https://www.sunstar.com.ph/ |
- City health warns of post-Holy week surge
- Davao City stages bomb drill
- House passes bill creating Metro Davao Development Authority
| City health warns of post-Holy week surge Posted: 26 Mar 2021 06:04 AM PDT THE Holy Week might cause a widespread transmission of coronavirus if devotees fail to strictly observe minimum health protocol, a health official said. City Health Office (CHO) Acting Head Dr. Ashley Lopez said devotees flocking to the church could turn the event into a "superspreader," where a single infected person infects many others on contact, leading to unusually large clusters of Covid-19 cases. Lopez likened this to the recent Christmas and New Year celebration, which caused a surge of cases due to non-essential gatherings and other activities, despite warning from health officials. "Ingon aning mga event sama sa Pasko, New Year, mga Semana Santa (These events such as Christmas, New Year, and Holy Week), they are superspreader events. Mao ni siya ang mga sources, mao kani siya ang hinungdan nga mag-outbreak nasab ta sa (These are sources of a surge, causing another outbreak of cases here in) Davao [City]," the health official said. The official also said that there is a need to control mass gatherings, which are vulnerable to the transmission, as the city is in a threat of a possible "second wave" of Covid-19 cases. This, despite the city continuing to experience a downtrend of cases. He advised devotees, including minors, senior citizens, and those with comorbidities, "to do a little sacrifice" and observe their Holy Week traditions and praying activities at home and attend online masses. He also advised to only go out for essential purposes. "Ang importante lang man ana is sincerity and honesty sa imong pag-ampo sa Diyos para atong malikayan ang pagtapok-tapok (What is important is that you are sincere and honest in your prayers to the Lord so that we would avoid gatherings) because we have regulations sa atong (in our) mass gathering," Lopez said. In an issued Executive Order 12 series of 2021 on March 12, Duterte-Carpio said religious gatherings will only be allowed up to 50 percent of the seating capacity, provided that religious gathering shall be limited to the conduct of religious worship and/or service. Vulnerable sector, including person below 15 years old, those who are 65 years old and above, those with immunodeficiency, comorbidity, or other health risks, and pregnant women, including any person who resides with the aforementioned, shall be required to remain in their residences at all times, and are urged to attend masses via livestream. The Archdiocese of Davao said in a letter to Duterte-Carpio that it will defer its Holy Week activities outside the church, including crowd procession, but will still conduct masses under a limited capacity. Public Safety and Security Command Center (PSSCC) head Angel Sumagaysay told SunStar Davao in a phone interview that security personnel will be deployed to strictly monitor the observance of minimum health protocol inside churches. Sumagaysay said they already coordinated with the archdiocese on the security measures and protocols that are needed to be in place. He also instructed the Davao City Police Office and its station commanders to coordinate with the parishes covered in their area of responsibility to implement health and security measures.  This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Posted: 26 Mar 2021 06:03 AM PDT WITH potential terror threats amid the Covid-19 pandemic, the Davao City Government spearheaded another security and anti-terrorism community exercise on Friday, March 26. The simulation exercise or bomb drill on terrorist attacks happened in two separate areas: in front of the Davao City Overland Transport Terminal (Dcott) in Ecoland and the Bankerohan Public Market. The activity reenacted a bomb blast in the area, wherein there were actors who played as the wounded victims, and perpetrators. Public Safety and Security Command Center (PSSCC) head Angel Sumagaysay told SunStar Davao on Friday afternoon that the simulation exercise is aimed at testing the operational capabilities of the members of the security and safety clusters, gauge the interoperability of the security and safety clusters and encourage community participation on the extent of the propagation of a culture of security. "Amo gitestingan sa mga area nga naay convergence para matest nato ang cooperation capability ng rescue unit, and tong atong ginapropagate nga culture of security nga naay community-based participation (We decided to have the exercise in areas of convergence to test the cooperation capability of the rescue unit and to evaluate the community's participation in terms of the culture of security)," Sumagaysay said. The exercise ended early as the perpetrators were immediately intercepted. He added the bomb drill did not cause any heavy traffic situation or delay in travel, which was expected by the local government. Sumagaysay clarified that the city has no monitored terrorism threat and that the simulation is conducted annually, except that this time, they involved the public. "Mas nindot kung naay tao, atleast makita namo ang reaction ng community kung makisama ba sila if magsulti sila nga mag-reroute, or kinahanglangan nga mupahawa (It would be best to involve the public, at least we could see the reaction of the community and how they would respond. Would they reroute or be asked to leave if authorities order them?)," he said, adding that there is a need to educate the public in this uncertain situation. However, adjustments were made to comply with the minimum health protocol against Covid-19. He also said there is a need to strengthen the city's capability in preventing and responding to terrorist incidents following the recent attacks that happened in some parts of Mindanao, especially in Tulunan, North Cotabato in January this year, and in Jolo, Sulu in July last year. Based on their assessment, Sumagaysay said the activity was met with positive feedback from the law enforcing agencies. He also said that the public cooperated and no one panicked. He said the city can expect more simulation activities in the coming months. The City Government launched the people-centered security awareness campaign following the issuance of Executive Order No. 41, or an "Order Encouraging Dabawenyos to Adopt the Culture of Security as Part of their Way of Life." From then on, several community exercises have been conducted aimed at strengthening the peace and order and prevent all acts of terrorism in Davao City wherein Dabawenyos are urged to participate in the anti-terrorism campaign of the city.  This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| House passes bill creating Metro Davao Development Authority Posted: 26 Mar 2021 06:01 AM PDT THE House of Representatives approved on the third and final reading the bill creating the Metropolitan Davao Development Authority (MDDA) on Thursday, March 25, 2021. The lower house approved House Bill 8930 or "An Act Creating the Metropolitan Davao Development Authority (MDDA), Defining Its Powers and Functions, and Providing Funds Therefor." Davao City Third District Representative Isidro Ungab, principal author of the bill, said the MDDA will coordinate and promote socio-economic growth and sustainable development. It shall also perform planning, implementation, monitoring, and coordinative functions and exercise regulatory and supervisory authority over the delivery of area-wide services within Metropolitan Davao. Other function of the proposed metropolitan body includes setting policies concerning traffic, waste management, and public safety and security for Metro Davao and coordinate, regulate, and enforce the implementation of these programs and projects with concerned national government. According to a press release by the Regional Development Council (RDC)-Davao, the creation of MDDA is part of the Updated Philippine Development Plan (PDP), 2017-2022 and Davao Regional Development Plan (DRDP), 2017-2022 Midterm Update as one of the three Metropolitan Areas to be pursued in the current planning period, besides Metro Manila and Metro Cebu. "Institutionalizing the policy on national dispersion through regional agglomeration to revitalize large cities and eventually stir them to expand its physical area for planning, as espoused in the National Spatial Strategy (NSS)," RDC said. According to the bill, the MDDA shall have jurisdiction over the core local government units (LGUs), which includes the cities of Panabo, Tagum, and Island Garden City of Samal (IGACoS) in Davao del Norte; Digos in Davao del Sur; and highly urbanized City of Davao; and the municipalities of Carmen in Davao del Norte, and Sta. Cruz in Davao del Sur. Meanwhile the City of Mati in Davao Oriental, and the municipalities of Maco in Davao de Oro, and Malita in Davao Occidental are its annex local government units. However, the bill also clarified that the MDDA will not diminish the autonomy of the LGUs concerning local matters. The bill is one of the initiatives of the Metropolitan Davao Development Coordinating Committee (MDDCC), a special committee under the RDC-Davao, under the leadership of Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio. The bill was filed on July 29, 2020. Ungab told SunStar Davao in a previous interview that MDDA will focus on the socio-economic opportunities for the region. He said MDDA is similar to the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA). Top government officials of different municipalities, provinces, and cities will compose MDDA, and different planning units such as economic, development, and urban planning will be discussed as one board. In July last year, Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio formed a localized-steering body that will manage the implementation of the MDDA. Duterte-Carpio, chairman of the committee creating MDDA at the RDC-Davao, also created the Davao City Coordinating Committee (DCCC). DCCC will ensure "a single direction towards developing the coastal cities and towns along the Davao Gulf." The local body will work closely with the Metropolitan Davao Development Coordinating Committee (MDDCC) in seeing the proper implementation of the medium and long-term plans and programs of the city and its land use, consistent with regional and national development objectives and priorities. "Its functions also include preparation of priority programs and projects, identifying sources of funds, and packaging of projects for funding institutions. It will also ensure the proper monitoring of projects and programs and recommend solutions should there be problems of implementation," the press statement said. Each LGU within the Metro Davao needs to form a steering group to coordinate with the MDDCC. Duterte-Carpio admitted in a previous interview that passing the bill in Congress would take time before it will be processed, although she is hopeful that it will be enacted and implemented in 2022.  This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
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