Tuesday, June 1, 2021

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Davao Region records 448 new Covid-19 cases; 338 from Davao City

Posted: 01 Jun 2021 06:55 AM PDT

DAVAO Region recorded its highest number of new Covid-19 cases in a single day at 448 on Tuesday, June 1, 2021.

With the newly-logged cases, the total Covid-19 in the region reached 28,504, while active cases jumped to 3,452.

Data from the Department of Health (DOH) in Davao Region showed that of the new cases, Davao City contributed the bulk of the cases with 338, 56 from Davao del Norte, 18 from Davao de Oro, 15 from Davao Occidental, 12 from Davao Oriental, and nine from Davao del Sur. All are local cases.

It should also be noted that the new cases of Davao City was also its highest number of new cases in a single day since the Covid-19 pandemic began in 2020.

DOH-Davao explained that factor for the record-high registered new cases may be the heightened surveillance and intensified testing.

According to the health department's data, a total of 4,099 individuals from the region were tested Tuesday, June 1. Of this number, 11 percent tested positive for Sars-CoV-2, the virus causing Covid-19.

The region also recorded 126 new recoveries and 10 new deaths. Total recoveries and death toll are now at 23,933 and 1,119, respectively.

Last week, various government offices and private establishments were put under lockdown following clustering of cases inside its premises.

On May 28, Covid-19 Task Force spokesperson Dr. Michelle Schlosser confirmed that a business process outsourcing (BPO) inside a mall was locked down after 46 active cases were recorded as of Friday, May 28.

On that same day, the City Government of Davao announced that the entire Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP) Building was locked down until June 6 for disinfection purposes, as 13 city employees who work at offices inside the building tested positive for Sars-CoV-2, which causes Covid-19.

The following offices affected by the lockdown are the City Treasurer's Office, City Assessor's Office, Business Bureau, City Civil Registrar's Office, Vice Mayor's Office, and Councilors Offices.

Meanwhile, DOH-Davao Director Dr. Annabelle Yumang cited gatherings and hospital exposure as the primary source of Covid-19 transmissions.

She also emphasized that the complacency of some in observing the minimum health protocols is a major factor to the increase in Covid-19 cases in the region.

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.

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CPDO, Ata tribe reminds public: Ancestral domains not for sale

Posted: 01 Jun 2021 05:28 AM PDT

INDIGENOUS peoples (IP) leaders sought the support of the Davao City Government in promoting their call that the ancestral domains are not for sale by posting it on billboards.

In a press release on Tuesday, June 1, the City Planning and Development Office (CPDO) released a statement in support of the Ata Tribe in their call that the ancestral domains are not for sale.

CPDO said this call was reiterated by members of the Indigenous Political Structure of the Ata tribe of Paquibato District on May 15.

Members of the Indigenous Political Structure issued Resolution 10 series of 2021, reaffirming their commitment to protecting their ancestral domain from abuse due to rampant illegal sales of their lands and intrusive developments introduced to various areas.

During the gathering, IP leaders have collectively agreed to seek the support of Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio in amplifying their efforts to promote awareness and recognition of, and respect for, their ancestral domain as enshrined in Republic Act (RA) 8371, otherwise known as the Indigenous Peoples Rights Act (IPRA) Law.

"Concretely, the IP leaders sought assistance in setting up billboards and signage in all the barangays of Paquibato District bearing the messages 'Ancestral Domains are NOT FOR SALE' and 'Penalty of IMPRISONMENT for the Seller and Buyer,' through Resolution 010 Series of 2021 signed by the nine members present in the meeting," CPDO said in a press release.

According to the City Planning, the entire Ata tribe's ancestral domain sprawls over an area of 65,796.87 hectares of land, with 56,506.03 hectares situated within the boundaries of Davao City.

"The Ata tribe leaders are hoping that by protecting their ancestral domain, they will be able to preserve and enrich their indigenous culture and practices and also enhance their way of life with the support of local and national government agencies," CPDO said.

SunStar Davao has sought comments from the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP), but it has yet to respond as of Tuesday afternoon, June 1.

According to RA 8371, "The indigenous concept of ownership generally holds that ancestral domains are the ICC's/IP's [Indigenous Cultural Communities/Indigenous Peoples] private but community property which belongs to all generations and therefore cannot be sold, disposed or destroyed."

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Survey shows mixed feelings on Covid-19 vaccine

Posted: 01 Jun 2021 05:24 AM PDT

DABAWENYOS have mixed feelings toward Covid-19 vaccines, with some hoping it is effective but at the same time worrying that Covid-19 will still be around despite the availability of vaccines.

According to the University of Mindanao-Institute of Popular Opinion's (UM-IPO) online survey, which was conducted from May 18 to 27, 2021, respondents were asked about their perceived effectiveness of the vaccines in preventing them from contracting the disease.

The survey revealed that 24.6 percent of Dabawenyos are still doubtful about the effectiveness of the vaccine, while 31.3 percent are fully confident that the vaccine works. In addition, 44 percent are hopeful that the vaccine would work.

In terms of the respondent's perception of Covid-19 vaccine's effectiveness in stopping the pandemic, 33.5 percent of the respondents conveyed that they are still very worried that the pandemic would still continue despite the ongoing vaccine rollout.

When asked about whether they trust the Covid-19 vaccines available, results show that Pfizer (66 percent) and Sinovac (63 percent) are the most trusted vaccines by Davaoeños.

These were followed by the following vaccine and their trust ratings: AstraZeneca (59 percent), Moderna (58 percent), Covax (42 percent), Gamaleya/Sputnik V (40 percent), and Novavax (35 percent).

When asked which vaccines they would prefer to be inoculated to, Pfizer (30.9 percent) and Sinovac (22.2 percent) are the top choices, while 17.7 percent of the respondents do not mind what vaccines to be used.

Most of the respondents also think that it would still take a while before they can be vaccinated. They added that they believe that the probable waiting time for them to acquire the vaccine is five months.

UM-IPO said the survey targeted Dabawenyos from the three districts of the city to know their attitude and behavior on vaccination, their perception of how vaccinations are rolled out, and their preferred vaccine brands.

The survey was done online via Facebook to 1,200 city residents at least 18 years old as physical contact was not allowed during the time of conduct of the survey.

City Covid-19 Task Force spokesperson Dr. Michelle Schlosser told SunStar Davao in a phone interview that they are continuously intensifying its education campaign on the benefits of getting the vaccine.

But Schlosser said that disinformation on social media remains to be one of the hindrances in convincing some people to get the vaccine.

The UM-IPO survey showed that around four out of 10 respondents said that what they read on the news and social media will affect their decision to get a vaccine or not. Nearly four out of 10 also said what they see or read about vaccines will not affect their decision to get one or not.

"It is very important that everyone submit themselves for vaccination because this has benefits not only for individuals but also for the entire community," the spokesperson said.

Based on the reports on the ground, Schlosser said people have been very "receptive" to the city's vaccination program.

"There have been people asking if we are going to open more vaccination sites," Schlosser said.

She said the city is currently preparing to have a mega vaccine site that can vaccinate around 1,000 individuals per day.

Schlosser admitted that due to the limited available supply, only four vaccination sites are currently running.

Although she said the city is expecting more vaccine arrivals in the coming weeks.

"Rest assured that everyone who wants to be vaccinated will be vaccinated," Schlosser said.

Meanwhile, in a previous virtual presser, Department of Health-Davao Region (DOH-Davao) Director Annabelle Yumang urged the public to be vaccinated for additional protection, but minimum health protocols must be continuously observed.

"Kung muabot na ang turno sa atong tagsa-tagsang komunidad, magpabakuna na ta (If your turn for the vaccination is now within respective communities, get yourself vaccinated)," Yumang said in a virtual presser.

The DOH official also told the public to avail themselves of the vaccines that are being rolled out.

"Dili na ta maghulat sa brand nga atong gusto, apan kung unsay available nga vaccine nga naa sa atong atubangan karon, mao na ato ibakuna sa karon (Let us not wait for our preferred brand. All the vaccines available will be the ones we will make use of)," Yumang said.

The city recently officially opened vaccination hubs for A3 priority list or those with comorbidities on Monday, May 31.

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.

Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG-Davao) Director Alex Roldan also reminded the public not to be choosy on the vaccines to be inoculated.

This after DILG directed local government units (LGUs) on May 20, not to announce the brand of vaccine to be used for inoculation to prevent the mass gatherings and long lines that occurred in various areas in the country when Pfizer doses were deployed.

Roldan noted some people are biased on vaccines that are made by Western countries.

He said all vaccines went through rigorous testing and monitoring before it was made open to the public.

"Wala man siguroy bakuna nga atong buhian nga makapatay or makadaot sa tao (I don't think that the government will allow the rollout of vaccines to the public that can kill or cause major adverse effects to the people)," Roldan said.

Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio recently said the city is targeting to achieve 10,000 persons per day in order to achieve the targeted 1.2 million herd immunity before the end of this year.

The mayor, however, said this will only be achievable if there will be ample and stable supply of vaccines in the city.

At present, Davao City has been allocated by the National Government with three vaccine brands: Sinovac, AstraZeneca, and Pfizer.

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13 Davao City employees positive for coronavirus

Posted: 01 Jun 2021 05:24 AM PDT

AN OFFICIAL from the Davao City Covid-19 Task Force said a total of 13 Davao City Government employees who work at offices inside the Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP) Building tested positive for Sars-CoV-2, which causes Covid-19.

Covid-19 Task Force spokesperson Dr. Michelle Schlosser confirmed to SunStar Davao in a phone interview that they tested 327 City Government employees working within the SP Building.

Schlosser said employees were tested on Saturday and Sunday, May 29 and 30. She clarified though that the numbers do not yet include those who were swabbed on Sunday.

She said all the coronavirus-positive employees were immediately brought to the city's Covid-19 facility for immediate medical intervention.

While she has yet to check the status of the patients, none of the employees manifested critical symptoms, she said.

The City announced on Friday evening, May 28, that the entire SP building will be put on lockdown starting Monday, May 31, until June 6.

Schlosser said they have yet to consolidate the figure in the coming days.

The following offices affected by the lockdown are City Treasurer's Office, City Assessor's Office, Business Bureau, City Civil Registrar's Office, Vice Mayor's Office, and Councilors Offices.

Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio said in her radio interview that she already instructed the Human Resource Management Office (HRMO) to implement a work-from-home scheme for an incubation period of 14 days.

"Nag-swab na atoang mga employees og daghan sa ilaha ang nag-positive diha sa Sangguniang Panlungsod Building nato (Our employees have been swabbed and there are a lot of them who tested positive)," Duterte-Carpio said in an interview on 87.5 FM Davao City Disaster Radio.

She also noted the clustering of cases within these offices.

Duterte-Carpio, in her recent interview, noted that clustering of cases is observed not only in government offices, but also in banks and other private establishments, based on their contact tracing history.

Meanwhile, the City Government also bared in an advisory that all payments relevant to any permit applications of the Office of the City Building Official shall be made at the City Treasurer's Agdao District Office, which is located at the back of Agdao Proper Barangay Hall, corner Lapu-Lapu and Bangoy Streets in Agdao.

The Davao City Civil Registrar's Office (CCRO), in its advisory, announced that the processing of registration of death certificate and releasing of marriage license with scheduled release from May 31 to June 4 will be at the tent provided outside the City Planning and Development Office beside City Hall.

All civil registry concerns, on the other hand, will be accommodated at the Marilog, Baguio, Calinan, Tugbok, Toril District, Buhangin, Bunawan, and Paquibato district offices. (With reports from CIO)

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Covid-19 surge overwhelms 4 hospitals in Davao de Oro

Posted: 01 Jun 2021 05:22 AM PDT

DUE to surged in Covid-19 cases, Davao de Oro Governor Jayvee Tyron Uy said the four hospital wards in the province are now nearing full occupancy.

Uy posted on his Facebook account on Monday afternoon, May 31, that the provincial hospitals in Montevista, Laak, Maragusan, and Pantukan are almost fully occupied due to the surge of cases in the provinces for the past weeks.

"In the past weeks, misaka ug taman ang atong kaso sa (Covid-19) (our Covid-19 cases went high). From double digits sa milabay'ng pila ka bulan, approaching 300 na ang atong (in the past months, we are now approaching 300) active cases. Nakasinati ang Davao de Oro og surge of cases (The entire Davao de Oro is experiencing a surge of cases) [sic]," the governor said.

He said the surge of cases has a dangerous effect on the province's entire healthcare system.

"Kung magpadayon pa ang surge of cases, posibleng mas kinahanglanon nato ug mas daghang bed capacity para sa mga (Covid-19) patients. Pag kini mahitabo, masakripisyo ang sitwasyong panlawas ug ang kinabuhi sa mga pasyente nga non-(Covid-19) ang kaso. Kinahanglan aduna gihapon kita'y igong espasyo sa mga kasong dili (Covid-19) aron matambalan usab sila (If the surge of cases continues, we might need to allocate more beds for Covid-19 patients. If this would happen, there's a huge risk that the health of the non-Covid-19 patients might be sacrificed. We need to have enough capacity to also cater to non-Covid-19 patients)," Uy said.

The official warned that the province's healthcare system might be similar to what happened in Metro Manila in the past months.

He added that an uncontrolled surge of cases may also result in the province taking more drastic actions, including placing the entire area under strict quarantine classification.

President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday evening, May 31, placed the entire Davao de Oro and the rest of Davao Region, except Davao City, under modified general community quarantine (MGCQ). Davao City is still under general community quarantine (GCQ).

"Dili kita gusto nga mubalik sa (We do not want to go back to) ECQ [enhanced community quarantine] o MECQ [modified ECQ]," Uy said.

According to the Department of Health (DOH)-Davao Region data as of May 31, Davao de Oro has a total of 1,968 confirmed Covid-19 cases, with 304 active cases, 1,594 recoveries, and 70 deaths.

Uy cited mass gatherings in the surge of cases in the province.

Based on contact tracing history, most cases were seen in birthdays, burials, fiesta, and other gatherings.

"Kabalo kita nga halos mibalik na sa normal ang tanan. Padayong abri na ang ekonomiya ug galatas-latas na lang ang mga tao sa lain-laing lugar. Apan dili kini excuse aron dili kita padayong mag-amping (We all know that everything is almost back to normal. The economy has slowly reopened and people have been traveling from one place to another. But this is not an excuse for us not to be complacent)," the governor said.

As agreed during the Provincial Peace and Order Council meeting, Uy said he will issue an executive order limiting mass gatherings and other activities.

The official urged the public to continuously abide by the minimum health protocols.

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Editorial: Respecting Mt. Apo

Posted: 01 Jun 2021 05:19 AM PDT

MOUNT Apo, being the Philippines' highest peak, is a bucket list for many mountaineers and trekkers in the country.

With the number of people going up the mountain even before the pandemic happened, it has seen its fair share of irresponsible climbers. It can be recalled that a massive fire happened in Mt. Apo in 2016 believed to have been caused by trekkers who left a campfire unattended.

In February 2021, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources in Davao Region (DENR-Davao) observed that trekkers are not properly disposing of their wastes after the agency and its partners found empty soda bottles, water bottles, and face masks scattered along the trails and at campsites.

Over the weekend, it warned trekkers going to Mt. Apo that if they show indecent behaviors, this could result in them getting up from trekking the mountain again.

The agency uploaded screenshots of a trekker who was shown drinking wine or liquor at the mountain's peak while making unnecessary noise and showing indecent behavior.

DENR-Davao reminds trekkers to respect Mt. Apo considering its ecological value and its importance to the beliefs of the cultural communities in the area.

"Mount Apo is not just about its ecological and wilderness value. It is also remarkable for its cultural significance and is highly respected as it is believed to be the burial ground of Apo Sandawa, the indigenous community's Great Forefather," the agency said in a post.

As irresponsible trekkers continue to haunt and disrespect Mount Apo, maybe it is time for the Mt. Apo Natural Park-Protected Area Management Board (Pamb) to implement stricter measures to protect the mountain from irresponsible trekkers. It may also consider conducting another round of training for guides to allow them to handle difficult trekkers.

It also pays to improve the information and education campaign on policies and what not to do when trekking Mount Apo. Mountaineering groups, DENR, and the Pamb can work closely on this together.

Lastly, as a reminder to those who plan to trek Mount Apo, learn to respect the ecological and cultural importance of the mountain. Do not trample on its beauty nor do indecent things at the mountain. Your selfish and irresponsible actions could damage the mountain in the long run. Let us all be reminded to always be responsible trekkers of not only Mount Apo but also other ecotourism sites in the country.

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Mayor: Transport of some Covid-19 patients delayed

Posted: 31 May 2021 06:46 AM PDT

DUE to the recent surge in Covid-19 cases in Davao City, Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio said there are some delays in transporting confirmed Covid-19 patients to temporary treatment and monitoring facilities (TTMFs).

This was one of the challenges the mayor cited during her radio interview on Monday, May 31, following the recent surge of cases in the city.

"Tungod sa kadaghan, duna gyuy delay sa pagkuha sa mga patients nga need og isolation (Due to the surge of cases, it is expected that there will be delays in transporting patients to the isolation facilities). Plus the fact na (that) because of a surge, tag hundreds sa isa ka adlaw ang ma-positive, duna puy kakulangan sa bed capacity sa TTMF (temporary treatment and monitoring facilities) (we have hundreds of daily positive new cases and it is expected that there is a possible shortage of bed capacities in our TTMF)" Duterte-Carpio said in an interview on 87.5 FM Davao City Disaster Radio.

The mayor said she already instructed the city's health response group that there is no need to pick up patients using ambulances.

"There is no need to pick them up one-by-one since positive naman na sila tanan (they are already positive). So we could use bigger vehicles to pick up positive cases," Duterte-Carpio said.

For more than a year since the pandemic, the mayor said they are still encountering the same challenges in its Covid-19 response.

She also said some patients refused to be taken to the isolation facilities.

She also said some patients wanted to choose a specific facility for him/her to be isolated, while some refused to be taken because they do not believe they are positive with the virus as they are asymptomatic or do not manifest any symptoms linked to Covid-19.

"In that case, dili na ta makiglalis sa pasyente (we won't argue with them). We immediately refer them to DOH [Department of Health]," Duterte-Carpio said.

The mayor also said that some patients are hard to find as they do not "truthfully" provide their accurate contact details and address.

"Duna pud tay pasyente nga di na makita. Lahi ang address, lahi ang contact number (We have some patients that are nowhere to be found. The address and contact number are different), and when you access the address and contact number, wala na didto ang tao (they are no longer there)," she said.

The mayor also revealed that there is also a delay in the contact tracing. Among the factors for this is test results come out after three to four days.

The mayor also added that they are having a hard time reaching out to close contact individuals.

Currently, the city has three testing centers: Davao Doctors Hospital, Southern Philippines Medical Center, and Davao One World Diagnostic Center.

But she said the city is adding two more testing centers. These include the co-managed testing machines at Brokenshire Hospital and Los Amigos Molecular Laboratory.

"Mas maayo kung mas daghan ang testing na mabuhat sa isa kadlaw para paspas makit-an dayon ang mga positive (It would be best if we get to test more individuals in a day so we could immediately detect those positive individuals), because the mayor you do your test, the more ka duna makita na positive (we get to detect more positive individuals)," Duterte-Carpio said.

The mayor recently said the city is targeting to test a minimum of 1,000 tests per day.

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Duterte-Carpio to Dabawenyos: Prepare for storm

Posted: 31 May 2021 06:44 AM PDT

DAVAO City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio told Dabawenyos to brace for the impact of Tropical Storm (TS) "Dante" in the city and some parts of Davao Region.

"Makit-an nato sugod ganihang buntag, dire-diretso ang pag-ulan dinhi sa atoa sa atoang syudad. Mag-watch out ta sa pagtaas sa tubig sa mga sapa, and sa posibleng overflow or pagbaha dala sa atong bagyo nga naa dinha sa dagat, wala diha sa yuta (We saw today (May 31) how it has been raining since this morning in the city. Stay alert for increasing water levels at the river and for a possible overflow due to rains brought by the storm)," Duterte-Carpio said in an interview on 87.5 FM Davao City Disaster Radio.

Duterte-Carpio said TS Dante is currently bringing heavy rain to the city and the region.

On Sunday evening, May 30, several areas in the city experienced overflow in rivers, resulting in residents being forcibly evacuated.

Duterte-Carpio said the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CDRRMO) conducted pre-emptive evacuations in Barangays Talomo Proper, Calinan Proper, Bago Aplaya, and Bunawan.

Based on the initial information provided by the mayor, 90 families in the affected areas were evacuated.

With TS Dante nearby Davao Region, the mayor said CDRRMO is currently on standby for possible evacuations.

The mayor reminded the public that the strong winds might cause damage to rooftops and other properties.

She also warned of possible landslides, especially in risk areas, while heavy rains might result in floods and a rise in water levels near riverbanks.

In times of disasters and emergencies, the mayor underscored the importance of preparing a "Go Bag" or an emergency-preparedness bag, which includes food, medicine, and other important items.

The mayor added these bags must have face masks, face shields, soap, alcohols, and if possible, meter sticks, to ensure the observance of the physical distancing to help maintain observance of the health protocols.

According to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) as of 11 a.m., TS Dante slightly intensified while moving northwestward over the Philippine Sea.

"The center of Tropical Storm Dante was estimated based on all available data at 515 km east northeast of Davao City or 445 km east of Hinatuan, Surigao del Sur (8.3°N, 130.4°E)," Pagasa said.

The weather bureau added, "Maximum sustained winds of 75 km/h near the center, gustiness up to 90 km/h, and central pressure of 996 hPa."

Light to moderate with at times heavy rains will be experienced over Caraga and Davao Region, Soccsksargen, Bukidnon, and Misamis Oriental due to the outer rainbands of TS Dante.

"Under these conditions, isolated to scattered flooding (including flash floods) and rain-induced landslides are possible, especially in areas that are highly or very highly susceptible to these hazards as identified in hazard maps. Adjacent or nearby areas may also experience flooding in the absence of such rainfall occurrence due to surface runoff or swelling of river channels," Pagasa reported.

Due to TS Dante, the Municipal Governments of Compostela and Monkayo in Davao de Oro ordered the suspension of classes for both private and public schools.

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SPMC expands ICU beds to 77

Posted: 31 May 2021 06:44 AM PDT

THE intensive care units (ICU) beds intended for Covid-19 patients at the Southern Philippines Medical Center (SPMC) have already been expanded to 77 beds from 35, but its utilization rate is still nearing full occupancy.

SPMC Chief Dr. Ricardo Audan said in a virtual presser on Monday, May 31, that the additional 42 beds were coming from converted private ward beds.

"At least, we'll put the minimum requirement for the ICU [beds]. Kinonvert namin yung (We converted our) single beds na pay ward into ICU kaya tumaas siya to 77 [beds]," he said.

As of May 30, 76 out of the 77 ICU beds or 98.7 beds are already occupied. While ward beds are also nearing full occupancy as 289 out of the 312 beds or 92.63 ward beds are already occupied. Overall SPMC has a total of 389 beds for Covid-19 patients.

SPMC's ICU beds started to be in full occupancy on May 21.

ICU bed rate reached above 80 percent on May 3, while ward beds started rising 70 percent and above on May 17.

According to SPMC and the Department of Health's (DOH's) critical utilization rate, an occupancy level that is between 71 and 100 percent is considered a "danger zone"; an occupancy rate level between 31 to 70 percent is considered a "warning zone"; and under "safe zone" when it is from 1 to 30 percent.

Meanwhile, Audan said the hospital has been consistently experiencing 130 to 140-percent occupancy in its emergency room (ER) for the past months.

"'Yung ER nga namin, tinatawag nila parang every night midnight sale. Sobrang masikip (Our ER has been compared to an every night midnight sale because it is crowded)," he said.

With this, the hospital management is now working on establishing an extension ER.

"It's ongoing wherein we will use the lobby of the outpatient department," Audan said.

In terms of manpower, he said they have no problem as the personnel in the pay ward were also deployed to cater the Covid-19 patients in the expanded rooms and beds.

He also noted that the hospital has recorded rising of non-Covid-19 cases, wherein 91 out of the 135 beds are already occupied.

Also, they are catering to adverse events following immunization (AEFI) cases for individuals experiencing side effects after being vaccinated with Covid-19 vaccines.

Audan revealed that they already have a memorandum of agreement with the Davao Doctors Hospital (DDH) to cater minor cases like appendectomy, thyroidectomy to their hospital as charity.

He is also calling the help of other private hospitals to do the same.

"This is to mitigate admission of SPMC kasi 'yun ang kanilang matutulong (as it would be of big help)," he said.

In exchange, Audan said they will also assist private hospitals by lending them 10 ventilators as long as they won't charge it to patients in case they will already open their Covid-19 beds.

Meanwhile, Audan said they are still in need of additional manpower for them to continuously expand their bed capacity for Covid-19 patients.

Despite continuously posting job positions, the SPMC chief said only a few people apply for various vacant positions.

He said the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) already deployed 25 personnel from Manila who will serve and assist as nurses, and 10 personnel from the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) in Davao City, who will serve as doctors.

The personnel from AFP and BFP were pulled out in April when the city experienced a downtrend of Covid-19 cases.

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Doctor: Kidney patients finding it hard to find donors due to pandemic

Posted: 31 May 2021 06:43 AM PDT

FINDING a kidney donor for dialysis patients became more challenging amid the pandemic, a health expert said.

Philippine Society of Nephrology Mindanao Chapter President Dr. Maria Theresa Bad-ang said finding a good kidney donor for their patients is a challenge now as the donor would need to present a negative RT-PCR result.

"Pero daghan mi referrals from end of life, mga na-stroke pero usahay dili namo mahimo kay walay result (But we do get a lot of referrals from end-of-life patients, those who suffered a stroke. However, we can't do anything about it since they don't have an RT-PCR test result)," said Dr. Bad-ang.

She invited interested individuals to an Organ Donation Sign-Up on June 15, 2021 wherein individuals who want to donate their kidney after their death will be given an Organ Donor Card.

She said this way, it will be easier for the families to understand that their loved ones really wanted his/her organs donated to those who need it should something bad happen to him/her.

Details of the said Organ Donation Sign-Up will be posted soon.

As of Monday, May 31, there are already a total of 324 kidney dialysis patients at the Southern Philippines Medical Center (SPMC) who got positive of Covid-19.

From this number, 234 patients have already recovered, 24 patients are still admitted, and 66 individuals have died.

According to Bad-ang, in November 2020 when the Covid-19 cases among dialysis patients peaked to 70, they had to separate the Covid patients with non-Covid dialysis patients.

"Para sa mga patients on dialysis, katong nagsurge gyud ta puno ang SPMC. Gi-transfer namo ang negative sa MDRMC (Metro Davao Medical and Research Center Inc). Ang mga gi-transfer na patients wala gibayran. Kung unsa ilang benefits sa SPMC, mao pud ilang nakuha while having their dialysis sa MDRMC. Hatod sundo sila sa ilang balay sa CTTMO (City Transport and Traffic Management Office) aron dili na sila mag-jeep (For the non-Covid-19 patients on dialysis, we transferred to MDRMC. They didn't pay for anything. Whatever their benefits were at SPMC were given to them upon transfer at MDRMC. CTTMO vehicles also bring them to and from their house so they won't need to ride the public jeep)," said Dr. Bad-ang.

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Duterte-Carpio, Marcos siblings discuss politics

Posted: 31 May 2021 06:42 AM PDT

DAVAO City Mayor and presidential daughter Sara Duterte-Carpio confirmed Monday, May 31, that they discussed politics with the Marcos siblings -- Senator Imee and former Senator Ferdinand "Bongbong" Jr. -- during their recent visit to Davao City.

In an interview on 87.5 FM Davao City Disaster Radio, Duterte-Carpio said the Marcoses met with her on Saturday lunch, May 29, to personally greet her on her 43rd birthday.

"When politicians gather, they'll talk about politics. Expected na na, wala kay makit-an na politicians na nagtapok na dili magistorya og politika (That is already expected from politicians when they meet, they usually discuss politics)," she said.

In a photo shared with City Hall reporters by Jefry Tupas, head of the City Information Office, the mayor and the Marcos siblings were seen laughing and having a good time over lunch that was hosted by the mayor's husband, lawyer Mans Carpio.

Duterte-Carpio, however, did not divulge any further what they talked about in particular.

"That is only what I can say (that they talked about politics) about our conversations namo didto (during the lunch)," she added.

Bongbong Marcos and Duterte-Carpio's names have been regularly appearing in elections 2020 surveys. Duterte-Carpio has been among the names of presidentiables, while Bongbong has been among the options for vice president.

The presidential daughter has been topping presidential polls conducted by various research bodies. But she repeatedly stated her unwillingness to run for the highest seat in the country in the upcoming May 2022 elections.

According to the University of Mindanao Institute of Popular Opinion (UM-IPO) online survey from March 10 to 19, 2021, results revealed that six out of 10 Dabawenyos want Duterte-Carpio to be the next president of the country.

When asked about their most preferred running mate for Duterte-Carpio, Bongbong Marcos topped the list with 36.1 percent followed by Senator Christopher Lawrence "Bong" Go (26.9 percent), and Manila Mayor Francisco "Isko Moreno" Domagoso (7.3 percent). Around 10.7 percent are still unsure.

The survey targeted Dabawenyos from the three districts of the city to know their preference for the upcoming 2022 presidential election.

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Estremera: The agony untold

Posted: 31 May 2021 06:41 AM PDT

WE THOUGHT terrorists were the worst. Then came Covid, that virus that plays in your mind and exaggerates everything.

I wonder how many have received that texted message from safedavao QR code that starts with: "Maayong adlaw (your name)."

I'm telling you, there is no "maayo" (good) about that "adlaw" (day) when you get that text.

I've been tagged as "F2/F3" for being in the vicinity of someone I do not know in a place where we had our QR codes scanned. Mine was a long period covered: From May 21, 07:01 p.m. to May 22 03:28 p.m., two of four times I went in and out in that place and had my QR code scanned.

What started as a quiet weekend became fear-filled days made worse by the agony of waiting.

I was among those turned away after waiting the whole morning in line for the free drive-thru swab at the Crocodile Park last Tuesday, May 25, 2021, the day after I received the message. I was the one who told our newsroom to check out what's happening because the line was already out there at Diversion Road, while we were somewhere in the middle, and it wasn't moving for hours.

We took solace in the fact that the guy at the swabbing center was amiable (for as long as you approach them amiably), and gave us assured slots with signed forms for Saturday, May 29.

Four days. Four days of torturous waiting where every itchy throat and tummy rumble becomes a major symptom in your mind. On ordinary days, these are just an itchy throat that you'd "ehem" away, and the precedent to your daily visit to the bathroom. But when you're an F2/F3 or worse F1 Covid contact, then these become major sources of fear.

I thought I was willing to wait... but by Wednesday, the uncertainty and fear was already getting at me. I had to know. So I brought my nephew with me for a paid swab at a private facility Thursday afternoon and got our negative results by Friday noon.

To say that it was a big relief cannot describe the level of relief you get upon seeing the emailed test result. The most beautiful words you can ever read these days are: "SARS-COV-2 VIRAL RNA - NOT DETECTED." I'm not joking. Suddenly, you are free to "ehem" as many times as you want, and yes, you can now go to your senior citizen mom to raid her kitchen. (We live in the same neighborhood with just delivery guys as regular visitors so we're practically one household).

While savoring mom's food, I remember that two friends are still battling the virus in different hospitals in different cities and that there are over 1,300 active cases in Davao City as the city is battling a new surge.

I got a reprieve. But the battle isn't over. In fact, there is a greater need for vigilance because the numbers are growing and like that quiet weekend with family... for as long as there are other people around, we can never be sure if there's a carrier among them. And all these play in your mind and are exaggerated by fear. saestremera@gmail.com

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For your sweetheart: Fight against diabetes and cardio-vascular disease

Posted: 31 May 2021 06:36 AM PDT

NOT many Filipinos understand that there is a huge connection between diabetes and cardiovascular diseases (CVD). There are risks and chances that diabetes, when left unaddressed, may progress to CVD, especially if the disease runs in the family.

Recently, the "For Your Sweetheart" campaign was launched to raise awareness to patients and their families of the connection between diabetes (sweet) and Cardiovascular disease (heart). The nationwide campaign aims to encourage patients to be more open and to actually talk to their doctors especially when diabetes runs in the family. Aside from that, the campaign also puts emphasis on the importance of the family members in the treatment journey of patients.

According to the Department of Health, diabetes and cardiovascular diseases are among the leading causes of death in the Philippines together with pneumonia, cancer, all forms of tuberculosis, other respiratory diseases, and accidents.

SunStar Davao had a recent talk with Dr. Walid Amil, founding president of the Philippine Heart Association-Zamboanga Peninsula Chapter.

"We are encountering an increase in the number of diabetes cases now. An individual have very high chances of having diabetes if even one of their parents got diabetes before 40 years old," explained Dr. Amil.

He added that adults, though not yet showing symptoms but have parents diagnosed with diabetes, must have their sugar level monitored on a regular basis.

The For Your Sweetheart campaign aims to detect diabetes at a very young age to blur the chances of it progressing to CVD.

"We're in the era of preventive cardiology. Early pa sana before pa magka-diagnosis but the possibility is there because of their history and lifestyle," he said.

If the patient is already diagnosed with diabetes, he/she has 2 to 4 times chances of getting CVD.

When visiting their website foryoursweetheart.ph, there is a "Take the Assessment Test'' tab. It is an online Framingham score test estimating the risk for coronary heart disease of a person not yet diagnosed with the disease.

According to Dr. Amil, the online test takes into consideration the test taker's (1) age; (2) blood pressure; (3) cholesterol level; (4) diabetes history; and (5) whether or not they are smoking.

The result of the online test is not yet a final diagnosis but may be shown to the doctor when consulting.

Dr. Amil explains that Filipinos, especially those with family history of diabetes, must be mindful of their sugar intake. He went on to clarify that even those without family history may still develop diabetes depending on diet and lifestyle.

Food to be avoided to maintain sugar level

Aside from the usual sweets and desserts, Dr. Amil reminds Filipinos that there are actually innocent-looking culprits in our food choices.

1. White rice, bread

They may not seem too sweet as the other desserts that we know but these foods high in carbohydrates are converted into sugar.

2. Sweet beverages

Typical Filipinos are very much fond of softdrinks, iced tea, and milktea. Dr. Amil suggests taking these in moderation. It is always better to just drink plain water.

3. Fastfood

Fastfoods not only contain ingredients that cause diabetes but also CVD. It is advisable to cook your own food more frequently.

"Aside from the diet, we are also looking at the patient's vices, whether or not they live a sedentary lifestyle, and also their cholesterol level," said Dr. Amil.

"Diabetes involves lifetime treatment. You have to follow lifestyle changes advised by your doctor to maintain the sugar level that you're aiming for. Always check your cholesterol level," he said.

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Meditalk: What are other coffee alternatives to start the day?

Posted: 31 May 2021 06:36 AM PDT

DEAR Dr. Fritz,

I just wanted to know if there are coffee alternatives that can perk up my day. I can't keep up with coffee. They make my heart race and my pulses pound.

Please help. Thanks.

John John

***

Dear John John,

Coffee can make anyone's day. The problem is, there are people who are sensitive to it, like you do and they can make your heart race. Anyway, here are other ways for you to perk up your day.

Try decaf.

Decaffeinated coffee has 97 percent of its caffeine removed. So, it might help you cut back on those racing heart beats.

Go for green tea

Green tea can help you. It also has cell-protecting antioxidants and has only a quarter of caffeine in a cup of coffee.

Golden milk turmeric tea

This can not only brighten your day, it can also help your heart, relieve arthritis pain and skin irritation from cancer treatments. You can add this to a warmed cup of coconut milk. Shake it until it's frothy. You can use honey or brown sugar to sweeten it.

Apple Cider Vinegar

Add a capful of this into a glass of warm water or into a hot tea. You can add lemon, honey, or brown sugar.

Maca

Some evidence suggests that it could make men and women more alert. It might even help with menopausal symptoms in women, such as hot flashes, night sweats, sleep problems, anxiety, depression, and irregular heartbeat.

Lemon Water

You can drink it like tea -- hot or iced. They are loaded with vitamin C. Some studies show that a daily dose of lemon juice can help control high blood pressure.

Well, there are more alternative drinks on the list, but we are running out of space for now. So, let me continue this next time. Until then!

Dr. Fritz

(Dr. Fritz Legarde Espedilla is an aesthetic dermatologist and surgeon and a clinical sexologist. She is also trained in hypnotherapy and Medical Acupuncture. She has been in the broadcast media for more than a decade and has written a book based on her 15 year stint with her radio program, "Healthy is Sexy Secrets ni Dr. Fritz." For your questions, you may e-mail them to dokfritz@yahoo.com. If you don't wish your letter to be published, we regret that we cannot answer them. Thank you for your understanding.)

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Gandemic: Vice Ganda’s first digital comedy concert

Posted: 31 May 2021 06:34 AM PDT

IT HAS been over a year since comedian superstar Vice Ganda hit the concert stage.

The pandemic has paused some of his shows but nothing can stop the "unkabogable" star to bring entertainment in the concert scene.

Vice was inspired by Regine Velasquez and Sarah Geronimo who both successfully conducted a concert in a new normal setup. Vice Ganda will be calling her digital comedy concert Gandemic VG-tal Concert.

"Gutom and kating-kati na ako makapagperform and entertain ulit ng tao through concerts. I want to serve my audience. The pandemic cannot stop me from performing," Vice shared in a recent virtual press conference.

The comedian shared the concert will be more on comedy and making people laugh as this is his strength as an artist. He, however, assured that sing and dance numbers will still be a part of the concert.

"My concert is more like a musical. There will be dance and singing performances but 90 percent of it will be comedy. That's what is unique about this concert. There is a comic relief," the phenomenal artist shared in Filipino.

The reported guests in the 2-hour show include Ice Seguerra, Jake Zyrus, Moira and Anne Curtis but the official list is yet to be released.

Asked how he has been doing a year after the pandemic, Vice Ganda was quick to add that he still considered himself and his family blessed despite what has happened in his home network and the country as a whole due to the pandemic.

"Sobrang blessed pa rin. Hindi naman ako naghirap. Yes, malaking kita ang nawala sa akin kasi cancelled mga concerts, corporate events, movies, mall shows, at iba pang raket, but marami pa rin akong work and I'm grateful," he shared.

The "Gandemic VG-tal Concert" will have a world premiere on July 17, 2021 at 9 p.m. (Manila time) through KTX.PH, iWantTFC and SkyPPV. It will also have a worldwide screening on July 18 at 11 a.m.

Tickets are now available at http://bit.ly/Gandemic

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Upstream PH inks deal with Universal Pictures

Posted: 31 May 2021 06:30 AM PDT

STREAMING platform upstream.ph is bringing the biggest and latest Hollywood movies to every Filipino home, as it inked partnership with Hollywood giant Universal Pictures.

Upstream executive Dondon Monteverde said in a virtual press briefing on Saturday, May 29, that this partnership is a first of its kind in the Philippines.

With the groundbreaking deal, upstream.ph will now be home to global blockbuster movie franchises such as "Jurassic Park," "Fast and the Furious," "Despicable Me," "Candyman," "Minions," "Halloween" and "Boss Baby," among many others.

What's even more exciting is the latest titles from Universal Pictures can also be accessed in the app like the most anticipated films like "F9," starring Vin Diesel, Michelle Rodriguez, Nathalie Emmanuel; and "The Croods: A New Age," starring Nicolas Cage, Emma Stone, Ryan Reynolds.

"We are truly honored to be the first and only Filipino portal to be trusted by Universal Pictures to stream old and new titles from their catalogue of blockbuster films. This is timely because the pandemic has certainly imposed limitations on our activities and most of us find ourselves cooped up in our homes as a safety precaution," Monteverde said.

He added that since they launched the streaming app last year, they are currently growing with more users.

"We keep on introducing more quality content to entice more people to watch via upstream.ph, all new and interesting content, we bring it here," Monteverde shared.

The partnership, he said, will continue within the year.

"We hope to do more partnerships with them in the coming future and also we are not closing our doors to partner for more organizations and parties, anything that will help us in our goal to bring quality content to Filipinos here and abroad as an alternative to watching movies in the cinemas during this time of the pandemic," he said.

Some of upstream.ph's upcoming releases from Universal are "Let Him Go," starring Diane Lane, Kevin Costner; "Bios," starring Tom Hanks; "The Bad Guys," starring Awkwafina, Sam Rockwell, Craig Robinson; "Last Night in Soho," starring Anya Taylor-Joy, Thomasin McKenzie, Matt Smith, and directed by Edgar Wright; "Crisis," starring Gary Oldman, Armie Hammer, Evangeline Lilly; "Minions: The Rise of Gru," starring Steve Carell, Lucy Lawless, Julie Andrews; and"The Forever Purge," starring Ana dela Reguera, Will Patton, Josh Lucas; among others.

Meanwhile, Monteverde also emphasized that aside from Hollywood blockbuster highlights from Universal Pictures and a vast array of genres from several local and international film productions, upstream.ph also makes it a point to showcase the best and brightest Filipino filmmakers through their original works under Upstream Originals.

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