AgNor frontliners
receive 'Thank you' cards, food, gift packs
By Jennifer P. Gaitano
BUTUAN CITY, Aug. 17 (PIA) -- The Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council members of Agusan del Norte visited the medical frontliners in the existing health facilities in the province.
The team also reached out to the personnel of the rural health units and isolation facilities and handed over food and gift packs to the frontliners.
Those who are manning the quarantine control points have also received the same from the team.
This activity formed part of the tribute initiated by the PDRRMC-Agusan del Norte for the 885 frontliners in the said province who continuously give their best in serving the people amid the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.
“One way to lift the spirits of the frontliners is to recognize their valuable efforts, especially during this COVID-19 pandemic. COVID-19 patients would not be treated if not because of our medical frontliners who continue to risk their lives to help co-Filipinos who are affected by this crisis,” cited Agusan del Norte Governor and PDRRMC chair Dale Corvera.
The youth organizations and volunteers also gave “Thank You” cards to the frontliners.
“We truly recognize the valuable effort and contribution of our frontliners who continue to take risks just to handle this crisis on COVID-19 and help patients be treated, as well as prevent others from the infection,” bared Kim Lawrence Palarca, vice president of the Young Agusan del Norte Emergency Response Team (ADNERT).
“We are the living witness of the hardships and sacrifices of our frontliners who continue to provide the needed services during this COVID-19 pandemic,” said Anjo Arante, a member of Young ADNERT.
Meanwhile, for a frontliner like Dr. Gertrudes Cembrano, she was thankful for the local government’s initiative and effort in recognizing their efforts and valuable contributions to the people during this time of the pandemic.
“We are thankful that the local government has recognized our efforts as frontliners and this simple gesture would inspire us to do more and help more Filipino people who are greatly affected by this COVID-19 crisis,” said Dr. Gertrudes Cembrano, hospital chief of Nasipit District Hospital. (JPG/PIA-Caraga)
DOH Caraga reports 16 COVID-19 cases, 2 deaths
BUTUAN CITY, Aug. 17 – The Department of Health (DOH) Caraga reported on Sunday, Aug. 16, 2020, 16 new cases of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and two deaths in the region.
The department also reported 94 Reverse Transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) negative results from the following cases: a) Three suspect cases from Butuan Doctors’ Hospital, b) Twelve probable cases from Nasipit District Hospital, Adela Serra Ty Memorial Medical Center, and Surigao del Sur Quarantine Facilities, c) 79 individuals who had positive Rapid Antibody-based Tests, close contacts of previously confirmed cases and Health Care Workers.
Of the 16 positive cases, a) 75% (12) are from Butuan City wherein six are close contacts of case numbers 280 and 338, five are additional local transmission cases, and one health care worker with travel history to Davao City, b) 19% (3) are Locally Stranded Individuals coming from the areas of Buenavista, San Francisco, Agusan del Sur and Socorro, Surigao del Norte, and c) 6% (1) is from Kitcharao who was admitted in one of the hospitals in Butuan.
As to sex distribution, 56% (9) are males and 44% (7) are females. Referring to age group, majority of the cases or 56% (9) are 51-80 years old, 13% (2) each for age groups: 10-20, 20-30, and 40-50 while 6% (1) belong to ages 0-10. The other new confirmed cases are from municipalities of Agusan del Norte: Buenavista (1), Kitcharao (1), San Francisco, Agusan del Sur (1) and Socorro, Surigao del Norte (1).
Asymptomatic cases are 63% (10), 13% (2) presently exhibit mild symptoms, 13% (2) are moderately-severe, and 13% (2) had severe COVID-19 symptoms which eventually led to their demise. Furthermore, asymptomatic cases are strictly monitored in the designated quarantine facilities while symptomatic patients are admitted at identified hospitals for management.
For the two new COVID-19 deaths, DOH Caraga said the first case is a 30-year-old male from Butuan City who had an onset of COVID-19 signs and symptoms on August 5, sought consultation last August 11 and admitted in a private hospital on the same date. Four days after, the patient died. The second case is a 79-year-old female from Kitcharao, a known Diabetic and Hypertensive, who had onset of signs and symptoms on August 4. The patient sought consultation last August 11 in a district hospital and was referred immediately to a private health facility in Butuan, and died less than 24 hours from admission.
To date, COVID-19 confirmed positive cases in Caraga region now totals to 393 with 305 (78%) recoveries that have been discharged and released, 85 (21%) are active cases, and 3 (0.7%) deaths.
“Butuan City local transmission cases are still on the rise and regrettably, we now have two additional deaths," said DOH Caraga regional director Jose Llacuna, Jr.
"For the past weeks, our cases were consistently from the young and productive age group.
However, for this set of results, the older population is then again affected. With this, we reiterate our call to protect our vulnerable population especially our senior citizens, pregnant women, and those with co-morbidities. For the other members of the household, exercise strict minimum health protocols like proper handwashing, physical distancing of at least one meter, and making sure that all items and dirty clothing are removed and cleaned upon entering the house. We appeal to our vulnerable groups to observe social distancing and wear face mask if it is necessary to go out. Let us not let our guards down but continue to be vigilant, seek early consultation and do not wait for your signs and symptoms to worsen,” added Dr. Llacuna, Jr. (DOH Caraga/PIA-Caraga)
OWWA-Caraga pinaghahandaan ang pagdating at pagturn-over ng OFW cremates mula sa bansang apektado rin ng COVID-19
By Jennifer P. Gaitano
LUNGSOD NG BUTUAN, Agosto 17 (PIA) -- Habang abala pa rin ang Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) Caraga sa pagtulong sa returning OFWs o ROFs na nastranded sa Luzon at Visayas, pinaghahandaan din ngayon ng ahensiya ang posibleng pagdating ng mga labi ng OFWs na namatay sa mga bansang apektado ng coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic.
Ayon kay OWWA-Caraga regional director Irene Cambaling, kabilang sa mga ito ay Caraganon OFWs. Ang labi ng OFW ay kailangang ma-cremate muna bago ibiyahe sa rehiyon at maihatid sa kani-kanilang pamilya.
Sagot ng ahensiya ang gastosin ng cremation bilang tulong na rin sa mga naulilang pamilya.
“Gastos lahat ng ahensiya ang gastosin mula sa Luzon at pagpapadala ng
cremates ng OFW sa kanyang pamilya, para maibsan kahit papaano ang kanilang
pagdadalamhati,” ani ni Cambaling.
Kaugnay nito, binigyang-diin din ni Agusan del Sur Governor Santiago Cane, Jr., na kailangang magkaisa at magtulungan ang lahat ng LGUs sa rehiyon para sa pagpapatayo ng isang crematorium para sa labi ng expired COVID-19 patients.
Bahagi pa rin ito ng pagpapatupad ng new normal.
Samantala, sa isang meeting ng Regional Task Force COVID-19 One Caraga Shield, binigyang-diin din ni Ray Gregory Jaranilla ng Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Caraga na patuloy ang kanilang koordinasyon kasama ang OWWA at iba pang kinauukulang ahensiya sa pagtugon sa pangangailangan ng locally stranded individuals (LSIs), ROFs at maging ang posibleng pagdating din ng cremated remains ng OFWs sa ilang probinsya ng rehiyon.
Hiniling naman ni Director Cambaling sa ROFs na habaan pa ang pasensya sakaling kabilang sila sa mga naantala sa paguwi sa rehiyon dahil na rin sa limitado at by batch ang biyahe pabalik sa kani-kanilang probinsya. (JPG/PIA-Caraga)
Proyektong makakatulong upang sugpuin ang local communist armed conflict sa rehiyon ng Caraga, patuloy na ipinapatupad
By Nora C. Lanuza
LUNGSOD NG BUTUAN, Agosto 17 -- Sa pangunguna ng Department of the Interior and Local Government o DILG, patuloy ang implementasyon ng mga proyektong may kaugnayan sa pagpapatupad ng Executive Order No. 70 upang tuluyang masugpo ang local communist armed conflict sa rehiyon ng Caraga.
Sa ginawang pagtitipon na dinaluhan ng mga local chief executives, local government opeartions officers, partner agencies at iba pang mga stakeholders upang mas mapalakas at mapadali ang pagpapatupad nito gumawa ng pagrereview ng mga aktibidades at mga proyektong ipapatupad at sa iba’t ibang barangay na tukoy ng pamahalaan sa pamamagitan ng retooled community support program (RCSP) ng DILG.
Ayon kay DILG Caraga regional director Lilibeth Famacion, patuloy na bibisita sa mga barangays katuwang ang iba’t ibang ahensya ng gobyerno upang magbigay ng mga kaukulang interventions dito.
Sinabi din Annabel Yangson ng DILG, marami ng nasimulan at natapos noong taong 2019 pero kinakailangan pang ipagpatuloy ang mga ito upang tuluyan ng makarating ang proyekto sa mga naturan glugar at makamit ang tunay na kapayapaan. Sa taong 2019 na-implementa ang RCSP sa 79 STG-affected barangays ng Caraga region.
Sa ngayon patuloy ang pagpapatupad ng mga proyekto at aktibidades sa mga tukoy na barangays ng rehiyon. (NCLM/PIA-Caraga)
BMC nakatanggap ng RT-PCR machine mula sa DOST Caraga
By Venus L. Garcia
LUNGSOD NG BUTUAN, Agosto 17 (PIA) -- Nagdonate ang Department of Science and Technology (DOST) Caraga ng isang unit ng real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) machine at isang biological safety cabinet class II sa Butuan Medical Center.
Ang RT-PCR machine ay siyang ginagamit para matukoy kung mayroong coronavirus ang swab sample mula sa suspected coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patient.
Ang biological safety cabinet naman ay containment device na tutulong sa paghahanda ng samples habang pinuprotektahan nito ang paligid laban sa kontaminasyon at ang analysts sa pagkahawa sa virus.
Halos apat na milyong piso ang halaga ng mga ito.
“Nagbigay ang aming ahensya ng nasabing mga kagamitan sa BMC dahil magbubukas ito ng molecular lab. Sa pamamagitan nito ay makapagsasagawa na ng confirmatory tests sa Butuan City at maaring sa iba pang probinsiya sa rehiyon kung may magrerequest,” sabi ni DOST-Caraga regional director Dominga Mallonga.
Bukod sa donasyon ng DOST Caraga nagbigay din ng tig-isang RT-PCR machine ang lokal na pamahalaan ng Butuan at DOH-CHD Caraga.
“Sa pagbubukas ng molecular diagnostic laboratory ay inaasahang maiangat ang testing capacity hindi lamang ng Butuan City kundi ng buong rehiyon,” sabi ni Mallonga.
Hanggang kahapon, Agusto 16, mayroong 393 kabuuang COVID-19 kumpirmadong kaso sa Caraga kung saan ang pinakaraming bilang na 125 pasyente ay mula sa lungsod ng Butuan.
Tiwala si Dr. Caridad Burdeos-Plete, officer-in-charge medical director ng Butuan Medical Center, na sa pagsisimula ng operasyon ng molecular diagnostic laboratory mas mapapabilis ang pagtukoy kung sino ang mga positibo sa virus at agad maa-isolate upang di na makapanghawa. (VLG/PIA-Caraga)
Mga katutubo sa AgSur hiniling ang malakas na cellphone signal, internet access sa kanilang komunidad para sa pagbubukas ng klase
By Jennifer P. Gaitano
LUNGSOD NG BUTUAN, Agosto 17 (PIA) - Problemado ang mga katutubo sa mga liblib na lugar sa Agusan del Sur ngayong nalalapit na ang pagsisimula ng pasukan ng kanilang mga anak.
Dahil sa blended learning na ipatutupad ngayon, pahirapan ang signal ng mga cellular phone companies at internet connection sa lugar.
Kaya sa dayalogo kasama si Secretary Allen Capuyan ng National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP), na siya ring executive director ng National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (RTF-ELCAC), isa ito sa pinarating ng mga leaders ng tribong Higaonon, Banwaon at Manobo.
Bukod pa riyan ang malinis na suplay ng tubig at maayos na kalsada.
“Ang pinaka-importante na talagang kailangan namin dito sa aming barangay ay signal. Napakahirap makasagap ng signal dito. Yung mga teachers na naka-assign dito nahihirapan din dahil sa kawalan ng signal para sa komunikasyon. Lalo na ngayong nalalapit na ang pasukan, kahit may ibang paraan kailangan pa rin namin ng signal,” pahayag ni Bae Naytalogpad Ligaya Ayocdong, bise presidente ng Brgy. Salug Women’s Association.
Hiling din nila sa pamahalaan, ang mapalakas ang sektor ng agrikultura sa lugar.
“Nananawagan kami sa ating presidente na mabigyan kami ng mga programang pang-agrikultura sa pamamagitan ng trainings upang mas mahasa pa kami sa tama at naaayon na paraan ng pagsasaka. Nais din sana naming magkaroon ng training sa pag-package ng aming mga finish products at ma-sustain ito,” sabi ni Datu Balobagyo Carlos Otacan, Indigenous Peoples Mandatory Representative (IPMR) sa bayan ng Esperanza.
Tiniyak naman ng kalihim ang pag-aksyon ng pamahalaan sa mga hinaing ng mga katutubo ng Agsan del Sur.
Lubos naman ang pasasalamat din Mayor Leonida Manpatilan sa aktibong partisipasyon ng mga IPs sa ginagawang hakbang ng gobyerno upang matugunan ang pangangailangan ng mga tribu.
“Sa ating kinakaharap na pandemya ngayon kung saan kahit tayo ay nasa bundok kailangan pa ring mag-mask dahil ito ay omnibus order sa pagsunod ng health protocol,” ani ni Mayor Manpatilan. (JPG/PIA-Agusan del Sur)
DOH Caraga hinikayat ang publiko na suriin ang presyo ng mga medical devices
By Doreen Marielle N. Rosales
BUTUAN CITY, August 17 (PIA) -- Hinikayat ng Department of Health (DOH) Caraga ang publiko na alamin ang umiiral na presyo ng medical devices kagaya ng face shield and face masks na ginagamit upang panangga laban sa coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
Kasunod ito sa striktong pagsusuot ng face shields sa pampublikong transportasyon simula Agosto 15, base sa mandato ng Department of Transportation (DOTr).
Karamihan sa commercially available na devices ay hindi medical grade kung kaya’t kinakailangang tutukan ang presyo ng mga ito. Ngunit nilinaw ng kagawaran na bagama’t hindi medical grade ang ginagamit na devices ay pwede pa rin naman itong gamitin.
Paalala ng DOH Caraga, ang suggested retail price (SRP) ng mga medical devices ay nakasaad sa Department Memorandum 2020-0345 ng DOH. Makikita ang naturang memorandum sa kanilang opisyal na Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/caraga.doh.gov.ph/.
Samantala, tuloy naman ang pagtaas ng recovery rate ng mga nagka COVID-19 sa Caraga region.
Umabot na sa 305 o 81 percent sa kabuuang bilang ng kumpirmadong kaso sa
rehiyon ang nakarecover at nadischarge na.
Kasalukuyang may 85 active cases, 189 cumulative probable cases, 301 cumulative suspect cases, at tatlong deaths ang rehiyon. (DMNR/PIA-Caraga)
TESDA launches Provincial Training Center in SurSur town
By Lee Escobal
TANDAG CITY, Agusan del Sur, Aug. 17 -- The Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) in coordination with the local government unit (LGU) of Marihatag launched its Provisional Provincial Training Center (PPTC) at CASAMA LAHDZ 3 Health Institute Building in Poblacion, Marihatag, this province.
First District Rep. Prospero Pichay led the ribbon cutting and the unveiling of the PPTC-Marihatag approved programs together with Provincial Administrator Pedro Trinidad representing Governor Alexander Pimentel, TESDA officials, LGU officials headed by Mayor Justin Marc Pelenio, and other government agency representatives.
During the event, TESDA Caraga Regional Director Ashary Banto has awarded the LGU of Marihatag the Certificate of TVET Program Registration (CTPR) on Masonry National Certificate (NC) II, Driving NC II, Electrical Installation and Maintenance NC II, and Organic Agriculture Production NC II.
Director Banto also lauded the LGU of Marihatag for the strong partnership and support to TESDA programs and initiatives.
Mayor Pelenio, on the other hand, expressed his commitment and support in providing the needed equipment, supplies and materials, and other utilities for the implementation of the skills training.
Meanwhile, the LGU Marihatag through Vice Mayor Jovita Umapas has awarded TESDA Surigao del Sur Provincial Office chief Provincial Director Julius Sol Jamero the deed of donation of the two-hectare lot where the Provincial Training Center will be constructed. The building will be constructed through the Training-cum-Production with an allocated budget of P3M and P600,000.00 for skills training.
Cong. Pichay assured that he will allocate P20 million for the construction of the Provincial Training Center building and another P40 million for the construction of the Regional Training Center in Cantilan.
The training for the approved program will commence this week. The scholarship package includes free training, free assessment, training support fund of P160 per day, personal protective equipment (PPE) allowance amounting to P500, internet allowance amounting to P500, and a one-year accident insurance coverage from GSIS.
Those interested Surigaonons may visit the Provincial Training Center in Marihatag for more details. (TESDA/PIA-Surigao del Sur)
Grupo ng mga negosyante sa Caraga, namigay ng PPE para sa mga frontliners
By Jennifer P. Gaitano
LUNGSOD NG BUTUAN, Agosto 17 (PIA) - Tumanggap ng mga personal protective equipment (PPE) ang mga kawani ng Overseas Wokers Welfare Administration (OWWA) sa Caraga region.
Malimit kasi silang exposed sa mga sinasalubong na mga locally stranded individuals (LSIs) at mga returning overseas Filipinos (ROFs). Ang OWWA ay isa lamang sa mga ahensiyang tumanggap ng ayuda mula sa grupo ng mga negosyante.
“Pasalamat kami sa Agusan Filipino-Chinese Chamber of Commerce Incorporated dahil part ng kanilang corporate social responsibility ang pagbibigay ng face masks. Ang mga face masks na ito ay hindi lang para sa amin. Nirerepack namin ito at part ito sa food packs para sa mga ROFs," ani ni OWWA-Caraga regional director Irene Cambaling.
May pabaon pang food packs sa mga LSIs at ROFs bago umuwi sa kani-kanilang lalawigan.
Matumal man ang kita ngayong may pandemya, umaasa pa rin ang mga negosyante sa Caraga region na makakabangon din ang business sector at uunlad pa ang ekonomiya.
“Kapag siguro may vaccine na laban COVID-19, mas makakaplano na kami at makaka-expand ng aming mga negosyo,” pahayag ni Joey Tan, presidente ng Agusan Filipino-Chinese Chamber of Commerce Incorporated. (JPG/PIA-Caraga)
