Saturday, May 2, 2020

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)

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)