MINDANAO DAILY TRUTH. JUSTICE. PROGRESS.
S ince
Volume IX, No. 210
www.mindanaodailynews.com
Thursday, February 6, 2020
1923
P15.00
Allaying public fears, gov’t announces countermeasures to fight coronavirus
THE Duterte administration has spelled out measures to be carried out in case the country experiences an outbreak of the deadly 2019 novel coronavirus (2019 nCoV), which continues to spread around the world. In a media briefing in Malacanang Monday night, President Duterte said among the measures to be undertaken by the government is the creation of regional facilities that could house patients affected by the coronavirus. “But if it comes to the fore requiring the quarantine of persons, either local or foreigners, I have directed Secretary Duque here to prepare a space, a ward in our hospitals or a separate room — building, room — where we can house them,” the President told reporters. The government could expropriate privately owned facilities for the purpose of converting them into hospi-
tals in case of an outbreak, according to the President. In times of emergencies, the government can confiscate such structures to make room for hospitals and equip them with medical facilities and personnel. The government could also use the drug rehabilitation facility at Fort Magsaysay in Nueva Ecija donated by a Chinese philanthropist to accommodate patients needing quarantine and treatment, the President said. “Nandiyan sa Fort Magsaysay. That building is inside a national government reservation. Maluwang ‘yan. So marami akong ilagay diyan kung ang contagion actually… It’s epidemic if it is just regional or local or national,” he said. During a briefing with top government officials and health experts in Malacanang, the President said he wants local government President Rodrigo Roa Duterte answers queries from members of the media during a briefing on the 2019 novel See FEARS, page 11
Coronavirus (2019-nCoV) at the Malacañan Palace on February 3, 2020. TOTO LOZANO/PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO
Winning peace thru convergence:
The C.O.R.D.S. way By DOMINIC I. SANCHEZ
ALL they ever wanted was for their cries to be heard. For generations, many families especially those living in the highlands of Zamboanga Peninsula have been living in poverty and trepidation. Statistics have shown that for the past several years, some See WAY, page 11
Thrive CDO group calls on govt to hike aid for cancer patients, survivors THRIVE CDO, a Cagayan de Oro City based advocacy group on breast cancer awareness will submit a position paper calling on government to increase financial aid to cancer patients and survivors for recurrence. This came after a press conference organized by Thrive CDO at the Missy Bonbon Polymedic Medical Plaza Wednesday morning
(Feb. 5). In their position paper, the group seeks official confirmation from the agencies concerned about the status of financial aid to cancer patients and survivors under the Universal Health Care Act. They said they received unconfirmed reports that the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) won’t issue benefits to cancer
patients and survivors. PCSCO Cagayan de Oro branch manager Divina Salvacion admitted that ‘medyo makulangan (slightly insufficient)’ for all those asking assistance under the Universal Health Care Act. “We now limit our assistance to confinement, dialysis and medicines for chemotherapy,’ she said. Salvacion told Thrive CDO See CALLS, page 11