: Aurelius P. Arais

beneficiaries, and representatives from the Municipal Agriculture Office, Agricultural Program Coordinating Office, 4Ks, and Corn Program.

RAED Chief Engr. Rene Morales said that the training is a regular activity of the Engineering Division to capacitate farmers.

To ensure that every farm equipment will be utilized efficiently, the Department of Agriculture (DA)-Caraga through the Regional Agricultural Engineering Division (RAED), has conducted series of Training and Orientation on the Operation and Maintenance and Actual Demonstration for the recipients.

A technical team from RAED conducted the said activity for San Miguel Manobo Indigenous Cultural Communities (CADT No: 116) in Barangay Carromata, San Miguel, Surigao del Sur as recepient of one unit Corn Sheller (3n1) and one unit Farm Tractor (Four Wheel Drive) under Kabuhayan at Kaunlaran ng Kababayang

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Katutubo (4K) Program.

4Ks is a comprehensive program intended to help in the development of tribal communities.

The same activity was also held for Antao Corn Growers Association members at Barangay Antao, Carmen, Surigao del Sur, a recipient of one unit Pump & Engine Set under DA-Corn Program held on September 14- 16, 2021.

Recipient farmers underwent orientation on the proper operation of the said machinery that would enable them to use it efficiently.

Also present in the activity were the farmer-

|September 25-October 1, 2021

“We are ensuring that the recipients of our interventions possess enough skills to operate it and maintain it for them to use it efficiently as intended, and by doing so we are protecting the money of the government in purchasing such equipment for the farmers,” Morales explained.

DA Caraga Regional Executive Director Abel James I. Monteagudo stressed that farm mechanization is one of the priority programs of the DA as identified under the 18 key strategies under the One DA Reform Agenda in transforming agriculture towards a food-secure and the resilient Philippines with empowered and prosperous farmers. (DA-Caraga with reports from APCO-SDS/PIASurigao del Sur)

Caraga INFOCUS

MINDANAO NEWS

P8-M rice processing complex to rise in Maguindanao MODERN RICE PROCESSING CENTER. Officials of the MAFAR-BARMM lead the groundbreaking ceremony for the PHP8-million rice-processing complex in Datu Paglas, Maguindanao on Sept. 23, 2021. The ongoing construction of the complex is expected to be completed in February next year. (Photo courtesy of MAFAR-BARMM)

The construction of an PHP8-million rice processing complex (RPC) is expected to be completed in Datu Paglas, Maguindanao early next year.

“Our target date of the project completion is on February 2022,” Engr. Ismael Guiamel, agriculture division director of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Natural Resources-Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (MAFAR-BARMM), said in

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an interview by reporters here Wednesday.

He said the RPC, as funded by MAFARBARMM, will be equipped with newly introduced technologies targeting to help farmers from the town and its neighboring areas increase their income by reducing post-harvest losses and produce high-quality milled rice.

Only recently, officials of the MAFAR conducted a groundbreaking ceremony for the project

|September 25-October 1, 2021

on government land near the town center of Datu Paglas town.

“Upon completion, the MAFAR-BARMM will turnover the RPC to the Datu Paglas Farmers Irrigators Multi-Purpose Cooperative in the area,” Guiamel said.

The Barrist Builders, the contractor of the project, is expected to complete the construction according to its programs and specifications within the next 150 days. (PNA/ Noel Punzalan) Caraga INFOCUS

MinDA-Initiated study shows need for jobs, food security People who have accused me of injecting my bias for local agriculture and fisheries in submitting recommendations on the needed interventions by government PostCOVID 19 Pandemic should know that an on-going study by an independent group commissioned by the UNDP on a request made by the Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) showed that Mindanawons now have two very important concerns - Jobs and Food.

(Photos were downloaded from public websites.)

pandemic - the jobs and income opportunities they lost and the need for an assurance on the availability of food supply.

These findings support The initial findings of the MinDA’s earlier study which assesses recommendations that the impact of COVID any interventions by 19 on the economy government Post-COVID and social behaviour of 19 Pandemic should people from Mindanao focus on support for food were submitted to the production, especially MinDA Board during its agriculture and fisheries, annual board meeting As it is now, the initial because activities in on Monday, Sept. 27 findings have established these sectors could

by Christopher Prior, two very important immediately create jobs head of the private and ensure sufficient consultancy group which concerns of Filipinos food supply. (MinDA) is undertaking the study. in the face of the Caraga INFOCUS

I will post a more comprehensive report of SERDEF made by Chris Prior within the week to emphasize the importance of the study on the directions and priorities of our government in crafting interventions for the immediate economic recovery of Mindanao, including the whole country.

September 25-October 1, 2021 |

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NATIONAL NEWS

Duterte Legacy Barangayanihan Caravan portrays whole-of-nation approach in informing the public The Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) has partnered with the Department of Interior and Local Government to reach out and inform more Filipinos of the accomplishments of the Duterte administration.

In an interview on Thursday, Secretary Martin Andanar said that the PCOO has undertaken the on-the-ground operations for the Duterte Legacy communications campaign bridging the theme, “Barangayanihan Caravan Towards National Recovery.”

“Karung adlaw dunay tay Duterte Legacy Barangayanihan Caravan sa tibook nasud, simultaneous kini sa tibook barangay potraying our whole-of-nation approach

Caraga INFOCUS

to inform the people [Today, we launched the Duterte Legacy Barangayanihan Caravan across the country. This is a simultaneous event which portrays our whole-of-nation approach to inform the people],” he said.

Andanar, the Barangayanihan Caravan is an offshoot of the said legacy communications campaign.

“It’s a very good program because we included all government agencies,” he said.

The PCOO, along with the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) spearheaded the simultaneous launch of the ‘Duterte Legacy: Barangayanihan Caravan Towards National Recovery’ in different regions throughout the country this Thursday morning.

“Along the way, we discover new things and new ideas just like this one. It started with a meeting with the DILG, and they offered to have the caravan in barangays and have it named as the Barangayanihan Caravan,” he added.

Other government agencies also expressed their support for the said endeavor.

According to Secretary

The PCOO chief went on to highlight the accomplishments of the Duterte administration especially in its key pillars in law and order, anticorruption drive and poverty alleviation.

September 25-October 1, 2021 |

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Local exec: Root crops production booming in Barcelona, Sorsogon

The local government of Barcelona town in Sorsogon Province has refocused its food security initiatives for its people by implementing root crops production since the onset of the pandemic last year.

In an interview with Presidential Communications Secretary Martin M. Andanar on September 30, via Network Briefing News, Barcelona Mayor Cynthia Falcotelo-Fortes shared that aside from its dominant agricultural products, the town is also enjoying the booming outcome of root crops production.

“The Local Government Unit initiated root crops production. It was during the ECQ noong nabuo ang ideya na ito na magtanim ng root crops. [The Local Government Unit initiated root crops production. It was during the ECQ that this idea to plant root crops was

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born.],” Mayor Fortes said.

The idea of root crops production has also led to the establishment of an ECQ market for families in the town wherein they can buy food essentials and agricultural commodities by means of ECQ coupons issued by the LGU. According to Mayor Fortes, around 10 hectares in the town have been converted into areas for planting root crops to respond to the increasing demand for such products since the implementation of community quarantine last year.

“Ang ginawa po ng LGU ay cash for work scheme po ang ginamit dito initially, around 20,000 lang po ang apat na barangay at napapalago na po nila ito. [What the LGU did was to implement a cash for work scheme. Initially it was

|September 25-October 1, 2021

only around 20,000 in four barangays and this has grown already.],” she added.

‘Upskilling the People’ Aside from diversifying its agricultural programs, the local government initiated the production of soap made out of Cosmos flowers or also known as Barcelona blooms in the locality.

“Part of the LGU’s mission is upskilling the people and building them up,” she pointed out, citing that the program is aligned in the upskilling product development under the vision of the Sangguniang Bayan.

So far, the program has also reached schools, particularly for parents and teachers in the communities wherein they also produce Cosmos soap that will be available in the local market, Mayor Fortes said.

Caraga INFOCUS

PCOO eyes to attain population protection this year; 85% of employees now fully vaccinated vs COVID-19

The Presidential Communications Operations Office is looking at achieving population protection by year-end, after marking a major breakthrough with the vaccination of 85% of total PCOO personnel and its attached agencies nationwide.

PCOO Sec. Martin A. Andanar emphasized that the “PCOO has made it a departmental Caraga INFOCUS

goal to inoculate and vaccinate all of its government personnel and their families.”

In June 2021, the PCOO management started the vaccination drive of the general population of the agency together with their dependents with the valuable assistance of the National Vaccine Operations Center and the local government units of the City of Manila

and Quezon City, and as well as local government units for the regional offices of PCOO units and agencies nationwide.

“This is to ensure the unhampered delivery of information, communications, and government services to the Filipino public,” Sec. Andanar added.

He also thanked PCOO Legal Affairs ASec. Omar Romero, PCOO Group

September 25-October 1, 2021 |

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vaccination coordinator, Admin, and Finance USec. Kris Ablan and the heads of the PCOO attached agencies for making the PCOO Group’s vaccination drive possible and successful.

According to Asec.

Romero, “around 3,364 agency personnel and its attached agencies nationwide have been fully vaccinated as of September 27, 2021.”

In PCOO proper, 433 employees (93.12%) are now fully vaccinated while 15 personnel are waiting to resume the inoculation this coming month.

Meanwhile, the Bureau of Communications Services is the first PCOO unit to reach population protection this quarter as all of its 119 personnel are now fully vaccinated against the virus.

The Presidential The figure translates to Broadcast Staff - Radio 84.93% of its 3,961 total Television Malacañang workforces. Data showed surpassed a high that there are still 343 vaccination rate of personnel that have yet 98.08% (154 out of 156 to receive their second personnel). The remaining dose, while 69 persons two are now waiting to voluntarily opted not to receive their second be inoculated. dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.

ASec. Romero emphasized that the Central offices of the vaccination is “to ensure two government media the safety and health corporations, People’s of all PCOO employees Television Network, Inc. pursuant to the and Intercontinental Occupational Safety and Broadcasting Health (OSH) Standards Corporation, also for the Public Sector recorded above the per Joint Memorandum 90-percent mark of Circular No. 1, s. 2020 their fully vaccinated issued by the Civil Service personnel, reaching Commission on March 4, 92.13% and 94.81%, 2020.” respectively.

High Vaccination Rate

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Other PCOO attached

|September 25-October 1, 2021

agencies like the Philippine Information Agency, News and Information Bureau, APO Production Unit, Inc., and the National Printing Office also recorded a high vaccination rate of 88% to 90%.

Aside from PCOO personnel and dependents, some members of the Malacañang Press Corps were included in the vaccination drive.

“We have also included in our vaccination campaign the journalists and news and media professionals in the Malacañang Press Corps,” Andanar said.

“This drive to inoculate and vaccinate our government personnel, their families, and the members of the MPC is part of our whole-ofnation approach in the Duterte administration, knowing how important it is for COVID-19 vaccines to be made accessible for us to succeed in our road to recovery as one nation and to contribute to the global effort in fighting the pandemic,” the PCOO chief emphasized.

Caraga INFOCUS

Secretary Andanar: FOI is one of the best solutions vs. corruption The implementation of the Freedom of Information (FOI) Program is one of the best solutions to combat corruption in public offices and should also be applied to other branches of government, Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) Secretary Martin Andanar said on Saturday.

The PCOO continues to push for the legislation of the Freedom of Information through pending bills filed in the legislative body. Secretary Andanar stressed that this will address corruption and inefficient public service delivery.

“Our campaign against corruption will end right away, because for example this Freedom of Information is not yet a law. It is not being passed by the Congress yet,” he said in an interview.

“Whether the next administration will continue to promote this or not, us under the Duterte administration believe that this is one of the greatest solutions to get rid of corruption,” he added.

Caraga INFOCUS

On 23 July 2016, President Rodrigo Roa Duterte signed the Executive Order No. 2, s. 2016 (EO 2) or the Freedom of Information (FOI) Program, which opened the books of the offices under the executive branch.

It is remembered that the PCOO requested the inclusion of FOI as part of the President’s legislative agenda for the year 2020.

The said landmark policy mandates the PCOO as designated lead government agency to operationalize said EO 2. It aims to promote transparency, accountability, and citizen participation by requiring government agencies to

disclose information about their transactions that involve public interest.

In terms of the anticorruption drive of the government, such a policy is being complemented by the Presidential AntiCorruption Commission (PACC) and the Republic Act 11032 or the Ease of Doing Business Act. Secretary Andanar highlighted how the R.A. 11032 has strengthened the anti-red tape campaign in government transactions, advancing the Philippines to the 95th spot from 124th place in 2019 out of 190 economies in the World Bank’s “Doing Business 2020” report.

September 25-October 1, 2021 |

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Trinidad, Bohol LGU to complete gov’t-funded new health unit this year The municipality of Trinidad in Bohol Province recognizes the help of the national government through the Department of Health in the construction of its new rural health unit that will be vital in the ongoing fight against the pandemic.

In an interview with Presidential Communications Secretary Martin M. Andanar on September 27, via Network Briefing News, Trinidad town Mayor Judith Del Rosario Cajes shared the COVID-19 response of the local government.

“Ang bagong rural health unit natin na sinimulan noong 2019 patuloy po ang konstruksyon nito. Ito ay tulong mula sa national government sa pamamahala ni President Rodrigo Roa Duterte. [The construction of our new rural health unit started in 2019 and is still under construction at present. This was possible through the assistance from the national government under the administration of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte.],” she said.

The national government funded the construction of the rural health unit amounting to Php 2 million and ordered the deployment of additional DOH medical staff for the town.

“Susubukan po natin na tapusin ang construction by the end of the year. [We will try our best to finish the construction by the end of the year.],” Mayor Cajes added.

According to Mayor Cajes, the

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health department assigned a medical doctor who will head the health unit and deployed eight nurses to the town. The local government hired an on-call doctor and three permanent nurses that will supervise the COVID-19 situation in the town.

Pero nagsusumikap tayo na sa [kabila] ng kakulangan ng staff. Patuloy ang pagseserbisyo natin sa mga taga-Trinidad. [But we are working hard already [despite] the lack of staff. We continue to serve the people of Trinidad.],” she shared.

Vaccination Rollout The town chief lauded the Department of Health for the vaccines and deployment of additional medical force to vaccinate the people of Trinidad.

“Ang munisipalidad ng Trinidad ay nagsusumikap upang mas mabigyan pa ang ating mga kababayan ng mga bakuna.

[The municipality of Trinidad is working hard to provide more

|September 25-October 1, 2021

vaccines to our people.],” she said.

As of September 23, the Municipal Vaccination Team inoculated 8,696 individuals which is 30% of the total population of Trinidad.

She added that volunteer doctors and all the frontliners have been a great help since the start of the vaccination rollout to protect them from the virus, citing the efficient vaccination efforts of the LGU that vaccines were given within three to five days.

“Sa katunayan, bukod sa araw-araw na [vaccination] sa Cultural Center ng Trinidad, mayroon din tayo na nakaschedule na clustered vaccination para sa mga malalayong barangay ng munisipalidad. [In fact, apart from the daily [vaccination] at the Cultural Center of Trinidad, we also have a scheduled clustered vaccination for the remote barangays of the municipality.],” she added.

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Fair distribution of projects across all regions pushed and realized under Duterte admin Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) Secretary Martin Andanar on Tuesday stressed how the Duterte administration has poured efforts into providing an equitable distribution of projects to other regions across the Philippines.

He noted that through the Build, Build, Build projects, the government was able to aid in shaping the potential of the countryside aside from focusing on further improving areas that are already highly urbanized.

“Nabungkag gyud kay makita man nato sa Build, Build, Build program, kung aha dunay mga projects sa uban Visayas, Mindanao, ug Luzon nga gawas sa Metro Manila [We really disintegrated it [projects and programs centered in Metro Manila]. We can see it through the Build, Build, Build program where we have various projects for Visayas, Mindanao, and other parts of Luzon outside of Metro Manila],” he said in an interview on Brigada News FM Gensan.

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He cited other big-ticket projects undertaken and completed in the past five years including the CebuCordova Link Expressway in Cebu Province, and road connectivity projects in Region 12.

“The government continues to inject or pump prime the economy by giving focus to Build, Build, Build, especially in the last 8 months of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte,” he said.

He also mentioned the series of infrastructure initiatives of the PCOO which included the completed Mindanao Media Hub, and the ongoing construction of buildings for some of the regional offices of the Philippine Information Agency (PIA).

Just this Monday, September 27, the PCOO joined the Department of Public Works and Highways Region 10 (DPWH-10), the local government unit of Manolo Fortich, and the Northern Bukidnon State College for the groundbreaking ceremony of the P79 million Government Communications Academy.

“These are some of the evidence that would prove that we decentralized government communications,” he said.

He also said that the administration has supported the implementation of the Supreme Court’s Mandanas ruling through the issuance of Executive Order No. 138 which will ensure that the policy of decentralization will be carried out systematically.

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Government media training facility to rise in Bukidnon

The construction of the country’s first Government Communications Academy (GCA) will finally begin following the groundbreaking ceremony here on Monday.

Operations Office (PCOO) Secretary Martin Andanar said in his message that the facility is one of the products of discussion made during the 2018 National Information Convention in Davao City.

The GCA facility will be built on a 10,000 square meter lot donated by Manolo Fortich Mayor Clive D. Quiño situated at the Northern Bukidnon State College.

“The conduct of the first-ever National Information Convention in Davao City in 2018 made a lot of headway in revolutionizing the way we report the news about the government and how we respond to concerns such as

Presidential Communications

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|September 25-October 1, 2021

capacitating our public information officers,” he said in his message delivered by PCOO Assistant Secretary Ryan Vincent Uy. “Fast forward to today, where we are marking a historic milestone for the collaborative effort and solidarity between government and private media in the service of the Filipino public,” he added.

The academy will not only be the National Communications Caraga INFOCUS

Training Center of the Philippines for all Information Officers of the government.

It also aims to be a financially sustainable institution by engaging into partnerships with the private sector under lease agreements or joint ventures.

Works and Highways (DPWH) the total amount of P79 million under its GAA FY 2021 to fund the construction of the main building. P30 million of which was funded through the Congressional initiative of Senator Juan Miguel F. Zubiri.

Duterte’s administration.

Not long after this, we will be able to witness the actual physical manifestation of the administration’s allencompassing Tapang at Malasakit,” he said.

“Our hope is for this facility to be an avenue for our country’s The project includes a The DPWH is now media, its truth-tellers, two-storey main building, finalizing the detailed its information officers a parking lot as well as architectural and to learn more, to be the general landscaping engineering design of immersed in their of the surrounding open the project pursuant to potentials, and to be area which will be Republic Act No. 9184. motivated in serving the fulfilled in phases. people by keeping our “We are now realizing democratic values alive Through a Memorandum one of the greatest goals and pushing for freedom of Agreement, the we have envisioned in of speech and the PCOO transferred to the the past five years of responsibilities that come Department of Public President Rodrigo Roa with it,” he added.

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Agri chief: Implementation of devolution to further strengthen gov’t efforts for agricultural developments

The agricultural developments in the country will be sustained in the coming years as the government prepares to fully devolve its functions and services to local government units, according to the Department of Agriculture.

In an interview with Presidential Communications Secretary Martin Andanar on Friday, September 24, during the Cabinet Report, Agriculture

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Secretary William Dar pointed out that the impending devolution will strengthen the department’s relationship with local government officials with the aim of fully developing the agricultural sector.

“Gusto kong idiin na lahat ng mga sangay o unit ng kagawaran na dapat i-devolve sa local government units po na sa ilalim ng Local Government Code of 1991 ay nagawa na ng departamento matapos

|September 25-October 1, 2021

ipasa ang batas 30 years ago. [I would like to emphasize that all branches or units of the department that should be devolved to local government units under the Local Government Code of 1991 have already been done by the department after the law was passed 30 years ago.],” he added.

He cited as an example the recent battle of the country against the spread of African Swine Fever that affected Caraga INFOCUS

the hog industry in the country since last year.

Aside from the national government’s support, the local government has been playing a vital role in fighting the spread of the animal disease, he added.

agricultural workers in provincial, municipal, and community-level on track on the latest technology and good practices in agricultural production and marketing.

Sec. Dar, on the other hand, admitted that the agriculture department is not in full capacity to seamlessly implement the devolution of its services due to lack of funds in the local government and insufficient training for modern technologies that can be utilized in agricultural developments.

In June 2021, President Rodrigo Roa Duterte signed Executive Order No. 138 ordering “the functions, services, and facilities which shall be fully devolved from the NG (national government) to the LGUs (local government units) no later than the end of FY (fiscal year) 2024.

“Ang problemang ito ang tinutugunan ng Mandanas Ruling sa pamamagitan ng paglalaan ng mas malaking pondo sa local government units.

[This problem is already being addressed by the Mandanas Ruling by allocating more funds to local government units.],” he said.

The department also cited the establishment of the Province-led Agriculture and Fisheries Extension Systems or PAFES that keeps Caraga INFOCUS

The Mandanas ruling

This measure will give local government units more funds starting 2022 under the Mandanas ruling which was penned by the Supreme Court in 2018, mentioning that “local governments are entitled to a share of all national taxes, not just the national internal revenue taxes.”

The ruling has increased the Internal Revenue Allotment or budgets of local governments by around 50% in order to fully execute and deliver basic functions and

services to the people.

Under the said order, the Department of the Interior and Local Government is tapped to help improve and augment the capabilities of the local governments to deliver services and deliverables transferred to them.

“Ang pinakamalaking hamon ay nasa local government units ngayon, at ang Kagawaran ng Pagsasaka ay willing na tumulong para sa transition na ito. [The biggest challenge is with local government units today, and the Department of Agriculture is willing to help this transition.],” Sec. Dar said.

He also emphasized that the success of the implementation of devolution can only be attained with the active participation of LGUs and local communities to improve agricultural productivity and promote agricultural development in their respective areas.

“Let me assure you that the Department of Agriculture will fully support the devolution of agricultural services to LGUs.” he concluded.

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Vaccination will bring back country to normalcy – President Duterte

Vaccinating the population is the only way to gradually bring the country back to normalcy, President Rodrigo Roa Duterte said Monday night as he appealed once again to Filipinos to get vaccinated against the coronavirus disease.

During a meeting on government’s COVID-19 interventions, President Duterte said the government normally wouldn’t interfere with its citizens’ religious or political beliefs and reasoning, but deciding not to get vaccinated could seriously impact the country’s overall health and economic recovery because herd immunity can only be achieved through mass immunization.

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Once herd immunity is achieved, it would be safe enough to gradually ease restrictions, President Duterte noted.

“I now encourage you --- those who have yet to receive the vaccines --- to get inoculated. Paulit-ulit kasi ‘to. We are almost pleading down on our knees, parang nakaluhod na kami nakikiusap sa taong-bayan ‘yung mga taong ayaw o hindi pa nagpabakuna at nandiyan naman ang available,” he said.

According to the President, individuals who refuse to get vaccinated even when vaccines become available in their locality are considered a “danger to society” and may

|September 25-October 1, 2021

compel him to invoke the police power of the state to protect the healthy population.

“You know, I do not want to advance this theory but under the police power of the state, everybody can be compelled to be vaccinated. Not because we do not believe in your theory or belief or your religion but because you are a carrier and a danger to society. Iyan ang problema diyan.

It’s between your belief maybe, your religion, eh there is a division of you know religion and state,” he noted.

“Sa ordinaryong mga araw hindi naman nakikialam ang gobyerno ni minsan.

Government has no power

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to compel any religion, faith, or church to do a certain thing or not to do a certain thing. We can only cooperate. But itong police power of the state na hahawain mo kapwa tao mo patayin mo and maybe it would affect a large number of our people, then you are already a danger to society,” he explained.

At the same time, the President warned government employees to leave the government if they refuse inoculation, especially those at the frontlines tasked to transact with people.

“Tama ‘yan sa gobyerno, ayaw mo magpabakuna, umalis ka. Go out of government. Why? Because when you are with the government you face people, people transact business officials, well, audiences or visits.

Eh kung ikaw ang carrier, ‘wag mong sabihin na ang relihiyon mo o ayaw ng aming paniwala o I just don’t believe it.”

“If everybody does not comply with the vaccines and we can have a wildfire spread, then the police must go in and intervene in your private life so that you cannot be a danger to society,” he added.

Likewise, Duterte also chastised doctors and

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lawyers who try to convince the public against getting vaccinated.

“Sana kung ganito naman na ayaw mo, huwag ka na lang --- tumahimik ka na lang… But there’s a, you know, freedom of speech in our country.

Hindi kami nag-aano diyan.

But sana naman you will go by the almost general trend all over the world na vaccination or to get vaccinated or inoculated is really the best defense for yourself and for your fellowmen,” he said.

The President also made an assurance that his administration is doing all that it can to encourage individuals to get the jab without “instilling fear” or threatening citizens to get immunized.

Citing a report from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the chief executive said majority of the unvaccinated persons who got infected with COVID-19 are likely to get hospitalized with more severe or critical conditions.

On the other hand, out of 13.8 million, only 242 fully vaccinated individuals contracted the disease, or merely 0.0017 percent of the total figures.

“Iyong karamihan ‘pag

naospital hindi na-vaccinean, walang vaccines, serious kaagad. You get what? You are in the critical list because, well, pagka critical ka, buksan ‘yung bunganga mo, buksan lahat, then ii-intubate ka,” he said.

“So I ask our kababayans to please get vaccinated when your turn comes so you can protect yourself and your loved ones.”

According to the country’s vaccine czar Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr., the Philippines expects to receive at least 100 million vaccine doses by the end of October this year and aims to expand the immunization drive to include the general population as well as children.

More than 20.3 million Filipinos, or 26 percent of the country’s eligible population have been fully vaccinated, while 23.6 million have received at least their first dose of COVID-19 vaccine.

Overall, government has administered a total of 44 million doses.

Economic centers across the country like Metro Manila, Baguio City, Cebu City, Iloilo City, and Davao City have also surpassed 50 percent vaccination of the target population. PND

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Duque: Pharmally must compensate gov’t if face shield expiry date tampering is true The health secretary also addressed the expiration issue of the face shields bought by the DOH through the Procurement ServiceDepartment of Budget and Management (PS-DBM).

Pharmally Pharmaceutical Corp. should compensate the government if it’s true that the company changed the expiration dates of medical-grade face shields it delivered to the Department of Health (DOH), the country’s health chief said on Monday.

Duque III said he instructed the Department of Health’s (DOH) procurement and supply chain office to make an assessment on the production dates of the face shields delivered to the government.

“At kung totoong mayroon pong pandaraya o ito pong In the recent Senate Blue ginawa ng Pharmally ay Ribbon Committee hearing, kinakailangan ay bawiin a Pharmally official admitted ng gobyerno doon sa changing the expiration kompanyang iyan iyong dates of face shields isang taon na kanila pong procured by the government tinamper,” Duque said. for medical frontliners.

The Pharmally official “Kasi kung halimbawa 36 disclosed that the company months at tinamper ‘yung changed the 2020 production date from 2020 production date making it to 2021, so may isang taon 2021. na daya. So kinakailangan ‘yung isang taon na ‘yun During a meeting with magkaroon ng restitution President Rodrigo Duterte, sa gobyerno iyong halaga Health Secretary Francisco nung face shield.”

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|September 25-October 1, 2021

Duque said the medical grade face shield contains foam and garter that may deteriorate over time, noting however, that the product should have a shelf life of about 36 months.

The health chief said the DOH inspection team observes strict guidelines before accepting deliveries and supplies must pass stringent inspection.

“Ganoon din po ang akin pong nakalap na report, ang PS-DBM mayroon din po silang inspection team,” he said.

“Hindi po sila basta-basta puwedeng tumanggap ng mga supplies na hindi po ito sinusuring maigi in terms of quality o ‘yung kalidad, iyon pong quantity, at in accordance with the technical specifications na iyan po ang inuutos ng DOH na dapat sundin ng supplier.” PND

Caraga INFOCUS

Vulnerable residents in Balungao, Pangasinan receive support from Bong Go as he calls for unity and cooperation to overcome pandemic each recipient while representatives from the Department of Social Welfare and Development gave financial assistance through their Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation program.

Prioritizing the welfare of Filipinos especially during these challenging times, Senator Christopher “Bong” Go sent his team to distribute assistance to 2,000 persons with disabilities, solo parents, and senior citizens in Balungao, Pangasinan on Wednesday, September 29.

To ensure the efficiency of the distribution, Go’s Caraga INFOCUS

“Salamat kay President Duterte at kay Senator Bong Go sa kanilang malasakit sa aming mga taga-Pangasinan.

Napakahirap ng buhay naming ngayong pandemic, lalo na sa team carried out two aming magsasaka. separate activities at Sa pagsasaka ko lang the Balungao Municipal nabubuhay ang pamilya Gymnasium and ko at sa tatlo kong anak.

Balungao National High Kaya maraming salamat School, where they split po talaga sa tulong na the beneficiaries into ito,” JC Briones, 48-yearsmaller batches following old beneficiary, shared in necessary safety and an interview. health protocols.

In his video message, The senator’s staff Go reminded the public handed out meals, to continue observing masks, face shields, health precautions and vitamins to against COVID-19, such September 25-October 1, 2021 |

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as regular washing of hands, wearing of masks and face shields when in public, maintaining social distance, and avoiding unnecessary travels.

As Chair of Senate Committee on Health and Demography, Senator Go urged the residents to get vaccinated to safeguard them against the virus.

He also appealed to local authorities to reach out to the elderly and urgently assist them so they can be inoculated safely and efficiently in their own homes, if possible.

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“Pinag-aaralan po ng gobyerno ngayon na mas maluwag na restriction ‘pag ikaw ay bakunado. Kaya magpabakuna na po kayo. Libre po itong bakuna. Kung ano po ‘yung bakuna na nasa harapan n’yo po, magpabakuna na po kayo para po protektado kayo,” Go expressed.

“Ang bakuna po ang tanging susi o solusyon para unti-unti na tayong makabalik sa ating normal na pamumuhay at makamtan po natin ‘yung population protection ‘pag 50% na po ng population ang bakunado, at

|September 25-October 1, 2021

herd immunity naman po ‘pag 70% na po ng population ang bakunado,” he added.

Aside from the aid distributed, the Senator offered additional assistance to people with health concerns as he advised them to visit the Malasakit Center in Region 1 Medical Center in Dagupan City if they need medical assistance.

The Malasakit Center is a one-stop shop where concerned agencies, such as DSWD, Department of Health, Philippine Health Insurance Corporation, and Philippine Charity Caraga INFOCUS

Sweepstakes Office, work hand-in-hand to help poor and indigent patients to reduce their hospital bills to the lowest amount possible.

Being the Vice Chair of Senate Committee on Finance, the senator is also dedicated to accelerate the economic progress of the town as he supported the rehabilitation of local access roads along Barangays San Julian and San Marcelino.

He also supported several other projects in the province, including the construction of farm-to-market roads in Aguilar, Calasiao, San Fabian, and Umingan; acquisition of medical equipment for Dialysis Center in Western Pangasinan District Hospital in Alaminos, and Dialysis Center in Eastern Pangasinan District Hospital in Tayug; acquisition of ambulance units in Anda, Lingayen, and Mangaldan; and installation of street lights in Binmaley, San Jacinto, and Villasis.

Go likewise extended Caraga INFOCUS

Bong Go

support in the construction of multipurpose buildings in Burgos, Natividad, Pozorrubio, and Urbiztondo; acquisition of dump trucks in Mangaldan, and Villasis; construction of local bridge in Sto. Tomas; construction of market stalls in San Quintin; and construction of drainage canal in Asingan, and Mangatarem.

The Senator then commended Representative Tyrone Agabas, Governor Amado “Pogi” Espino III, Vice Governor Mark

Lambino, Mayor Riza Peralta, Vice Mayor Philipp Peralta, and many other local officials for supporting their constituents during national health crisis.

“Mga kababayan ko, kami po ni Pangulong Duterte ay patuloy na magseseribisyo po sa inyong lahat sa abot ng aming makakaya.

Kayo po ang nagbibigay lakas sa amin na makapagserbisyo pa po sa inyong lahat.

Maraming salamat po sa inyong lahat,” he ended.

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Struggling sectors in San Manuel, Pangasinan receive support from Bong Go as he assures unhampered public service amid crises The Office of Senator Christopher “Bong” Go provided relief to vulnerable residents in San Manuel, Pangasinan on Thursday, September 30, as part of the senator’s efforts to assist in the recovery of pandemicaffected communities nationwide.

priority groups. As Chair of the Senate Committee on Health and Demography, the Senator reassured that the vaccine rollout will continue to intensify to reach indigents and those in far-flung areas soon.

He likewise urged those who are already included in the priority In his video message, list of the national Go asked the public vaccination program to to remain supportive get vaccinated once of the government as doses are available in authorities expedite efforts their community so they to vaccinate those in the can be protected against

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|September 25-October 1, 2021

COVID-19.

“Mga kababayan ko, magtulungan lang po tayo, magbayanihan po tayo, at magmalasakit po tayo sa ating kapwa Pilipino. Ginagawa po lahat ng gobyerno para po malampasan natin itong krisis na ito,” Go expressed.

“Ngayon, habang patuloy po ang pagbabakuna, kailangan po ang kooperasyon, kailangan po ang disiplina ng bawat Caraga INFOCUS

isa. Sumunod tayo sa mga health protocols – mask, face shield, social distancing, at hugas ng kamay. Kung hindi naman po kailangan, huwag munang umalis ng pamamahay dahil delikado pa po ang panahon,” he reminded.

For a well-organized distribution activity and to ensure the safety of 2,529 beneficiaries, composed of Tricycle Operators and Drivers Association members, market vendors, persons with disabilities, and displaced overseas Filipino workers, Go’s personnel utilized two venues, namely San Manuel Gymnasium and Juan C. Laya Memorial School.

Go’s team grouped the beneficiaries into smaller batches and then gave them relief items such as meals, masks, face shields, and vitamins while they strictly adhered to necessary safety and health protocols.

Meanwhile, selected individuals were given new pairs of shoes or bicycles. Others received computer tablets to help their children with their blended learning activities.

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“Ang importante po, tuluy-tuloy po ang kaalaman ng ating mga kababayan at makapagtapos po ng pag-aaral. Pakiusap ko lang po sa mga kabataan, mag-aral ho kayo nang mabuti para sumaya ang inyong mga magulang at kayo po ang kinabukasan ng bayang ito,” Go appealed.

As part of the national government’s commitment to support and provide for various sectors affected by the pandemic, a team from the Department of Social Welfare and Development also provided each beneficiary with financial assistance through its Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation program.

To help several associations of farmers and fisherfolk, staff from the Department of Agriculture, in turn, extended financial grants to the local community of San Miguel through their Enhanced KADIWA Financial Grant program.

Apart from the financial grants, DA granted the municipality with various agricultural machinery and equipment and fish fingerlings.

Rogelio Sendiña Jr., a 47-year-old farmer and tricycle driver, shared how the pandemic greatly affected his situation.

Sendiña expressed how he struggles to sustain his family’s needs even if he currently has two jobs.

“Kay Sir Bong Go na maraming naitulong sa amin, sana po ay marami ka pong matulungan na kagaya namin. ‘Yung natanggap ko po ngayon ay gagamitin ko po para sa pamilya ko, pambili ng pangangailangan namin para po may makain kami,” Sendiña said.

The Senator continued his message as he offered assistance to those with medical conditions needing treatment. He advised them to seek assistance from the nearby Malasakit Center located at the Region 1 Medical Center in Dagupan City.

Signed into law in 2019, the Malasakit Centers Act mandates the establishment of the centers in every Department of Health-run hospital nationwide and in the Philippine General Hospital in Manila to ensure that particularly poor and indigent

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patients can conveniently access medical assistance programs of the government.

“Ang Malasakit Center po ay one-stop shop, nasa loob na ho ng hospital ‘yung apat na ahensya ng gobyerno – PhilHealth, PCSO, DOH, DSWD. Tutulungan ho kayo hanggang maging zero balance po ang inyong billing,” Go explained.

Ending his remarks, the Senator thanked the local government officials for their hard work and service to their constituents, including Representative Tyrone Agabas, Governor Amado Espino III, Vice Governor Mark Lambino, Mayor Kenneth Marco Perez, and Vice Mayor Alain Jerico Perez.

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On December 18, 2018, Go became an adopted son of the province of Pangasinan through a resolution passed by the Sangguniang Panlalawigan and ratified

by Governor Espino III. The province honored Go’s extraordinary capacity in public administration to motivate every local leader in the implementation of their plans and projects, according to the resolution.

“Ang hiling ko lang sana, suportahan natin ang ating Tatay Digong sa kanyang laban. Iisa po ang nais nating gawin bilang kapwa Pangasinense, ‘yon ay ang para sa kabutihan ng bawat Pilipino,” Go previously said to fellow Pangasinenses.

|September 25-October 1, 2021

To further create economic opportunities in the province, Go, Vice Chair of the Senate Committee on Finance, supported the construction of multi-purpose buildings in Burgos, Natividad, Pozorrubio, and Urbiztondo; acquisition of dump trucks in Mangaldan, and Villasis; construction of a local bridge in Sto. Tomas; construction of market stalls in San Quintin; and construction of drainage canals in Asingan, and Mangatarem.

He also supported the construction of farm-tomarket roads in Aguilar, Calasiao, San Fabian, and Umingan; acquisition of medical equipment for Dialysis Center in Western Pangasinan District Hospital in Alaminos, and Dialysis Center in Eastern Pangasinan District Hospital in Tayug; acquisition of ambulance units in Anda, Lingayen, and Mangaldan; and the installation of street lights in Binmaley, San Jacinto, and Villasis.

The previous day, more struggling residents from the town of Balungao also received similar assistance from Senator Go. Caraga INFOCUS

Bulakenyos get a boost from Bong Go as his team helps communities in distress in Bulakan, Bustos and Guiguinto towns

In an effort to support the Duterte Administration’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Office of Senator Christopher “Bong” Go conducted a second activity in Calumpit, Bulacan on Friday, October 1, this time for the residents of Bulakan, Bustos and Guiguinto who are struggling to cope with the impacts of the ongoing crisis.

In a video message, Caraga INFOCUS

Go recognized the disruptions caused by the pandemic in the everyday lives of the families in the area. He assured them that the nation will get through these difficult times but only if everyone works together by following the government’s protocols to reduce the transmission and spread of COVID-19.

“Lagi nating alalahanin na hindi kaya ng gobyernong mag-

isa ang laban kontra pandemya. Hindi rin kakayanin ng ating mga medical frontliners kung patuloy na dadami ang kailangang dalhin sa mga ospital. Preventing the spread of the virus starts with us by being responsible citizens and following the health and safety protocols,” said Go. “Ang ating pagiging mga responsableng mamamayan na nagmamalasakit sa September 25-October 1, 2021 |

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provided others with computer tablets to help their children access educational materials for their classes under the blended learning approach.

of 800 residents at the Barangay Poblacion covered court in Calumpit. The activity was conducted in batches to ensure all protocols against COVID-19 were strictly observed.

Moreover, personnel from the Department of Social Welfare and Development handed out financial assistance under its Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation program in a separate distribution.

“Maraming, maraming salamat kay Sir Bong Go at Presidente Rodrigo Duterte para sa natanggap namin na tulong.

Nagpapasalamat ako dahil hindi po ninyo kami nakalimutan ngayong pandemya. Malaking bagay ang tulong na ito sa dalawang baby ko. Sana hindi kayo magsawang tumulong at marami pa kayong matulungan lalo na dito sa aming lugar” said Judy Anne Tablan, 22, a resident of Bulakan.

His staff gave selected residents new pairs of shoes or bicycles which they can use for a more convenient commute. They also

As part of his commitment to assist poor and indigent patients, the Senator offered additional assistance to those who

Bong Go

kapwa at nakikisama sa bayanihan ay ang susi sa ating mabilis na pag-ahon sa krisis.

Magtulungan tayo para hindi bumagsak ang ating healthcare system habang binabalanse natin na pasiglahin muli ang ating ekonomiya,” he added.

The Senator’s personnel distributed meals, vitamins, masks and face shields to a total

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|September 25-October 1, 2021

Caraga INFOCUS

need medical care for illnesses or injuries.

He also encouraged them to visit the Malasakit Center at the Bulacan Medical Center in Malolos City or Rogaciano M. Mercado Memorial Hospital in Santa Maria.

The centers are onestop shops which brings together the national agencies that can assist patients in reducing their hospital bills to the lowest possible amount. The agencies include the DSWD, Department of Health, Philippine Health Insurance Corporation, and Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office.

Go is the principal author and sponsor of the bill that became Republic Act No. 11463 or the Malasakit Centers Act of 2019. The program has opened 141 centers and assisted over two million patients nationwide since its inception in 2018.

On this note, the Senator recognized Representative Jose Antonio Sy-Alvarado, Governor Daniel Fernando, Vice Governor Wilhelmino Caraga INFOCUS

Sy-Alvarado, Mayor James de Jesus, Vice Mayor Victor de Belen, and other local officials for their leadership and hard work during the pandemic.

As Vice Chair of the Senate Committee on Finance, he has supported numerous infrastructure initiatives in the province to facilitate the development of the local industries and services. Among these were the construction of slope concrete river walls in Barangays Meysulao, Meyto, Bulusan, Santa Lucia, San Jose, San Miguel, and Sapang Bayan in Calumpit.

Go also supported the rehabilitation of the Bulacan State University Activity

Center and construction of a multi-purpose building in Malolos City; construction of drainages; provision of medical equipment for local hospitals; improvement of the Pandi District Hospital; and concreting of a farm-to-market road in San Ildefonso; and many more.

On Tuesday, September 28, his team conducted a similar activity at the same venue for hundreds of other lowincome residents from Balagtas, Baliuag, Bocaue, Bulakan, Calumpit, Hagonoy, Malolos, Marilao, Meycauayan, Obando, Norzagaray, Pandi, Paombong, Plaridel, San Ildefonso, Santa Maria and San Jose del Monte.

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Pilot Covid-19 vaccination of minors on Oct. 15 The Philippines will kick off the pilot rollout of the inoculation of minors against the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) on Oct. 15, Malacañang announced on Thursday.

This, after the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) approved the proposal to vaccinate children aged 12 to 17 under a “phased approach”, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said in a press statement.

“The pilot will begin on October 15, 2021 under a phased approach as may be determined by the National Vaccination Operations Center,” said Roque, also acting as IATF-EID spokesperson.

Roque said minors will be inoculated with Covid-19 vaccines that are available for emergency use.

“Approved by the IATF is the pilot rollout of the vaccination of children ages 12 to 17 years old with vaccines granted Emergency Use Authorization by the Food and Drug Administration,” he said.

President Rodrigo Duterte has approved the Covid-19 vaccination of the general population, including minors, in October.

To date, healthcare workers, senior citizens, persons with comorbidities, and indigents are being prioritized in the

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(File photo)

government’s immunization drive against Covid-19.

Most local government units (LGUs) are ready to start the vaccination program for minors and the general public, National Task Force Against Covid-19 and vaccine czar, Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. said earlier Thursday.

The Philippines has so far received over 71.324 million doses of Covid-19 vaccine, as of Thursday.

Around 45,147,477 Covid-19 vaccine vials have already been administered nationwide since the vaccination program was launched in March this year.

Vaccination vs. MR-Td Meantime, the IATF-EID also endorsed to LGUs the conduct of routine and catch-

up immunization and the community-based MeaslesRubella and Tetanus-Diphtheria (MR-Td) immunization activities of the Department of Health, Roque said.

LGUs, Roque said, are enjoined to fast-track the MR-Td vaccination “by dedicating Wednesdays for child vaccination by shifting healthcare workers from Covid-19 vaccination targets on said day for the mentioned purpose.”

He said those who will be vaccinated against MR-Td will be allowed to go out.

“Because of this, children less than 2 years old, 6-7 years old, and 12-13 years old shall be exempt from community quarantine restrictions for this purpose,” Roque said. (PNA/ Ruth Abbey Gita-Carlos)

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Covid-19 jabs for teens ‘very different’ from Dengvaxia: NTF A ranking government official said coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) jabs for adolescents will be both “safe and effective,” noting that several other countries have already safely administered these vaccines in their younger population.

During the arrival of over 1.2 million doses of the Moderna vaccine at the NAIA Terminal 1 on Thursday, National Task Force (NTF) against Covid-19 chief implementer Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. said the country’s children and adolescent population, or Category C, will be vaccinated “slowly, surely and closely monitored.”

“I know na marami talagang nag-aalala sa Dengvaxia, but this is very different. Nakita natin na nagamit muna ang mga vaccine na ‘to sa mga milyon-milyon na mga bata globally (I know that many are worried about Dengvaxia, but this is very different. We have seen this vaccine used in millions of children globally),” Galvez said.

He noted that some countries have even begun vaccinating those aged 5 to 11 years old.

Similar to the rollout of Covid-19 vaccines to the Category A population

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Vaccine czar, Secretary Carlito Galvez, Jr. (PNA file photo)

-- those in the frontlines, senior citizens, and with comorbidities -- back in March, he said the vaccination for teens and children in the country will be cautious, with only five to six select hospitals specializing in comorbidities to be allowed to vaccinate.

-- with comorbidities or those whose parents are health care workers will be prioritized.

“For example sa [Philippine] Heart Center [PHC], sa [Philippine] Children’s [Medical] Center (PCMC), sa NKTI (National Kidney and Transplant Institute), at sa UP [Philippine] General Hospital (UP-PGH) -- yan yung mga tinitignan natin na pwede mag-open muna in the meantime (For example at the PHC, PCMC, NKTI, and the UP-PGH -- that’s where we’re thinking to open in the meantime),” Galvez said.

He called on the public to avoid being “over-cautious,” noting that Covid-19 vaccines used in the country have already been proven to be “very safe and effective.”

Initially, he said adolescents -- aged 14 to 17 or 15 to 17

|September 25-October 1, 2021

“And then we would observe, kung maging maganda ang flow, ang gagawin natin (if it flows well, what we will do is) we will go to other cities in Metro Manila,” Galvez said.

“I would like to appeal to the public na gagawin po namin lahat to make sure na our vaccination will be safe, yung safety measures i-implement po natin (we will do everything to make sure our vaccinations will be safe, we will implement safety measures),” Galvez said.

(PNA/Raymond Carl Dela Cruz)

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Over 45M Covid vax doses administered in PH The Philippines has already administered a total of 45,147,477 doses of coronavirus disease (Covid-19) nationwide, the government’s task force on pandemic response said on Thursday.

Based on the data from the National Covid-19 Vaccination dashboard as of Sept. 29, a total of 21,103,317 Filipinos have already acquired full protection against the dreaded disease, while the 24,044,260 are waiting for the schedule to get their second dose.

The average daily jabs administered in the last seven days stood at 353,774 doses.

National Task Force (NTF) against Covid-19 chief implementer Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. said the government has allotted 29 million doses for the vaccination of minors Caraga INFOCUS

aged 12 to 17 years old.

The inoculation of adolescents will be piloted in five identified hospitals in Metro Manila.

(File photo)

million Sinovac --both purchased by the government -- will be delivered on Friday.

Galvez said a total of 6,085,170 doses out of the 40 million doses of government-procured Pfizer jabs have been delivered to the country.

Those children with comorbidities will be prioritized in the test run of pediatric vaccination.

The Philippines has received a total of 71,324,50 doses of Covid-19 vaccine as of Sept. 30, with additional 883,350 Pfizer doses and another 2.5

The country’s Food and Drug Administration has initially approved the use of Pfizer and Moderna for pediatric vaccination, which will start on Oct. 15. (PNA/ Lade Jean Kabagani)

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