PUI mortality in Caraga tested negative for
#COVID19
BUTUAN
CITY, April 2 -- The confirmatory laboratory result for COVID-19 of the first
Person Under Investigation (PUI) mortality in Caraga was released by the
Southern Philippines Medical Center and was found to be negative of the virus.
The
patient’s demise was primarily correlated to a pre-existing medical condition
which was Chronic Kidney Disease although a travel history outside the region
was noted.
“Again,
we extend our sympathy to the bereaved family for their loss. However, we are
also relieved of the latest test result,” said Dr. Jose R. Llacuna, Jr.,
Regional Director of Department of Health (DOH) Caraga.
As of
April 1, 2020, there are two currently admitted PUIs in one of the DOH
hospitals in the region. The regional office is still waiting for its pending
lab results.
“I
cannot overemphasize the determination of our local chief executives and all
the stakeholders who took part in this journey against COVID-19. We still have
a long way to go but I am faithful that we can surpass this because we are united.
Buckle up Caraga, we will win this fight,” Dr. Llacuna stressed.
In
relation to the various issuances by the local government units in the region,
the Regional Task Force for COVID-19 released Resolution No. 7 Series of 2020
or the “One Caraga Shield”, where the resolution aims to harmonize the
guidelines for the regional community quarantine in response to the viral
threat. With this strengthened and unified approach, Caraganons are being
guided to the coordinated policies. (DOH Caraga/PIA Caraga)
Pump and engine sets
fuel rice farmers
BUTUAN
CITY, April 2 -- Irrigators associations continue to produce food despite the
many concerns brought by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Eight
pump and engine sets that were given from the Department of Agriculture (DA)
Caraga have been used and benefited by the six irrigators associations since
the items were turned over to them last March 5, 2020.
The six
associations who have untiringly produce rice are the Mandacpan-San
Vicente-Bit-os Good Farmers Irrigators Association, Kinamlutan Service
Irrigators Association, Kinamlutan-Tabontabon-Kabacungan Irrigators
Association, Bonbon Sunriser Irrigators Association, Malalang-Bancasi
Irrigators Association, and Alubihid-Manapa Irrigators Association.
"Rest
assured that more interventions are coming and sooner will be realized. We just
need your support and your cooperation," said Regional Executive Director
Abel James Monteagudo during the turn-over ceremony.
The
intervention is in line with agricultural modernization wherein the Department
has turned over a total of ₱350 million worth of farm
equipment.
Around
280 farmer associations and cooperatives received their proposed farm equipment
such as mechanical rice transplanters, four-wheel-drive tractors, rice combine
harvesters, hand tractors, rice threshers, rice reapers, seed spreaders, and
pump and engine sets. (DA Caraga/PIA Caraga)
Backyard gardening to secure every
household’s food source
By Vanessa
Sanchez
BUTUAN
CITY, April 2 -- As the whole nation is battling a pandemic brought about by
the coronavirus disease, ensuring food availability for every Filipino is among
the top things that need to be secured.
With
the said task at hand, the Department of Agriculture has been looking into ways
to ensure that food production in the country continues.
In the
region, one initiative taken by the Department of Agriculture – Caraga through
the High Value Crops Program (HVCDP) is the distribution of vegetable seeds to
walk-in clients who want to engage in vegetable gardening.
“Backyard
gardening will help ensure that every household will have their own source of
food in the coming days especially now that we are facing this COVID-19
threat,” Marco Antonio Morido, HVCDP Program Coordinator said.
In
addition, growing your own food ensures it is safe and gardening can also be a
form of exercise. Moreover, Morido said that now that the whole country is
placed under quarantine, people are discouraged from going out so they really
have time to plant and tend to a backyard garden and still be productive.
The
HVCDP team has repacked their remaining available vegetable seeds so that more
people can be given. They Department will also be procuring additional seeds to
cater to more requests.
Morido
also said that they are encouraging the Local Government Units (LGUs) who may
still have available seeds to also do the same so that more people can plant
and grow their own source of food.
This
initiative is also in support to the DA’s Ahon Lahat, Pagkaing Sapat or ALPAS
Covid-19 which is also called the Plant Plant Plant Program.
According
to DA Secretary William Dar the government through the ALPAS Covid-19 commits
to provide adequate, accessible and affordable food for every Filipino family.
(DA Caraga/PIA Caraga)
POPCOM pushes for FP
during community quarantine
By May
Ann O. Escobal
BUENAVISTA,
Agusan del Norte, April 2 -- The Commission on Population and Development
(POPCOM) Caraga reminds parents to stay responsible through the practice of
modern family planning during community quarantine to prevent unplanned
pregnancies.
The
commission is calling the population and health workers and volunteers to
remain aggressively providing family planning services by reaching out to
households for FP is now mainly a health intervention program for improving the
health and welfare of mothers, children and the family.
With
the help of the local government units, POPCOM assures couples and families the
provision of basic family planning services in their respective communities
despite community quarantine to prevent unplanned pregnancies.
In this
continuing information campaign, the population agency urged couples to remain
conscious about planning their families despite having only limited activities
at home; maintain their overall health and well-being during these trying
times.
POPCOM
Caraga revealed that when couples are more likely to stay at home for longer
periods due to the community quarantine being enforced by the different LGUs in
the region and other areas in the country affected by the coronavirus disease
2019 or COVID-19, pregnancy spike may happen as couples are unable to visit the
health centers and avail the regular reproductive health services including
contraceptives such as pills, condoms, injectables, and the like.
A study
revealed that three in 10 births in the Philippines is either unwanted or
mistimed.
Regional
Director Alexander A. Makinano emphasized that the increase of unplanned
pregnancies during natural crisis has a major impact on demography. “In times
like these where everyone is discouraged to go out in the streets may reduce
couples access to family planning information and services and lead to
unplanned pregnancy. Natural disasters, pandemics and other events that force
people to stay indoors are followed by increased births”, he underscored.
Makinano
further accented the interrelationship of population, health and environment;
the increasing number of people make bigger demands for food and resources, exerting
pressure on the environment. (POPCOM Caraga/PIA Agusan del Norte)
DTI Caraga mahigpit
na ipinatutupad ang panukala ukol sa panic
By
Doreen Marielle N. Rosales
LUNGSOD
NG BUTUAN, Abril 2 (PIA) -- Tinututukan ngayon ng Department of Trade and
Industry (DTI) Caraga ang pagpatupad ng regulasyon na nagbabawal ang panic
buying at hoarding.
Nakapaloob
sa Memorandum Circular No. 20-07 ang mga alituntunin na naglilimita sa bilang
ng mga pangunahing bilihin partikular na sa mga locally-produced instant
noodles at canned sardines; liquid at powdered milk; instant coffee; mineral
water; loaf bread; at mga disinfectant at hygiene products kagaya ng alcohol at
hand sanitizer; disinfecting liquids; bath soap; toilet paper; at face masks.
Gayun
paman, giit ni Atty. Kurt Montero ng naturang ahensya, walang dapat ikabahala
ang mga Caraganons dahil aabot pa naman sa isang buwan ang mga supplies ng mga
naturang bilihin.
Bukod
dito, tinitiyak din ng ahensya na hindi maantala ang pagdedeliver ng supply ng
mga pangunahing bilihin nang sa ganon ay maiwasan ang kakulangan.
Sang-ayon
naman ang store supervisor na si Imelda Polintan sa pagpapatupad ng naturang
kautusan upang masiguro na lahat ay mabibigyan ng pagkakataong bumili.
“Sa mga
nangyayari ngayon, mas maigi na makipagtulungan at sundin ng mga pamilihan ang
regulasyon ng otoridad ukol sa mga bilihin. Naniniwala po ako na malaki ang
papel ng mga mangangakal sa krisis na hinaharap natin, lalo na sa mga
nagnenegosyo ng pamilihan,” dagdag niya.
Mahigpit
rin ipinatutupad ang liquor ban sa mga pamilihan.
Paalala
ni Atty. Montero sa mga mamimili na maging responsableng at bilhin lamang ang
kailangan nang maiwasan ang pagkasayang ng mga bilihin at panggastos.
“Lahat
po tayo ay may pangangailangan at sa ganitong paraan ay nakakatulong po tayo sa
ating kapwa,” aniya.
Sa
ngayon, nasa proseso pa ng pagsasagawa ng clarificatory guidelines para sa
naturang memorandum circular ang DTI upang mabigyang linaw pa ang mga
regulasyon. (PIA-Caraga)
