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- Davao City to start vaccinating persons with comorbidities on May 31
- Justice sought for slain barangay captain
- Igacos mayor, Davao Oriental guv test positive for coronavirus
- Quarantine, isolation facilities in Davao in 'critical' levels; ICU beds at SPMC fully occupied
- No ECQ in Davao City
- New Netflix shows to watch this June
- Five Davao del Sur coffee farmers win in coffee competition
- Finding solace in isolation
- A tribute to Kiksbrown
| Davao City to start vaccinating persons with comorbidities on May 31 Posted: 26 May 2021 08:34 AM PDT AFTER vaccinating residents under the A2 priority list or senior citizens, the City Health Office (CHO) said they will officially open vaccination hubs for A3 priority list or those with comorbidities on Monday, May 31, 2021. "By Monday, we're going to open up already group A3. So we will cater to people with comorbidities. Under group A3, manginahanglan ta og medical certification and clearance gikan sa inyong private and government physician," said Dr. Ashley Lopez, CHO acting head, in an interview with Davao City Disaster Radio Wednesday, May 26. Qualified under the A3 priority group are those aged 18 to 59 years old with existing health conditions such as chronic respiratory disease, cardiovascular disease, chronic kidney disease, cerebrovascular disease, hypertension, malignancy, diabetes, obesity, chronic liver disease, neurologic disease, and immunodeficiency state, among others. According to Lopez, those who fall under this category and would want to be vaccinated can register at the nearest health centers. The City Government of Davao Facebook page posted on Tuesday, May 25, that those who wish to register can do so via Davao City vaccination hotlines 0961-073-4965 (Smart) or 0927-022-9087 (Globe). Lopez clarified that the patient must seek certification from their private or public physician to make sure their condition is stable. "We will only cater to comorbidities with stable conditions. I-control sa nato atong blood pressure and blood sugar (Let's control our blood pressure and blood sugar first). You have to take your medicines seriously," he said. The medical certificate, medicine prescription, hospital records (discharge summary or medical abstract), or surgical records and pathology reports must have been released not exceeding 18 months for it to be valid. Despite the vaccination schedule still for senior citizens, various vaccination hubs, such as SM Lanang Premier, have already inoculated a few non-senior citizens with comorbidities. When asked about this, Dr. Lopez said these might be those who walked in as appointments have yet to be accepted. "Mga nag-walk in siguro. Basin gi-accomodate na lang samtang naa pay bakuna for humanitarian purposes. (Maybe these are the walk-ins. Maybe they were accommodated by the personnel while there are still vaccines available for humanitarian purposes.) As much as possible, we don't want to disappoint the people pero may limitation po (but there is a limitation)," he said.  This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Justice sought for slain barangay captain Posted: 26 May 2021 08:31 AM PDT COLLEAGUES, friends, and family of Barangay Captain Roderico Llubit, more known as "Tata Llubit" of Brgy. 9-A, Poblacion, Davao City, remember the latter's dedication in his work as a village chairman who always puts his constituents' best interest first before his. Llubit was shot dead by unidentified assailants around 8 p.m. on Tuesday, May 25, 2021, at his residence. Following his death, Davao City First District Representative Paolo Duterte and Bartna Captain January Duterte of Catalunan Grande issued a P300,000 reward to any person who has information on the suspect/s of Llubit's killing. It was learned that after Llubit had his dinner, he went to his veranda to feed his cats when the suspect/s, who was waiting for him, shot him. According to Llubit's neighbors, multiple shots were heard, which resulted in his instantaneous death. Davao City Police Office (DCPO) Director Police Colonel Kirby John Kraft personally went to the crime scene and ordered the San Pedro Police Station to dig deeper into the incident to solve the crime at the soonest possible time. Based on the initial investigation of DCPO, the killing of Llubit may have to do with the planned demolition at Purok 10, Barangay 9-A. "Investigation further revealed that the motive of the incident might have something to do with the ongoing land dispute in the area of Purok 10, Muslim Village, San Rafael, Brgy. 9-A, Davao City, wherein the landowner designated the victim to negotiate with the squatters to self-demolish their structure. However, only half of the squatters agree to self-demolish with compensation, while half of them resisted and got angry with the victim," DCPO said in a statement. Police authorities continue to investigate the incident. Meanwhile, Llubit's family is calling for justice. Llubit was known as a Davao City barangay captain who led in implementing peace and order in his jurisdiction. Before he became the barangay captain, Llubit was a barangay police (tanod) and was voted and served as a barangay councilor for a long time. He remained single and was helping his family until his death. He was among the barangay captains who was always interviewed by the press for his accomplishments in the peace and order program in the barangay.  This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Igacos mayor, Davao Oriental guv test positive for coronavirus Posted: 26 May 2021 08:31 AM PDT TWO local chief executives in Davao Region confirmed that they have tested positive for the Covid-19 virus. In a statement on Tuesday afternoon, May 25, Davao Oriental Governor Nelson Dayanghirang announced that he and his wife, Nanette Dayanghirang, tested positive for the virus. The governor said they received the results on Monday, May 24, and both of them immediately self-isolated. "Gikasubo nako nga ipahibalo kaninyo nga nagpositive ko ug ang akong kapikas sa [Covid]-19. Nadawat nako ang result niadtong May 24, human mi magpa swab test niadtong May 23 sa dihang nibati mi ug mild nga kalintura sugod niadtong May 19," Dayanghirang said. (I am deeply sad to inform you that I and my wife tested positive for the Covid-19 virus. I received the results last May 24 after undergoing a swab test on May 23, after we started experiencing mild fever starting on May 19.) The governor said they still have mild fever and are experiencing other mild symptoms of Covid-19, but they are under close monitoring for treatment, contact tracing, and testing. The governor also called on those who were in close contact with him last week to undergo self-quarantine and to follow health protocols while awaiting instructions. "Isip usa ka frontliner, makaingon ta nga normal lang kini apan mao kini ang realidad nga giatubang sa akong pamilya sa pagka-karon," he said. (As a frontliner, we can say that this is just normal, but this is the reality that our family is facing right now.) Island Garden City of Samal (Igacos) Mayor Al David Uy on Wednesday afternoon, May 26, also confirmed in a statement that he also tested positive for the coronavirus. "I am asymptomatic and now in isolation," Uy said. The mayor also encouraged all his close contacts since last week to submit themselves for testing at the City Health Office. "Rest assured that the City Mayor's Office and the rest of the City Government of Samal will continue to function while I am isolated," Uy said. Department of Health-Davao Region (DOH-Davao) Director Dr. Annabelle Yumang said in a virtual presser on Monday, May 24, that the entire region is under a surge after it reached the 2,000-mark of Covid-19 active cases, which was last recorded in February this year. Yumang attributed the complacency of some in observing the minimum health protocols as a major factor to the increase in Covid-19 cases. Based on the DOH-Davao data as of May 25, Davao Region had a total of 26,413 cases, with 2,072 active cases, 23,268 recoveries, and 1,073 deaths.  This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Quarantine, isolation facilities in Davao in 'critical' levels; ICU beds at SPMC fully occupied Posted: 26 May 2021 08:31 AM PDT ASIDE from the state-owned Southern Philippines Medical Center (SPMC), Davao City's Covid-19 quarantine and isolation facilities are almost "critical" with a high occupancy rate of nearly 60 percent because of the recent increase in Covid-19 cases in the city. City Health Office (CHO) Acting Head Dr. Ashley Lopez said in a radio interview on Wednesday, May 26, that almost 60 percent out of the 17 facilities have been occupied and classified as a moderate risk level. Once it reaches 70 percent and above, Lopez said it will fall under the critical level. Lopez said they had started to reopen some unoccupied temporary treatment and monitoring facilities (TTMFs) to cater to the high number of new cases lately. Prior to the surge, he said the City's TTMF and isolation facility occupancy is at an average of 15 to 20-percent occupancy. The health official said they are trying to prevent the possibility of having confirmed Covid-19 patients going on home quarantining, similar to what happened in Metro Manila due to the exhaustion of health care facilities. Lopez said close contacts who will test negative in the reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test are allowed to go under home quarantine. SPMC Chief Dr. Ricardo Audan said in a recent interview that the hospital has experienced an uptick in admitted patients. As of May 25, all 35 of the ICU beds designated for Covid-19 patients at SPMC were occupied, while 254 of 292 of the ward beds were occupied. Audan said both bed utilization rates were under "critical" state. They are now asking private hospitals to start admitting critical and severe Covid-19 patients. Lopez also confirmed that SPMC's bed occupancy is currently "overwhelmed." "Ang ICU beds, gamay ra kaayo gi-allocate for now, pero puno-puno pirmi. (ICU beds have few allocations for now, but they are always fully occupied.) So we are overwhelmed right now with patients," he said in an interview on 87.5 FM Davao City Disaster Radio. Lopez said some private hospitals are gradually admitting Covid-19 patients. However, he said no hospitals are still capable of achieving the 20-percent allocation of their total beds for Covid-19 patients. "Dapat gani pag under surge, 30 percent ang participation sa atong private hospitals (During when its an under surge, bed allocation for private hospitals must be at 30 percent) but unfortunately, dili pa na nila ma-acquire (they cannot acquire for now) because we have some technical human resource issues," Lopez said. The official said the city government is already augmenting additional support and resources to the private hospital's needs to cater to more patients. These include financial and technical support, ventilators, and additional manpower. He added that the city has already set aside appropriations to be given to each private hospital that will be catering to Covid-19 patients. "Hinaut nga puhon, ato na silang (We are hoping that in the coming days)... this will boost our allocated Covid[-19] beds from the private hospitals. For now, nagadaghan ang (there is an increase of) admission," Lopez said. Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio said in a radio interview on Monday, May 24, that she was prompted to tap private hospitals to reopen their admissions due to the recent situation at SPMC. "We are not comfortable with what is happening right now because naa nay pasyente atong mga (there are now admitted patients in) private hospitals. And we hope nga ma-flatten nato ni nga curve (to flatten the curve)," Duterte-Carpio said in an interview on 87.5 FM Davao City Disaster Radio. Based on the May 25 data of the Department of Health-Davao Region, Davao City had a total of 16,101 confirmed Covid-19 cases, with 1,111 active cases, 14,251 recoveries, and 739 deaths.  This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Posted: 26 May 2021 08:24 AM PDT DAVAO City is not shifting back to enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) anytime soon, the City Health Office (CHO) clarified in response to several online posts. "Davao City is still under general community quarantine, and that will be effective until the end of the month. Depende na... Ang assessment, magdepende na sa IATF. So dili ang LGU [local government unit] ang nagabuot sa LGU Risk Classification sa usa ka lugar or isa ka syudad or probinsya (The assessment will depend upon the IATF. An LGU has no control over the LGU Risk Classification that will be classified on a certain city or province)," CHO Acting Head Dr. Ashley Lopez said in an interview on 87.5 FM Davao City Disaster Radio on Wednesday morning, May 27. Lopez said Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio can only make a recommendation but the final decision on what quarantine status the city will be placed in will be coming from the IATF. Based on the previous recommendation from the Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF), Davao City is still under general community quarantine (GCQ) until May 31. Social media posts have been circulating that Davao City will be placed under ECQ after the city government of General Santos City announced that it will revert to GCQ from modified GCQ (MGCQ) effective Tuesday, 25 May, until June 30, 2021. Lopez said the viral online posts may also be in response to the recent surge the city is currently experiencing after some months. "Maybe katong mga ga-post ana sa Facebook, nanghinaot lang na sila. (Maybe those who are posting this one on Facebook are expecting this.) They have worries... probably aware sila nga gasaka ang atong kaso, and they wish... pero hindi po 'yun ganon kadali (probably they are aware of the current surge of cases, but it is not that easy to elevate to a stricter classification)," he said, adding that several factors must be considered before placing the entire city under a strict quarantine status. "We have to consider not only health issues here, but we also have to consider economic factors. Ang atong gobyerno naay limitasyon sa pag-provide og (The government has a limitation in providing) goods and services for our people," Lopez added. Davao City has been under GCQ since November 20, 2020 after the city experienced an uptick of active Covid-19 cases beginning mid-October last year until January 2021. During that period, the city's active cases reached a peak of 2,500. The city experienced a downtrend of cases beginning the first week of February this year. However, the GCQ status in the city remains as of writing. Davao City was placed under ECQ during the early days of the pandemic from April to May 15, 2020. The city was then under GCQ from May 16 to June 30. The city went down to MGCQ from July 1 to November 19, 2020. Duterte-Carpio, in her previous interviews and video address, said the city cannot afford to go back to ECQ. She did not disregard the possibility of the city going back to ECQ if minimum health protocols will continue to be neglected. The mayor attributed the current surge to mass gatherings and complacency in observing minimum health protocols. Meanwhile, President Rodrigo Duterte is set to announce the latest IATF quarantine status before the end of May.  This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| New Netflix shows to watch this June Posted: 26 May 2021 08:15 AM PDT HAVE you watched all the films and series launched by Netflix in May? I know you're not supposed to finish all those in one month but if you did, Netflix should be giving you an award. That's an achievement! Anyway, June is fast approaching. This means new titles to watch out for on Netflix. If you're looking for another set of movies and series to enjoy and binge-watch, here's what I recommend: Trese (Anime) Set in Manila where mythical creatures of Philippine folklore hide amongst humans, Alexandra Trese goes head-to-head with a criminal underworld. This features the voice of Filipina actress Liza Soberano. Launch Date: June 11 Lupin: Part 2 (Series) Pursued by Hubert and his henchmen, Assane scrambles to find Raoul and wins an unlikely new ally as he draws up a grand plan to reveal Hubert's crimes. Launch Date: June 11 Maledicto (Film) After a tragic event, a brilliant psychiatrist becomes an exorcist and teams up with a clairvoyant nun to help a possessed teenager. This stars actor Tom Rodriguez. Launch Date: June 3 Fatherhood (Film) After the sudden death of his wife, a new father (Kevin Hart) takes on the toughest job in the world: parenthood. Based on a true story of loss and love. Launch Date: June 18 Sweet Tooth (Series) On a perilous adventure across a post-apocalyptic world, a lovable boy who's half-human and half-deer searches for a new beginning with a gruff protector. Launch Date: June 4 Sweet & Sour (Film) Faced with real-world opportunities and challenges, a couple endures the highs and lows of trying to make a long-distance relationship survive. Launch Date: June 4 Elite: Season 4 (Series) A strict principal and four new students arrive at Las Encinas, bringing an onslaught of romantic entanglements, intense rumors and a fresh mystery. Launch Date: June 18 The World's Most Amazing Vacation Rentals (Series) On a budget, ready to splurge or just need someplace new? Three travelers visit short-term rentals around the globe and share tips for terrific stays. Launch Date: June 18  This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Five Davao del Sur coffee farmers win in coffee competition Posted: 26 May 2021 06:45 AM PDT FIVE coffee farmers from the Balutakay Coffee Farmers Cooperative (Bacofa) in Balutakay, Bansalan, Davao del Sur were among the winners in the Arabica Category of the Philippine Coffee Quality Competition (PCQC). During the virtual awarding on May 26, 2021, Marites Arellano's natural processed coffee beans, which are of the catimor varietal, scored an average score of 85.86, placing first in the Arabica category. The coffee has notes of peach, guava, chocolate, apricot, and almond. "This is a very gentle coffee and is quite a fruit bomb. Moving away from the typical spice notes and typical nutty and tobacco notes from a Philippine coffee. Quite an outlier," said Shaun Ong, International and Head Judge of PCQC 2021. Ong, who is the head trainer at Bettr Coffee Academy in Singapore, described Arellano's coffee as "phenomenal." "For where the coffee bean came from, a catimor, this speaks a lot to the efforts that you have put in in your processing," Ong said. Arellano attributes her feat to openness to new technologies in coffee farming, harvesting, and processing. "If you see coffee farming as a business, there should always be that eagerness to learn and expose yourself to various technologies from the experts," she said. Arellano is just one of the many coffee farmers who sought the assistance of various agencies to improve their coffee production. The Department of Agriculture in Davao Region (DA-Davao) is one of the agencies that provided substantial assistance through the High Value Crops Development Program's (HVCDP) Coffee Rejuvenation Project. The project has provided a package of assistance which includes close release fertilizer, pruning shears and pruning saw for its coffee rejuvenation program and post-harvest and processing facilities such as tramline system, dryers, a roasting facility, hauling truck, and mini-storage. Placing second are natural-processed coffee beans of Lendilou Loon. Her beans scored an average of 85.07. It had notes of orange, caramel, pecan, sugar cane, dark chocolate, and peanuts. "Very sweet. In this case, nutty and chocolatey. Moving away from the usual spicy notes that we have been getting," Ong said. Jastine Mae Dubria's natural processed coffee beans scored an average of 84.71 and placed third. The coffee had notes of jasmine, brown sugar, milk chocolate, figs, orange, lime, banana, and hazelnut. "The top three arabica are easily some of the best Arabicas I have tasted from the Philippines," Ong said. On the fourth spot is the honey processed coffee beans of Marifel dela Cerna. Her coffee beans scored an average of 84.64 and had notes of dark chocolate, orange peel, cacao nibs, and capsicum. Placing sixth are the honey processed beans coming from Maria Luz Dubria that scored an average of 83.07. It had notes of caramel, orange peel, cinnamon, almond, black tea, and lemon. Meanwhile, the fifth placer are the washed processed coffee beans of George Dapliyan from Sagada, Moutain Province. His coffee beans had an average score of 84.36 with notes of roasted peanuts, lemon, orange, tangerine, and pomelo. The PCQC is a coffee competition of Philippine origin submitted by farmers and entities engaged in coffee farming. It seeks to increase the consciousness of Filipino farmers on coffee quality and enhance their competitiveness in the domestic and international markets. Based on PCQC standards, coffee beans must have at least a grade of 80 percent to be considered a specialty coffee. The closer to 100 a coffee sample gets, the more likely it will command a higher price and increased demand from specialty rosters. Cherry Cruz, chief executive officer of the Barista and Coffee Academy of Asia and PCQC TWG chairperson, said a total of 103 entries were submitted in this year's PCQC. This was an increase from the 72 entries in 2020. She said the coffee beans from Visayas and Luzon were assessed and graded in Metro Manila. A total of 55 entries were graded from the two island groups and included 12 Arabica, 42 Robusta, and one Excelsa. A total of 48 entries from Mindanao, which included 19 Arabica entries, 27 Robusta, and two Excelsa, were assessed and graded in Mindanao. "In the PCQC, we put value and emphasis on the importance of quality coffee relative to consumer safety, market trust, value-adding, and ultimately, sustained livelihood of our stakeholders. It plays a very important role in achieving the goals and objectives of the Philippine Coffee Industry Roadmap," Myrna Pablo, National Coffee Cluster coordinator and Department of Trade and Industry-Cordillera Administrative Region director, said. (RJL with DA-Davao)  This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Posted: 26 May 2021 06:44 AM PDT IN THE long hours of doing homework or doing nothing at all in this pandemic, it feels like we are isolated from the rest of the world and even from the people in our homes, but a simple "how are you?" can mean so much and get someone back on track. The Philippines has been in lockdown for more than a year now. Just as we thought things are getting better, we see another surge in cases in the country, and new stringent rules that limit socialization are being implemented again. Some people struggle to cope with the isolation that they drown from pools of anxiety, uncertainty, and depression. According to the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), suicide incidents in the country rose to 25.7 percent in 2020 during the pandemic. We may have been disconnected physically by Covid-19, but the use of social media has brought us closer with a few press and clicks. However, even with the help of modern technology, it is difficult to reconnect or reach out to our friends thinking they probably have their own battles to fight with the pandemic. But if you can manage to help and reach out, typing a short "How are you doing?", "I hope you're doing good" can save lives and bring solace to those who feel isolated from the world. This is not the time to test friendships because all of us struggle in ways more than one, especially these times. But this is the time to offer help when we can. To reach out when we can reach out. To bring comfort when can offer comfort. According to an article from Beyond Blue, an Australian charity organization, there are 3 easy ways to check on someone in this pandemic. First, ask. Some people may not be comfortable with opening up or receiving advice at times. Hence, it is essential to ask if they are okay with it. Second, listen. Listening is just as crucial as saying something. If your friend knows that you are listening intently, they will feel more comfortable opening up and are more open to receiving help. Lastly, support. The last thing we want to make our friends feel in this pandemic is being invalidated or ignored, especially when they start feeling better. The best way we can do is to support in the best way possible. The pandemic may have brought the worst to our country. Still, there is hope that with each "Kumusta ka?" we can bring out the best in our humanity by offering solace in isolation.  This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Posted: 26 May 2021 06:41 AM PDT "I REMEMBER his passion for cooking, his love for food and the joy of having to share the home-cooked meals with family and friends," lawyer Peter Paul Tombo vividly remembers his father, the late Kiko Tombo. To honor their father, Popong and his sister Mona Lorraine have opened up a small home-based kitchen enterprise specializing in gourmet food. He says it is a cuisine-on-demand concept, where products are prepared only if an order has been placed. "That way we assure our customers of the quality of what they had ordered," says Popong who is a fiscal officer assigned to Davao City. The Kiksbrown Project, the name of their enterprise is derived from "Kiksbrown" the moniker given by friends to Kiko. "Kiks for Kiko and brown for his skin complexion," Popong recalls his father's nickname. The brush-stroked logo of a dragonfly created by Popong's colleague lawyer Ritzel Polinar, serves as a visual reminder of his father. DragonFly was the radio code for his policeman father and his siblings during various public events in the city, where they were in charge of traffic management and logistics. As Popong inherited his father's culinary genes, he went for additional schooling to expand his expertise in the kitchen. "I took fundamentals in baking and fundamentals in cooking at the Pastry Arts Academy of the Philippines." In April this year, they launched Ravi Artisanal Brioche. In their first product, Popong transformed the well-loved ensaymada into an artisanal masterpiece. Using premium ingredients, the specially baked soft, buttery and fluffy buns are stuffed with creamy and velvety ube halaya, topped with frosting that consists of Popong's signature buttercream and sprinkled with a fine selection of gourmet cheese. Named after Mona's three-year-old son Ravi, the brioches are selling well, they are fully booked with orders every week. Popong says they are planning to introduce more gourmet dishes like its savory line of brioches and specialty food trays like Paella, Callos Madrileña, Lengua in Mushroom Sauce and Beef Salpicao. In the busy days their mother Dina pitches in to help. "When you cook, do it with reckless abandon." Because for me, there are no hard and fast rules in cooking. What is important is to be passionate about it - abandon any judgment and pour a copious amount of love into it," says Popong of his culinary endeavor. Popong and Mona, who work at a government financial institution, juggle their time between their regular jobs and The Kiksbrown Project. The work at the kitchen is hard, but the Tombo siblings know that it isn't just work, for it is love, it is about family. You can visit their The Kiksbrown Project at Facebook (facebook.com/TheKiksbrownProject)  This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
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