Friday, May 8, 2020

Caraganons find joy in backyard gardening amid community quarantine

By Nora C. Lanuza

BUTUAN CITY, May 8 (PIA) -- To prevent Caraganons from going hungry during the implementation of the community quarantine where some businesses were closed and a number of people lost their jobs, the Department of Agriculture (DA) in Caraga has introduced backyard gardening amid the novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) crisis. Various seedlings were given to interested individuals and families.

Danny Garces, an OFW who was not able to go back to work as a seaman due to COVID-19 pandemic made himself busy by planting various vegetables with his family.

“Even if I can go back to work as a seaman, I would suggest to my family and friends to continue planting, because this will not only give us food but an additional income, as well," he said.

This is also true to Romer Amante, a government employee who has been planting vegetables during his vacant time. “You can eat fresh and nutritious foods and you don’t need to buy them from the market,” he said.

Because of the DA’s Plant, Plant, Plant program as a response to COVID-19, food production, availability and accessibility, and even affordability of food were never a problem to Caraganons during this time of crisis.

Aside from DA, other Provincial Agriculture Offices in the region are also distributing various vegetable seeds for planting. (NCLM/PIA Caraga)  

Surigao del Norte conducts COVID-19 rapid testing

By Venus L. Garcia

SURIGAO CITY, Surigao del Norte, May 8 (PIA) – With the continued clamor of the public for a mass testing after coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) hit Caraga region, Surigao del Norte Governor Francisco “Lalo” Matugas said during the Laging Hand Network Briefing on Thursday that the province has already finished conducting the initial round of rapid antibody testing.    

The rapid testing conducted on May 2 to 53 individuals reveals 51 negative results and two inconclusive results that were scheduled for repeat testing.

The summary of results for the first batch was issued by the Surigao del Norte Provincial Hospital through Dr. Chrismar Mocorro, chief of hospital. 

In accordance with the Department of Health (DOH) protocol, they are now confined in one of the provincial community quarantine facilities for a specific quarantine period before they will be allowed to go home while waiting for the Reverse Transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) test result of the first medical frontliner who was classified as presumptive positive.

Prior to the initiated rapid testing, Dr. Mocorro had also released an official statement that in the afternoon of May 1, 2020, he was informed by one of the dedicated and service-oriented outsourced medical doctors that the result of the COVID-19 rapid antibody test was positive for lgG.

“This could mean that there was a previous infection with COVID-19 or it could mean a false positive result. This test is a standard protocol in the hospital in Butuan where the said medical doctor also works,” mentioned Dr. Mocorro.

Dr. Mocorro added that said medical doctor remains to be healthy with no symptoms the entire time and is currently on home quarantine and was scheduled for swabbing for RT-PCR test on May 4 for confirmatory testing.

"We urged the public to remain calm. Despite our strict protocol on infection control, there are things beyond our control. We remind the public to stay at home, practice physical distancing and wearing of mask, and do frequent handwashing,” said Dr. Mocorro.

Another batch of Surigaonons, will be tested in the next days. "Thus, we seek the cooperation of everyone. Please be our COVID-19 hero by just staying at home as much as possible.

Report immediately to proper health authorities any symptoms felt that are COVID19-related for appropriate management and referral if needed," said Gov. Matugas.

The isolation facilities of the province are the Provincial Training Center in Sta. Cruz, Placer and Bayay Paglaum in Alegria. The barangays have also identified and designated appropriate places that serve as barangay isolation units (BIUs). Some government facilities were also converted into BIUs. (VLG/PIA-Surigao del Norte)

Provincial scholarship ordinance aprobado na

DAKBAYAN SA BUTUAN, Mayo 8 -- Giaprobahan ni Gobernador Dale B. Corvera niadtong adlawng Miyerkoles, Mayo 6, 2020, ang Agusan del Norte Provincial Ordinance No. 551-2020, "An Ordinance Institutionalizing the Scholarship Program of the Province of Agusan del Norte and providing Funds Thereof," nga gipalabang sa Sangguniang Panlalawigan sa Agusan del Norte kaniadtong Abril 6, 2020, sa pagpangamahan ni Provincial Board Member Rodulfo A. Pitogo, kauban nila ni Provincial Board Member Elizabeth Marie R. Calo ug Provincial Board Member Benjamin D. Lim, Jr.

Ang ordinansa adunay tulo ka klase sa provincial scholarships: (1) Provincial Special Educational Scholarship Program (PSESP), (2) Provincial Indigenous Peoples Scholarship Program (PIPSP) ug (3) Provincial Medical Scholarship Program (PMSP). Ang PSESP para sa tanan senior high school graduates, college level students ug drop-outs due to economic reasons, nga gusto moskwela sa kolehiyo, nga adunay financial allocation nga P20,000 per scholar for a semester.

Ang PIPSP alang sa tanan IPs sa probinsya, nga adunay financial subsidy nga P50,000 per scholar for a semester samtang ang PMSP alang sa mi-gradwar og pre-medical courses ug nakapasar sa National Medical Admission Test (NMAT), nga adunay monetary assistance nga P80,000 per scholar for a semester.

Limitado lamang ang number sa scholars sa tulo ka scholarships. Ang Provincial Scholarship Board maoy mo-screen sa mga applicants.

Ang mga kwalipikasyon sa mo-apply sa Provincial Special Educational Scholarship Program mao ang mosunod:

1) 18 to 30 ang edad;

2) Aktuwal nga molupyo sa Agusan del Norte;

3) Senior HS graduates o college students sa mga schools sa Agusan del Norte;

4) College drop outs o out of school youths nga gusto motungha sa college;

5) Joint Annual Income sa parents di molapas sa P200,000;

6) Average grade 80%; ug

7) Nakapasar sa DepEd exam.

Ang application letter e-address sa gobernador ug didto esubmiter sa Provincial Planning & Development Office (PPDO) uban sa mga required documents (barangay certificate, school card (Form 138), income tax return, PSA birth certtificate, bio-data, certificate of good moral character from school, & result sa entrance examination).

Ang target 300 kabuok scholars sugod SY 2020-2021. Ang scholar motungha lamang sa school sulod sa Agusan del Norte. Kon ang kurso kuhaon wala dinhi, mangayo siyag pahanugot sa Provincial Scholarship Board. (SP Agusan del Norte/PIA Agusan del Norte)