https://www.sunstar.com.ph/ |
- Davao Oriental eyes tourism operations suspension
- Igacos mayor: Where is Davao-Samal Bridge?
- Digos reverts to GCQ
- Sara tells Leni to not involve Davao City in her ‘politicking’
- How Davao faces its garbage concern
- Davao del Norte Covid-19 surge overwhelms health facilities
- Mayor reminds Dabawenyos: Covid-19 threat is still real
- Davao bus trips dip further
- Digos mayor declares yearlong period of mourning for Gov. Dodo Cagas
| Davao Oriental eyes tourism operations suspension Posted: 14 Jun 2021 06:47 AM PDT THE Provincial Government of Davao Oriental is planning to suspend tourism operations in the province amid the ongoing Covid-19 surge. Davao Oriental Provincial Health Officer Dr. Reden Bersaldo said during a virtual presser on Monday, June 14, 2021, that the Provincial Government is planning to implement the temporary suspension of tourism operations in the coming weeks, after discussion with several stakeholders. "After due consultation with other agencies, also particularly with the tourism council, we are planning to close down the tourism activities in the province in the next few weeks," Bersaldo said during the Department of Health (DOH)-Davao Region virtual presser. He said the proposed suspension aims to serve as a "breather" for the province to manage its critical care management on Covid-19 patients due to the surge of cases. He said this will also give time for the local government to conduct expanded testing to all tourist establishment staff and tourists themselves. "One of the issues na gina-handle namo karon (that we are handling) is there is a correlation between the tourists who are coming to Davao Oriental versus the active cases we have right now," Bersaldo said. The health official said the province is currently experiencing a "second wave" of surge since the pandemic happened in the province. According to DOH-Davao, the entire province has a total of 2,070 confirmed Covid-19 cases, with 302 active cases, 1,715 recoveries, and 53 deaths. Bersaldo said these figures are higher compared to the previous months and they experienced more deaths. He said, however, that they have not observed clustering of cases in tourism establishments. Meanwhile, Bersaldo said as early as now, their plan is being opposed by a group of operators, particularly in Mati City. He said the group already submitted a formal letter opposing the proposed suspension of tourism operations to Davao Oriental Governor Nelson Dayanghirang and is currently being studied by the Covid-19 Provincial Task Force. Davao Oriental, currently classified under modified general community quarantine (MGCQ), allows the operation of tourism establishments up to 50 percent maximum venue capacity. Several policies were also issued, including the "no prior booking, no entry," random testing of tourists, and use of QR codes. "However, to be honest, we have faced many challenges in terms of the implementation of these policies," he said. The official said the province had composed a joint inspection team for the tourism establishments and facilities with regards to their compliance to the minimum health protocols. But he said some establishments continue to violate the imposed regulations. "We have found out that some of them have deficiencies when it comes to following the protocols, especially karon nga (with the) Covid[-19 pandemic]," Bersaldo said. He admitted that he personally saw the low compliance on the ground and also noticed some vehicles coming from the province going to other places not observing the health protocols. He also saw some social media posts of beach resorts in "festive" mode, where the minimum health protocols are not being followed. In anticipation of a possible surge, the Provincial Government implemented stricter border control measures to tourists entering the province last Holy Week. Bersaldo said, however, that these were met with some "resistance," complaints, and other issues, which they tried to address.  This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Igacos mayor: Where is Davao-Samal Bridge? Posted: 14 Jun 2021 06:43 AM PDT ISLAND Garden City of Samal (Igacos) Mayor Al David Uy questioned the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) over the delays in the construction of the Samal Island-Davao City Connector Project (Davao-Samal Bridge). "Mangutana ko sa DPWH kung asa na ang amoang tulay? Kay hapit na lang ko namatay, asa naman ning tulay namo? Kay kung ani na lang man gani, ma-Covid napud ko, dalahon nalang tamo. Mga y*** mo. Klaruha mi ninyo diha. Unsa man gyud? (I want to ask DPWH. Where is the bridge? I almost died and there seems to be no bridge. If that is the case and if I get Covid-19 again, I will bring you here. You have to be clear with us)," Uy said in an interview on 87.5 FM Davao City Disaster Radio on Monday, June 14. The mayor also asked DPWH Undersecretary for Unified Project Management Office (UPMO) Operations Emil K. Sadain about the concrete plans on the construction of the bridge. "Kini si Usec. Sadain, mangutana ko, unsa man plano ninyo sa tulay diha? (To Usec. Sadain, what are your plans for the bridge?)," he said. The mayor segued his statement on the Davao-Samal Bridge after his condition became severe after testing positive with Covid-19. Uy said he had his near death experience when he was quarantined anew after experiencing severe conditions for three days. Uy said he is set to be discharged but he will still undergo quarantine and is awaiting to undergo repeat swabbing. The mayor also revealed in the interview that he and his mother both tested positive. But he said his mother, who has existing comorbidities, succumbed from the virus. "Na-expose mi... Naa mi kauban sa balay, maoy nauna, pagkahuman, na-expose ming duha. Sabay mi, ako mild, si mama nako asymptomatic, OK-OK pa. Pero kalit lang nabali, unya didto nalang nako nahibal-an na wala na diay siya kay na-intubate naman siya diretso (We [Uy and his mother] were exposed to our household member who tested positive. I experienced mild symptoms, while my mother was asymptomatic. We were doing okay at the beginning but suddenly, I later learned my mother was already intubated)," Uy said. Uy said he will continue to impose strict measures in the island, which is currently experiencing a surge of cases. The mayor admitted the island's sole Covid-19 referral hospital is almost fully occupied and they are struggling to manage the patients due to the surge. Based on their contact tracing history, most transmissions are happening within households. According to the Davao del Norte Provincial Health Office as of June 13, Igacos has logged 481 confirmed cases, wherein 93 are active cases, 371 have recovered, and 17 died. Meanwhile, Uy is among those who are waiting for the bridge project to commence. He foresees that the bridge will uplift the island's economy. The mayor said in a previous radio interview that the groundbreaking was projected to commence in January this year, according to Public Works and Highways Secretary Mark Villar. DPWH and China Road and Bridge Corporation (CRBC) signed the P19.32 billion official contract, which marks the green light for the design and build of the 3.98-kilometer Davao-Samal Bridge Project. DPWH said the China-funded project is envisioned as a modern bridge that will connect the Samal Circumferential Road in Barangay Limao, Island Garden City of Samal to Davao City in between R. Castillo-Daang Maharlika junction. The National Economic and Development Authority (Neda)-Investment Coordination Committee (ICC) said the SIDC Project aims to provide a permanent road linkage between Davao City and Samal to reduce travel time and reliability constraints currently experienced with ferry services. Neda said the project involves the construction of a toll-free four-lane [two-lane each direction] bridge with an approximate length of 2.80 kilometers, a width of 24.2 meters, and a vertical clearance of 45 meters that can serve around 25,000 vehicles a day. They also said the project will include the construction of interchanges with the existing road network, local existing junction improvements, viaducts over sections of land and approach bridges over marine areas. "The project shall be implemented from 2020-2024, with construction period scheduled from 2021-2024. Operation will be from 2025 onwards," Neda said in a press statement.  This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Posted: 14 Jun 2021 06:43 AM PDT AFTER Davao del Norte, Digos City in Davao del Sur is the latest local government unit to revert to general community quarantine (GCQ) due to the "exponential" rise of Covid-19 cases in the area. According to Executive Order (EO) 24, issued by Digos City Mayor Josef Cagas, the entire city will be under GCQ from June 14 to June 27, 2021. "In order to mitigate and curtail the spread of Covid-19, preventive measures must be taken into place by escalating the quarantine level of Digos City from MGCQ [modified GCQ] to GCQ," Cagas said in the EO. Cagas said the city has recorded a total of 92 Covid-19 cases from May 7 to June 3, with an average of 13 cases every day. The mayor added that the number "is rising exponentially." According to the EO, residents are mandated to stay at home, while frontliners and essential workers are exempted. Movement outside the home will be allowed only for purposes of accessing basic necessities and reporting to work. Face shields and face masks will remain required in all public places. Establishments such as malls, restaurants, pharmacies, banks, and all other establishments are allowed to operate under GCQ, provided that minimum health protocols will be observed. All barangay personnel are also mandated to implement the order. Government offices shall have a skeleton workforce except those involved in security, health services, social welfare, sanitation, disaster, and other essential offices. Curfew hours will be imposed from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m., while a liquor ban will be implemented from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. For transportation, only 50 percent of the total capacity is allowed for public utility jeepney (PUJ), maximum of three passengers for tricycle, and only one passenger, excluding driver, for motorcycle. Violators will be penalized under the Republic Act 11332 or the Mandatory Reporting of Notifiable Diseases and Health Events of Public Health Concern Act. As of June 13, Digos City has recorded a total of 1,290 confirmed Covid-19 cases, with 281 active cases, 962 recoveries, and 31 deaths. Meanwhile, based on the Department of Health-Davao Region data, still on the same day, the entire Davao del Sur has recorded a total of 2,360 confirmed cases, with 550 active cases, 1,735 recoveries, and 75 deaths.  This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Sara tells Leni to not involve Davao City in her ‘politicking’ Posted: 13 Jun 2021 07:37 PM PDT DAVAO City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio told Vice President Leni Robredo to "avoid involving the Covid-19 surge in Davao City in her attempt at politicking." This is in response to the Vice President's statement in her radio interview on Sunday morning, June 13, saying that the Davao City Government should look at how Cebu City successfully controlled the surge of Covid-19 infections through private partnerships and the active presence of the medical community. "Kasi kung titingnan mo ngayon na nagsaspike na, sa Cebu parang controlled, 'di ba? Parang controlled and marami ang ginawa -- ang partnership doon hindi lang talaga LGU [local government unit] pero very active doon ang medical community. In fact, nung pumunta kami, nakatrabaho talaga namin ang medical community. Very, very active sila doon (If you look at the spike, in Cebu it looks like it is controlled, right? It looks like it is controlled and there are a lot of things you need to do -- the partnership there is not just with the LGU but the medical community there is very active. They are very active there.)," Robredo said in her interview on BISErbisyong LENI aired on RMN dzXL Manila. She added, "So tingin ko ang mga lessons sa Cebu, ganoon din. Makakapulot ng aral ang Davao [City] (I think the lessons from Cebu are the same. Davao City can learn from the said province)." The Vice President, however, said that Davao City cannot be compared to Metro Manila because they have different "characteristics." Robredo, meanwhile, urged for a "whole-of-government approach" and should not treat the current Covid-19 pandemic approach as "business-as-usual" because transmission rates and infection cases are rising in the provinces, particularly in the Visayas and Mindanao regions, especially in Bacolod, Dumaguete, Tacloban, Iloilo, and Butuan. In a statement forwarded by the Davao City Information Office on late Sunday evening, June 13, Duterte-Carpio told Robredo to "refrain from giving advice if she knows nothing about what is happening on the ground." "This has been the hallmark of her term as VP, where she puts forth comments on matters and affairs she lacks understanding and knowledge on and does not offer anything helpful to solve a problem," the mayor said. She added that the private sector has been "very helpful and has tremendously contributed" to the Covid-19 response in the city. "The VP should not attack the medical community of Davao City as being inactive when they have been silently suffering and working tirelessly to help save lives since March of last year," Duterte-Carpio said. "She should open her eyes to the surge of cases in localities all around the world and she might be able to say that a surge in cases where 85 [percent] of the cases are asymptomatic is primarily identified by aggressive testing, coupled with tracing and isolation/quarantining," Duterte-Carpio said. The mayor told Robredo that she should avoid "involving the Covid-19 surge in Davao City in her attempt at politicking." "There will be a proper time to attack my performance as an LCE [local chief executive] in this pandemic if she dares to run for President," Duterte-Carpio said. Robredo's spokesperson Lawyer Barry Gutierrez, in an issued statement on Monday afternoon, June 14, denied the mayor's claim that the Vice President is politicking the situation. "Si VP [Vice President Robredo) ang pilit hinahatak sa usapin ng pamumulitika habang ang buong focus niya nasa pagtulong (It is the VP who is being dragged in the issue of politics, while she is currently focusing in helping others)," Gutierrez said. He also said the Vice President had been working and listening to the people on ground, asking for long-term solution in addressing the pandemic. "Pumunta si VP dun, nakinig sa mga tao sa ground, hinanap ang mga agaran pati na long-term na solusyon sa mga pinagdaraanan nila. Ever since ginagawa na ni VP ito. Tulong lang (Our VP went to these areas, and listened to the people on the ground, seeking for immediate and long-term solution to their current struggle)," Gutierrez said. The spokesperson also said Robredo is also willing to visit Davao City. "Game si VP na gawin din ito sa Davao -- unless pulitikahin na naman siya," Gutierrez said. Davao City, currently under modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ), recently topped the Octa Research's list of the local government units (LGUs) with most new cases per day during the period of June 5 to 11. Octa Research said the city has an average of 180 new cases per day during the period, while Quezon City has an average of 168 new cases. The mayor sought the help of Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) to revert the city to MECQ to address the shortage of bed capacity in both hospital and treatment facilities. As of June 13, Davao City has a total of 3,353 active cases, the highest since the pandemic hit the city in March 2020. Total cases are now at 19,833, while recoveries hit 15,677, and 803 succumbed to the disease.  This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| How Davao faces its garbage concern Posted: 13 Jun 2021 06:13 AM PDT EVEN before the pandemic, the city government of Davao and the different environmentalist groups were already anticipating the exhaustion sooner or later of the 11.75-hectare landfill the city currently uses in Carmen, Tugbok District. The city's solution to this waste problem has already been highlighted and made public for several years now. In 2017, Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio even visited a Waste-to-Energy (WTE) plant in Kitakyushu, Japan to observe their use of the technology. The project, with an initial grant amount of P2.5 billion through official development assistance (ODA), is in partnership with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (Jica). However, in a February 2020 interview, project manager and City Administrator for Administration lawyer Dwight Domingo said additional funding for the facility is still being sought. "Apparently, right now, the Department of Energy already told us na wala na to (that it was scrapped). Dili na available ang fix na price sa pagbaligya og kuryente (The fixed price for the electricity is no longer available) and because of that the financial projection of study was changed," Domingo said, who added that the project requires participation of utility companies such as Davao Light Power Corporation (DLPC). The WTE project was initially proposed to be constructed in a 10-hectare property in Biao Escuela, Tugbok District. However, environmentalist groups in the city continue to advocate against WTE because of its impact on the environment and health of the residents. According to them, the process of incineration produces toxic chemicals also known as dioxins, which are cancer-causing and are extremely dangerous. They said a drop of dioxin in a lake "can "cause harm to the fish living there." This was first said by Jorge Emmanuel, former United Nations (UN) Chief–technical advisor on environmental concerns in 2016 when the news of proposed WTE in Davao made noise again. Emmanuel added the Philippines is not financially ready for the adverse effects of WTE on the health of the people. In the same way, former executive director of Interfacing Development Interventions for Sustainability (Idis) Chinkie Golle said WTE highlights the amount of waste the city produces. "Kay ang imong ginatubag lang kay ang end lang sa surface problem, which is daghang basura. Pero on our part, among gina-oppose is didto sa ngano daghan og basura? Tungod wala nila gipatuman ang Ecological Solid Waste Management hilabi na sa mga households, barangays, and to establishments," she said in a previous interview. The Carmen landfill is getting filled to the brim and the City Environment and Natural Resources Office (Cenro) projects it will be fully exhausted by 2023. Since March 2020, when the city started experiencing the pandemic, waste produced by the city ballooned to 600 to 650 tons per day. Cenro plans to purchase another 10-hectare property adjacent to the existing landfill for expansion. Despite WTE, Cenro head Marivic Reyes said there is still a need to rehabilitate the sanitary landfill, as the ashes from the incineration will be buried in the landfill. On average, a landfill's life span usually lasts five to eight years. The Carmen landfill was first opened in 2008 and its extended life was said to be partially because of households observing proper waste segregation. Making use of biodegradable waste to its full potential Many private individuals also believe that before getting into a huge commitment such as the WTE project, it is also crucial that Dabawenyos understand how to properly dispose of their garbage. The Davao Thermo Biotech Corp. is an environmental solutions company currently engaged in biodegradable waste management and natural biofertilizer production. It started The Yellow Drum Project with companies but later on engaged with household owners. The Yellow Drum Project provides a 60-liter yellow drum to their subscribers where different types of biodegradable waste are collected and will eventually be converted into biofertilizer in their facility in Toril. "We collect the hazardous and non-hazardous biodegradable and we compost it using high-temperature composting technology and convert it into usable potent biofertilizer," explained Dr. Bo Puentespina, Jr., Davao Thermo Biotech Corp. chief executive officer. "We have to change climate change realities. We have to change our attitude with respect to how we dispose of our biodegradables. In our law, it says that biodegradables must have to be composted at source – meaning in our homes, then in our barangays. It's not supposed to go to the landfills," Dr. Puentespina added. The process used by Davao Thermo Biotech Corp. is Japanese-patented and is the only company in the country permitted to do it outside Japan. "We use hyperthermophilic aerobic composting. Hyperthermophilic means 'high temperature' while aerobic requires oxygen. We use special bacteria that help with the decomposing of the waste. We have 'blowers' to supply the air requirement for decomposing. Within 45 days, the fermentation process takes place while we also turn the mound of treated waste every now and then to let the air through and for more balanced decomposing," said Plant Manager Aimea B. Lumpay. The Yellow Drum Project currently has more or less 40 household subscribers in different parts of Davao City while it also continues to work with restaurants, companies, and other private institutions. Puentespina shared that these companies follow environmental standards to continue operation and so The Yellow Drum Project partnership was fondly responded to by private sectors. "We want more people to be aware that this project exists – that there is a solution for their biodegradable waste. They don't need to mix it with their non-bio waste and throw it in the trash. They can actually make something good out of their biowaste. We understand that not all people have the capacity or resources to do composting at home so this project is actually ideal for those people," said Lyen Queen Yap-Joaquin, business development officer. Repurposing non-biodegradable waste Winder Recycling Company in Sasa, Davao City has been focusing on converting single-use plastic to useful items that would last for a long time such as tables, benches, school chairs, pots, and many others. Engineer Winchester Lemen shared that their equipment can accommodate other types of plastic or non-biodegradable waste, but they decided to specifically focus on single-use plastic, those that are not accepted in junk shops as these types of waste are rarely recycled and some, unfortunately, end up in the sea. "Karaniwan po sa single-use plastic tinatapon na lang natin kasi alam natin wala na itong pakinabang gaya ng plastic bottles ng softdrinks, mga sachets ng shampoo, packaging ng chichirya, pwede po yang dalhin dito sa planta natin," said Engr. Lemen. The collected garbage goes through a meticulous process in their plant in Sasa before it becomes a durable repurposed item. The single-use plastic items are broken and cut into tiny pieces before they are washed and dried. Then they proceed to the melting machine, keeping the 14-percent moisture content, where the plastics are molded into molders depending on the planned by-product. They have molders for chairs, tables, benches, plant pots, etc. Aside from these small items, Lemen also looks forward to bigger repurposing projects such as bricks to make houses. He said they have worked hard to ensure the durability of their products. "Ito po ay masusi nating pinag-aralan dahil sabi nga nila, kailangan po natin ng alternative solution. Hindi lang po basta semento. Meron po tayong dapat gawin doon sa mga plastic waste natin. Kaya naisip po naming tibayan talaga yung mga produkto para po mapakinabangan ng mas matagal nung ating mga consumers," said Lemen. Winder Recycling Corporation and the Davao Thermo Biotech Corp. continue to seek partnership with the local government to influence more people in segregating their waste. They understand that with the mandate of the government, especially at the barangay level, it would be easier for residents to participate. As the local government has yet to respond, the two companies continue to form professional relationships with huge companies to help with their waste problems.  This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Davao del Norte Covid-19 surge overwhelms health facilities Posted: 13 Jun 2021 06:08 AM PDT DAVAO del Norte Governor Edwin Jubahib said the current Covid-19 case surge in the province overwhelmed their critical care and treatment facilities. "Tungod sa padayon nga pagtaas sa kaso sa Covid-19, daghan sa atong mga kaigsuunan ang nag-antos sa kumplikasyon sa Covid[-19], ug gani, daghan kanila ang anaa sa ilang mga panimalay sa karon, nagpaabot nga dawaton sa atong mga hospital kay puno na gyud ang mga balay tambalanan, public man o private," Juhabib said in a video message posted on Sunday, June 13. (Due to the continuous increase in Covid-19 cases, many of our constituents are currently suffering from the virus' complications. Many of them are in their residences, waiting to be transported to the hospital since all beds, both in public and private, are fully occupied.) The governor also said the province is now short in medical equipment and isolation facilities. Those with exposure to confirmed coronavirus-positive individuals are advised to undergo home quarantine while waiting for vacancies of hospital beds and facilities. The entire province of Davao del Norte will be under general community quarantine (GCQ) effective Thursday, June 10 until June 30, 2021. Through Davao del Norte's Facebook page One DavNor Network, the provincial government released Executive Order No. 26 Thursday, June 10, reverting the province to GCQ from modified GCQ (MGCQ). Juhabib said elevating the entire province to a stricter quarantine status aims to mitigate the worsening Covid-19 scenario by strengthening preventive measures appropriate to the present transmission in the area. Under GCQ, non-essential and leisure travel to the province will be prohibited. Residents' movement will also be limited to accessing essential goods only such as procuring food and medicine, going to work, and emergency purposes. Any form of gathering is prohibited under the EO unless with permission from the City/Municipal Inter-Agency Task Force through the barangay captain. Once permitted, the venue should only accommodate 30 percent of its original capacity while following minimum health protocols. This includes religious gatherings. Other religious services such as weddings, baptisms, blessings, etc. will not be allowed under GCQ. Gatherings for necrological services, wakes, inurnment, and funerals will be limited to only 30 percent of the venue's capacity. Wakes will be given a maximum of five days and guests are limited to immediate family members only. Gathering in one house of people from different households or leisure and non-essential purposes is also prohibited. Jubahib also encouraged his constituents to get a Covid-19 vaccine once it is their turn. According to the Department of Health-Davao Region data as of June 12, Davao del Norte ranked second in the entire region with the most total and active cases. The province had a total of 6,744 confirmed cases, wherein 1,419 were active cases, 4,635 recovered, and 190 succumbed to the virus. Meanwhile, as of June 11, Davao Regional Medical Center (DRMC), the primary Covid-19 referral hospital in the province located in Tagum City, announced 61 out of the 75 ICU beds for Covid-19 patients are occupied, while 75 out of the 187 isolation beds are already occupied. For other facilities in the province, three out of the 44 ward beds are already occupied, while one of the 11 prepared ICU beds has been occupied, and 90 out of the 128 isolation beds are now utilized.  This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Mayor reminds Dabawenyos: Covid-19 threat is still real Posted: 13 Jun 2021 06:08 AM PDT DESPITE the ongoing Covid-19 vaccination, Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio reminded Dabawenyos not to let their guards down as the Covid-19 "threat is real." "While we now already have vaccines and the inoculation of our population is ongoing, we nonetheless must not let our guard down because the threat is real, the numbers are rising, and the consequences otherwise will be dire," Duterte-Carpio said her 123rd Independence Day speech on Saturday, June 12. The mayor reminded the public "to work as one" and continuously abide by the minimum health protocols. "I ask all Dabawenyos to work as one and to abide by the health protocols in place because it is only when we each do our part that we can emerge victorious from this and commence the healing and recovery of our communities," she said. Duterte-Carpio said more than a century since the country declared its independence, Davao City is currently joining the rest of the world "in facing a common enemy," that is Covid-19. She also expressed her salute to the "modern-day heroes - our frontliners who continue to place their lives on the line in order for Filipinos to be free of this disease." "I hope that the essence of our fight for independence – to be steadfast, constant, and strong despite the battles and challenges that come our way – may remain with us as we endeavor towards the future," the mayor said. "In the same way that our heroes fought for the country's liberation more than a hundred years ago, let us also find the courage and the resolve to liberate ourselves from the clutches of this deadly virus and become a stronger and more resilient Davao City," the mayor further said. For this year, the Davao City government did not hold any rites for the annual commemoration and instead, played the national anthem due to the recent issuance of Executive Order (EO) No. 31, prohibiting face-to-face non-essential government events due to the rising cases of Covid-19 in the city. The EO specified the prohibited ceremonies and events such as inauguration, anniversary, thanksgiving, ribbon-cutting, blessing, turnover ceremony, groundbreaking, launching, salu-salo (gatherings), birthdays, press conference, oathtaking, photo opportunities, retirement honor, welcome honors, testimonial programs, summer outing, team building, and all other similar activities. Davao City, since June 5, is under modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ) in response to the ongoing surge, resulting in the overwhelming occupancy of the city's Covid-19 referral hospital, and treatment facilities. According to the Department of Health-Davao Region data as of June 12, Davao City's Covid-19 active cases reached a record-breaking 3,109 cases. Since the pandemic started, the city has a total of 19,526 cases, wherein 15,618 recovered, and 799 succumbed to the virus. At present, the city government is vaccinating the first three priority groups - A1 (medical frontliners), A2 (senior citizens), and A3 (persons with comorbidities). Those included under the A4 group, which includes frontline personnel in essential sectors including those in the government, private sector, and uniformed personnel, have yet to be scheduled for the next vaccine rollout.  This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Posted: 13 Jun 2021 06:08 AM PDT BUS trips at the Davao City Overland Transport Terminal (Dcott) further decreased when the city was placed under modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ). Dcott head Aisa Usop said when there was a downtrend in Covid-19 cases, bus trips started to gradually normalize, with an average of 600 bus trips daily. The number of trips is nearing the pre-pandemic figure of 700 to 800 trips per day, reaching more than 1,500 bus trips daily during "peak" or holiday seasons. Usop, in a previous interview, said bus trips coming in and out of the city decreased since the tightening of border controls started. Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio issued on Saturday, May 8, 2021, an executive order adopting the Joint Regional Interagency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases-Regional Task Force Against Covid-19 (RIATF-RTF) 11 Resolution 01 series of 2021 or the tightening of border controls. It took effect in Davao City on Friday, May 14. Following its implementation, bus trips decreased to 300 to 400 per day. "Nung nag-declare naman tayo ng MECQ, lalong bumaba. (When it was declared that the city would be under MECQ, the number of bus trips further decreased.) From 300 to 400 [bus trips], our recent number of trips is nasa (now at) 180 plus lang tayo to 200 plus ang pinakamataas na bus trips a day natin," Usop said in a virtual presser on Friday, June 11. Davao City's MECQ status took effect on June 5 and will end on June 20. This is due to the current surge in Covid-19 cases in the city. Usop said they are currently discouraging non-essential travels with the ongoing surge of cases being experienced in the city. "We are catering to passengers not only from Davao City, but also the entire Mindanao, including Visayas and Mindanao. But sad to say, kung pwede lang, kung hindi importante, huwag na lang tayong mag-travel (if it is not important, we discourage you from traveling) for your safety," the Dcott official said. She also discouraged bus drivers from picking up passengers along the way. She added that buses can pick up passengers from terminal to terminal only, in accordance with the IATF and Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) guidelines. Despite the existing policy, Usop said they continue to receive reports of drivers violating it. "Naghimo ta og move. (We already made a move) We coordinate with LTFRB. Nag-request gyud ta sa ilaha na mag-conduct sila og surprise monitoring diha sa highway, aron makita pud nila unsa ka-tinuod kaning pag-pick up sa mga bus nato sa kadalanan (We requested them to conduct surprise monitoring along highways for them to validate these reports of drivers picking up passengers along highways)," she said.  This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Digos mayor declares yearlong period of mourning for Gov. Dodo Cagas Posted: 13 Jun 2021 06:07 AM PDT DIGOS City Mayor Josef Cagas declared a yearlong period of mourning over the death of his uncle, Davao del Sur Governor Douglas Ralota Cagas. The mayor declared the period of mourning from June 10, 2021 to June 10, 2022, through an executive order (EO). According to Mayor Cagas, the late governor "spent most of his life in public service and had endowed fruitful years in uplifting the lives of his fellowmen" in Davao del Sur, and Digos City. "His strong political will and untiring commitment to bring sustainable development not only for Davao del Sur but also to Digos City, have touched the lives of many and transformed our Province and City into flourishing localities in the country," the mayor said in the EO. He added the cityhood of Digos materialized because of Governor Cagas, who led the drafting of Republic Act No. 8798, converting the Municipality of Digos into a component city of the province in November 1998. During the whole year of mourning, all government agencies, units and installations, private/business establishments, and private and public schools of all levels will put all flags at half-mast and offer prayers every 3 p.m. "We mourn the tragic demise of the most charismatic, and the best public servant and leader in the Province of Davao del Sur. The saddest moment in the lives of the People of Davao del Sur and all Digoseños especially to those who have experienced his brand and superb quality of public service, those people whose lives are somehow getting better by the services and projects, our good governor rendered," Mayor Cagas added. Governor Cagas passed away on Thursday morning, June 10, 2021, due to complications of Covid-19, his family confirmed. The governor's only son, Vice Governor Marc Douglas, took over his father's post while Senior Board Member of Davao del Sur's First District and Mayor Cagas' brother, John Tracy, will be the new Vice Governor.  This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
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