Dinagat Islands LGU backs gov’t info drive for COVID-19 vaccination
By
Doreen Marielle N. Rosales
BUTUAN CITY, Mar. 26 (PIA) -- With their commitment to uphold the health and welfare of Dinagatnons, the provincial government of Dinagat Islands joins the national government in campaigning for the vaccination of every Filipino from the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), which has claimed millions of lives across the world since its outbreak.
Since
the beginning of the year, the Philippine Information Agency (PIA), together
with the Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) conducted a
series of engagements with local government units across the nation dubbed as
the “Pagdalaw/Pagdu-aw” (visit) to engage with local officials and members of concerned
sectors on the on-going vaccination program launched by the national
government.
On its
fifth leg in Caraga region, the municipality of Loreto in Dinagat Islands was
visited, where PIA Director-General Ramon Cualoping III and PCOO Sec. Martin
Andanar discussed among municipal officials down to the barangay level, the
youth, and officials of the provincial government on Monday, March 22, the
current developments of the national vaccination program and the future
endeavors of the national government concerning vaccination.
To
achieve this, the agency launched the “#ExplainExplainExplain” campaign, in
addition to the many communication efforts launched by the PCOO, to intensify
information dissemination at the time when the public needs it most. Living up
to its name, the campaign was named to explain to the public the actions
taken by the government in its vaccination efforts in particular, in addition
to informing.
“Why
are we here? It is because we, as government communicators, eagerly continue to
communicate President Rodrigo Duterte’s directives – to provide safe,
effective, and free vaccines to the Filipino people,” said PIA chief Usec.
Ramon Cualoping III.
“This
is our avenue. This is one of the ways of bringing information to the people
and making them understand what really is happening, what is the vaccine
roadmap, when will the people get vaccinated, are they really effective, and so
on,” he added.
The
extensiveness of these efforts was lauded by participating officials.
Provincial Governor Arlene Bag-ao thanked the presence of the agency chiefs and
for extending their initiatives down to the grassroots level. She then cited
the strong coordination among local government units in the province to respond
better to the needs of Dinagatnons.
“Kalahating
taon na ang lumipas na wala tayong COVID-19 cases habang patuloy na
nagtutulungan ang provincial at municipal governments sa pagsisigurong buhay
ang lokal na ekonomiya,” the governor added.
Loreto
Municipal Mayor Doandre Bill Ladaga echoed the same words of gratitude for the
national government, stating that their responsiveness is key for local
government units to materialize their plans and projects for the development of
their respective areas.
Meanwhile,
during the engagement, Usec. Cualoping elaborated the importance of all the
efforts the government has been exerting since the issue on availing vaccines
was discussed, which is to achieve a “Healthy Pilipinas.” This, he said, can be
attained by achieving herd immunity, which requires getting at least 70% of the
country’s entire population vaccinated from the disease.
“As of
March 15, 2021, about 96% or 1,125,600 total doses we have were already
distributed in 929 vaccination sites nationwide, with 39% of the said figures
were administered for the first dose.”
Vaccine
from other brands will be arriving soon, he added, both the donated and the
procured.
Despite
the availability of vaccines, the government official urged residents of the province
to continue to abide by health protocols and, as much as possible, submit
themselves for inoculation. (DMNR/PIA-Caraga)
Surigao Norte LGU to boost fishery to foster recovery from pandemic
By
Doreen Marielle N. Rosales
BUTUAN CITY, Mar. 26 (PIA) -- With various sectors in the economy now striving to bounce back from the effects of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, the local government unit of the municipality of San Benito in Siargao Islands in the province of Surigao del Norte plans on embarking on sardine production in an effort to boost local fishery.
The town’s
seaweed farm, located at Sitio Campingganon in Brgy. Maribojoc, can produce
seaweeds year-round. But farmers are now faced with shortage of needed
materials which in turn affected their local business.
This
pushed Mayor Menil to opt for other business prospects, with sardine production
in mind.
Located
on the northwest side of Siargao Island, the town also occupies a portion of
the Pacific Ocean which provides them the advantage of catching some of the
finest fish in the sea. San Benito prides itself in being one of the top
producers of yellow fin tuna, a tuna species commonly used for fish dishes
served in high-end restaurants.
“Ito ay
binebenta ng mga mangingisda sa iba’t-ibang bahagi ng probinsya. Kung sila ay
malaking pump boat, dinadala po ito sa Surigao City. Yung iba naman na maliit
ang pump boat, dinadala lamang sa mga magkalapit na bayan sa Siargao,” she said
in an interview for the Network Briefing News episode on Tuesday with
Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) Sec. Martin Andanar.
“Kaya
ako po ay nangangarap para sa aking mga kababayan sa San Benito, gusto ko po
sana since marami po ang nahuhuli na ganung klaseng isda dito, ay [magtatag] ng
sardine production. Alam kong mas maraming matutulungan na mga kababayan natin
dito sa San Benito.”
Meanwhile,
the mayor appealed to the national government for assistance to aid their
seaweed farming.
“Sana
po, meron pong makatulog sa amin. Malaki ang production niyan. Umaabot ang
pagbebenta ng mga tao sa Cebu City,” she added.
PCOO
Sec. Andanar assured the local chief that these concerns will be voiced to the
Department of Agriculture.
“Wag po
kayo mag-alala, Mayor, at ang tanggapan ko po ay bukas para kayo po ay ibridge
kay Secretary Willam Dar.” (DMNR/PIA-Caraga)
Infra projects boosted in Surigao Norte town amid pandemic
By
Doreen Marielle N. Rosales
BUTUAN CITY, Mar. 26 (PIA) -- Several infrastructure projects in the municipality of San Benito in Siargao Islands are currently in the works despite the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.
Town
Mayor Gina Menil reports the on-going construction of the P67-million municipal
multi-purpose building in Brgy. Nuevo Campo. Phase 1 of the building
construction is currently being completed since its groundbreaking ceremony on
February 25, 2021.
“Aside
from that, we have also a municipal gymnasium na ngayon ay ginagawa na,” the
mayor added during an interview on Tuesday for the Network Briefing News hosted
by Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) Sec. Martin Andanar.
The
construction of the building is still in its early phases. Mayor Menil said the
project is costs about P47 million in total.
The
mayor also cited the continuous assistance she receives from the national and
the provincial governments for the success of her projects, particularly those
mentioned above.
The
town of San Benito is a 6th class municipality, with at least 6,000 individuals
making up its entire population. (DMNR/PIA-Caraga)
Locals in Surigao Norte town upbeat on COVID-19 vaccination
By
Doreen Marielle N. Rosales
BUTUAN CITY, Mar. 26 (PIA) -- The locals of San Benito town in Siargao Island in the Surigao del Norte province are now willing to undergo vaccination for the deadly coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) after months of hesitation, town mayor Gina Menil said.
In an
interview with the Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) Sec.
Martin Andanar for the Network Briefing Episode, the town chief said the
acceptance rate among residents have ballooned since they launched an
information drive for the government’s vaccination program.
“Nung
una, medyo nahirapan kaming mag convince sa kanila. At first, nung humingi ako
ng listahan from punong barangays but then wala munang nagbigay ng listahan.
It’s because natakot sila,” the mayor said.
Thus,
the local government unit strived to promote awareness on the COVID-19 vaccines
and the vaccination process in collaboration with the municipal health
office. And in no time, public confidence increased and fear of the vaccines
was gradually eradicated.
“After
a week na nagconduct sila ng information drive, very productive or positive ang
[feedback] na nakuha sa katawhan sa San Benito and they are willing to [be]
vaccinate[d]. Inexplain ng maigi na sila muna ang maunang mabigyan ng bakuna –
mga doctors, nurses, at mga opsiyales.”
This,
Mayor Menil said, was what convinced the people to receive jabs for COVID-19.
As of March 24, 2021, a total of 10,711 health care workers in Caraga region have already received the COVID-19 vaccines, with 91.32% inoculated with the Sinovac vaccines while 44.8% with AstraZeneca. The Department of Health (DOH) Caraga said it will aim to inoculate 57,364 individuals in Caraga based on the masterlist created for the eligible population (DMNR/PIA-Caraga)
