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Tinu-od o dili, kamo ang maghukom Camera Club holds 37th Foundation Anniversary
BY VIC N. SUMALINOG
PAGE 6 VOL. 74
NO. 086
SATURDAY, MARCH 28, 2020
DAVAO CITY - PHILIPPINES
16 PAGES
P10.00
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COVID in figures BY PATRICK JEROME GUAZA
LET US do some math based on FACTS as posted on the internet. There are OFFICIALLY 106+million Filipinos. COVID 19 equally among ALL Filipinos, that will COVID 19 incubates usually for 14 days in a only be P3,034.00 for each of us. This clearly is person. There are times it is only 2 days, there are NOT ENOUGH. Food for 2 months will cost more times it is 27 days. Let us stick to 14 days, after than that. Hospitalization, much more. Funding which a person gets really sick or gets on with life. frontline health workers so they get personal protecThe WHO has stated that up to 60% of the tive equipment that needs regular replacement will population could get exposed, and 3.4% of that DIE. cost so much more. On top of the P21.7Billion Budget to fight The only way to avoid exposure to COVID 19 COVID, the Philippine Central Bank will inject is to STAY ISOLATED. By staying isolated, the P300Billion to the Philippine Budget to the fight. spread of the virus is hindered. This gives each The President was just granted emergency powers of us a HIGHER CHANCE of survival. (That is in the fight against the virus. (Not so sure if it will why I stated earlier that emergency powers for the really help.) president will most likely NOT WORK.) If 60% of Filipinos get exposed to COVID, that Do you want to survive or do you want to be will be 63.6 million of us. 21,600+ will die based on part of the 60% who get exposed? Remember, there the 3.4% death rate world wide. But data shows that is NO VACCINE or CURE against COVID 19. we have a death rate twice the global average. So By the way, I am not a health professional. I am there could be more than 43,200 projected deaths. an Environmental Planner (aka Technical Planner, If we divide the Philippine Budget to fight Urban & Regional Planner).
w w w. m i n d a n a o t i m e s . c o m . p h
Mindanao Times
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MINDANAO TIMES
SATURDAY, MARCH 28, 2020
AN AMBULANT vendor sells face masks outside a shopping mall along J.P. Laurel Avenue. Mayor Sara Duterte issued an executive order prohibiting people from going out without appropriate gear. BING GONZALES
300,000 families eyed for relief goods: mayor
DESPITE the advice to stay at home, these men do some fishing at Bolton bridge. BING GONZALES
BY WARREN ELIJAH E. VALDEZ AND SAMANTHA T. BURGOS
THE city government is looking at providing relief goods to about 300,000 families. This developed as Mayor Sara Duterte bared that as of yesterday, 14,000 goods were delivered to beneficiaries in Matina Aplaya as of yesterday. She said Thursday that the distribution has hit a snag because repacking of
Santos is positive for virus: AFP
BY RHODA GRACE B. SARON
GENERAL Felimon Santos Jr., Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief of staff, has been placed on strict home quarantine (SHQ) after he was found positive for coronavirus disease 2019 COVID-19. In a statement, the AFP said that Santos would be placed on SHQ until April 10 after his result came out yesterday showing he was positive for the virus. Santos would still be ( / SANTOS / 4)
relief goods take time. “As there are so many goods to distribute to several families in the city, we have to extend. We are slowing down because the repacking team cannot catch-up with our distribution for dispatching,” she
said. “We need to ensure that the fulltime operating trucks will be safe while transporting these goods. So the weekends will be intended for the maintenance check and the distribution ( / 300,000 / 4)
Earthquake hits Mindanao; no impact in city
176 PUIs in region: DOH BY WARREN ELIJAH E. VALDEZ
THE DEPARTMENT of Health (DOH) XI bared yesterday it recorded 176 patients under investigation (PUI) in Davao region. In its report yesterday morning, the DOH XI said that of the number of
PUIs, 78 were admitted to hospitals while 88 were discharged. The Department added of those 10 PUIs who died, four of them were tested negative of the virus, while the results of the others
have yet to be released by the Research Institute of Tropical Medicine (RITM). Meanwhile, 13, 825 persons under monitoring (PUM) were recorded , ( / 176 PUIS / 4)
COVID-19 centers readied , says Sara
Rebels hit on attack vs IPs during crisis
BY SAMANTHA T. BURGOS
D AVA O C I T Y duction Management Of( M i n d a N e w s ) – A fice (CDRRMO) yesterday magnitude 6.1 earthquake said the city did not suffer struck parts of Mindanao at any damage as a result of 11:38 p.m. Thursday. the tremor. This developed as the Rodrigo Bustillo, City Disaster Risk and Re- ( / EARTHQUAKE / 4)
THE CITY government has readied centers that will cater to individuals with suspected coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Mayor Sara Duterte, in an interview with Davao
MAYOR Sara Duterte has warned private hospitals who are accepting individuals with suspected
In an interview with Davao City Disaster Radio Thursday, Duterte said those private hospitals
City Disaster Radion on Friday, said that they have been inspecting these these designated centers for persons under investigation (PUI) in the city. ( / COVID-19 / 4)
Mayor warns private hospitals: Don’t accept COVID-19 cases coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), or they will be converted into COVID-19 hospitals.
found to be accepting cases related to the virus will become designated hospi( / MAYOR / 4)
THE EASTERN Mindanao Command of the Armed Forces of the Philippines yesterday condemned the New People's Army for perpetrating atrocities against the Indigenous Peoples' communities amid the height of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) crisis. "While every sector in the country and the whole world are battling an invisible virus and its economic and social impact, ( / REBELS / 4)
More New
SATURDAY, MARCH 28, 2020
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MINDANAO TIMES
Submission of notarized MDF suspended: SEC NICOLE BURLAS
THE SECURITIES and Exchange Commission (SEC) has temporarily suspended the deadline of submission of the original notarized printed copy of Mandatory Disclosure Form (MDF) of non-profit organizations (NPO) amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Ponco-Estares said, SEC Davao Extension concerned are urged to “NPOs must remember Office Officer-in-Charge fill out and submit their t h a t t h e MDF is an Katrina Jamilla Ponco- MDF online to avoid the i m p o r t a nt document Estares said the suspension inconveniences of last t h a t e n sures their “is to ensure that the day filing,” according to organizations are not used health of both the clients the notice issued by the for unlawful purposes, and employees of the Commission. especially money Commission is protected.” “Please be reminded, laundering and terrorist S h e a d d e d t h e however, that the online financing activities. Nons u s p e n s i o n o f M D F filling out and submission compliance may result in submission is part of the of the MDF online is only revocation of certificate of proactive efforts of SEC partial compliance with incorporation.” in mitigating the spread the requirement. Full The prerequisite of COVID-19 and she compliance requires the is based on the SEC hopes that this will provide submission to the SEC of Memorandum Circular reprieve to the NPOs the original duly signed No. 25, Series of 2019 during the pandemic. and notarized printed copy or the 2019 Guidelines She clarified that only of the MDF,” it added. for the Protection of the original notarized copy P r e v i o u s l y, t h e SEC Registered Nonof MDF is suspended, deadline of the submission Profit Organizations NPOs can still submit was February 28 and was from Money Laundering their MDF online as postponed to March 31 to and Terrorist Financing partial fulfillment of the provide leeway for NPOs Abuse. requirement. who are operating in farThese efforts are done NPOs may still “fill flung areas and give them to ensure that the money out and submit the MDF the opportunity to not face raised by these NPOs are online during weekdays the penalties due to nonfrom 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. All compliance. ( / SUBMISSION / 4)
Lorenzana goes on quarantine
55 BPO firms complying with restrictions, say
MANILA – Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said he will be on selfquarantine beginning on Friday. "Good morning, everyone. I shall be on selfquarantine effective today (Friday). This morning I was informed by (Chief-ofStaff, AFP) CSAFP, Gen. (Felimon Santos Jr.) that he tested positive for the Covid-19, the result he got yesterday (Thursday)," Lorenzana said in a mes( / LORENZANA / 15)
D AVA O CITY (MindaNews) – At least 55 business process outsourcing (BPO) companies in the city have complied with the local government’s order requiring them to either operate with a skeletal staff to maintain unimpeded service or offer work-from-home arrangements while the community quarantine aimed to address the coronavirus (Covid-19)
KORONADAL CITY (MindaNews) – Sultan Kudarat province will impose a lockdown and a 10-hour curfew from 7 p.m. to 5 a.m. effective today to fight the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), Gov. Suharto Mangudadatu
said. Mangudadatu signed Executive Order 25 on Thursday raising the general community quarantine to enhanced community quarantine after the province recorded its first confirmed COVID-19 fatality, PH600, who died
pandemic remains in effect. In a report released by the BPO Covid-19 Task Force, it said the compliant firms, including all those operating within the Philippine Economic Zone Authority-accredited facilities, have transitioned their operations to either to either a “work-from-home” scheme or onsite setup with a provision for free accommodation and shuttle services for their employees. (
/ 55 BPO / 15)
Sultan Kudarat to impose lockdown, curfew: official
on March 14 at a hospital in the province’s lone city of Tacurong. The 87-year-old male succumbed to “acute respiratory failure secondary to COPD, community acquired pneumonia,” the Department of Health – ( / SULTAN / 15)
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Exporters want uniform rules on cargos amid virus
DAVAO CITY – Local governments in Mindanao need to issue “uniform guidelines concerning cargos amid the enforcement of lockdowns across the island so as not to hamper the shipment of export Cavendish bananas, Pilipino Banana Growers and Exporters Association (PBGEA) executive director Stephen Antig said. Antig said local officials in Mindanao have different interpretations of the national guidelines on cargo, causing the stranding of several trucks that are delivering bananas from farms to international ports. Several LGUs in Mindanao have enforced lockdowns, closing their borders to neighboring re-
gions, provinces, or cities, to prevent the spread of coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19). He said several banana industry stakeholders are “experiencing these difficulties” in terms of logistics on the ground and many of them were sent back to their towns to undergo quarantine. “We have national guidelines on how the cargo and personnel will be treated to maintain the supply chain but it seems that these will be voided when there is a total lockdown. Hope I am wrong. People delivering goods in transit might be stranded in any place and will not know what to do and where to go especially if they are in the
border between two political boundaries,” he said. He added they have reached out to government agencies such as the Department of Agriculture and Mindanao Development Authority, which vowed to help. Antig said the demand for export Cavendish bananas remain high amid the crisis caused by the pandemic that is already affecting major industries worldwide. “The demand for bananas is still high, but we do not know [for] how long,” Antig said. He said banana companies would continue exporting provided there are no logistical problems that ( / EXPORTERS / 4)
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MINDANAO TIMES
300,000... (from page 2) will be resumed on Mon- tion dinha sa atoang baday,” she said. rangays,” she said. She also said that the “Our estimate is that city government and the we might be releasing eveCSSDO have opened a ryday with the large quanhelpline to cater to clarifi- tity of relief goods that we cations, queries and com- have,” she said, noting that plains regarding the ra- it was impossible to cover tioning. “This channel will all barangays in just two to able people to direct their three rounds of relief goods issues regarding the ration distribution. cards and the relief goods “Ang estimate pud distributions, as we are con- namo, (it) might be ang stantly receiving questions mahitabo we release everyand queries about these day sa kadaghan sa atoang matters,” she said. mga ginarelease na mga She also said that this relief goods, we might poswill prevent people from sibly be releasing everyday being confused on to where para sa atoang mga relief they can direct their com- goods,” she added. plains and questions. Sheh said the issue For questions, the pub- is that “we can give (relic can reach the ration lief goods) good for two cards helpline numbers weeks, but the problem through its landline and is our repacking cannot mobile numbers: landline immediately catch up on - 082 295 3500; mobile time. If we wait for them to numbers - 09234557001; repack again goods for two 0 9 2 0 3 2 5 4 0 7 4 weeks, there will be a delay ; 0 9 4 8 7 3 0 5 2 9 7 ; of distribution to other ba09953050070 rangays. So the decision is Duterte said there will there will be a continuous be a “validation on the releasing of goods.” ground” for the families The city mayor said in who will receive from the a previous interview that relief goods operations of the delivery of relief goods the city. to barangays is in a slow “Hangtod karon nagpa- pace because of the chaldayon gihapon ang atoang lenge in transportation as relief goods operations. . . the dump trucks carrying We are looking at 332,626 the goods could only cafamilies subject to valida- pacitate a limited number. MAYOR... (from page 2) tal that will cater solely to these cases as this has been the protocol of the Department of Health. In justifying the warning, the mayor said: “Do not provide special treatment for few individuals against the safety of the entire staff and personnel of your hospital. You may infect hundreds of health workers inside the hospital.” The mayor said she received reports from two individuals from a private hospital that it was accepting suspected COVID -19 cases despite the order of the DOH and that she was verifying the reports. She has also reminded the public to be responsible in actions they take because the virus is highly contagious.
She also said urged PUI patients to cooperate and refrain from admitting themselves in private hospitals for it may contaminate the rest of the hospital facilities. “If this happens, then our health workers will decrease as they have to be quarantined and cured if they will get the disease. Cases will also increase as they are exposed to suspected COVID-19 individuals,” she said. She highly encouraged PUIs with mild symptoms to be admitted at designated COVID-19 centers instead. For severe cases, the Southern Philippines Medical Center will be accommodating them as it is the only facility in the city tasked to cater to COVID-19 patients.
SUBMISSION... (from page 3) not for unlawful purposes such as the acts mentioned above. SEC is requiring NPOs to promote transparency, adopt good governance policies, risk based supervision, strong financial management, robust internal and financial controls, and sustained outreach programs. A copy of the notice issued by the Commission can be found at http://www.
sec.gov.ph/wp-content / uploads /2020/03/2020 N O T I C E _ M D F SUSPENSION-OFSUBMISSION.pdf Ponco-Estares also encouraged companies to always monitor the announcements of the Commission on its website (www.sec.gov.ph) as the suspension may be lifted when the current situation becomes better.
SATURDAY, MARCH 28, 2020
176 PUIS... (from page 2) with 7,376 were still under better condition. observation, while 6, 448 “We continue to moniindividuals were cleared, tor them while they are in with one fatality. DOH XI, the hospital,” she said. however, clarified that the The 50 year-old male death was not related to patient (PH444), meanthe virus. while, was confined at the The DOH XI record- Davao Regional Medical ed six confirmed cases Center (DRMC) in Tagum who tested positive for City. PH444 was reported the COVID-19 with one to have travel history from recovered and the others Manila, Palawan, and Cebu. were still admitted but were The other two male pain better condition, show- tients aged 28 and 32, idening “no symptoms” of the tified as PH442 and PH443, infection. respectively are now bePH130, the 21-year ing treated at the Southern -old Filipina from Pantu- Philippines Medical Center kan, Davao de Oro, who (SPMC). Both have travel was the first COVID-19 pa- history in Manila. tient in Davao region, was On the other hand, discharged on March 23. PH262 and PH263 who Meanwhile, DOH XI were reported on March director Annabelle Yumang 21, were already transferred previously confirmed in to an isolation facility at a press conference on SPMC on March 22 after Wednesday the new COV- they were put on a “strict ID-19 patients are now in home quarantine.” REBELS... (from page 2) the Communist Terrorist Group is aggravating the misery of the communities by taking advantage of carrying out attacks against the vulnerable communities," Maj Gen. Jose C. Faustino Jr., commander of Eastern Mindanao Command said. "This is a clear violation of the International Humanitarian Law," Faustino said. The rebels allegedly attacked a village in Kapalong, Davao del Norte on Tuesday, prompting the 60th Infantry Battalion Community Support Teams
to respond. An hour later, the rebels also attacked the unit that was conducting a clearing operation. On March 19, the rebels also allegedly murdered two elderly who were members of the Manobo tribe in Sitio Inadan, Barangay Magroyong, San Miguel, Surigao del Sur. On the same day, President Rodrigo R. Duterte declared a unilateral ceasefire with rebels so that the government could focus its efforts in containing the spread of the virus.
EXPORTERS... (from page 3) would prevent them from shipping out goods. “The line is moving but due to the thermal checks, it is possible that there are delays. The delays vary. It is difficult to estimate,” he said. China has remained the Philippines’ biggest global market. Based on the data provided by PBGEA, Filipino banana exporters had shipped a total of 1.43
million metric tons (MT) of Cavendish bananas, valued at $604.5-million, last year, an increase of 30-percent compared to 1.101 million MT, valued at $467.3 million, in 2018. Covid- 19, then known as the novel coronavirus 2019 (nCoV-19), was first reported on December 31, 2019 in Wuhan, China. (Antonio L. Colina IV/ MindaNews)
SANTOS... (from page 2) working, although physicians from the V. Luna Medical Center would be monitoring him. The statement added that he was in good health condition as he would also be able to discharge his duties with the assistance of Vice Admiral Gauden-
cio Collado, Jr., AFP vice chief of staff, who would oversee the daily operational activities. Another deputy chief of staff, Lieutenant General Erickson Gloria, who was recently promoted would attend to the administrative matters.
EARTHQUAKE... (from page 2) CDRRMO operations head, told TIMES that the earthquake had no “impact on the city” as it was “slightly felt only.” The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) in its Earthquake Information No. 1 said initially that the quake registered Magnitude 6 and its epicenter was 22 km southeast of Maasim in Sarangani province. In its Earthquake Information No. 2, Phivolcs said the quake was Magnitude 6.1 and its epicenter was 48 km southeast of Maasim. It was the sixth above Magnitude 6 quake that jolted Mindanao since October 16, 2019: Magnitude 6.3 on October 16; 6.6 and 6.1 on October 29; 6.5 on October 31, 6.9 on December 15 all in 2019 and 6.1 on March 26. Damages and after-
shocks were expected, according to Phivolcs. The quake was felt at Intensity 5 in Maasim, Glan, and Malapatan in Sarangani; Tupi in South Cotabato, General Santos City, and Palimbang in Sultan Kudarat. It was Intensity 4 in Jose Abad Santos, Malita; Sarangani in Davao Iccidental; and Cotabato City; Intensity 3 in Davao City, Maco and Mawab in Davao del Oro; Instrumental intensity was at 6 in General Santos, 5 in Alabel and Malungon in Sarangani; 4.in Koronadal and 1 in Gingoog City, Misamis Oriental. It was also felt in Sulu. The series of quakes since October destroyed several infrastructure and displaced thousands of families. MindaNews with a report from Rhoda Grace Saron
COVID-19... (from page 2) On Wednesday, Dr. Annabelle Yumang, Department of Health (DOH) regional director said that the rehabilitation center in Malagos started its operations as a PUI center. Duterte said the city government is readying to equip five places identified as the city’s quarantine centers for PUIs with mild symptoms. Aside from the Malagos rehabilitation center, other buildings identified are La Vida Inn in Maa, Alternative Learning School (ALS) beside People’s Park, the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) near Malagos Rehab Center, and the Queensland Hotel. Queensland Hotel has offered 240 rooms to be utilized for PUIs. The mayor added that an appliance store is also converting container vans into a facility to accommodate PUIs. “It is better for these PUIs to stay in the centers, instead of in the hospitals where there are already positive cases. Hospitals are enclosed institutions where some virus maybe circulating around,” she said, adding that there are patients who insist in staying in hospitals. She also said that these centers are getting support from the Southern Philippines Medical Center,
the only hospital for PUIs with critical, moderate and severe symptoms, and for COVID-19 positive patients. The mayor said Dabawenyos who exhibit mild symptoms of COVID-19 should go to PUI centers, instead of being admitted to hospitals. As of now, Duterte said that two out of five PUI centers are ready to function, except that they these two centers still need more stuff for it to be functional. She said La Vida already is prepared. She said the only thing that lacks are communication facilities. She also said that ALS has prepared rooms and arranged its beds. Some things like pillow cases and bed sheets and some enhancement in the water system are needed. It has around 50 rooms that can cater these PUIs. As of now, Duterte said that there are about 28 patients in Malagos rehab center as of the moment. She also said she have already inspected some checkpoints in the city and found minimal problems that were eventually resolved. She also assured the public that these facilities have been equipped with doctors and medicines ready to accommodate PUIs in the city.
MINDANAO TIMES
SATURDAY, MARCH 28, 2020
NUNOT...
(from page 6)
ngalan sa Pilipinong doktor nga nalakip sa mga “frontliners” sa China nga gipadala didto sa Wuhan. Gumikan sa kapakyas sa mga anaa sa industriya sa pagdiskobre ug tambal o bakuna sa mga bag-ong mosulpot nga mga sakit sama niining delikado kaayo nga CoViD 19, nagkadaiyang mga panahom ang nanggawas. Kini kuno, ug kana kuno makaayo o di ba makasanta sa pagsulod sa virus sa lawas sa tawo. Pero sa akong personal nga panglantaw, tinuod man ang sugyot sa maong doktor o dili, walay mawala kon sulayan nga himuon ni bisan kinsa. Ang gisugyot nga kaunon, imnon ug himuon nga pag-ehersisyo dili makadaot ug normal nga dawaton sa lawas sa tawo. Mao nga katawhan, kamo na ang maghukom.
VIEWS...
(from page 7)
from March 28 to April 14. That, apparently, has what pushed my running buddies into hyperdrive. Me? I’m warming up. I live in a private subdivision that can give me maybe a two-kilometer loop without going out to the main road, and thus won’t be seen by patrolling policemen. I’ve been using much of this route when I run with my dog. There are usually only a few people walking in the streets of this subdivision these past 12 years or so, and even less these days with the campaign to stay at home. I’m sure it’s safe to run around here, but I’d rather not. I’m lucky to have an 80-meter loop around our house, half of it paved, half semi-trail of flagstones and dirt path, running through the garage, front yard, garden, backyard, and a narrow paved alley, our pit bull Barry usually joining me in the early part. I did 5k on my first two runs since the community quarantine, and this morning I did 6k. Yes, I won’t win this contest, but I just want to stay healthy in these troubled times. Every time I finish a run, I thank God that I’m still able to run, which probably means I don’t have it. Because I’m running on a mostly shaded route, I alternate it with a 30-minute pedaling on a stationary bike, out in the midmorning sun, for Vitamin D, said to help boost the immune system. I still can’t imagine I can run in a space this small, but I’m enjoying it now. I’d probably do it more often when, hopefully, the pandemic is gone. Only less than a month ago, we thought it was already the height of craziness when a handful of my running buddies joined me in a 55k run for my 55th birthday on a 5-kilometer loop of city streets. Oh how I wish we can resume running in open wide spaces, on the road or in the mountains, very soon. (Bobby Timonera/ MindaNews)
PARADIGM...
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(from page 7)
world and patterns of our life. The Corona virus will change our politics, both within national and local entities, including the interaction between them. The world has become socialist. The battle against COVID-19 already has made the role of the federal government far more visible to people than it normally has been. As we listen to daily briefings from public health officials, tune in for guidance from our government, and seek help from the leaders’ updates, we are seeing the critical role that government plays in our lives. The countries around the world are ingesting a massive dose of big government to get out of this crisis with America’s swift, giant economic bailout package as a clear example. Some people already argue that authoritarian governments are more successful to handle the Corona virus pandemic, but the countries that responded early and successfully, such as Korea and Taiwan, have been democracies, not those run by authoritarian leaders. The global economy has entered the opening stages of collapsing that has the potential to become a depression. Already, large parts of the world have shut down. Many governments, including the US, are taking steps more often seen during wartime. The COVID-19 will strengthen that state and reinforce nationalism. Citizens look to national governments to protect them, and states and firms seek to reduce future vulnerabilities by relying on the national leadership and policies. COVID-19 is pushing governments, companies, and societies to strengthen their individual capacity to deal with extended periods of economic self isolation, but at the same times, the virus itself is proof that our world is interconnected and interdependent. There is no doubt that this crisis will cause various camps to debate about the future of our world system vigorously. The nationalists, fundamentalists, globalists, and anti-globalists will all examine the rise of China, the decline of the USA, power shifts, leadership of the world, the weakening integration of the European Union, and the role of multinational institutions and will all see new evidence for the urgency of their views. The COVID-19 will not change the global economic directions; it will only accelerate a change that had already begun; a move away from the Western-centric globalization to a more Asian-centric globalization. I, however, believe in God, who is bigger than the Corona virus, who is all powerful, who is omnipotent, and, consequently, I understand that it can serve a useful purpose with good coming out of it. I believe we can handle COVID-19 because God would never give us something we could not handle; therefore, we will handle it. We need to ask God to reveal the way to the solution and petition him persistently like a child would continually ask a parent. Every need in the world is an open door to share God’s love. For those who
believe in God, we should not panic or hide because we are frightened, but should serve the people who are most needy. No matter our level of frustration or fear, we should follow the divine injunction, “There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear.” Our hope is built on the perfection of God, so that we have been called to share that love with the world. Granted, we must be wise and responsible, and we must carefully consider all the recommendations of our City Mayor Sara Duterte and other officials, but, as believers, we should show sanity, sympathy, and patience, taking one day at a time. Our life has both a foreground and a background. The foreground is the things that are right in front of us, the things that we easily see and get consumed with because we feel they are weighing on top of us. Some things we see immediately before us, such as fake news, hypothetical scenarios, or conspiracy theories about the virus, such as those I mentioned above, or the effects this still might have on our world and daily living. But we must also remember the background of life— that is the invisible we cannot see, the spiritual realities that are beyond us. We have to understand clearly that those two things are not mutually exclusive. We live in a simultaneously physical and spiritual world, the seen and the unseen; the physical and the spiritual make up our lives and world. The problem is that right now we are focusing only on the Corona virus and the means and degrees that affect our shattered lives as well as those of people around the world because the visible life is all we see. We forget to consider the unseen, the spiritual and eternal background that is meant to put everything into focus. The good things come out of this crisis. Especially new millennials who never experience difficulties , crisis, wars in their lives . This might help and teach them how they can deal with the crisis , rise above the crisis. Family values. We fail to understand that even this is happening for a reason. If we look carefully enough at the image of our world, if we try to see the background, then we will gain the right perspective not allowing the pandemic to consume our lives with the seen so that we disregard the unseen. Our sacred text tells us, “Do not have fear, do not be anxious.” If we surrender to God, he helps us to stay positive and peaceful by reminding us that he is bigger than the Coronavirus. Remember, dear readers, life is short, yet behind the seen is the unseen, the foreground and the background, the temporal life and the eternal life. I pray that during this Coronavirus crisis, you will be conscious of the God who is our background in the way you see everything while staying healthy, positive, and responsible as the foreground almost blinds us. Developing this better way of seeing will indeed change our lives forever. Please stay healthy and maintain social distance.
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SATURDAY, MARCH 28, 2020
MINDANAO TIMES
Tinu-od o dili, kamo ang maghukom
Covid, crisis, class FOR NOT choosing who to infect between rich and poor, between rulers and ruled, and between the healthy and ill, Covid-19 may be considered an equalizer. But the absence of distinction stops at the question of who can get infected. Hence a different perspective is needed in appraising the impact of the pandemic across social classes in the context of State response to the crisis it has created. Take the case of the lockdowns, or, to use its sanitized term, community quarantines. Many would dismiss the inconveniences it has caused as a necessary evil to safeguard GUEST EDITORIAL public health, BY H. MARCOS C. MORDENO/MINDANEWS and so, they say, all citizens should just stay in their homes and not argue with authorities. Some even scoffed at those who insisted to be allowed to go outside so they could earn for their daily sustenance as stubborn, or worse. “Why can’t these people just obey?” they’d ask in exasperation. These views come from people who watch the effects of the lockdowns play out in the streets, slums and checkpoints from the safety of their comfortable homes. They come from people whose professions allow them to work at home thus the restrictions on movement don’t bother them. They come from people who own a car or two thus the shutdown of public transport wouldn’t matter. In short, these are views borne more out of contempt defined by class and privilege than of concern and compassion. It doesn’t occur to the more fortunate among us that in most cities as many as ten members of a poor household live together in a single shanty with poor ventilation and hygiene. Add to that the lack of clean water, poor nutrition and the characteristic squalor of congested urban poor colonies. Surely, these odds wouldn’t make the de facto house arrest a luxury. Doesn’t it sound strange that in times of calamiCorrespondents:
P u b l i s h e d b y M i n d a n a o T i me s Corporation, with Editorial and Business Offices at Ponciano Reyes cor . P alma G il S t ., Davao C ity . Telephone numbers (082)227-3252 or 227-9535 local 24 and 300-0854, Fax - (082)225-0309. Publisher:
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ties like typhoons, earthquakes and volcanic eruptions the same people could easily draw a huge amount of kindness from their hearts for the victims? In the current crisis however there’s no sense of solidarity with the plight of carpenters, construction workers, drivers, vendors and other people for whom the “work at home” scheme couldn’t apply. The privileged ones think their “stubbornness” is an issue of law enforcement instead of view it as an act of survival. Could it be that the privileged classes take such “stubbornness” as a threat to their survival? Deep inside perhaps they believe that keeping the poor and the unkempt away from public spaces will improve the country’s chances of overcoming the disease. If not, they simply find peace in the notion that while the draconian measures would affect all, there are those who would suffer more. In this sense, the lockdowns, which would serve no purpose if not done alongside a massive testing for the disease like our Asian neighbors did, have merely become a tool of exclusion and oppression. Is this what they mean by “social distancing” all along? (MindaViews is the opinion section of MindaNews. H. Marcos C. Mordeno can be reached at hmcmordeno@gmail.com)
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AGI ug pagtuman sa mga mando sa otoridad nagbakasyon una ko sa sulod sa akong balay sa bukid. Naa’y computer pero kay walay signal didto. Mao nga walay madawat ug dili pod makapadala ug e-mail. Busa, bisan dunay pahimangno ang kagamhanan lokal sa Dakbayan sa Dabaw nga likayan nga mogawas sa balay napugos gyud ko nga inyong alagad sa panulat sa paggawas sa akong panimalay sa bukid aron moanhi sa downtown ug ikapadala ang akong column nga “Nunot” pinaagi sa e-mail nga ana-a sa akong balay sa siyudad. Sa dihang akong gibuksan ang akong e-mail box kagahapon sa buntag pag-abot nako sa akong balay sa Catalunan Grande wa pud ko’y nakita nga mensahe didto sukwahi sa nanglabay nga mga semana nga kanunay nagpadala sa ilang mga e-mail ang akong mga pag-umangkon nga tu-a sa gawas sa Pilipinas nagtrabaho. Mao nga didto na lang ko ningdangop sa akong mobile phone aron susihon kon duna sila’y gi message sa ako-a sa Facebook o di ba sa Messenger. Wala gihapon. Hinuon, ang akong mga kauban sa klase sa high school nga dunay gitawag nga “group chat” nga naglakip sa akoa daghan kaayo ug mga mensahe pinaagi sa Messenger. Duna sila’y gi message nga may “attachment” ug naghangyo nga gumikan sa kahadlok sa katawhan sa dilikado kaayo nga sakit – ang CoVid 19 ipamahin sa uban nga mga higala ang maong mensahe pamasin nga sila adunay makat-unan mahitungod sa maong sakit ug makalikay sa kahigayonan nga matakbuyan niini. Mao nga nagdesisyon ko nga i-repost nako ang maong “attachment” sa mensahe sa akong mga kaubanana sa klase sa high school sobra sa 50 na ka tuig na ang milabay. Mao kini ang “attachment” nga gihisgutan nila ug kini sa sinultihan nga Tagalog ug ako lang gibinisaya. MAHITUNGOD SA COVID 19 Usa ka doctor nga Pilipino nga nakahuman sa iyang masteral degree, nagtrabaho didto sa Shenzhen Hospital sa China. Gibalhin siya sa Wuhan aron tun-an ang bagong virus sa pneumonia. Duna siya’y mensahe sa tanan niyang mga paryenteug mga higala. Matud sa maong doctor sa iyang mensahe, kon nakasinati ka ug sip-on ug duna kay plema ug ninggawas kini atol sa tugnaw nga panahon, kini dili sintoma sa bag-ong klase nga corona virus pneumonia. Tungod kay sumala niya, ang corona virus pneumonia magdala ug usa ka uga nga ubo nga walay kauban nga sip-on. Kini ang labing simpli nga paagi aron mailhan kon ang maong ubo sintoma ba sa corona virus pneumonia. Dugang sa maong doctor sa iyang mensahe nga kuno ang bag-ong corona pneumonia virus posibli nga mamatay pinaagi sa init. Mao nga kaya nga mamatay ang maong virus kon ang palibot sa nahimutangan niini adunay temperatura nga gikan 26 ngadto sa 27 degree celcius. Mao nga maayo nga moinom ug init nga tubig aron kalikayan ang pagkabuhi sa virus kon kini nakatapot sa bisan asa nga bahin sa lawas sulod man o gawas. Mao nga hangtud magpabilin ang temperatura sa lawas nga init gumikan sa kanunay nga pag-inom ug init nga tubig, dili makadikit ang maong virus. Mao nga maayo nga mokaon ug luy-a ug kanunay nga mag-ehersisyo aron dili mataptan sa virus. Dugang sa doktor sa iyang mensahe, kon ang tawo adunay gibati nga hilanat moinum ug tubig sa gi-itus nga luy-a aron mahulipan ug madugangan ang nawagtang nga enerhiya sulod sa lawas. Pinaagi niini di na kinahanglan pa ang bakuna, sumala sa doctor sa iyang mensahe. Ang pagkaon ug daghan nga luy-a, ahos, ug paminta mahimo sab nga makasanta sa pagtakod sa maong virus sa lawas sa tawo ug mas modako ang kahigayonan nga mawagtang sa hingpit ang virus kon naa na kini sa lawas kon kanunay nga mainitan sa adlaw ang maong gitaptan sa corona virus. Naghangyo ang maong doktor nga ipakatag kini nga inpormasyon basin na lang makatabang samtang wa pa gyud madiskobre ang tambal o bisan ang bakuna sa maong sakit nga karon nagpaluhod sa mga kanasuran sa tibuok kalibutan. Wala nalakip sa maong “reposted” nga mensahe ang (
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MINDANAO TIMES
SATURDAY, MARCH 28, 2020
A literal kind of ‘home run’ ILIGAN CITY (MindaNews) – Runners are a crazy lot. Who would BOBBY TIMONERA run 100 miles for leisure? [Disclosure: I’m not as crazy as my friends; my longest race was only 103 kilometers. But one of us placed second in a 250k race in Cebu.] They get crazier still, especially when you see what they’d do for the love of running in the time of coronavirus disease (COVID-19). We runners love the outdoors. We’d run 42 kms to get to a beach and take a dip, or 18 kms into the mountains to see a beautiful cave, then run back home. Yep, that’s us, members of the Iligan Trail Runners, and maybe millions more belonging to thousands of running groups around the world. Lock us inside our homes and bar us from running, we’d go mad. So now that there’s a lockdown in many parts of the world, my hometown included, we decided to keep on running. But here’s the twist. Instead of running outside, we decided to run indoors, being responsible and law-abiding citizens. It’s our contribution to the stay-at-home movement in the world’s attempt to “flatten the curve” of this pandemic. However short the running distance, we’re now running it. Information technology professional Harold Glenn Dumaog ran 43 kms in his home’s kitchen and wash area that is only five meters wide. That’s 4,300 loops of out-and-back running in a little over five hours. Crazy, right? Can you imagine yourself doing that? [By the way, GPS watches for runners usually have an “indoor running” option that estimates distance as if you’re running on a treadmill.] Just as crazy is college student Angelo Tuba, who ran 42k inside the house, from the dining area to the sala. Over and over and over again. Neizl June Segovia Abad, a petite girl working in an outlet store, also ran 42k around her house. That’s on her fourth day of running. Before that, she ran 21k inside her home on a sixmeter stretch, running back and forth. She’s consistently in the podium in the marathon or ultra races she has joined here in Mindanao, road or trail. Chloe Base, a champion ultramarathon runner, has been averaging 21k on their house’s roofdeck on a 34-meter loop the last five days. Her elder brother Mark uses the same area, averaging 20k the past four days. April Purple Love Monterola, a teacher, runs back and forth on a 9.5-meter stretch inside her home, averaging 25k a day. Another teacher, Dayanara Lee Maghamil, did a 21k in the six-meter stretch from her home’s main door to the sink. Reynaldo Encabo, the most senior in our group, did a 21k around his garage cum garden, his dog trailing him. Loop length: 34.5 meters, which he runs on a number 8 pattern. Erniel Pama, with a 30-meter loop in his front yard, could only do 5 to 10k. Grace Espiritu, with an 80-meter loop available to her, did 5k. Jaeger Fetalvero, who lives beside a family-owned school, has an entire basketball court all to himself. But he could only do 5k. “I’ve had no exercise lately, until I saw everyone’s posts about their indoor adventures,” he said. Our strongest and fastest, Freddie Blanco, the de facto leader and coach of the group who won a 100-mile race in Bukidnon last year, runs 20k on a 7.5-meter stretch inside his home, his 11-year-old son Ralph sometimes joining him. Freddie initiated the Iligan Trail Runners’ 20-day Indoor Running Challenge as the local government imposed an “enhanced community quarantine,” limiting the residents’ movement in the effort to contain the spread of COVID-19. He offered rewards like certificates to those who could run at least 5k every day, and medals for those with the longest runs in 20 days. “It’s a very unique situation, because those who are so used running outdoors are now running long distances inside their homes,” he said. “Most of us didn’t expect we could run this far in a space so small inside our homes,” said Freddie, who we thought was crazy enough when he ran 42k in one of Iligan’s favorite running area, that 250-meter stretch of road with an island near Redemptorist Church. He loves loops, sometimes even climbing Iligan’s most popular mountain, Mt. Agad-agad, eight times in a day as part of his training for trail races. No wonder he won last January’s “Three Kings Backyard Ultra,” a race at the Mapawa Adventure Park in neighboring Cagayan de Oro City running on a 6.7-kilometer loop in the mountains. The last runner to quit wins. When he crossed the finish line, he already ran 80k in 12 hours, with an elevation gain of 2,500 meters. Just right after the holidays, when everybody had presumably gained weight. Freddie posted our 20-day indoor run challenge on Saturday, March 21. Two days later, a nationwide “running at home challenge” was announced by the T8 Philippines Strava Club,
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Coronavirus will change the world forever THE CORONA virus will change us forever. According to the dictionary, a paradigm shift is defined as "an important change that happens when the usual way of thinking about or doing something is replaced by a new and different way." Just as the Corona virus has shattered lives, disrupted markets, exposed the competence of leadership and systems of government, revealed ways we interact with each other and even with family members, blocked travel, changed our work and study habits, reshaped our eating, playing, and loving, and reframed our grocery shopping and errand running, COVID-19 is keeping everyone in their homes, perhaps for months, readjusting our relationship with the government, remolding our connections to the outside world, and even altering our relations with our God. For example, how will Christians observe their holiest day if they cannot rejoice together on Easter morning since most churches will remain closed? How can Muslim people celebrate Ramadan if they cannot visit mosques for Tarawih prayers or gather with loved ones to break the feast? Almost all religions at some point in their history have faced challenges to spread their faith or to keep their faith alive under persecutions or war with one another, but never have all religions faced the same challenges at the same time. There is no doubt that COVID-19 is a matter of seriousness for all humanity, not just for the Chinese. Unfortunately, some clerics are exploiting the issues and inciting their followers to extreme measures, failing to undergird their practice with their faith. When I heard the initial reports of the deadly spread of COVID-19 in China, some of my good Muslim friends rejoiced and called the virus Allah’s will to punish the Chinese for their cruel treatment of the Uighur Muslims of Western China. There is no doubt that the Chinese government has inhumanely persecuted the Uighurs, and I strongly condemn that, but when the virus broke through China’s borders and hit Italy, Iran, and Spain very hard, some Arab people cheered on social media because they thought the reason the virus had attacked Iran so intensely Iran was also because of Allah’s wrath, this time over Iran’s cruel treatment of Sunni Muslims in the Middle East and around the world. The majority of Iranians are of
the Shia sect of Islam while the majority of Muslims are Sunni and thus consider Iran as not being true followers of Islam. However, when COCID-19 started to spread wider in the Middle East, some Arabs believed that this pandemic was an Iranian conspiracy against Arabs. In this vein they thought the COVID-19 was a warning to humanity from Allah to return to him and that the only solution was renew their commitment to him so that everything will be ok. However, the governments in the Muslim world, including Saudi Arabia, closed the mosques and shut down most of society. Even the Muslims’ holy cities of Mecca and Medina closed their sacred sites, and for the first time since the time of the prophet Muhammad, public prayers have been canceled in the cities. Even in literature we see scary predictions of a dystopia, as Dean Koontz wrote in 1981 in his work of fiction The Eyes of Darkness, “In around 2020, a severe pneumonia-like illness will spread around throughout the globe attacking the lungs and bronchial tubes and resisting all known treatment. Almost more baffling than the illness itself will be the fact that it will suddenly vanish as quickly as it arrived, attack again ten years later, and then disappear completely.” Koontz continues, “They call the stuff Wuhan-4oo because it was developed at their RDNA labs outside the city of Wuhan, and it was the four-hundredth visible strain of man-made microorganisms created at that research center.” As ironic, uncanny, and perhaps unnerving as that text is, it has a basis in reality to about the same degree of a fortune cookie. Out of the millions of textual scenarios, one, at least in part, may parallel a real phenomenon. In addition, among the top trending films on Netflix are the 2011 Contagion, the 2019 sci-fi 3022, the 2016 Pandemic, 2016 Containment, and the 1995 Outbreak, all signaling its viewship’s fascination with pandemics and end of the world scenarios. But dystopian novels and sci-fi films do not alter the world; reality does. This pandemic will lead to a paradigm shift in society, in healthcare, in lifestyles, and in political as well as economic power in ways that will fundamentally change how we will write history, recording life before Corona and life after Corona, like an event such as 9/11 changes the ( / PARADIGM / 5)
Staying sane LAST March 16, Davao City went on a time off in a day from media and technology community quarantine due to COVID-19 and going out and basking under the sun in and in the succeeding days, there have the morning and gardening will help a lot. been more stringent measures that restrict I have suggested to my friends that movement and contact among residents. they unfollow people who keep ranting The lead call, “Stay safe, stay at home” is about anything and I had done that too. And all over. While there are some who seem to instead, follow inspiring links. I have even not understand the gravity of the situation limited my news to the official sites of the and consciously defy it, countless obey it City Government and local media establishand weather staying in their own homes. ments. Any news not from these legit sites, Community quarantine has been a longI disregard, otherwise, I will die of panic standing practice of tribal communities all – with countless purveyors of fake news JOAN MAE SOCO- having so much time to make and share over the world. In Bontok, it’s called “tenBANTAYAN it. So choosing who to follow somehow gao” or “ta-er” while the Kankaneys are said to call it “ubaya”. The same principle lessens the drama in our quarantine days. applies: no one comes in and no one gets out. This concept, Diet is also crucial to us these days. We ought to eat a I think, has only become so challenging for this generation lot of greens and vegetables, especially because we won’t in the urban setting because we live a highly extrovert life. be as physically and socially in touch with our friends. It We are so used to being busy and doing many things all is important that we are nourished with food that has been at once. We are not even used to quiet anymore. grown under the sun. Ayurvedic medicine recommends The community quarantine may have well pleased the grown food to help in alleviating depression and anxieintroverts. But recently, I have received messages from ties. my friends who are having a difficult time with this isolaInterestingly, there’s a group of friends who are fasting tion strategy. Personally, I really think this strategy will for how many days. According to them, since they won’t surely work. It’s just that now, it’s becoming a question be working, they can at least devote their time in reflection or a call to us how to support our friends or relatives who and prayer. While food is not scarce for them, at least they are dealing with anxieties and depression at these crucial don’t resort to eating a lot every time they find themselves times. On another end, it is also important that we learn with nothing to do. to reach out in these difficult times. It may be hard to talk Perhaps, the best that we can do for each other is to about anxieties to other people but there has to be at least sense each other and give support when we need to. While a friend who you can talk and share things with. nothing beats personal connections, online may work for Although I would easily suggest “media detox” for now. This time, it’s also our duty to stay at home so we anxious people but I doubt if it would help them imme- can stop the spreading of the virus. diately since most of us get connected online. Maybe a
CLOSE TO HOME
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MINDANAO TIMES SATURDAY, MARCH 28, 2020
COVID-19: Lessons from Philippines jails show how to fight infectious disease AS COVID-19 focuses the world’s attention on infectious diseases, we have our eyes on one of the most dangerous places for the spread of such outbreaks: prisons, where densely packed people and (often) limited access to health care make for a risky situation. Overcrowding, poor ventilation and infrastructures, deficient health, hygiene and sanitation conditions favours the spread of infectious diseases – whether the novel coronavirus COVID-19 or tuberculosis (TB) which can rapidly affect a large number of people inside detention facilities. While COVID-19 is caused by a virus and TB by bacteria, both may have devastating effects on vulnerable groups such as the elderly and those with chronic diseases. TB, for example, is known to be 100 times more prevalent in detention facilities than in the community. And according to World Prison Brief database, the Philippines was ranked highest in the world in jail occupancy rate in their latest report. As of 19 March 2020, congestion rate in Bureau of Jail Management and Penology’s (BJMP) 467 jails is at 534 per cent.
THE ELDERLY and those who have pre-existing medical conditions (high blood pressure, heart diseases, respiratory tract diseases, cancer or diabetes) are more vulnerable to TB as well as COVID-19. Jes AZNAR/ICRC
OVERCROWDING has been a challenge for many years inside Philippines jails. This photo was taken inside the Manila City Jail in early March. Preparedness is very important against infectious diseases as these can potentially spread fast inside the jails and infect not only inmates but jail staff and visiting family members. Jes AZNAR/ICRC
THE REGIONAL tuberculosis infirmary in Calamba, Laguna province, is in a four-story building with consideration for adequate natural ventilation in grilled-type cells and a courtyard with basketball playground for sunning purposes. Tuberculosis patients are isolated according to their bacteriological status to prevent crosscontamination. Masks are a must for inmates, visitors and jail staff inside the facility. As of 16 March 2020, the infirmary had 300 inmate patients – 272 are males, 28 are females. Nine of them have multidrug-resistant TB. Photo: ICRC
"I FIRST had TB in 2003. I took my medicines for only three months... I did not finish the treatment because I already felt better. I found out I had TB again when I was detained in 2015. They gave me injections for two months then tablets in the next seven months. At first, it was okay but later on I could barely walk. I forced myself to survive the treatment. The BJMP staff really helped... they pursued immediate treatment for me and other detainees who showed symptoms of TB. I have a child and I want to be with him again. He keeps me motivated. I've been praying to God to heal me. I tell myself to hang on a little more and I will be free soon. I really hope I can overcome this." -"Joey," 44-year-old inmate who was cured of TB at the Calamba infirmary. Jes AZNAR/ICRC
"THE SIDE effects can be very challenging, and sometimes cause patients to discontinue treatment. These include nausea, headache, skin itching, body pains, stiffness, and at times, hearing loss. I lost my hearing in my right ear. Even if you fire a gun, I won't hear it. I also experience a lot of itching from drinking rifampicin. I don't regret undergoing treatment. Had I not taken my medicines, you won't be able to interview me anymore. I'd probably be dead already. My body felt like a lit candle that was slowly dying out." -"Carlo," inmate who was cured of TB. Jes AZNAR/ICRC
Aside from family, faith is what keeps many inmates with TB going. An inmate, who suspects he may have drug-resistant TB again, said: "I've been praying to God to heal me. I tell myself to hang on a little more and I will be free soon. I am always praying to him. I hope I can overcome this." Jes AZNAR/ICRC
GOOD nutrition is especially important in preventing TB, but also during the treatment course. Early detection is also key in successfully treating an inmate with TB and lowering the risk of the disease's spread. "The infirmary supplied us with all the needed medicines in the six months of treatment. But I still ask my mother to bring me fruits and vitamins so I will not get TB again. Now inside our dorm, whenever I notice someone with TB symptoms—loss of appetite, non-stop coughing – I ask them, can you still endure it? I accompany them. I tell them, eat as much as you can. Drink a lot of water, if possible, more than seven glasses a day." - " Mike", an inmate who was treated for TB at the Calamba infirmary in 2014, and has been cured since. Jes AZNAR/ICRC
TB is curable – although the treatment duration is from six months for regular TB, and from nine months to two years for drug-resistant forms. Here, a jail health nurse goes through the records of each TB patient to prepare their medicines every morning. Every patient takes anywhere from two to 24 tablets daily, and in some cases, an additional two to four months of antibiotic injections. Photo: ICRC
The ICRC is continuously working to strengthen the overall prison health system in the Philippines through activities such as improving access to health care for inmates and enhancing the detection and control of TB. These include defining and implementing "inmate health records" and entry screening procedures; conducting and training jail health staff on TB mass screenings as part of early case detection efforts; improving facilities through infrastructure and material support for the detection, isolation and treatment of detainees with TB; and enhancing the referral system to public health facilities.
THE REGIONAL tuberculosis infirmary in Calamba, Laguna province, is in a four-story building with consideration for adequate natural ventilation in grilled-type cells and a courtyard with basketball playground for sunning purposes. Tuberculosis patients are isolated according to their bacteriological status to prevent cross-contamination. Masks are a must for inmates, visitors and jail staff inside the facility. As of 16 March 2020, the infirmary had 300 inmate patients – 272 are males, 28 are females. Nine of them have multidrug-resistant TB. Photo: ICRC
"MANY years ago, when I applied for work, my X-ray findings suggested I had TB. I was treated for six months but I did not finish the course. I have been jailed for seven years in a congested facility. A mass screening was conducted there as well as sputum screening. There it was traced that I now had MDR TB, because I did not complete my treatment when I first had TB. I have been undergoing treatment for six months. In the first four months, it was tough because we had daily injections and a lot of medicines. I just hold on so I can get well. Now my treatment is ongoing so I can be cured." - "Rudy," inmate with MDR TB. Jes AZNAR/ICRC
"What's good about the infirmary is that the TB cases in our jails are isolated and treated here. We remove them from a congested jail where there are surely a number of TB cases. It's like we are cleansing that jail by treating them here. That's what's good about this infirmary. There's one facility that caters to detainees with TB. They get cured from their illness. They are given health education and health service." JO1 Daisy Ann Ancheta, National Tuberculosis Programme nurse who has been working since the start of the Calamba regional TB infirmary in 2012. Jes AZNAR/ ICRC
A GeneXpert testing unit allows TB bacteria to be detected in the sputum of patients after only two hours. It also tests for rifampicin-resistant strains. The regional TB infirmary has two GeneXpert units – one of which was donated by the ICRC. With these, the infirmary can properly segregate and treat detainees with primary TB and those with rifampicinresistant TB. Rifampicin-resistant cases will undergo further laboratory confirmation to identify the range of drug-resistance in Batangas Medical Center and the National TB Reference Laboratory. Photo: ICRC
"Our leadership saw that inmates in our congested jails are more vulnerable to TB. As such, they set up this facility to better treat inmates with TB and to stop the further spread of TB in jails. Here, they will be attended by jail health staff and receive medicines. Their chances of recovering are much higher. Just because they are in jail, it does not mean that they should not receive the same standard of health care as are those in the community. They must be treated equally when it comes to standard quality health care. There should be no difference." – Jail superintendent Elizabeth Garceron, warden of Calamba regional TB infirmary. Jes AZNAR/ ICRC
"When I first learned that my husband had TB, my only desire was for him to get treated. It doesn't matter if he's far so long as he receives proper treatment. I visit him twice a week. It takes me an hour to visit him. We talk about the naughty things our grandchildren do. I also bring him food. At first, I was afraid to visit him but I thought he would feel sad if I didn't. And that instead of getting well here, he might turn for the worse. My being his wife overcame my fear of getting TB." – A woman visiting her husband who has just finished his TB treatment. Her husband was moved to the infirmary from a jail in Batangas in October 2019 upon TB diagnosis through one of the TB mass screenings. Jes AZNAR/ICRC
MINDANAO TIMES SATURDAY, MARCH 28, 2020
Camera Club holds 37th Foundation Anniversary IT WAS on the 23rd of February that we received a message from USEC Bam Garcia, inviting us to the 37th Foundation of the organization which has always asked us to share the occasion with them, the Camera Club of Davao. As we all remember very well, one of the founding members of the club was “Tatay� Rene B. Lumawag, a dear friend of all the members and associates who had shared memorable occasions with him for more than thirty years. Tatay Rene also worked with The Mindanao Times after his retirement from SunStar Davao and was well-loved by the members of the media. This was the first time that the CCD celebrated the foundation anniversary without Tatay Rene, and the officers could not help being emotional during the program, as Tatay was one of those who had a lot of
humor at every gathering such as this. A new set of officers was inducted and awards were given to the outstanding members who excelled during the year and winning photographs were recognized, the entries having been judged right at the venue, the Marco Polo Davao Saranggani Function Room on February 23, 2020. Thirty seven years went by swiftly, but the bonds which keep these members together have built a friendship so strong, it can never break.
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SATURDAY, MARCH 2020 WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 31,28, 2016
All pawned items that expired during the month All pawned items that expired during the of JANUARY 2020, if not renewed or redeemed on month MAY, 14, 2015 notberenewed reor beforeof MARCH 2020ifwill sold to theorpublic deemed on or before JULY 14, 2015 will be on MARCH 16, 2020 at 9:00a.m. at our pawnshop sold to the public on JULY 16, 2015 at 9:00 premises.
a.m. at our pawnshop premises.
Gipahibalo ang tanan na ang FIRST COLOR PAWNSHOP magasubasta sa tanan nga nag-expired Gipahibalo na prenda ang FIRST sa bulan sa ENEROang 2020.tanan Ang tanan ibaligya COLOR PAWNSHOP magasubasta sa 9:00 tanansa sa publiko karong MARSO 16, 2020 sa alas buntag. nga nag-expired sa bulan sa MAYO 2015.
DAVAO FIRST COLOR
Ang tanan prenda ibaligya sa publiko karong HULYO 16 sa alas 9:00 sa buntag.
PAWNSHOP
#47 Lao St., Toril, Davao City Tel. No. 295-2460
All pawned items that expired during the month of FEBRUARY 2020, must renewed or redeemed two (2) days prior the Auction Schedule stated below. If not renewed or redeemed it will sold to the public on its respective auction schedule and premises @ 9:00am. Gipahibalo ang tanan nga ang DAVAO GEVIN PAWNSHOP, INC., maga-subasta sa tanan nga nagexpired sa bulan sa PEBRERO 2020. Ang tanang prenda ibaligya sa publiko sa mga petsa nga nakabutang sa ubos, sa oras nga 9:00 sa buntag. BRANCHES
AUCTION DATE
TEL. NOS.
CALINAN, Villafuerte (Main) APRIL 03, 2020
295-0751
MINTAL, Sampaguita St.
233-0712
APRIL 03, 2020
All pawned items that expired during the month of JANUARY 2020, must renewed or redeemed two (2) days prior the Auction Schedule stated below. If not renewed or redeemed it will sold to the public on its respective auction schedule and premises @ 9:00am. Gipahibalo ang tanan nga ang GOLDVALUE PAWNSHOP, INC., maga-subasta sa tanan nga nag-expired sa bulan sa ENERO 2020. Ang tanang prenda ibaligya sa publiko sa mga petsa nga nakabutang sa ubos, sa oras nga 9:00 sa buntag.
BRANCHES AUCTION DATE TEL. NOS. BAJADA MARCH 03, 2020 321-8705 (Beside NBI Office) BABAK SAMAL MARCH 24, 2020 301-4019 SAN PEDRO MARCH 6, 2020 227-6772 CABAGUIO MARCH 27, 2020 321-6223 TIBUNGCO MARCH 30, 2020 222-2494 (OPENING)
NOTICE OF AUCTION SALE
NOTICE OF AUCTION SALE
All pawned items that expired during the month of JANUARY 2020, must renewed or redeemed two (2) days prior to the Auction Schedule stated below. If not renewed or redeemed, it will be sold to the public on its respective auction schedule and premises @ 9:00 a.m. Gipahibalo ang tanan nga ang NARDING PAWNSHOP, INC., maga-subasta sa tanan nga nag-expired sa bulan sa ENERO 2020. Ang tanan prenda ibaligya sa publiko sa mga petsa nga nakabutang sa ubos, sa oras nga 9:00 sa buntag. BRANCHES Lapu-lapu, Agdao Matina Crossing Tibungco
AUCTION DATE MARCH 10, 2020 MARCH 24, 2020 MARCH 17, 2020
TEL. NOS. (082) 222-3524 (082) 297-5786 (082) 296-4130
PANABO’S PAWNSHOP, INC. Panabo (Main) MARCH 16, 2020 (084) 628-8418 Panabo (Branch) MARCH 16, 2020 (084) 628-842
All pawned items that expired during the month of JANUARY 2020 must be renewed or redeemed two (2) days before the Auction Schedule stated below. If not renewed or redeemed, it will be sold to public on its respective auction schedule and premises @ 9:00 A.M. Gipahibalo ang tanan na ang DIAGOLD PAWNSHOP INC., magasubasta sa tanan nga nag-expired sa bulan ENERO 2020. Ang tanang prenda ibaligya sa publiko sa mga petsa na nakabutang sa ubos, sa oras nga 9:00 sa buntag. BRANCHES
Gipahibalo ang tanan na ang AL-JOS PAWNSHOP magasubasta sa tanan nga nag-expired sa bulan sa DISYEMBRE 2019. Ang tanan prenda ibaligya sa publiko karong PEBRERO 17, 2020 sa alas 9:00 sa buntag.
AUCTION DATE TEL. NOS.
Agdao MARCH 12, 2020 (Toy Bldg., Lapu-lapu St.)
284-9017
ROSEGOLD PAWNSHOP & JEWELLER Main – San Pedro Cor. Anda Street Davao City Tel. Nos. (082) 221-1477; (082) 221-0355; (082)222-5039 Accepts: Jewelry, Appliances, Watches, CellPhones and Any Valuable Items Highest Appraisal and Low Interest Rates at 3% Wholesaler and Retailers on all kinds of jewelry
All pawned items that expired during the month of JANUARY 2020, must be renewed or redeemed on or before MARCH 07, 2020. If not redeemed or renewed, it will be sold to the public on MARCH 10, 2020 at our pawnshop premises from 9:00 AM to 5:30 PM.
All pawned items that expired during the month of DECEMBER 2019, if not renewed or redeemed on or before FEBRUARY 15, 2020 will be sold to the public on FEBRUARY 17, 2020 at 9:00a.m. at our pawnshop premises.
Rosegold Pawnshop Lapu-lapu Street, Agdao Davao City Tel. No. (082) 225-3637
Rosegold Pawnshop Ilustre St., Davao City (Fronting Limso Hospital) Tel. No. (082) 222-2104
Rosegold Pawnshop Ilustre Street, Davao City (Beside NCCC Hardwaremaxx) Tel. No. (082) 295-6199
Rosegold Pawnshop KM6 Crossing Buhangin, Div. Road, Davao City Tel. No. (082) 241-2355
NOTICE OF AUCTION SALE All Jewelry and other articles pawned at Rosegold Pawnshop San Pedro-Main, Rosegold Pawnshop Ilustre, Rosegold Pawnshop Bolton, Rosegold Pawnshop, Agdao and Rosegold Pawnshop Buhangin from SEPTEMBER 16, 2019 to OCTOBER 15, 2019. If not redeemed or renewed on or before MARCH 13, 2020 will be sold to the Public Auction on MARCH 16, 2020 at Rosegold Pawnshop San Pedro-Main from 9:00am to 6:00pm.
GOLDSTANDARD PAWNSHOP
San Pedro street, Davao City (Fronting Queen Bank) Tel. No. (082) 222-1561 ; (082) 321-0128 Accepts: Jewelry, Appliances, Watches, Cellphones and any valuable items Highest Appraisal and Low Interest Rates at 3% Wholesaler and Retailers on all Kinds of Jewelry
NOTICE OF AUCTION SALE
All jewelry and other articles pawned at Goldstandard Pawnshop San Pedro, Goldstandard Pawnshop Ilustre from SEPTEMBER 16, 2019 to OCTOBER 15, 2019 if not redeemed or renewed on MARCH 13, 2020 will be sold to the Public Auction on MARCH 16, 2020 at our Pawnshop premises from 9:00am to 6:00pm.
SATURDAY, MARCH 28, 2020
NOTICE OF AUCTION SALE All pawned items at METRO GOLDBRILL PAWNSHOP that expired during the month of JANUARY 2020, if not renewed or redeemed on or before MARCH 13, 2020 will be sold to the public on MARCH 17, 2020 at 9:00 A.M. Ginapahibalo ang tanan na ang METRO GOLDBRILL PAWNSHOP magasubasta sa tanan nga nag-expired sa bulan sa ENERO 2020. Ang tanan prenda ibaligya sa publiko karong MARSO 17, 2020 sa alas 9:00 sa buntag.
2nd Level, Gaisano Mall of Davao, J.P. Laurel Ave., Davao City Tel. No.: (082) 221-3355 • (082) 305-9496 2nd Level, SM Lanang Premier, J.P. Laurel Ave., Davao City Tel. No.: (082) 295-1505 • (082) 321-0525 email: jrosejewels@yahoo.com • www.jrosejewels.ph
PAWNS NOT REDEEMED/RENEWED WITHIN FIVE (5) DAYS AFTER EXPIRY DATES WILL BE AUCTIONED ON MARCH 16, 2020 AT 10:00 A.M. AT THE RESPECTIVE PAWNSHOPS WHERE THE ITEMS WERE PAWNED.
All pawned items of GOLDVISION PAWNSHOP, INC. that expired during the month of JANUARY 2020, if not renewed or redeemed it will be sold to the public on its respective auction schedule and premises at 9:00 a.m. Gipahibalo ang tanan na ang GOLDVISION PAWNSHOP, INC. maga-subasta sa tanan nga nag-expire sa bulan sa ENERO 2020. Ang tanan prenda ibaligya sa publiko sa mga petsa nga nakabutang sa ubos, sa oras nga 9:00 sa buntag. BRANCHES
AUCTION DATE
General Lao, Toril
MARCH MARCH MARCH MARCH MARCH MARCH MARCH
Agton. Toril Buhangin Magallanes Tagum Saavedra, Toril Agdao
17, 2020 17, 2020 13, 2020 10, 2020 26, 2020 17, 2020 19, 2020
TEL. NO. 291-2406 291-2952 241-0223 224-3138 216-3425 291-1349 327-2348
All pawned items that expired during the month of JANUARY 2020 must be renewed or redeemed two (2) days prior to the Auction Schedule stated below. If not renewed or redeemed, it will be sold to the public on its respective auction schedule and premises @ 9:00A.M. BRANCHES
AUCTION DATE
TEL. NO.
C.M. RECTO (MAIN) LANANG BRANCH 1 SAN PEDRO
MARCH 17, 2020 297-8081 MARCH 17, 2020 235-3473 MARCH 17, 2020 327-8832
GABBY’S BRILLIANT PAWNSHOP INC. / GABBY’S INFINITE PAWNSHOP INC. TEL NO.: 321-2185 / 234-4844
All pawned items that expire during the month of JANUARY 2020 must be renewed or redeemed two (2) days prior the Auction Schedule stated below. If not renewed or redeemed it will be sold to public on its respective auction schedule and premises @9:00a.m. Gipahibalo ang tanan nga ang GABBY’S INFINITE PAWNSHOP INC. magasubasta sa tanan nga nag expire sa bulan sa ENERO 2020. Ang tanang prenda ibaligya sa publiko sa mga petsa nga nakabutang sa ubos, sa oras nga 9:00 sa buntag. BRANCHES
AUCTION DATE
TEL. NOS.
SAN PEDRO
MARCH 16, 2020
321-2185
ILUSTRE
MARCH 02, 2020
234-4844
MARCH 13, 2020
All pawned items from SEPTEMBER 2019 – OCTOBER 2019
SATURDAY, MARCH31, 28,2016 2020 WEDNESDAY, AUGUST
SATURDAY, MARCH 2020 WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 31,28, 2016
Davao Ros-Ver Pawnshop, Incorporated
DAVAO 3 SURE PAWNSHOP, INC. NOTICE OF AUCTION SALE All pawned items that expire during the month of JANUARY 2020 must be renewed or redeemed two (2) days prior the Auction Schedule stated below. If not renewed or redeemed it will be sold to public on its respective auction schedule and premises @ 9:00 a.m. Gipahibalo ang tanan nga ang DAVAO 3 SURE PAWNSHOP, INC., maga-subasta sa tanan nga nag expire sa bulan sa ENERO 2020. Ang tanang prenda ibaligya sa publiko sa mga petsa nga nakabutang sa ubos, sa oras nga 9:00 sa buntag.
BRANCHES
AUCTION DATE
TEL. NOS
SAN PEDRO BUHANGIN
MARCH 10, 2020 MARCH 17, 2020
225-0033 241-1071
Ilustre St., Davao City Tel # 224-1204; 222-6086
AUCTION SALE!
The DAVAO ROS-VER PAWNSHOP, INC. and NEW PAG-ASA PAWNSHOP will be having its JOINT AUCTION on all unredeemed pawned items left during the month of November 2019. The said items will be sold to the public at the following VENUE AND DATE. Gipahibalo ang publiko na ang DAVAO ROS-VER PAWNSHOP, INC. og ang NEW PAG-ASA PAWNSHOP; magsubasta sa tanang prenda nga naremata atong Nobyembre 2019. Ang tanang prenda dungan nga ibaligya sa publiko sa mga sumusunod nga dapit og petsa:
DAVAO CITY Digos Rizal Digos Luna Digos Magsaysay Tagum Rizal Tagum Roxas Tagum Pioneer Tagum Public Market Tagum Quezon Santo Tomas Nabunturan Davao Branches Mati Burgos Kidapawan Panabo
Tel.#234-2268/cell#09078756193 ask for Ram and Jen between 8am-5pm
Digos Magsaysay March 6, 2020 At 9:30am
Venue and Date
Tagum Pioneer – GRAND AUCTION March 6-7, 2020 At 9:30am Santo Tomas March 11, 2020 At 9:30am Nabunturan March 14, 2020 At 9:30am Ilustre – GRAND AUCTION March 19-21, 2020 At 9:30am Mati Burgos March 21, 2020 At 9:30am Kidapawan March 25,2020 At 9:30am Panabo – GRAND AUCTION March 30-31
14
MINDANAO TIMES
SATURDAY, MARCH 28, 2020
SATURDAY, MARCH 28, 2020
MINDANAO TIMES
7 15
Spectre of coronavirus quarantine haunts Hungarian democracy, say BY PETER MURPHY AND SOPHIE MAKRIS IN VIENNA
A "DICTATORSHIP" at the heart of the EU? A draft law to grant anticoronavirus emergency measures set for adoption by Budapest has alarmed observers who fear it will hand Prime Minister Viktor Orban unlimited power. " H u n g a r y i s a w i n g F i d e s z p a r t y, worries for Hungarian special case, nowhere approves the "coronavirus press freedoms that have else have you the kind of law" with the necessary dwindled under Orban. extraordinary measures t w o - t h i r d s m a j o r i t y, - 'EU's first that Orban is proposing," Orban's cabinet could in dictatorship'? said Milan Nic, an expert theory enjoy effectively A former antiwith the Berlin-based unchecked power. communist turned German Council for " H i s g o v e r n m e n t self-styled "illiberal" Foreign Relations. is already in a stronger nationalist, 56-yearAfter declaring a position than anywhere o l d O r b a n h a s a l s o state of emergency on else in the EU. Hungary transformed Hungary's March 11, Orban expects is no longer a country of political, judicial, and parliament to vote on democratic checks and constitutional landscape Tuesday to allow him to balances," said Nic. since he came to power extend it indefinitely and The law would also in 2010. rule by decree in order to enable heavy jail terms His many clashes better fight COVID-19 for publishers of "false w i t h t h e E u r o p e a n and its impacts. information" about the i n s t i t u t i o n s , N G O s I f p a r l i a m e n t , virus and the government's and rights groups over dominated by his right- measures, stoking new migration, democracy,
55 BPO... (from page 3) It added 14 BPOs indicated they would suspend operations for the duration of the community quarantine. “The BPO Covid-19 TF is closely working with the BPO Association of Davao, ICT Davao, and other industry players in ensuring the smooth operations of their establishments during these challenging times. We have also asked that the 55 BPOs who have remained open to submit some details of their Contingency Plans to the TF for guidance and the reference during moni-
toring,” the task force said. Based on Executive Order 20 issued on Monday by Mayor Sara Duterte, BPOs may continue to operate provided they would adopt either of the two options offered to them. Section 17 of EO 20, which adopted provisions of Memorandum Circular 20-08 Series of 2020 of the Department of Trade Industry issued on March 19, provides that BPO/Call Centers must either enforce “skeletal workforce with social distancing and appropriate temporary ac-
commodation arrangements within the vicinity and with shuttle service” or “work from home arrangements.” EO 20 also warned that non-compliant companies would be immediately closed if their managements would not adhere to either of the two options. The mayor noted that BPOs “are considered a mass gathering. If one of them gets sick they can infect others because of the character of Covid-19, which is highly contagious.” (Antonio L. Colina IV/MindaNews)
SULTAN... (from page 3) Region 12 (DOH-12) said. “There will be a provincial lockdown…all public transportation, including tricycles and skylab (motorcycles) operators, will be suspended,” Mangudadatu said. A source at the Tacurong City government, who requested anonymity, said Friday that PH600, who died at a hospital in their city on March 14, was a resident of another locality. A wake was held for PH600, who was tested positive for COVID-19 based on results released on March 25, by his relatives in Tacurong, the official said. The official admitted they have a resident of Tacurong City who has been classified as a PUI but that the patient was tested negative of COVID-19. " Tacur ong City is still COVID-19 free," the source said.
Arjohn Gangoso, DOH-12 health education and promotion officer, said that contact tracing is still ongoing involving the case of PH600. He said that PH600 exhibited symptoms of the coronavirus disease, such as cough, fever and difficulty in breathing, upon admission at the hospital. Gangoso said that the deceased patient had interactions with a family member who has a recent travel history to Manila. Mangudadatu said that for those authorized to travel to and from the province, such as frontliners, responders, law enforcers, among others, a “no ID, no entry, no exit policy” will be implemented during the lockdown at the border checkpoints. Vehicles transporting foods and other essential supplies shall be extended unhampered access to and
within the province, he added. Mangudadatu asked the mayors to coordinate with businessmen engaged in the selling of basic consumer goods for the establishment of rolling stores to go to the communities. “Our goal is to contain people to stay at home while we are battling this invisible enemy,” Mangudadatu said. Based on the latest data from the Department of Health Center for health Development – Soccsksargen, Sultan Kudarat has 10 persons under investigation (PUIs) on home quarantine while one is still admitted in an undisclosed hospital. At least 700 persons under monitoring have been undergoing the 14-day home quarantine, it added. The lockdown is effective until revoked, Mangudadatu said. (Bong S. Sarmiento/MindaNews)
and the rule of law have seen Budapest sued by Brussels for "breaching" EU values.
"Until now, the system installed by Orban was seen as a 'hybrid state', neither democracy nor
dictatorship," said former journalist Paul Lendvai in an editorial this week in Austria's Der Standard.
LORENZANA... (from page 3) sage to reporters. Lorenzana said he had close contact with Santos on at least two recent occasions -- one during a turn-over of medical supplies in Villamor Air Base, Pasay City; and one at AFP General Headquarters in Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City and Heroes' Hall in Malacañang, Manila. These events took place over the weekend and on Monday, respectively. Lorenzana said he has yet to experience any Covid-19 symptoms. "I have no symptoms but protocol says I have to self-quarantine for 14 days," he added. Meanwhile, Santos also placed himself on strict home quarantine (SHQ) beginning Friday until April 10.
He, however, will continue working during this period, AFP public affairs officer, Capt. Jonathan Zata said. "He has been tested on 23 March and results came out 27 March yielding 'Positive' for Covid-19," Zata added. While on SHQ, Santos will be closely monitored by military physicians from the V. Luna Medical Center. "He is well and in good health condition. He will be in his military quarters where he will continue the discharge of his duties and responsibilities," Zata said. During this period, Santos will be assisted by AFP vice chief-of-staff, Vice Admiral Gaudencio Collado Jr. who shall oversee the daily operational activities.
AFP deputy chief-ofstaff, Lt. Gen. Erickson Gloria will attend to administrative matters. "He donned the new rank of a senior AFP officer who was promoted. That officer, after a test later conducted, turned out to be positive for Covid-19," Zata said. He added that Santos made public his Covid-19 results to inform those he had close physical contact with starting March 13 and 27 that they should observe the medical protocol of self-quarantine. "Meanwhile, those who had similar contact with him from the period 9-12 March but are symptomatic must take precaution and seek medical advice," Zata said. (PNA)