MINDANAO DAILY TRUTH. JUSTICE. PROGRESS.
Volume IX, No. 268
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Mon-Tue, April 20-21, 2020
Zubiri donates COVID-19 test kits to Mindanao
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N AID of the country’s continuing battle against the coronavirus pandemic, Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel F. Zubiri has set his sights beyond Metro Manila, donating six thousand (6,000) COVID-19 antibody diagnostic kits to hospitals in his home region of Mindanao. Two thousand (2,000) kits will go to Bukidnon Provincial Medical Center in Malaybalay, Bukidnon; two thousand (2,000 kits) to Northern Mindanao Medical Center in Cagayan de Oro, Misamis Oriental; one thousand (1,000 test) kits to Caraga Regional Hospital in Surigao, Surigao del Norte; and one thousand (1,000) kits to Cotabato Regional and Medical Center in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM). All are set to receive the donations on the 20th and 21st of April. This is the second wave of COVID-19 test kit donations made by Zubiri, after he spearheaded a donation
of an equal number of PCR test kits to the Philippine General Hospital through the University of the Philippines - National Institutes of Health earlier this month. “Kung sa Metro Manila lang tayo mag-focus, hindi natin matatalo itong COVID,” Zubiri insisted. “The longer we hold other regions back from massive testing, the higher the chances that the virus will continue to spread there, even with community quarantine. We can’t afford for that to happen. Dapat maagapan natin as soon as possible.” The test kits to be donated are the rapid antibody test kits recently promoted by President Rodrigo Duterte
Soldiers help carry loads of relief packs to Manobo community By CHRIS V. PANGANIBAN
SAN FRANCISCO, Aguisan del Sur--- A platoon of Army soldiers and local government workers have to carry on their shoulders sacks of rice and other food packs crossing two knee-
deep rivers and climbing up a hill for more than a kilometer just to reach Sitio Pan-ajatan, a Manobo community where 327 families await relief asSee RELIEF, page 11
Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri
during his weekly briefings. These kits can be used without testing laboratories. “I know the gold standard of testing for COVID-19 are the PCR test kits, like those we donated to PGH. But in the absence of accredited laboratories across the country, these rapid test kits will have to do for now,” Zubiri said. “I am prioritizing these
areas of Mindanao, as the DOH has yet to accredit a single testing lab in these areas. This is one of my biggest frustrations, as there is only one accredited laboratory in Mindanao, located in Davao City and nowhere else at the moment. The DOH should cut the bureaucratic red tape and at least focus on regional laboratories See DONATES, page 11
An Army soldier and local government workers carry on their shoulders 25 kilos of rice never minding the knee-deep water on the river to reach a Manobo community where they distribute relief packs for Covid-19 quarantined residents in the far-flung areas. photo courtesy of the loreto municipal information office .
CCIFII Rolling Stores enhance ECQ in Iligan
THE Chamber of Commerce and Industry Foundation of Iligan, Inc. has launched its rolling stores in a bid to enhance the effectiveness of the Enhanced Community Quarantine in Iligan City. As defined by the Iligan Chamber of Commerce, a Rolling Store is a “One-StopShop” where consumers can buy their groceries, vegetables, fish and meat Provincial Governor Yevgeny Vincente Emano installed the 'transparency donation items within their barangays board' in front of the provincial capitol building as a public listing of all contributions without going to public and CCIFII Pres Reggie Punongbayan observes the operation of by private firms and individuals intended for the "frontliners" in the fight against the See STORES, page 11
one of the chamber’s 10 rolling stories. photo by rene b. pernia
COVID-19 virus in Misamis Oriental.
cd / photo supplied
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2 Marawi Suicide Squad back in action vs. COVID-19
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in 2017. Lucman’s group was the same group, called Suicide Squad, who retrieved the cadavers while the battle was ragng to bury them. . “We experienced mixed emotions because at first, we were told that the PDRRMO is there only to support, and that they (Marawi City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office)
are supposed to lead but the APMC told us no one wanted to handle the deLIGAN CITY ----- In Lanao del Sur Provincial ceased. We are ready any2017, they risked their Disaster Risk Reduction time because we, in the lives dodging bullets to and Management Office PDRRMO, are here to help,” save those trapped inside (PDRRMO). Lucman said. the city by the crossfires. On March 17, they had Two immediate family Today, they brave an their first burial of a COmembers, with the help unseen enemy to provide a VID-19 patient who died of two hospital personnel, decent burial for the dead on that same day in Amai helped carry the cadaver and spare the rest of the Pakpak Medical Center in from the hospital’s isolation population from infection. Marawi City. room to the vehicle waiting They are employees of Amer Hussein Lucat the back of the hospital. “Noong malapit na sa vehicle, doon na kami nag take over, hinawakan na ng mga tao ko ang cadaver. We tried our very best to carry the cadaver kasi alam mo naman ang belief namin sa Islam, dinahan dahan namin ang pag-carry,” Lucman said. (When the cadaver was near the vehicle, we took over, my colleagues held the cadaver. We tried all our very best to carry the cadav because you know our belief in Islam, we carry the cadaver carefully with respect.) All on the team were wearing protective suits which were all later properly disposed off according to Personnel of the Lanao del Sur Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, known during the the protocol mandated by Marawi siege as Suicide Squad, bring the cadaver of a COVID patient from Amai Pakpak Medical Center to a Muslim the Department of Health
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man, head of Lanao del Sur PDRRMO, said they have mixed emotions when they were told to bury the dead at Maqbarra Public Provincial Cemetery in Barangay Papandayan, Caniogan. Maqbarra is the same cemetery where more than 200 dead unidentified persons retrieved from the former main battle area during the Marawi siege
By DIVINA M. SUSON
cemetery in Marawi City. (contributed
photo )
(DOH). Lucman said it was his first time to assist in an Islamic burial so unlike the previous ones he attended. While he and his colleagues tried to make the burial solemn given the unusual circumstances, they just smiled and tried to make light of it while wearing their hazmat suits. In reality, they all were scared of getting infected. This battle was different. “Noong nagdadamit na kami, siyempre virus yan, mas delikado kumpara sa siege, idinadaan nalang namin sa tawa, nagbibiro na lang kami ng mga kasama naming na parang ‘eto, tayo na naman ang nagtatrabaho, walang tutulong’. Hindi na naming masyadong pinu-problema para hindi mawalan ng lakas ang mga members namin,” Lucman said. (When we were wearing our hazmat suits, of course we are dealing with a virus, more dangerous compared to the siege, we just laughed, we joked with our colleagues and I said “here we are again, working, no one will help”.
See SQUAD, page 11
Cockfighting aficionados in Agusan completed 28-day quarantine with no lab testing By CHRIS V. PANGANIBAN
SAN FRANCISCO, Agusan del Sur--- The municipal health officer here admitted the more than 20 cockfighting aficionados of this town who went to the six-cock derby at the New Davao Matina Gallera last month, the epicenter of COVID-19, had only completed the 28-day quarantine but had not undergone laboratory testing on their cases. Dr. Eddie Cabanban, municipal health officer, said no swab samples for laboratory testing to check their health status were taken from them since there are no available testing kits
at the Rural Health Unit and even at the Provincial Health Office. This came about after Caraga’s second confirmed COVID-19 case, a 65year old male from Butuan City with no pre-existing medical condition and no history of travel but had close contact with his son and his driver who went to the same cockfighting event. Cabanban said COVID-19 testing kits which are available at the Department of Health Center For Health Development in Caraga Region are limited
and priority are for those with probable cases. With no lab test results from the supposed swab samples of the more than 20 local cockfighting aficionados, Cabanban said all of them are considered asymptomatic patients with no signs of symptoms during the quarantine period but suspected of being COVID-19 carriers. “If they are asymptomatic, we can no longer do anything about it since they did not show any symptoms,” Cabanban said in interview with Mindanews at the Rural Health Unit. Cabanban however assured the suspected pa-
tients have been closely had appealed to most of to submit themselves for a monitored by Barangay these patients who are busi- COVID-19 laboratory test Health Workers to check nessmen and professionals at their own expense. if they will show any abnormal condition on their health even as they are already cleared by the Rural Health Unit. He furthered assured these patients were visited by health workers a few days when the news broke out on the rising COVID-19 deaths that were traced to those who attended the derby event and immediately placed them under isolated home Located at : quarantine. Contact Number: Cabanban said to ap- PUERTO, CDO – MAIN 0916-126-7815 pease the worry of many JR. BORJA EXTENSION, CRONEN, 0920-876-3147 residents of this town, he CAMAMAN-AN – BRANCH
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Billboard 3 Youth orgs join forces, eye P1M aid to 20 M’nao communities as COVID-19 response FOR ADS PLACEMENT CALL OR TEXT: 0917-712-1424 • 0947-893-5776
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T LEAST 100 youth organizations and local personalities from all over the country have converged to initiate a dig ita l fundr aising campaign that aims to assist grassroots associations in giving aid to Mindanaoan communities affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Led by the volunteerpowered organization I am M.A.D. (Making A Difference) and advocacybased group Millennials PH, the youth networks recently launched “Kapit-Mindanao,” a fundraiser to support lowwage earners, non-settler communities, Indigenous Peoples, and the hardestto-reach barangays most vulnerable in this period of crisis. “As a Mindanaoan myself, I feel obligated now more than ever to try and help out in any way I can, and reach the most unreached areas in Southern Philippines in terms of relief,” said Meryl Hilda Jalani, national president of Millennials PH and lead convener of Kapit-Mindanao. A cash donation goal of P1 million will b e distributed to youth-led organizations from all over Mindanao who have
their own donation drives and response initiatives. Beneficiaries from the campaign come from 20 areas in all administrative reg ions in Mindanao, including Zamboanga del
Mon-Tue, April 20-21, 2020
Norte, Sarangani, Agusan del Sur, and even as far as Tawi-Tawi, among others. For frontliners, lowincome families, indigenous communities The different initiatives
in the communities range from providing personal protective equipment (PPEs) to frontliners, food packs and family kits containing rice and grocery items,
LANDBANK rolls out SAP, relief packages for Bayanihan Law with zero service/handling charges
THE Land Bank of the Phi lippines (L ANDBANK) supports government agencies in the distribution of various social protection programs to poor households most affected by the ongoing Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ) brought about by the COVID-19 threat. In partnership with the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), LANDBANK released cash grants totaling P16.34 billion to 3,721,833 Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT) household-beneficiaries nationwide. The amount of P3,650 to P6,650 per beneficiary was credited to their LANDBANK Cash Cards. Also together with the DSWD, the Department of Transportation (DOTr) and the Land Transportation and Franchising
and Regulatory Board (LTFRB), LANDBANK started distributing to 18,602 Transport Network Vehicle Service (TNVS) drivers in the National Capital Region amounting to P 148.816 million with each driver receiving P8,000 to help tide them over in these difficult times. Under the COVID-19 Adjustment Measures Program (CAMP) of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), a total of P1.2 billion in financial assistance will be released to an initial batch of 250,000 beneficiaries from 2,773 private companies at P5,000 per worker. LANDBANK has already started releasing to the workers from the National Capital Region. It is also working with DOLE on the cash assistance for displaced land-based and See LANDBANK, page 9
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Quest for peace amidst the pandemic As if the onslaught of corona virus pandemic is not enough that has brought civilization down on its knees, another onslaught has caught our attention recently when eleven soldiers killed and fourteen soldiers were wounded after an hour of encounter with the Abu Sayyaf in Sulu. While that offensive has captured the headlines, unknown to many is another kind of “war” that is intensely raging that is proving to be the only road to peace because it is the ultimate offensive that uproots the causes of war. When Kumander Bravo, the commander of the NorthWestern Mindanano Front of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front with some five Division Commanders and hundreds of front commanders with some 15,000 combatants decided to lay down their arms and formed themselves into some 150 cooperatives in December, 2019 in their Camp Bilal,
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adug ta Abaga sa Bayug Agriculture Cooperative” (Protect the Mindamora Falls Agriculture Cooperative). Indeed, advancing the new “war” has many moves but carries only one name, “cooperativism.” Aptly described as the best “recruiter” of terrorists, poverty breeds violence, thus, it must be stopped. And the best way of containing poverty is to make the people productive by developing fully their potentials and enhancing their skills through education. Such was the spirit that drove former rebels headed by Mr. Diolito Sonido to lay down their arms in then war-torn Zamboanga to dedicate their lives to liberate the poor from the clutches of ignorance and poverty through cooperative education. In 2001, they established the Western Mindanao Cooperative College in Zamboanga City with
Orlan R. Ravanera
only 49 students to begin with enrolled in technical courses. After 6 years of sheer hard work and with single-minded adherence to cooperative quality education, the college has more than a thousand enrollees in both professional and technical fields of education. The Cooperative College has served its mission very well in providing quality education to thousands of poor but deserving students and whose graduates are now front-lining the cause of uplifting the plight of the marginalized sectors in combating poverty in the war-torn region of Mindanao. While cooperative education has found its mark to make life better for our poor but struggling people, the quest for peace is pursued in more ways than one as violence comes in many See QUEST, page 11
Unruffled
The world is closed for renovation THE world is closed for renovation with the unseen architect out to ‘reengineer’ man’s ungodly behavior, egocentric attitude and absolute greed. And the reopening is uncertain — dependent on how fast mankind can fix the bacterial potholes created by this invisible termite called corona virus. The great repair is so massive such that it forced people to lock themselves at home for fear of getting caught by the millions of killer debris that had engulfed the entire planet
Earth. And we have this fearful forecast circulating that the great monster architect will continue to wreak havoc until the end of this year, or even beyond 2020. Lockdowns have become the new normal and like it or not, these will be part of our daily existence, not until the repair is done and the pandemic completely down and out. Amid an increase in preventive measures against the epidemic such as travel restrictions, school and business closures and the
LETTER FROM ROME:
cancellations of large-scale public events, monster Covid -19 has become clear and present danger to human lives. The number of people diagnosed with Covid-19 keeps on rising, and is now global with almost all countries affected with the US taking the lead. The global number of confirmed cases of Covid-19 had already surpassed the 2 million mark and the death toll - by the thousands - is rising by the minute. For now, the world is in
Ruffy Magbanua
jeopardy and the renovation may not be completed soon. This may take sometime, dependent on how fast mankind can cope with the crisis and adjust to the new normal-social distancing, wearing of face masks, and hygiene practice.(ruffy44_ ph2000@yahoo.com)
FR. AMADO L. PICARDAL CSSR
It takes a virus
OZAMIZ CITY OFFICE Door 3, 2nd Floor Go Bldg., Lam an, Ozamiz City Office in Charge: FORTUNATO “Teddy” ALCUIZAR, JR. 0956-180-4249
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Kora-kora, Munai, Lanao del Norte, they shouted “AllahuAkbar” (Allah is Great). “Ang tunay na kalaban ay kahirapan at nagkakaisa tayo sa kooperatiba upang labanan ang kahirapan at social injustice!” Yan po ang sigaw ng mga MILF combatants ng sila ay aming tinipon sa kanilang kampo upang maging kooperatiba. Ang kanilang sigaw, “mula ngayon isa lang ang aming armas at yan ay kooperatibismo lamang!” In January this year, I had met the Division Commander of the MILF of the North Eastern Mindanao Front, Sultan Abdul Amoran who is half-maranao and half-Higaonon with some 1,500 combatants. They have decided to continue their struggle for social transformation to liberate the Indigenous People from the quagmire of poverty not anymore through armed struggle but through cooperativism. They were organized into the “Igpanay-
Greetings from Rome. Still surviving five weeks of lockdown. The number of cases in Italy has reached 168,941 with 22,170 fatalities; 109 priests died of the virus – mostly in the north. I am praying fervently for friends who have tested positive (one in Barcelona, one in Amsterdam & one in New York). Can anything good come out of this pandemic? Here’s a poem I wrote: It Takes A Virus The skies are clear and birds fly freely in the air There are no smoke coming out from factories The rivers and canals are blue The shops are closed,
the streets are empty. Where’s everyone? Everyone is at home all day long. No need to leave at dawn and come back late at night. Fathers and mothers are playing with their kids. They gather ’round the table and feast on their meager meal. Food is shared among neighbors or delivered by strangers. They wave and smile at their neighbors from a distance It’s been a while since they’ve seen each other. They sing at the top of their voices or play the
guitar in their balconies and rooftops and get a round of applause. When was the last time this happened? The classrooms are empty. Lessons are learned at home. There are no schoolchildren running in the corridors and gyms except for the homeless who have been welcomed and fed after being driven away by petty barangay despots and police from a religious center that fed them. Rules have to be followed. Priests celebrate mass on empty churches
as the faithful watch them online in their homes. The Pope gives his blessing in front of an empty square watched by millions of people around the world. No distance, quarantine or lockdown can separate them. The guns are silent. The fighting has ceased. The combatants have gone home. Logging and mining have stopped, the forest gets a respite. The pangolins can frolic and bats fly freely. The earth has been
See VIRUS, page 11
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5
OPINION
China’s Accountability of the Pandemic and its Trajectory Ahead LLOYD B. RANISES
WHEN the pandemic has to persist on, it may entirely change the world systems. In economic perspective, Emmanuel Wallerstein gives us “capitalist world system” explaining the relation among countries--core, semi-periphery, and periphery. The core focuses on higher skill, capital-intensive production, while the two others focus on low-skill, labor intensive production. Similarly, the core is the owner of production and the rest are suppliers of manpower and raw materials. The colonizers play as core; colonies do the others. Obviously, this happens during colonial days wherein Europe, then US are the core, and China is out of this system. This runs throughout world history. Where the system is that China belongs to? They have their own. The Communist has its own system but only with very few countries. In other words, the capitalist holds an exceptional domination in the world system in history. When the capitalists enjoyed business expansion for centuries, China faced enormous impoverishment that led to the founding of Chinese Communist Party (CCP) through Revolution. There were rapid Chinese migrations to Southeast Asia and across the Pacific who escaped dire poverty, leaving their home beset also with state-run murders that depopulated them. The CCP continued reprogramming economic agenda in order to get into the prevalent system. It re-invented itself and tried to penetrate in capitalist order. As a result, China became both a State capitalism with a framework of Communist party rule, meaning the government has the monopoly of power and State-owned large companies with few major private companies, to keep them going. These led them from impoverished state into booming economy to date. The Connection of Communist China to Pandemic The prevalent system has led no option of China but reinvention of itself in order to survive. It continued in disguise to mobilize businesses outside its home. We see Chinese companies and businesses operating almost all countries today. Conventional war plays no role for China to penetrate in the dominating system, rather, its disguise capitalist character has taken advantage in the economic order. Being a Communist is extremely opposite to the capitalist democratic institutions. The core countries’ influence has interwoven in the social milieu of its former colonies so that in the Post-independence period, the former colonies and its former Mother countries have continued ties. Philippines clings to China today, but experts say it has to take too long years to eradicate the US hold over Philippines. The bilateral relations between US and Philippines have deeply engulfed in the fabric of Philippine society. The Communist China cannot opt for a War to break these US-Philippines ties or the ties between Europe and former colonies as a whole. What else they can do to ensure that the system would allow the CCP control over the other countries that would replace the prevalent capitalist world order? Virus has been hot topic decades ago and it goes now a real thing. This virus originating from Wuhan cripples the core countries. Its military would suffer great carnage without being hit by a single bullet. Medical services begin exhausted, and the epicenter traverses exponentially--Italy, Spain, then US. Spiraling situation has no definite hope; to stay at home is yet the recourse. Antidote may take long way to come. Who benefits this situation? China which has a strong State control surprises us how for such country to leak an outbreak. Some articles criticize China why it gets too quickly free from virus, while other Communist countries are unaffected, un-roiled. Doubts shed lights how the world order clashes, whereby the capitalist is always their enemy. Hence, without the cure makes us foresee the end of the prevalent system. The Communist may rise to dominate the world if no soon turning table. We are heading into at the mercy of China! The Accountability of China The International Health Regulation in 2005 requires UN member states to promptly notify the world in case epidemic spreads within a country. The country is liable to pay reparation to the injured states over its failure. Despite this, China chose to cover up the outbreak within its home and allowed it to spread throughout the world. Knowing that the virus is a ‘novel’ and that no cure yet, it implies pandemic. This pandemic would have been anticipated by China ahead. Instead, they preferred non-disclosure about it and treacherously spread the virus by not imposing Chinese travel ban from Wuhan to other countries, then manipulated disinformation and pointed US military as the virus origin. Such act is so terrible as committing blatant Crime Against Humanity. If a proper punishment is imposed at times this crisis would end, the consequence demands them more than reparation. However, all heavy consequences do not bother China. China would not have been thinking of reaching a rap in the World Court. When they surely reach their real goal, as a Communist, that is to destroy their capitalist enemies, thereby no way of reaching settled punishment, but upon their success, they will finally replace the capitalist system where the Communist reigns the world. But, if the course of history keeps unchanged where the prevalent capitalist system stands still as a result of finding the antidote that would put altogether things back to normal and control over the disease, the trajectory may be great adverse for China when the CCP would receive its most deserved and just prize in the coming days. About the writer: Lloyd B. Ranises finished his Ph.D. Philippine Studies from Mindanao State University-Marawi. He is a University Research Coordinator of the Misamis University, Ozamiz City.
Two of 10 emergency quarantine facilities being built by San Miguel Corporation together with the Armed Forces of the Philippines in military camps nationwide, to help ease pressure on health facilities. The SOLCOM facility in Lucena (left) is 90% complete. Construction of the NOLCOM facility (right) in Tarlac is progressing well.
SMC, AFP build isolation facilities to help ease hospital overcrowding
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A N M i g u e l C o rporation is building ten emergency quarantine facilities (EQF) near military hospitals to house personnel who have tested positive for COVID-19 but have mild or no symptoms, and, more importantly, help ease pressure on health facilities flooded by patients needing intensive medical treatment. “We are thankful to the Armed Forces of the Ph i l ippi ne s ( A F P ) for giving us the opportunity to collaborate with them on this initiative. This is
one way we can help our hospitals efficiently attend to Covid-19 patients with severe symptoms as well those suffering from ot he r l i fe - t h re ate n i ng conditions,” SMC president and COO Ramon S. Ang said. He a d d e d t h at t h e company is looking for more areas where prototype hospital facilities can be built as existing emergency rooms of hospitals brace for a surge of patients. “We are one with the country in finding ways to accommodate more patients as hospitals reach
their full capacity. These emergency COVID facilities we are helping build will ser ve not just our military front liners but also other PUIs in surrounding communities,” he said. The 10 facilities will have 15 beds each and will b e lo cated b eside the following militar y health facilities: NOLCOM Hospital in Tarlac, S O L C OM Ho s pit a l i n Lucena City, Eastmincom Hospital in Davao City, CENTCOM Hospital in Cebu City, Westmincom Hospital in Zamboanga City, Veterans Memorial
Center, CJVAB Hospital in Pasay City, Naval Air G roup i n C av it e C it y and WESCOM Hospital in Palawan. On top of this, SMC has also earmarked P500 million to purchase personal equipment (PPE) and augment supply for medical health workers. Initially, the company has committed to buy the first 10,000 PPEs from a local manufac turer t hroug h efforts initiated by the Department of Trade and Industry. SMC is also expecting delivery of more PPEs from its suppliers in the coming days.
NGCP expedites procurement of P500M medical equipment donation NGCP is fast-tracking the sourcing and distribution of medical equipment critical to combating COVID-19’s effect on patients and medical frontliners. Medical equipment, including 12 ventilators, 32 powered air purifying respirator (PAPR), 200 closed suction system, is part of NGCP’s P1-Billion donation to the national government’s COVID-19 relief and response efforts. The company will also be donating 10,000 test kits, 42,000 gallons of 70% alcohol, 3,800 gallons of disinfecting solutions, 2,100 infrared thermometers, and two decontamination
chambers. Over 6.6 million pieces of personal protective equipment (PPEs) for medical frontliners, including 3,000 hazmat suits, 65,000 full face shields, 3,300,000 gloves, a combined 3,000,000 N95 and surgical masks, 85,000 pairs of shoe covers, 75,000 disposable gowns, 60,000 surgical caps, and 45,000 goggles are also included in the donation. “NG C P is work i ng round the clock to source all medical equipment locally in order to expedite distribution. Barring unforeseen circumstances and unavoidable delays, NGCP is targeting to start
distribution of medical equipment and supplies to big government hospitals in Metro Manila by the week of April 20 to 24, with the rest of identified public and private hospitals across the country in the coming weeks,” the company said in a press statement. Also part of the P1Billion donation is the ongoing distribution of P500M-worth of grocery items to select cities and municipalities in Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao. Distribution of grocery items began on Saturday, April 11. Other COVID-19 donations by NGCP include a P5
Million donation to Project Ugnayan, which distributes supermarket gift certificates to over 1,500,000 economically displaced families in Metro Manila; earlier donations of medical supplies, PPEs, and meals to frontliners; and the Meals on Wheels program which distributes hot meals to communities affected by the extended enhanced community quarantine. NGCP is a Filipino-led, privately owned company in charge of operating, maintaining, and developing the country’s power grid, led by majority shareholders Henry Sy, Jr. and Robert Coyiuto, Jr.
MINDANAO DAILY TRUTH. JUSTICE. PROGRESS.
Editor: ALLAN M. MEDIANTE
Mon-Tue, April 20-21, 2020
BUSINESS 6
DOST-X Continues to Produce Face Shields, Donates them to Front Liners C AGAYAN de Oro City - The Department of Science and Technology regional office 10 continues to produce additional Face Shields for COVID-19 front liners within the region. The agency's employee-volunteers were able to produce 1,000 pieces of Face Shields in their second-round of production on April 8, 2020. The distributions were done on the days that follow until April 17, 2020. The face shields were donated to the City Government of Cagayan de Oro; Philippine National Police-X; Office of Civil Defense-X; Philippine Information Agency-X; Local Government Units of Lugait, Laguindingan, Magsaysay, and Jasaan; and Provincial Science and Technology Centers in Bukidnon, Camiguin, Misamis Occidental, and Lanao del Norte. Aside from the face shields, 3-ply and 6-ply Face Masks were also given to the four above-mentioned
LGUs. “Face Shields and Face Masks are very important to our responders and front liners in different critical areas in the province of Mis. Or. LGUs in both ends of the province: Lugait and Magsaysay are entry points of all persons and cargos coming to Misamis Oriental and Cagayan de Oro City, it is but right that those manning the quarantine areas are also well protected and equipped to efficiently do their tasks.”, said Misamis Oriental Provincial Science and Technology Director Junelyn-Louvena B. Ruiz. The employee-volunteers were also able to come up with an infographic stepby-step procedure on how to make Face Shields using locally-available materials. “The face shield is made of PVC Cover, PE insulation foam, and garter.”, Ms. Shevanie E. Magallanes, one of DOST-X’s employeevolunteers who helped in producing the face shields. (Julie Anne H. Baculio, DOST-X)
Globe provides free data access to DepEd’s online learning platform Teachers and students interested in advancing their knowledge while under e n h a n c e d c om mu n it y quarantine may now visit the Department of Education’s (DepEd) new online learning platform, DepEd Commons, without incurring data charges on their Globe or TM-powered smartphones. DepEd Commons contains online review materials and Open Educational Resources (OER) authored
by public school teachers who are subject matter experts. Teachers can retain, reuse, revise, remix, and redistribute the content by blending it with a learning management system to deliver a distance learning modality. “In this time of crisis, it is important that we make it possible to overcome this challenge with solid partnerships with the private sector. We are thankful to
See GLOBE, page 9
LGUs urged to put up mobile markets amid quarantine By CHRISTOPHER LLOYD CALIWAN
MANILA – The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) on Monday enjoined local government units (LGUs) to deploy mobile markets to ensure the supply of fresh
food for their constituents. In an advisory to governors, mayors, and regional directors dated April 18, Interior Secretary Eduardo Año urged LGUs to coordinate with local producers,
‘Mobile Palengke’ in Antipolo City, Rizal. (PNA file photo by Joey Razon)
BDO Leasing ends 1Q 2020 with P83 million profit BDO Leasing and Finance, Inc. (BDO Leasing) recorded a net income of P83 million in 1Q 2020 vs. the P24 million loss in the comparative period last year. The results reflect successful measures undertaken to address margin compression, which dragged down its financial results in 2019. For the 1Q 2020, gross
revenues amounted to P696 million, while total expenses dropped by 30 per cent to P569 million, largely due to the 52 per cent drop in interest and financing charges as funding costs normalized. Earlier this year, BDO Leasing’s Parent Company, BDO Unibank, Inc. (BDO) announced that it entered into an agree-
ment to sell a controlling stake in BDO Leasing to a third party as part of the Bank’s restructuring of its leasing business. The sale transaction is subject to closing conditions and approval by regulator y authorities. BD O Leasing is the leasing and financing entity of BDO Unibank, Inc. (BDO) which provides its
customers direct leases, real estate leases, sale and leaseback arrangements as well as receivables factoring. It likewise provides operating leases through its wholly owned subsidiary BDO Rental Incorporated. BD O Leasing is among the industry’s dominant players in terms of total assets, capitalization and profitability.
manufacturers, distributors, and retailers for this measure. He also encouraged the use of online marketing and delivery of goods through the use of various platforms and setting up of community markets in subdivisions in coordination with the homeowners’ associations. Año said these innovative measures will greatly limit the movement of people and ensure social distancing. All LGUs have also been advised to discontinue the imposition of “narrow or limited time period” on the access and operation of public and private establishments such as wet markets, supermarkets, grocery stores, and pharmacies. He said such schemes force people to flock and congest these facilities, thus, negating social distancing
protocols. “Scheduling and/or clustering of the communities and/or barangays who may be allowed to go out instead is highly encouraged,” he stressed. In a separate statement, the DILG discouraged LGUs from using disinfection tents, misting chambers or sanitation booths on individuals following the Department of Health’s (DOH) and World Health Organization (WHO) advisory stating that such measures on humans do not protect against Covid-19 and “may even cause more harm than good.” Año said that the last thing the national government needs right now are added health concerns on top of the Covid-19. He said that stopping the See MARKETS, page 9
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DPWH Prepares Big Tents at Philippine Arena Complex for the Mega Quarantine Project The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) has started today the clearing and disinfection procedures in the three (3) mega tents prior to construction of
“Heal as One” healthcare facilities at Ciudad de Victoria estate in Bocaue, Bulacan Secretary Mark A. Villar said that workers from DPWH Region
P2,500 educational aid sa IKNB scholars, gihatud house-to-house HUMAN gipaubos sa general community quarantine ang tibuok Misamis Oriental tungod sa hulga sa coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), naghari ang panawagan nga “stay-athome”. Bisan si Gov. Bambi Emano mao usab ang panawagan. Mao nga gimando niini ang house-to-house distribution sa financial assistance sa mga benepisyaryo sa Iskolar Ko Ni Bambi (IKNB), aron dili na kinahanglan pang manggawas ang mga scholars. Bisan tuod wala nay klase ug wala na pud nahitabong graduation rites, apan gipang-apod apod gihapon ni Gov. Emano ang P2,500 nga hinabang sa matag magtutungha ilawom sa scholarship program. Matud sa amahan sa lalawigan, maayo na lang ilang magamit ning panahon sa
krisis. Dako ang pasalamat ni Wiley Añasco, sa IKNBClaveria Chapter, tungod kay wala na kini magtuo nga buligan pa sila og hinabang sa gobernador, hilabina wala pay kasigurohan kanus-a mobalik ang klase ug sa ngalan nga wala nay gipahigayon nga graduation o move up ceremony sa mga tunghaan. Gikan sa lungsod sa Magsaysay padulong sa lungsod sa Lugait, hatdan sa IKNB og educational assistance ang mga benepisyaryo, depende sa ilang schedule. Adunay kapin 3,000 ka scholars nga gisuportahan si Gov. Bambi Emano karon lang nga semester. Mokabat na sa dul-an 20,000 ka scholars ang napahuman sa gobernador sukad sa iyang pagpangatungdanan.
3 headed by Regional Director Roseller Tolentino were deployed at the mega tents owned by the Iglesia Ni Cristo for the clearing and cleaning activities in preparation for the modification works into quarantine center beginning Monday, April 20, 2020. An actual planning of layout concept was earlier held at the Philippine Arena complex by the DPWH Task Force on Augmentation of Healthcare Facilities headed by Undersecretary Sadain with Assistant Secretary Leonita P. Gorgolon of the Department of Health (DOH); Atty. Glicerio “GP” Santos IV, Chief Operating Officer of Maligaya Development Corporation, and Director Tolentino. Also providing inputs at the meeting for the mega tent conversion plans are DPWH Task Force members from the technical bureaus namely Directors Aristarco Doroy, Eric Ayapana, and Ernesto Gregorio Jr.; Region 3 Asst. Director Denise Maria Ayag; and District Engineers Ramiro Cruz, Almer Miranda, and Asst. DE Aristotle Ramos of DPWH Bulacan 2nd, Pampanga 1st and Bulacan 1st
District Engineering Offices, respectively. Representatives of Manila Electric Company (Meralco) and the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) were also invited. With two (2) days allotted for the clearing and disinfection by DPWH together with the men and equipment of BFP, works for the DOH-approved quarantine facilities of 3.05 meter by 3.05 meter in size per cubicle similar to the facilities construted in Clark will
immediately start on April 20. As part of occupational health and safety measures to personnel who will be working at the mega tents, temporary barracks will also be built by DPWH workers equipped with personal protective equipment all the time. The three (3) mega tents which will have nursing stations, sanitizing chambers, and test booths can accomodate about 300 COVID patients as planned.
Undersecretary Sadain said that DPWH estimated the whole development for the repurposing of mega tents into quarantine centers will be completed in 10 days or less. The Iglesia Ni Cristo has also offered to the government its Garden Suites, also within the Philippine Arena complex, as separate housing facilities for doctors and medical personnel manning the mega quarantine facilities.
MisOr Capitol transparency donation board, gilusad GILUSAD na kagahapon, Huebes, Abril 16, 2020, ang Misamis Oriental Transparency Donation Board, kung diin makita ang tanang nadawat ug gitunol nga mga donasyon ngadto sa pangagamhanang lokal gikan sa nagkalain-laing grupo, organisasyon ug institusyon dinhi sa Pilipinas. Sugod sa maong adlaw, makita sa nasangpit nga transparency board ang pangalan sa grupo o institusyon ug kon unsay ilang gihatag o gidonar, lakip usab kung hain kini
mipadulong ug kon kanus-a kini natunol ug gipang-apod apod. Gituyo kini ni Gov. Bambi Emano aron walay mga pagduda nga bation ang publiko, hilabina ang katawhan sa Misamis Oriental, kalabot na sa mga hinabang nga kwarta, pagkaon, personal protective equipment (PPE) ug uban pang gamit pangmedikal, samtang ang tanan nakigbatok sa pagkatap sa coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Matud ni Atty. Jeffrey Saclot,
ang Provincial Task Force for COVID-19 spokesperson, gipakita lamang ni Gov. Emano sa publiko ko unsa ka hayag ug dayag ang iyang pagpangatungdanan dinhi sa lalawigan. “(From the transparency board) would reflect the donation that are received by the Provincial Government of Misamis Oriental in helping the province response to the COVID-19 crisis,” segun pa ni Atty. Saclot.
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Landbank... from page 3
sea-based OFWs due to COVID 19 pandemic under the DOLE AKAP for OFWs Program. Meanwhile, through the Financial Subsidy to Rice Farmers (FSRF) of the Department of Agriculture (DA), LANDBANK has started releasing to 52,043 small rice farmer totaling P260.215 million at P5,000 per farmer. LANDBANK will continue releasing to the remaining farmers in the coming days. Likewise, the social amelioration funds from DSWD to local government units (LGUs) have already been released through LANDBANK to DSWD and the Bureau of Treasury (BTr) Regional Offices for release to the LGUs. “LANDBANK is one with the national government in carrying out urgent measures to support our people as we collectively respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. This includes the immediate delivery of social protection interventions and much-needed financial relief during these difficult times,” LANDBANK President and CEO Cecilia C. Borromeo said. LANDBANK also clarified that it is not charging or collecting any service or transaction fee in its SAP partnerships with the DSWD, DOTr, LTFRB, DOLE and DA. Aside
from this, withdrawal in any LANDBANK Branch or ATM is free of charge. Likewise, online fund transfers thru InstaPay and PESONet are also free of charge during the ECQ period. These LANDBANK programs were introduced in partnership with government agencies after it was designated as the disbursement arm of the Social Amelioration Program (SAP) of the government for the implementation of Republic Act No. 11469 or the “Bayanihan to Heal as One Act.” This is in compliance with Joint Memorandum Circular No. 1, Series of 2020, which specifies the guidelines for the provision of social amelioration measures, jointly issued by the Department of Social Welfare and Development, Department of Labor and Employment, Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Department of Agriculture, Department of Finance (DOF), Department of Budget and Management (DBM), and Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG). Last month, LANDBANK rolled out relief packages to clients in the form of payment moratoriums. For credit cardholders and salary loan borrowers, as well as mortgage and housing loans, there is a 60-day grace period for payments falling due from March 18 to April 30, 2020, and a 30-day grace period for
Mon-Tue, April 20-21, 2020 business loans and project finance loans for the same period. Loan amortizations of Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries were also granted a one-year moratorium. For details and updates, please refer to the official LANDBANK social media accounts @landbankofficial (Facebook and Instagram), @LBP_Official (Twitter), and www.landbank.com.
Globe... from page 6
Globe for supporting our initiative for the continuity of public education by providing us free data for DepEd Commons access amidst the COVID-19 situation,” said DepEd Secretary Leonor MagtolisBriones. Alain Del B. Pascua, DepEd Undersecretar y for Administration, on the other hand said, “We are facing many challenges in ensuring the continuity of education especially in this extremely difficult situation that we are in. In partnership with Globe, DepEd is steadily moving forward in bringing educational resources to the teachers and the learners wherever they may be." By providing free access to DepEd Commons (https://commons.deped. gov.ph), Globe hopes to encourage educators and learners to take advantage of supplementary online instructional materials without worrying about
data charges. These resources were designed to serve as alternative forms in the teaching-learning process during class suspensions and other similar circumstances. “Under this situation where teachers and students have to stay at home like many of us, it is important for learning to continue. Globe supports the education sector by providing access to this alternative learning platform free of charge,” said Yoly Crisanto, Globe Chief Sustainability Officer and SVP for Corporate Communications. The website also integrates the Globe eLibrary, an online platform which features age-appropriate and engag ing e-b o oks ranging from storybooks for children and young adults to textbooks on core subjects such as Math, Science, English, Filipino, Music, Arts, among others. Globe eLibrary also has a collection of eLearning videos, some of which were developed by teachers themselves, which introduce important concepts in English, Math, and Science, incorporating sights and sounds that are familiar to the students. However, while access to the site using the Globe/ TM network will not entail any data charges, it does not cover the links outside the DepEd Com-
mons domain. Thus, all links clicked and visited will still incur standard data charges.
Markets... from page 6
use of the said disinfection methods on people is the right step since its effectiveness has been refuted by the DOH. “The most important thing is we continue to adapt as we discover new knowledge about Covid-19. Hindi makatutulong ang mga disinfection mist laban dito kaya naman (The use of disinfection mist will not help fight Covid-19 so) we discourage the LGUs from using them sa kanilang mga nasasakupan (on people in their areas of jurisdiction),” Año said. He said that even the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) of the United States America has debunked the effectiveness of disinfection practices reporting their lack of microbial efficacy and highlights their adverse health effects. The DILG chief, however, clarified that misting can still be done on cars, rooms, buildings, and other inanimate objects. “Ang sabi ng DOH ay ‘wag lang sa tao ngunit puwede sa mga bagay (The DOH said not to use it on people but it can be used on things) so we are following that advisory,” he said. Individuals, however,
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wearing full personal protective equipment, characterized as having no external skin exposure, may be subject to misting or spraying before removing their full PPE with careful consideration on the eyes, nose, mouth, and throat. The DOH issued said memorandum as a clarification following the clamor for the health agency to set the record straight on the efficacy and guidelines on spraying disinfectants or misting. In an earlier advisory, the DILG said commonly used chemical disinfectants such as hypochlorite are irritant to the skin and the mucous membrane (eyes, nose, and throat) and may have adverse effects when inhaled. (PNA)
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Mon-Tue, April 20-21, 2020
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SMC-chartered plane carrying 40,000 sets of PPEs for donation arrives
SAN Miguel Corporation (SMC) said its first 40,000 sets of protective gear arrived today on board a Boeing-777 from China, part of a P500million fund earmarked by the conglomerate to help augment existing supplies and better equip Filipino medical front liners in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. SMC president and chief operating officer Ramon S. Ang said the company has chartered the aircraft from Philippine Airlines and filled it “to the brim” with personal protective equipment (PPEs) sourced from suppliers in China, to be donated to various hospitals in Luzon where most COVID-19 cases are reported. The shipment consists of 40,000 hazmat suits and goggles seen to help boost local supply of medical grade PPEs. Local manufacturers are also work to ramp up production capacity. “We are very fortunate
to have been able to buy this much PPEs. Globally, demand is so high. Many of the big countries want to buy them all. That is why when the opportunity to buy this much came, we grabbed it, and chartered a large aircraft to bring the supplies home,” Ang said. SMC earlier announced it was buying the first 10,000 PPEs to be made by local garments manufacturers under the Confederation of Wearable Exporters of the Philippines (CONWEP). The group was tapped by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and the Department of Health (DoH) to reconfigure their operations to ramp up local production of PPEs. SMC plans to continue buying locally produced PPEs to donate to medical practitioners. The DTI and DOH are targeting a capacity of 10,000 PPE coveralls per day from members of CONWEP, which
Photo shows a Boeing-777 chartered by San Miguel Corporation to ship 40,000 sets of PPEs from China. The protective gear will be donated by the conglomerate to medical front liners.
normally export garments to top global brands. Both the DOH and the Philippine General Hospital approved the design of the local PPEs to ensure they are “medical-grade” and C ONWEP has s e c ure d suppliers of raw materials. “We are hoping that with these developments, more
doctors and nurses nationwide will have less worry about their safety and the availability of PPEs in the coming days and weeks. It is crucial that our medical front liners have the necessary protective equipment when they fight this virus, and we are glad to be contributing to our government’s efforts to address
this issue,” Ang added. Apart from its P500 million fund to acquire PPEs, SMC has also donated over P227 million in food products, including canned goods, meat and poultry products, rice, biscuits, coffee, dairy, and flour to make bread, to less fortunate communities during the Luzon-wide Enhanced
Community Quarantine. From Luzon, its food donations have started reaching provinces from Visayas and Mindanao. It has also donated ethyl alcohol to hospitals, LGUs, and vital installations nationwide. These are produced at all its liquor manufacturing plants all over the country.
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Maxus... from page 12
kms or every 12 months, whichever comes first. This is more convenient and more cost-efficient compared to the industry-standard 5,000km PMS interval; • For the Maxus V80 and T60 variants, the PMS interval schedule is set for the first 5,000 kms or 6 months, and every succeeding 15,000 kms or every 12 months*; • All PMS schedules for the G10, V80, and T60 that fall within the duration of the extended enhanced community quarantine shall be extended for another 30 days after the official lifting of the quarantine period; • For all G10 MPV and V80 variants purchased since Maxus Philippines began operations in June 2019, the general warranty remains at 3 years or 100,000 kms*; • For all 4x2 and 4x4 variants of the Maxus T60 pickup, the general warranty for the Maxus T60 is 5 years or 100,000 kms*.
Nissan... from page 12
ing procedures, providing working space or manpower to help companies step up production, and supplying parts that are in shortage. Nissan has already started similar initiatives in other regions. In the U.S., the company is making protective face shields for health care workers in Michigan, Mississippi and Tennessee. In the U.K., a team of volunteers from the Nissan Sunderland Plant have been supporting the delivery of protective face shields. More than 77,000 shields will leave the plant by the end of this week, and from next week, up to 100,000 shields will be distributed weekly. Nissan provided additional funds for an injection molding tool that greatly increases the number of shields produced. In Spain, Nissan is beginning production of medical respirators in collaboration with Hospital de Sant Pau, the engineering company QEV Technologies and the Eurecat technology center. Manufacturing of the respirators will begin this week at Nissan’s Powertrain Plant in Barcelona. The Nissan group will continue efforts to support measures against the spread of COVID19, leveraging expertise gained through vehicle engineering and production, using existing assets, and cooperating with governments and related parties in each country.
Donates... from page 1
and testing centers.” While Luzon, particularly Metro Manila, holds majority of the country’s COVID-19 cases so far, Mindanao has not been spared from the virus. There have been over one hundred and thirty (130) positive cases in Mindanao as of writing, an alarming number given
the limited testing capacity in the region so far. Zubiri, who himself had been diagnosed with COVID-19 and has recovered from it, voiced sympathy for health care workers in Mindanao: “So many nurses, doctors, hospital workers back home have reached out to me, asking if there’s a way we can help them. Nasa frontlines sila araw-araw, risking their own well being for us, and yet they can’t get tested because of a shortage of kits. It’s disheartening. I hope some of the test kits that we’re sending out can be allocated for our health workers, so they can continue with their noble duty to our people.” “We really need nationwide testing. That’s the only way we can properly identify the scope of this virus, and the only way we can begin to eliminate it.”
Relief... from page 1
sistance from the municipal government while under enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) to prevent the spread of Corona Virus Disease 2019 (Covid-19). The relief pack distributed to each household contains 25 kilos of rice, dried fish, 2 noodles, one half kilo of sugar, three packs of coffee, three packs of powdered milk and two cans of sardines which is good enough for two weeks of food subsistence. For the Manobos in this community and in other similar communities in this interior river town predominantly populated by indigenous tribes, receiving processed food packs and rice is a great privilege even in normal times in the past. April Khrysstil Guzman, municipal information officer who is a Manobo, said her tribesfolk were overwhelmed to receive canned goods and other processed products during their relief missions in other villages in the first batch of distribution in the first week of April. “For us especially the old folks, having canned sardines meal is more delicious than a native chicken,” Guzman said. Most of the Manobos in Loreto town are into traditional indigenous farming growing root crops, bananas and other fruit trees. She said the Manobos of this town are nomadic people who transfer from one community to another depending on their needs to survive.
Mon-Tue, April 20-21, 2020 The relief aid in Sitio Pan-ajatan led by 2nd Lt. Joven Vasquez, platoon leader of the 60th Infantry Battalion, was held on April 12 where the soldiers and utility workers of the municipal hall were scattered to the sitios of Barangay Kasapa I mostly without access to roads. The relief team on board trucks have to travel 33 kilometers to reach Kasapa, considered the farthest village from the town center. Loreto, one of the six towns of Agusan Sur situated along the might Agusan river banks, has remain Covid-19 free since the global pandemic heightened last month. Guzman noted there were two suspected cases who came from abroad last month who completed the 14-day home quarantine without any signs of symptoms. A total of 826 suspected cases including 28 college students from Davao region were already cleared by the local government physicians. The municipal government has already distributed a total of 14,719 food packs to the 25 barangays of this town. Loreto Mayor Lorife Magadan Otaza has also distributed Covid-19 immune booster vitamins to the senior citizens, persons with disability, patients at the Loreto District Hospital, tricycle drivers , local government workers and frontliners.
Stores... from page 1
supermarkets to lessen their risks of infection from the COVID-19 coronavirus. When Iligan Mayor Celso G. Regencia declared an Enhanced Community Quarantine throughout Iligan City from March 20 to April 30, 2020, it raised the issue of how social distancing could be enhanced with only two public markets serving Iligan City: Tambo and Wet Market in the City proper. It also made life more difficult for people who did not have private transportation and had lacking access to buy their daily needs such as the dry goods, vegetables and fruits, meats and other household needs. Rolling Stores to the rescue On April 7, the Iligan Chamber of Commerce launched its Rolling Stores Project in coordination with the Local Government Units
(LGUs), Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), City Agriculture Office, Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) and other stakeholders to address the issues of social distancing, encouraging to stay home indoors and assisting certain sectors to mitigate the big impact of the ECQ in Iligan City. “We have 10 rolling stores every day, they have different schedules and diff barangays to cater to,” said Ms. Reggie D. Punongbayan, CCIFII President. “So far, the rolling stores have already covered about 90 percent or 40 of the city’s 44 barangays.” “We have been consistently been urging buyers to strictly comply with the Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ). Buyers should provide their own ecobags, prepare their shopping lists in advance to avoid delays, always wear face masks and maintain social distancing in accordance with Joint Memorandum Circular No. 1, Series of 2020, R.A. 11469,” she stressed. To get the stores rolling, the Iligan Chamber of Commerce requested the Association of Barangay Councils (ABC) President to identify which barangays would be interested to participate in the project. “The barangays were divided into clusters composed of various puroks,” Punongbayan explained. “The identified barangay will be divided into sectors with designated spaces where our Rolling Store will standby on agreed days and times, assuring that all barangay residents can access the rolling store at least two or three times a week.” Once the designated spaces for the rolling store had been identified, barangay officials assisted in securing the area by marshalling buyers to assure the proper social distancing and health protocols are observed during the 4-5 hours the rolling store would be selling in a barangay. Opportunities in adversity The City Agriculture Office (CAO) has been supplying at least ten (10) basic agricultural products from local farmers which are delivered to the City Slaughterhouse where the CAO is located, and where participating entrepreneurs get their orders repacked based on their needs. “We collaborated with chamber members who
were interested to operate the rolling stores in the 3-4 barangays assigned to them,” Punongbayan said. “A Halal operator has also been tapped to serve our Muslim communities.” “The fish, meat, groceries, rice, and dried fishes which are considered basic priority needs of our people are taken from our selected participating outlet members arranged by CCIFII to get the best prices which comply the suggested retail prices set by Department of Agriculture and the Department of Trade and Industry under the present price freeze of basic and prime commodities,” she added. To further keep prices down, the chamber coordinated with the Department of Agriculture which coordinated with local farmers to have their produce delivered to a “bagsakan” where RS operators buy directly from them, and where meat products like pork and chicken can also be likewise bought direct from piggery and poultry operators. In addition, grocery store owners give wholesale price for canned goods and other grocery items to RS operators while donors shoulder like DPWH and the CAO donated gasoline allowance of 10 liters twice a week for each RS operator. Public-Private Partnership Through the Rolling Stores Project, the Iligan Chamber of Commerce aims to assist the local and national government enhance health measures such as social distancing, help curb the spread of COVID-19 by limiting the number and distance residents need to travel to purchase their daily needs, keep down the prices of basic and prime commodities, and further expand opportunities for synergy and cooperation between the public and private sectors. (RMB)
Squad... from page 2
We did not take it seriously so that our team members would not get discouraged). “Sa siege kasi, naririnig mo ang putok ng baril, puwde kang magtago muna bago dumiretso. Unlike nito, hindi mo nakikita ang kalaban mo. Pwdeng anytime dumapo sa iyo kahit naka-protective suit ka, hindi 100% na hindi kakapit sa iyo,” he added. (During the siege, you could hear the bursts of gunfire and explosions, you could take cover
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before proceeding. Unlike now, you cannot see your enemies. Anytime, you could get infected even if you are in a protective suit because it is not 100% you won’t get infected.) To make sure they are safe when they get back to their office, they disinfect three times. The vehicle used in transporting the cadaver was also disinfected. They went into quarantine until they were again called to bury another COVID patient on March 20. At the cemetery, no Islamic rites were conducted since the immediate family members already did these at the isolation room. They had to be very quick. “Sa normal na libing namin, lahat nga pamilya na nasa paligid ay hahawak sa bangkay bago ilagay sa hukay, pasa-pasa yan. Maraming mag-volunteer na maglibing. Hindi ka natatakot. Pero ito, kahit immediate family ay nag-aalangan na humawak sa bangkay. Masakit isipin na ganoon ang naging impact ng sakit na ito.” “Alanganin kaming humawak kasi baka mapunit ang PPEs namin,” Lucman added. For the March 28 burial, the PDRRMO decided not to bring along the immediate family members of the deceased because the nearest relatives were living in Iligan City. The Inter-Agency Task Force COVID-19 in Iligan City did not allow the relatives to go out from their house because they were classified as Persons Under Monitoring (PUM). “On our end also, pinagbawal na namin na may family member na sumama kasi walang problema sa amin, we can always go on a quarantine. Sa mga family members, hindi natin alam kung may disiplina sa pag-quarantine. So imbes na mababawasan ang problema, mas lalong lalaki,” Lucman said. (On our end, we prohibit family members from joining the burial.Dor our part, it’s no problem because we can always go on quarantine. For the family members of the deceased, we are not sure if they have the discipline to undertake the mandated quarantine. Instead of easing the problem, it could only worsen the situation.) “We understand the weight of the problem. We are not sure of the other people because there many who are still in denial once they got infected with the virus,” he added. It was hard for Lucman’s group to prohibit family members to bury their loved one but the group prefers it that way rather than risk further spreading the virus.
MINDANAO DAILY TRUTH. JUSTICE. PROGRESS.
MOTORING
Mon-Tue, April 20-21, 2020
GILBERT Y. CHAO - Motoring Editor
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Ford Shares Tips on Keeping Your Car in Shape During Quarantine
W
ITH the extension of the enhanced community quarantine until April 30, 2020 to further contain the spread of the Covid-19 virus, private vehicles will now have to be parked in the garage for a longer period of time, limiting movement only to purchase essential products such as food and medicines. In order to keep your vehicle in good condition while parked in your garage, here are car care tips from Ford that you can follow: 1. Choose a parking spot Picking a spot where to park your vehicle is very important to its overall well-being. Do not park it on grass or soil, because moisture can make its way up and rust certain parts of your vehicle. Make sure to choose a covered area, or an area out of direct sunlight, and has a solid floor. 2. Give your vehicle a wash Spend time to wash your vehicle in your garage or parking area once in a while to ensure you are able to
remove dirt particles or even bird droppings. These will be harder to remove after a couple of days if left uncleaned. 3. Clean and place a dehumidifier inside the cabin Give your interior thorough vacuum and throw away food particles or remnants. Having a clean car will avoid insects and animals from entering your vehicle and potentially causing damage to it. Placing an off the shelf dehumidifier inside your vehicle can help combat unwanted moisture, especially in more humid climates. 4. Fill up the fuel tank Make sure to fill the fuel all the way to the brim.
This avoids a gap in your fuel tank where oxygen can oxidize. Oxidization is a chemical reaction between the fuel and oxygen which results in gum forming in your fuel tank, which can cause damage to your vehicle if not properly cleaned before using. 5. Overinflate the tires The tire pressure can slowly drop over a period of time, even when the car is not in use. Ensure that you overinflate your tires
and the spare tire before parking your vehicle. This can also avoid flat spots forming on your tires. 6. Leave the parking brake down If you leave your parking brake engaged, it could possibly become stuck or seized after being parked over time. Unless you are parked on a slope, simply shift your vehicle into Park for automatic transmissions, or engage the first gear for manual transmis-
Nissan to Make Face Shields for Health Care Workers in Japan
community quarantine requirements in different local governments, servicing response time may vary from area to area, depending on the coordination among the LGU, vehicle owner, and the particular Maxus Philippines service provider; • For the Maxus G10 MPV, the periodic maintenance service (PMS) interval schedule covers the first 5,000 kms or 6 months and every succeeding 10,000
Nissan will begin making protective face shields for health care workers in Japan who are on the frontlines in the fight against COVID-19. The current plan calls for making 2,500 shields a month. Production will start this month at the Nissan Technical Center, the Nissan Research Center, and the company’s Yokohama Plant. In addition, in response to a request from the Japanese government, Nissan is studying ways to support companies that manufacture ventilators and artificial heart-lung machines. Nissan plans to help these producers by proposing improvements to manufactur-
See MAXUS, page 11
See NISSAN, page 11
Maxus Offers Worry-free Ownership, Emergency Roadside Assistance During these extraordinary days, every trip is essential to your family’s well-being and health. These are the days when you need your vehicle to perform at its best. On board a Maxus vehicle, not only will you get the optimal power, performance, adaptability, and versatility of British-bred light commercial vehicle, you will also get maximum peace of mind through Maxus Philippines’ aftersales support.
For every Maxus G10 multi-purpose vehicle, Maxus V80 passenger, cargo or utility van, and Maxus T60 pickup purchased, Maxus Philippines has automatically guaranteed a total package of aftersales services. These are the following: • A 24/7 emergency roadside assistance, a pickup and delivery service for customers, and on-site servicing for corporate fleet accounts. However, in consideration of the various
sions. Keep in mind about shifting back the transmission to Park or engage the gear back to neutral for manual transmission when starting the car. 7. Lift your wiper blades This very simple advice can save you money and time after the strict travel restrictions. Lift the wipers and place a ball of cloth underneath it so the blades are not touching the windshield. Heat can damage the wiper blades
over time and take away its wiping credibility. 8. Start your car once a week Take at least 10 minutes every week to start your vehicle. Let the engine idle so the oil and other fluids can circulate through the engine. This will also enable to recharge your battery if you do not have a trickle charger. This will keep your battery healthy and ensure an efficient start every time.