Former rebels in
AgSur town receive aid from government
By Jennifer P. Gaitano
BUTUAN CITY, July 7 (PIA) -- Despite the ongoing threat posed by the
coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, the government remains
steadfast in curbing the local communist armed conflict and in providing
necessary and appropriate interventions to the affected residents particularly
in the remote areas in the municipality of La Paz in Agusan del Sur.
In time with the conduct of the three-day Peace-Building Seminar with
the Indigenous Peoples (IPs) in Barangay Kasapa II, the locals also initiated a
peace rally and ceremonial signing of the resolution in the declaration of
persona non-grata to the communist-terrorist CPP-NPA-NDF (Communist Party
of the Philippines - New People’s Army - National Democratic Front).
Apart from these, some 59 former rebels also received cash assistance
from the government worth 15,000 pesos each. Four people’s organizations were
also given tissue culture lacatan plantlets with organic fertilizers,
vegetables, and corn seeds from the provincial and municipal agriculture
offices.
According to Agusan del Sur Governor Santiago Cane, Jr., the IPs have
been very supportive and cooperative in the local peace talks and dialogue and
actively join other sectors towards achieving peace and development in the
region.
Many of the former rebels have also returned to the folds of the
government and chose to live peacefully and start anew in mainstream society.
They are now inclined in spending quality time and living with their family
especially during this COVID-19 crisis.
“Peace and development are achieved only if people in the community are
united and willing to do whatever it takes to keep everyone safe and secure. We
thank our IPs for joining the government in its effort to curb the insurgency
problem in the region,” bared Cane.
The official added that a barangay health station is soon to be
constructed in the area so locals would have easier access to medical services
considering that said barangay is situated far from the municipal proper.
Mayor Michael Lim also stressed that the local government supports the
presence of the military in the area to ensure the safety and protection of the
residents, as well as the necessary infra projects intended for them.
Meanwhile, the local government also targets to put up a secondary
school and a multi-purpose building where community activities will be
held. (JPG/PIA-Agusan del Sur)
Select Butuan
villages remain under MECQ; RTF approves deferment of returning individuals
By Doreen Marielle N. Rosales
BUTUAN CITY, July 7 (PIA) -- With the continuous rise of cases in Caraga
region, 33 barangays in the city remain under Modified Enhanced Community
Quarantine (MECQ).
The Department of Health (DOH) Caraga has emphasized the need to
continue implementing the said degree of community quarantine in order to
“target 100 percent contact tracing and placement of all unnecessary quarantine
and isolation measures to prevent further the spread of the disease in the
region” in its letter addressed to the Inter Agency Task Force for the
Management of Emerging Infectious Disease (IATF-EID) dated June 29.
The Caraga Regional Task Force for COVID-19 One Caraga Shield (RTF-COCS)
then concurred the request during its 9th Teleconference Meeting on July 3.
The said city currently has the second-highest number of cases in the
region, wherein 36 of the 161 total cases are tallied. In addition, the health
department has confirmed the region’s first locally transmitted cases in the
city.
Meanwhile, the task force has also approved the request of local
authorities on the deferment of the locally stranded individuals (LSIs) and
returning overseas Filipinos (ROFs) in the region.
The rise in cases spurred the subsequent increased demand for a real-time
polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) testing laboratory in the region, which is
targeted to open on the second week of the month, as indicated in the same
letter from the DOH Caraga.
As of July 6, Caraga region has 161 total confirmed cases. Twenty-six
have now recovered and have been discharged, 19 have recovered and are now
completing quarantine period, and 116 are still admitted and under strict
facility quarantine. (DMNR/PIACaraga)
DOH Caraga reveals 15
new COVID19 cases
BUTUAN CITY, July 7 -- The Department of Health (DOH) Caraga on Monday
reveals 200 RT-PCR results received from Southern Philippines Medical Center
(SPMC) sub-national laboratory.
Of the said RT-PCR results received, 166 tested negative while 34 turned
positive for the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) virus.
The negative RT-PCR results are from the a) Suspect case at Butuan
Doctors Hospital, b) Five (5) Probable cases from Butuan Doctors Hospital and
Agusan del Sur quarantine facility, c) 160 results coming from high-risk
individuals who either have turned positive in the Rapid Antibody-based Test or
with relevant travel and exposure to COVID-19.
As reported, 34 samples are RT-PCR confirmed positive for COVID-19: a)
Nineteen (19) follow-up tests of previously confirmed cases and b) Fifteen (15)
New Cases.
Of the 15 new cases, 53.33% (8) are Locally Stranded Individuals, 26.67%
(4) are Returning Overseas Filipinos and 20% (3) are frontliners. As to sex
distribution, 73.3% (11) are males whereas 26.67% (4) are females. For age
group, 46.67% belong to ages 20-30 years old. Cases are distributed in the
following areas: municipalities in Agusan del Norte- Buenavista (1), Las Nieves
(1), Cabadbaran City (1), Bayugan City (1), municipalities in Surigao del
Norte-Alegria (2), Gigaquit (3), Sison (1), Sta. Monica (1), Tagbina, Surigao
del Sur (3), Bislig City (1).
All cases are asymptomatic and are admitted and isolated at designated
quarantine facilities region-wide for monitoring and management.
“This month, we celebrate the National Disaster Resilience month with
the theme, ‘Sama-samang Pagsulong Tungo sa Katatagan sa Gitna ng Bagong Normal’
highlights the role of every agency, LGU, community and individuals to be
resilient in facing the COVID-19 crisis. Together we can fight this battle.”
Regional Director Jose R. Llacuna, Jr. said.
As of this time, Caraga region now has a total of 176 cumulative
confirmed positive COVID-19 cases. (DOH Caraga/PIA Caraga)
NGOs donate 39
portable hand-washing facilities to SurSur
By Nida Grace P. Barcena
TANDAG CITY, Surigao del Sur, July 7 (PIA) -- A total of 39 units of
handwashing facilities were received by the provincial government of Surigao
del Sur headed by Governor Alexander Pimentel from the two non-government
organization (NGO) donors on Thursday.
The Moving Urban Poor Communities in Mindanao Towards Resilience o
MOVE UP Mindanao Project funded by the European Union Civil Protection and
Humanitarian Aid donated 24 handwashing facilities while 15 units of
touch-free, pedal-operated hand washing stations with hygiene kits were also
given by ProACT’s Relief Operations COVID-19 Emergency Response by Action
Against Hunger/CODESPA.
The ceremonial turnover was conducted at the Provincial Disaster Risk
Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) in Tandag City.
PDRRMO chief Abel de Guzman revealed that the 24 handwashing facilities
from MOVE UP Project will be distributed to the identified beneficiaries with
no handwashing facility. De Guzman said six units will be distributed to the
Rural Health Units (RHUs) of Madrid, Cagwait, Bayabas and Lingig, PDRRMO and
Provincial Engineering Office (PEO) compound, and Adela Serra Ty Memorial
Medical Canter (ASTMMC); five units will be given to Tandag City; two for the
local government unit (LGU) of Tago; two for LGU San Miguel; two for LGU
Marihatag; two for LGU San Agustin; three for LGU Lianga; one for LGU Lingig,
and one for the Department of Education (DepEd)- Surigao del Sur Division.
While the 15 touch-free, pedal-operated handwashing stations from Action
Against Hunger/CODESPA will be distributed to the provincial borders in the
municipalities of Carrascal, Barobo, Lingig, and Bislig City; LGUs of Carmen,
Lanuza, Cortes, and Tagbina; Awasian Evacuation Center in Tandag City;
Marihatag District Hospital; Cortes Community Hospital; Provincial Health
Office (PHO); Provincial Capitol; and Tanggapan ng Sangguniang Panlalawigan
(TSP).
The distribution of the handwashing facilities to the identified areas,
according to PDRRMO chief De Guzman, was aimed to promote frequent handwashing
among Surigaonons amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
Governor Pimentel, on the other hand, reminded everyone to observe the
minimum health standards set by the Department of Health (DOH) at all times.
(PIA-Surigao del Sur)
