Mindanao Examiner Regional Newspaper (April 12-18, 2021)

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China occupies Julian Felipe Reef off Palawan C

HINA HAS occupied the Julian Felipe Reef, just 175 nautical miles west of Palawan’s Bataraza town, and part of the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone.

Beijing now insist- China has previously oc- fight with Beijing. ed the reef is part of Chi- cupied Filipino territories Duterte’s pro-China na’s Nansha Islands and in the West Philippine Sea, stance has been widely has deployed over 200 but President Rodrigo criticized by many Filimilitia ships in the area Duterte only ignored this pinos. disguised as fishing boats. and said Manila cannot Continue on page 2

Bilang ng Covid-19 cases, tumataas!

‘Virus, sinisi ni Duterte’ Presidents Rodrigo Duterte and Xi Jinping. (PCOO)

Sulawesi bomber linked to Jolo twin suicide attacks JAKARTA HAS linked one of two Sulawesi bombers to the twin suicide attacks on a Catholic cathedral in the southern Philippine province of Sulu.

At least 20 people were injured in a bomb blast outside a packed Catholic church on Continue on page 2

A Philippine military photo shows the aftermath of the twin suicide attacks carried out by Indonesian couple Rullie Rian Zeke and Ulfah Handayani Saleh on Our Lady of Mount Carmel in downtown Jolo in Sulu province in January 2019.

TILA WALA ng paraan o lunas sa patuloy na pagkalat ng Covid-19 sa bansa lalo na ngayon kulang ang supply ng vaccine ng pamahalaan sa kabila ng napakalaking utang ng Continue on page 6

A Filipina is inoculated with a dose of CoronaVac COVID-19 vaccine, made

by Sinovac Biotech. (Xinhua / Rouelle Umali)

Davao City requires Covid testing for air travellers DAVAO CITY – The local government has re-imposed the mandatory Covid-19 testing for air travellers entering Davao

City through the Francisco Bangoy International Airport as part of the health protocols.

Dr. Ashley Lopez, the

acting City Health Officer and focal person of the Davao City Covid-19 Task Force said the Continue on page 9

Tight guarding in Basilan BASILAN – Security forces were ordered to guard vital government installation and infrastructure projects in Basilan prov-

ince following a recent Abu Sayyaf bombing of a bridge in Sumisip town.

The blast failed to destroy the bridge that links

several villages. The attack occurred after the bridge’s contractor allegedly failed to pay Continue on page 2

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The Mindanao Examiner

April 12-18, 2021

China occupies Julian Felipe Reef off Palawan Harry Roque said the president is confident the issue on the Julian Felipe Reef will not affect the bilateral ties between China and the Philippines. “We will continue to resolve the issues on Julian Felipe through diplomatic channels and peaceful means,” Roque said.

“Whatever differences we have with China will not define our bilateral

relations and it will not be an obstacle to the overall positive trajectory of our bilateral friendly relations and our deepening cooperation in the pandemic response, including vaccine cooperation and in post-pandemic economic recovery,” he added.

Chinese State Counselor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi also met re-

cently with DFA Secretary Teodoro Locsin in Nanping City of Fujian and discussed regional cooperation with both sides committed to promote effective implementation of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership and the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea. (Mindanao Examiner)

Tight guarding in Basilan Whitsun Reef, also known as Julian Felipe Reef, is part of the Spratly Islands in the West Philippine Sea. (NASA), Inset - A Philippine Coast Guard photo shows Chinese vessels are anchored off Julian Felipe Reef near Palawan province.

Continued from page 1 Now, Philippine Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said the Chinese claim is without factual or legal basis. Just like Duterte, Lorenzana also failed to stop Beijing’s actions in the West Philippine Sea and did not act to prevent China from occupying Filipino territories and eventually built military structures on the islands and islets in the area.

Lorenzana demanded that China recall its militia vessels from Julian Felipe Reef, but Beijing remains defiant and even warned Philippine Coast Guard and other ships to stay away.

“The utter disregard by the Chinese Embassy in Manila of international law, especially the UNCLOS to which China is a party is appalling. Its nine-dash line claim is without any factual or legal basis. This, together with its so-called historical claim, was flatly and categorically rejected by the arbitral tribunal. The Philippines’ claims stand on solid grounds while China’s do not,” Lorenzana said, refer-

ring to the United Nations Convention for the Law of the Sea. “China should respect Philippine sovereignty over the Kalayaan Islands, and its sovereign rights over its exclusive economic zone as defined by UNCLOS and affirmed by the arbitral award.

The continued presence of Chinese maritime militias in the area reveals their intent to further occupy features in the West Philippine Sea. They have done this before at Panatag Shoal or Bajo de Masinloc and at Panganiban Reef brazenly violating Philippine sovereignty and sovereign rights under international law,” he added.

Lorenzana said China should refrain from conducting activities that disturb regional and international peace and security.

China’s Foreign Ministry Spokesman Zhao Lijian said Manila harbored ulterior motives and hostile intentions when it called the Chinese ships maritime militia, and reiterated that Chinese fishermen had enjoyed the right to fish and

seek shelter in the area for thousands of years. “I don’t understand why some relevant party calls the Chinese fishermen maritime militia.

This saying reflects ulterior motives and hostile intentions,” the South China Morning Post quoted Zhao as saying.

“The South China Sea arbitral ruling is illegal and ineffective. The Chinese side does not accept or recognise the ruling, and oppose…the Philippine side using the illegal ruling to deny the thousand years of fishing rights of the Chinese fishermen in the area,” he added, after the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said it would protest daily until China withdrew all its vessels. It also cited Manila’s 2016 victory at an international tribunal which rejected China’s claim of historic rights over much of the South China Sea. “For every day of delay, the Republic of the Philippines will lodge a diplomatic protest,” DFA said.

Duterte’s Spokesman

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Continued from page 1 extortion money to the terrorist group tied to ISIS. The Abu Sayyaf sent a letter to the project contractor and demanded money, according to authorities. No other details were made available by the police and military, but they linked the bombing to the group of Abu Sayyaf commander Pasil Bayali.

The Abu Sayyaf has been largely blamed for the spate of deadly attacks and series of bombings in Basilan over

the last decade.

In October 2019, government forces thwarted planned attacks by Abu Sayyaf terrorists under Furuji Indama to bomb the circumferential road in the province following a clash with gunmen in the village called Calang Canas in Maluso town and troops had recovered 6 improvised explosives.

But a suicide attack a year earlier by Moroccan ISIS fighter Abu Katheer al Maghribi in Basilan’s Lamitan City left over a dozen casualties. Authorities said 11

people were killed when a car bomb exploded at a security checkpoint in Bulanting village, about 2 kilometers away from downtown Lamitan.

The powerful explosion obliterated the vehicle and left a huge crater and among those killed were a woman and a child; and the militia commander whose unit is under the supervision of the Philippine Army.

Five soldiers and several civilians were also wounded in the explosion. (Mindanao Examiner)

Sulawesi bomber linked to Jolo twin suicide attacks Continued from page 1 Sulawesi Island during Palm Sunday and Indonesian police said one of two suicide attackers was being linked to twin bombings in Jolo town in January 2019.

Indonesian media quoted National Police Chief Gen. Listyo Sigit Prabowo as saying that one of the bombers had links with the two suicide attacks on a Catholic cathedral in Sulu’s capital town on Jolo. The attacks killed and wounded dozens of people, mostly soldiers guarding the church.

He said the attackers on Sulawesi were believed members of the pro-ISIS group called Jemaah Anshorut Daulah, which is also linked to the spate of suicide attacks in Indonesia the past three years.

“One of the attackers was believed to have links to a church bombing in the Philippines,” he said.

One of two men riding tandem on a motorcycle tried to enter the church, but blew himself up after suspicious guards prevented them, according to reports, adding, four

The aftermath of the Jolo suicide bombings. guards were among the wounded in the blast that killed the duo, but police said one of the bombers could be a woman based on the evidence collected from the blast scene.

It was unclear if anyone of the attackers was also a member of the Abu Sayyaf group in Sulu which local police tagged as instrumental in the twin bombings carried out by Indonesian couple Rullie Rian Zeke and Ulfah Handayani Saleh that targeted the Our Lady of Mount Carmel Cathedral in downtown Jolo.

The first bomb went off inside the church and

the second blast occurred outside just as people were rushing out of the building. The bomb was hidden under the seat of a motorcycle parked outside the church.

There was no immediate statement from the Philippine military on Indonesia’s claim, but it was unknown how the bomber managed to escape from Sulu and returned to Sulawesi only to bomb the church.

Security is tight in Catholic churches in Sulu and Zamboanga City and Isabela City due to terror threats. (Mindanao Examiner, Reuters)

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The Mindanao Examiner

April 12-18, 2021

U.S., Korea sign agreement to advance development priorities in Philippines

U.S. Embassy Charge d’Affaires John Law (standing left) and Korean Ambassador to the Philippines Inchul Kim (standing right) witness the signing of the MOU on development cooperation by USAID Philippines Mission Director Lawrence Hardy II (seated left) and KOICA Philippines Acting Country Director Jasesang Hwang (seated right).

OCD holds virtual training course

Participants and instructors to the Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Training Course conducted online by the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) in Region 9.

PAGADIAN CITY – Nearly three dozen participants from various government agencies and public utilities sector graduated from a 3-day (online) Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (DRRM) Training Course conducted here recently by the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) in Region 9. he instructors for came from various the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology, Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration, Department of Health, Bureau of Fire Protection, Philippine National Police, Philippine Red Cross and Office of Civil Defense in Western Mindanao.

The blended learning training course, a modality adapted by the OCD through the Capacity Building and Training Service under the National Disaster Risk Reduction

and Management Education and Training Program. It is a part of the OCD’s capacity-building initiatives, especially during this time of the Covid-19 pandemic.

The 34 graduates were from the National Telecommunications Commission in Region 9, Department of Information and Communications Technology–Mindanao Cluster I, Zamboanga del Sur Electric Cooperative I, Zamboanga del Norte Electric Cooperative, Pagadian City Water District, Dipolog City Water District, Ipil-Titay Water District, Zamboanga City Water District and the Isabela City Water District.

OCD Regional Director Manuel Luis Ochotorena - also chairman of the Regional Risk-Reduction Management Council - emphasized the importance of capacitating the public sector in DRRM,

considering their services are the vital to public interest.

“This training is not just to equip you with knowledge in disaster prevention and mitigation, disaster preparedness, disaster response, and disaster rehabilitation and recovery, but also to let you undertake a personal commitment to be DRRM advocates,” said Ochotorena during the event.

“The role of non-government stakeholders, private sectors, civil society groups and volunteer organizations in mainstreaming and strengthening DRRM is pivotal in the attainment of our over-all goal and vision in Disaster Risk Reduction and Management. Continuous capacity building, and prevention and mitigation efforts are vital in enhancing resiliency, and improving our services to the people,” he added.

(Kimberly Amor)

LEADING DEVELOPMENT agencies of the United States and the Republic of Korea signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to advance development cooperation in the Philippines.

U.S. Embassy Chargé d’Affaires John Law and Korean Ambassador to the Philippines Inchul Kim joined USAID Philippines Mission Director Lawrence Hardy II and Acting KOICA Philippines Country Director Jasesang Hwang for the MOU signing at the U.S. Embassy in Manila.

“The United States is proud to partner with the Korean government on projects to promote mutual development goals in the Philippines. Together, we are supporting the Philippine government in creating a more prosperous, sustainable society

for all Filipinos,” said Law. He said the MOU aims to strengthen U.S.-Korean partnership to foster sustainable Development, adding, it builds upon a global MOU for development cooperation signed by USAID in Washington, DC and the Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 2019.

“The Korean government is glad to enhance its partnership with the U.S. under this MOU in promoting sustainable and inclusive development in the Philippines.

Together with the U.S., Korea hopes to reach out to the Filipinos in the Bayanihan spirit, which is at the heart of Korea’s development cooperation efforts in the Philippines,” said Kim. The United States and Korea are among the largest bilateral donors in the

Philippines. Over the past 30 years, Korea has expanded its development assistance in both grants and budgetary support and is the second-largest development assistance donor in the Philippines.

Through USAID, the United States has a robust foreign assistance portfolio and has provided more than $5.1 billion (P247.5 billion) in support to the Philippines since 1961.

USAID and KOICA’s development assistance programs span an array of sectors, including poverty reduction in rural areas, empowerment of women and girls, water resource management, community rehabilitation in Marawi, and climate resilience.

Under the MOU, USAID and KOICA will explore additional areas of cooperation in these and other sectors in the Philippines.

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The Mindanao Examiner

April 12-18, 2021

Sulu Pictures in the News Sulu provincial government at work. This is where your taxes go. (Photos from the Office of the Provincial Governor, Jaques Tutong, Task Force Covid-19, and Jolo Municipal Government)

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The Mindanao Examiner

April 12-18, 2021

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9 boatmen rescued after explosion at sea off Tawi-Tawi

Zambo fire victims receive aid from OCD, other agencies OVER 400 families displaced by a huge fire in Zamboanga City received aid from the Office of the Civil Defense (OCD) in Western Mindanao.

The OCD, under Regional Director Manuel Luis Ochotorena, distributed hygiene kits, blankets, washable face masks, family kits and even shelter repair tools to the fire victims during a program held recently at the Western Mindanao State University Gymnasium.

The beneficiaries of the aid program also strictly followed health protocols at the gymnasium. They also thanked the OCD and other government agencies, including those involved in the humanitarian program for the aid they received.

Members of the 547th Engineer Battalion transported the non-food items from OCD main logistic hub in Pagadian City in Zamboanga del Sur province to Zamboanga City.

The Department of Social Welfare and Development, the Department of Trade and Industry, the Department of Labor and

Employment, the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation and the Philippine Information Agency also extended aid to the fire victims.

The fire destroyed a neighborhood in the coastal village of Baliwasan on March 20 and many of those displaced by the conflagration are temporarily sheltered at covered court of the Baliwasan Central School.

The OCD, which chairs the Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, said “it remains steadfast in its commitment to contribute to the whole-of-gover nment approach in alleviating the plight of the people affected by disasters and calamities, and in strengthening their resiliency through the various interventions.”

Zamboanga Mayor Beng Climaco earlier led the distribution of financial aid to fire victims in Barangay San Jose and those who sought medical and burial assistance as part of the local government’s social welfare programs.

She was assisted by

San Jose Gusu Barangay Chairman Joel Esteban and representatives from the City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO), and the City Treasurer’s Office.

The mayor also ordered the CSWDO chief Socorro Rojas to assist the Baliwasan fire victims.

Rojas said they put up a soup kitchen and provided fire victims - upon Climaco’s order – relief goods, among others.

“The CSWDO has set up a community kitchen at the temporary shelter and coordinates with different groups and organizations and individuals who are sharing their blessings to the homeless families,” Rojas said.

Climaco personally visited the fire victims and sympathized with them. She also distributed relief items at the temporary shelters during her visit. The mayor instructed the Housing and Land Management Division to conduct the validation of displaced families, tagging and spot mapping of houses and structures destroyed in the fire. (Kimberly Amor, Zamboanga Post)

FOR SALE Military photos show one of 9 boatmen (below) posing while his boat burns from afar following an explosion that injured 3 people.

TAWI-TAWI – Philippine Marines rescued 9 Filipino boatmen, three of them injured, following an explosion while loading gasoline from a Malaysian tanker near the border in Sabah.

Army Lt. Gen. Corleto Vinluan, Jr., chief of the Western Mindanao Command, said the Filipino boat ML Marissa burned and sunk off Bulu-Bulu Island in Tawi-Tawi province. The tanker, which came from Sabah, quickly fled the area before troops could arrive. The incident occurred just recently.

“Among the nine crew members, three incurred burn injuries. The marine troops provided immediate care to the injured personalities after which they were brought to a hospital in Sibutu for further medical attention,” Vinluan said, adding the military has identified the boat captain as Abi Usman. The rest of the Filipinos were not named by the military.

Vinluan said a spark in the generator of the boat caused the explo-

sion. “Based on the report from Joint Task Force Tawi-Tawi, the ML Marissa, with nine Filipino crew members, on board was loading gasoline from a tanker from Sabah when its generator battery sparked causing the explosion,” Vinluan said.

Usman revealed the area is a meeting point of fuel traders from Malaysia

and the Philippines. It was not immediately known whether those involved in the gasoline trade were smugglers or not. Another Filipino boat, ML Hasana, was also in the area when Marines arrived.

Smuggling of fuel and oil and other goods from Sabah is rampant in the South. (Mindanao Examiner)

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Bilang ng Covid-19 cases, tumataas!

‘Virus, sinisi ni Duterte’ Continued from page 1 gobyerno upang sugpuin ang virus.

Maging si Pangulong Duterte ay sinisisi ang Covid-19 sa dahilan ng mataas na bilang ng mga may sakit sa bansa.

“Ngayon, so, bakit? Eh tumataas eh. Bakit? Eh patuloy pa rin ‘yong mikrobyo na gumagana sa katawan ng tao dito sa Pilipinas. Now, bakit ganoon?

Ang gobyerno ba natin nagkulang? Ang gobyerno ba natin walang ginawa?” ani Duterte.

“Alam mo sa totoo lang ang naka-lockdown ngayon ang countries of Ukraine, France, Germany, Poland, Italy. Seventy-five percent of Italy has entered a new lockdown in a bid to fight the rising rates of coronavirus. Hindi lang tayo. Nauna na nga sila sa vaccine and yet itong may bagong strain, ewan, I’m not a doctor or a medical practitioner pero may mga reinfection sila at may bagong strain at ito ‘yong kinatatakutan ko,” dagdag pa ng Pangulo sa pagtatanggol nito sa lumulubong kaso ng Covid-19 sa ibat-ibang rehiyon, kabilang sa Min-

danao.

Ibinida rin ni Duterte ang biniling 1 milyong Sinovac Covid-19 vaccines mula sa China nitong Marso 29 lamang. Sinabi pa ni Duterte na may 2 milyon vaccines pa ang darating, ngunit hindi naman ito sigurado.

“Ang sunod na delivery natin is 2 million pero wala pang siguro ‘yan. Dito sa mga countries na ito na sinasabi ko nag-aagawan sila. I cannot name the countries because I was warned not to mention the names. Nag-aagawan sila ngayon at ang sabi ko hinold (hold) ang (vaccines). Now, dapat sabihin ‘yan kasi para malaman rin natin na how unfair it is really, especially if we are on the side of the poor na ‘yong ma-hold ‘yong bakuna,” sabi pa nito.

Dahil sa kakulangan ng Covid-19 vaccines ay pinayagan na rin ni Duterte ang pribadong sektor na mag-angkat ng bakuna upang maibigay sa mga nangangailangan. Ngunit matagal na itong hinihiling ng pribadong sektor, subalit tinanggihan ng pamahalaan at ayon sa mga kritiko ay posibleng takot na mauna pa ito

sa vaccine rollout kaysa gobyerno.

“So wala man tayong magawa. Ang akin ng decision is I have ordered Secretary (Carlito) Galvez to sign any and all documents that would allow the private sector to import at will. Maski magkano o ilan ang gusto nilang ipasok okay sa akin.

Tayong gobyerno, ito lang ang nakuha natin, ito lang rin ang ibinigay. Well, of course, hindi natin masabi na mas marami ang mabili ng private sector.”

“But dito sa Pilipinas maraming mga negosyante na gustong bumili kasi ibigay nila sa kanilang mga trabahante. You know what is the reason? Do you know the reason why? So that the economy can be opened. Iyong mga factories nila walang trabahante because ito ngayon karaming restrictions sa mobility ng tao. There are so many restrictions and workers come from all places,” paliwanag pa ni Duterte.

Mahigit 150,000 na ang active Covid-19 cases sa bansa, ayon sa Department of Health at patuloy ang pagtaas ng bilang nito araw-araw. (Mindanao Examiner)

~ OPINION ~

Can’t thank you enough, Frontliners!

By Gamson Jr Mawallil Quijano DURING THE early stage of Covid-19 pandemic, I was in Zamboanga City for my annual vacation as an OFW. Honestly, then, I was extremely anxious about the well-being of my family, especially my parents who are getting older.

The regular news updates about the increasing numbers of people afflicted by Covid-19 make me even more woeful, not for myself but for my family. But, I surrendered everything to Allh, The Protector, The Bestower of Security.

Apart from Allh, there are people who also have family just like many of us, but they choose to struggle and sacrifice extraordinarily in order for each and every one of us to be safeguarded and protected from being afflicted by the deadly Covid-19.

Thus, I would like to take this opportunity to express my pride

and joy and give salute, honor, sincere gratitude and appreciation to all the people who have protected and safeguarded my family and loved ones in Zamboanga City from Covid-19.

Thank you so much to all of you, especially to the staunch leadership of the mother and Mayor of Zamboanga City, MARIA ISABELLE G. CLIMACO-SALAZAR, who serves as the Captain of the ship.

Likewise, to our beloved Governor of Sulu, ABDUSAKUR M. TAN, who has exhausted all possible means in order to keep everyone, especially my family there in Sulu, safe and sound amidst the threat of Covid-19.

I wholeheartedly understand that although many afflicted people opine that the government’s several measures related to Covid-19 seem exaggerated and are inflicted to harm, but in reality, it is us and our families who would benefit the most from it.

It must be noted well that the paramount objective of every government in imposing these health measures is to protect and safeguard all of us from the detrimental effect brought by this unseen enemy because our lives are precious and we deserve to live securely.

To all the frontliners out there who are energetically active warriors in combating this unseen and agonizing virus, THANK YOU SO MUCH for rendering invaluable services in so many ways just to protect and safeguard the precious soul of human lives during this most challenging health crisis.

May Allh always keep US ALL including our beloved families, loved ones - so ever be protected and safeguarded by Him at all times from the harm of COVID-19 and any natural or man-made catastrophes wherever we may be. Aamin.

April 12-18, 2021

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DOH, FDA allow Chinese Covid vaccine for elderly

President Rodrigo Duterte shows off Chinese vaccines.

KIDAPAWAN CITY - Senior Citizens may now be inoculated with the Chinese Covid-19 vaccine Sinovac after the Department of Health (DOH) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) allowed its use provided there is stringent evaluation of their health status and exposure risk.

The decision to allow the use of the Chinese vaccine was upon the recommendation of the Department of Science and Technology’s Vaccine Expert Panel, and considering the limited availability

of vaccines and the growing need to protect the elderly population amid the increasing number of Covid-19 cases in the country.

Both the DOH and FDA emphasized that the vaccination of senior citizens using should strictly be preceded by careful evaluation of the person’s health status and exposure risk, adding, there is Phase I and Phase II safety and immunogenicity data for senior citizens, but data is not yet sufficient to establish the efficacy of the vaccine.

“After considering the recommendation of the experts and the current situation of high Covid-19 transmission and limited available vaccines, the FDA is allowing the use of Sinovac on senior citizens. Vaccination should be preceded by an evaluation of the person’s health status and exposure risk to assure that benefits of vaccination outweigh risks,” FDA Director General Domingo said.

The DOH and FDA further stressed that while current efficacy data for senior citizens from Phase III trials is insufficient, the benefits of using the vaccine for this particular group outweigh its risks, and more scientific data on use for senior citizens may soon become available. But the DOH and FDA urged the public, especially senior citizens and persons with comorbidities to register and participate in the vaccination program as an added layer of protection.

(Rhoderick Beñez)

April 12-18, 2021

The Mindanao Examiner

Sulu Pictures in the News

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The Mindanao Examiner

April 12-18, 2021

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26. Agent (abbr.)

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The Mindanao Examiner

April 12-18, 2021

Davao City requires Covid testing for air travellers Continued from page 1 Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases has classified Davao City as “Low Risk” Lopez said the local government is working to keep the numbers low through the CHO’s heightened surveillance and response of Covid-19 cases. “We have directed the barangay and district health offices to establish their surveillance units, including detection of symptomatic that are related to our influenza-like infections and acute respiratory infections. They also do house-tohouse surveillance,” Lopez said.

Mayor Sara Carpio said the increase in (Covid-19) surveillance testing and faster contact tracing remain a priority to control the spread of the deadly respiratory disease here amid the surging coronavirus cases, especially in the National Capital Region.

Carpio said a lockdown for Davao City is not an option because it further impacts the business activities.

“Dili ingana kadali ang mosulti ka nga mag-lockdown especially karon nga ang mga businesses nato they are spread very thinly already. Dili na siya mao ang atoang first option karon.

Ang atoang (first) option

karon is testing, and make sure nga paspas ang contact tracing,” she said.

Since the past weeks, the local government has stepped up its surveillance testing in areas that are monitored and reported with high exposure and cases of Covid-19. Carpio said this is one of the measures to prevent the further spread or clustering of Covid-19 cases and the potential surge of infections in the community.

“We try to unahan ang clustering of cases. Makita nato didto sa contact tracing kung asa nagtrabaho or unsa’y exposure sa isa ka-tao, didto ta naga-target og surveillance swabbing and testing. Example, ang palengkes are known to be areas diin asa daghan usually ang naay exposure,” she said.

The local government teams recently conducted surveillance swabbing in Agdao Public Market and tested around 300 people and nine of them were positive for Covid-19.

The teams also prepared a schedule for surveillance in Bangkerohan Public Market and those in charge of the enforcement of the minimum public health standards have also coordinated with the City Health Office which is part of the Covid-19 Task Force Response Cluster.

Carpio said there should be a daily schedule of targeted areas based on risk classification and where there are high cases of Covid-19. “We will test as much as we can. The challenge karon is paunsa nato ma-convince ang mga tao nga magpa-testing bisan pa man og wala sila’y gibati nga symptoms because since kaniadto hantod karon duna gihapoy resistance ang mga tao,” she said.

Regular testing for close contacts of Covid-19 positive patients or F1 is also continuing.

Carpio said the local government is trying to expand the testing for F2 and F3 with the help of the Safe Davao QR. “Kaniadto ang F2 ug F3, dili nato gina-testing. Atoa lang silang ginapa-standby and self-monitor and kung mag-positive ang F1 ayha pa sila i-refer for testing. Pero karon gina-try nato og reach out ang atong testing until F2 and F3 close contacts (We don’t test F2 and F3 before. They were only advised to standby and self-monitor and if the F1 turns out positive that’s when they will be referred for testing. Now we are trying to reach out our testing until F2 and F3 close contacts),” she said. (With additional reporting from Malou Cablinda, CIO)

Sulu provincial government photos show Governor Sakur Tan with with DICT Regional Director Maria Theresa Camba and a representative of the state-run People’s Television Network and security and government officials at the Capitol Office.

PTV, DICT to put up facilities in Sulu SULU – The Duterte government has lined up several projects in the southern Philippine province of Sulu, including a television station and an office for Information and Communications Technology, Governor Sakur Tan said.

Tan thanked President Rodrigo Duterte and the Department of Infor-

Ivermectin has no effect on Covid-19: Merck

IVERMECTIN, an antiparasitic drug manufactured by Merck, has no scientific basis for a potential therapeutic effect against Covid-19.

But Anakalusugan Party-list Rep. Mike Defensor insisted on distributing the antiparasitic drug to the sick and elderly, saying, he got ivermectin treatment while recovering from Covid-19.

“Ivermectin is safe. It has been there for so many years.

Wala po itong recorded na adverse effects sa mga pasyente maging sa ginagawang clinical trials sa ngayon,” Defensor, who is not medical doctor, said in an interview with CNN Philippines.

Citing a study of six trials conducted by the Philippine Covid-19 Clinical Practice Guidelines, the Food and Drug Administration and the Department of Health reiterated that ivermectin did not

significantly reduce the risk of death among patients with mild to severe coronavirus cases. It also did not substantially reduce the hospitalization period or time resolution of symptoms.

World Health Organization Country Representative Rabindra Abeyasinghe has also warned against the use of ivermectin for Covid-19 prevention or treatment. He said that 95% of Covid-19 patients recover without specific treatments, so it is not science or evidence if a coronavirus patient recovers after being given the antiparasitic drug.

According to Merck, ivermectin also has no meaningful evidence for clinical activity or clinical efficacy in patients with Covid-19 and a concerning lack of safety data in the majority of studies.

This was affirmed by Merck - also known as MSD

outside the United States and Canada - after company scientists carefully examined the findings of all available and emerging studies of ivermectin for the treatment of Covid-19 for evidence of efficacy and safety.

“It is important to note that, to-date, our analysis has identified: No scientific basis for a potential therapeutic effect against COVID-19 from pre-clinical studies; No meaningful evidence for clinical activity or clinical efficacy in patients with COVID-19 disease, and; A concerning lack of safety data in the majority of studies,” Merck said.

“We do not believe that the data available support the safety and efficacy of ivermectin beyond the doses and populations indicated in the regulatory agency-approved prescribing information,” it added.

Ivermectin is approved in the United States under the brand name STROMECTOL and is indicated for the treatment of intestinal strongyloidiasis due to the nematode parasite Strongyloides stercoralis and for the treatment of onchocerciasis due to the nematode parasite Onchocerca volvulus.

Strongyloidiasis is infection by a roundworm, or nematode, called Strongyloides stercoralis and Oncho-

cerciasis, also known as river blindness, is a disease caused by infection with the parasitic worm Onchocerca volvulus.

Merck said STROMECTOL is contraindicated in patients who are hypersensitive to any component of the product Warnings and Precautions Patients treated with STROMECTOL for onchocerciasis may experience cutaneous and/or systemic reactions of varying severity (the Mazzotti reaction) and ophthalmological reactions.

After treatment with microfilaricidal drugs, patients with hyperreactive onchodermatitis (sowda) may be more likely than others to experience severe adverse reactions, especially edema and aggravation of onchodermatitis.

Rarely, patients with onchocerciasis who are also heavily infected with Loa loa may develop a serious or even fatal encephalopathy either spontaneously or following treatment with an effective microfilaricide. In these patients, the following adverse experiences have also been reported: pain (including neck and back pain), red eye, conjunctival hemorrhage, dyspnea, urinary and/or fecal incontinence, difficulty in standing/walking, mental status changes, confusion, lethargy, stupor, seizures, or coma.

(Mindanao Examiner)

mation and Communications Technology (DICT), including the state-run People’s Television Network (PTV) for all the projects. The governor said he recently met with DICT Regional Director Maria Theresa Camba and told him the agency is putting up a provincial office to be able to hasten information technology advances in Sulu that will benefit not only the public, but the local economy as well.

The governor assured Camba of his support to the DICT projects and programs for Sulu. Tan said he would provide the lands for the DICT office and PTV station for free as a show of gratitude of the Tausug people for the government projects and programs.

“With DICT having an office in Sulu is a big welcome because it will bring the government and its services closer to the people. We want to thank our beloved President Rodrigo Duterte; the DICT under Secretary Gregorio Honasan, and Director Camba; and also Secretary Martin Andanar and the PCOO and PTV,” Tan said, referring to the government television network which in under the Presidential Communications Operations Office headed by Andanar.

An unnamed PTV executive, who was with Camba, told Tan about the government plan of putting up a television facility in the province. “This will help improve the image of Sulu and dispel the wrong portrayals and distorted assumptions attributed to the province and also provide the public with

timely and accurate news, especially about the government and its many pro-poor programs and projects,” Tan said.

Camba also said that the agency will provide 123 computer sets and 9 printers to 7 schools and two local governments and free Internet access to selected government offices and hospitals, including online literacy training programs under the Tech4ED Project.

Tech4ED stands for Technology for Education, to gain Employment, train Entrepreneurs towards Economic Development and aims to harness Information and Communications Technology to enable, empower and transform society creating an inclusive, integrated and equitable countryside, through providing opportunities for employment and empowering entrepreneurs.

Tan said he also signed a partnership agreement with DICT to further strengthen and improve the programs and projects of the Provincial Livelihood Training Center and the Provincial Library.

The meeting, held at the Capitol Office, was also attended by Engineer Bertrand Chio, the Provincial Planning and Development Office Coordinator and the Provincial Focal Person for Information and Communications Technology Projects and Programs. Camba was accompanied by Mindanao State University Chancellor Nagder Abdurahman and Vice-Chancellor Abuzamier Asanji, and Professor Yashier Yail, and other security officials. (Mindanao Examiner)

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The Mindanao Examiner

April 12-18, 2021

April 12-18, 2021

The Mindanao Examiner

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P10 April 12-18, 2021

It is still Mactan-Cebu International Airport

C

EBU REP. Pablo John Garcia ( 3rd District) said Mactan-Cebu International Airport will still be called by its name, clarifying local newspaper reports claiming that House Bill 8986, approved on third reading before Congress went on recess on March 18, seeks to rename the airport to Lapulapu International Airport.

Garcia explained He said House Bill that the bill merely seeks 8986 is a substitute bill to name the domestic following a compromise and international ter- brokered by Speaker minals of the airport Lord Allan Velasco and to Lapulapu Domestic Committee on TransporTerminal and Lapulapu tation Chairman Rep. International Termi- Edgar Sarmiento (Samar, nal, while retaining the 1st District) between the name Mactan Cebu In- proponents, led by Rep. ternational Airport for Paz Radaza of Lapulapu the entire facility itself.

City, and the opponents

of the bill, which he led.

“The bill follows the LAX model where the airport is named Los Angeles International Airport while its major terminal is named Tom Bradley

Visayas medical frontliners to help fight Covid in NCR

Presidential Assistant for the Visayas, Secretary Michael Lloyd Dino (4th from left), Cebu Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia (3rd from left) and Mayor Edgardo Labella (5th from left) lead other officials in sending off 50 medical front-liners to the National Capital Region (NCR) at a ceremony in Cebu City on April 7. The volunteer healthcare workers will help the NCR manage a surge in Covid-19 cases for three months. (PNA photo

by John Rey Saavedra) CEBU CITY – Dozens of medical frontliners from Regions 7 and 8 in the Visayas were deployed to Manila to help combat the surge of the deadly Covid-19 disease in the National Capital Region (NCR) and nearby provinces.

Presidential Assistant for the Visayas, Michael Lloyd Dino, commended the first batch of 66 volunteers who answered the call to augment medical workers who have been fighting Covid-19 for a year now.

ARMM

Among those who volunteered were 11 doctors, 35 nurses and four medical technologists from the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center and others hired by the Department of Health (DOH) in Region 7, including one doctor and 15 nurses from Region 8.

The nurses will be stationed at the National Kidney and Transplant Institute, Lung Center of the Philippines, San Lazaro Hospital, Tondo Medical Center and Rizal Medical Center.

He said the volunteers will work under a contract of service arrangement for three continuous months. Nurses will receive P33,575 a month while doctors will each get P60,901 a month.

Other benefits, such as additional 20% premium of the basic salary, round trip travel expenses which would be shouldered by DOH-Regional Center for Health Development and PhilHealth premium contribution will also be given to the volunteers.

Dino said the volunteer will also get additional P5,000 each. And Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia said each volunteer will also receive additional P5,000 as monthly incentive along with vitamins and air purifier.

She also promised to give them P10,000 each upon their return.

The Cebu City government will also give P10,000 per volunteer as their allowance, on top of the basic pay, according to Councilor Raymund Garcia.

All 50 volunteers from Cebu have received their first dose of Covid-19 vaccine and will get their second dose in NCR. (John Rey Saavedra)

Eastern Mindanao

International Terminal,” Garcia said.

The airport itself, which includes the land area, runway, towers and other facilities, will remain to be known as the Mactan-Cebu International Airport. The terminal building, which is part of the airport, will be renamed the Lapulapu Domestic and International Terminals.

Garcia had earlier opposed the original bill, authored by Radaza, which sought to rename the airport to Lapulapu International Airport. It disregarded, he said, not only decades of history, but also millions of pesos in marketing expenses to sell the airport as Mactan Cebu International Airport.

“This substitute bill

accommodates our objections to the bill while fulfilling the more important objective of honoring Lapulapu on the 500th year of the Battle of Mactan,” Garcia said.

He also thanked Velasco and Sarmiento for initiating, and Radaza for accepting, a “winwin solution that satisfies all parties.”

Cebu City launches online sign up for vaccination rollout CEBU CITY – Mayor Edgardo Labella said the local government has launched an online registration for the vaccination of senior citizens and people with comorbidities.

He said those who fall under the two categories may now sign up for the mass inoculation via https:// mics.cebucity.gov.ph/vims/ page/register.

“The Cebu City Government, through our City Health Department and in coordination with the Department of Health, continues to prepare for the vaccine rollout for the other priority groups once we are done vaccinating all our medical health workers,” Labella said.

Labella, however, clarified that this is only a registration and the Vaccine Operations Center will still set the processes and schedules for the vaccination. He said those who have registered will get a text message on their assigned schedule.

“The City Government will also announce it using our social media pages and

Western Mindanao

The vaccination for healthcare workers in Cebu City is still ongoing. Senior citizens and people with comorbidity are next in the priority line and they can now sign up through a newly-launched registration site. (PIO) other platforms and I look forward to the full implementation of our vaccination program in Cebu City,” he said.

Earlier, the Cebu-based Project Balik Buhay, an inter-sectoral public-private partnership group, was targeting to put up 20 vaccination centers for the public rollout of the vaccination program here.

The Office of the Presidential Assistant for the Visayas (OPAV) led a ceremonial signing of a memo-

Cebu

randum of agreement with national government agencies and at least 20 private institutions in support of the vaccine rollout in Cebu.

Presidential Assistant to the Visayas Secretary Michael Dino said some of these vaccination sites will be in malls and hotels while medical institutions will help in providing the manpower. Aside from Cebu, officials are also looking to expand the initiative to the rest of the Visayas. (Carlo Lorenciana)

Manila