Monday, May 24, 2021

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Duterte-Carpio urges community pantry beneficiaries to self-isolate

Posted: 24 May 2021 05:34 AM PDT

DAVAO City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio encouraged those who have lined up in community pantries to self-isolate, as she revealed that a certain community pantry organizer is currently admitted in a hospital after testing positive for coronavirus.

Duterte-Carpio said on Monday, May 24, 2021, that the organizer is currently under critical condition and is at the intensive care unit (ICU).

The mayor declined to name the organizer or the location of the community pantry due to confidential matters.

She said that while the city lauds the goals of the community pantry, this might also pose risk to the people.

"Delikado pud gihapon ang community pantry (Community pantries are risky). Although this is laudable, ang gusto sa atong kaigsoonang Dabawenyos nga mutabang, but basin ang atong pagtabang pa hinuon ang mamahimong hinungdan nga naa'y taong mag-succumb or mamatay tungod sa Covid-19 (which is to help fellow Dabawenyos who are in need, but our intention of help might even result in their death because of Covid-19)," Duterte-Carpio said in an interview on 87.5 FM Davao City Disaster Radio.

She said community pantries are highly vulnerable to Covid-19 transmission due to convergence of people.

"Makaingon gyud ta nga dili safe ang distribution sa community pantries nato since ang primary feature sa Covid-19 is tao-to-tao. Kung kita tanan magtapok, mag-uban, mag-istoryahanay, close contact, mao gyud ni ang first love sa Covid-19 -- ang mga taong gatapok, mga taong ga-mass gathering (We can really say that distributions in community pantries are not safe since the nature of the Covid-19 virus is infecting to be infecting persons through gatherings and close contact, which is Covid-19's first love)," Duterte-Carpio said.

The mayor said they are still struggling to locate the people who converged in community pantries, considering they are uncertain if the organizers conducted Safe Davao QR (DQR) scanning or contact information listing.

"Otherwise, kung wala sila nag-keep og records, we will not know kinsa to (if they weren't able to keep records, we will not know who these people are)," she said.

With this, she reminded those who have visited a community pantry in the past weeks and are currently experiencing influenza-like illness (ILI) symptoms, such as headache, cough, colds, diarrhea, fever, and loss of smell and taste, to visit the city's swabbing center and have themselves tested.

Meanwhile, the mayor encouraged community pantries to do it door-to-door and in a contactless manner.

The mayor, however, did not mention if she will be issuing an executive order prohibiting community pantries in the city.

In a previous interview, Duterte-Carpio said the City Government will monitor various community pantries in the city to check if Covid-19 minimum health protocols are strictly observed.

Duterte-Carpio said that she already instructed the City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO) to check the implementation of community pantries in the city.

"Kung wala nama'y violation sa mga (If there is no committed violation in the) Covid-19 protocols, we do not have a problem with that," the mayor said in an interview on 87.5 FM Davao City Disaster Radio on April 19.

Duterte-Carpio had reminded community pantry organizers to properly coordinate with local authorities after the city ordered the dispersal of one pantry due to difficulty in implementing the physical distancing protocol given the large number of Dabawenyos who lined up for the goods.

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Mayor: Reimposing FM Pass, no movement Sundays possible

Posted: 24 May 2021 05:32 AM PDT

WITH the increase in active and new Covid-19 cases in Davao City, Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio said she is not ruling out the possibility of the reimplementation of the food and medicine (FM) pass and prohibiting all movements on Sundays.

"Dako na siya nga possibility (That is highly possible), which can be discussed sa level sa (on the level of the) Davao [City] Covid-19 Task Force," Duterte-Carpio said on Monday, May 24, in an interview on 87.5 FM Davao City Disaster Radio.

Her statement came after the city's active cases already reached more than 1,000, while the city's sole Covid-19 referral hospital, Southern Philippines Medical Center (SPMC), is already under "critical" level due to the increasing admission of severe and critical Covid-19 patients.

The mayor said the city will no longer issue new FM passes since the Vice Mayor's Office, through the barangays, distributed the new version of the passes prior to its suspension on March 15 this year.

The City temporarily suspended the implementation of Food and Medicine (FM) pass effective 12:01 a.m. of March 15, 2021, in accordance to Executive Order (EO) 12 Series of 2021.

Under section 17 of the said EO, FM pass and other documents for travel/movement are temporarily suspended. Establishments that previously require FM pass to access essential goods and services are now advised to look for Safe Davao QR (DQR) instead. This was implemented when the city experienced a downtrend of Covid-19 active cases in February.

Despite the decreasing active cases during that period, the mayor did not lift the implementation of the 9 p.m. to 4 a.m. curfew and the 24-hour liquor ban in a bid to prevent a second wave.

The mayor said the city, as of now, is not yet planning to make changes in its Covid-19 strategy.

She also said the heightened community surveillance and expanded and contact tracing will continue.

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DOH-Davao: Complacency drives Covid-19 cases up in Davao Region

Posted: 24 May 2021 05:32 AM PDT

AN OFFICIAL of the Department of Health (DOH)-Davao Region attributed the complacency of some in observing the minimum health protocols as a major factor to the increase in Covid-19 cases in the region.

In a virtual presser on Monday, May 24, DOH-Davao Director Dr. Annabelle Yumang cited gatherings and hospital exposure as the primary source of Covid-19 transmissions.

Yumang said based on their reports, physical distancing is not observed especially during meal time in offices and establishments, when the number of participants exceeds the set maximum limit, and when face masks and face shields are not being properly worn.

She also noted that there are also wide transmissions in hospitals due to exposure to coronavirus-positive patients.

She added that improper wearing of personal protective equipment (PPE), non-observance of proper hand washing and disinfection at all times, and increased complacency of healthcare workers due to the Covid-19 vaccination status as another factor to the widespread transmission of cases in hospitals.

Yumang also saw complacency in the observance of health protocols in government establishments such as police stations, airports, public market, and other government offices.

The health official said the improvement of the region's Covid-19 cases was not sustained.

This, after the region reached the 2,000-mark of Covid-19 active cases, which was last recorded in February this year.

"Katong first week sa Mayo, nalipay na gyud mi nga nag-700 plus lang for our active cases. Apan kada adlaw, human ato nga semanahuna, nakita nato nga duna na gyud tag-three digits na ang atong mga cases (We were happy because on the first week of May this year, we were able to lower down the cases to 700 plus active cases. But after that period, the region had already noted three digit daily new cases)," Yumang said.

Covid-19 Regional Task Force (RTF)-Davao chairperson Manolito Orense, also during the presser, noted complacency in the observance of health protocols since the Covid-19 vaccine rollout started in March this year.

Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG)-Davao Director Alex Roldan, who is also the RIATF chair, also said there is a huge possibility that the entire region will be reverted to a stricter quarantine status if the surge of cases will not be managed.

Based on the monthly case count, DOH-Davao reported that the number of cases recorded from January to May 23 this year already reached 13,478. This is higher compared to the 12,589 cases recorded from March to December 2020.

Meanwhile, for the morbidity week of May 16 to 22, Tagum City in Davao del Norte still topped the areas by newly recorded cases with 87. This was followed by Buhangin and Talomo North, both in Davao City, with 82 and 67 cases, respectively.

As of now, Yumang said they have not yet noted the emergence of the new variant as one of the factors in the surge of cases in the region.

Davao City surge

Based on the May 23 data of DOH-Davao, Davao City remains to be the Covid-19 epicenter in the region with 1,015 active cases. This is the first time the city reached the 1,000-mark since February this year.

Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio said the City Health Office reported during the department heads meeting on Monday that the city is on a surge.

"Our active cases, it is increasing. Three digits ta pirmi sa atoang positive cases. Clearly, makita nato increasing atong cases diri sa Davao (We have been logging three-digit positive cases. We can clearly see the cases in Davao City are increasing)," Duterte-Carpio said on Monday afternoon in an interview on 87.5 FM Davao City Disaster Radio.

Duterte-Carpio said based on their contact tracing history, most cases were also recorded in offices and establishments.

The mayor also attributed social gatherings, including birthday parties, and house-to-house visits as other culprits in the Covid-19 transmission.

The surge of cases in the city had prompted her to inform private hospitals to start catering Covid-19 patients since the Southern Philippines Medical Center (SPMC) is now being overwhelmed.

"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)," she said.

She reiterated the continuous observance of the health protocols to curb the spread of virus. She said the virus is transmitted from one person to another through droplets or saliva, which could then be inhaled or when it is touched by the hand and the same hand touches the face or nose.

Meanwhile, the mayor said the recorded 728 deaths since the start of the pandemic in the city serves as a reminder that Covid-19 is "not a joke."

"Kining (These) 728 total deaths, this is not a joke no. There are 728 families who are grieving because they lost a loved one because of Covid-19 complications. Tinuod ni na gapanghitabo. Dili man ninyo sila kaila, wala man moy silingan na naigo or namatay because of Covid-19, but dili tungod wala moy kaila, dili ninyo makita, kay dili sya nagapanghitabo sa atoang siyudad sa Davao tungod sa kadako sa Davao, tungod sa kadaghan sa tao (This is really happening. You may not have known them or you don't have a neighbor who was affected or who died of Covid-19. But because you don't know anyone who has been infected with the virus, does not mean that it is not happening)," Duterte-Carpio said.

As of now, she said there is still no discussion on the city's plan to elevate the city to a higher quarantine status.

The mayor said the city cannot afford to be elevated to a higher quarantine status like modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ), like what happened to Metro Manila and its neighboring provinces when it experienced a massive surge of cases.

"Maapektuhan ang pang-adlaw-adlaw nga kinabuhi sa mga tao, and maapektuhan sab ang negosyo, and ang trabaho," she said.

She also reminded the public to only go out for essential purposes and avoid gatherings.

The mayor clarified that it is the Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases that dictates the city's quarantine classification, but she said the city can appeal for reconsideration.

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Davao City bans some events of government offices

Posted: 24 May 2021 05:31 AM PDT

DAVAO City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio will now be banning certain events of government offices after the city reported that these events became the source of the Covid-19 transmission, based on contact tracing history.

Duterte-Carpio said in a radio interview on Monday, May 24, that the City issued on the same day Executive Order (EO) 31, or "An Order Regulating All Barangay, Local, and National Government Offices, including Government-owned and Controlled Corporation Events" effective 12:01 a.m. of Wednesday, May 26.

She said the EO will be implemented until the lifting of the "state of calamity."

"Because nakita nato sa history sa atoang contact tracing nga dunay government events nga nahimong source or spread sa infection (we saw in the contact tracing history that certain government events became the source of infection)," Duterte-Carpio said in an interview on 87.5 FM Davao City Disaster Radio.

The mayor specified the ceremonies and events such as inauguration, anniversary, thanksgiving, ribbon-cutting, blessing, turnover ceremony, groundbreaking, launching, salu-salo (gatherings), birthdays, press conference, oath taking, photo opportunities, retirement honor, welcome honors, testimonial programs, summer outing, team building, and all other similar activities.

She also said that all face-to-face "non-emergency" essential government activities, including training and seminars are suspended until August 31, 2021. These also include medical missions.

Duterte-Carpio said the order applies despite having 25 guests and below.

All disaster and emergency activities, including the distribution of financial, food, and non-food items are allowed, the mayor said.

She said distribution of food and non-food items that are not related to disaster and non-emergency events should be distributed house-to-house in the form of contactless delivery by the organizer, or in a distribution system where no mass gathering is conducted.

The mayor, meanwhile, encouraged government offices to shift to virtual ceremonies.

She said government events have contributed to the bulk of Covid-19 cases in the city; hence, the decision to regulate these events, as these are "easily controllable."

"Dili nato siya ma-relate nga siya ang pinakataas na percentage, but naa tay makita nga mga cases or transmission ani nga events (While we cannot say that these events have the highest percentage in the number of cases, we saw that there has been transmission in these events). These are easily controllable events. So pwede ra nato siya i-executive order diretso (We can regulate these through an executive order)," she said.

Aside from government events, most cases of transmission are from social gathering.

The mayor's move is in response to the rising number of Covid-19 cases in the city.

As of May 23, Davao City has again reached 1,000 active cases.

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ASU exec reminds public anew to practice proper waste disposal

Posted: 24 May 2021 05:30 AM PDT

AN OFFICIAL from the Ancillary Services Unit (ASU) reiterated their call to all Dabawenyos to practice waste segregation and recycling amid the recurring flood incidents in Davao City, which has also become a "new normal."

ASU head Paul Bermejo said in a radio interview that the City Government and the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) are addressing flooding issues through ongoing projects and pumping stations that operate to help ease the flooding.

Bermejo said, however, that while the big projects are still in the works, he told the public to manage their expectations.

"Mao naman gud ni siya. Mura napud siyag kining pandemic karon, Mao na ni siya ang new normal nato kung mag-ulan gani, mubaha gyud na siya. Dili na siya maiwasan except siguro kung maimplementar natong mga dagkong project ni DPWH, siguro maiwas-iwasan (This is our current situation. Similar to the Covid-19 pandemic, this is our new normal now, whenever there are heavy downpours expect that there will be flooding. This would be prevented if the big projects of DPWH are implemented)," Bermejo said in an interview on 87.5 FM Davao City Disaster Radio.

The official added, "Pero samtang wala pa na siya na-implement, dili na ta mag-expect nga dili mubaha kung muulan. Naa na gyud na siya sa atoa (While these projects have yet to be implemented, let us not expect that we won't experience flooding during downpour. It is now up to us)."

He said this would have been addressed if each household would practice proper segregation and recycling.

Bermejo revealed that due to lack of segregation, large volumes of waste could not fit into garbage bins and trucks so high volumes of garbage ended up in the drainage and canals.

"Bisag sa household naman lang unta nato, kung mag-segregate naman lang ta, dili nalang nato iapil didto ang mga recyclable materials sa residual na mga garbage. Katong residual mao naman lang unta ihatag nato didto sa truck. Dili na nato ihatag tong mga recyclables kay para mu-reduce ang volume sa basura diri palang sa household daan (Let's start from the households. When we segregate, let us not include recyclable materials to residual garbage. Residual garbage is the only waste we will throw to the garbage truck. Let us not include recyclables to reduce the volume of waste, starting from the household)," Bermejo said.

According to the Davao City Environment and Natural Resources Office (Cenro), the city's average volume of collected garbage is around 600 to 650 tons per day since the Covid-19 pandemic hit the city in March 2020 until present.

However, this does not include those collected by Ancillary Service Unit during its cleanup drive in canals.

The figure is slightly lower compared to the average 900 tons of garbage per day in 2019, pre-pandemic.

Bermejo said reducing the collection of household waste is already a huge contribution.

He also encouraged barangay officials to lead the solid waste management in the households in their respective areas.

City Engineer's Office (CEO) head Joseph Dominic Felizarta said that uncollected and improperly dumped garbage that clogged the drainage system and canals, siltation, and structures built above waterways have contributed to severe flooding in the city.

Based on their recent survey and assessment, the CEO has identified 13 flooded areas in the city: Km 5 Tulip Drive in Barangay Matina Crossing, Barangay Hall in Matina Aplaya, Susana Homes in Barangay Baliok, Bacanaya Village in Barangay Catalunan Pequeño, Countryside Village in Barangay La Vista Monte, Gallera de Oro in Barangay Bago Aplaya, Goldland Subdivision in Barangay Bago Gallera, Spring Valley Subdivision in Buhangin, Datu Loho in Maa, Circumferential road in Marfori, in JP Laurel, and Quirino avenues. (Royette Obeso, AdDU Intern/With reports from Ralph Lawrence G. Llemit)

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