Caraga now under ECQ,
continues regional border lockdown
By Doreen Marielle N. Rosales
BUTUAN CITY, May 2 (PIA) -- The Caraga Regional Task Force on
COVID-19 One Caraga Shield has placed the entire region under general community
quarantine (GCQ) from May 1 to May 15, after the National Inter Agency Task
Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF MEID) listed the
region as among the low-risk areas in the country.
After nearly a month-long implementation of the enhanced community
quarantine (ECQ), authorities in the region can now impose eased quarantine
measures.
Early on, the task force’s Technical Working Group (TWG), headed by the
National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) Caraga, had first convened to
assess the economic situation in the region as well as relevant updates of the
status of the pandemic.
The region now faces great economic distress as most establishments were
forced to suspend operations temporarily. Department of Trade and Industry
(DTI) showed the crisis has resulted to an aggregate loss amounting to P1.381
billion, affecting 4,825 firms and the livelihood of 10,417 workers. The
service sector, comprising 51 percent of Caraga’s Gross Regional Domestic
Product, was largely affected due to the pandemic.
In addition, the welfare of the Caraganon transients and Overseas
Filipino Workers (OFWs) who have been forced to stay in their current
location for the meantime need tending to, as they clamor to return home
mainly due to the lack of resources to sustain their daily needs.
During the task force’s 5th Teleconference Meeting on April 29, local
government officials and government agency heads convened to probe on the
matter. In addition to the said concerns, the Department of Health (DOH) Caraga
had raised the probable rise of cases in the region, particularly in Butuan
City where all three cases have originated from.
DOH Caraga Dr. Jose Llacuna, Jr., emphasized that since Caraga was the
last to have had a confirmed case, the proliferation of the confirmed cases is
likely to happen, especially with the growing number of suspected cases.
The region holds three confirmed cases, wherein one has recovered, the
other having tested negative on its second follow-up test while the other
tested positive in its third confirmatory test.
Butuan City mayor Ronnie Vicente Lagnada proposed that the ECQ be
extended in the city, primarily to monitor the development of the spread of the
disease and prevent the occurrence of an additional case.
After careful consideration, task force members, headed by Caraga
Regional Development Council (RDC) chairperson and Agusan del Norte provincial
governor Dale Corvera, agreed to extend the ECQ in Butuan City and impose GCQ
in the five provinces, namely Surigao del Norte, Surigao del Sur, Agusan del
Norte, Agusan del Sur and Dinagat Islands while maintaining regional border
lockdown.
Under the national guidelines, regions imposing GCQ will allow
operations of certain establishments to resume completely or partially,
depending on the services offered while leisure establishments and schools are
prohibited to operate.
Public transportation will also be allowed, with vehicles observing limited
capacity. The No Back Ride policy will still be followed in Caraga. With the
availability of public transportation, provincial borders will now be open to
individuals residing in the region.
Curfew will still be strictly imposed.
Individuals aged 21 to 59 as well as working senior citizens are allowed
to go out of their homes but only for certain transactions such as availing
basic goods and reporting for work.
Throughout GCQ, everyone is to continue to observe physical distancing
and wearing of face masks. Establishments are required to continue conducting
temperature check and sanitation. (DMR/PIACaraga)
BUTUAN CITY, May 2 (PIA) -- Despite the suspension of operation of
several media outfits due to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), many of the
media practitioners who are members of the Agusan del Sur Media Club are still
on the field helping other people who are greatly affected by the pandemic.
LUNGSOD NG BUTUAN, Mayo 2 (PIA) -- Bagamat marami sa kanila ang apektado
at natigil ang operasyon sa kani-kanilang estasyon dahil sa coronavirus disease
2019 (COVID-19), pinili pa rin ng mga miyembro ng Agusan del Sur Media Club na
magsagawa ng inisyatibo upang makatulong sa mas nangangailangang mamamayan sa
iba’t-ibang barangay sa nasabing probinsya.
AgSur media org
extends assistance to local residents affected by COVID-19
By Jennifer P. Gaitano
BUTUAN CITY, May 2 (PIA) -- Despite the suspension of operation of
several media outfits due to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), many of the
media practitioners who are members of the Agusan del Sur Media Club are still
on the field helping other people who are greatly affected by the pandemic.
According to Richard Grande, president of the Agusan del Sur Media Club,
with the information they have been receiving from the residents that have not
yet received the assistance from the local government unit, they immediately
coordinated with its partner stakeholders, non-government organizations and
private individuals in order to gather the needed resources and provide aid for
the affected families.
The team has distributed packs of rice, relief goods, fish and
vegetables to the residents of several barangays in the municipalities of San
Francisco, Prosperidad, and Talacogon.
“We wanted to help other locals who really experience difficulty in
coping with their daily needs by providing food for their families. In this
way, we are able to communicate with them the government’s programs and
services that are available for them,” said Grande.
As she was surprised to receive the relief assistance from the said
media group, Linda Villahermosa, a senior citizen from Barangay Salvacion,
Prosperidad, of said province has expressed her joy and thanked them for
showing concern and doing humanitarian activities amid the COVID-19 crisis.
“I’m glad you have reached our barangay and you gave us food to eat.
This is really a big help for us, as our livelihood was also affected due to
COVID-19,” bared Villahermosa.
Grande added that they were able to gather relevant issues and concerns
from the local residents which they also refer to the LGU and other concerned
agencies for appropriate actions.
Hence, the Agusan del Sur Media Club would continue to conduct such
activity to help more Agusanons particularly those in the remote barangays.
Meanwhile, Grande further bared that they also provide the needs of the
frontliners with the help of sponsors who regularly give their donations.
He also called on the public to extend help and share their blessings by
donating food and personal protective equipment for the frontliners in the
different municipalities of Agusan del Sur.
"Let’s all unite and help each other survive this pandemic. We accept
donations intended for our constituents and frontliners,” said Grande.
(JPG/PIA-Agusan del Sur)
Mga media
practitioners sa AgSur, nagbigay tulong sa mga residenteng lubos na apektado sa
COVID-19
By Jennifer P. Gaitano
LUNGSOD NG BUTUAN, Mayo 2 (PIA) -- Bagamat marami sa kanila ang apektado
at natigil ang operasyon sa kani-kanilang estasyon dahil sa coronavirus disease
2019 (COVID-19), pinili pa rin ng mga miyembro ng Agusan del Sur Media Club na
magsagawa ng inisyatibo upang makatulong sa mas nangangailangang mamamayan sa
iba’t-ibang barangay sa nasabing probinsya.
Ayon kay Richard Grande, presidente ng Agusan del Sur Media Club, dahil
may nakakarating na impormasyong sa kanilang himpilan ukol sa ilang residente
na hindi pa nakatanggap ng ayuda mula sa gobyerno, agad na umaksyon ang grupo
at nakipag-ugnayan sa mga organisasyong gusto rin magbigay tulong sa mga
apektadong pamilya.
Namigay ang nasabing grupo ng bigas, relief goods, isda at gulay sa mga
residente ng iilang barangay mula sa bayan ng San Francisco, Prosperidad, at
Talacogon.
“Sa pamamagitan nito, natutulungan namin yung ating mga kapwa Agusanons
na walang-wala talaga at nahihirapan sa pang-araw araw na hamon sa buhay lalu
na sa kinakaharap na krisis sa COVID-19. Nais namin mas marami pang matulungan
sa iba’t-ibang barangay ng mga lungsod dito sa probinsya,” ani ni Grande.
Emosyunal na nagpasalamat si aling Linda Villahermosa, isang senior
citizen sa Barangay Salvacion, Prosperidad, Agusan del Sur dahil sa tulong na
kanilang natanggap.
“Malaki ang aming pasasalamat sa biyayang aming natanggap. Sana ay
marami pa kayong matulungang pamilya tulad namin,” pahayag ni Villahermosa.
Sinabi naman ni Grande na sa kanilang pagbisita sa mga barangay at
paghatid ng mga ayuda, marami din silang nakalap na mga isyu at concern na nais
ng mga residente na maipaabot din sa lokal na pamahalaan.
Kaya naman ipagpapatuloy aniya ng grupo ang ganitong aktibidad upang mas
marami pang matulungang mga residente sa mga malalayong barangay.
Samantala, patuloy ding tinutulungan ng Agusan del Sur Media Club ang
mga frontliners na nasa iba’t-ibang checkpoints. Binibigyan din nila ito ng
pagkain habang isinasagawa nila ang kanilang tungkulin.
Nanawagan din si Grande sa mga gustong magbigay donasyon, maging sa
personal protective equipment (PPEs) para sa mga frontliners upang mas marami
pang matulungan sa ibat-ibang bayan ng probinsya. (JPG/PIA-Agusan del Sur)
