Monday, March 29, 2021

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Davao's oldest hotel temporarily ceases operations

Posted: 29 Mar 2021 05:47 AM PDT

APO View Hotel announced on Sunday, March 28, that it will temporarily cease operations.

"As the risk of the pandemic is continuously rising, the management has decided to temporarily cease its operation effective March 31, 2021 until further notice as we continue to support the nation's effort to combat the spread of Covid-19," the hotel management said in a statement.

"It has been our pleasure to serve you and we can't wait to open our doors and welcome you all again," the hotel management added.

When the pandemic struck in 2020 and the city implemented a community quarantine in March of the same year, the hotel announced that it will be temporarily closed to the public on March 19, 2020.

The hotel also allotted 50 rooms for frontliners working at the Southern Philippines Medical Center during the early months of the pandemic.

The hotel reopened in August 2020 when restrictions were eased in Davao City.

Founded in 1948, the Apo View Hotel was Davao City's first hotel. At 72 years old, the hotel was the second longest-running hotel in the Philippines.

In 2013, the management of Apo View Hotel was transferred to Eurotel Hotel. In 2016, management of the hotel was transferred to Icon Hotel. Both firms are under the Global Comfort Group Corporation (GCGC), which has around 65 different hotels distributed nationwide.

Since the new management came in, some P280 million has been invested in upgrading the hotel's facilities, refurbishing existing rooms, and constructing new rooms.

During the relaunch of the Apo View Hotel in 2017, the new management also planned to put up three towers at the back of the hotel. These were planned to be residential and office buildings.

The 156-room hotel is the second major hotel in Davao City to have announced that it will temporarily cease operations amid the pandemic.

In 2020, Marco Polo Hotel Davao indefinitely ceased its hotel operations on June 15, 2020.

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Duterte-Carpio gets reports of non-health workers jumping vaccine line

Posted: 29 Mar 2021 05:44 AM PDT

DAVAO City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio said she has received reports of non-health workers jumping the vaccination line in the city.

This comes after local government officials and other non-medical workers were reported to have cut in line for the Covid-19 vaccine.

But Duterte-Carpio said she did not receive reports of local officials.

"Local officials, wala, pero duna tay nakuha na mga reports, and confirmed sila nga duna mga nabakunahan sa mga vaccine centers nga wala sa 1-A (We have not received reports of local officials. But we received confirmed reports that there are individuals who have been inoculated in vaccine centers that are not part of 1-A)," the mayor said in an interview on 87.5 FM Davao City Disaster Radio on Monday, March 29.

Group A-1 includes those frontline workers in health facilities both national and local, private and public, health professionals and non-professionals like students in health and allied professions courses with clinical responsibilities, nursing aides, janitors, barangay health workers, etc.

This is in accordance with the issued Department of Health (DOH) Memorandum 2021-0099 on February 23, 2021, providing the Interim Guidelines for the Implementation of the National Vaccine Development Plan for Covid-19.

Upon learning, Duterte-Carpio said it is unacceptable.

"Dili na siya OK. Naa gani ta'y (That is not OK. There is a reason why we have a) priority list," she said.

The mayor said she does not have the figure of those who skipped the line and their background.

"Pero ang nahatag sa akoa is (What was given to me is) one name and his companion," she said.

Duterte-Carpio said she no longer asked why and how these individuals got to jump in line, and she told the city's vaccine cluster to strictly observe the priority list.

"Wala nako mangutana unsa ang rason ngano nakasingit, the fact lang nga naa nay nakasingit, giingnan dayon nako nga (I was not able to ask how they were able to cut the line but the fact that they were able to cut the line, I told our vaccination team that) we have a priority list and it was given to us by the national government. Sundon nato para sa atong (We should follow our) vaccination program. We have to strictly follow our priority list," she said.

Prior to the mayor's statement, the issue was already raised by some netizens whose post went viral.

One netizen, who requested anonymity, told SunStar Davao that some doctors let their personal maid and drivers be included in the vaccination, resulting in some frontliners not receiving the vaccine.

He said this happened in a private hospital in the city, where 150 medical frontliners were supposed to be inoculated within the day. But it ended inoculating more than the initial target.

"So ung mga na schedule the next day, di na nabigyan..ang sinabi sa mga di nabigyan, hintay na lang daw sa next batch kasi naubos na daw. Nagtataka sila bakit naubos (What happened is that those scheduled the next day weren't able to avail themselves of the vaccine. They were told to wait for the next batch because they ran out of supply. They were wondering how the vaccine ran out) when in the first place, nabigyan sila nang (there was already a given) schedule," he said in an online interview via Messenger.

Most of those who were not able to receive the vaccine are nurses, he said.

He added they no longer complained because they might not be given the vaccine once the next batch arrives.

He urged the local government to investigate and check the list of vaccinated individuals to determine those non-frontliners who were inoculated ahead.

DOH-Davao Director Annabelle Yumang said in a virtual presser on March 24 that they have not received reports or complaints of medical workers whose family members were also included in the vaccination.

But Yumang said they are constantly monitoring and reminding those in-charge in vaccine sites to strictly abide by the prioritization list.

"Ensure nga ang mahatagan sa atong bakuna (They must ensure that those who will be vaccinated) are those in the masterlist," she said.

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11,000 nabbed for violating face mask ordinance

Posted: 29 Mar 2021 05:42 AM PDT

MORE than a year after the Covid-19 hit Davao City, the City Government reminded Dabawenyos once again of the mandatory wearing of face masks following an increase in the number of violators apprehended, which rose to more than 11,000.

Public Safety and Security Command Center (PSSCC) head Angel Sumagaysay said they already apprehended a total of 11,067 as of March 27, 2021.

Sumagaysay said a total of 1,140 individuals were apprehended during the week from March 20 to 27, bringing the total apprehended individuals to 11,067 since the City Government imposed the mandatory wearing of face masks in May 2020.

"The security sector will continue intensifying its apprehensions for those who do not follow health protocols," Sumagaysay said.

Ordinance 0307-20 or the Face Mask Ordinance took effect on July 23, 2020, and was amended through Ordinance 0416-20 to strengthen the enforcement of the ordinance at the barangay level.

Section 3 of the ordinance states that all persons shall, at all times, wear face masks in public places during the Community Quarantine and/or until after the State of Public Health Emergency is lifted as part of the precautionary and safety measures adopted by the City Government against Covid-19 to control and prevent the transmission of such infectious disease.

The ordinance also penalizes those who are not wearing their face masks properly and those using the wrong type of face masks.

Under the ordinance, violators will be fined P500 for the first offense, P2,000 for the second offense, and P5,000 fine or one-month imprisonment or both for the third offense.

Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio had also reiterated her call to strictly follow the health protocols, especially the wearing of face masks, as it is the most basic weapon against Covid-19.

"Kanang mask, basic gyud na siya karong panahona sa Covid-19 kay tungod ang kagaw naa siya diha sa laway, ma-inhale siya, posible matakdan ang isa ka tawo. Kinahanglan nga dili ta makatakod, dili pud ta matakdan so ang buhaton nato is tabunan nato ang atoang baba ug ilong (The wearing of a mask is basic in this time of Covid-19 pandemic because the virus is present in the saliva. So whenever another person will inhale it, he or she will be infected. We should not spread the virus and we should not be infected so we need to cover our mouth and nose)," the mayor said in an interview on 87.5 FM Davao City Disaster Radio on Monday, March 29.

Aside from wearing of face mask, the mayor also reminded to follow other basic health protocols such as physical distancing and frequent handwashing with soap and water. (With reports from CIO)

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Mayor bars City workers from joining out-of-town 'Run, Sara Run' campaign

Posted: 29 Mar 2021 05:39 AM PDT

DAVAO City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio barred all government employees, including barangay officials, from joining any out-of-town political activities prodding her to run this 2022 election.

Duterte-Carpio issued Executive Order (EO) 17 or "an order prohibiting all government personnel including barangay officials to join any political activities for Sara Duterte outside of Davao City."

"All government personnel, including barangay officials, are prohibited to join any political activity for Sara Duterte outside of Davao City. Activity shall mean to include caravan, meeting, rally, parade, program and all other forms of gathering," Section 1 of the EO states.

The mayor reasoned that traveling for non-essential reasons, including caravan, is banned "because of the danger it poses to the health of the traveler."

She added that traveling in areas with high Covid-19 cases poses great possibility that they will be infected.

"Non-essential travel for political activities gathers people together which increases the risk of transmission," Duterte-Carpio.

She said "government personnel should focus on the Response, Vaccination and Recovery action plan of Davao City for the Covid-19 pandemic."

In an interview with 87.5 FM Davao City Disaster Radio, the mayor said the EO does not have corresponding fines or penalties as it is only an executive order, and that only the 19th City Council can impose penalties.

But she said those who will insist to join and travel outside Davao will be required to be quarantined at the city's facility upon arrival, unlike the regular air passengers who will no longer be required to undergo a 14-day quarantine.

She also said her order is only limited to the members of the "Run, Sara, Run" conveners while those from other political parties will not be prevented.

"Kung ang isa ka tao naa siya (But if you have a) political activity [nga] totally unrelated sa tao na si (that is totally unrelated or affiliated to) Sara Duterte, you have the freedom to do so," Duterte-Carpio said.

The mayor said a total of 43 individuals, including city barangay officials, who participated in the nationwide campaign, already arrived in the city.

She said they are currently under quarantine at the city's facility and they are already scheduled for a swab test.

The mayor said another batch of caravan participants composed of 20 individuals are also set to arrive in the city.

In a previous report, prior to their flight to Metro Manila on March 17, the mayor said she met with them and discouraged them from joining in the caravan due to the rising Covid-19 cases in the area.

Despite her reminder and appeal, she said the officials still continued with their planned activity.

Duterte-Carpio had been distancing from the calls for her to run for the presidency and even barred her supporters in the city from staging motorcades and ordered for the removal of tarpaulins, posters, and billboards with the text "Run, Sara, Run" in the city.

Despite this, she expressed gratitude to those who are calling on her to run for the presidency in the 2022 elections.

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Duterte-Carpio orders closure of beach, other resorts on April 1-4

Posted: 29 Mar 2021 05:30 AM PDT

DAVAO City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio ordered the closure of all beaches, beach resorts, and other inland water resorts in the city from April 1 to 4, 2021.

Duterte-Carpio signed and issued Executive Order (EO) 19 on Monday, March 29.

Most offices and establishments are closed during these dates in observance of Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, Black Saturday, and Easter Sunday.

"There is a need to prevent mass gathering in beaches and inland water resorts during the long holiday weekend for Holy Week," the mayor said.

The order will take effect from 12:01 a.m. on April 1 until 11:59 p.m. on April 4.

During this period, the abovementioned establishments are prohibited from operating and catering to tourists.

She added the Davao City Covid-19 Task Force is working on preventing a second wave of a surge in Covid-19 cases in the city.

The mayor also said, "There have been successive incidents of minors in violation of the general community quarantine (GCQ) who drowned while swimming in bodies of water."

Recently, two minors drowned and died at the fishpond in South Pacific Golf and Residential Estates in Barangay Catalunan Pequeño. The bodies of the drowning victims were recovered on March 24, 2021, Wednesday, around 2:50 p.m. Based on the investigation of Baliok Police Station, three minors went through the fence to swim in the fishpond.

Duterte-Carpio said "there is a need to prevent these incidents during the long holiday."

Meanwhile, in a radio interview, the mayor said Dabawenyos who will go to beaches and resorts outside the city will not be prohibited but reminded them to stay home this Holy Week and reschedule their travel as an influx of tourists are also expected in these areas.

"Dili man makaabot atong executive order gawas sa (Since our executive order is only limited within) Davao City. We can only remind them nga remember, ang mass gathering ang rason ngano paspas ang takdanay sa (that mass gathering is one of the main reasons why there is a widespread transmission of) Covid-19," Duterte-Carpio said in an interview on 87.5 FM Davao City Disaster Radio.

Recently, the mayor said they are preventing a possible surge of cases in the city, as experienced in some areas in the country, such as Metro Manila and Cebu City, due to reported transmission of the "infectious" new variants.

The city recently reimposed the "test before travel" policy for air travelers going to the city, and the extension of the 24-hour liquor ban and 9 p.m. to 4 a.m. curfew until May 31.

City Health Office Acting Head Dr. Ashley Lopez had also warned of a possible surge of cases this Holy Week if churchgoers will neglect the observance of minimum health protocols.

The Archdiocese of Davao recently announced that all Lenten activities will be limited to masses and that all religious activities outside churches, including processions, will be skipped this year to prevent mass gathering.

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Davao Oriental issues stricter guidelines for Holy Week

Posted: 28 Mar 2021 06:50 AM PDT

THE Provincial Government of Davao Oriental will continue to implement strict measures for those who intend to visit the province in observance of the Holy Week.

Davao Oriental Governor Nelson Dayanghirang issued Executive Order (EO) No. 7 series of 2021 on Saturday, March 27, 2021, imposing Covid-19 interim guidelines in the province during the Lenten season.

The EO stated, "there is a need to keep up with the current Covid-19 trends relative to the constantly evolving situation that the country is facing."

The EO said the province is imposing tight protocols in anticipation of the surge of tourists and travelers during the Holy Week.

Only authorized persons outside residence ages 15 to 65 years old will be allowed to enter the province.

The use of Davao Oriental Digital Contact Tracing System (DavOr DCTS) Quick Response Code will be strictly imposed at all entry points of the province.

"The province shall strictly impose a 'no QR code, no entry policy' across all border points of Davao Oriental," the EO stated.

All tourism establishments were also mandated to strictly implement the "no booking, no entry" policy.

The provincial government also said it will close all pilgrimage sites such as those found in Pintatagan Welcome Park, Dakong Krus in Governor Generoso, among others, for the duration of Holy Week from March 29 to April 4.

All activities related to the Lenten season will also be conducted within their respective churches.

Meanwhile, the provincial government also placed control measures against the new Covid-19 variants.

The EO mandated all travelers coming in from the National Capital Region (NCR) and other areas with detected new variants, including returning overseas Filipinos (ROFs) and local travelers planning to stay longer than five days in the province to stay at home for seven days with surveillance screening.

All asymptomatic ROFs and local travelers will be put on active surveillance. In case symptoms will occur during the surveillance period, they will be immediately isolated at the barangay isolation unit or any designated local isolation facility.

Dr. Reden Bersaldo, head of the Davao Oriental Provincial Task Force on Covid-19, said the province placed additional measures because they do not want to experience the "post-Holiday" surge just like they experienced after the recent celebration of Christmas and New Year.

Bersaldo said they experienced a peak active case of more than 200 in January and February this year.

He attributed this surge to eased border measures during the period.

"Paningkamutan nato nga dili na kini mausab karon Semana Santa (We will do our best that this surge won't happen again this Holy Week) because we are expecting nga daghan gayud mubisita sa atong probinsya sunod semana (there will be an influx of tourist who will visit the province next week)," the health official said.

He also said church masses and other activities should be confined inside church vicinities and must impose a maximum 50-percent capacity.

Based on the Department of Health-Davao Region data as of March 27, Davao Oriental had a total case of 1,316, with 36 active cases, 1,251 recoveries, and 29 deaths.

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Davao City eyes urban canopy in street islands, parks

Posted: 28 Mar 2021 06:49 AM PDT

DAVAO City will soon integrate urban canopy in its road islands and other areas after the city council passed on third and final reading the Treeline Ordinance.

The 19th City Council passed the ordinance integrating urban canopy in the city's traffic islands on highway roads and along pavements, parks, playgrounds, and areas of public right-of-way on March 2, which was proposed by Councilor Edgar Ibuyan Jr., committee chairperson on public works and highways.

Ibuyan said the ordinance, considered as the city's "landmark ordinance," encourages both government agencies and private contractors to integrate urban canopy in an aim to add more trees in the city's main road to add more shade to pedestrians and motorists.

Urban canopy, according to the US Center for Watershed Protection website, is the layer of leaves, branches, and stems of trees that cover the ground when viewed from above.

"Mainly, we are encouraging everyone, especially the government agencies such as the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and City Engineer's Office (CEO), na when times nga naa projects sa kalsada (that there will be road projects), we must integrate trees to lessen the heat index o ginabati nga init samtang gasubay sa atong kadalanan (or the heat we feel while traversing our roads)," the councilor said in an interview on 87.5 FM Davao City Disaster Radio.

Based on studies, he said the world's heat index has increased in recent years.

In order to minimize the heat index the people feel, the councilor said mounting treelines in the roads will be a big help.

He cited the treelines along Ecoland Drive in front of John Paull II College as an ideal theme of his proposed ordinance.

The councilor said pedestrians will also benefit from the project as it will provide shade along the road and entice the public to walk.

Ibuyan said the implementing agency of the ordinance will be the City Environment and Natural Resources Office (Cenro).

He added that they will decide on what trees to be planted in these areas.

"We are encouraging the [Cenro] nga at least katong mga punuan didto nga padak-an dako (that they plant bigger trees), at least to absorb the heat gikan sa kalsada (coming from the roads), and as we traverse those roads, dili kaayo init atong mabati sa ani nga lugara (we won't feel extreme heat in these areas)," he said.

He added the ordinance also targets to plant more trees in parks and playgrounds and highways.

Ibuyan also specifically included the Department of Public Works and Highways in the implementation of the ordinance to encourage them to include in their future infrastructure projects budget for the integration of trees along highways.

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Mati, outstanding coastal community in Davao

Posted: 28 Mar 2021 06:46 AM PDT

THE Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) named Mati City in Davao Oriental as an outstanding coastal community in the region.

BFAR held the awarding of the regional Malinis at Masaganang Karagatan (MMK) Search for Outstanding Coastal Community on Friday, March 26, 2021.

The MMK search, a banner program of Bfar, aims to recognize outstanding initiatives and contributions of coastal municipalities or cities to sustainable fisheries management.

It also aims to promote fisheries protection and conservation centers on the significance of sustainably managing the fisheries and aquatic resources and promotes stakeholder's engagement in the cause of resource protection and conservation.

One of its goals is to recognize outstanding initiatives and contributions of coastal municipalities/cities to sustainable fisheries management.

The contest has five general criteria: no illegal fishing, observance of the closed fishing season, the establishment of marine protected areas, clean coastal waters without domestic and industrial wastes, and effective mangrove protection and rehabilitation program.

Mati City Mayor Michelle Rabat received the P2-million cheque and plaque of recognition from BFAR during the awarding ceremony.

According to the mayor, the winning prize will be used for the continuing mangrove protection in Guang-Guang Mangrove Park and additional budget for the fisherfolks in Mati.

"This award recognizes our perseverance for fisheries protection and conservation and managing our aquatic resources. Next stop, nationals," she said.

With or without an award, Rabat said the city government remains committed to protecting the environment.

"Because the Mati City would not be where we are now without these abundant marine resources," she added.

Mati will automatically vie for the national level competition of MMK this year.

Meanwhile, the municipality of San Isidro, also in Davao Oriental, won second place and received P1 million plus plaque of recognition, and the Island Garden City of Samal (Igacos) in Davao del Norte, won third place with P500,000 cheque and plaque of recognition.

Tagum City and Municipality of Lupon also received a plaque of recognition for winning 4th and 5th place, respectively.

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DCWD offices closed on Apr 1, 2

Posted: 28 Mar 2021 06:45 AM PDT

IN VIEW of the declaration of April 1 and 2, 2021 as regular holidays in observance of Maundy Thursday and Good Friday, respectively, Davao City Water District (DCWD) has advised customers that its Matina, Bajada, and Toril offices, and SM Lanang Premier collection center are closed on said days and regular operations will resume on April 5, 2021.

No due dates for water bill payment falling on April 1 and 2, 2021.

DCWD's NCCC-VP Mall and Felcris Centrale collection centers remain closed until further notice.

Customers may pay water bills online via Landbank iAccess, Link.Biz Portal and GCash.

The DCWD management has assured the general public that the operations of its technical departments and 24/7 call center will not be disrupted to ensure continuous water service and offsite customer support.

For any concerns related to DCWD's services, customers may contact DCWD through the 244-6767, 235-3293 (DCWD), 0927-7988966, 0925-5113293, and 0908-4410653 hotlines or DCWD's website (www.davao-water.gov.ph) and temporary Facebook page (www.facebook.com/officialDCWD) chat support. (PR)

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