Mindanao Daily (April 16, 2020)

MINDANAO DAILY TRUTH. JUSTICE. PROGRESS.

Volume IX, No. 264

www.mindanaodailynews.com

Thursday, April 16, 2020

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Local inventor rolls out green disinfection innovations vs. COVID-19

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HERE’S no stopping the Magus of the Seven Seas, Cagayan de Oro’s Pride and representative to the Parthenon of game changing inventors like Nikola Tesla and Thomas Alva Edison.

The younger generation knows Engr. Elpidio M. Paras better as the man behind two of the region’s most popular tourist attractions, Dahilayan Adventure Park in Manolo Fortich, Bukidnon, and the Seven Seas Waterpark and Resort at Opol, Misamis Oriental.

But they have no idea how the magic started long before he graduated as a mechanical engineer from De La Salle University in 1974 thanks to a scholarship from Del Monte Philippines, how the ideas came thick and fast to eventually bring the wonders of satellite TV to Cagayan de Oro and later cable television, both firsts in Mindanao.

Now at this time of the global COVID-19 pandemic, the Magus of the Seven Seas has again risen to the occasion with three innovations to help mitigate the

adverse health and economic effects of the coronavirus on the populace.

Practical Magic First off, last March 31st, Paras announced in a Facebook post the successful commissioning of the Seven Seas Waterpark's Chlorinsitu IIa machine to produce 815 liters daily of Sodium Hypochlorite (NaOCl) solution daily.

“While it was intended to keep our wave pool sanitized for the summer, it is now repurposed to supply a good quantity of chlorine-based disinfectant for use by the community,” Paras said.

When its daily output of NaOCl is diluted with water, the machine can produce the equivalent of 7,000 Liters of surface disinfectant in a day.

“We are working with the XU Chemistry department See INVENTOR, page 7

Oca orders mandatory wearing of face masks

CAGAYAN DE ORO City Mayor Oscar Moreno yesterday ordered the mandatory wearing of face masks in public places to continue fighting against the deadly threats of covid-19.

This, as the City Health Office has also announced eight residents of the city reportedly attended a cock derby in Davao last March 12, and are now being traced and monitored by City Health Officials.

During a press conference, the City Mayor announced signing an ordinance requiring all city residents to wear face masks.

The City Government is also scheduled to distribute 200,000 locally-made face masks to Kagay-anons.

“I’m sure most of the Engr. Elpie Paras presents his latest innovation the ParaSafe Transportable Ultraviolet residents already have their Disinfection Chamber

See MASKS, page 7

2GO all set to welcome repatriated seafarers for mandatory quarantine

2GO Group Inc. is ready to welcome aboard returning Filipino seafarers and workers to carry out their mandatory 14-day quarantine on two of its passenger vessels, the shipping and logistics company announced Wednesday.

In partnership with the Department of Transportation (DOTr), 2GO provided these passenger vessels to be used as quarantine facilities.

The move was in response to the call of Secretary Arthur Tugade for private passenger ships to be used Members of the Philippine Coast Guard prepare to go onboard one of the two 2GO vessels for this purpose because of chartered to serve as temporary quarantine facilities for returning seafarers. contributed photo tight capacities.

“We are ready to do our national duty to help the government in curbing the Covid-19 pandemic. We have provided our vessels to accommodate our repatriated fellow Filipinos, while ensuring the necessary conditions for a safe and comfortable stay are in place,” said Mr. Waldo Basilla, 2GO Group’s Chief Operating Officer.

“This project comes at a meaningful time as we recently celebrated Easter.

The message on hope and renewal resonates with our wish for the safety of everyone and desire to return to

normal life,” he added.

2GO’s M/V St. Anthony de Padua (SAP) and M/V St. Pope John Paul II (SJP) are currently docked at Pier 15, South Harbor, Manila for two months to serve as transition shelters. Aside from the accommodations, onboard facilities and retail stores will continue to be made available to ensure the comfort and convenience of those in quarantine. Additionally, selected common areas including the spacious sun deck will remain accessible.

Basilla shared that the See SEAFARERS, page 7

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PH ready to participate in clinical trials of Avigan: Duterte

By RUTH ABBEY GITA-CARLOS, PNA

MANILA – The Philippines is willing to join the other countries in conducting clinical trials of Avigan, a Japanese anti-viral drug, for potential treatment of coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19), President Rodrigo Duterte said on Tuesday.

Duterte made the remarks during his address at the Association of Southeast Asian Nations’ (Asean) Plus Three Summit on Covid-19 with Japan, China and South Korea.

“The Philippines is ready to participate in clinical trials and medical studies of potential vaccines and medicines such as Avigan.

We are confident our scientists and experts within and outside our region will rise to this colossal challenge.

A vaccine and/or treatment must be found sooner rather than later,” Duterte said.

Researches at Wuhan University and other institutions in China have revealed that Avigan, developed by a subsidiary of Japan-based Fujifilm Holdings Corp., is seen as an effective drug in treating Covid-19.

Japan has begun conducting clinical tests to examine the effectiveness and safety of Avigan, otherwise known as Favipiravir, to Covid-19 patients.

Japanese Chief Cabi-

net Secretary Yoshihide Suga earlier announced the Japanese government’s plan to offer Avigan for free to nations hit by Covid-19 pandemic.

Suga said some 30 countries have made requests to Japan for the procurement of Avigan.

Duterte said bolstering scientific cooperation in the area of vaccine and antiviral treatment research and development was necessary to fight Covid-19.

“Our duty then and that of relevant multilateral institutions is to make sure that all countries will have fair and easy access to vaccines and treatments. Discussions on modalities should be started,” he said.

End Covid-19 with finality Over 1.8 million Covid-19 infections have been recorded globally, according to the data uploaded on the official website of the World Health Organization.

Around 117,217 Covid-19 patients around the world have already died.

In the Philippines, there are 5,223 confirmed Covid-19 cases, with 335 fatalities and 295 recoveries.

Duterte lamented that Covid-19 has brought the entire world to a “standstill.”

“We are still in the early

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President Rodrigo Roa Duterte gives his intervention as he joins other leaders from the Asean member countries, the Republic of Korea, People’s Republic of China and Japan during the special Asean Plus Three Summit on Covid-19 video conference at the Malago Clubhouse in Malacañang on April 14, 2020. (Presidential photo by Ace Morandante)

stages of this crisis… We face the specter of a global recession,” he said.

Duterte said countries with Covid-19 cases must

continue to work together to end Covid-19 pandemic “with finality.”

“Our most urgent priority is strengthening the

capacity of our healthcare systems. We call for the increased production and the facilitation of trade of vital medical equipment

and supplies in our region.

We support the creation of regional reserves of medical supplies to better equip us in this fight,” he said. (PNA)

Laing P500,000, gidonar ngadto sa NMMC DUGANG P500,000 nga cash ang gidonar sa Kapitolyo Probinsyal ngadto sa Northern Mindanao Medical Center (NMMC), dugang hinabang sa balaytambalanan sa pagpakgang sa coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

Gi d aw at n i N M MC chief of hospital Dr. Jose Chan ang cheke nga git u n o l n i G ov. E m a n o niadtong Lunes, Abril 13, 2020, atol sa pagpakayab sa nasudnong bandila sa kapitolyo.

Gikan sa King Energy Generation Inc. ang maong kant idad. Tungo d sa ilang pagsalig kang

Gov. Emano, gihimong tulay ang gobernador aron masiguro nga modangat gayud sa NMMC ang ilang kaugalingong hinabang.

Dili mahutdan sa iyang pagpasalamat si Dr. Chan s a l ai ng k ant i d a d ng a daku uyamot og ikatabang alang sa ilang kombate pagluwas sa mga pasyente nga “probable” ug “confirmed” sa makamatay nga virus.

Si Mr. Ramel Inzo, ang safety health environmental manager sa King Energy, nagkanayon daku ilang pagsalig kang Gov. Emano nga ma-plastar gayud og maayo ang ilang

hinabang ug mopadulong gayud sa hustong paingnan.

Sa milabay nga duha ka

semana, dunay P1 milyon cash ang nadawatan sa NMMC gikan sa punudlanan sa kapitolyo.

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Sara offers 1-year salary for Covid-stricken front-liners

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By CHE PALICTE

AVAO CITY – Mayor Sara Z. Duterte is putting her one-year salary amounting to PHP2.1 million in a trust fund to help the front-liners of the Southern Philippines Medical Center (SPMC) who have tested positive for the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19).

In a radio interview on Tuesday, Mayor Sara said the decision came after Dr. Leopoldo Vega, chief of SPMC, disclosed that 12 of 300 medical workers at the state-run hospital have been infected with the virus.

However, Vega said 10 of the 12 infected health workers have been discharged while

Davao City Mayor Sara Z. Duterte. (PNA file photo)

the remaining two were still confined at the SPMC with mild symptoms.

Their admission to the hospital and medications, like all other patients with coronavirus in the city, are being shouldered by the city government.

With the decision of the regional policymakers to make SPMC as the only hospital to accept Covid-19 cases, Duterte said she felt accountable for what happened to the frontliners.

“Somehow I felt involved because it was me who told the Department of Health (DOH) that we only use SPMC. When I read the announcement of

Dr. Vega that there were 12 (who tested positive), I was heartbroken. So I thought of what I can do for them,” Sara said.

She said she would give PHP50,000 to each of the Covidstricken SPMC front-liners.

“With what they go through, they need to pamper themselves.

They buy whatever they want with that money. I know that their worries, fear, and inconvenience cannot be compensated in any way, but at least they have money to buy things that would make them feel better,” Sara said.

As of Tuesday, the city had a total of 90 Covid-19 cases, 52 of whom have already recovered, and 14 have died. (PNA)

DOH-10 lays out plan, feats to fight COVID-19 DEPARTMENT of Health Center for Health Development – Northern Mindanao (DOHCH-NM) Regional Director, Dr. Adriano Suba-an reaffirmed that their department has fully a competent and fleshed out blueprint against the fight of the virus in the region and to extinguish doubts during the NorMin COVID-19 Response Task Force's (NMCRTF) biweekly press briefing, April 14.

“We presented in our NorMin COVID-19 Response Task Force (NMCRTF) meeting together with the governors through teleconference and officials in the region our plans of using the concept and operation

of 'Detect, Isolate, Treat, and Reintegrate,' which includes recovery in our reintegration aspect.”

He said DOH-10 remains committed in the fight against COVID-19. To date, they have given services to 27 medical referrals, answered 556 calls in their COVID-19 hotlines, distributed 4,174 educational posters and 1,914 tarpaulins across different localities to private and public establishments, and answered 625 calls on their psychological support services hotlines.

To further boost their battle against the disease, their Nutrition Cluster gave out ferrous

sulfate, zinc sulfate, nutri-butter, nutri-mum, ready to use therapeutic food along with their food packs, while their Logistics Assistance cluster provided supplies such as personal protective equipment (PPEs), cadaver bags, and disinfectants across all provinces in Northern Mindanao which amounts to P2,845,311.

As for the modification of classification of COVID-19 cases, Suba-an explained that 'probable case' refers to people with mild, severe, or critical symptoms who are tested but showed inconclusive reports, 'suspect case' for people with mild, severe, or critical symp-

toms who are not yet tested, and 'confirmed case' for positive patients.

As of April 14, there are now a total of 11 confirmed cases in the region, all of whom are not locally transmitted, 4 had recovered, 3 expired, 2 are currently confined in the hospital, and 2 are in-home quarantine.

"We are always taking account the worst case scenario, we can only project, what we don’t want to happen is to be like Italy, Wuhan, Spain, and even the US, that’s why we are making best of the what we have to protect everyone," Suba-an said. (Vincent Philip S. Bautista/ PIA10)

The Department of Health Center for Health Development – Northern Mindanao (DOHCHD-NM) relentlessly empowers its front liners to keep the virus at bay through the maximization of its resources and services, DOHCHDNM Regional Director, Dr. Adriano Suba-an reaffirms.

(RDM/PIA10)

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Thursday, April 16, 2020

Opinion

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‘Let my people awake’

“Where the mind is without fear and the head is held high, where knowledge is free, where the world is not broken down by narrow domestic walls, in that heaven of freedom my Father, let my people awake.”

These poetic lines by India’s greatest poet, Rabindranath Tagore, reverberated in India 80 years ago, as the once passive nation rose up against British imperialism and claimed its independence, not through a bloody revolution but through a persistent peaceful resistance called “Satyagraha” or love-force championed by the “Father of the Nation” named Mahatma Gandhi.

That Indian struggle against an empire which boast of colonizing a substantial portion of the globe thereby aptly earning the description of “an empire where the sun does not set,” had put in clear terms the meaning of the slogan “the

people united, can never be defeated.”

Whatever be the odds, be it against an empire or conditions that degrade human dignity such as dire poverty or even against the coronavirus pandemic, the people, at the end, would always triumph. But, first, they have to be capacitated to harness their collective strength, founded on a strong faith that they alone can solve their problems by resolving issues confronting their communities.

In our country, whether by law, by nurture and by its nature, cooperativism readily comes into picture as the only instrument now that can put to its knees another kind of “empire” that has caused the marginalization of the people and the ecosystems. That “empire” is the primary cause of poverty, rooted in the powerlessness of the people.

That “empire” manifests itself in many ways. It could be a mindset of the people that has become passive and apathetic, bombarded by gospels of materialism and consumerism that has produced a “throw away” society.

The “empire” could manifest itself in a pandemic disease which is a manifestation of nature’s ire against humans as the earth is now facing its 6th extinction due to the collective insanity of homo sapiens because it is the worst species that ever have lived causing the demise of more than 100 million people in the 20th century alone.

Its other name is social injustice, perpetuated by a skewed socio-economic structure, putting the bulk of the people outside the development processes.

Its “tentacles” are the Dracula-like usurers that sip the blood of the poor

Orlan R. Ravanera

through high interest rates, including financial institutions that do not give the farmers the fighting chance to pay their never-ending debt.

That “empire’s” foot soldiers come in the form of the loggers and miners and their cabal of vested interest whose appetite to exploit the remaining natural resources and causing the massacre of all life forms is equaled only by their greed to profit by sacrificing nature to the altar materialism and consumerism.

That “empire’s” advocates are the so-called religious leaders whose egoic mindset continuously manifests the height of unconsciousness that is, devoid of spiritualSee AWAKE, page 7

Unruffled

Social distancing: the new normal SOCIAL distancing becomes the new normal in these days of Covid-19, and it will be there for quite sometime, not until a vaccine is quickly available.

Projections say that pandemic will stay until 2022, and social distancing is one most effective measure — for now — to contain the spread of corona virus that had dislocated the world’s economies and claimed

precious lives of thousands, and still counting.

That said, how long then can we endure social distancing and stay-at-home orders, school and business closures?

The answer to this is a deafening silence.

No one from among our experts can tell when this virus becomes irrelevant.

Meantime, one-time social distancing measures

are likely to be insufficient, and therefore the need to sustain it is primodial in this time of uncertainty.

Conversely, too much social distancing without respite can result to dislocation of human interaction.

Hence, social distancing needs an intermittent approach to secure our communities from the invasive covid -19.

A one time lockdown

Ruffy Magbanua

will not stop the novel coronavirus study shows, and therefore repeated periods of social distancing may be required as a stop-gap measure while waiting for that vaccine to come tp the rescue. (ruffy44_ph2000@ yahoo.com)

Letters from Davao

A panacea more effective than a vaccine OUR government is in dire need of cash, and no less than President Rodrigo Duterte is telling us that.

Those who think otherwise and tell us that Congress had just approved a budget that runs to trillions of pesos might be thinking that that huge sum is available in government’s bank vaults.

It is not. Governments’ operations depend on how much projected income will it be able to collect from taxes, fees, incomes from government-controlled corporations to name a few.

But the biggest sources are tax revenues collected by the Internal Revenue and Customs bureaus.

With the global lockdown, our production and domestic and export engines had come to a virtual standstill. The Department of Finance caved-in to the

demand to extend the payment of income taxes from April 15 to May 15. In the meantime, the government is bleeding. It had set-aside hundreds of billions of available funds and thank the government for prudent spending there are quite a sum to feed those out of job -the daily-wage earners. But the finance spigot is close to running out of money. President Duterte asked his fund-raiser, Sec. Sonny Dominguez, to sell government assets, borrow and think of other means to raise money. The Asian Development Bank readily made available some $500-million in loan. Our triple B credit rating which the Duterte government had achieved suddenly became one of our best advantages.

Add to that our GDP -to debt ratio at 41% and that

should give us a comfortable elbow room.

But all these decided advantages depend on how fast can we get out of the woods. We have bull-headed citizens and weak barangay leaders who cannot enforce discipline on their wayward constituents.

Some of us might have missed some interesting facets that emerged in the crisis situation where we are today If one goes by the whining and ranting of many recipients of government varied social amelioration program, it gives us a clue that many of them were in fact not poor at all. Listen to Kadamay rallyists, barangay residents from Iloilo, those with homes along the riles and an alleged “mahirap” in Sta. Rosa. They practically air the same complaint. To

Jun Ledesma

them, the amount of cash and including the food packs that local government units distribute to tie them up while we are into enhanced community quarantine are simply not enough.

I caught up some video clips shown on TV and on Facebook. Consider this.

“Paano kami mabuhi sang ginapanghatag nga otso mil o dyes mil? Indi pa gani na mag-igo sa amon sa isa ka semana”. (How will we survive with 8 or 10 thousands? That is not even enough for a week consumption.) Then there is that woman in silk blue scarf complaining about the bag full of goodies and cash See PANACEA, page 7

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LANDBANK launches loan program for enterprises, coops hit by COVID-19 The Land Bank of the Philippines (LANDBANK) is offering a new lending program to help Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), Microfinance Institutions (MFIs) and cooperatives recover from the adverse effects brought about by the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic.

Through the I-RESCUE (Interim REhabilitation Support to Cushion Unfavorably-affected Enterprises by Covid 19) Lending Program, LANDBANK is providing assistance through credit and loan restructuring under more flexible terms and conditions.

Interested SMEs, MFIs and Cooperatives may borrow up to 85% of their actual need for working capital, at an affordable interest rate of 5% per annum, payable

up to a maximum of five years, with grace period on the principal payment.

I-RESCUE likewise offers restructuring of existing loan account via additional loan, extended repayment period, or through other means (or combination of means). The loan may be extended up to a maximum of 10 years, with up to 3 years grace period on principal and up to 1 year grace period on interest, depending on cash flow.

“LANDBANK stands ready to respond to the financial needs of enterprises hardly hit by the COVID-19 pandemic for rehabilitation support. We hope that the IRESCUE Lending Program will help restore economic and social activities in our country, especially in the countryside,” LANDBANK

President and CEO Cecilia C. Borromeo said.

The LANDBANK I-RESCUE Lending Program is in support of Republic Act No.

11469 or the “Bayanihan to Heal as One Act,” which ensures the provision of timely and affordable credit to sectors affected by COVID-19,

including small farmers and fishers.

Interested borrowers may contact the nearest open LANDBANK Lending Center

or Branch nationwide, or call LANDBANK’s customer service hotline at (02) 8-4057000 or at PLDT Domestic Toll Free 1-800-10-405-7000.

ABOUT 200 educators recently joined the E-Skwela webinar hosted

by Globe myBusiness on how to migrate classes online as schools have been closed under the COVID-19 enhanced community quarantine protocols.

A robust discussion on the Philippines' e-learning roadmap took place among a panel of experts that included Mark Arthur Payumo Abalos, Education Industry Lead at Globe and Learning Technologies Scholar; Bro. Dennis Magbanua,

FSC, Community Director at La Salle College, Hong Kong; Rogelio Dela Cruz, Head of the Center for Instruction, Research, and Curriculum- Education Technology Office at De La Salle College of Saint Benilde; Miguel Bermundo, Head of the Citizenship and Advocacy Marketing Division at Globe; and Gerson Abesamis, Executive Director of Habi Education Lab and Senior Lecturer at UP Diliman and Miriam College.

Challenges in digital access,

security and familiarity The discussion focused on the aspects of online learning for students as a way to address the current challenges in the educational school system. It was also a forum for sharing best practices among the experts, along with ideas on how to build on e-learning as a complementary tool even during normal school operations.

Abesamis cited that while many teachers have already been reaching out to students and fellow fac-

ulty members with communities on Facebook Messenger, some have also started creating their own short learning videos. This has given opportunities for self-paced independent learning and critical thinking.

However, there are still challenges that educational institutions face, including readiness among the faculty in conducting online classes with Abalos mentioning connectivity as one of the problems facing teachers, along with what de la Cruz classifies as discomfort or even resistance

from some members of the faculty with regard to conducting e-learning sessions.

Online safety for students is another concern brought up in the discussion, with Magbanua saying grade school students are usually accompanied by their parents when they go online. He added that there are a wealth of learning resources that can be found on the internet, but these have to be carefully curated for data protection and security purposes.

Early adoption models and necessity of a local roadmap As for best practices, Magbanua talked about the Hong Kong model, where students have already become accustomed to e-classes even before the onset of COVID-19 which made the transition easier for them. This early adoption of digital learning has also been accelerated by sociopolitical factors such as city-wide protests that have forced some educational institutions to close normal operations since late 2019.

Globe MyBusiness discusses e-learning opportunities amid COVID-19 ECQ

Moving Forward -- Together

IN THE advent of the coronavirus pandemic, a wave of panic alongside the spread of the disease forcing governments from across the globe to take the necessary health actions, which includes closing of establishments, forcing everyone into self-quarantine, just to avoid the risk of infecting a great many.

Amidst this health crisis, economies have been greatly hit – workers are either let go or forced to

work still, others are granted the opportunity to work from home, while others who are self-employed have to make ends meet.

Front liners, most especially, are at most risk since they have to attend to patients and ensure their welfare, all to keep the virus at bay.

However, in the process of quarantine, they are not the only ones at risk amidst the pandemic, there is another group many have

forgotten, worst, neglected, and taken for granted – the informal workers. They are small-scale vendors, drivers, to name a few.

They, together with our medical front liners, are left to make ends meet despite the threat of being infected.

Thankfully, these people were never forgotten by the people. Little did they know, help was on the way.

As it is within these trying times when heroes slowly emerge from the shadows, when initiatives are born to shed light on those afflicted, and where we can exercise our humanity.

Left and right, initiatives have been coming to light, enabling compassion to arise amidst the panic – that we are stronger than the fear that this pandemic has brought us, that together, we can beat COVID-19.

One such initiative is powered by the combined forces of energetic minds from the young blood dwelling from our

very own City of Golden Friendship, one hoping to appeal to the people to hear their plea.

The FundForward Initiative is a local crowdfunding platform that aims to support small-scale, vulnerable communities greatly affected by COVID-19. It is powered by the youth of Cagayan de Oro city, empowering those who are leading positive actions in their communities – big or small. The project sets its sights on giving the youth a chance to fully work their magic to giving aid where it is needed, to give voice to the voiceless, and to fully exercise their compassioned selves.

“I think there are different initiatives out there and their focus might not be the same with us -- and that's okay. In times like this, I believe we need to see past the competition but understand that we can't get out of this if we won't work side-by-side reinforcing each other.

May more initiatives to See FORWARD, page 7

TRIBUTE TO FRONTLINERS By: Marina L. Cajes April 11, 2020 Iponan Elementary School

As the world faces a grim reality Of a deadly virus that brings so much tragedy Emerge the brave souls who unselfishly Fight the faceless enemy with bravery Millions infected, thousands perished Hospitals overwhelmed, situation got scary Front liners risking lives, casting fears aside Working side by side in order to save lives How can we help in this health emergency?

Government has urged, policies we must obey Social distancing, at home we must stay Wash our hands to keep the virus away The struggle continues to contain this enemy With humble hearts to God we pray For strength, protection and loving mercy Heal the infected, front liners keep healthy Applause to all frontliners, our brave heroes.

In the line of duty many succumbed to the virus Your service and sacrifice we laud as heroic Inspiring people to unite in this pandemic Thank you, dear front liners, salamat!

For your endurance in spite of sheer exhaustion For your courage amid the uncertainty and lack of PPEs Forsaking your own safety for the sake of many Your sacrifice and heroism in this tragedy A testament of what’s best in all humanity As one people, one nation, giving up we refuse Together we defeat the corona virus.

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Thursday, April 16, 2020

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Forward... from page 5

help others arise!” says Adam Anay, Project Head of the FundForward Initiative. He, together with a small band of volunteers, are working together to make this project happen.

“We want to help as many small-scale, youth initiatives in the city. I think that is the end game. As long as there are people who are willing to help, we continue to help.”

The FundForward Initiative recognizes small communities greatly affected by the pandemic, aiming to build a community of young donors to make an impact in their very own city, to give them a chance to help in however way they can. “...the idea that there are some good initiatives in the city and are not given the proper audience. If more people can know about this, then the faster we can bring help to those who are experiencing difficulty brought by the pandemic.” he further adds.

Compared to the initiatives, this project focuses solely on the youth – who, in the words of Dr. Jose Rizal – are the hope of our country.

In a way, this project aims to fully evoke a sense of empathy in charity work, a spirit of volunteerism – bayanihan, if you may, and most importantly, support vulnerable communities.

“We have been labeled for the longest time apathetic and [seemingly] not caring for the world, it’s time to change that.” Anay shares when asked about the project being powered

by CDO youth. “It’s our future at stake— we can start the change the world needs once the pandemic is over.”

We do not know when exactly the pandemic will end, or what trials will be faced along the way, but when people come together for a common cause, their drive will be stronger than the pandemic itself. Humanity continues to thrive. Life finds a way. We can only pay kindness forward. (@FundForwardInitiative)

Awake... from page 4

ity and detached from the Consciousness called the inner Unseen Being If India had “Satyagraha,” the Philippines has cooperativism whose time-honored and universally-accepted principles, when in fact practiced, can be the gateway towards dismantling the people’s passive and apathetic attitude; it can be the instrument to transform an iniquitous society; it can be the path towards social transformation based on the principles of sustainable development, social justice and popular participation.

Foremost of these cooperative principles is democratic control where the members decide on how

to manage their business that they themselves own and control. That is why in agrarian reform, the farmerbeneficiaries own their land and the mode of production.

That is why, it should be the member-consumers who must own and control basic utilities such as water and electricity through their cooperatives.

Putting people in control is in fact the essence of cooperativism. It puts to work the real meaning of what it is to be a Republican State where sovereignty resides with the people and all powers emanate from them.

Today, the wind of change hovers over the land – empowering people to break the vicious cycle of poverty and nurturing the spirit to form a more formidable force to catapult us from the mundane to the sublime, for the greater glory of God! Be in touch with the essence of the inner Being, a consciousness that will give birth to a new earth and a new heaven. Have that divine consciousness – that is I believe the Second Coming!

Panacea... from page 4

that she received which she claimed are not enough for her family’s week consumption.

Of course there are very ungrateful people who received their rations.

From those who rile and speak vile against the government, however, they simply tell us that prior to the Coronavirus Disease 2019 Covid-19 plague, they were, in fact, earning anywhere from P35,000 to P40,000 per month and are better off than bank employees or the night-shift call center agents.

Anyway, I’m just thinking loudly from the confines of my home in Davao City. I also asked myself whether the government will be able to sustain this welfare state which suddenly we have become. There are of course several options that can be resorted to. Realign budgets, stop implementation of mega-projects and sell government assets. While the government is contemplating these maybe those who have the means to pay tax may start paying tomorrow. Maybe, just maybe, the economic team of Sec. Sonny Dominguez can draw up an incentive of extending a 20% discount based on last year’s ITR provided

Thursday, April 16, 2020 tax due will be paid before the end of April.

Otherwise instead of using those massive temporary health facilities for Covid-19 patients, convert these to detention cells, remove the beds, aircon and WFI facilities and lock up violators of ECQ and curfew for the next five years. It’s a cheaper and easier thing to do. Congress should pass a law to make the crime unbailable. This is the panacea more effective than a vaccine.

Masks... from page 1

face masks, so what we will be distributing will only serve as an augmentation,” Moreno explained.

He clarified that the face masks that will be distributed are for civilians use only as frontliners in local hospitals have their own Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).

“We prohibit anyone from being in a public place without wearing a face mask,” Moreno warned.

The city mayor warned city residents to strictly follow this city ordinance since those violating will be dealt with accordingly.

“We should not be complacent in dealing with the virus. We need to continue our defenses. Please stay at home, wash your hands regularly, and pray that we can all get over with COVID-19 soon.”

Inventor... from page 1

to properly mix this into a safe and effective product for use by our frontliners, hospitals and community checkpoints,” Paras said.

Then, on April 13, Paras rolled out two more innovations with a post on his social media page.

“In light of the ongoing COVID-19 crisis in the Philippines and the worldwide transmission of this pandemic, the safety of both patients and medical frontliners has always been the subject of intervention and studies on how to best reduce the occurrence of infection in medical facilities, hospitals, isolation rooms and the like,” Paras noted.

Green Disinfecting There have been a number of proprietary solutions and products for disinfection based on UV-C radiation used for cleaning and disinfecting hospitals over the last decade as epidemics like SARS, MERS CoV,

and H1N1 affected several countries.

Although UV treatments have been used for disinfection since the mid-20th century, this technology become more reliable only recently as a consequence of the longer lifespan of UV lamps. The use of UV-C is a chemical free and low-cost procedure, which represents a green alternative method for disinfection.

“The contribution of this equipment to the conditioning of hospital areas makes these systems useful for other kinds of spaces that require periodical disinfecting. The spaces which require control of the presence of microorganisms need effective, fast and economical controls, and also, that can be used on a frequent basis,” Paras noted. “When the growth of microorganisms and pathogens is not under control, they can increase the severity of infections and morbidity.”

To address this urgent need, Paras constructed a prototype low cost, portable room disinfection device based on Ultraviolet-C Irradiation technology, using locally available materials.

“The state of community quarantine in many localities including our own (Cagayan de Oro City) has affected the sourcing of more sophisticated devices and components that would be used for automated or remote control of the proposed device,” he noted further. “The system here described is easily built using common tools and materials and is scalable to generate higher ultraviolet dosages by adding more UV-C lamps.”

Dubbed the “ParaSafe Transportable Ultraviolet Disinfection Chamber”, the collapsible cabin measuring 2m x 2.5m can be located near isolation facilities in hospitals so that PPEs, gowns, footwear, masks and medical devices can be sterilized quickly, safely and economically in minutes.

“The well known ultraviolet sanitizing method employed by this device affects a very wide range of microorganisms and it has advantages compared to chemical based-sanitizing methods,” Paras said.

To avoid or minimize the use of chemical agents that may be harmful to the surfaces of hospital rooms and minimize the impact

on the environment, Paras built a mobile device which permits periodical irradiation of rooms with UV-C, to eliminate and prevent biological contaminants.

UV-C radiation inactivates microorganisms causing DNA damage by producing cyclobutane pyrimidine dimers (CPDs), altering DNA structure, and thus interfering with DNA replication. This has been effective and requires less personal than the manual cleaning and disinfection based on chemical agents.

Older methods of disinfection for large areas include the use gaseous agents (formaldehyde, ethylene oxide, etc.) which are hazardous and require an air flow pattern. Likewise, liquid agents, such as sodium hypochlorite that are also used for disinfection must be carefully removed after being applied and may damage exposed materials such as delicate electronic devices.

However, Paras cautioned UV is not suitable for disinfecting humans since it can harm the skin and eyes under prolonged exposure. It is intend solely to disinfect PPEs, masks, surgical gowns, and footwear. “ The external tower signal light with buzzer indicates Active status of UV-C lamps, minimizing unnecessar y prolonged exposure of uncovered skin and unprotected eyes to UV rays which could produce sunburn-like exposure. An emergency stop button is also available to turn off the lamps if needed,” he added.

The second innovation, dubbed the “ParaZap” is a portable wheeled UV-C Room Disinfection Unit (RDU) which reduces the turnaround times for operating theaters, Intensive Care Units (ICUs), delivery rooms and facilities requiring a germ-free environment to operate.

“In minutes of exposure to UV-C light, pathogens, bacteria and viruses can be rendered inactive,” Paras noted. “A surprising side effect of using mercury based UV germicidal lamp tubes is the production of minute quantities of Ozone, a scientifically known oxidizer which breaks down bacteria, amoeba and the like.”

He added that UV technology, Ozonization and

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onsite Chlorine production using salt, are some of the state-of-the-art sciences currently used at the Seven Seas Waterpark and Resort (dubbed “Mindanao’s Showcase of Sustainable Tourism”) to keep customers safe while they enjoy the facility.

Paras has written Northern Mindanao Medical Center (NMMC) Chief Dr. Jose Chan about his intent to donate the ParasSafe disinfection cabin and ParaZap RDU to NMMC and is just waiting for a response.

NMMC in Cagayan de Oro City is the sole apex referral hospital for the treatment of COVID-19 patients in Northern Mindanao (Region X).

Should the situation call for it, Paras said they can fabricate more UV solutions to close the supply gap although the supply of UV-C germicidal lamps may need to be imported since there are hardly any available in Cagayan de Oro. (RMB)

Seafarers... from page 1

vessels will be regularly sanitized. Social distancing guidelines as provided for by the Department of Health (DOH) will also be rigidly implemented on board.

The DOTr through the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) will provide the manpower, equipment and supplies to manage security and operations on board to ensure compliance to the guidelines. 2GO will provide the technical crew, food & beverage, and housekeeping staff to deliver hotel support.

The daily monitoring and surveillance of the people on the ships, including the handling and transfer of individuals showing symptoms to designated facilities for treatment, will be managed by the PCG staff onboard based on the policies and protocols instituted by the Bureau of Quarantine and DOH. No positive COVID-19 patients will be kept and treated on-board.

“We remain committed to support the government on its initiatives to contain this virus as soon as possible, so that we can gradually reopen the economy” Basilla concluded. The remaining 6 passenger vessels of 2GO will resume passenger operations upon lifting of the Luzon-wide community quarantine scheduled on April 30.

MINDANAO DAILY The Purveyor of Truth, Justice and Development

Editor: MARK FRANCISCO

FEATURE

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Thursday, April 16, 2020

Academe mobilizes urgently needed supplies for front liners (Part 3 of 4)

Report by DIVINA SUSON | Edited by MIKE BAÑOS

T

HREE of Northern Mindanao’s leading universities are in the thick of the fight versus the COVID-19 pandemic through their campus laboratories.

Xavier UniversityAteneo de Cagayan (Xavier Ateneo) in Cagayan de Oro City, Central Mindanao University (CMU) in Bukidnon, and Mindanao State University (MSU) through College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics at its main campus in Marawi City and the Iligan Institute of Technology (MSU-IIT) in Iligan City, have mobilized their available resources to supply hospitals with urgently needed medical supplies like alcohol and disinfectant.

We continue our four-part series with the COVID-19 Response of Mindanao State University in Marawi City, Lanao del Sur. MSU-Marawi City Faced by a shortage of disinfectants, the provincial government of Lanao del Sur has tapped chemists from Mindanao State University (MSU) in Marawi City to formulate alcohol-based sanitizers to be used by health workers in the fight against the coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

Provincial Board Member Jeff Adiong, president of the Sangguniang Kabataan provincial federation that initiated the project, said the shortage prompted his office to post an online call for local

A provincial government worker sprays disinfectant on the road in Saguiaran town in Lanao del Sur where a check point on the road to Marawi City from Iligan City has been set up. (Divina M. Suson)

chemists to come forward and help the provincial government produce sanitizers.

A netizen responded by putting a link that immediately connected them to the MSU chemists.

“Our post on social media caught the attention of the Department of Chemistry of MSU Marawi,” he said. “We immediately had a meeting with the university president and the four chemists willing to help us,” Adiong said in a phone interview Wednesday.

After the MSU chemists agreed to produce the sanitizers with funds from the provincial government, several hurdles remained before actual work could begin.

For instance, the chemists first had to wait for two days before the

approval and guidelines from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to formulate the compound was secured.

Then the laboratory had to be disinfected but some of the needed raw materials like glycerol, hydrogen peroxide and ethanol were in short supply as well, so these had to be secured from suppliers in Iligan and Cagayan de Oro cities.

The workers who picked up the supplies had to pass through tight checkpoints on their way back to Marawi.

"They had to hurry to avoid getting caught with the curfew hours. Supplies of raw materials are limited," Adiong said.

“We need distilled water for dilution and [water] supply is not a problem,” Jomarie Seclon, one of the chemists, recalled. “If all the

materials are available, we can formulate 240 liters in five days.”

But finally, on Tuesday, the chemists finished formulating the first 50 liters of the disinfectant, Seclon said.

The provincial government plans to distribute the finished product to each of the 39 towns in the province and in Marawi. Twenty liters has been allocated for Amai Pakpak Medical Center (APMC), the only public hospital in Marawi caring for COVID-19 patients.

As of April 1st, Lanao del Sur has six confirmed coronavirus with six fatalities. All of the patients were confined at the APMC. (Report by Divina M. Suson) (Up next: Part IV: MSU-IIT Iligan City)

THEY GOT THE SOLUTION Answering a call for help posted online, chemists at Mindanao State University produced sanitizers, a much-needed medical supply in the fight against the coronavirus (PDI).