RTF COVID-19 One
Caraga Shield firms up plans for transition to GCQ
By Amethyst Joy A. Galos
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| RTF COVID-19 One Caraga Shield and Caraga RDC chairperson governor Dale B. Corvera of the province of Agusan del Norte is joined by all the provincial governors, the city mayor of Butuan, and several congressional representatives from the region. |
BUTUAN CITY, May 4 -- The Regional Task Force for Coronavirus Disease
2019 (RTF COVID-19) One Caraga Shield, during its 5th teleconference meeting
held last April 29, 2020, discussed and laid out plans as the region shifts
from the Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ) to General Community Quarantine
(GCQ) effective May 1, 2020.
All provinces in Caraga Region were classified as low-risk areas and
thus have transitioned to a more relaxed GCQ on May 1, 2020 following the
recommendation of the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging
Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) contained in IATF-IED Resolution No. 28, Series
of 2020 and as articulated by Presidential Spokesperson Secretary Harry Roque
during press briefings last April 24 and 28, 2020.
Meanwhile, Butuan City expressed its intent to the IATF-EID to exclude
Butuan City from the planned transition to GCQ and continue to implement ECQ
until May 15, 2020. This is considering that its COVID-19 situation is unique
from the rest of the region, given its accelerated state due to the city’s
three confirmed cases and the observed rising trend in COVID-19 suspect cases
in the area.
During the said meeting, the Task Force’s Technical Working Group (TWG)
which is headed by the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA)
Caraga, taking into account the updated case numbers, health systems and
testing capacity, and economic situation in the region, and given the national
direction to place low-risk areas under GCQ, recommended to the RTF to consider
implementing GCQ within the region with lockdown along its borders, subject to
the approval of the IATF-EID. The said regional lockdown proposal is seen to
protect the region from the potential spread of the virus from its high-risk
neighbors.
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| Heads of offices and representatives from various agency regional offices proactively participate during the 5th Regional Task Force (RTF) COVID-19 One Caraga Shield Teleconference Meeting. |
Among the key resolutions passed during the meeting was RTF COVID-19 One
Caraga Shield Resolution No. 22, Series 2020, entitled “A Resolution
Implementing General Community Quarantine (GCQ) Within Caraga While Maintaining
Lockdown Along Its Regional Borders, While Extending the Enhanced Community
Quarantine (ECQ) in Butuan City for the Period May 1 to 15, 2020.”
During the meeting, the Task Force also discussed sector-specific
guidelines and regional action plans relative to the implementation of GCQ in
the region, as presented by various agency regional offices such as the
Department of Health, Department of Trade and Industry, Department of
Transportation, Department of Labor and Employment, Department of Public Works
and Highways, Philippine Ports Authority, Civil Aviation Authority of the
Philippines, Maritime Industry Authority, Land Transportation Franchising
and Regulatory Board, Commission on Higher Education, Philippine National
Police, and Armed Forces of the Philippines.
Furthermore, the Task Force also approved and adopted the proposed
outlines and timelines for the Caraga Rehabilitation and Recovery Plan (RRP),
which was presented by NEDA Caraga. The said plan document shall include
assessment of the impacts of COVID-19 to various sectors as well as the
outcomes, targets/indicators, strategies, and programs, projects, and
activities (PPAs) to be implemented to mitigate the losses arising from the
pandemic and are relevant under the “new normal” scenario.
DOH Caraga, namahagi
ng mga ambulansya sa mga health facilities, ospital
By Doreen Marielle N. Rosales
BUTUAN CITY, May 4 (PIA) -- Namahagi ng mga ambulansya ang Department of
Health (DOH) Caraga sa iba’t-ibang health facilities at ospital sa Caraga
region.
Siyam na Rural Health Units (RHUs), city health office, at city and
provincial hospitals sa rehiyon ang nabigyan ng tig iisang unit ng ambulance.
Dalawang unit ang natanggap ng probinsya ng Agusan del Norte na ipinamahagi sa
Las Nieves Municipal Hospital at city health office ng Cabadbaran City.
Dalawang unit din ang natanggap ng probinsya ng Agusan del Sur na ipinamahagi
sa mga RHUs sa munisipyo ng San Luis at Trento.
Tatlong units naman ang naibigay sa probinsya ng Surigao del Norte na
ipinamahagi sa kanilang provincial hospital at sa RHUs sa munisipyo ng Claver
at Malimono. Nakatanggap din ang probinsya ng Surigao del Norte ng isang unit
na ibinigay sa RHU sa Cortes at isa naman sa lungsod ng Butuan na inalaan sa
Butuan Medical Center.
Sa isang virtual interview kasama si DOH Caraga regional director Dr.
Jose Llacuna, Jr., ibinahagi niya na ang mga ambulansya ay nakatakda nang ilaan
sa departamento matapos ang bidding na isinagawa noong nakaraang taon.
Gayunpaman, maigi na din na naipamahagi ito ngayon upang may magamit ang mga
health facilities, lalo na ang mga RHUs na nagsisilbing access ng mga residente
sa malalayong lugar sa mga pangunahing health care services.
“Makakatulong ang mga ambulance units sa pagpabuti ng health response sa
rehiyon, lalo pa’t may health crisis na hinaharap ang buong bansa ngayon,” ani
ni Dr. Llacuna.
Kasalukuyang inaantay ng ahensyang pangkalusugan ang 16 pa na mga
ambulance units. (DMR/PIACaraga)
BUTUAN CITY, May 4 -- Police Brigadier General Joselito T. Esquivel,
Jr., regional director of Philippine National Police (PNP) Caraga, reported
that for the period January 1 until April 30 of this year, a total of 65
members of the Communist Terrorist Group (CTG) decided to abandon the armed
struggle and returned to the fold of the law, seeking for a peaceful and
meaningful life.
65 CTG members
surrender in Caraga
BUTUAN CITY, May 4 -- Police Brigadier General Joselito T. Esquivel,
Jr., regional director of Philippine National Police (PNP) Caraga, reported
that for the period January 1 until April 30 of this year, a total of 65
members of the Communist Terrorist Group (CTG) decided to abandon the armed
struggle and returned to the fold of the law, seeking for a peaceful and
meaningful life.
Of the total number of surrenderers, 26 have surrendered to the Regional
Mobile Force Battalion (RMFB) 13 while 39 others surrendered to the different
Provincial Police Offices in the region.
The region’s top cop said that for the month of January 2020, a total of
16 former rebels surrendered, 22 in February, eight in March and another 19 in
April.
PBGen. Esquivel welcomed the former rebels adding that they have made
the right decision of taking the path towards real peace.
“Most of the surrenderers were on so much hunger and distress at the
time of their surrender and claimed that they were enticed to join the armed
struggle in exchange for helping their family, but realized that nothing they
said was true,” said PBGen. Esquivel, Jr.
“The increasing number of CPP-NPA surrenderors is attributed to the
Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program (E-CLIP) of Duterte
administration which provides firearm remuneration, immediate cash assistance,
and livelihood assistance to all former rebels and Militia ng Bayan members,”
the region’s top cop added.
PBGen. Esquivel continues to urge all active members of the CTG to
surrender to the government, join their family, and become a productive member
of the society.
He added that a brighter future is ahead for all those who were once
deceived by the extortionist and terrorist group but would decide to abandon the
armed struggle. (PNP-13/PIA-Caraga)
