PUI in SurSur town
voluntarily submits to confinement
TANDAG
CITY, Surigao del Sur, Mar. 12 (PIA) -- A person under investigation (PUI)
for coronavirus disease (COVID-19) from Cantilan town has voluntarily asked to
be confined on Wednesday and was brought to the Adela Serra Ty Memorial Medical
Center (ASTMMC) here.
Based
on the report, the patient is a male Overseas Filipino Worker (OFW) with a
travel history in Australia last month. The said individual arrived in Manila
on February 27 and went home in Cantilan on February 29.
The
patient has flu-like symptoms of COVID-19 on March 10, 2020 that steered him to
undergo further laboratory tests and observations based on the protocol ordered
by the Department of Health. The result will be available after a few days, it
was learned.
As a
preventive measure against COVID-19, Cantilan Mayor Carla Pichay has ordered
the suspension of classes in all levels both private and public effective
today, March 12 until further notice.
According
to Mayor Pichay, the team from the Municipal Health Office (MHO) has already
begun the contact tracing, consultation, orientation, and other relevant
procedures for the family members and other individuals who interacted with the
patient.
Mayor
Pichay revealed that Cantilan has no confirmed case on COVID-19 yet.
She
then urged her constituents to remain calm and practice everyday prevention
measures like frequent hand washing, staying home when sick, and covering
coughs and sneezes. (NGB/PIA-Surigao del Sur)
DTI reminds
retailers, consumers to be responsible amid price freeze
BUTUAN
CITY, March 12 -- Following the declaration of a national public health
emergency due to the Corona Virus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak, the
Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) issued a price freeze advisory to all
business establishments.
DTI
Caraga Regional Director Brielgo O. Pagaran reminds retailers that there should
not be any increase on the prices of basic necessities and prime commodities
while the freeze is in effect, adding that the public must be reminded of their
consumer rights and responsibilities especially in this emergency situation.
“Retailers
must be reminded of their responsibilities and obligations to the consumers.
The latter, on one hand, should also be more responsible and mindful of other
consumers when they buy basic necessities,” Pagaran added.
The DTI
Caraga top official said that consumers must not engage in panic buying and
must also consider their fellow buyers to avoid problems on stock shortage.
Pursuant
to Republic Act No. 7581 or the Price Act, prices of basic necessities shall be
frozen at their prevailing prices for 60 days or until sooner lifted by the
President whenever there is a declaration of a state of emergency, calamity, or
other similar conditions.
Basic
necessities that are under the jurisdiction of the DTI include canned fish and
other marine products, locally manufactured instant noodles, bottled water,
bread, processed milk, coffee, candles, and laundry soap, detergent, and salt.
Department
of Agriculture covers basic agricultural goods such as rice, corn, cooking oil,
fresh, dried and other marine products, fresh eggs, fresh pork, beef and
poultry meat, fresh milk, fresh vegetables, root crops, sugar, and fresh
fruits.
Essential
drugs are under the Department of Health while firewood and charcoal for the
Department of Environment and Natural Resources. Household LPG and kerosene, on
the other hand, are under the Department of Energy.
Business
establishments found to have violated the price freeze shall be imposed with a
fine amounting to P5,000 up to P1 million and/or imprisonment for a period of
one year up to ten 10 years.
Meanwhile
Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez, in a press release, warns filing of criminal
charges on overpricing and hoarding of medical devices and products like
alcohol, medicines, masks of N-88, N-95, other similar face masks,
alcohol/sanitizers, and medical devices.
“We
have recommended to the President the issuance of an Executive Order (EO) for
easier procedure of filing of cases and imposition of stiffer penalties for
profiteering. The proposed EO will arm the DTI together with the Department of
Interior and Local Government (DILG), Philippine National Police (PNP), and
National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) with visitorial powers to address the
issue on prices and supply of medical products,” Lopez said.
Under
the Consumer Act or Republic Act (RA) No. 7394, overpricing of face masks may
be considered as an unfair and unconscionable sales act or practice since it
involves taking advantage of consumers in this time of need. The Price Act also
considers this as an act of profiteering.
Both of
these laws provide criminal and administrative penalties and sanctions. Under
the Consumer Act, if found to have committed an unfair and unconscionable sales
act or practice, an administrative sanction of up to P300,000 may be imposed
and/or imprisonment of up to one year.
For
profiteering, the Price Act provides for the imposition of fine of up to P2
million and/or imprisonment of up to 15 years.
Consumers
are enjoined to report business establishments that violate the price freeze
and provide substantial evidences such as proof of purchase and official
receipt by calling the One-DTI (1-384) hotline, sending an email to
ConsumerCare@dti.gov.ph or to Caraga@dti.gov.ph or visiting the nearest DTI
office. (DTI Caraga)
TANDAG
CITY, Surigao del Sur, Mar. 12 (PIA) -- In time with the Women’s Month
celebration, the 36th Infantry “Valor” Battalion (36IB), Philippine Army
conducted a Gender and Development (GAD) Awareness Seminar to its personnel
held at the 36IB headquarters in Barangay Dayoan, Tago town, this province on
Friday, March 6, 2020, a military official confirmed.
According
to Captain Jonald Romorosa, 36IB Civil Military Operations Officer, the
said activity was aimed to intensify the awareness on gender, culture, and
religion among the soldiers.
Romorosa
said they have included the topics on related laws for women, cultural
sensitivity, and understanding Islam.
Meanwhile,
36IB Commanding Officer Lt. Colonel Jezreel Diagmel said that they will
continue to promote equality among their ranks and maintain a high level of
gender, culture, and religion.
“The
activity will serve as an enlightenment to the soldiers of the 36IB as we
celebrate the National Women’s Month,” Lt. Col. Diagmel said. (PIA-Surigao del
Sur)
DepEd Caraga orders
CAA-RSC delegations to return home due to COVID-19
By Nida
Grace P. Barcena
TANDAG
CITY, Surigao del Sur, Mar. 12 (PIA) -- The Department of Education (DepEd) in
Caraga has ordered the delegations of the Caraga Athletic Association-Regional
Sports Competition (CAA-RSC) to return home due to the threat of coronavirus
disease (COVID-19).
The
DepEd Caraga Regional Office headed by Regional Director Francisco Bringas made
the pronouncement over his official media account late Monday night, March 9,
2020, in compliance with the Department Memorandum No. 034, S. 2020 issued by
DepEd Secretary Leonor Briones.
The
cancellation was declared as a precautionary measure, due to the rapid increase
of the COVID-19 confirmed cases in the nation as reported by the Department of
Health.
The
DepEd Caraga Regional Office, accordingly, has sent a letter of appeal to
Secretary Briones to push through with the Caraga Regional Athletic Meet
originally set on Mar. 13-18 in Siargao Island. However, it failed to get
approval from the secretary, it was learned.
Based
on the report, five delegations have already arrived in Siargao Island, including
the delegations from Tandag City, Agusan del Sur, Surigao del Norte, and
Surigao City.
There
were 12 delegations to compete supposedly for the CAA-RSC this year.
Meanwhile,
the Tandag City Division delegation has returned home on Wednesday, according
to Schools Division Superintendent Imelda Sabornido. (PIA Surigao del Sur)
