LGU-Butuan inaugurates COVID-19 molecular lab
By Venus L. Garcia
BUTUAN CITY, Aug. 19 (PIA) -- The first coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) molecular laboratory in Caraga region was recently established and inaugurated by the city government unit of Butuan.
The local government hastened the operationalization of the testing facility situated at the Butuan Medical Center (BMC) after cases of local transmission have been recorded.
The medical staff of the BMC who would exclusively man the testing laboratory had completed and passed the necessary training.
The three real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) machines of the new molecular diagnostic laboratory can potentially process 300 swab samples per week.
This technology is an important tool in detecting COVID-19 quickly,
enabling doctors to immediately come up with a diagnosis and provide proper
medical care, increasing the survival chance of patients.
It is also equipped with a special filtration system that would eliminate infectious droplets to ensure the safety of the medical staff who will be assigned at the testing laboratory.
Butuan City Mayor Ronnie Vicente Lagnada thanked the Department of Health (DOH) and Department of Science and Technology (DOST) Caraga and other partner stakeholders for the support in the realization of the project.
"It is a global challenge, it is even threatening the developing countries, and the economy is also affected aside from the people themselves. So, I urge everyone to do your part to beat COVID-19. The government cannot do it alone. Your cooperation and the spirit of 'Bayanihan' are crucial in this time of the pandemic. This is a team effort in fighting the unseen enemy," Lagnada said in his speech during the inauguration.
Meanwhile, Dr. Caridad Burdeos-Plete, OIC-Medical Director of BMC, expressed her gratitude to the local government of Butuan for the continued support in the efforts against COVID-19. She further hoped that the pandemic will be over soon and that more Caraganons will be spared from acquiring the virus. "No harm can ever penetrate if we ourselves will be proactive and collectively perform our duties to protect the people," she said.
As part also of the preparation, a dedicated fleet of ambulances for COVID-19 patients is also readily available for use.
The newly constructed storage building and COVID-19 ward with 50-bed capacity were also inaugurated. The ward has two recovery rooms, four critical care units, operating and delivery rooms, and an isolation ward.
"We are aware of the increasing number of confirmed cases in our region, but this is just the start. We need the strict observance of the health protocols to prevent the spread of the virus. We expect an increase of the confirmed cases in the coming days so we should be more vigilant and practice the imposed guidelines," said Lagnada.
Mayor Lagnada, together with DOH Caraga Regional Director Jose Llacuna, Jr., DOST Regional Director Dominga Mallonga, and City Councilor Cherry Mae Busa, led the cutting of the ribbon during the inauguration.
The total COVID-19 confirmed cases in Caraga region have reached to 393 as of yesterday, August 16. The LGU and DOH are continuously urging the Caraganons to follow the public health measures and respond to the call for “Bayanihan” in fighting against coronavirus disease. (VLG/PIA-Caraga)
LGU Butuan completes
SAP distribution
By Ramil V. Daygo
BUTUAN CITY, Aug. 19 (PIA) -- The city of Butuan completed its distribution of the Social Amelioration Program (SAP) financial subsidy to a total of 14,456 left-out/waitlisted beneficiaries, which started on July 29.
Due to the prevalence of local transmission in the city, the local government unit (LGU) had to strategize the appropriate mode of payout. As such, an offsite payout methodology and a special house-to-house payout strategy in Brgy. Buhangin, where the local transmission is most prevalent, was conducted.
Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Caraga regional director Lilibeth Famacion emphasized the adherence of the on-field personnel to health protocols during the payout to warrant the safety of both the residents and the personnel.
“We have ensured that health protocols were strictly adhered during the
conduct of the distribution and so we hope that our beneficiaries will continue
to practice the same vigilance as they expend the financial subsidy that they
received,” she said.
The success of the SAP distribution was made possible in coordination
with the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Caraga and the
supervision of the DILG Caraga. (DILG Caraga/DMNR/PIACaraga)
Oportunidad sa trabaho alang sa mga bag-ong migradwar gipaniguro sa gobernador sa Agusan Norte
By Karen V. Decamotan
DAKBAYAN SA BUTUAN, Agosto 19 -- Daghang oportunidad sa Agusan del Norte
bisan sa mga limitasyon nga dala sa krisis tungod sa coronavirus disease 2019
(COVID-19) ug giawhag ni Gob. Dale B. Corvera ang mga bag-ong migradwar nga
tan-awon kini uban ang hagit nga motabang pagpasiuli ug pagpaangat pa sa
kahimtang sa ekonomiya ug kalidad sa katilingbanong serbisyo sa probinsya.
Sa iyang virtual commencement address sa mga migradawar sa Caraga State
University – Cabadbaran City Campus, partikuar nga gitumbok sa gobernador ang
mga oportunidad nga motumaw sa mosunod nga mga bulan tungod sa kampanya sa
kalambuan nga gipadagan sa iyang administrasyon nga mao ang AGUSAN UP!.
Ubos sa AGUSAN UP!, gipadagan sa probinsya ang programang AGUS 3Ps o
Plant and Process for Prosperity nga mas nailhan sa mga proyekto niini nga
Plant! Plant! Plant ug Process! Process! Process, duha sa mga proyekto nga
gilantaw’ng momugna og libuang trabaho.
Gipadagan usab sa probinsya ang mga proyekto nga nagpakusog pa sa
katilingbanong serbisyo ug momugna og laing libuang trabaho ubos sa Amomang
Agusanon, ang mga proyekto nga magpasiuli sa kabaskug sa kinaiyahan ubos sa
programang Lunhaw’ng Agusan ug mga proyekto alang sa malukpanong pagdumala ubos
sa Hiniusang Lihuk Agusan.
“Mga minahal kong graduates, ingnon ko nga daghang mga oportunidad aron
makab-ot ninyo ang gidamgo ninyong ugma. Mahimong mugnaon ninyo kini dinhi sa
probinsya ug napundar na nato ang gambalay sa pagpalambo nga makatabang aron
mahuptan ninyo ang katumanan niini,” sumala ni Gob. Corvera.
Dugang sa gobernador nga kinahanglan sa probinsya ang mga tawo sa
nagkalain-laing hawanan sa pagpalambo sama sa agrikultura, pagproseso,
pamaligya ug pag-operate sa mga pasilidades, apil na ang gitawag nga digital
lane.
Kinahanglan usab sa probinsya ang mga tawo nga moatiman sa
katilingbanong serbisyo diha sa gobyerno ug pribadong sektor.
Tungod usab niini nga panginahanglan daku ang nahimong hagit sa
CSU-Cababaran ug uban pang eskwelahan sa paghatag sa mga mogradwar sa nahisgutang
mga katakus.
Gipadangat usab sa gobernador sa maong okasyon ang iyang pahalipay sa mga ginikanan nga ang-antus aron lang makahuman og kurso ang ilang mga anak. (LGU Agusan del Norte/PIA Agusan del Norte)
