COVID-19 cases in Caraga now at 549
BUTUAN CITY, Sept. 3 – The Department of Health (DOH) on
Wednesday reported that Caraga region has now registered 549 coronavirus
disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases with the 12 new positives for the virus.
"DO Caraga announces receipt of 34 RT-PCR confirmatory results from
the GeneXpert Reference Laboratory of Butuan Medical Center and Philippine
National Red Cross Manila where 22 tested negative and twelve (12) turned
positive for the COVID-19 virus," it said.
The negative RT-PCR results are from the high-risk individuals who had
positive Rapid Antibody-based Tests, health care workers and close contacts of
previously confirmed cases.
Of the 12 confirmed positive cases, 75% (9) are frontliners wherein 50%
(6) are tagged as local transmission cases, 25% (3) are close contacts of
previously confirmed local transmission cases, 17% (2) are Returning Overseas
Filipinos with one case quarantined in Manila, and 8% (1) is a health care
worker who is also a close contact of a previously confirmed case. About 67%
(8) belong to ages 20-40 years old; the youngest is 25 years old and the oldest
is 50 years old. As to sex distribution, 67% (8) are males while 33% (4) are
females.
The confirmed cases are distributed in the following areas: Butuan
City-Villa Kananga (4), Libertad (3), Baan Km.3 (1), Bancasi (1), Ong Yiu (1),
Tiniwisan (1) and Gigaquit, Surigao del Norte (1).
As to the medical status of patients, 83% (10) are asymptomatic while
the remaining cases have exhibited mild to moderate symptoms. Furthermore,
asymptomatic cases are strictly monitored in following quarantine protocols
while symptomatic patients are admitted and managed accordingly.
As of September 2, COVID-19 confirmed positive cases in Caraga region
now totals to 549 with 367 (67%) recoveries that have been discharged and
released, 172 (31%) are active cases wherein 60% (104) are asymptomatic, 37%
(64) are mild to moderate, and 2% (4) are severe, and 2% (10) deaths.
“As the COVID-19 cases in Butuan City continuously rise, we are closely
coordinating and collaborating with the local government as well as with DILG,
PIA, private and public hospitals, and other stakeholders in the monitoring and
management of cases and isolation facilities," said DOH Caraga Regional
Director Jose R. Llacuna, Jr.
"Likewise, we are also looking into the infection prevention and
control measures of organizations and offices especially if there is a presence
of unusual case clustering. DOH Caraga will monitor the trend of cases, and
efficiently and effectively implement containment measures. We call on everyone
to never get tired practicing the minimum health standards like wearing of
masks, physical distancing and regular hand washing. We are accountable to our
own health and this starts by exercising maximum vigilance,” he added. (DOH
Caraga/PIA-Caraga)
Butuan's public
market stall vendors appeal for relief assistance during 6-day lockdown
By Jennifer P. Gaitano
BUTUAN CITY, Sept. 3 (PIA) -- The stall owners and vendors at the
Salvador L. Calo Supermarket, also known as the "Langihan Public
Market" here have asked relief assistance from the local government unit
(LGU) of Butuan during the six-day lockdown effective Aug. 26 after three
vendors got positive rapid test result, and one eventually died.
Consumers were also affected and expressed sympathy to the vendors with
the hope that they could soon go back to its operations. “As consumers, we also
find it difficult to go elsewhere to buy our food. The public market is where
we usually find fresh and affordable food to eat,” said Leah Palarca.
Meanwhile, the LGU-Butuan has started releasing the relief assistance to
the affected vendors. "There are around 600 plus families affected dyan
and we already submitted the names of the vendors, families affected,"
bared Atty. Edwin Jon Pizarro, OIC of the Office of the City Economic
Enterprise (OCEE).
The City Health Office continues to conduct contract tracing and
disinfection in the vicinity of the public market.
Stall vendors also hoped that contact tracing would be over and
disinfection in the public market will regularly be conducted for their safety.
(JPG/PIA-Caraga)
Army, LGU continue to
deliver basic services to AgSur IP communities
By 2Lt. Cecille C Tapa
TALACOGON, Agusan del Sur, Sept. 3 – The 26th Infantry (Ever Onward)
Battalion (26IB), 4th Infantry (Diamond) Division, Philippine
Army, together with the Municipal Local Government Unit (LGU) of San Luis,
Agusan del Sur led by Mayor Phoebe Y. Corvera once again embarked on the
implementation of the Retooled Community Support Program (RCSP) as a strategy
to realize the objectives of Executive Order No. 70 or the “whole-of-nation
approach” during the mission planning orientation of RCSP held on September 1,
2020, at the Municipal Hall, San Luis, this province.
The delivery of basic services to the Indigenous Peoples (IPs)
particularly in the identified barangays of the said municipality were
discussed. "The government needs to reach out and we have to be responsive
to the needs of these communities. Through the delivery of basic social
services, the IPs may have the opportunity to live safer and healthier,"
Corvera said.
“This gathering is just like any other committee gatherings which
tackles our individual functions to continue our mandated tasks in
providing social services to the community and to ensure that all
concerned agencies are onboard for this year’s
implementation,“ underscored Atty. Charles V. Lim, Municipal Local
Government Operations Officer (MLGOO).
Meanwhile, Lt. Col. Reynald Romel A. Goce, commanding officer of 26IB,
bared that “the army is deploying community peace and development teams
which are encouraging community-based initiatives defined by the local
communities. With the LGU's efforts against insurgency, geared towards
presenting long-term solutions and at the same time addressing the immediate
needs of the local community, basic services will be provided."
"In addition, all government agencies should take their functions
seriously and make appropriate actions especially in conflict affected areas
and vulnerable communities and ensure the participation of all sectors in
delivering basic services to achieve social development and sustainable
peace," Goce added. (CMO, 26IB/PIA-Agusan del Sur)
60 Butuan farmers
learn agricultural extension approach
BUTUAN CITY, Sept. 3 -- Around 60 farmer-cooperators of the 100 techno
demonstration areas of hybrid rice in the city attended a participatory and an
interactive learning approach through the Farmer's Field School (FFS).
The Department of Agriculture (DA) – Caraga together with the Local
Government Unit of Butuan City and the Rice Productivity Advocacy Incorporated
(Rice Board) provided an opportunity for the farmer-cooperators to practice and
test or evaluate sustainable land-use technologies and introduce new
technologies by comparing their conventional practices.
In a study conducted by DA-Caraga's Research Division, Agusan del Norte and
Agusan del Sur FFS-graduate farmers who adopted the FFS – recommended
technologies improved their yield and income after the course implementation
based on its initial findings.
Butuan City's Rice Program Coordinator Nestor Fuentes, in a statement,
attested that FFS is an effective extension approach as it adheres to the
principles of "learning by doing."
"The field is the learning place for our farmer-cooperators as they
explore and educate themselves on the issues and topics that affect their
livelihood," said Fuentes.
The ultimate aim of the farmers' field school is to improve the farmers'
knowledge and decision-making abilities so they can cope with pest and crop
management problems on their own.
Felicita L. Bagtilay, 60 years old and a farmer-cooperator, shared the
importance of FFS to her as a rice farmer for 45 years.
"Participating in FFS allows me to learn more and adopt the new
technologies that I need for my area. Learning never stops, because this is
needed to improve our farming practices," she said.
Further, farmer-cooperators and selected farmer leaders from Butuan City, RTR, and Buenavista, Agusan del Norte will be conducting a field visitation next month on the techno-demo areas to personally observe the hybrid technologies applied in the said areas. (DA Caraga/PIA Caraga)
DA, partners to
launch 'Project PEACE' in Agusan Norte
By Vanessa P. Sanchez
BUTUAN CITY, Sept. 3 -- In the midst of the global health crisis the
whole world is facing, the government is exhausting all efforts to ensure food
availability and accessibility for every Filipino.
In the region, the People Empowerment in Agriculture for Community
Enhancement or Project PEACE, a community vegetable production project in
select barangays initiated by the Province of Agusan del Norte through the
Office of Congresswoman Angelica Rosedell Amante-Matba in coordination with the
Department of Agriculture (DA) – Caraga is set to be launched on the last week
of this month.
The project was created to cushion the impact of the coronavirus disease
2019 (COVID-19) particularly in selected far-flung and poorest of the
poor barangays of the province by establishing vegetable gardens that would
serve as their own food source.
Other collaborating agencies of the project are the Technical Education
Skills and Development Authority (TESDA), Agricultural Training Institute
(ATI), Armed Forces of the Philippines, Philippine National Police, and the
Provincial and Municipal Local Government Units of Agusan del Norte.
Under the program, five areas have been identified in which the techno
demo of the vegetable gardens will be established namely Brgy.Lower Olave in
Buenavista, Brgy. Sto. NiΓ±o in Remedios T. Romualdez, Brgy. Del Pilar in
Cabadbaran, Brgy. Bangayan in Kitcharao, and one barangay in Butuan City.
A Training of Trainers for the group who will be working on the techno
demo gardens was recently conducted attended by the representatives from the
Army, Philippine National Police, Indigenous Peoples, former rebels, and former
drug surrenderees facilitated by the Agricultural Training Institute, TESDA,
and DA-Caraga.
According to DA-Caraga Regional Technical Director Rebecca R. Atega, the
vegetable was chosen for this project since compared to other crops, it is
quicker to grow and harvest.
On the other hand, DA-Caraga Regional Executive Director Abel James I.
Monteagudo said that at this time of a pandemic, food production at your own
backyard is the hope of ensuring food security.
“The simple act of teaching people the basics in planting can have a huge impact,” Monteagudo said. (DA13-RAFIS/PIA Agusan del Norte)
