By
Venus L. Garcia
During
his recent visit in Caraga region, Andanar also urged the Caraganons,
especially the netizens and youths to be responsible sharers and users of
information and to avoid spreading unverified information on COVID-19.
“The
virus can affect anyone regardless of race, ethnicity, nationality,
gender or age. Stop blaming anyone or any country for the spread of the virus.
Think and discern everything that you have read or heard. Efforts were made by the
PCOO to avert the proliferation of fake news and updates about the COVID-19,”
said Andanar.
This he
said, referring also to the PCOO’s effort of promoting the students’
involvement to curb the distribution of wrong information about the COVID-19
though the Youth for Truth program under the Dismiss Disinformation campaign of
the government in which the PCOO has been working on at the same time.
“The
youths are the perfect age group capable of fighting the fake news on COVID-19
because they are identified to be digital natives who are active and exposed to
social media,” said Andanar.
Moreover,
Andanar strongly discouraged everyone to engage in xenophobic behaviors and
discrimination, saying that Filipinos should continue to be level-headed and
compassionate.
“Rest
assured that the government is doing its best to protect the health and welfare
of the Filipinos. For now, Filipinos from China, Hongkong or Macao are given
the chance to come back to our country, provided that they would strictly
follow the imposed rules for quarantine. But those who wanted to go back to the
countries affected by the virus are prohibited to travel until further notice,”
Andanar said.
“The
LGUs have prioritized the issuance of the executive order as a proactive action
to strictly implement the protocols and to prevent the entry of the COVID-19 in
our region. We also wanted to focus our attention and preparation for such
situation,” said Agusan del Norte governor Dale Corvera.
By
citing the necessary preparations, the Agusan del Norte Provincial Hospital and
Butuan City Medical Center were prompt with their readiness to accommodate
patients where COVID-19 infection is yet to be confirmed.
According
to Dr. Odelio Ferrer, provincial health officer of Agusan del Norte, the
government-run hospital has already designated a holding area and an isolation
room intended for COVID-19 suspected cases, if there is any.
“It’s
much better that we follow the universal precautionary measures such as the
regular washing of hands and use of face mask. We are also ready to assist
patients when needed to be referred to the Caraga Regional Hospital with Level
II facility for COVID-19 cases,” said Ferrer.
With
the earlier declaration of the nCoV, now called COVID-19, outbreak as a public
health emergency of international concern, Andanar guaranteed that the PCOO and
its attached agencies are intensifying their efforts in the delivery of timely,
accurate and reliable information; public service reminders and news about the
COVID-19 pandemic.
Andanar
said the public can also get updates from the Department of Health’s (DOH’s)
official webpage (www.doh.gov.ph/2019-ncov/updates) dedicated to COVID-19.
(VLG/PIA-Caraga)
Army participates in
clean-up drive, tree planting in AgSur
By Cpt.
Edwin Leo J. Francisco
The
activity started with a Zumba exercise, solidarity walk, and followed
by the river clean-up and tree planting.
This
was joined by the local government unit headed by municipal
administrator Marvin B. Mique; Department of Environment and Natural
Resources - City Environment and Natural Resources Office (DENR-CENRO) of
Bunawan headed by forester Jerome H. Albia; Municipal Police Station
headed by PCpt. Joburt Agpaoa; Alpha Phi Omega International (Philippines),
Incorporated; Monalisa Fraternity and Sorority; PHILSAGA Mining Corporation;
Agusan del Sur State College of Agriculture and Technology (ASSCAT); MENRO of
Trento; MENRO of Sta. Josefa; MENRO of Bunawan; Barangay Council of
Brgy. Consuelo; and personnel of Charlie Company, 75IB led by
1Lt. Begie P De Jesus, company commander and LTC Warren C Munda,
commanding officer of 75IB.
The
various participating agencies have willfully took their part in the commitment
towards the preservation and environmental protection as the activity aims to
fight against climate change; helping the community to protect and conserve the
Coo creek, and all the natural resources within the area.
Moreover,
they collected 74.7 kilos of assorted plastic garbage and planted 300 molave
seedlings.
Meanwhile,
punong barangay Gregorio B. Maloloy-on, Sr.
of Consuelo, expressed his appreciation to those who
participated in the activity and emphasized the importance of preserving the
nature that will benefit the next generations. (CMO officer,
75IB/PIA-Agusan del Sur)
Start anew at any
given moment
Sharon
Tecson Tumbaga – a former Overseas Filipino Worker (OFW) for five years in
Jeddah, mother to a charming daughter, and a loving wife to Felix B. Tumbaga,
who was also a former OFW in the same country for nine years, was one of the
‘Balik Pinas! Balik Hanapbuhay!’ Program beneficiaries back in 2017.
Due to
an unexpected ill-fated event in her workplace, working as a ward assistant in
a hospital with her husband was both a blessing and a nightmare for the couple.
When her contract got terminated, she could only wish to go back home as soon
as possible; then later on, her husband followed suit. Few months later since
her arrival in the Philippines, she was informed about the ‘Balik Pinas, Balik
Hanapbuhay’ program of OWWA.
Having
all the documentary requirements needed to qualify as a beneficiary, she decided
to apply in the said program for an additional capital to continue the business
operation of her Sari-Sari Store at their residential home in Bading, Butuan
City, which has been existing since her childhood years. It was a sigh of
relief when she finally got the cash assistance in the amount of P20,000 as a
fund to start her store in full-packed operation once again.
Two
years later, she ventured to a wholesale and retail business of beverage
products with the support of her husband. The couple works hand in hand in
managing their second venture. The success of her business venture relies on
her firm policy when it comes to managing her Sari-Sari Store; the ‘Bawal ang
utang’. She was firm of her policy and strictly implements it whenever a
customer attempts to buy in credit at her store.
“Gamay
ra baya atung ginansya aning tindahan. Kung magpa-utang ko sa tindahan wala
nakoy makompra, dili nako ma-roll ang kita sa tindahan. Ma close gyud ang
negosyo kung mauhon. (I only get a small portion of profit from selling goods
through my store.
If I tolerated the customers to buy in credit,
I wouldn’t be able to purchase new goods to sell, rolling out the profit would
be close to impossible. Thus, the business would lead to total closure),”
Sharon stated in an interview.
Along
with her skills in successfully managing her business undertakings, she is also
grateful for the cash assistance that she received from OWWA under the ‘Balik
Pinas, Balik Hanapbuhay’ program. It paved the way for her to start anew in the
country and redeem herself from the distressed situation she had experienced as
an OFW. (OWWA-RWO 13/PIA-Caraga)
Pangamba ng publiko
kontra COVID-19 pinawi ni PCOO Sec. Andanar
By
Venus L. Garcia
Sa
kanyang pag-ikot sa mga probinsiya sa rehiyon ng Caraga, hinikayat rin niya ang
Caraganons partikular ang netizens at kabataan na maging responsable sa
pagpo-post sa social media ukol sa COVID-19.
“Ang
virus ay walang pinipiling nationality. Kaya huwag tayong manisi kanino man at
itigil ang pagkalat ng maling impormasyon. Para maiwasan ang fake news,
kaakibat natin ang grupo ng Youth for Truth kung saan nagtuturo ng media
literacy. Ang mga kabataan ay perfect na edad para labanan ang fake news dahil
sila ay mga digital natives at aktibo sa social media,” sabi ni Andanar.
Nakiusap
din si Andanar sa publiko na isantabi ang diskriminasyon. Sa halip ay laliman
pa ang pang-unawa at mag bayanihan.
“Ito
pong ginagawa ng ating gobyerno ay para sa kapakanan ng bawat Pilipino. Sa
ngayon ay pinapayagan namang makapasok ang mga Pilipinong gustong umuwi sa
Pilipinas galing China, Hogkong at Macao subalit yung gustong bumalik sa China
ay ipinagbabawal ng gobyerno until further notice. Isasailalim sila sa
quarantine procedure dahil kinakailangan nating i-contain and virus para hindi
umakyat sa lebel na mitigation,” sabi ni Andanar.
Samantala,
una ng nagpalabas ang mga lokal na pamahalaan ng lungsod ng Tandag, Butuan at
Surigao at probinsya ng Agusan del Norte sa Caraga region ng kautusan na
naglalayon bumuo ng COVID-19 response team at lumikha ng guidelines para
i-monitor, contain, kontrol at pigilan ang pagkalat ng COVID-19.
“Siniguro
naming mag-isssue ng executive order bilang proactive measure upang striktong
maipatupad ang protocol para maiwasan ang pagpasok ng virus sa rehiyon. Nais
din natin na mapagtuonan pa lalo ng pansin at preparasyon ang sitwasyon,” sabi
ni Agusan del Norte Gov. Dale Corvera.
Samantala,
nakahanda na rin ang Agusan del Norte Provincial Hospital at Butuan City Medical
Center para i-accommodate ang anumang kaso na may kinalaman sa COVID-19.
Ayon
kay Dr. Odelio Ferrer, provincial health officer ng Agusan del Norte, inayos na
nila ang pasilidad. May nakatalaga na rin anyang holding area at isolation room
sa ospital na maaring kinakailanganin.
“Maging
mahinahon lamang tayo at iwasang mag panic. Mas maigi na sundin natin ang
universal precautionary measures gaya ng madalas na paghugas ng kamay; paggamit
ng face mask; at pag-iwas sa mga mataong lugar. Nandiyan rin ang Caraga
Regional Hospital na may level II facility para sa COVID-19 cases,” sabi ni
Ferrer.
Ayon
kay Andanar, sa pagdeklara sa COVID-19 o naunang kilala na 2019-nCoV na public
health emergency, pinalakas pang lalo ng PCOO at attached agencies
ang pagbabahagi ng public service reminders, news at updates tungkol sa
COVID-19.
May
nakatalaga ring official webpage ang Department of Health
(www.doh.gov.ph/2019-ncov/updates) para sa pagbibigay ng komprehensibong update
ukol sa COVID-19. (VLG/PIA-Caraga)
Anti-truancy gimando
sa RTR
By
Shiene V. Deligero
BUTUAN
CITY, Feb. 13 -- Gimando na karon sa lungsod sa Remedios T. Romualdez kun RTR
probinsya sa Agusan del Norte human gi-deklarang balido sa Sangguniang
Panlalawigan ang Municipal Ordinance No. 332-2019 sa gipahigayong 28th regular
sesyon kaniadtong Enero 27, 2020.
Unod sa
maong ordinansa mao ang pagmando sa Anti-truancy o kontra- bulakboleros diin
kini sila ang mga estudyante sa elementarya ug sekondarya nga naka-enrol sa
publiko ug pribado nga mga eskwelahan sa munisipyo sa RTR nga wala sa
eskwelahan o bisan unsang kalihokan sa eskwelahan nga walay igong hinungdan.
Ang
maong ordinansa gipangamahanan ni Sangguniang Bayan Member Nilo T. Fediles nga
nagtumong sa pagpanalipod sa interes sa mga estudyante, tabangan ang mga
estudyante nga mahimong mas responsable ug produktibo pinaagi sa pagtambong
kanunay sa mga klase ug ug mga kalihokan sa eskwelahan pugngan sila nga mag
standby gawas sa eskwelahan diin maoy hinungdan nga sila madala sa mga krimen
sa kadalanan ug uban pang mga matang sa katalagman, ipaniguro sa mga ginikanan
sa mga estudyante nga ang ilang mga anak luwas sa maong tulunghaan, pagkontrola
ug pagpugong sa mga bata sa paghimo og daotan.
Ubos
usab sa maong ordinansa adunay ipahamtang nga mga silot alang sa mga truant,
mga establisemento sa komersyo, mga ginikanan o guardians nga nakalapas sa
maong gisaad nga mga probisyon.
Ang
pag-apruba giduso pinaagi ni Board Member Rodulfo A. Pitogo, tsirman sa
Committee on education and culture. (LGU Agusan del Norte/PIA Agusan del Norte)
