Edge Davao Volume 13 Issue 5 | Saturday, March 14, 2020

TRANSFORMING FILIPINO LIVES THROUGH THE GIFT OF MOBILITY

EDGEDAVAO Serving a seamless society

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VOL.13 ISSUE 5 • SATURDAY, MARCH 14, 2020

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President Rodrigo Duterte presides over a meeting with the Inter-Agency Task Force on the Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) at the Malacañan Palace on Thursday night. PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO

Mayor Sara warns of city's limitations in health facilities M

By MAYA M. PADILLO ayor Sara Duterte-Carpio on Friday admitted that the city has limitations on health facilities and emphasized her adminstration has not implemented a lockdown.

To set things straight, Mayor Sara stressed that

Dabawenyos are prohibited from leaving the city

to ensure no one will get infected with coronavirus disease (Covid-19).

“Why prohibited? Because I have the obligation to warn everyone because our health facilities have limitations. I would know because of my work. The city government of Davao

will know and it is our obligation to ensure that the game plan will be implemented to ensure nga wala’y magkasakit diri sulod sa Davao City,” Mayor Sara said stressing that the city cannot afford a widespread infection of Covid-19.

“Many people will die

if we will not take action,” she said in a live interview on government-owned Davao Disaster Radio 87.5 last Thursday night.

She added health is a primary public concern and it is within her mandate to remind the public of what should be done.

The clari�ications were made by the mayor after issuing Guidelines No. 8 on Covid-19 and emphasized Dabawenyos should understand the drastic need for action.

The guidelines clearly stated that “Davao City is

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2 NEWS EDGEDAVAO

VOL.13 ISSUE 5 • SATURDAY, MARCH 14, 2020

2 female patients tested for Covid-19 at SPMC

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A barbeque stall worker loads tables and chairs on a vehicle after Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio issued an order to suspend the operation of Roxas Night Market in Davao City on Thursday night due to the Covid-19 outbreak. Lean Daval Jr

wo women, who allegedly escaped from a quarantine area in Sarangani Province, were examined for coronavirus disease (Covid-19) at the Southern Philippines Medical Center (SPMC) on Friday.

Dr. Anabelle Yumang, regional director of the Department of Health in Region 11 (DOH 11), told reporters in a press conference on Friday that one female was classi�ied as person under monitoring (PUM) because she didn’t develop symptoms of Covid-19, while the other was classi�ied as person under investigation (PUI) and currently admitted at SPMC for manifesting mild symptoms of the virus.

“Gihatod sila sa SPMC. Dili pa nato masulti nga positive ni ang PUI kay wala pa man ang result.

Ug dili pa pud ma contact-trace kay wala pa result sa test. Sa karon wala ko kabalo kung gipapauli na ang PUM, pero ang PUI naa siya sa sulod sa SPMC karon,” Yumang said.

The DOH 11 of�icial said they will transport the PUM to her residence.

“Kung duol lang, amo siyang ihatod sa iyang residence. Kung nagpuyo siya sa other region, among tawagan ang among counterpart sa region para makuha nila ang PUM (If her residence is near, we will bring her home, but if she lives in another region, we will contact our counterpart in that region so she could be fetched and brought to her residence ,” she said.

Yumang said the PUI has a travel history to Japan, which has cases and deaths due to Covid-19.

“Ang among detalye ang ilahang circumstance lang ngano na PUI ug na PUM sila. Karong adlawa ang iyahang ika-14th day sa ilahang quarantine,” she said.

According to a memorandum of the Philippine National Police (PNP)-Police Regional Of�ice 11 (PRO 11) dated March 12, the two female patients reportedly escaped from the

indanao’s �irst con�irmed coronavirus (COVID-19) case, identi�ied by the Department of Health as the Philippines’ Patient No. 40 (PH40), was working in San Juan in Metro Manila and went home to Lanao del Sur before he was admitted to a private hospital here and referred to a government hospital in Cagayan de Oro City on March 8.

According to one of the doctors who attended to the patient at the Adventist Medical Center (AMC) here, the 54-year-old male was brought by relatives from Lanao del Sur to Iligan City to seek medical treatment.

During a press conference in Cagayan de Oro this morning, which was aired live over Facebook by ABSCBN’s TV Patrol Mindanao, DOH-X Regional Director Adriano P. Suba-an also said the patient was originally from Lanao del Sur but transferred to Pasig

City in Metro Manila during the Marawi Siege in 2017 for livelihood.

“Health personnel at the AMC who came in close contact with the patient are now in quarantine,” including staff assigned at the emergency room, and those assigned to the patient’s private room, the X-ray room and the 2D echo room, according to the attending doctor in Iligan.

The patient’s relatives who took care of him are also now considered “persons under monitoring,” said the doctor.

The patient was recommended to be transferred to the Northern Mindanao Medical Center in Cagayan de Oro City, 86 kilometers away, after the medical staff suspected him of COVID-19.

The DOH announced Wednesday that 16 new cases more were recorded

indanao Development Authority (MinDA) Secretary Emmanuel Piñol is submitting himself to self-quarantine as soon as he arrives in the country on Saturday from attending the World Islamic Economic Forum (WIEF) in Kota Kinabalu Malaysia on March 12-13.

In his Facebook post on Thursday night, Piñol said he and his two staff will undergo a voluntary quarantine to ensure that they are safe from the virus.

“I will submit myself to medical check-up and stay in my farm for one week,” he added.

As the chairperson of MinDA, Piñol was invited to be one of the panelists in the forum, where he presented the impact of the transfer of Indonesia’s capital to East Kalimantan, Bor-

neo on the economy of the sub-region of Brunei-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines East Asean Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA).

On the other hand, following the recent developments on the 2019 coronavirus disease (Covid-19) pandemic, he issued an order suspending work at all MinDA of�ices.

“So as to maintain our linkage with our clientele, I have ordered the creation of a 10-man skeletal force headed by a senior of�icer to man the of�ice on a daily rotation basis,” he said.

Piñol also advised the employees to stay home but to continue linkages with their clients through digital communications.

“All MinDA of�icials and employees are enjoined to observe these directives,” he said. (PNA)

NO LOCKDOWN M

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Mindanao’s first COVID-19 case went home to Lanao Sur before admission

Mayor Sara asks Dabawenyos to not leave Davao City

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avao City Mayor Inday Sara Duterte said the local government has not implemented a lockdown of Davao City but emphasized that Dabawenyos are prohibited from leaving the city.

Mayor Duterte made the clari�ication immediately after issuing Guidelines No. 8 on Covid-19 Thursday evening.

The guidelines clearly state that “Davao City is NOT ON LOCKDOWN.” The full text of the guidelines: 1. All Davao residents are prohibited from going out of Davao City.

2. All short term visitors

are advised to leave Davao City immediately.

3. All travelers to Davao City are requested to postpone your visit until after the State of Public Health Emergency is lifted.

The mayor, in a live interview on government-owned Davao Disaster Radio 87.5, said Dabwenyos should understand the drastic need for action.

“The city has a limitation on health facilities and we cannot afford a wide spread infection of Covid-19 here. Many people will die if we will not take action,” she said.

To wait for one positive patient before taking action is too late for everyone, the mayor said.

The mayor stressed that those people who are not residents of Davao should better be thinking about “preventive measures” than pursuing trips to Davao.

“If you are not a resident of Davao and you get the disease here, you can spread it in your hometown once you go back. It would be better if we take

preventive measures,” she said.

People from outside Davao may still travel to the city because there is no lockdown, but it would be better postpone their travel.

The mayor added that the country is currently under a state of health emergency related to national security because it was the no less than the President who issued the proclamation.

She explained that since health is a primary public concern, it is within her mandate to remind the public of what should be done.

“It is my obligation to do so,” she said. CIO

and �inance committees.

The resource person attended on March 5 a hearing of the Senate education committee.

Senators Nancy Binay and Sherwin Gatchalian, who presided the said hearing, placed themselves under self-quarantine starting Wednesday while the Senate has been locked down to contain the spread of the virus.

Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte has also put herself on self-quarantine starting Thursday, a day after her meeting in Manila with Gatchalian

who was in direct contact with the resource person.

“Although he feels well and does not show any �lu-like symptoms, Mr. Sinarimbo opted to self-quarantine,” a statement released to the media from the Minister’s of�ice said.

Sinarimbo, however, continued to perform his job at home through the internet and mobile phone and had two virtual meetings – the Mindanao Humanitarian Team cum Contingency Planning on Corona Virus and Seal of Good Local Governance Coordination

Meeting – on Thursday, the statement added.

“I have weighed my options and I am of the considered view that most responsible action to take is to go on self-quarantine,” he posted in his Facebook page.

Meanwhile, BARMM Chief Minister Ahod “Hadji Murad” Ebrahim is expected to issue a memorandum order creating a task force on coronavirus to combat the spread of the disease in the region, Deputy Executive Director Abdullah Cusain said. (Ferdinandh Cabrera/MindaNews)

Piñol to undergo self-quarantine

BARMM official on self-quarantine M after attending Senate hearing

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he spokesperson and Interior and Local Government minister of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao has voluntarily put himself on self-quarantine after attending a Senate hearing this week where a resource person who tested positive for the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) had attended an earlier hearing.

Lawyer Naguib Sinarimbo met met with senators and of�icials at the Senate building after attending the joint hearing of the local government

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VOL.13 ISSUE 5 • SATURDAY, MARCH 14, 2020

NEWS

EDGEDAVAO

PRRD: There is 'no solution in sight’ for coronavirus

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he coronavirus disease outbreak is a “crisis with no solution in sight,” said President Rodrigo Duterte when he addressed Filipinos Thursday night on the status of COVID-19 in the country..

“You choose to be a part of government and there is a crisis with no solution in sight. Walang solusyon [there is no solution] unless there is a vaccine by the grace of God na may makita o maimbento ng ating mga scientists [that our scientists may have found or invented],” he said in his speech.

The country is seeing a rise in its con�irmed cases of the viral disease with 52 infected individuals. The death toll now stands at �ive, including a Chinese man and four Filipinos.

The World Health Organization on Wednesday characterized COVID-19 as a pandemic as the number of cases outside China has increased 13-fold over the past two weeks and the

number of affected countries has tripled.

The WHO estimates that it may take more than a year for a vaccine for the novel coronavirus to be developed.

Worldwide, the virus has killed more than 4,700 and infected over 127,000 people, according to the Johns Hopkins University global tracking of cases.

COVID-19 is a disease caused by a coronavirus called SARS-CoV-2, which is related to the virus that causes Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome, but is not as deadly, with the fatality rate standing at around three percent.

WHO said 80 percent of patients only experience “mild illness” and eventually recover. It added that some 14 percent experience severe illness while �ive percent were critically ill.

In line with the increase in recorded infections, Duterte placed the entire Metro Manila under

hree more Filipinos with coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) have died, bringing the death toll in the Philippines to �ive, the Department of Health (DOH) reported Thursday night.

In an announcement, DOH identi�ied the three as Patients No. 5, No. 6, and No. 37.

Patient No. 6, the wife of Patient No. 5, was initially admitted at Cardinal Santos Medical Center and transferred to the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine.

The DOH said she "suddenly experienced dif�iculty in breathing and was intubated late evening of March 11".

On the same night, the patient died from acute respiratory distress syndrome due to severe pneumonia secondary to Covid-19.

DOH said a repeat chest x-ray showed progressive

pneumonia. Patient No. 6 is a known diabetic.

Meanwhile, Patient No. 5, her husband, expired late evening of March 11 also from acute respiratory distress syndrome due to severe pneumonia secondary to the disease. He is a known diabetic and hypertensive who developed an acute kidney injury.

The third and latest death caused by the disease was Patient No. 37, an 88-year-old female and resident of Pasig City.

She was admitted on March 6 at the Philippine Heart Center after experiencing onset of symptoms on February 28.

"The patient expired this afternoon with Acute Respiratory Failure as the cause of death," the DOH said. She was reported to have existing hypertension.

This developed following the death of Patient No.

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3 more Pinoys died of Covid-19: DOH

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Two individuals under Investigation (PUIs), who allegedly escaped from Sarangani province are now quarantined at Southern Philippines Medical Center’s Isolation Facility in Davao City. Lean Daval Jr

Sara cleared by CHO, ends self-quarantine M

By MAYA M. PADILLO ayor Sara Duterte-Carpio was given the clean bill of health on Friday by the Davao City Health Of�ice after undergoing self-quarantine. She was advised she can discontinue her voluntary isolation.

City health of�icer Dr. Josephine Villafuerte cleared Mayor Sara after her household employee, who was earlier reported to be ill, has been diagnosed with tonsillitis according to the statement released by the City Mayor’s Of�ice (CMO) on Friday.

On March 12, the presidential daughter underwent a voluntary monitored home quarantine and has signed up as a Person Under Monitoring (PUM) under the CHO. The said employee was also reported to be ill and was also listed as a PUM.

The mayor had not suffered from �lu-like symptoms but she chose to undergo self-quarantine to protect others.

“I am not feeling unwell,” Mayor Sara said in a live interview on government-owned Davao Disaster Radio 87.5 last Thursday night when asked about what it’s like to be on self-isolation.

The mayor’s household employee is now also taking antibiotics and recovering well.

Meanwhile, after coordination with the Of�ice of Senator Sher-

SarBay fest cancelled due to Covid-19 jitters

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A Davao City Health Office worker disinfects the motorpool of the city’s garbage collection trucks on 12 March 2020 as part of measures to prevent COVID-19 infection. MindaNews photo by MANMAN DEJETO

win Gatchalian, who conducted a careful review of CCTV footage, it showed he did not have physical contact with the Covid-19 positive patient.

A footage also showed Gatchalian and the Covid-19 patient were far apart from each other the whole time.

Gatchalian, who was in a lunch meeting with Duterte-Carpio in Manila last Wednesday, made an announcement evening of Wednesday also that he was under a self-quarantine.

he upcoming Sarangani Bay (SarBay) festival, the biggest summer beach party in Mindanao if not the entire country, was cancelled due to the dreaded 2019 novel coronavirus (Covid-19) threat, organizers said.

Sarangani Gov. Steve Solon said the SarBay fest in Glan town’s Gumasa village, touted as the “Boracay of the South,” has been postponed as part of the province’s precautionary measure against Covid-19.

“As excited as we all are, the Sarangani provincial government and organizers prioritize your health and security. Our prayer is for everyone’s best and we can’t wait to see you all in 2021,” the provincial government said in an advisory issued Wednesday.

Solon on Wednesday

facilitated a provincial government workshop to �ight Covid-19, attended by health workers and other stakeholders in the province.

He noted that transparency is vital to combat the deadly disease that the World Health Organization now classi�ies as a pandemic.

“We need to speak the truth to the public without alarming them,” Solon said.

President Duterte early this week placed the entire Philippines under a state of public health emergency due to the con�irmed local cases of Covid-19.

Glan, a bucolic town at least an hour away from this city by vehicle, is considered the top tourism destination in Sarangani, mainly due to its �ine

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4 ECONOMY EDGEDAVAO

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PH’s only face mask maker vows to raise production ace mask manufactur- India which can be sup-

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A vendor gather the street food that she was supposed to sell at Roxas Night Market in Davao City which was ordered by Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio to suspend the operation starting Thursday night due to the coronavirus crisis. Lean Daval Jr

er Medtecs International Corp. has committed to further increase its production to meet surging demand brought about by the rising cases of coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) in the country.

“On masks, [we] renegotiated with lone manufacturer Medtecs to increase supply to Philippines from 1.6 million (pieces) a month to 4 million so we can increase replenishment for the drugstores,” Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Secretary Ramon Lopez said in a text message Thursday.

Lopez said the initial volume that will be produced by Medtecs will be distributed to health workers and frontliners of the Department of Health and Red Cross.

He added the country will also source 2.5 million pieces of face masks from

plied to drugstores.

On Wednesday, the DTI held an emergency meeting with manufacturers of basic necessities and prime commodities, as well as alcohol and disinfectant producers, to give updates on the supply of these products.

In a statement of DTI Thursday, the manufacturers of basic goods said they have stocks good for one month or less. They also committed to ramp up production if the demand further increases.

“Consumers need not worry as we have enough stocks of basic goods in the market. The DTI is working closely with the manufacturers and retailers to ensure continued �low of supply in the market and reasonableness of prices of basic goods, including disinfectants,” Lopez said.

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Nationwide price freeze in effect amidst coronavirus emergency T he Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) on Thursday announced a nationwide price freeze on basic necessities pursuant to the Price Act or Republic Act 7581 amid the 2019 coronavirus disease (Covid-19) outbreak.

Section 6 of the law states that prices of basic necessities shall be frozen at their prevailing prices for 60 days or until sooner lifted by the President whenever there is a declaration of a state of emergency, calamity, or other similar conditions.

Proclamation 922,

which puts the country under a state of public health emergency due to Covid-19 outbreak, triggered the implementation of a nationwide price freeze.

“The DTI is closely coordinating with other government agencies, manufacturers and re-

NFA assures sufficient rice stocks amid Covid-19 threat

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he National Food Authority (NFA) has suf�icient rice inventory in the National Capital Region (NCR), even in case of an emergency situation or possible lockdown due to coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19).

This was the assurance from NFA Administrator Judy Carol Dansal in view of the government’s total efforts and preparations on the Covid-19 outbreak.

“We have 455,000 bags of rice in Metro Manila. This is good for 40 days, at 10 percent market participation. Of course, there are still rice stocks in the households and the commercial sector, which comprise the great portion of rice stocks in the market,” Dansal said in a statement Wednesday.

The continuing transfer of 2,224,120 bags or 111,206 metric tons (MT) of rice to NCR from the nearby rice-producing regions is also being fast-

tracked. This is to ensure the rice suf�iciency level of NCR at all times.

NCR will receive 311,920 bags (15,596 MT) from Region 1; 1,000,000 bags (50,000 MT) from Region 2; and 912,200 bags (45,610 MT) from Region 3.

The total government rice stock is 9.636 million bags or 481,800 MT. This is equivalent to a 14.5-day rice consumption requirement of the whole country at 661,930 bags. They are stored in different strategically located warehouses in all provinces.

Meanwhile, Dansal further said that for 2020, the NFA has bought 1,734,230 bags (86,711 MT) of palay from farmers and farmers’ coops and associations.

This is a 124-percent accomplishment of the 1,399,000 bags target for January and February.

For the whole of 2020, the NFA aims to locally

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tailers of basic goods to ensure availability and continuous supply in the market. Retailers are reminded that there should be no price movement on these goods while the price freeze is in effect,” DTI Secretary Ramon Lopez said.

Basic goods that are under the jurisdiction of the DTI include canned �ish and other marine products, locally manufactured instant noodles, bottled water, bread, processed milk, coffee, candles, laundry soap, detergent and salt.

The Department of Agriculture (DA) covers ba-

sic agricultural goods such as rice, corn, cooking oil, fresh, dried and other marine products, fresh eggs, fresh pork, beef and poultry meat, fresh milk, fresh vegetables, root crops, sugar and fresh fruits.

Essential drugs are under the Department of Health while �irewood and charcoal are with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.

Household lique�ied petroleum gas and kerosene are under the Department of Energy.

All these basic goods are placed under price freeze for 60 days with the exception of household

LPG and kerosene whose prices shall be frozen for 15 days only as provided in the Amended Price Act, or RA 10623.

Meanwhile, on ensuring price reasonableness, DTI-Consumer Protection Group Undersecretary Ruth Castelo assures the public the “department continues to intensify its monitoring and enforcement activities on the prices of basic goods in the market, including N-95, N-88, and other similar face masks.”

It can be recalled that since the phreatic eruption of Taal Volcano, the DTI included face masks

in its monitoring which remains relevant to this day as the country addresses the outbreak of Covid-19.

Business establishments found to have violated the price freeze shall be imposed with a �ine amounting to PHP5,000 up to PHP1 million and/ or imprisonment for a period of one year up to 10 years.

Consumers are enjoined to report business establishments that sell basic necessities beyond the price freeze by calling the One-DTI (1-384) Hotline or sending an email to, ConsumerCare@dti. gov.ph. (PR)

avao City Water District advises the public of a water service interruption scheduled on March 15, 2020 from 12:01 AM to 5:30 AM. Speci�ic areas affected are all areas served by Tugbok WSS including the sub-system served by Tugbok Production Well No. 7 and Dumoy Production Well No. 40, particularly, entire Brgy. Tugbok, Sto. Niño, Mintal, Bago Oshiro, Catalunan Pequeño, Catalunan Grande, Bago Gallera, Talomo, Ulas, Matina Pangi, and Matina Balusong; some Bago Aplaya areas: Catotal Subd., Carmelo Porras Subd., Gallera De Oro Subd., and Villarubia Compound; some Matina Crossing areas: DSLA Village, Guadalupe Village, Nepa Village, Pangi Bridge, Peralta Subd., SK Compound, and Tinago Drive;

and some Bangkal areas: Catalunan Grande road extension, Peace Avenue, Skyline Road, Hillcrest Subd., and the streets of Genesis, Happy, Happy Valley I and II, Marlboro, Marlboro I and II, Pag-asa, Sampaguita, and Tahimik.

All areas served by Riverside WSS, particularly, entire Riverside, Tacunan, Los Amigos, Biao Guianga, Biao Escuela, Biao Cutson, Matina Biao, Balengaeng, and Ula; portion of Tugbok Proper: Nangka Street, Durian Street, Mangga Street, Lanzones Street, and Saint Benedict Heights HOA; and some Catalunan Grande areas: Alejandra National HOA, Apo Highlands Subd., San Miguel HOA, Sitio San Pedro, Sitio Sta. Martha, Sitio Sto. Niño Ilihan, and South Pointe Homes.

All areas served Cali-

nan WSS, particularly, entire Brgy. Calinan and Dacudao; and some areas in Brgy. Riverside: Anthurium Street in Purok 3-A. DCWD’s production wells in Tugbok, Riverside, and Calinan WSS will be affected by Davao Light and Power Company’s (DLPC) power interruption on said date needed to facilitate the 69kV line works at Tugbok. With the power interruption, the affected facilities will not be able to operate and produce water, and in turn, will not be able to supply water to the affected areas. Although the power cut is shorter in duration, DCWD needs additional time for re-switching on of the affected facilities, pressure build-up, and line delivery, thus the longer duration of water service interruption.

On behalf of the DCWD management, General Manager Edwin V. Regalado asks for the understanding and cooperation of would-be affected customers and advises them to store enough water prior to the schedules. Water supply may be restored earlier if DLPC’s work goes smoothly or later if unforeseen problems arise.

DCWD conducts �lushing after service works are completed. However, once water is restored, customers are advised to open all faucets and allow water to run for at least two minutes. Do not drink tap water immediately but if needed, boil water beforehand as safety precaution.

The general public may visit DCWD website (www.davao-water.gov. ph) and of�icial Facebook

Low water pressure to no water due to DLPC power interruption D

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VOL.13 ISSUE 5 • SATURDAY, MARCH 14, 2020

ECONOMY

EDGEDAVAO

5

PAL says travelers to, from Manila may rebook, refund, reroute trips

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Philippine Airlines announces that passengers with trips to and from Metro Manila -- from March 15 to April 14, 2020 -- may rebook, refund, or reroute their flights. Lean Daval Jr

hilippine Airlines said Thursday its passengers with trips to and from Metro Manila -- from March 15 to April 14, 2020 -- may rebook, refund, or reroute their �lights.

The Philippines earlier adopted an inter-agency resolution banning travel to and from Metro Manila beginning Sunday to combat the rapid rise of cases of the novel coronavirus in the country.

PAL said its passengers who are affected may: Rebook their �light to a new travel date after April 14, 2020, with waivers of rebooking fees Refund the full cost of the ticket with waivers of refund fees Reroute their ticket on the same fare class (fare difference rules apply) For �light rebooking, holders of PAL tickets may call their Reservations Hotline (+63 2) 8855 8888, or visit the nearest PAL ticketing of�ice or log on to the ManageMyBookingPortal

at www.philippineairlines. com.

"For holders of tickets issued by travel agents, please contact or visit the nearest partner travel agency of PAL for your rebooking needs," the PAL said in a statement.

The airline assured international and domestic �lights with routes to and from Cebu, Clark and Davao will continue to operate.

"This is a developing situation. We shall provide further updates," PAL said.

"Rest assured that we will comply with all government mandates and continue to coordinate closely with the government authorities in the interest of the health and safety of all our passengers."

The Philippines quarantined Metro Manila’s 12.8 million people, banned mass gatherings and suspended classes for a month after the fast-spreading COVID-19 infected at least 52 people in the country, 5 of whom died.

etro Manila can still accept goods from outside cities and provinces to sustain the supply in the Philippine capital, Department of Trade and Industry Undersecretary Ruth Castelo said Thursday.

"The goods can still come to Metro Manila para masiguradong stable pa rin ang supply natin dito," she said.

Guidelines for drivers and delivery personnel in vehicles transporting the goods are in the works in line with the "community quarantine" announced by President Rodrigo Duterte.

Travel - whether by land, sea, or domestic air - in and out of the National Capital Region will be prohibited starting Sunday, following the “sustained community transmission” of the novel coronavirus in the country.

Castelo said they are coordinating with local government units and De-

partment of Interior and Local Government (DILG) to ensure that necessities of residents in Metro Manila can be provided.

She added that the DTI will also ask supermarket owners to regulate the practice of social distancing in their stores and replenish goods from time to time. "'Yung social distancing kailangan i-practice pa rin ng mga supermarkets at any given time. Pwede naman 'yon laluna't we are in a place of public health emergency," The outbreak, which began in the Chinese city of Wuhan, has killed some 4,000 people and infected 110,000 others worldwide, prompting the World Health Organization to declare a global pandemic.

As of late Thursday, the Philippines has recorded 3 new fatalities from the said virus, raising the total death toll to 5, with 52 cases at hand.

Goods free to move despite Gov’t cash flow adequate DTI: community quarantine in NCR despite work suspensions M

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ational Treasurer Rosalia de Leon on Thursday said the Bureau of the Treasury (BTr) is ready and capable of conducting remote access for critical operations even if its of�ices will be closed temporarily to make way for disinfection of premises amid the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19).

A Viber message shared by Department of Finance (DOF) Secretary Carlos Dominguez III to journalists Thursday indicated de Leon as saying that work in the BTr of�ice in Intramuros, Manila will be suspended on Friday following the Finance chief’s directive for all DOF-attached agencies to thoroughly disinfect all

their premises this weekend.

“Everything is in place for remote access for critical operations like auction, payments, and investments. Have assigned rotating skeletal force in case of prolonged lockdown,” she said.

De Leon also said she has coordinated with the Power Sector Assets and

Liabilities Management Corporation (PSALM) “for temporary war room and another one in our Pampanga regional of�ice is being readied.”

“Cash �low is more than adequate,” she added.

Meanwhile, Bureau of Customs (BOC) Commissioner Ray Leonardo Guerrero, in a message shared by Dominguez, cited reports from district collectors that there are no pending shipments of face masks in any of their ports.

Guerrero said he has also issued a statement saying the BOC has been expediting the processing of shipments of face masks and other emergency supplies.

“We will also be dis-

infecting our of�ices this weekend, Sir,” he told Dominguez.

The head of�ice of the Social Security System (SSS), another DOF-attached agency located along East Avenue in Quezon City and its branch in Makati City, will also be closed on Friday following the directive.

“IT (information technology) will be working and some skeletal for the branch support -- with your permission,” SSS President and Chief Executive Of�icer (CEO) Aurora Ignacio said. “Other NCR (National Capital Region) branches are also asking since they are exposed. Am looking at case to case (basis), Sir.” (PNA)

M Supermalls will adjust their mall schedule from Friday onwards amid the rise of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) cases in the country.

"We are adjusting our mall hours starting March

13 as part of our intensi�ied efforts to protect the public from the COVID-19 virus," the company wrote in a Facebook post.

SM's malls will be open from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. on weekdays and from 10 a.m.

to 9 p.m. on weekends.

SM on Tuesday said that it has started implementing measures to combat the virus, such as temperature checks, the installment of sanitary alcohol dispensers at all

entrances, and the regular disinfection of common areas.

On Thursday, the number of con�irmed COVID-19 cases climbed to 52 as three new infections were recorded.

epartment of Trade and Industry (DTI) Secretary Ramon Lopez said on Thursday the government will implement stricter measures against pro�iteers and hoarders amid the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) outbreak.

In a text message to reporters, Lopez said DTI has proposed to President Rodrigo Duterte to issue an executive order (EO) to go after those who put unfairly large pro�it on products which are in demand during this situation and those who hoard goods whether for own consumption or re-selling them for

higher prices.

He said Duterte has agreed with DTI’s proposal and the EO is expected to be out “as soon as possible”.

Lopez said the EO will include measures against online sellers that are overpricing personal hygiene products.

“Online selling of masks and/or medical devices including alcohol, sanitizers, and the like will be strictly monitored and pro�iteering and hoarding will be dealt with,” he said.

He added that the EO will arm DTI with “visitorial powers” together with the Philippine National

Police (PNP) and National Bureau Investigation (NBI) to prevent hoarding and pro�iteering.

“For the deputization also of NBI and PNP for police and intel support.

Extra warning for online sellers for overpricing and hoarding,” Lopez said.

Edmond Ramos from Bulacan has encountered an online seller selling 500-milliliter isopropyl alcohol at PHP350 per bottle, which is only PHP75 per bottle in supermarkets.

Joe Marie Torre�iel, also from Bulacan, said he already reported to DTI an online seller that prices a box of 50 pieces of surgical

masks for PHP1,700.

Consumers also shared their own experiences as they observed panic buying in supermarkets and groceries.

Arjhay Dulalia, who went for their regular shopping in a supermarket in Valenzuela City on Wednesday night, said they queued for nearly four hours in the cashier as many of the customers were buying supplies more than what they needed.

The team leader of the said supermarket in Valenzuela City told the Philippine News Agency that cashiers and other

SM Supermalls to adjust mall hours amid coronavirus threat

S

BSP to use teleconferencing for Monetary Board meeting

T DTI to crack down on profiteers, hoarders D DTI, P10

echnology will be used to the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas’ (BSP) advantage so that monetary of�icials would be able to continue their functions despite challenges posed by the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19), Governor Benjamin Diokno said Thursday.

“Moving forward, we will maximize the use of technology to limit physical contact in performing our functions, while remaining proactive in carrying out the protocols advised by health authorities on Covid-19,” Diokno said in a statement.

Work at the BSP’s main of�ice in Manila and Security Plant Complex (SPC) in Quezon City was suspended on Thursday and Friday.

The regular Thursday

meeting of the policy-making Monetary Board (MB) was rescheduled to Friday and will be held at the SPC. “It’s a go. We’ll do teleconferencing,” Diokno told the Philippine News Agency (PNA) after queried if the MB meeting would push through despite work suspension at the central bank to give way for disinfection of the buildings and its surroundings.

Diokno said he, along with Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III and MB Member Philip Medalla, would be “in remote areas” during the meeting while “the rest of the MBMs (Monetary Board members) will be at SPC.” Work at the BSP and the Department of Finance, which share the same com-

BSP, P10

6 VANTAGE EDGEDAVAO

VOL.13 ISSUE 5 • SATURDAY, MARCH 14, 2020

EDITORIAL End the school season now Drastic times call for drastic measures.

At this point of the coronavirus pandemic, the Department of Education may have to push the button to suspend or perhaps, end the school season.

On Wednesday, the Deped Davao regional of�ice admitted it is of the opinion that any decision by the local government unit in the region to suspend classes will be supported by the agency. The 2019-2020 school season for all public schools end in two weeks.

According to Deped, it is the government agency and the LGUs that has the authority to declare suspension of classes. The exercise of this function is independent of each body’s decision. The onlt condition is that if the LGU decides to exercise the authority to suspend classes, the local chief executive has inform the school superintendents prior to announcing cancellations.

This will enable Deped to prepare for the eventuality and make their own adjustments.

On the part of Deped, the modicum requirement to declare suspension is that it must adhere to the coronavirus-related guidelines of the agency.

Based on the guidelines issued by DepEd for the suspension of classes due to Covid-19, school heads can declare suspension if his/her school has

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KENNETH IRVING K. ONG ATHENA JILLIAN BRAVO NIKKI GOTIANSE-TAN MEGHANN STA. INES FERINA SANTOS Lifestyle

LEANDRO S. DAVAL JR. Photography

ARMANDO B. FENEQUITO JR. CHRISTIAN JAY H. RAFAL DR. MAURO L. PUYOD CHA MONFORTE Layout/Cartoons Cartoonist Correspondent Columnists: MA. TERESA L. UNGSON • EDCER C. ESCUDERO • AURELIO A. PEÑA • ZHAUN ORTEGA • BERNADETTE “ADDIE” B. BORBON • MARY ANN C. QUISIDO • LEANDRO DAVAL SR.,TRIA • NIKKI GOTIANSE-TAN NICASIO ANGELO AGUSTIN • EMILY Columnists: ANTONIO V.“ADI” FIGUEROA • HENRYLITO D. TACIO •B.JOHN CARLO • MUJAHID NAVARRA ••FRED C. LUMBA • DENNIS R. GORECHO ZEN CHUA • CARLOS MUNDA Economic Analyst: ENRICO •“GICO” G. S. DAYANGIRANG • JONALLIER GREGORIO G. DELIGERO VIDA MIA VALVERDE • HAROLD CAVITE M. PEREZ

OLIVIA D. VELASCO D. MARATAS RICHARD C. EBONA OLIVIA D. VELASCO JASPERSOLANI V. BACSAL General Manager Finance Advertising Specialist VP Operations General Manager JOCELYN S. PANES Director of Sales

even one con�irmed case; and the school division superintendent (SDS) can declare suspension of classes in the affected schools and adjacent areas or depending on the local situation, in the entire province if two or more schools in one city or municipality have con�irmed a positive case of COVID 19. The schools division superintendents can declare the suspension of classes in the affected cities/municipalities or depending on the local situation in the entire province if there is a community-level transmission in a city or municipality or several cities or municipalities. Deped regional directors can also declare suspension of classes in the affected provinces or depending on the local situation, in the entire region if there is a communitylevel transmission in two or more provinces.

Given that there are but two weeks in the school season, wisdom behooves Deped to abide by the urgency of the health and safety of everyone in the school community. Ending the school season two weeks in advance may not be much of a loss to students. If need be, some homeworks which will cover the remaining hours of instruction may be an alternative.

The one thing the government cannot allow at this point are costly miscalculations.

SOLANI D. MARATAS Finance

CAGAYAN DE ORO MARKETING OFFICE MANILA MARKETING OFFICE RICHARD C. EBONA LEIZEL A. DELOSO | Marketing Manager Unit 6, Southbank Plaza Velez-YacapinProduct Sts. Development officer Cagayan de Oro City Address: No. 18 Purok 4B, Madelo Street, Lower Bicutan, Taguig City Tel: (088) 852-4894 Mobile number: +63 947 265 2969(smart); +63 916 955 8559(globe)

EDGEDAVAO

VOL.13 ISSUE 5 • SATURDAY, MARCH 14, 2020

VANTAGE POINTS

7

JOHN CARLO B. TRIA MY TWO CENTS’

THREE THINGS WE NEED TO DO TO SUSTAIN OUR ECONOMIC GROWTH AMID CURRENT DISRUPTIONS As you may have noticed in the last two months, we have entered an era of sustained change and disruption.

Natural calamities and other disruptions such as viral outbreaks pose challenges for business. More so when they come one after the other.

The need to adapt and be resilient will be paramount if a business is to survive in these situations.

These disruptions also pose challenges for our economic growth as a whole. The 6% average growth of our country has achieved over the last three yaars is under threat as contagion from the economic losses of nearby countries from coronavirus fears will require a year long recovery.

The tourism industry in particular that comprises

13% of our Gross Domestic Product will see a drop in incomes as establishments losing vital Chinese and Korean markets will need to tighten belts or shift their offerings to locals in order to survive.

The big questions are how can we help businesses survive? How can we sustain our growth?

The short answer: infrastructure spending, boosting agribusiness and technology innovation are the three keys.

Infrastructure spending primes the economy Infrastructure spending is a no brainer. It is a direct infusion into the economy, employing thousands and building projects that can spur further investment in private infrastruture, more commonly known as real estate development, which in turn, facili-

tates other business.

A case in point are the mixed use developments that are built alongside widened public highways with improved sewer systems. The private development locates near the public infrastructure. The private development attracts other investors.

The current national budget includes vital infrastructure spending. It is worth examining in the website of the Department of Public Works and Highways or Build Build Build website.

Agribusiness boosts growth Boosting agribusiness can be achieved through the various loan programs offered through the Landbank of the philippines, the Small Business Corporation.

These �inancing options,

coupled with the distribution of farm machines, and better seeds and other related inputs provided by of the Department of Agriculture and its Bureaus will surely increase agricultural production even if erratic weather is experienced.

Increasing agriculture, it is hoped, will help offset the lower contribution of tourism to GDP. In the Davao region, it is pegged at about 12% of our gross regional domestic product.

Innovation as a long term strategy Likewise, innovation as a long term strategy to add value to our raw materials and turns them into higher value products.

The establishment of the Regional Inclusive Innovation Center under the Department

of Trade and industry and the Davao City Chamber of Commerce and Industry brings together various agencies and academic institutions to do research and innovation projects that industry can use for developing new products.

Imagine our local fruits turned into food supplements and facial care products fetching high prices in many markets. This creates more downstream jobs apart from the jobs at the packing house or truck yard.

Conclusion These three things are what we will need to pursue as a combined strategy to deal with disruptions. These create short term stable growth that will graduate into longer term, sustained growth for the region and country.

HENRYLITO D. TACIO THINK ON THESE!

THE WEIGHT IS OVER There was a time when being fat means wealth. So, if someone tells you, “Hey, you are gaining weight.” It simply means that you are becoming rich since you have may foods to eat.

But these days, that’s not the norm anymore. Being fat is associated with malnutrition. Yes, malnutrition does not only mean eating less but also eating too much. More importantly, being overweight means more health issues.

In time, the word obesity came into existence. Worldwide, obesity has tripled since 1975, according to the Geneva-based World Health Organization (WHO). “Most of the world’s population live in countries where overweight and obesity kills more people than underweight,” it reports.

Overweight and obesity are de�ined as abnormal or excessive fat accumulation that may impair health. Body mass index (BMI) is a simple index of weight-for-height that is commonly used to classify overweight and obesity in adults. BMI is a person’s weight in kilograms divided by the square of his or her height in meters.

The WHO de�ines overweight for adults as a BMI greater than or equal to 25 while obesity is a BMI greater than or equal to 30. “BMI

provides the most useful population-level measure of overweight and obesity as it is the same for both sexes and for all ages of adults,” it says.

In a survey conducted by the Food and Nutrition Research Institute (FNRI) of the Department of Science and Technology, the prevalence of obesity among Filipino adults doubled from 20.2% in 1998 to 37.2% in 2018.

This made endocrinologist Dr. Rosa Allyn Sy, former president of the Philippine Association for the Study of Overweight and Obesity Inc. (PASOO) to consider obesity a “growing epidemic.”

In 2016, 39% of adults aged 18 years and over were overweight and 13% were obese globally. In the Philippines, 37% of adults were overweight and obese in 2018, according to the WHO. Children are not exempt from such worrying trends.

A joint study conducted by World Health Organization (WHO) and United Nation Children’s Fund (UNICEF) in 2016 showed obesity among Filipino children below 5 years old jumped 400% – from one percent prevalence in 2 to 5% in 2013.

About 13% of Filipino adolescents are overweight and obese, according to the 2011 Global School-based Health

Survey. In 2018, the �igures were even distressing: one out of four children aged 6-10 years and one out of every 10 adolescents are overweight and obese.

“People who were obese as children are more likely to be obese as adults,” states The Merck Manual of Medical Information, “largely because when weight is gained during infancy and early childhood, new fat cells form. People who become obese during childhood may have up to �ive times more fat cells than people who maintained a normal weight.”

In a recent report, “Tackling obesity in ASEAN: Prevalence, impact and guidance on interventions,” obesity cost the Philippines between $500 million to S1 billion, or equivalent to between 4% and 8% of its health-care spending.

“This makes the country the fourth-highest spender for obesity-related problems,” the report said.

But what causes obesity and overweight? “The fundamental cause of obesity and overweight is an energy imbalance between calories consumed and calories expended,” the WHO says.

All over the world, it has been found that there is an increased intake of energy-dense foods that are high in fat and sugar, which cause the

weight of a person to surge.

Dr. Ricardo Fernando, a member of the Philippine Society of Hypertension. He traced the current problem of obesity in the country to Filipinos’ passion for food, as illustrated by the popularity of buffet diners.

“Everywhere you go, restaurants are offering such promos, probably taking advantage of the Filipinos’ excessive appetite,” he observed.

Dr. Mia C. Fojas, of Philippine Association for the Study of Overweight and Obesity Inc. (PASSO) points this out: “We are almost following the practices in Western countries where our local fastfood chains offer upsized food and drinks.” This is particularly true among teenagers.

UNICEF reports that adolescent obesity among Filipinos has almost tripled in the last 15 years (based on the Philippine Expanded National Nutrition Survey in 2018) as processed foods high in salt, fats and sugar are becoming more accessible and affordable.

In addition, there is an increase in physical inactivity due to the increasingly sedentary nature of many forms of work, changing modes of transportation, and increasing urbanization.

Too much time on mobile phones can also lead to obesity, according to Colombian re-

searchers. Young adults who use their mobile phones �ive or more hours per day have a 43% increased of obesity and other health-related problems, the study found.

Researchers found that students who are glued to their mobile phones “were twice as likely to drink more sugary drinks, fast food, sweets, snacks and have decreased physical activity.”

There are also medical conditions that can trigger obesity; these include polycystic ovary syndrome in women and an underactive thyroid.

Not to mention are certain medications that can also add weights such as steroids and antidepressants.

PASSO’s Dr. Rosa Allyn Sy says genetic factors contribute some 25% of becoming obese.

This means that if your father or mother or both parents are obese, there is a tendency that you will become obese, too.

“Obesity tends to run in families,” the Merck manual says.

“Overweight and obesity are largely preventable,” the WHO says. “Supportive environments and communities are fundamental in shaping people’s choices, by making the choice of healthier foods and regular physical activity the easiest choice, and therefore preventing overweight and obesity.”

8 HEALTH EDGEDAVAO

VOL.13 ISSUE 5 • SATURDAY, MARCH 14, 2020

RABIES:

INSPIRATION FOR ZOMBIE?

E

By HENRYLITO D. TACIO

ight-year-old Raymond found a sick puppy lying in front of their yard in one of Davao’s sub-divisions seemingly needing some help. A lover of animal, he decided to bring in the puppy inside the house so he could feed the animal. Unexpectedly, the puppy bit his �ingers and right hand.

The bites were not very severe but with some bleeding. He told his parents about the incident, but they did not care at all. The puppy died the following day. The father dumped the dead body in garbage nearby.

They forgot all about it until two months later when Raymond developed fever, muscular aching all over his body and intense pain in his right arm. He was brought to the hospital but by this time he had trouble drinking water. In fact, he trembled just even seeing anything with water.

Five days after admission to the hospital, Raymond died. He was a victim of rabies, a viral infection of the brain to which all mammals, including human beings, are susceptible. While Hong Kong, Japan, Singapore, and Taiwan are considered rabies-free, the disease is still a serious threat in the Philippines.

“Rabies continues to be a prevalent public health threat in the Philippines,” Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM), a research facility to implement a basic and applied research program for tropical medicine in the country. “The Philippines ranks among the highest in the world in terms of rabies prevalence.”

A person bitten by a rabid animal may die within three to �ive days, accord-

ing to Dr. Raffy Deray, program manager for rabies at the Department of Health’s National Center for Disease Prevention and Control. “(Rabies) is responsible for the death of 200 to 300 Filipinos annually,” he said in interview on “Mornings@ ANC.” Davao City was identi�ied by the Bureau of Animal Industry as among the top cities with the highest number of animal rabies in 2015. It was fourth in rank – after San Jose del Monte, Quezon, and Cagayan de Oro. Below Davao were Lapu-Lapu, General Santos, Angeles, Zamboanga, Taguig and Butuan.

Around the world, about 55,000 people die of rabies every year, and most of the fatalities are children. In a study conducted by the health department, 53% of all rabies cases are children �ive to 14 years old. “Incidence of rabies in the country is estimated to be 6-8 per million populations, one of the highest worldwide,” said RITM, a line agency of DOH. Dr. Deray says rabies cases are usually higher during summer, when children spend more time playing outdoors.

This must be the reason why, through Executive Order No. 84, March has been declared as Rabies Awareness Month.

Rabies comes from the Latin word which means “madness.” The term may be related to the Sanskrit rabhas, which means “to do violence.” Despite the enactment of Republic Act 9482, otherwise known as the Rabies Act of 2007, rabies remains a public health problem in the country.

The virus that causes rabies belongs to the group

of viruses with a distinct “bullet” shape. It is usually introduced into humans through the bites of infected animals but other means of transmission are possible.

Oftentimes, rabies is transmitted by dogs. Other animals which can transmit rabies are cats, bats,

served as an inspiration for several works of zombie or similarly-themed �iction.

A study published in 2013 spells out the parallels between zombies and rabies. “Zombies are imagined to be as aggressive as rabid animals, with similar drool problems; and they sometimes hobble, mim-

and foxes. Rabies rarely affects rodents (such as mice and rats), rabbits, or hares.

Birds and reptiles do not develop rabies.

“Rabies is an acute and deadly viral infection of the brain that causes irritation and in�lammation of the brain and spinal cord,” The Merck Manual of Medical Information states. One of the most terrifying diseases known to man, rabies has

icking the convulsions of rabies victims,” wrote Alessandra Potenza, author of “Were zombies and vampires inspired by a real disease?”

The RITM, which serves as a referral center for human rabies and animal bite management in the country, says that once a person is bitten by a rabid animal, and the victim was not vaccinated, the rabies

will travel from the site of the bite to the victim’s brain. As it reaches the human nervous system, it becomes 100% fatal. “(The rabies) virus takes at least 10 days – usually 30 to 50 days – to reach the brain (depending on where the bite is),” the Merck manual notes.

“During that interval, (some) measures can be taken to eradicate the virus and help prevent death.”

However, medical books say the incubation period of rabies – from the introduction of the virus to the moment it reaches the spinal column or brain – is variable. “The nearer the site of the bite to the brain, the faster the movement of the virus,” Dr. Silvius Jude Alon, a veterinarian who used to work with the Mindanao Baptist Rural Life Center, points out.

During the incubation period, no signs of illness are evident. The virus may be traveling silently through the nerves from the wound to the brain.

Once it reaches the brain, it multiplies rapidly then travels from the brain to the salivary glands and other nerves.

Health experts say rabies develops with three main phases: the early period followed by excitation phase and �inally coma.

During the early period, the symptoms are mild and non-speci�ic. They include: a slight fever, chills, uneasiness, headache, loss of appetite, vomiting, sore throat, abnormal reaction to light, and a persistent loose cough. A speci�ic early symptom is local or radiating pain, burning, or itching, a sensation of cold, and/or tingling at the inoculation bite.

During the excitation

phase, patients experience nervousness, anxiety, agitation, marked restlessness, apprehension, irritability, sensitivity to loud noises, fear of water, excessive salivation (one to one-and-a-half liters in 24 hours), secretion of tears, and perspiration. Systemic symptoms are severe, and they include: heart beating greater than 100 beats per minute, cyclic respirations, urinary retention, and a higher temperature.

The Global Alliance for Rabies Control consider rabies as the “deadliest disease on Earth.” “When (the excitation phase) symptoms start, death is fast approaching,” RITM reminds. “Although extensive research has been done on rabies, scientists have not yet developed a cure once the virus reaches the human nervous system.”

But before it reaches the brain, a person can still be saved if the victim “get a series of shots to prevent the infection from taking hold,” the Minnesota-based Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research says.

But before doing so, you must know if the animal really has rabies. But if you can’t �ind the animal, “it may be safest to assume that the animal has rabies.”

However, some factors should be considered like the type of animal and the situation in which the bite occurred.

Generally, rabies vaccine – which is made from killed rabies virus – as a pre-exposure treatment is given to people who are at high risk of exposure which include veterinarians, animal handlers, rabies laboratory workers, spelunkers, and travelers who are

RABIES, P10

VOL.13 ISSUE 5 • SATURDAY, MARCH 14, 2020

EDGEDAVAO EVENT

FOR SOME FILIPINOS, happiness is a brand-new wheelchair.

And spreading happiness and kindness is what longtime best pals Martin Baumgartl and Lukas Huter of St. Johann, Austria, have been doing for the past seven years, impacting the lives of people in the Philippines since they began mobilizing their families, friends, and communities in Austria, to help provide life-changing wheelchairs to the physically disabled in need in Mindanao, southern Philippines.

“I wrote emails to all the residential homes of the elderly, throughout the entire Austrian territory asking them for wheelchairs that were no longer used. My friend, Lukas and his crew at betaPlan helped collect, clean, repair and upgrade them until they were good as new. Every two years, we send a container to the Philippines,” says Martin Baumgartl, President of the Wheelsforlife, Austria.

Martin devoted his time to coordinating the wheelchair project in Innsbruck, Austria,

TRANSFORMING FILIPINO LIVES THROUGH THE GIFT OF MOBILITY

WHEELS for Life Austria -President Martin Baumgartl, Vice President Lukas Huter & volunteer Jolix Durero Lico turn over 25 wheelchairs to the town of Dapa in Siargao represented by Mayor Abeth Matugas (seated 2nd from right).

while his friend, Lukas Huter, event manager and private pilot, carried out the legwork.

“The logistics was immense.

I used to drive thousands of kilometers all over Austria, collecting the wheelchairs by myself. Now, we get a lot of support from South Tirol (Northern Italy),” he says.

“First we stored them in my company warehouse in Schneeburggasse, Innsbruck.

Smiling faces of Eugene Tisado,who has polio and Juliet Inday Consad, who has a spinal chord injury as they receive their wheelchairs from WheelsforLife Austria at the Dapa Municipal Hall last Feb 20.

Then we transferred them to a bigger greenhouse where we fixed and upgraded the wheelchairs.”

Last December, hundreds of wheelchairs were loaded at the Austrian Railway Station Westbahnhof in Innsbruck, then taken to Hamburg, shipped through the Atlantic –

Wheelchairs loading at the Austrian Railway Station.

Gibraltar, Suez Canal in Egypt, over 350 wheelchairs to the onwards to China and finally Davao Jubilee Foundation reloaded on another ship to for the Rehabilitation of the Davao City in the Philippines.

Disabled (DJFRD), Inc. at the For the third time in a row, Almendras Gymn in Davao the Wheelsforlife, Austria - a City last February 10, 2020. non-government, non-profit And for the first time, 25 Tyrolean organization founded high-quality wheelchairs were in 2013 by Martin Baumgartl and Lukas Huter, distributed MOBILITY A4

EDGED

A2 INdulge!

UP AND ABOUT

KONSULTAMD OFFERS ZERO-RATED GLOBE/ TM MOBILE ACCESS TO TELEHEALTH HOTLINE Kids from The Children’s Joy Foundation community expressed delight at the toys they received.

WITH MANY PEOPLE GETTING CONCERNED about their health due to the continuous spread of COVID-19, Globe and TM customers who subscribed to KonsultaMD may now get in touch with a doctor via the 79880 telehealth hotline without incurring mobile call charges.

Maridol D. Ylanan, CEO of Global Telehealth, Inc. which runs KonsultaMD, said the company has decided to remove the P1 per minute charge for calls to the 79880 mobile hotline to make it easier for the public to avail of medical advice anytime they want to.

“We want access to trained and licensed medical practitioners to be as easy, affordable, and convenient as possible for every FIlipino especially these days when many people are afraid to leave their homes or visit the hospital because of COVID-19. Since there is no physical interaction with our doctors, our customers avoid exposure from other illnesses when they seek advice for their health-related symptoms or queries,” she said.

KonsultaMD is equipped with modules and internal protocols in handling different health issues including COVID-19 and provides a telephone triage or a means of determining the urgency of the situation, whether it is an emergency or non-emergency.

Its team of doctors can also provide general health information, guidance and specific measures, interim care and self care recommendations, reading of laboratory and diagnostic results, health coaching and nutrition counseling, and permissible medication.

KonsultaMD offers unlimited immediate access to doctors 24/7 through flexible and affordable plans such as an individual subscription fee of P15 a week or P60 a month for Globe Prepaid and TM customers, deductible from their prepaid load.

For Globe Postpaid customers, they have the option to subscribe to a P99 per week plan which may be extended to one additional family member or P150 per month with four extensions, chargeable to their monthly bill.

Non-Globe and TM customers may also avail of KonsultaMD services through a one year subscription of P150 per month for group or P60 a month for individual, payable via credit card or mobile money and subject to regular cell phone charges if call is via mobile.

Subscriptions may be done by visiting https:// www.konsulta.md/subscribe, and calling 79880 toll-free via mobile (for Globe/TM customers) or (02) 7798-8000.

KonsultaMD is under 917Ventures, the largest corporate incubator in the Philippines and a whollyowned subsidiary of Globe Telecom.

THE SM STORE DAVAO AND LANANG SHARE TOYS AND SMILES

ANY DAY IS A GOOD DAY TO GIVE—that is exactly what The SM Store did to cap a toy giving campaign called Share A Toy.

It can be remembered last holiday season that The SM Store in SM City Davao and SM Lanang Premier invited shoppers to be a part of a campaign to share pre-loved toys.

The generous shoppers were rewarded with shopping coupons and goodness in their hearts.

Recently, The SM Store employee volunteers from both Davao SM malls rounded up all the donations (and added some more!) and visited kids for an afternoon of surprises.

Over 200 kids from The Children’s Joy Foundation community received toys from The SM Store in SM City Davao. The merriment was high-

The SM S

lighted with playtime with the team lead by marketing manager Alexandra Dela Pena and assistant branch manager Glennor Lucero. As a way of thanks, the kids presented dance numbers to the delight of The SM Store team.

Meanwhile mall employee volunteers from The SM Store in SM Lanang Premier drove to Communal Elementary School to surprise kids with hundreds of toys and lots of smiles. Branch manager Jay Madulara and customer service manager Jocelyn Te shared a brief story about the value of sharing and why being kind to others will always give us happiness every day.

The toys shared to the kids marked happiness in their hearts all year long and The SM Store becomes a part of their wonderful memories.

Kids wore big smiles when they opened the toy gifts they received.

The SM Store makes happy memories with kids through the S

EDAVAO

INdulge! A3

VOL.13 ISSUE 5 • SATURDAY, MARCH 14, 2020

ENTERTAINMENT

GMA ARTIST CENTER INTRODUCES UP-AND-COMING STARS

Store – SM City Davao marketing manager Alexandra Dela Pena with the happy kids.

The SM Store – SM Lanang Premier branch manager Jay Madulara leads the gift giving in Communal Elementary School

The SM Store SM City Davao assistant branch manager Glennor Lucero spends playtime with kids.

The SM Store – SM Lanang Premier customer service Share A Toy campaign. manager Jocelyn Te welcomes a group hug from the kids.

GMA ARTIST CENTER kicks off the month of March by welcoming a fresh addition to their talented roster of stars.

During the contract signing ceremony held at the Executive Lounge of GMA Network last March 10, winners and finalists from the reality-talent competitions The Clash Season 2 and StarStruck Season 7 – were officially welcomed by the management including Jeremiah Tiangco, Thea Astley, Radson Flores and Kim de Leon.

The Clash Season 2 Grand Champion Jeremiah Tiangco reminisced his journey after winning in the second season of The Clash, “Sobrang saya po and overwhelming, nakakamiss po ‘yung auditions at ‘yung naging journey po namin sa The Clash. Ngayon po, sobrang saya ko po dahil official talent na po ako ng GMA.” Meanwhile, first runner-up Thea Astley attributes their success to The Clash, “Hindi naman po namin in-expect na from The Clash, makakarating kami rito kaya sobrang ipinagpapasalamat po talaga namin and especially right now na pumirma na po kami ng contract, hindi po namin makakalimutan lahat ng taong nasa likod ng The Clash na tumulong at gumabay sa amin.”

StarStruck Season 7 Ultimate Male Survivor Kim de Leon promises not to disappoint everyone on his future projects, “We look forward to our upcoming

shows and we promise to give our very best. Alam naman namin na maaalagaan kaming mabuti sa GMA kaya sobrang thankful kami.”

Fellow StarStruck alumnus Radson Flores likewise feels overjoyed with this blessing, “Sobrang grateful kami kasi GMA gave us a chance, nakaka-overwhelm na maging part ng Kapuso family.”

At present, the four Kapuso stars are mainstays of GMA’s toprating musical-comedy-variety show, ‘All-Out Sundays.’

GMA Artist Center Assistant Vice President and Head for Talent Imaging and Marketing

Unit Simoun Ferrer expressed his excitement upon welcoming these up and coming stars, “We are glad and honored to have more rising artists hone their talents with GMA. The whole team is excited to showcase all their potentials and maximize what they have to offer.”

Present in the contract signing were GMA Artist Center Assistant Vice President and Head for Talent Imaging and Marketing Unit Simoun Ferrer; GMA Artist Center Senior Talent Manager Joy Marcelo; and Thea Astley’s comanagers Hilarion K. Verzosa III and Silvia B. Malupeng.

REDISCOVER THE POWER OF LOVE AT SM CINEMA I STILL BELIEVE starring KJ Kappa and Britt Robertson is a movie about the life story of charttopping Christian singer Jeremy Camp. His inspiring story is a touching reminder of the power of faith, hope and love.

Watch I Still Believe at any of SM Cinema’s 65 branches nationwide starting March 11. Elevate

your movie date at SM Cinema’s Director’s Club offering in-house butler service, full recliner seats and special menu including an impressive wine list.

For a complete movie experience check out Snack Time’s delectable cinema snacks including hotdog sandwiches, hamburger, nachos and popcorn. Pair them

with the new sweet and creamy milk tea and iced coffee drinks for extra fun!

For more information about SM Cinemas February offers visit www.smcinema.com or download the SM Cinema mobile app. You may also follow /SMCinema on Facebook and @SM_Cinema on Instagram for updates!

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EVENTAND CULTURE ARTS TRAVEL TECH

EDGE DAVAO EDGE EDGEDAVAO DAVAO

VOL.12 VOL.13 ISSUE ISSUE 223 •216 WEDNESDAY, 5219 • •SATURDAY, MARCH 17, 14, 22, 2020 VOL.12 VOL.12 ISSUE ISSUE TUESDAY, • FRIDAY,JANUARY JANUARY

NORWEGIAN CRUISE LINENEW ELIMINATES SINGLESONY INTRODUCES GP-VPT2BT USE PLASTIC BEVERAGE BOTTLES ACROSS FLEET WIRELESS SHOOTING GRIP

MAYA ON THE MOBILITY A1 BLOCK A1

this mercy mission together and bring the wheelchairs to Davao and Siargao. Parents brought their children afflicted with polio. Persons suffering from congenital disabilities came excitedly with their spouses or family members. You see the smiling faces of elderly folks, men and women who were confined in their homes for years without mobility or means to acquire a wheelchair, now enjoying the freedom of movement and harmony with society.

“When you see the joy and happiness in their faces, it touches your heart. It allows them to participate in society and enjoy normal social relations, ’’ says Martin Baumgartl.

So what started him on this journey?

“When I visited the Philippines, I met Jinky Agcaoili (now my wife) from Tamban, Aldevinco do not carry DagGovernor may cloth.Generoso in Davao Oriental, and I found out that she had a brother who fell

ka weaver also donated naga-himo,” to the Municipalhe said. is also reaityThis of Dapa in among Siargaothe Island, sons willbygoMayor to Sitio whichwhy wasLimon received Sangab to “Abeth” introduceMatugas the cotton Elizabeth weaving.

He believes using on February 20, 2020.that Some of cotton threads intoover Dagmay them were turned to theas well their embroidery will RuralasHealth Center of Dapa help sustain theirDistrict livelihood. and the Siargao Hos“Mas mudaghan ang pital represented bypud its Chief, NORWEGIAN Cruise order sathe Dagmay will Dr. Esterlina Tan.if they

Line, innovator use cotton threads,” he said.Jose Wheelsforlife volunteer in global cruise travel BUILDING on the Limon also sees the “Jolix Michael” Durero Lico,to with a 53-year history growing lineup ofneed camtap theand artisans in this endeavPresident ofaccessories theboundaries, Surfers Asof breaking eras or to givesingle-use their clients fresh sociation of Guiwan in Dapa, is now plasdeveloped for modern and new designs. wentbeverage to Davao and arranged tic bottle free creators, Sony today really need tothe tap new the the“We transport for the container across its fleet. has announced artisans directly man of The wheelchairs tobefore be brought GP-VPT2BT wireless brand announced last to gud ga-agi pa ko saIdeal middle Siargao. shooting grip. year that it partnered withfor man since wala’y access sa This surfer - surfing instrucmany different types JUST Goods, Inc., which encommunity,” he Line said. tor content says one doesn’t have of creation abled thethat Cruise to replace toothers show off to Limon be rich wants to help ranging from vlogs to all single-use plastic waterin the beauty of Dagmay need. travel photography /he bottles across its 17-shipasfleet, has“You clients who are looking for canwith giveits your time, videography to simple beginning most recent clothes and made presence andaccessories prayers. takes everyday use, the Itnew ship, Norwegian Encore. by theoffers Mandayas.

He saidof they a sense of empathy, grip optimum The achievement isa feelone the noticed thatand some Pasalubong ing forsustainable what others areforward going stability comfort latest steps centers including Davao City’s through,” he asserts. combined with cablefor Norwegian Cruise Line.

In Youconnectivity can see immediately free and athe 2018, the Company eliminated results of their efforts toacross put reliable dust and moissingle-use plastic straws ture its fleetresistant and privatedesign. destinaCompatible with aofvariety tions, and as a result this of Sony’s latest digitalitcamermost recent initiative, will as, the GP-VPT2BT connects replace over six million singleeasily via Bluetooth, allowing use plastic water bottles every creators to simplythe aim and is year.

In addition, brand CO2 emissions rate, increase shoot without interfering working to eliminate single-use sustainable sourcing and invest cables or exposedand inputs.

The ly,initemerging has an adjustment wheel plastic shampoo conditechnologies. new grip includes useful be loosened tightened tioner bottles later athis year.tilt can“This is a veryorspecial and featureefforts that allows for flexible tovery allow for seamless operaThese are driven by proud moment for us,” vertical angle adjustment as tion cameras of different the Company’s Sail & Sustain saidwith Harry Sommer, president well as the ability to switch gripof Environmental Program, which sizes and and chiefweights. executiveThe officer from normal to self-shooting includesCruise a flip button, inis its commitment to minimize also Norwegian Line. “As Wheelsforlife Austria foks in Siargao. mode to with ease.- changing Additionaldicator light and lock we switch, waste landfills, reduce lives its of physically-disabled a leading cruise line, are

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snow fell down behind and underneath me,” Lukas recalls.

He could not see Martin’s position but he saw the helicopter that airlifted Martin to the University Clinic of Innsbruck. Martin spent his 20th birthday confined in this clinic.

The avalanche accident fractured Martin’sJaden spineSmith and actor and activist he paralyzed. andbecame family, partially JUST takes an inHe spentapproach the following years novative to sourcing working on histhe recovery and packaging world’sand most rehabilitation. valued resourceDespite - water.what The happened, it did not stop revolutionary company focuses Martin from telling other on an impact model,the taking side his story: crossing barinto of consideration both how the riers, and water showing is sourcedkindness and packaged. giving the physically JUST ishope 100%tospring water in a challenged need, The andcarton getplant-basedin carton. ting involved the hands-on is made of 82%inrenewable matedelivery wheelchairs tomade the rials – theofpaper carton is Philippines. from trees grown in respon“When you see a child sibly-managed forests andnow the able to attend classes in school cap and shoulder are made because of the wheelchair, it from a sugarcane-based plastic. changes you. and Thisrecyclable. makes us It is refillable proud thata we made this hapJUST has global presence pen,” says Martin. with bottling facilities in Glenn Lukas that itNorthern gives Falls, NY;admits Ballymena, him an adrenaline high just Ireland; and Ballarat, Australia, seeing the recipients gush with thus allowing the company to excitement andaround gratitude upon meet demand the world receiving the wheelchairs.

“Ita without shipping water from feels Christmas to them.” singlelike production source.

JUST Outcare of what takes to usehappened the most to effiMartin, came something life cient shipping options available. changing. his tenacityabout For moreByinformation and advocacy, Martin selfNorwegian Cruise Lineisships empowering as well as and their itineraries, or elevatto book ing and changing the lives of a cruise, please contact a travel hundreds of Filipinos with professional, call 888-NCLdisability, through the gift of CRUISE (625-2784) or visit mobility. www.ncl.com.

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Last February 10 the Davao Jubilee Foundation distributed wheelchairs from Austria to hundreds of recipients at the Almendras Gymn in Davao City. Photo Davao Jubilee Foundation. down a coco palm tree and tria, organization. was paralyzed. He spent the rest of his life lying on a mat in The Mind and Spirit Transcend a bamboo hut without any con- the Body tact“Wala or support from the outman gud kaayo Martin Baumgartl’s story is side world.naHe died and a fewmostly years in itself one of hope, courage Mandaya pieces later,’’ says with T’boli he products angdismay. sa Al- and overcoming.

MartinSagained a rare insight devinco.

Manila T’boli lang On a wintry cold March into themakita hopeless struggle that mostly nako na ginamorning, more than 20 years life can be when a person is himo accent ug Yakan, beads ago, Martin was snowboarding physically andLanao living sa Bagobo,disabled balud from with his buddy, Lukas, high in in the Philippines. andpoverty Inaul. Walay something in the mountains of Soelden, “Inthe Austria, the government from Mandaya commua ski resort nestled amidst the provides social and nity,” hetosaid. glistening of Tirol in the thrilled makeinsurance such an impact to our Sail peaks & Sustain program rehabilitation tosingle-use peopledesign with cotton Dagmay when wholeheartedly an avalanche swept

by The eliminating bever- Alps, and believe in disabilities,” says clothing not yetMartin. available in him up and washed him down and can beisquickly changed age bottles across our fleet.”The the importance of preserving wheelchair is forand free and aour theajust market as Limon gully, filledresources. with rocks. into tripod simply exIt’s one by of given the ways wehis are natural We will it is exchanged with aimmernew one group are in the “I managed to towards move faster panding the bottom portion, working tostill preserve our oceans continue to strive makevery three sion the stage ofyears.” the project. than the avalanche, actually enabling easy stable, handsand destinations we visit. ing environmentally conscious The heartbreaking story “Wethis willisevaluate theirof riding it, then jumped free shooting.

While just the pa beginning decisions to benefit ouronto earth.” his wife’s brother led him capacity and kung willing sila a rock wall and held on until The GP-VPT2BT Wireless of what we and others can to do, Envisioned and founded by start Wheels Life, makipag-collaborate,” he Aussaid. millions cubic meters of Shooting Grip will for be availwe arethe incredibly committed Americanofrapper, songwriter,

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UP AND LAUNDRY FURNITURE A2A1 ABOUTa silly method but for EJ and

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not on lockdown.”

The full text of the guidelines are the following: 1. All Davao residents are prohibited from going out of Davao City; 2. All short term visitors are advised to leave Davao City immediately; 3. All travelers to Davao City are requested to postpone your visit until after the State of Public Health Emergency is lifted.

The mayor stressed that those people who are not residents of Davao should better be thinking about “preventive measures” than pursuing trips to Davao.

“We are asking people to cancel all their plans to visit Davao City. If you are not a resident of Davao and you get the disease here, you can spread it in your hometown once you go back. It would be better if we take preventive measures,” she said.

She said people from outside Davao may still travel to the city because there is no lockdown, but it would be better postpone their travel.

“What we are trying to do is limit the instances of the spread of the virus because once na muka-

lat na sa atoang syudad daghan ang mamatay because dunay limitations ang atoang health facilities. Imagine ang country nga datu like Italy daghan kaayo ang namatay sa ilaha didto and they are �irst world country. Wala gani seguro’y limitation ang ilang health care facilities didto,” she said.

Mayir Sara also af�irmed as of 9 p.m on March 12 there is still no positive case of Covid-19 in Davao City. She said to wait for one positive patient before taking action is too late for everyone.

“I am telling you there is limitation in our health care facilities,” she said.

Mayor Sara admitted she is slightly bothered for those people who have no sense of urgency.

“Pilosopo pa ang ilang tinubagan sa guidelines nga gihatag sa ilaha. These guidelines are not really for me but for everyone nga posible maapektuhan sa sakit sa COvid-19,” she said.

The mayor added that the country is currently under a state of health emergency related to national security because it was the no less than the President who issued the proclamation.

35, the 67-year-old wife of Patient No. 34. The country's �irst fatality was a Chinese national who was also the �irst recorded Covid-19

death outside China.

As of Thursday, the DOH reported a total of 52 con�irmed Covid-19 cases in the Philippines. (PNA)

buy 15,440,000 bags of palay.

Republic Act 11203 mandates the NFA to maintain a suf�icient level of rice buffer stocks to be sourced locally, intended primarily for emergency/

calamity operations.

NFA continues to sell rice through disaster/relief/calamity operations response outlets, private authorized distributors, and other government agencies. (PR)

page (www.facebook. com/davaowater) for the latest water service updates. They may also call the Central Information Unit / Call Center through the 24-hour hotline 235DCWD (3293) and press

“4” on their phone dial for the latest daily water updates or contact 09277988966, 0925-5113293, and 0908-4410653 for any matters pertaining to DCWD services. (Jason J. Demonteverde)

They may also opt to take a 14-day “preventive rest and monitoring” at the RMSC North Tower under the watch of the medical team of the agency.

Foreign travel has also been suspended for all athletes, coaches, of�icials and employees to lower the risk of contracting the illness or spreading it locally.

“This shall be in effect for a month, from March 14 to April 14,” an advisory signed by PSC Of�icer-in-charge Commissioner Celia Kiram said.

The same advisory also informed that all bookings and reservations for the use of its facilities are revoked or cancelled. It also reiterated a previous announcement that PSC projects, programs and events including those sponsored and organized in coopera-

tion with NSAs or LGUs are inde�initely postponed.

The agency has also advised the public that work is suspended on Friday (March 13) to give way to sanitation efforts to be undertaken by the PSC operations department.

PSC Chief of Staff Marc Edward Velasco disclosed that the agency’s Medical and Scienti�ic Athletes Services will issue self-quarantine guidelines for athletes and employees.

The PSC on Thursday called an emergency meeting with of�icials of NSAs with athletes still billeted in its dormitories to advise them of the new directives. Of�icials from boxing, weightlifting, Muay Thai, athletics, fencing and Paralympics attended the meeting presided over by Kiram. (PR)

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that day, increasing total cases in the country to 49.

The patient admitted in Iligan, then Cagayan de Oro, was the 40th case.

During the press conference in Cagayan de Oro, Suba-an noted that the patient had no history of travel abroad.

Suba-an said the patient must have been infected in Pasig or anywhere in Metro Manila, then decided to come home to be with his family to help him in seeking medical help.

He said the patient came in through the Laguindingan Airport in Misamis Oriental, which serves the cities of Cagayan de Oro and Iligan and neighboring areas, then admitted at the hospital in Iligan.

Dr. Jose Chan, chief of hospital of the NMMC, said that the patient is still in critical condition but improving. He explained that COVID-19 pneumonia takes a long while to treat, from three to six weeks.

“He’s already on his �irst week here with us, so [we have] many more weeks to go,” he told reporters.

“The patient is being managed by our infectious disease specialists according to the latest [World Health Organization] guidelines,” Suba-an assured.

Chan said two family members watching over the patient at the NMMC have so far displayed no COVID-19 symptoms, but he did not discount the possibility that they may

be infected, too. Thus, the family members, he noted, are not being allowed to get out of the patient’s room.

Meanwhile, a joint statement by the city government of Iligan and the Iligan Medical Society said they are “now currently coordinating with respective authorities to do contact tracing. We have also advised the exposed healthcare workers to do home quarantine.”

“We are now strengthening hospital policies, preventive measures, and set up triage areas and possible fever clinics,” the joint statement published on the city government’s Facebook page Thursday.

The statement stressed: “We strongly advise the public to stay calm and be informed. Listen only to credible sources (Department of Health, City Health Of�ice, World Health Organization, Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM), Center for Disease Control and Prevention).

Stop the rampant problem of fake news. The virus is a big concern, but MISINFORMATION is the bigger problem.”

quarantine area in Sarangani Province and proceeded to Davao Region to avail themselves of the �light from Davao City to Manila at the Davao International Airport (DIA) on Friday morning.

However, Dr. Yumang refused to con�irm on the reported escape of the two patients from a quarantine area in Sarangani Province.

“Pero kung ang istorya nga nitakas sila, wala ko’y

9

wise issued an order Thursday that all classes in public and private schools “are suspended until further notice.”

Jennie Tamano, Provincial Information Of�ice, said the Provincial Task Force on COVID-19 will met Monday, March 16, to determine if the suspension of classes will be extended.

The governor said all scheduled and proposed public events and gatherings that require mass participation are postponed until further notice.

Furthermore, Adiong ordered that government work—except for the Bureau of Fire Protection and the security sector, Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Of�ice, Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Of�ices, health of�ices and medical �irst responders, and members of the Inter-Agency Task Force Against COVID-19— are suspended on March 12 and 13 “to allow all LGUs and government agencies to conduct disinfection measure in all government facilities.”

Work will resume on Monday, May 16, he added.

The provincial government acquired four thermal guns and ordered 25 more for all departments as part of the COVID-19 prevention protocol in the provincial capitol.

Thermal scanners Meanwhile, the Philippine Ports Authority in

Iligan has established �ive thermal scanners in strategic areas within the port area.

Acting Port Manager and Port Police Commander Menardo Sosobrado, said all outgoing and incoming passengers should pass through the thermal scanners to check their body temperature. Alcohol and sanitizers are also made available. Masks are also handed out to passengers but he supply is limited, he said.

Sosobrado said the PPA has its own isolation building where persons under monitoring would be referred to the City Health Of�ice for proper medical response. The PPA facility will be sanitized and disinfect once all passengers are out of the arrival and departure areas, he said.

In Lanao del Norte, Governor Imelda Quibranza Dimaporo said the province is closely monitoring all barangays through DOH, Provincial Health Of�ice, Municipal Health Of�ices, Doctors to the Barrios, private hospitals and medical team.

Dimaporo urged her constituents to be more vigilant and adopt proper hygiene to prevent infections.

She said Kapatagan Provincial Hospital has been identi�ied as the isolation facility. in case of emergency. (Bobby Timonera with reports from Froilan Gallardo and Richel V. Umel / MindaNews)

ma-comment. Kung unsa ang ilang circumstance wala ko’y detalye. Seguro ilang giapas iyang �light back to Japan. Ug seguro masayangan sila sa ilang pamasahe. Sa akoang pagkahibalo murag nilakaw sila gikan Sarangani ug nianhi sa Davao kay tungod ilang �light padulong Japan kay Davao to Manila ug Manila to Japan (as to the story that they escaped, I have no comment on that. I don’t

have the details. Maybe they were trying to catch up with their �light back to Japan. Maybe they were trying to save the money that they paid for the trip,” Yumang said.

Yumang also gave update on the number of PUIs in the region. She said, there were 34 PUIs recorded in the region but some of them have already been discharged.

She said currently there

are nine PUIs, �ive at SPMC and four at the Davao Regional Medical Center in Apokon, Tagum City These nine PUIs are still waiting for the result of their tests.

“Na PUIs ni sila kay tungod naa sila symptoms. Ang uban naay sore throat. Pero kasagaran dunay fever and cough and have history of travels to countries with reported cases of Covid-19 reported,” Yumang said.

white sand beaches in Gumasa and nearby villages.

This year would have been the 13th edition of the SarBay fest, which was launched in 2006 during the term of then Governor Miguel Rene Dominguez.

In 2017, it was cancelled due to security reasons following the siege staged

by Islamic State-inspired Maute Group in Marawi

City in Lanao del Sur. Rhoa Wadingan, acting Glan tourism of�icer, said this year’s SarBay fest is slated on May 28 to 31.

The SarBay fest has become the ultimate summer beach party scene in Mindanao, attracting thousands of visitors. Night-long music by popular bands and water sports-related activities are among the main

features of the festival.

Last year, at least 2.5 tons of wastes were collected from merrymakers during the SarBay festival themed “Neon Summer.”

Gumasa has become famous not only among domestic but also foreign tourists.

In February, Glan town banned the entry of Chinese nationals after four

of their citizens sneaked in as tourists, as a precautionary measure against Covid-19.

The four Chinese tourists were quarantined in isolation in Alabel, the capital of Sarangani, and were eventually released after testing negative for the highly contagious and deadly virus. (Bong S. Sarmiento/MindaNews)

a "lockdown” to contain the disease, and emphasized the importance of social distancing, including in mass transportation. The alert level of the country was also raised to Code Red, Sub-level 2, which is the highest alert level for COVID-19.

“For Manila, ayaw namin gamitin ‘yan pero --- kasi takot kayo sabihin ‘lockdown’ [For Manila, we don’t want to use that because you are scared to say ‘lockdown’]. But it’s a lockdown,” Duterte said.

He stressed that the viral disease is “spreading all throughout the country” and there is no cure.

“Wala naman tayong mabili sa mga botika, pharmacy, to buy the medicines to cure COVID-19,” he said.

[Translation: We can’t buy (medicine) in drug stores and pharmacies to cure COVID-19.]

What do we have now?

Despite the lack of vaccine and cure for the deadly virus, Filipino scientists from the University of the Philippines National Insti-

tutes of Health were able to develop a test kit for the virus, with funding from the Department of Science and Technology.

The Food and Drug Administration has already approved the local test kits for �ield validation. At least four selected hospitals known for their expertise in treating infectious diseases will begin validating the local test kit to make sure it is safe for public use, one of the product developers said Thursday.

The �ield validation study,

which may be completed within two to three weeks, is one of the two pre-conditions set by the FDA for the kit to become commercially available, and for it to gain approval from WHO. Right now, the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine has to process every test, but the demand for testing does not match its capacity.

The new kit is six times cheaper at P1,320 per test than the current kit imported by RITM, which costs P8,500 each.

Classes suspended The Iligan LGU’s Facebook page also announced that Mayor Celso G. Regencia has declared an “indefinite suspension of classes to all levels both private and public schools” starting Friday, March 13.

In Lanao del Sur, Gov. Mamintal Adiong Jr. like-

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He also ordered supermarkets and retail stores to strictly limit selling of alcohol to two bottles per trans-

action to prevent shortage and possible re-selling of the product for higher prices. (PNA)

pound in Manila, have been suspended to provide ample time for disinfection after heads of these of�ices said they were exposed last week to a person who tested positive for Covid-19 on Wednesday.

Diokno, Dominguez, Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade, and Bases Conversion Development

Authority president Vivencio Dizon have announced their decision to undergo self-quarantine after being exposed to the Covid-19 person during the �inal inspection of the new 2.6-km.

North Luzon Expressway Harbor Link C3-R10 section last Thursday, which President Rodrigo Duterte also attended. (PNA)

staff have to extend their working hours as customers �locked the store that day and bought supplies in larger volumes.

“We were really stressed. We had a very long queue and our workers have to extend working hours to re�ill stocks in preparation for the next day,” he said.

On the other hand, a supermarket in Meycauayan City, Bulacan implemented its own measure to prevent

panic buying by limiting the purchase of alcohol up to two bottles per customer.

Laban Konsyumer Inc. president Victorio Mario Dimagiba said the behavior of panic buying among consumers by going to supermarkets can even cause the spread of Covid-19.

“The panic buying we are seeing violates the experts’ advice to limit social contact,” Dimagiba said in Filipino. (PNA)

man Frankie Yau, who represented the four teams in a joint statement on Thursday night.

Many matches scheduled for February and March were called off due to the Covid-19 scare, most of which included either the Long Lions, the Dreamers, the Black Bears, or Alab.

NBA, FIBA suspends games On Thursday, the National Basketball Association to suspend its ongoing regular season due to two players from the Utah Jazz, Rudy Gobert and Emmanuel Mudiay, getting affected by Covid 19.

On the other hand, FIBA announced that all of its scheduled events from Friday onward are also postponed inde�initely.

"FIBA will continue to monitor the situation on a daily basis and will evaluate the options for the continuation or not of the respective competitions when and if the situation allows for it," the statement read.

The EuroLeague competitions of the European basketball have been suspended due to the coronavirus outbreak, Anadolu Agency reported on Thursday.

In a statement, EuroLeague said it has been monitoring latest developments about COVID-19, like the increased risks for participants in games, travel restrictions across Europe and advices by health authorities to prevent the spread of the virus.

"As a consequence of the above it has become impossible to maintain the regularity of the competitions, and in order to preserve the health and safety of the participants and fans, EuroLeague Basketball in agreement with its clubs has taken the decision to temporarily

suspend all 2019-20 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague, 7DAYS EuroCup and EuroLeague Basketball Adidas Next Generation Tournament games until further notice," EuroLeague said.

"EuroLeague Basketball will closely monitor any further developments to verify whether they allow the suspension to be reverted," it added.

As the world struggles to contain the rapidly spreading virus, organizers of sports events across the globe have been forced to cancel or alter their plans.

Many international sports events were canceled or rescheduled and some were or will be played without the audience, with even the future of this summer's Tokyo Olympics in doubt.

The World Health Organization (WHO) on Wednesday declared coronavirus a “controllable” global pandemic.

The global death toll from COVID-19 has surpassed 4,600, with over 124,500 con�irmed cases, according to the WHO. Rugby events postponed too Even events from other sports had to be called off due to Covid 19.

In a statement also on Thursday, the Philippine Rugby Football Union postponed the JML Luzon Cup, the PRFU Premiership Shield, and the Santos Knight Frank Junior Festival with April 18 as the target resumption of the matches.

"Philippine Rugby will continue to assess the effects and spread of the COVID-19 on a regular basis. Consistent assessment will determine if it is indeed safe to continue to host domestic Rugby competitions after April 18 in a safe and responsible manner," the PRFU said.

(PNA)

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ALL HANDS ON DECK! Hedcor’s team members remain proactive in Hedcor’s environmental campaigns.

Back to our roots: 3 million trees star Hedcor’s greening efforts TIMEOUT...

A

boitizPower subsidiary, Hedcor, commemorates a milestone that has echoed the organization’s love and commitment to the environment -- the feat of planting more than three million trees as of 2020.

On average, three million trees can cover a hundred times the size of Philippine Arena’s entire lot area in Bulacan.

Starting small, the organization began its tree planting initiatives by partnering with government agencies. As a Cleanergy company for Aboitiz Power Corporation, Hedcor’s team knew that it needed to be more proactive in its campaign for reforesta-

tion. Moreover, Hedcor’s operations rely on water availability, which is heavily in�luenced by the presence of trees.

Recognizing this, Hedcor began to hold its own regular tree planting activities at a larger scale.

Today, as the organization and its manpower has grown, Hedcor has tripled its efforts in rehabilitating forests and watershed areas. In fact, Hedcor’s efforts alone ful�illed 33% of Aboitiz group’s goal of planting nine million trees by 2020.

Hedcor’s tree planting activities are planned ef�iciently to sustain and maximize their impact.

According to Environmen-

tal Management Of�icer Junessa Guimalan, Hedcor partners with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) to help identify reforestation sites, as well as catchment areas wherein water, seeped down by trees, �lows directly into the water reservoir.

Aside from partnerships with DENR, Hedcor also collaborates with the communities near its reforestation sites to plant and care for the seedlings.

Guimalan associates this collaboration to Hedcor’s impressive 87% survival rate for the seedlings they plant. To assist the communities who safekeep the reforested areas, Hedcor

ensures to plant fruit-bearing trees alongside non fruit-bearing trees.

Aside from reforestation efforts, Hedcor rallies for the ban of single-use plastics in the organization’s events and premises, as well as wildlife and watershed preservation in its identi�ied areas.

Hedcor is a run-ofriver hydropower arm of AboitizPower, operating 22 power facilities with a total generating capacity of 277.36 MW of Cleanergy. Hedcor’s greening efforts have since covered multiple areas in the company’s host communities of Ilocos Sur, Mt. Province, Benguet, Davao, and Bukidnon.

going to areas where rabies is common.

The Atlanta-based US Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says pre-exposure for rabies vaccination is three doses given at the following times: dose 1, as appropriate; dose 2, 2-7 days after dose 1; and dose, 21 days or 28 days after dose 1.

“Anyone who has been bitten by an animal, or who otherwise may have been exposed to rabies, should clean the wound and see a doctor immediately,” CDC points out. “The doctor will determine if they need to be vaccinated.”

A person who is exposed and has never been vaccinated against rabies should get 4 doses of rabies vaccine: one dose right away, and additional doses on the third, seventh and fourteenth days. “They should also get another shot called rabies immune globulin at the same time as the �irst dose,” CDC says.

But like any medicine, a vaccine is capable of causing serious problems, such

as severe allergic reactions.

“The risk of a vaccine causing serious harm, or death, is extremely small,” the CDC claims. “Serious problems from rabies vaccine are very rare.”

Among the mild problems are: soreness, redness, and swelling or itching where the shot was given (30%-74%) and headache, nausea, abdominal pain, muscle aches, and dizziness (5%-40%).

Moderate problems include hives, pain in the joints and fever (about 6% of booster doses).

Among the severe allergic reactions may include hives, swelling of the face and throat, dif�iculty breathing, a fast heartbeat, dizziness and weakness.

These would start a few minutes to a few hours after the vaccination. If this happens, bring the person to the nearest hospital.

Otherwise, call your doctor.

Until now, the Philippines is trying to eliminate rabies completely in the country. Second 4 of Republic Act No. 9482

stated: “It is hereby mandated that there shall be a National Rabies Prevention and Control Program to be implemented by a multi-agency/multi-sectoral committee chaired by the Bureau of Animal Industry of the Department of Agriculture.”

Aside from the agriculture and health departments, two other government agencies are given the task to implement the program: Department of Education (DepEd) and Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG).

Instead of 2020, the health department is now eyeing 2022 as the year the country will be rabies-free.

“Prevention is key in eliminating the rabies disease,” Health Secretary Francisco H. Duque III said in a statement. “Ninety-nine percent of all rabies transmissions to humans are from dogs. Be a responsible pet owner and vaccinate your pets. This is the most cost-effective strategy to prevent rabies.”

Meanwhile, RITM is

helping the government agencies involved in rabies control and prevention to bring the �igures of death caused by rabies down to zero. “The combat with rabies is still far from over,” it says. “But with these combined efforts from the government, private institutions, and the community, there is still hope that one day, rabies will be eliminated in the country.”

Elimination of rabies is more rewarding in the long run than controlling it. A study said that “if rabies had been eliminated in 1988, economic bene�its would total P52.8 million in 1989.” These bene�its would largely arise from the abolition of expenses associated with rabies prevention: P29.6 million for animal vaccination, P21.6 million for human postexposure prophylaxis, and P0.3 million for animal rabies examinations. Bene�its also included P1.2 million in additional earnings of human whose death due to rabies would be prevented.

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VOL.13 ISSUE 5 • SATURDAY, MARCH 14, 2020

11

More fitness enthusiasts are joining Arcadia Fitness Gym’s POUND family. The class works out on the beat of rockstar music every Tuesday and Thursday from 6pm with POUND Pro instructor Emily Triggs. Meantime, Arcadia assured its members and guests of fully sanitized premises and equipment and is supporting the efforts to help contain the spread of coronavirus.

Gobert locker room pal Mitchell tests positive

A

second NBA player has tested positive for the coronavirus. Utah Jazz All-Star forward Donovan Mitchell con�irmed he has contracted the deadly virus after his teammate, Rudy Gobert, became the �irst player to test positive, according to The Athletic’s Shams Charania.

Gobert had been careless in the locker room in terms of touching other players and their belongings despite warnings about the severity of the situation, per ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.

On Thursday afternoon, Mitchell took to Instagram to con�irm the fact that he had tested positive for the coronavirus, and to thank those that had reached out to him since the news broke.

PSC restricts access to sports venues

W

ith the World Health Organization (WHO) declaring the 2019 coronavirus disease (Covid-19) a global pandemic, the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) on Thursday placed its two major facilities -Rizal Memorial Sports Complex (RMSC) in Manila and Philsports Complex in Pasig -- on “restricted access” to ensure the safety of its national athletes, employees and the public.

“We have to be proactive in this situation and take these hard decisions for the safety of our athletes and employees,” PSC Chairman William Ramirez said while addressing the commission’s management committee.

Except for those still preparing for qualifying competitions for the To-

kyo Olympics, Ramirez said all national athletes and members of the junior team have been requested to go home as all dormitories need to be vacated as part of the agency’s prevention plan.

“Only those who get an endorsement to proceed from Olympics Chef de Mission Nonong Araneta will be allowed to travel overseas,” instructed Ramirez. National sports associations, under whose supervision athletes train, would have more information to give a good assessment and advise better on whether to proceed.

Athletes coming back to the country from competitions will be received at the airport by PSC personnel and will either be assisted to their plane, bus or boat ride to their respective residences.

PSC, P9

“Thanks to everyone who has been reaching out since hearing the news about my positive test,” Mitchell wrote. “We are all learning more about the seriousness of this situation and hopefully people can continue to educate themselves and realize that they need to behave responsibly both for their own health and for the well being of those around them.

“I appreciate the authorities in Oklahoma who were helpful with the testing process and everyone from the Utah Jazz who

have been so supportive. I am going to keep following the advice of our medical staff and hope that we can all come together and be there for each other and our neighbors who need our help.”

The league announced it has suspended the current season after Wednesday night’s matchup between the Jazz and Oklahoma City Thunder was postponed as a result of Gobert testing positive.

The contest between the Jazz and Thunder was the �irst of two games that was cancelled on Wednesday

night, as the game between the Pelicans and Kings was also called off.

Mitchell was the only member of the Jazz other than Gobert to test positive for the coronavirus, per Charania. A charter �light carrying Jazz team members landed back in Utah on Thursday, though it isn’t known if Mitchell and Gobert were on the �light. The league has told teams that have played Utah in the last 10 days that they should self-quarantine.

Utah’s opponents since March 2 include the Cleveland Cavaliers, New York Knicks,

Boston Celtics, Detroit Pistons and Toronto Raptors.

Unfortunately, Gobert’s cavalier attitude toward the situation didn’t end with his teammates. On Monday, Gobert was spotted purposely touching the microphones and audio recorders on the podium during his media session.

Gobert has since apologized for his actions. The story is still developing, and we will likely learn more about the NBA’s plans regarding how, or if, to proceed with the 201920 season in the coming days.

Reports have it that Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert (left) was careless in the locker room. His teammate Donovan Mitchell (right) became the second NBA player to test positive.

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VOL.13 ISSUE 5 • SATURDAY, MARCH 14, 2020

More sports leagues suspend games amid coronavirus threat M aharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL) fans may need to wait for a while before �inding out which teams will make the national �inals.

An of�icial statement from Commissioner Kenneth Duremdes on Thursday night said the rubber matches in the MPBL Division Finals are now "suspended inde�initely."

"Though we want to hold the deciding Game 3's on Saturday we cannot take for granted the danger Covid-19 poses to the spectators, players, team members, and MPBL staff," Duremdes added.

Following wins by Davao Occidental and Makati on the road on Wednesday night, the two national semi�inal series are heading to sudden death.

The Tigers were supposed to host the Basilan Steel in the decider of the South Division Finals in Metro Davao, while the Skyscrapers, who dealt the San Juan Knights their �irst home loss all season long, are to play them one more time at the FilOil Flying V Centre in San Juan City.

Another regional league, the National Basketball League, also announced the postponement of their own playoff matches scheduled this weekend.

“The decision was made after careful deliberation with the local government unit and as a response to medical bulletins released by the Of�ice of the President and the Department of Health. This reiterates NBL Philippines’ policy of prioritizing the well-being of its participating players, teams, personnel, of�icials, and most of all, its devoted fan base,” the NBL said in its own statement.

Unlike the MPBL, however, the NBL, barring a late announcement, will resume play next weekend.

Marikina and Parañaque will face off in the �irst game, while Muntinlupa will host Pasig in a doubleheader now to be played on March 21 at the Hoopla Gymnasium.

The following day, La Union takes on Cavite and Nueva Ecija hosts CamSur at the San Leonardo Gymnasium.

The Philippine Basketball Association, the country’s top basketball league, announced the postponement of its games on Wednesday.

ABL asked to postpone ongoing season Meanwhile, four Asean Basketball League teams including Alab Pilipinas have asked the league to postpone the ongoing season.

The Hong Kong Eastern Long Lions, the Formosa Dreamers, and the Macau Black Bears also pleaded for the ABL to suspend action due to the rising cases of coronavirus.

"Based on current uncertain factors such as dif�iculties in searching for the available game venue, I believe it is also tough for the league to schedule the remaining events," said Hong Kong Eastern vice chair-

TIMEOUT, P10

Two young footballers, playing for their opposing teams, chat during a break in the AIA Philam Life 7s Davao football tournament which ended on Sunday at the Azuela Cove pitch in Lanang. It may likely take some time for sports events to resume in Davao City following the guidelines issued by the city government amid the coronavirus pandemic.