3 more PUIs test
negative for COVID-19 in Caraga
BUTUAN CITY, April 9 -- The Department of Health (DOH) Caraga on
Thursday announces three additional coronavirus disease (COVID-19) lab results
released from the Southern Philippines Medical Center (SPMC). All three results
received tested negative.
The negative results were from the admitted 39-year-old, male at the
Adela Serra Ty Memorial Medical Center in Tandag City and two patients
(51-year-old, male from Agusan del Sur and 37-year-old, female from Butuan
City) who both completed the home quarantine period following physician’s
assessment and management.
“There are still pending lab results and we have high hopes that it
would be in our favor,” said DOH Caraga Regional Director Jose R. Llacuna, Jr.
As per Department Memorandum (DM) No. 2020-0108-B or the Further
Amendment to DM No. 2020-0108 entitled, “Guidelines for Management of Patients
with Possible and Confirmed COVID-19,” respiratory specimens for the Reverse
Transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) testing may be collected from
Patients Under Investigation (PUIs) that have recovered from severe and
critical condition, elderlies (regardless of clinical manifestations), presence
of existing medical conditions that may exacerbate COVID-19 clinical course,
and healthcare workers in facilities with PUIs and confirmed cases of COVID-19
that have manifested signs and symptoms of the disease.
“We are closely coordinating with our partner sub-national laboratory in
the release of the test results. Meanwhile, we would like to reiterate to the public
to continue following our health advisories,” said Dr. Llacuna, Jr. (DOH
Caraga/PIA Caraga)
By Jennifer P. Gaitano
BUTUAN CITY, April 9 (PIA) -- Some 321 establishments with more than
5,000 workers in Caraga region have applied and submitted the requirements for
the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) Adjustment Measures Program (CAMP) under the
Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE).
Said program provides cash assistance amounting to P5,000.00 for each of
the qualified workers in the private sector, who have been affected by the
temporary closure of the respective establishments where they work with, as a
preventive measure against the harmful COVID-19.
This has started since the implementation of the Community Quarantine in
most areas of the Caraga region and with the recent declaration of the Enhanced
Community Quarantine, wherein the workers are among the vulnerable sectors
affected by this crisis.
As part of the government efforts to help cushion the impact of the ECQ
on Caraganons, different government agencies have also provided assistance that
would ease workers from worries and peril in this trying time.
“This benefit for the workers in the formal sector are directly given to
them in the amount of P5,000. We really need to unite and work together in providing
the needed assistance to the vulnerable sector and help them cope with life
while undergoing the community quarantine,” said Mantilla.
The official added that though said program is open for all affected
workers in the private sector, it follows the “first come, first serve” basis
in the release of the cash assistance. All applications also are evaluated and
validated by the DOLE-Caraga.
As one of the beneficiaries, Christian James Alfon thanked the DOLE for
reaching out to them and upholding their rights and welfare. “We are thankful
to DOLE because without this assistance, our family would suffer hunger while
we are jobless,” he said.
“It’s been hard without a job for now, but I’m thankful knowing that the
government does not leave us behind on this crisis situation,” bared Ervie Jane
Cachuela, a co-worker.
Sean Christian Cabardo, who also worked at the same restaurant with the
two others, also expressed his gratitude to his employer for taking the
initiative and have them included in the first batch among the beneficiaries.
Director Mantilla also appreciated all the employers who expressed
concern for their workers and immediately responded and coordinated with the
department and complied with the necessary requirements for the cash
assistance.
Meanwhile, Director Mantilla revealed that under the “Barangay Ko, Bahay
Ko” (BKBK) Disinfection and Sanitation Project, there were 1,700 enlisted from
the informal sector while 1,500 beneficiaries have already started working.
With this project, the qualified beneficiaries will receive the
P3,000.00 cash assistance after they completed the 10-day work with 4-hours a
day, through the supervision of their respective barangay officials.
(JPG/PIA-Caraga)
GSIS grants 3-month
moratorium on loan payments
BUTUAN CITY, April 9 -- President and General Manager Rolando Ledesma
Macasaet announced yesterday that the Board of Trustees (BOT) of the Government
Service Insurance System (GSIS) approved Resolution No. 42-2020 granting a
moratorium on loan payments of GSIS members and pensioners, including housing
loan amortization of borrowers.
“The GSIS Board of Trustees, in compliance with the “Bayanihan Heal as
One” law, decided to grant a moratorium to our borrowers,” Macasaet said.
Section 4 (aa) of Republic Act 11469, otherwise known as the “Bayanihan
Heal as One Law,” instructs all lending institutions to grant a 30-day grace
period or extension on loan payments during the Enhanced Community Quarantine
(ECQ) period without imposing interest or penalties on borrowers.
Under the said GSIS Board Resolution, collection of loan payments due
for the months of March, April and May 2020 shall be deferred. GSIS will resume
collection of loan payments on 01 June 2020 without penalty or additional
interest. All loan terms, as a result of the moratorium, shall be effectively
extended by three months.
“We hope that this 90-day grace period will give our members some
financial relief in these trying times,” the GSIS chief stated.
Aside from regular government employees, pensioners with GSIS pension
loans will also get a moratorium. “We are halting loan deductions in their next
month’s pension (in May),” Macasaet said.
GSIS housing loan borrowers will likewise not be required to pay their
monthly amortizations during the said 3-month period.
All GSIS borrowers are automatically covered by the moratorium, except
those whose loan accounts are in default as of 29 February 2020. GSIS considers
a loan in default when the account has incurred more than six (6) months of
unpaid amortizations.
Macasaet said that GSIS already issued a memorandum circular (MC)
instructing all heads of government agencies to stop loan deductions for the
months of March, April and May 2020. He however emphasized that premium
contributions of government employees will continue to be deducted and remitted
to GSIS.
GSIS shall resume collection of loan payments on 01 June 2020.
(GSIS/PIA-Caraga)
Mahigit 5,000
manggagawa sa Caraga, nagsimula nang makatanggap ng ayuda mula sa DOLE
By Jennifer P. Gaitano
LUNGSOD NG BUTUAN, Abril 9 (PIA) -- Matapos isailalim sa Enhanced
Community Quarantine ang rehiyon ng Caraga, isa sa mga pinakaapektadong sektor
ay ang mga manggagawa.
Kaya naman iba’t-ibang tulong ang ipinamamahagi ng gobyerno para sila ay
matulungan.
Kabilang na dito ang coronavirus disease o COVID-19 Adjustment Measures
Program (CAMP) ng Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), kung saan
makakatanggap ng P5,000.00 ang mga kwalipikadong manggagawa sa pribadong
sektor.
Ayon kay DOLE-Caraga regional director Chona Mantilla, may 321
establishimento sa rehiyon na may mahigit 5,000 manggagawa ang nag-sumiti na ng
requirements sa ilalim ng programang CAMP at may mga nakatanggap na rin ng
ayuda.
“Ang benepisyong ito ay direktang ibibigay sa mga kwalipikadong
manggagawa sa halagang 5,000.00 sa bawat isa sa kanila. Kailangan nating
magtulungan dahil lahat ay apektado ng COVID-19,” ani ni Mantilla.
Dagdag pa ng opisyal, ito ay “First Come, First Serve” at lahat ay
dumaan sa evaluation at validation ng dole.
“Nagpapasalamat kami sa DOLE dahil kung wala ang tulong na ito,
magugutom rin ang aming mga pamilya,” sabi ni Christian James Alfon na
empleyado ng isang restaurant.
“Malaking tulong na rin po ito para sa amin na ngayon ay walang trabaho
dahil sa enhanced community quarantine kontra COVID-19,” dagdag ni Ervie Jane
Cachuela na kasamahan rin sa trabaho.
“Salamat din sa aming employer dahil sa kanyang inisyatibo at kami ay
naisali sa first batch ng mga benepisyaryo,” pahayag din ni Sean Christian
Cabardo.
Pinasalamatan din ni Director Mantilla ang lahat ng employers na agad
namang nakipag-ugnayan sa kanilang ahensiya at nag-sumite ng requirements para
sa benepisyong direktang ipamamahagi sa kanilang mga manggagawa.
Samantala, sinabi rin ni Director Mantilla na sa ilalim ng “Barangay Ko,
Bahay Ko” (BKBK) Disinfection and Sanitation Project, may 1,700 na ang
na-enlist mula sa informal sector, habang 1,500 na nito ang nakapagsimula ng
magtrabaho.
Ang mga kwalipikadong benepisyaryo ay maaring magtrabaho ng apat na oras
kada araw sa loob ng sampung araw at tatanggap sila ng P3,000.00.
Nanawagan naman ang DOLE sa mga barangay officials na ipaabot ang
programang ito sa mga residente at tulungan silang maka-avail. (JPG/PIA-Caraga)
