https://www.sunstar.com.ph/

---

• Alfred Vargas graduates from UP, fulfills promise to late mom
• Offboarded riders eyeing legal measure vs Foodpanda
• DOH to probe ‘vaccine mixing incidents’ in Davao
• Senior, with comorbidities prioritized for J&J vaccine
• 112 pregnant women among repatriated OFWs
• House’s approval of HB 9147 ‘a step in right direction’
• Barrio Beterinaryo, home vet service for preventive care
• Abalayan: Nesthy's date with history

Alfred Vargas graduates from UP, fulfills promise to late mom Posted: 30 Jul 2021 08:50 PM PDT ACTOR-politician Alfred Vargas has fulfilled a promise he made years back to his late mother -- to pursue graduate studies. Vargas, who is the incumbent representative of Quezon City's fifth district, earned his master's degree in public administration from the University of the Philippines-National College of Public Administration and Governance (UP-NCPAG). He announced this recent milestone on the day of his virtual graduation on July 25. "This is a very big deal for me kasi hindi madali. Napakalaking challenge," Vargas shared, adding he has to juggle his work as a public servant and as a student in UP in the middle of a global pandemic. It was in 2002 when Vargas entered the entertainment industry right after graduating from college in Ateneo de Manila University. Her mother, Atty. Susana "Ching" Vargas, initially didn't approve of him being in showbiz. "Nung pag graduate ko kasi sa Ateneo in 2002, imbes na mag law school ako dumiretso ako sa pag artista, my mother is a lawyer, so medyo nagalit siya sa akin. Pero nung napanood na niya ako sa TV, sabi niya okay lang, kahit hindi na ako mag law school, just pursue graduate studies. I promise her that in 2002. Ngayon 2021, this is a promise fulfilled to my mom (When I graduated in Ateneo in 2002, instead of taking law school, I chose a different path which is showbiz. My mother, who is a lawyer, was somehow disappointed of me at first but when she saw me doing good on TV, she just asked me to pursue graduate studies. I promise her that in 2002. And I finally made it in 2021, this is a promise fulfilled to my mom)," he said. Vargas said he could not have made it if it weren't because of his mother's inspiration, guidance, and discipline. "Mommy, I fulfilled my promise to you. I wish you lived to see this promise fulfilled," he said. Moving forward, Vargas's next goal is to earn a doctorate degree on urban planning. The actor-politician also encourages his fellow artists to pursue studies in the field of their choice. "If you can and if you have the time. Go ahead. Continue your education, especially in our time now, it is really an edge if you have a specialization. The knowledge and skills you'll acquire along the way will be worth it," he shared. After his term in 2022, Vargas said he will rest for a while in politics and focus more on his businesses and acting. "I think it's about time to let others do it. I've been a politician for over a decade and I think now is the time for other leaders like my brother, councilor Patrick Michael "PM" Vargas," he said. Vargas then thanked everyone who joined him in his journey especially his wife Yasmine who was very hands on in raising their children and taking good care of their family. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

Offboarded riders eyeing legal measure vs Foodpanda Posted: 30 Jul 2021 06:40 AM PDT DAVAO City-based delivery riders who were offboarded by the Foodpanda management are planning to exhaust legal actions against the management. Davao United Delivery Riders Association Incorporated President Edmund Carillo told SunStar Davao in a phone interview on Friday, July 30, 2021, that the riders are currently weighing in their actions after the management allegedly failed to show up in a supposed dialogue between the two parties and mediated by the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) on July 26. He said they were surprised that neither a single representative from Foodpanda reached out to them. He said they were also not informed that the management already met with Dole prior to the scheduled dialogue on July 24. "Nadismaya tungod gusto namo mahibal-an ang side sa Foodpanda management kung ngano mi nila gi-offboard mi og pinakalit. Pero since wala man sila ato nga time. Wala gihapon mi nagkaayos sa mga rider ug Foodpanda management. Wala gihapon nila napaminawan among gusto," Carillo said. He said they are still puzzled why the management does not want to face them and return to them their access. Foodpanda said in a statement forwarded to the media that on the same day, all the riders who were offboarded have been invited to small group dialogues to openly discuss the situation on each case, and the possibility of reboarding them. Carillo confirmed that the management reached out to them, but they declined and insisted that they settle their differences before DOLE. "Karon ginatun-an namo mag-file og kaso. Wala man gihapon mi option. Ang pagtanggal sa amoa is dili man sab makatarungan," he said. He admitted that it is a lengthy process, but they will pursue their case against the management of the online delivery firm. SunStar Davao reached out to Foodpanda for further comment on the rider's statement, but the management said in its recent statement that they offboarded 37 riders who were found to have violated the agreement "which all foodpanda riders agree to." "These violations included making fake bookings and instigating other riders to jointly breach their agreements with the company," the firm said. With regards to some riders who were slapped with a 10-year suspension, the management said it is a "system glitch" and they are addressing the error. In terms of the complained riders' fee, the management said it is calculated based on multiple factors that include the route and distance of the delivery, making the payment structure more organized and fair. "Riders' earnings on each order are transparent at the point of their accepting each order before proceeding. If an order falls under a Free Delivery campaign, foodpanda shoulders the full delivery fee so riders still get their full fee for those orders," Foodpanda said. The company said they are "always working hard to keep operations running smoothly everyday -- so that restaurants can get orders, riders can deliver them for a living, and customers receive satisfactory service." They also said they are open to feedback for improvements and they will continue to initiate regular dialogues to help riders better understand their earning structure and other benefits available to them. On July 15, around 300 Foodpanda riders staged a protest on Roxas Avenue against the company. Several riders of the food delivery service provider questioned the management's fee structure that resulted in the diminishing of their take-home pay. In an interview with SunStar Davao, some riders disclosed that they were terminated after the management learned that many riders did not take their schedule for few days, speculating that they were on a strike. SunStar Davao is also trying to reach out to Dole for further comments on the recent negotiation. Legislative inquiries Meanwhile, Senator Risa Hontiveros and Bayan Muna party-list Representative Ferdinand Gaite on Monday, July 26, had urged DOLE and Congress to investigate the suspension of the Foodpanda riders in the city Hontiveros said the reported incident is "labor abuses" against delivery riders. "Nananawagan ako sa DOLE na aksyunan agad ang hinaing ng ating delivery riders na nakararanas ng panggigipit sa mobile app operators (I am urging Dole to act on the complaints of our delivery riders who are experiencing harassment from the mobile app operators)," Hontiveros said in a press statement. Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP) Representative Raymond Mendoza also passed "A Resolution Directing the Committee on Labor and Employment of the House of Representatives, in Aid of Legislations, the Working Conditions of Online Based Delivery Riders." "Delivery riders are being labelled as 'independent contractors,' 'business partners,' or 'freelancers,' in what appears to be the strategy of Foodpanda and other online platforms to evade payment of the mandatories required by the Labor Code and related laws," Mendoza said in the resolution. Davao City Councilor Pamela Librado-Morata also passed a resolution calling on DOLE to facilitate the riders' concern and raise the matter to the national level. Librado-Morata said a new legislation must be passed to address their concerns. "What we have in mind and what these delivery riders aspire for are regulations regarding their pay, based on the distance or a fixed rate per kilometer," Librado-Morata said. "Secondly, it will be ideal to have a standard percentage for riders per delivery charged to customer/buyer and a certain percentage charged to resto owners or merchants under Foodpanda and other similar delivery apps," she added, suggesting giving 50 percent of the 30 percent delivery fee direct to the rider. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

DOH to probe ‘vaccine mixing incidents’ in Davao Posted: 30 Jul 2021 06:38 AM PDT THE Department of Health (DOH) is investigating reported incidents of vaccinees receiving different brands of vaccines for their first and second dose in Davao Region. Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said in a virtual presser on Thursday, July 29, 2021, that based on their initial information, the healthcare worker who administered the vaccine merely made a mistake. "Iniimbestigahan natin ito sa ngayon, what really happened. Pero based sa initial information na naibigay sa atin, mukhang talagang error ng healthcare worker at ito naman ay hindi nila itinago. Sabi nila they mistook that vaccine for the vaccine na kailangan dapat iturok (We are investigating right now what really happened. But based on initial information reported to us, the healthcare worker committed an error, and they did not hide this anyway. They said they mistook the vaccine for the vaccine that was supposed to be administered)," Vergeire said. DOH-Davao Director Dr. Annabelle Yumang said at least two individuals in Davao Region have received different brands of vaccine for their second dose. "Ang rason sa staff, ma-mislook niya (The staff mislooked the administering of the vaccine)," Yumang said. She said the vaccination site must submit an incident report, which as of Friday they are still waiting to receive, as they are currently monitoring the individuals who were jabbed with two different brands of vaccines for adverse reactions. "Dili gyud nato ni tugutan. Apan nahitabo naman ni siya. Maong naa gyud siya'y (We do not allow it. But since it already happened, that is why we required them to submit an) incident report," the official said. The DOH-Davao head said they hope this would be the last time for such an incident. Yumang said vaccine mixing is not allowed, as there are still no existing DOH guidelines about it. Meanwhile, Vergeire said there is a need to retrain vaccinators, especially in areas where the mistake happened, to avoid repeating it. DOH has not disclosed the exact location where the incident happened. Covid-19 Task Force spokesperson Dr. Michelle Schlosser said they have not received reports that the incident happened in the city. Researchers are currently studying the efficacy of the vaccine mixing. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

Senior, with comorbidities prioritized for J&J vaccine Posted: 30 Jul 2021 06:36 AM PDT DUE to the limited allocated supply of Johnson & Johnson's (J&J) Janssen single-shot Covid-19 vaccine in Davao City, a health official reminded that those who will be prioritized by the vaccine will be the Priority Groups A2 (senior citizens) and A3 (persons with comorbidities). Covid-19 Task Force spokesperson Dr. Michelle Schlosser said in a radio interview on Friday, July 30, that the 14,400 doses of J&J vaccine will be limited for those priority groups, especially from the geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas (Gida). The City Government started rolling out the J&J vaccines on Thursday, July 29, 2021, at Dizon Elementary School, Malagos Elementary School, Paquibato District Hospital, Calinan Central Elementary School, Davao City National High School, Gaisano Mall (GMall) of Bajada, GMall Toril, SM City Ecoland, and Buhangin Central Elementary School. On Friday morning, July 30, several netizens posted on social media photos and videos of a long queue outside the Buhangin School as early as 6 a.m. Schlosser said more Dabawenyos prefer the vaccine as they only need to be jabbed once. Several reports of individuals bearing falsified medical certificates and identification cards just to be jabbed with J&J or Pfizer have surfaced online. Schlosser reminded the public to avoid falsifying their documents as they might face legal sanctions. "Mamahimo lang unta nga maghangyo mi nga dili nato i-fake out ning mga documentation needed para matagaan ang (We are asking the public not to falsify their needed documents so that we can accommodate the [real]) A3 or persons with comorbidity," she said. "Ipahinumdom lang namo sa inyo nga naa tay balaod ana for falsification of document. Hopefully, maging honest ta. Tutal dili lang kani nga brand makaprotect sato against Covid-19 (We would just like to remind you that we have a law against falsification of document. Hopefully, we are being honest, beside this is not the only brand that can protect us against Covid-19)," she added. The official reminded those covered in the priority group to present the required documents such as senior citizen ID for those covered under A2, and medical certificate, proof of comorbidity, or prescription for those under A3. Davao Region received its first batch of donated J&J vaccine, with a total of 143,850 doses on July 19. Dr. Rachel Joy Pasion, Regional Epidemiology Surveillance Unit head of the Department of Health-Davao Region, said in a virtual presser that the J&J vaccines will be administered in areas that are "high risk" for Covid-19 and those living in densely populated areas. Clinical trial results for the single-dose Janssen vaccine showed an efficacy rate of up to 66.9 percent against moderate to severe Covid-19. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

112 pregnant women among repatriated OFWs Posted: 30 Jul 2021 06:35 AM PDT AMONG the repatriated overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) who returned to Davao City are 112 pregnant women, two who gave birth in the city, an official from the Davao City Airport Monitoring team said. Airport Monitoring head Generose Tecson said in a radio interview on Friday, July 30, 2021, that the pregnant women were among the 359 OFWs and returning overseas Filipinos (ROFs) who were repatriated from Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE) and who arrived on July 18 at the Francisco Bangoy International Airport (Davao International Airport). Tecson called it a "blessing" when the two gave birth at the Southern Philippines Medical Center (SPMC). "Meron din tayong blessing dahil meron tayong dalawang OFW na nanganak. So dalawa po. Nanganak po (This is a blessing since we have two OFWs who gave birth here) --- Made in Dubai, born in Davao," the airport official said in an interview on 87.5 FM Davao City Disaster Radio. She added that this is the biggest number of pregnant women they were able to repatriate. Tecson said pregnant women were allowed to go on board since it is a repatriated flight. The official did not further elaborate on the identities of the women who gave birth in the city. Some 154 repatriated OFWs from Dhaka, Bangladesh also arrived in the city on July 15. Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio bared during her radio interview on July 26 that 10 repatriated OFWs who returned to the city tested positive for Covid-19. Of these, three were from Dhaka, and seven were from Dubai. The patients have already been placed in the city's designated treatment facility. Tecson said OFWs and ROFs were subjected to reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) tests 48 hours before they boarded their flight. The repatriates underwent quarantine for 14 days in a facility in Davao City. On the seventh day from the date of their arrival, they will undergo another swab test. Those who will test negative will be sent home after completing the 14-day quarantine period. Tecson said the specimens of the positive OFWs will be subjected for genomic sequencing. "Pero whatever it is na variant na kind of Covid[-19], pareho lang ang ang ating gawain (Regardless of the Covid-19 variant, we will still do the same treatment)," she said, adding that the positive patients will undergo the same treatment. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

House’s approval of HB 9147 ‘a step in right direction’ Posted: 30 Jul 2021 06:33 AM PDT THE World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) Philippines lauded the House of Representatives for the passage of House Bill (HB) 9147, or the Single-use Plastic Products Regulation Act on third reading Wednesday, July 28, 2021. "The passage of HB 9147 is a step in the right direction," said Ina Guingona, WWF's No Plastics in Nature's Policy officer. "Plastic pollution has been a scourge to our environment and our communities. A more integrative approach that is grounded and solutions-focused is needed to address the multifaceted issue of plastic pollution. The passage of this bill signifies the Philippines' commitment to tackling the problem in a holistic manner." HB 9147 is one of several bills pending in Congress that include Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR). This scheme, advocated by WWF, is a policy tool that holds producers accountable for the plastic packaging they put into the market throughout the whole life cycle of the product. According to the bill, manufacturers and producers will be mandated to implement their EPR programs such as recovery of their plastic wastes two years after the enactment of the law to prevent their single use plastic products from entering the environment. The bill also mandates manufacturers to divert 100 percent of their plastic wastes within five years from the date the law takes effect. Business establishments are also mandated to provide reusable and locally made materials to the public. EPR is a critical policy tool with a track record to hold manufactures accountable for their plastic products and packaging's end-of-life impacts, as well as to encourage holistic ecodesign in the business sector, according to WWF's position paper on EPR. On banning SUPs Unnecessary single use plastic materials, including plates, saucers, cups, bowls, lids, cutlery like spoons, forks, knives, and chopsticks, will be phased out with medical exemptions within four years from the effectivity of this Act. Other materials such as drinking straws, stirrers, sticks for candy, balloons, cotton buds, buntings, confetti and packaging bags less than ten microns will be phased out one year from the effectivity of the Act. Thereafter, the production, importation, sale, distribution, provision or use of the said plastic products shall be prohibited. Properly labelled flexible disposable plastic drinking straws for persons with special medical conditions shall be allowed, when no suitable reusable or compostable alternatives are available. A WWF report launched in October 2020 showed the challenges for waste management in the Philippines. More than 2 million tonnes of plastic waste, 15.43 kg per capita per year, is generated annually in the Philippines, 760,000 tonnes or 35 percent are leaked to the open environment while 706,000 tonnes or 33 percent go to landfills and dumpsites while only nine percent is recycled. "We hope the positive momentum brought by the passage of this bill will continue through the Senate and eventually, to the Office of the President. Our work is cut out for us, from the need to eliminate unnecessary plastics, redesigning the way we consume things, to implementing waste reduction and management as mandated by RA 9003 or the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act, there is clearly so much work to be done to address the plastic pollution problem in the country," said Czarina Contantino-Panopio, No Plastics in Nature's National lead. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

Barrio Beterinaryo, home vet service for preventive care Posted: 30 Jul 2021 06:32 AM PDT BARRIO Beterinaryo was first conceptualized by the couple Angel Flores and Dr. Aris J Alvarez in 2015 when Dr. A just came from working in Hong Kong after 10 years. As Angel is a humanitarian and a development worker and Dr. A a veterinarian, they thought of pursuing something that they both feel passionate about. It was only in 2020 when the concept became clearer and seemed more doable for them when many establishments closed down because of the community quarantine and more owners became concerned of the health of their pets. Others can't afford veterinarians and treatments. Others, on the other hand, were so occupied with problems and priorities at home that they couldn't find time to bring their pets to the vet. This became a more solid motivation for the couple to bring vet services at home to give pet owners better access. "We officially launched around April 2021 and we got our first clients in May 2021. We first catered to friends and colleagues -- those who are animal lovers like us, members of the community. It was experimental, at first, because we didn't know how people would react to the concept of vet home services. But then the feedback came and we were happy naman," shared Angel. She also said that in her experiences in humanitarian projects, she noticed how animal welfare is not always on the top priority. Most of the time, it's just an afterthought. Barrio Beterinaryo aims to discuss and try to address animal welfare issues particularly their health through preventive care. She said it's high time that pet owners, even those whose pets are Aspin and Puspin, understand that having a pet is a lifetime commitment and responsibility. Dr. A said Barrio Beterinaryo's key advocacy is focused now on preventive care and how to prevent diseases from surfacing. "'Yung vaccination kailangan i-administer habang puppies and kittens pa sila. We also have a de-worming program, series of vaccination, annual booster shots, including anti- rabies shots," said Dr. A. The Philippines is not yet rabies-free as a country hence it is important to update these shots annually. One of the challenges, he noted, in doing veterinary home service are the behavioral problems of the pets, especially those who are not used to seeing strangers. Rule of thumb, he said, is that there should be someone from the household capable of handling and restraining the pets no matter how intense their social issues may be. In the event that the owners themselves couldn't handle the pets, Barrio Beterinaryo reserves the right to decline service for the safety of the team, the owners, and the pet themselves. "In doing veterinary home services, we're thinking of a sustainable solution to animal welfare issues. Some of the animal's health issues, if addressed earlier, would be less costly for the owner and the quality of life of the pet does not need to be put at risk," said Angel, who added that Barrio Beterinaryo aims to be accessible for the low-income families to make them realize the need for it and that preventive care is more affordable than treatment. One benefit of a home service appointment, according to Dr. A, is the chance to have a comfortable chat with the owners without having to think of the next client lining up outside. Through this chat, they get to understand in depth what the owner and the pet's situation is. "We understand the challenges and the needs. We can think of more ways in the future to create schemes that can be more affordable and friendly to the communities," he said. Since they operated in May this year, they have been to different areas in Davao City such as in Cabantian, Tibungco, Bunawan, and even the farther areas of Toril while being based in Bangkal, Davao City. They have also gotten inquiries from pet owners in Davao de Oro and Davao del Norte, although they are still currently gathering and scheduling future transactions in the area. "Our vision really is to be a social enterprise. In the future, we want the profit of Barrio Beterinaryo to help low-income families with pets. We don't have spay and neuter home services yet but in the future we want to have it at a more affordable price for low-income families. We're envisioning that for every full-paying client, a low-income family will also benefit," shared Angel. Dr. A's and Angel's tandem for Barrio Beterinaryo only proves that humanitarian approach to animal welfare is something that needs to be given more attention to. They both believe that animal welfare does not end in loving animals and rescuing them. "An ecosystem is made of different creatures. Our resilience as a society relies on the relationship of the ecosystem -- the animals, the people, and their habitats. The way we treat animals is connected to us, humans, that's why we are now seeing zoonotic diseases such as Covid-19 transferring from animals to humans. We are all connected," Angel said. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

Abalayan: Nesthy's date with history Posted: 30 Jul 2021 06:30 AM PDT ONE fight at a time. AIBA 2019 Women's World Boxing champion Nesthy Alcayde Petecio and her long-time coach Nolito "Boy" Velasco both share the same thought after the former secured a spot in the Tokyo 2020 Olympics women's boxing featherweight medal round, bringing her closer to winning the first Olympic boxing gold medal, which has ever since been denied the Philippines. Already assured of a bronze medal, she will again have a date with history when she battles against Italy's Irma Testa today, July 31, in their semi-finals match. This native of Barangay Tuban in Sta. Cruz, Davao del Sur has already earned the distinction of winning the country's first Olympic boxing medal after 25 years and being the first Filipino female boxer to clinch a medal in the quadrennial Games. In her two-day break Thursday and Friday, she and her coaches did their homework in studying Testa's video fights to see the latter's strengths and weaknesses. Usually, Nesthy would watch her opponent's videos alone and would rarely join her coaches in doing so. World No. 2 Nesthy, in our recent Facebook Messenger video call after she defeated Yeni Marcela Arias Castañeda of Colombia via a unanimous 5-0 decision, said she is more comfortable doing her own homework so she can fully absorb the key points she must remember about her next rival. But she greatly values her veteran coaches' inputs, which were instrumental in her last three bouts including that shocking split decision victory over World No. 1 Lin Yu-Ting of Chinese on July 26. Beating the Italian will pave the way for Nesthy to have a shot at the coveted gold. But then again, she is not thinking about that yet as she is still set on the task at hand. "Pirmi nako ginaingon Ginoo na bahala sa tanan. Kinahanglan trabahuon nako og isalig sa Iyaha (I've been saying that I entrust everything to God. I will have to work hard for it and trust him)," was her reply when her mother Prescilla cheered her on to go for the gold. She has indeed worked hard just to reach this stage in her amateur boxing career. But she promises to continue working hard for it on the ring while surrendering all the rest to God. Nesthy also asked the support of her fellow Filipinos to pray for her and the rest of Team Philippines. That's a request so easy to grant, right? How about taking a pause from whatever you may be currently doing and say a prayer for her and for the other Filipino athletes who are still competing in the Games? That already means a lot. Thank you, kababayans, for rallying behind our athletes in Tokyo. We can indeed be stronger together. Laban Pilipinas! And to our boxers Nesthy, Carlo Paalam, and Eumir Felix Marcial, sumbag Pinoy! This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

You are subscribed to email updates from https://www.sunstar.com.ph/. To stop receiving these emails, you may unsubscribe now.	Email delivery powered by Google
Google, 1600 Amphitheatre Parkway, Mountain View, CA 94043, United States