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- Davao Region logs 1st case of Delta variant
- Davao Oriental’s Balite Bay positive for red tide
- IP’s in Haran return to Talaingod
- Special vaccination for religious leaders eyed
- Dole-Davao urges employers to give incentives to workers set for vaccination
| Davao Region logs 1st case of Delta variant Posted: 25 Jul 2021 07:06 AM PDT DAVAO Region's first case of the highly contagious Delta variant (B.1.617.2) of the Covid-19 was reported on Saturday, July 24, 2021. Tagum City Health Office Chief Dr. Arnel Florendo confirmed on Saturday evening that the city now has its first confirmed case of the Delta variant. This was based on the information given to them by the Department of Health (DOH). Florendo also confirmed that Tagum now has 12 cases of the Alpha variant and 22 cases of the Beta variant. He added that they still have 90 suspected cases of variants of concern under investigation and monitoring. The city government, in a separate Facebook post, said they will provide additional details in the coming days as they are still awaiting specific details from DOH. The local government also reminded the public to "triple" their precautionary measures as the Delta variant is highly contagious compared to other variants. In an information provided by the Philippine Information Agency (PIA), Florendo said the patient positive with the Delta variant has already recovered. The health official, according to the PIA, said the swab sample of the patient was submitted for genomic sequencing between May or June. Florendo added they are currently conducting contact tracing to those who had close contact with the patient to determine the timeline of the cause of transmission. Meanwhile, in a report from dxDC RMN Davao, DOH Undersecretary Leopoldo Vega confirmed that Davao City already recorded its first case of Delta variant. However, it was not stated when the first case of the Delta variant was recorded in Davao City. According to the report, Vega said there is a need to implement an "aggressive prevention" against the new strain of the virus, by intensifying the implementation of the minimum health public standards, contact tracing, and isolation. As of Sunday afternoon, DOH-Davao has not yet provided any information, particularly the case profile of the Delta-infected patients to the media. Davao City Covid-19 Task Force spokesperson Dr. Michelle Schlosser told SunStar Davao in a text message that they are also still waiting for the official report from DOH. DOH confirmed on July 16 the first cases of Delta variant in the Philippines. As of July 24, additional Delta variant cases have been detected in the country, bringing the total number of coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) cases with this highly transmissible variant to 64. DOH said the newly detected cases consist of 12 local cases, one returning overseas Filipino (ROF) and four under verification. Of the 12 local cases, nine indicated addresses in the National Capital Region, while three were from Calabarzon. Three remain active while 14 have been tagged as recovered. Regional and local DOH offices are still validating each patient's status. The University of the Philippines' Philippine Genome Center (PGC) also detected 11 Alpha (B.1.1.7) variant cases, 13 Beta (B.1.351) variant cases and two Theta (P.3) variant cases among the latest batch of coronavirus-positive samples subjected to whole-genome sequencing. Seven Alpha patients and two Beta patients had died. Of the 11 Alpha cases, 10 were local cases and one was under verification. One remained active, seven died and three were tagged as recovered. Of the additional 13 Beta variant cases, 10 were local and three were being verified. One was still active, two died and 10 recovered. One of the two P.3 cases is a local case while the other is being verified. Both have recovered. There are now 1,679 Alpha variant cases, 1,840 Beta variant cases and 235 P.3 cases in the country. These sequencing results don't include yet the samples collected from the crewmembers of the vessel from Indonesia that is docked in Albay. These will be included in the next batch, DOH said. The variant, first identified in India in February, is believed to be 60 percent more contagious than the Alpha (B.1.1.7) variant, which was first detected in the United Kingdom, according to the World Health Organization. Public Health England in May 2021 observed secondary attack rates to be 51 to 67 percent higher than the alpha variant. In a June technical briefing, the Delta variant was linked to a roughly doubling of the risk in hospitalization. (With reports from SunStar Philippines)  This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Davao Oriental’s Balite Bay positive for red tide Posted: 25 Jul 2021 07:03 AM PDT TEN areas across the Philippines, including Balite Bay in Mati City, Davao Oriental, were found positive for paralytic shellfish poison or toxic red tide beyond the regulatory limit, the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) said. In an advisory dated July 22, all types of shellfish and acetes, also known as alamang, in Balite Bay and other areas in the country are not safe for human consumption. Other areas that were reported to be positive for toxic red tides that are beyond the regulatory limit are Sorsogon Bay in Sorsogon, Matarinao Bay in Eastern Samar, San Pedro Bay in Western Samar, Lianga Bay in Surigao del Sur, Dumanquilas Bay in Zamboanga del Sur, Murcielagos Bay in Zamboanga del Norte, Murcielagos Bay in Misamis Occidental, Coastal waters of Dauis and Tagbilaran City in Bohol, and Coastal waters of Milagros in Masbate. However, BFAR said fish, squids, shrimps, and crabs from these areas are still safe for human consumption. "Fish, squids, shrimps, and crabs are safe for human consumption provided that they are fresh and washed thoroughly, and internal organs such as gills and intestines are removed before cooking," BFAR said. The bulletin also contains the list of areas free from toxic red tide.  This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| IP’s in Haran return to Talaingod Posted: 25 Jul 2021 07:03 AM PDT A TOTAL of 53 Ata Manobo tribe folk, including 30 minors, have returned to their ancestral land in Talaingod, Davao del Norte after three years of living at the United Church of Christ in the Philippines (UCCP)-Haran in Davao City. In a statement Friday, July 23, 2021, the Police Regional Office (PRO) Davao Region said the indigenous peoples (IP), all residents of Sitio Dulian, were brought home through Talaingod municipality's bus, van and dump truck on July 21. Members of PRO-Davao Region's Revitalized-Pulis Sa Barangay (R-PSB) Nasilaban and the Talaingod Municipal Police Station escorted the returning IPs, led by Lorena Mandacawan, and provided food packs. Mandacawan said they stayed at the UCCP-Haran for more than three years after her nephew was allegedly murdered by an Alamara member in 2017 and they were being threatened with the so-called "Pangayaw." She said they decided to leave and go back to Talaingod after their tribal leader, Datu Doloman, left them at the UCCP-Haran, which made their life difficult inside Haran's premises. The escorting police personnel together with the IPs arrived at the house of Bae Pilar A. Libayao, Indigenous Peoples Mandatory Representative (IPMR) of Talaingod, om Sitio JBL, Barangay Sto. Niño around 4:30 p.m. on the same date who then accompanied them to the Municipal Tribal Hall where they were temporarily sheltered. PRO-Davao Region Director Brigadier General Filmore Escobal said he hopes that their return to their homeland will "finally end the deception and exploitation of the people and organizations which have been using the IPs to get funding from local/foreign donors, wherein the funds being collected are utilized to support communist activities." "Ginawang propaganda ng Pasaka-SMR [Pasaka Confederation of Lumad Organizations in Southern Mindanao] ang boluntaryong pagbalik ng IPs galing sa Haran na diumano ang dahilan ng kanilang pagbabalik ay upang ituloy ang kanilang pakikibaka sa kanilang kapakanan, ngunit ang katotohanan ay ang hirap na nararanasan sa loob ng Haran ang tunay na dahilan at ang mga nakakaabot na kwento sa kanila tungkol sa programa at serbisyo ng gobyerno kung saan ngayon ay tinatamasa ng mga kasama nila," Escobal said. (Pasaka-SMR is spreading propaganda that the voluntary departure of IPs from Haran was to continue their struggle for their welfare. The truth is, the hardship experienced by IPs inside Haran is the real reason and the stories that reached them that the government programs and services have already benefited their fellows.) Pasaka had previously denied the allegations, saying that it is a "continuing harassment from the state forces." "The state has made countless attempts to pin us as 'terrorists' and even victims of trafficking, to distort the fact that we have chosen by our own will to evacuate and campaign in assertion of our just demands," Pasaka said in a statement on Sunday afternoon, July 25. On April 28, the Davao Regional Trial Court (RTC) issued a warrant of arrest against six UCCP-Haran Davao administrators for child abuse. In a warrant issued by the Davao RTC Branch 12 on April 21, 2021, which was forwarded to the media on April 28, the respondents are UCCP Southeast Mindanao Jurisdiction Area Bishop Hamuel Tequis, Rev. Daniel Palicte, Ephraim Malazarte, Lindy Trenilla, Grace Avila, and Pasaka Confederation of Lumad Organization secretary general Jong Monzon. The six respondents have been charged with two counts of violation of Republic Act 7610 or the Special Protection of Children Against Child Abuse, Exploitation, and Discrimination Act or the Anti-Child Abuse Law. The issuance of the warrant came nearly a month since the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) issued a freeze order on the bank deposits and assets of UCCP after it was allegedly used to finance or support terrorism. In a Philippine News Agency report, AMLC issued Resolution TF-36 dated March 12, 2021. The AMLC order covers the three bank accounts of the UCCP Haran Center with the Philippine National Bank amounting to more or less P600,000 and real property under the name of Brokenshire Integrated Health Ministries Inc. The freeze order stemmed from the AMLC's investigation that the assets are used to finance terrorism in violation of Republic Act 10168, otherwise known as The Terrorism Financing Prevention and Suppression Act.  This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Special vaccination for religious leaders eyed Posted: 25 Jul 2021 07:02 AM PDT THE Davao City government is considering pushing for a special vaccination for those in the religious sector. Covid-19 Task Force spokesperson Dr. Michelle Schlosser said in a radio interview on Friday, July 23, 2021, that this idea was being discussed during the task force meeting. "Naa pud ta sa mga (We are also planning a special vaccination for) religious groups. We will be reaching out to them. Isa sila sa target na tagaan nato (They are one of our target beneficiaries of the vaccination program)," Schlosser said in an interview on 87.5 FM Davao City Disaster Radio. The official has yet to provide additional information, including the specific targeted number of religious leaders and what religious denomination the city is trying to reach out in the proposed sectoral vaccine rollout. According to the Philippine National Deployment and Vaccination Plan for Covid-19 Vaccines, priests, pastors, rabbis, imams and other religious leaders regardless of denomination fall under Priority A4.7 of the essential frontliners. Davao Archbishop and Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) Romulo Valles expressed his support to the city government's vaccination program by offering the churches' facilities in the city to be converted into a vaccination site. Recently, a local-based religious leader was in hot water after his video, claiming that individuals jabbed with the Covid-19 vaccine will turn into zombies, went viral online. Councilor Mary Joselle Villafuerte said the city government already referred the video to the Philippine National Police Anti-Cybercrime Unit. Villafuerte, a medical professional and the head of the committee on health, also appealed to the pastors and other religious leaders to utilize their position in spreading accurate information on vaccines, and the government. Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio also sought the help of the Datus in the indigenous peoples (IPs) community to encourage their people to get vaccinated. This after some IPs in the hinterlands in the city are still hesitant to get themselves jabbed with Covid-19 vaccines, despite the ongoing vaccine rollout in their respective communities. "Giuna natong ginapasabot ang mga datu and then ang mga datu muistorya sa atoang mga kaigsuonang IPs (We talked to the Datu first and then the Datu will talk to the IPs)," Duterte-Carpio said. The city has started rolling out the vaccines to the A4 sector since June this year. Those included in the rollout are security and other auxiliary offices, tourism workers, teachers, government workers, mall workers, public transportation, food and beverage manufacturing workers, among others. According to the Davao City Vaccination Cluster, the city government has already rolled out 314,968 first doses of the Covid-19 vaccine, and 126,541 individuals are already fully immunized.  This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Dole-Davao urges employers to give incentives to workers set for vaccination Posted: 25 Jul 2021 06:58 AM PDT THE Department of Labor and Employment-Davao Region (Dole-Davao) urged employers in the private sector to provide privileges and even incentives for workers set to be vaccinated. Dole-Davao Assistant Regional Director Lawyer Jason Balais, in a virtual presser on July 22, 2021, called on employers to provide transportation for their employees or even charge the day's leave of absence from its paid incentive leave in order to encourage more of their employees to get inoculated. "If they can bring their workers to the vaccination site and have it on official time that would be a big encouragement for the workers," Balais said. The Dole official said employers should not deduct the salary of employees in times of their work absence. Vaccination for the A4 Priority Group or the public and private workers has already started in Davao Region in June this year. Under the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) Resolution No. 117, those eligible for vaccination include private-sector workers required to be physically present at their workplace outside their residences; employees in government agencies and instrumentalities; and informal sector workers and self-employed who may be required to work outside their residences; and those working in private households. The Dole official also announced that it has started integrating the vaccination incentive into its livelihood program. "For those who need a capital for livelihood, we are offering limited slots for a bicycle livelihood showcase who will get P25,000 worth of assistance which includes the purchase for a bicycle," he said. One requirement to avail of this livelihood package is for a fully vaccinated A4 worker. He said the agency hopes to offer more slots to cover more workers and encourage more workers in the region to get vaccinated. Covid-19 Task Force spokesperson Dr. Michelle Schlosser said it is the responsibility of the employers to allow their employees to be vaccinated during office hours, but this will depend on the internal arrangement of the company. "What we can do, with this po is to really arrange that with their employer, kay ano mana responsibility po yan ng employer natin to have, to let them be vaccinated (it is the responsibility of the employer to let them be vaccinated)," Schlosser said. She added that it will not take long for them to line up at vaccination sites. She also said some vaccination sites still conduct vaccine rollouts on weekends to cater to those employees who cannot make it during office hours. Despite some appeals from Dabawenyos, the Davao City government is not yet planning to set up night vaccination exclusively for workers under the A4 priority group. Schlosser said they are unable to conduct a night vaccination due to the limited manpower to supervise it. Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio also said the city cannot set up night vaccination because it cannot conduct 24-hour shifting for its health workers. She also said that the city's public transportation is limited at night, especially during curfew hours. (With reports from Ralph Lawrence G. Llemit)  This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
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