LGU Butuan continues
to impose prevention protocols amid preparation for new normal
By
Doreen Marielle N. Rosales
BUTUAN
CITY, May 26 (PIA) -- With the majority of Caraga region now under General
Community Quarantine (GCQ), Butuan City Mayor Ronnie Vicente
Lagnada stated that the city is preparing for the advent of the “new
normal” but Caraganons, especially Butuanons, are still made to strictly follow
protocol.
The
mayor disclosed during today’s Laging Handa Network Briefing with Presidential
Communications Operations Office (PCOO) Secretary Martin Andanar that the
easement of protocols under GCQ, the Color Coding Scheme is still in effect in
the city.
“This
is to ensure crowd control. Even our public utility vehicles follow the same
protocol so that there is a limit to the passengers that can be ferried,” Mayor
Lagnada said.
At
present, five barangays are still under Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ)
while 18 are under Modified ECQ (MECQ).
The
city government is also gearing up its awareness campaign on adapting to the
new normal. Information, Education, and Communication (IEC) materials are being
disseminated to the public. However, the mayor cautions on the arrival of a
second wave of the pandemic, which is why pre-emptive measures are still being
strictly imposed.
“We are
doing our best to prepare. There might be a second wave. Apart from imposing
interventions to prevent the spread of the disease, we are also conducting more
targeted testing,” he added.
In
addition to conducting rapid testing, a Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) is also
being established in the city. This is in line with the efforts to hasten the
control of the spread of the disease. By enabling efficient detection, contact
tracing can be done immediately.
Mayor
Lagnada has previously reiterated that the establishment and accreditation of
the said laboratory is near completion.
The
city government has also made sure that select establishments continue
operations especially those that offer basic services such as access to food,
basic commodities, and health care. Upon the implementation of GCQ in the
latter part of May, other establishments approved by the Inter-Agency Task
Force on the Management of Emerging Infectious Disease (IATF-IED) have also
resumed their operations. (DMNR/PIACaraga)
PCR lab test almost
complete: Mayor Lagnada
By
Doreen Marielle N. Rosales
BUTUAN
CITY, May 26 (PIA) -- In today’s Laging Handa Network Briefing with
Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) Secretary Martin Andanar,
Butuan City Mayor Ronnie Vicente Lagnada reiterated that the Polymerase Chain
Reaction (PCR) Laboratory in the city is almost complete.
“As of
now, our preparation for completion of the laboratory is already in its final
stage. We are currently completing the infrastructure after having ordered the
facilities,” the mayor said.
The
city government is now complying with the requisites for Stages 1 and 2 of the
accreditation. Medical workers such as medical technicians are now being
trained to handle the laboratory.
The establishment
of the laboratory is in line with the efforts to hasten the identification
process and control of the disease transmission.
At
present, samples of suspect cases in Caraga that turned out positive in the
Antibody Test are still being sent to the Southern Philippines Medical Center
(SPMC) in Davao City and laboratories in Metro Manila and Cebu for the
confirmatory test.
The
city government of Butuan is in close coordination with the Department of
Health (DOH) Caraga and national health authorities throughout the
accreditation process.
The
national government has also provided augmentation to boost the efforts of
local authorities in the region. Earlier this month, National Task Force
against COVID-19 Chief Implementer Secretary Carlito Galvez, Jr. and medical
experts in the country handed over 2,000 personal protective equipment (PPEs)
and 15,000 rapid testing kits to be distributed in local government units
(LGUs). (DMNR/PIA-Caraga)
PNP-13 records zero
sexual abuse complaint vs cops at checkpoints
BUTUAN
CITY, May 25 -- Police Brigadier General Joselito T. Esquivel, Jr, regional
director of Philippine National Police Caraga (PNP Caraga), released in a
statement Monday, May 25, that PNP Caraga has received zero complaint against
police frontliners manning the established community quarantine control points
(CQCP) in the region, following the alleged sexual abuse against women has been
committed by police personnel in other region amid the quarantine period.
Record
from Regional Women and Children Protection Desk (RWCPD) reveals that since the
start of quarantine period in Caraga on March 17, 2020, their office has not
received any complaint against Caraga cops manning the control points for
committing any form of sexual abuses.
The
Philippine National Police, as one of the members of Inter-Agency Task Force
for the Management of Emerging Infectious Disease, are among those personnel
manning the CQCP along with the personnel from the Department of Health, Armed
Forces of the Philippines, and Bureau of Fire Protectionwhich was established
in line with government’s fight against coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
Meanwhile,
General Archie Francisco F. Gamboa, chief of Philippine National Police, issued
a statement earlier encouraging victims of alleged sexual abuses to file
complaints against erring police officers who committed sexual abuses against
women and emphasized that the PNP organization will never tolerate any form of
physical or sexual abuse against women especially now that we are facing a
global health crisis.
“If you
have any complaints against our policemen committing sexual abuses in
quarantine control points in the region, you may immediately report to Women
and Children Protection Desk at your local police station," BGen. Esquivel
said.
"Rest
assured that your reports and complaints will be given appropriate action and
corresponding penalty will be given to Police Officers who will be proven to
have committed such malicious acts,” he added. (PNP-Caraga/PIA-Caraga)
Butuan’s SK
Federation initiates activities amid COVID-19 crisis
By
Jennifer P. Gaitano
BUTUAN
CITY, May 26 (PIA) - The Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) Federation officials have
been initiating and creating useful programs, projects and activities for the
local residents of this city as they cope with the daily community quarantine
life in the onset of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.
During
the Laging Handa Network Briefing with Secretary Martin Andanar of the
Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) on Tuesday, May 26, 2020,
Butuan City’s SK Federation president Cynth Zephanee Nietes, bared that they
are now maximizing the power of social media to not only let the youth
participate in abiding the protocols but also encourage them to take part in
the eradication of the disease.
They
launched contests and quizzes wherein winners will be given prizes. Some
contests also involved providing additional assistance to the adopted families
of the participants.
The
Federation was also able to launch a contest wherein the youth will be
challenged to do backyard gardening. She took the time to encourage the youth,
especially those with a heart for volunteerism, to help the local governments
in implementing their initiatives.
“We are
working closely with the different concerned government agencies and
stakeholders as we do various activities for the youths and locals that they
still become productive amid the COVID-19 crisis. We always remind the youths
to practice at all times the health protocols and preventive measures imposed
by the government, as well as social distancing as a way to prevent the spread
of the virus in their respective communities,” said Nietes.
She
also called on the youths nationwide to be active volunteers in their
respective areas and contribute to nation-building amid the COVID-19 crisis.
She stressed that the youths should take part along with the government in
providing help to the locals who are greatly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic,
in any way possible.
“Be a
true volunteer by helping the community. To all the youths in the Philippines,
we are all nation-builders and we build our nation through volunteerism,”
Nietes bared.
Andanar
also expressed appreciation to the Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) Federation members
for being an inspiration to other youths and for helping the government in its
effort to address the pressing issues and concerns of the locals in this crisis
situation on COVID-19. (JPG/PIA-Caraga)
