Sunday, July 25, 2021

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DOH-Western Visayas pushes strengthened border control amid Delta variant threat

Posted: 25 Jul 2021 07:44 AM PDT

THE Department of Health (DOH) in Western Visayas has recommended strengthened border controls in order to control the possible entry of the Covid-19 Delta variant.

Dr. Anna Lisa Ong, DOH pediatric infectious diseases specialist, said aside from border control, local government units (LGU) should also monitor all endorsed arrivals and the implementation of localized and granular lockdowns.

Ong also recommended strengthening the Prevent-Detect-Isolate-Treat-Reintegrate strategy to prevent the Delta variant from spreading out of control.

She also stressed the need for stricter compliance of minimum health standards such as wearing face masks and face shields and observing social distancing.

The LGUs were also advised that no mass gatherings should be observed as they have the potential to become a superspreader event.

Last week, both the Provincial Government of Negros Occidental and Bacolod City have reimposed travel restrictions due to the threat posed by the Delta variant.

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Mother shot dead by motorcycle-riding suspect

Posted: 25 Jul 2021 07:42 AM PDT

A 48-YEAR-OLD mother was shot dead outside her sari-sari store in Purok Perez, Barangay 2-Poblacion, Pontevedra on July 24, 2021, by an unidentified motorcycle-riding suspect.

The victim was identified as Malaurie Pagunsan, who was a resident of the place.

Police Captain Hancel Lumandaz, chief of police of Pontevedra Police Station, said the victim was opening her sari-sari store with her 18-year-old son when they noticed a man standing and suddenly shot the victim.

Not contented, the said suspect came nearer and shot the victim again at close range that caused her instant death.

Lumandaz said based on their investigation, the motive of the killing may have something to do with unpaid loans as the victim was reportedly facing an estafa case.

The suspect, who was wearing black jacket, black bonnet, black cap, short pants and slippers, escaped by riding a color blue motorcycle.

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PCCI exec: Ceneco has to put its house in order

Posted: 25 Jul 2021 07:42 AM PDT

THE Central Negros Electric Cooperative (Ceneco) has to put its house in order so it could contribute to job creation efforts of the local government units (LGUs) and business sector in the Metro Third area.

This was stressed by Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) vice president for the Visayas Frank Carbon.

Carbon, also the chief executive officer of Metro Bacolod Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said More Power, the power distribution utility of Metro Iloilo, has brought down its residential rate to P6.45 per kilowatt-hour (kWh) from P10.01 per kWh in the month July.

The utility, he said, is also capable of increasing the purchasing power of the people to over P250 million every month. This will provide more food on the table and help in the creation of more employment and livelihood opportunities.

"Ceneco could do it also. We could not find a reason why it could not do it," the business leader said.

Ceneco caters to the largest number of electric consumers in the province including the Cities of Bacolod, Bago, Talisay and Silay, and the towns of Murcia and Salvador Benedicto.

The PCCI official suggested some steps that Ceneco could explore like including the Competitive Selection Process (CSP) and signing the power supply agreement with the lowest winning bidder.

Carbon stressed that there is no law or Department of Energy (DOE) circular banning coal-fired power plants to participate in the bidding.

He said the DOE has a working program to substantially replace, as the supply grows, the power supply of distribution utilities to renewable energy.

"We have to trust and respect the vision and program of the DOE," Carbon added.

Another suggestion is the review of Ceneco's Power Supply Plan and Study, sourcing part of its supply from open market like what More Power did.

More Power is using talents developed by Ceneco, he said, adding that Ceneco should also review its Capital Expenditure Program and implementation strategies.

It could include working closely with the Energy Regulatory Commission or Anti-Red Tape Authority.

The business leader believed that the result could reduce systems loss that contributes to higher power cost and frequent brownouts.

Sometimes improved management would be paid with power reliability and better rates -- the dream of all power utility executives, he said, adding that the executives of More Power are trying to realize their dream.

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Bing to attend Duterte’s Sona virtually

Posted: 25 Jul 2021 07:39 AM PDT

BACOLOD City Mayor Evelio Leonardia was invited to personally attend the sixth and final State of the Nation Address (Sona) of President Rodrigo Duterte Monday, July 26, 2021, but due to Covid-19-related concerns in the city, he will attend the ceremony virtually.

Leonardia, national president of the League of Cities of the Philippines, said in a statement Sunday he was invited jointly by the Senate and House of Representatives to personally attend the sixth and final Sona of Duterte at the Batasang Pambansa today.

"I am honored by the invitation, but while I would like to attend physically, I would prefer to do it virtually instead due to Covid-related concerns here which need my personal attention. That is why I had never left Bacolod City since February 2020 when the pandemic started. Yes, not even once," the mayor said.

Leonardia had personally attended President Duterte's Sona from 2016 to 2019.

In September 2019, Duterte appointed Leonardia as the lone representative of the local government units in the country to the Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council.

Meanwhile, the Bacolod Task Force Disiplina will also monitor the possible mass gathering of progressive groups that will hold a rally in the city Monday.

Wilfredo Geolingo, action officer of the task force, said they will monitor the situation in the city to avoid mass gatherings in various areas.

He said health protocol violators will be penalized and will be given citation tickets.

"We should follow the minimum health protocols like the wearing the face masks, face shields and observance of social distancing since the city is still under general community quarantine with heightened restriction. We should cooperate to prevent the spread of coronavirus disease (Covid-19)," he said.

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Special risk allowance for medical workers in NegOcc released

Posted: 25 Jul 2021 07:36 AM PDT

THE Department of Health (DOH) has already released the special risk allowance for medical workers in Negros Occidental.

Provincial Administrator lawyer Rayfrando Diaz over the weekend said among those who are entitled to the hazard are hospital workers, disaster risk reduction management office personnel, personnel from the Provincial Health Office and quarantine workers.

Diaz explained the allowance funds released by the DOH for medical workers will depend on the computation of their duty hours.

He further explained the special allowance is part of the funds allocated by the DOH for workers who are risking their lives in the line of their duty due to the pandemic.

Diaz also added that the vaccination of all those belonging to the A1 or frontline health workers is nearly complete.

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DBM includes Bacolod general hospital budget in 2022 national expenditure program

Posted: 25 Jul 2021 07:35 AM PDT

THE Department of Budget and Management (DBM) already included in the 2022 National Expenditure Program the budget for the construction of Bacolod City General Hospital in the city.

Bacolod City Lone District Representative Greg Gasataya on Sunday, July 25, 2021, said the Department of Health (DOH) informed him that DBM included in the 2022 National Expenditure Program the budget for the Bacolod City General Hospital in the city.

"We requested Secretary Francisco Duque for it last week and we are very thankful for the inclusion of the city's general hospital budget in 2022 National Expenditure Program," he said.

On June 24, 2021, President Rodrigo Duterte already signed into law Republic Acct 11564, creating the Bacolod City General Hospital and appropriating funds for its establishment.

The bill was authored by Gasataya in the House of Representatives and its counterpart in the Senate was also sponsored by Juan Miguel Zubiri.

The Senate allotted a budget of P600 million for the establishment of the Bacolod City District Hospital to be included in the 2022 General Appropriations Act under the Health Facilities Enhancement Program of the Department of Health.

Zubiri earlier assured the City Government of Bacolod that he will find other sources starting with an allocation of P200 million to augment its budget for the construction of Bacolod City General Hospital in the city.

Moreover, about five private property owners in Bacolod City also expressed their willingness to donate their lots for the construction of the Bacolod General Hospital in the city.

These owners are willing to donate their lots in the areas of Barangays Bata, Mansilingan, Estefania, Pahanocoy and Felisa.

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Over 103,000 Bacolodnons inoculated

Posted: 25 Jul 2021 07:35 AM PDT

A TOTAL of 103,925 persons in Bacolod City were already vaccinated against coronavirus disease (Covid-19).

Emergency Operations Center (EOC) records showed that from March 5 to July 22, 2021, EOC-Task Force and the Covid-19 Vaccination Council (CoVaC) already inoculated a total of 103,925 individuals.

Of the number, 29,720 persons already received their second doses of Covid-19 vaccines.

On Saturday, CoVac also held a vaccine rollout at the Hall of Justice for the inoculation of judges, lawyers and members of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP).

The activity was organized upon the request of Executive Judge Raymond Joseph Javier.

CoVac catered to senior citizens (A2), adults with comorbidities (A3), and frontline personnel in essential sectors (A4), including frontline workers in law justice, security, and social protection sectors.

Senior citizens and persons with comorbidities were given Johnson & Johnson shots, while the rest of the personnel were given AstraZeneca vaccines.

The activity was supervised by Mayor Evelio Leonardia, Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran, Councilor Renecito Novero, members of the EOC and officials of City Health Office.

To avail of the free vaccination of Bacolod City, register online thru the link tinyurl.com/bcdceironline.

On Friday, Bacolod City also received an additional 20,000 doses of Sinovac vaccines that will be administered as second doses to Bacolod residents.

As of July 23, Bacolod City received a total of 167,680 doses of Sinovac, AstraZeneca, Johnson & Johnson, and Pfizer vaccines from the national government.

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Arroyo to attend virtual Sona via Zoom

Posted: 25 Jul 2021 07:17 AM PDT

NEGROS Occidental Fifth District Representative Ma. Loudes Marilou Arroyo will attend the State of the Nation Address (Sona) of President Rodrigo Duterte via Zoom in her district Monday, July 26, 2021.

Arroyo said she was invited to attend the Sona at the Batasang Pambansa, however, she opted to stay to attend to the needs of her constituent in the district.

"I will stay here and will be attending the opening of our regular session in the morning and the Sona in the afternoon via Zoom," Arroyo said.

Arroyo visited on Sunday the Lying-In and Birthing Clinic in Barangay Su-ay, Himamaylan City with Himamaylan City Mayor Raymund Tongson and Barangay Captain Hope Belarga.

The P6-million Lying-In and Birthing Clinic is one of Arroyo's projects in the district. There are plans that the facility, which serves not only those from the barangay but also from the neighboring areas, will be named after her brother, the late Fifth District representative Ignacio Iggy Arroyo.

She also led the giving of 615 packs of relief assistance to those affected by the typhoon at the evacuation center in Barangay Aguisan, Himamaylan City.

Arroyo also revealed Sunday that those undergoing dialysis treatment in the Fifth District and neighboring localities will soon avail of the Hemodialysis machine, which will soon arrive at the Ignacio L. Arroyo, Sr. Memorial District Hospital.

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