Sunday, May 23, 2021

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Travel halt between Negros, Iloilo City effective May 25

Posted: 23 May 2021 08:50 AM PDT

FOLLOWING the escalation of quarantine status of Iloilo City to modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ), its mayor issued Executive Order (EO) No. 41 Series of 2021 imposing a travel moratorium between Negros Island and Iloilo City beginning Tuesday, May 25.

Mayor Jerry Treñas, in the EO issued Sunday, May 23, said both inbound and outbound travel of persons from Negros to Iloilo City and vice versa will be temporarily suspended effective 12 a.m. of May 25 until 11:59 p.m. of May 31, 2021.

The unimpeded movement of cargo in and out of Iloilo City and Negros Island will also be guaranteed, he added.

The EO came after the National Inter-Agency Task Force (NIATF) through Resolution No. 116-C stating that "Iloilo City shall be escalated to modified enhanced community quarantine beginning May 23, 2021 until May 31, 2021... without prejudice to [its] further reclassification as may be warranted and the declaration of localized enhanced community quarantine in critical areas."

The NIATF's move was in response to the City Government's appeal to escalate its community quarantine status from modified general community quarantine (MGCQ) due to the rising cases of coronavirus disease (Covid-19).

As of May 23, Iloilo City logged 7,128 confirmed Covid-19 cases with 981 still active.

The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) Iloilo Station, in an advisory issued Sunday night, said in reference to the EO issued by Treñas, sea vessel trips including fastcraft and roll-on, roll-off (roro) vessels will be temporarily suspended effective May 25.

For Frank Carbon, operator of Weesam Express, the one-week travel moratorium would mean millions worth of revenue and opportunity losses among shipping firms.

Carbon, also the chief executive officer of the Metro Bacolod Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said it will hurt more the livelihood of the workers in the local shipping industry.

"Indirectly, it will also impact the livelihood of the people who are making a living at the port like vendors as well as pedicab and tricycle drivers," the business leader said.

He urged local government to provide workers and those in other affected sectors with subsistence for the next seven days.

Carbon said that "we have bring into open that there is cost-benefit trade-off and that the government must pay the cost to lessen the pain of losing their source of daily subsistence."

As of Sunday night, they have not received a copy of the advisory from the PCG, "which is the implementing agency when it comes to suspension of sea vessel trips."

"We are expecting it Monday morning," Carbon said, adding that if the travel moratorium takes effect on May 25, the ferry service of Weesam Express for cities of Bacolod and Iloilo will continue until Monday.

The operator said adults, minors or children with accompanying guardians, and senior citizens are allowed to travel.

"Only your BacTrac card and identification card (ID) are required. Nothing more," he added.

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19 Silay offices on temporary lockdown

Posted: 23 May 2021 08:48 AM PDT

NINETEEN departments and offices of the Silay City government will be temporarily locked down effective Monday, May 24 until 28, for disinfection as part of precautionary measures to prevent the spread of the Covid-19 virus.

In Special Executive Order No. 2021-05-07, series of 2021, Silay City Mayor Mark Andrew Golez, said offices under zoning containment or temporary lockdown included the City Legal, Assessor's, Bids and Awards Committee, Accounting, Internal Audit, City Budget, City Nutrition, Community Affairs, Persons with Disabilities Affairs, Pantawid, City Treasurer's, Business Permits and Licensing, City Environment and Natural Resources, Housing, Public Employment Service, Information Technology, Human Resource and Management, Office of the Register of Deeds, and Commission on Audit Silay satellite office.

The City Health Office and Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office personnel will conduct extensive contact tracing and disinfecting measures during the containment period, Golez said.

The order said officials and employees of affected offices are required to undergo strict home quarantine.

It added that heads of offices concerned should maintain a skeletal workforce to facilitate urgent and critical transactions and to ensure the unhampered delivery of public service.

Only city government employees, including job order personnel who will form part of the skeletal workforce, will be allowed entry to the affected offices, Golez said.

The mayor said from April 15 to May 19, there were 10 identified Covid patients in the Silay City Hall building and compound.

The order added that employees who have Covid symptoms or whose immediate family member/s in the same household had been identified by the Silay Covid-19 Task Force as probable, suspected, or confirmed cases are ordered to work from home.

"Tighter health and community quarantine protocols must be kept high at all costs with or without Covid case involvement among offices and employees," Golez said.

Other offices, departments, and divisions of the city government not included in the lockdown that do not have any recent or existing cases should maintain their regular day-to-day operations to cater to the transacting public and ensure continuity of the delivery of basic essential services. They will also strictly observe health and community quarantine protocols at all times.

Golez cited Memorandum Circular No. 2, series of 2020, dated June 15, 2020, of the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Disease and National Task Force Against Covid-19 that allows local chief executives to apply zoning containment strategies in areas needing prompt intervention and response to curb the Covid transmission.

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Diaz: Negros Occidental has more than enough vaccines

Posted: 23 May 2021 08:48 AM PDT

LAWYER Rayfrando Diaz, provincial administrator, said the provincial government of Negros Occidental has more than enough supply of vaccines to inoculate 70 percent of its total population.

Diaz made the clarification amid insinuations that Capitol does not have vaccines for Negrenses.

The provincial government kicked off the vaccination of its employees with 200 getting inoculated, of which 160 with AstraZeneca and 61 with Sinovac.

On Friday, May 20, 40 employees were inoculated with AstraZeneca and 10 with Sinovac.

Another round of inoculation of provincial government workers will start on May 24 until Friday, May 28, Diaz said.

He added that the inoculation of Capitol employees had a go-signal from the Department of Health (DOH).

More than 1,300 medical workers of the Capitol were earlier vaccinated as they are frontliners.

Diaz said the provincial government is distributing to the 31 local government units vaccines sent by DOH.

"It is based on the master list they submitted to the DOH," he said.

"We distribute it to them based on the list," he added.

Diaz said the Capitol purchased 100,000 doses of AstraZeneca according to the tripartite agreement for LGU frontliners "because we were thinking that it would arrive first."

"The national government told us not to buy too many vaccines because they can purchase enough vaccines for the entire 70 percent of the Philippine population," he said.

Diaz said that Secretary Carlito Galvez in a meeting with governors said that "it will be the national government who will buy the vaccines for the general population. That is what we are following."

In the delivery, the priority will be the national government, not the LGUs, he said.

Diaz said a meeting set on Monday was canceled by AstraZeneca as "they still cannot ensure when they can deliver our order."

The provincial government has more than enough cold storage facilities to accommodate the bulk of vaccines if it arrives at a maximum of 100,000 vials, he added.

Diaz admitted that there is "low acceptability of the vaccines."

"The national government has assured the League of Provinces that it can provide the vaccine requirements for the general Philippine population," he said.

"There is no need for us to buy more vaccines," Diaz added.

He also clarified that Capitol consultant Alfredo Benitez "did not say that he will buy vaccines if the province will not have enough to purchase."

"He offered the provincial government a direct link to Pfizer. But, when Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson wrote them, they said that they can't sell directly to us. They will deal with the national government. The orders of the LGUs will only be accommodated if the pharmaceutical companies have already complied with their commitment to the national government," Diaz said.

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Paduano: Plebiscite not needed in Bacolod redistricting

Posted: 23 May 2021 08:47 AM PDT

THE move to divide Bacolod City into two districts does not need a plebiscite, according to House Minority Floor Leader Stephen "Caraps" Paduano.

Paduano said the reapportionment is just a mere division of an administrative district, one representation clause of the Constitution.

"Bacolod City is very much qualified for reapportionment given the total number population of the city," Paduano said.

Paduano said he cannot understand why City officials kept on delaying such a move to divide the city into two districts when his proposed bill and the one sponsored by Bacolod City Lone District Congressman Greg Gasataya has been pending in congress and only awaits the favorable endorsement of the Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP) of Bacolod City.

The SP failed to take up the matter during its regular session on Wednesday after it passed a resolution inquiring Gasataya about the status of the bills and Gasataya has also answered such inquiry.

On reports that the redistricting move propped up anew for election purposes and is allegedly part of the arrangements to avoid the close battle between incumbent Mayor Evelio Leonardia and former Third District Representative Alfredo Benitez in the May 2022 elections, Paduano confirmed that both camps met, but he was not part of the reported arrangements.

He clarified that in his personal opinion, Benitez will not run for congressman in Bacolod City but the mayor of Bacolod City.

"If he wants to run in congress or in the senate why would he transfer his voting registration in Bacolod City and why run in Bacolod City for congressman when he can easily do it in the Third District," Paduano, a very close ally of Benitez, said.

Paduano said he leaves the matter to Benitez to make his personal announcement of his decision in the May 2022 elections.

He said it is the clamor of the people that made Benitez decide to transfer his voting registration in Bacolod City.

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Temporary suspension of Covid-19 product patents sought

Posted: 23 May 2021 07:30 AM PDT

THE Bacolod City Council has approved a resolution requesting President Rodrigo Duterte through the office of Secretary Teodoro Locsin, Jr. of the Department of Foreign Affairs to take action for the temporary suspension of certain provisions of the agreement on trade-related aspects of intellectual property rights (IPR) to tackle the Covid-19 pandemic.

The resolution was authored by Councilor Carlos Jose Lopez, chairman of the City Council committee on environment and ecology.

Lopez said in this hyper-connected global community, the Covid-19 pandemic can only be put to an end by vaccination in every country and that addressing vaccine inequality is the key to ending this pandemic.

He said quickly ramping up the volume of vaccine production and achieving universal and equitable distribution of vaccines around the world through the collaboration of all pharmaceutical companies, which requires sharing of technologies necessary for vaccine manufacturing and production, will tackle the problem of vaccine inequality.

"Current system of production and supply is built on monopolies and control over technology and knowledge and is failing to mobilize global production capacity of the vaccines against Covid-19. High-income countries acquired two-thirds of the vaccine supply, accelerating vaccine inequality, and if this continues, we have to wait until 2022 in low and middle-income countries, which should be at least 70 percent of the population to attain herd immunity," he added.

Lopez noted that intellectual property systems are obstacles in ramping up vaccine production and the fair and equitable distribution of vaccines.

He said the best way at the international level to prevent the intellectual property system from becoming an obstacle to the response of Covid-19 would be globally agreed measures regarding international intellectual property norms.

Lopez said on October 2020, over 100 countries, including South Africa and India, jointly proposed a temporary waiver of Sections 1, 4, 7 and 7 of Part II and Sections under Part III of the Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (Trips) Agreement, which covers almost all of the intellectual property rights such as copyright and related rights, industrial design, patent, undisclosed information and their enforcement that can be obstacles to the response of Covid-19 pandemic.

He said the proposal calls for the temporary suspension of the patent system for Covid-19 products until worldwide immunity is achieved. This proposal would give all countries the ability to decide whether to ignore some of the provisions of intellectual property law set out in the Trips Agreement to save lives without fear of sanctions.

"Importantly, it would allow for the necessary expansion and diversification in vaccine supply, allowing manufacturers worldwide to ramp up vaccine production," he added.

Lope said more than two-thirds of WTO member-states support the waiver proposal.

The Holy See, in its statement dated February 23, 2021, said in many countries, a large number of manufacturing facilities with proven capacity to produce safe and effective vaccines are unable to utilize those capacities due to IP barriers.

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Benitez hails Bayanihan 3 approval

Posted: 23 May 2021 07:30 AM PDT

NEGROS Occidental Third District Representative Francisco Benitez, who chairs the Technical Working Group on the Bayanihan 3 bill, hailed its approval by the Committee on Appropriations, which provides a P405.6-billion budget for Filipinos affected by the Covid-19 pandemic.

"Our hard work as TWG chairman on Bayanihan 3 stimulus bill is one step closer to fruition," Benitez said.

He said the approval by the appropriations committee is a crucial step for the passage of the comprehensive lifeline measure.

Benitez added the proposed bill provides P2,000 for each Filipino as a "basic universal income" assistance to families, wage subsidies, unemployment assistance, nutrition for children, support to hog industry, farmers, fisherfolks, medical assistance to indigent patients, laptop and internet allowance for teachers and moratorium on demolitions.

A total of P30 billion has been earmarked for emergency assistance to affected households and wage subsidies amounting to P20 billion. It also features P25 billion in aid to displaced or disadvantaged workers that would be implemented in three phases by the Department of Labor and Employment.

Other aid packages included P30 billion for the agri-fisheries sector, P10 billion for national nutrition efforts, P5.6 billion to support basic education, P9 billion in medical assistance to indigents program, P5 billion in relief to local government units, and P400 million to pay for swab tests of returning seafarers and overseas Filipino workers.

Another P54.6 billion is also allotted for the pension and gratuity fund for retired military and uniformed personnel, it added.

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Drug personality shot dead in Bacolod

Posted: 23 May 2021 07:30 AM PDT

A DRUG personality in Bacolod City was shot to death by unidentified assailants in Purok Kabugwason, Barangay Mansilingan, in the city Friday evening, May 21, 2021.

Police identified the fatality as Audie Gonzaga, 38, of Barangay Mansilingan.

Police Captain Elmer Bonilla, chief of Police Station 7, said the victim was walking along Purok Kabugwason when two unidentified suspects on board a motorcycle fired at him several times around 7:30 p.m.

The victim sustained multiple gunshot wounds. He was brought to the Corazon Locsin Montelibano Memorial Regional Hospital, but he did not survive.

The suspects fled towards Barangay Handumanan.

Police recovered from the scene of the crime seven empty shells of a .45 caliber revolver.

The victim was a former detainee for violation of Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.

Police Lieutenant Eduard Bolivar, head of the City Drug Enforcement Unit, said in a radio interview that Gonzaga was included in the city's drug watchlist. He was under surveillance for almost a month after they were informed that Gonzaga was selling illegal drugs in the city.

He said they were surprised when they learned that Gonzaga was killed in Barangay Mansilingan, adding that they are also planning to conduct a drug bust operation against him.

The police are eyeing personal grudge or illegal drugs as possible motives in the killing of the victim.

Police Station 7 is still conducting a thorough investigation to identify and arrest the suspects.

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Bacolod to provide 2nd dose of Covid-19 vaccine at SMX

Posted: 23 May 2021 07:30 AM PDT

BACOLODNONS who got their first dose of Covid-19 vaccines at the Bacolod City Government Center (BCGC) may receive their second dose at the SMX Convention Center in SM City Bacolod, the Bacolod City Health Office (CHO) official said.

Dr. Edwin Miraflor Jr., officer-in-charge of CHO, said in a statement that second-dose vaccinees whose first doses were administered at BCGC may avail of their second doses at the SMX Convention Center starting Monday, May 24, 2021, until Friday.

The Emergency Operations Center (EOC) Task Force and the Covid-19 Vaccination Council (CoVaC), both chaired by Mayor Evelio Leonardia, will continue to administer the second jabs at SMX Convention Center starting Monday until May 28, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and will continue every weekday.

On May 3, the EOC and CoVac held their free vaccination drive at SM City, which they inoculated thousands of recipients with Covid-19 vaccines.

Miraflor said vaccinees should bring their vaccination cards when lining up for their second dose.

The SMX Convention Center is one of the city's vaccination centers accommodating the remaining frontline healthcare workers (A1), senior citizens (A2), and adults with comorbidities (A3).

Another vaccination center was also set up at the Ayala Malls Capitol Central Mall.

"With a more stable supply, we intend to put these vaccines into people's arms as quickly as we can, so we can reach herd immunity status – sooner rather than later – and re-boost our local economy which has suffered in this pandemic," Leonardia said.

Should more vaccines arrive, the City is ready to open more vaccination centers, he said.

Since last week, about 24 vaccination centers in Bacolod City were opened including in malls to accommodate healthcare workers, senior citizens and persons with commodities.

The schedule of vaccination is based on a first-come-first-served sequence in the order that the registration came into the City's database.

The City will accommodate only those who have completed their vaccination registration and have received a call or text from the Emergency Operations Center of their confirmed appointments.

To avail of the free vaccination, Bacolod residents should register online through this link: tinyurl.com/bcdceironline or at their barangay halls.

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Nocppo holds qualifying exams for non-uniformed personnel

Posted: 23 May 2021 07:26 AM PDT

THE two-day qualifying examinations for the vacant positions of the non-uniform personnel (NUP) in Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office (Nocppo) and Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO) were held at the Kapanalig Hall, Camp Afredo M Montelibano Sr., Bacolod City over the weekend.

One hundred fifty-three NUP applicants who took the exams were vying for positions in the police stations under Nocppo, while seventy applicants were for BCPO. They were organized into five batches to ensure the strict observance of minimum health protocol on social distancing based on the size of the venue. Three batches were scheduled on May 22 while the other two batches on May 23.

Their facilitators were composed of four NUP who are members of the Human Resource Merit, Promotion and Selection Board (HRMPSB) for NUP of Police Regional Office-Western Visayas and one lead examiner from Iloilo City.

Police Colonel Rome Palgue, Nocppo provincial director, said the applicants can rest assured that only the best and the most qualified will be chosen for the position, especially that Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief Police General Guillermo Lorenzo Tolentino Eleazar stated in his inaugural speech, "Walang palakasan. Only the best for the PNP. Only the best for the Filipino People". (PR)

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