https://www.sunstar.com.ph/ |
- Davao Oriental eyes tourism operations suspension
- Digos reverts to GCQ
- Igacos mayor: Where is Davao-Samal Bridge?
- Lizada: Second breakfast
- Stories about pride
- PLDT, Smart enable vaccine rollout with connectivity support
- Meditalk: How many calories do I need to lose weight?
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 06:42 AM PDT WITH a few exceptions, I always eat fried chicken with calamansi and toyo. The reason being, early breakfast. Well, at least, when I was teaching. When you have a 7:40 a.m. every day, you have no choice but to eat breakfast at about 5:30 a.m. And after that, you rush through the house in order to get to the first class. And that poses a problem because by 8:30 a.m., the hunger pangs kick in, leaving you no choice but a second breakfast. And thankfully, at the Ateneo High School canteen of yore, there was yes you guessed it, fried chicken. And sinuglaw. And the teachers would gather for the first or second meal of the day. And I always had fried chicken with toyo and calamansi. Plus the conversations were fun. I will always associate it with the Ateneo High of the past because it was a lot of fun. I mean, we would converge at the "canteen" because it technically was a classroom but because of the construction of the gym, they had to put the canteen somewhere. But we had a lot of fun at that "canteen." We would share stories, tell stupid jokes and just a have a great time. We had teachers, admin people, guidance counselors, lab assistants, everyone who had the good fortune of having no classes right before recess. We bonded in those moments. I remember going to the guidance offices to fetch my friends and we would all go and have the second breakfast. And we would stay until the recess bell rang and we would all scamper because the crowd of students that would soon come down was stifling. So when the bell rang, we would all hurry and go back to our respective workplaces. I miss those days when everything was just slow and fun. Of course, there was pressure but it was something that we all dealt with. Part of the job thing. Most of the teachers then have gone separate ways. Some have become Thinner or "healthier." Others died while others went abroad searching for more fried chicken I guess. But it was not just the second breakfast. We had overnight sessions where we would just sit and talk and cry and laugh and just have fun. We had picnics, out-of-town trips, yearend lunches and dinners and a lot of visiting each other's homes. It was personal. Sometime ago, I met some of those teachers via a Zoom meeting and boy did we have fun. The only thing lacking was, you guessed it right, the fried chicken. And the sinuglaw. Most of us are older and perhaps wiser, I would not know. But those people are dear to me because we all shared a common ideal. Call it what you want, idealism, fire, passion. It was not the fried chicken actually.  This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Posted: 14 Jun 2021 06:42 AM PDT I HAVE clients that for years now are blinded by what they believe is true. Although books and experts would say that it is best to present the reality for people to practice the virtue of humility. But even then, at times, I feel that they instead become more fixed with how they perceive an issue, difficult for them to lower and overcome their feelings of pride. For instance, a new client who is a call center agent refuses to listen to others during their meetings. He became very self-protective that would no longer even give others chances to vent their thoughts. He has the tendency to block others using highfalutin words to scare them and prove that he is better than anyone else. And he loves to be the center of attraction in any debates or group conversation. Most of all, he always demands others to listen when he shuts out his opponents when they begin to speak. Another is a regular client but often will see me when she becomes delusional, I would say. She begins her stories with a happy plot, then rapidly shifts to sharing about her present sad moments, and then goes back to joyful encounters. I have realized that she would want to listen to what is only pleasing or advantageous to her; she dislikes when what she plans to do is not recognized. Worse is that she feels that the world should thank her every time she does big things and would take pride to disagree that others have contributed to it. Lastly, is a client of mine for several years. Two months ago, she called me over the phone and said she is no longer affected by any bad encounters that usually caused her to flare up. She has expressed her big change that she is no longer irritated by gossip and would choose to be silent even when she is hurt. However, just last week, she got in trouble with her neighbors. I expect no retaliation, but she brags about her money and connections. And she expressed her intention to do everything to prove to them, she should not be taken lightly. I believed that all humans could go wrong, but a humble person understands when he or she is told to be wrong and then tries to repair the mess. The only issue is when the person could not deal with her pride, hurting and affecting many. When a person is too proud, he or she has no opportunity to see what is down there because she remains to look up high. Pride will then destroy a friendship, family, and work relationship. It will damage everything good and fulfill the prophecies of feelings of emptiness in the end. Remember that if we always think about our entitlement, we begin to walk all over others to get what they supposedly deserve. So, let us stay humble and discern if we become out of tune at times. A prideful person is not competing with man, but with God!  This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| PLDT, Smart enable vaccine rollout with connectivity support Posted: 14 Jun 2021 06:40 AM PDT PLDT and its wireless arm Smart Communications Inc. (Smart) are working closely with local government units (LGUs) in Davao Region to provide connectivity support to their ongoing vaccine rollout. Under this partnership, PLDT and Smart are providing fiber connectivity and PLDT Prepaid Home WiFi devices for use of frontliners across all vaccination centers in Davao City and Panabo City in support of the government's Resbakuna Covid-19 vaccination roll-out. The LGUs will also use Smart Infocast, a web-based text broadcasting solution, to disseminate information about the vaccination roll-out schedule, particularly advisories for those receiving their second vaccine dose. "PLDT and Smart are partnering with local health offices by providing communications solutions that can help in the implementation of the Resbakuna program of the Department of Health (DOH). A fast and reliable internet connection and SMS broadcast platform can help the LGUs do massive data collection and information dissemination," said Jonathan dela Cruz, AVP for Customer Development in Mindanao. In Davao City, Covid-19 Task Force spokesperson Dr. Michelle Schlosser shared that when they started the vaccination in March, they came across challenges in the registration process. "We really experienced difficulties, especially with the registration during the first few days. But when we went fully online, the problems were resolved. We are thankful for telecommunication companies like PLDT and Smart for the partnership," she said. Davao City Health Office (CHO) Acting Head Dr. Ashley Lopez shared that communications and internet connectivity are vital in the government's Covid-19 vaccination program. "It (connectivity) is important because almost all parts of the process, from pre-registration, registration, recording and even reporting Adverse Event Following Immunization (AEFI), are electronically run," he said. Connectivity key for transmitting vital data in real-time Lopez added that internet connectivity helps in coming up with more accurate and real-time data that is being collated, analyzed, and submitted to the Department of Health and other concerned agencies. "We are very grateful to Smart and PLDT for taking the initiative to partner with the LGU in Davao. No other telco offered us that," he emphasized. For Panabo City, City Information Officer Michael Angelo A. Resueño shared that Smart has been a constant partner in the LGU's efforts to connect with Panabo residents. "For the connectivity requirement of the DOH's Resbakuna program, Smart is an obvious choice as a partner," he said. Resueño reiterated that fast and reliable internet connection in the implementation of the Covid-19 vaccination program is important as they need to send real-time data to DOH and the Provincial Health Office. "It's vital for the health statistics on vaccinated individuals," he explained. This is part of PLDT and Smart's ongoing support for the government's nationwide Covid-19 response, which also includes the roll-out of fiber-powered WiFi connectivity to government-run quarantine, swabbing, isolation sites, vaccination sites, and other Covid-19 facilities. Since last year, PLDT and Smart have been providing connectivity and communications support to frontline agencies and their personnel such as the departments of health, transportation, public works, the armed forces and police, local governments, and non-governmental organizations in different parts of the country, to help frontliners and patients stay connected despite the challenges of the pandemic. These efforts are aligned with Smart's thrust in its "Live Smarter for a Better World" campaign, which highlights Smart's long-running community partnership programs, enabling "personal revolutions" that spark lasting positive change through connectivity and CSR initiatives. (PR)  This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Meditalk: How many calories do I need to lose weight? Posted: 14 Jun 2021 05:39 AM PDT DEAR Dr. Fritz, Good day. Call me Samantha. I really wanted to lose weight in a healthy way. But, I am confused about how many calories I should take if I need to lose weight? I weigh 77 kilograms and stand 5'2". Please help me. Thanks and more power. Samantha 2021 *** Dear Samantha 2021, I am sending you the chart generated from the Institute of Medicine's estimated energy requirement calculation to guide you to your weight loss goals. However, use this as a reference point, because every one of us is different metabolically even when we are of the same size and gender. If you want to maintain weight, then, get to the daily calorie limit. This is based on your age, activity level, and the BMI (body-mass index) of 21.5 for women and 22.5 for men. To compute your BMI, use the following formula: BMI = kg/m2 where kg is a person's weight in kilograms and m2 is their height in metres squared. In your case, you have a BMI of 31.24. Under BMI Categories below, you are obese. So, you really need to lose weight. Underweight =  This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
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