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MONDAY, MARCH 23, 2020
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911 for your queries (on COVID-19), you are barring much more important calls such as for emergencies disasters,” she said. In the same vein, the Central 911 ambulances should not be treated as private chauffeurs that will ferry suspected cases to the Southern Philippines Medical Center. The city government already has standby vehicles for that purpose. Previously, the mayor said that Davaoeños may call 911 for medical consultations. But the objective was to encourage people to stay at home rather than making the trip to the clinics or hospital. Some doctors in the city have volunteered to help provide free checkups over the phone. “If you are not experiencing any alarming or critical manifestations, then you are advised to not go to the hospital. Instead, you call be consulted by doctors by just dialling 911 in your landlines and cellphones,” the statement from the city reads. The service is avail-
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The suspect was identified as Amerel Ejara Asari, 33, jobless, and an original resident of Sta. Cruz, Davao Del Sur. He was also reportedly included in the Directorate for Intelligence drug watchlist of the Talomo station. Asari was busted after he sold a sachet of shabu worth P10,000 to an undercover operative. Recovered from him were seven sachets containing suspected shabu, and weighing about 19 grams valued at P304,000, a cellphone, and P150 in cash. Lt Col. Ronald Lao, the commander of Talomo
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able from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Saturday. Again, for any COVID-19 concerns, the public is asked to call only the operation center, which is open 24.7. “We have operationalized the center so that all your questions and queries about COVID-19 will be catered. Report to the center immediately when you have experienced some symptoms like colds, cough, fever, chills, headache, shortness of breath, diarrhea, and sore throat,” she said. The operation center can be reached through: Globe – 0917 508 6548; Smart – 0919 071 1111; PLDT hotline – 082 244 0181 E-mail adderess – covidtf@davaocitya.gov.ph She said that the center is manned by city health personnel who will give instructions on what to do. The goal is to prevent people from rushing to the different centers and hospitals, which could increase the risk of community transmission.
Police Station, said that the police personnel continue to make sure to go after criminal elements, even as they play support to the contain the threat of COVID-19. “I appreciate the hard work and dedication of these officers,” Lao said. “The result of this investigation and operation is indicative of their dedication to duty and to their sworn oath.” The suspect is detained in the Talomo Police Station, facing a case for violation of Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002. By Rhoda Grace B. Saron
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be subjected to retesting. Before they can be cleared for COVID-19, they should show negative results on tests taken 48 hours apart. On the same day, the DOH bared that there are 77 new cases of COVID-19 in the country, bringing a total number of 307. Of these 77 new cases, two are from Davao Region. Meanwhile, the DOH Davao Center for Health Development (DCHD) confirmed that two of the four persons under investigation (PUI) who died while waiting for their tests results tested negative to COVID-19. The 71-year old PUI from Matanao, Davao del Sur due to septic shock secondary to generalized peritonitis secondary to perforated peptic ulcer last March 15, 2020 in Southern
Philippines Medical Center. The other PUI was a 68-year-old Korean national who resided in Panabo, Davao del Norte who died last March 17, 2020 In Davao Regional Medical Center (DRMC) The results of the two other PUIs have not yet come in. Mayor Sara Duterte has reiterated her reminder to the public to stay calm amid the pandemic. “I told you already that we should expect for (COVID-19) positive cases in the city. And finally, we already have cases in our city, but do not panic. What we should do is to make sure we are taking the precautionary measures set by the doctors. Let us stay at home, wash your hands regularly and observe social distancing,” she said. By Samantha T. Burgos
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Lockdown starts in South Cotabato; P34.7-M allotted to fight COVID-19 KORONADAL CITY (MindaNews / 21 March) -- South Cotabato closed its borders to non-residents starting Saturday as it allotted P34.7 million to fight the spread of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in the area. Through Executive Order 18 Series of 2020, Gov. Reynaldo Tamayo Jr., however, assured those transporting food and other essential consumer supplies unhampered entry to the province to ensure enough supply for the lockdown that will last for 14 days, or until April 6, 2020. Those transporting food and other essential supplies will be given special fast lanes without the stringent checking accorded by those manning the checkpoints on private vehicles, he said. Only those who are in-
volved in the medical, peace and order, rescue, COVID-19 prevention interventions, civil servants, media, public utilities and those seeking immediate medical attention are allowed to enter and go out of the province, he said. “I am apologizing if this decision to lockdown the province is disrupting our public lives, but this is one of the major solutions to contain and prevent the spread of COVID-19 in our province,” Tamayo told reporters. Residents of South Cotabato who will go out on non-essential travels shall be allowed to return home after undergoing a 14-day quarantine period, he said. During the 14-day lockdown, public transport services such as buses, vans, jeepneys and tricycles are
CITY... (from page 2) (ordinary and for intensive care unit), and personal protective equipment (PPE) for ICU and ordinary use. The PPEs, she said, will be handed over to SPMC. The City Health Office, barangay health workers, and personnel of the Task Force Davao and Philippine National Police assigned at the checkpoints also received the supplies. In a previous report, the city mayor said only SPMC will cater to COVID-19 patients to avoid overwhelming the healthcare industry of the city.
“We should be able to prevent our health personnel in the private hospitals from being contaminated with the virus so that not all of our doctors and nurses and medical workers in the city will acquire it,” she said. She said mild cases will be put in the rehabilitation center in Malagos. The city mayor also said that the Boy Scouts of the Philippines, also in Malagos, will be utilized in case of a surge. The Alternative Learning Center near People’s Park has also been made as a reserve for a quarantine site.
and instead cooperate with the authorities. “ (The) Southern Philippines Medical Center (SPMC) and other hospitals may not be able to cater to all patients due to influx of COVID-19 related cases,” Abella added.
MAN... (from page 2) del Sur Provincial Mobile Force Company (DSPMFC) were conducting a checkpoint in the barangay when they flagged Daggon. He was allegedly riding a motorcycle passing through the checkpoint, while wearing an ROTC
camouflage uniform with the rank of a cadel colonel. when questioned, he said that he was an Army reservist, but failed to show any ID to prove his claim. He is now under the custody of the Bansalan Municipal Police Station. By Rhoda Grace B. Saron
32 FOREIGNERS... (from page 2) 600 visitors, mostly foreigners, are stranded on the island, many of them in the surfing capital town. The provincial government has issued an order to let them out of the island as part of the preventive community quarantine against COVID-19. But since March 18, all passenger flights and
and pharmacy sections while cockfights, small town lottery and lotto operations and other forms of recreational activities and gambling were ordered suspended during the 14-day lockdown. Dr. Rogelio Aturdido, South Cotabato health officer, said the province remains free of COVID-19 as of Friday, although there were 2,233 persons under monitoring and 22 persons under investigation (PUI) in the area. The surge in the number of PUMs was largely due to the return of residents from Metro Manila and other parts of Luzon following the enhance community quarantine ordered recently by President Duterte, as well as the return of overseas Filipino workers from countries with confirmed COVID-19 cases.
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HOTELS... (from page 2) might be in close contact with the infected. Mayor Sara Duterte also previously warned that more positive cases and PUIs should be expected in the days to come. But she constantly reminded the public against panicking,
suspended, Tamayo ordered. Koronadal City Mayor Eliordo Ogena initially defied the order on the suspension of tricycle operations, saying the city government does not have enough funds to assist the 8,000 drivers that would be displaced by Tamayo’s order. But on Saturday afternoon, Ogena posted on his Facebook page that tricyles will be banned for the safety of residents, noting “we need to follow the directive of the national government.” The Sangguniang Panlalawigan approved in a special session on Friday P34.7 million requested by Tamayo to fund the public health emergency management program of the province for COVID-19. Malls were allowed to operate only their grocery
boats plying to and from Siargao Island have been suspended. The Rural Health Unit of General Luna has recorded a total of 269 Persons Under Monitoring and no confirmed cases of COVID-19. Of the 269 PUMs a total of 16 have finished their 14day self-quarantine. (Roel Catoto / MindaNews)
by “a group of minds from government and private sector stakeholders” for the establishment of the COVID-19 testing center in the city. He called for support from the “Soccsksargen community” regarding the proposal and noted that its “major hurdles” include budget, and accreditation by the DOH and the World Health Organization. “The consequence when COVID-19 testing is delayed is that the infected patient could have infected a lot of people already, and proper precaution was not observed because the sickness was only classified as severe pneumonia. That is why we need a COVID-19 testing center in GenSan,” he added. DOH-12 already recorded two deaths involving patients under investigation (PUI) and one confirmed case of COVID-19. A report released on Friday night by the regional epidemiology and surveil-
lance unit said the COVID-19 patient (PH145) was in stable condition and in strict isolation at the Cotabato Regional Medical Center in Cotabato City. The two deceased PUI’s, an 87-year-old male from Tacurong City in Sultan Kudarat and a 51-year-old male from Koronadal City, expired last March 14 and 17, respectively, due to suspected symptoms of COVID-19. Swab samples had been taken from the two and were sent to the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine in Manila but the results were still pending. A total of 26 PUIs are currently admitted in various hospitals in the region, 14 were on home quarantine while six have already been discharged. Some 784 PUMs were undergoing the 14-day mandatory home quarantine while 127 were already cleared by DOH-12. (MindaNews)
ALLEGED... (from page 2) said that Gloria CamposTumalon, alias Bae Glo, was apprehended by virtue of the warrant of arrest for Criminal Case No. 6527 for kidnapping and serious illegal detention today in Purok 4, Barangay Diatagon, Lianga. The military said Tumalon, who also has standing warrants for arson and destructive arson, is the sister of Pablito Sinzo Campos, a New People’s Army leader nabbed in 2018 in Sibagat, Agusan del Sur, and Emelda Campos Belandres, another NPA leader on the wanted list. He said Campos-Tumalon was also linked in the recent harassment in Diatagon, which wounded civilians in Sitio Emerald last Feb. 21, the failed ambush attempt on government troops in Sitio Simuwao (Km. 9) on Feb. 19. She is also the alleged
liaison officer who collected extortion money to be distributed to teh armed guerrillas. Meanwhile, Brig. Gen. Joselito T. Esquivel, Jr, Police Regional Office XIII director, reminded all private individual, politicians, and local officials to refrain from giving in to the pressure of the NPA to extort money for its operations. Giving money to the NPA is a violation of Republic Act 10168 or the “Terrorism Financing Prevention and Suppression Act of 2012” and Section 3 of Executive Order No. 773 series of 2009, directing Regional, Provincial, Municipal Peace and Order Councils to apply moral suasion to and/or recommend sanctions against local chief executives who are giving material and political support to criminals and Communist Terrorist Groups.