Friday, 08 May 2020 03:11

Camp Evangelista 4ID military frontliners take good care of its community

(DISCLAIMER: This is an opinion piece by Democrito C. Calabdan Jr., a Graduate School student from the University of Science and Technology of Southern Philippines.)
 
In response to the call of curbing the spread of COVID-19, every community in Cagayan de Oro City is doing everything it can to protect its people. Many have taken all the necessary precautionary measures to keep their community from getting contaminated. One of which, is Camp Edilberto Evangelista 4th Infantry Division, located in Barangay Patag. Its military frontliners constructed a foot bath with enough size in the entrance area. This will enable the people entering the camp to disinfect their footwear or the wheels of their vehicles.
 
Besides the foot bath, they also set up a washing area near the entrance gate so that everyone who enters the premises can wash their hands. Temperatures are checked by the military frontliners, too. All these measures are strictly implemented upon entering the camp to prevent any possible contamination. Nobody is exempted.
 
With these preventive actions, if not to ensure the optimum safety, it will somehow limit the risk of the community from getting infected into the lowest possible level. This is important as this puts the community in a position to bring the pandemic under control. A strict temperature check identifies easily those who are exhibiting fever. If somebody will be identified with fever, he or she will then undergo safety procedures and surely be advised to see a doctor .
 
The efforts of these military frontliners have earned appreciation from the community inside the base. “Dili pod baya lalim ang mag-atubang sa mga tao nga gasulod unya check og temperature, risky kaayo. Ang foot bath ila g’yud giayo og buhat aron naay disinfection sa tanan mosulod nga sakyanan.”
 
Each of them deserves a recognition with great value. Being a frontliner in this fight against the pandemic is like a suicide mission. Nobody knows when it is going to end. It is seemingly a deadly job to render.
 
Based on the unpredictable nature of this pandemic, it is expected that Camp Edilberto Evangelista 4th Infantry Division military frontliners will not loosen its grip over the strict implementation of these health-security measures.
 
The amount of sacrifice being made by these military frontliners exemplifies the true meaning of being a soldier: extremely brave and high-spirited warriors who are willing to defend the land and its people from the novel coronavirus.
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Friday, 08 May 2020 03:05

Brgy Macasandig observes social distancing during SAP distribution

Brgy Macasandig observes social distancing during SAP distribution
With over 20,000 residents, Barangay Macasandig is considered as one the most populated barangays in Cagayan de Oro City. As the city continues to grapple with the COVID-19 pandemic, its barangay officials have been confronted by an enormous task of helping its residents to make ends meet amid the General Community Quarantine while still taking necessary measures to avoid the possible transmission of the virus in their barangay.
 
On May 4, Barangay Macasandig facilitated the distribution of the Social Amelioration Program (SAP) cash assistance to its residents at the barangay gymnasium. However, far from the a chaotic scenario in a distribution of cash grants, recipients found themselves one meter apart from each other as they have strictly observed social distancing.
 
 
 
As one of the recipients, a concerned citizen from Macasandig shared her observation on the SAP cash aid distribution in her barangay. As she posted on Facebook, she expressed her satisfaction on the way the barangay personnel facilitated the distribution.
 
“Based from what I have observed on that day, they have managed the distribution well. There were queue marks that have been designated on the gym’s bleachers to make sure that everyone inside is one meter apart.”
 
She also added: “The barangay personnel have been designated to strictly monitor the movement of people during that time; ensuring that no one will cut the line and social distancing was being observed.”
 
Special lines were also created to accommodate recipients who are senior citizens, persons-with-disability (PWDs), and pregnant women. Police officers were dispatched to assist the peace and order of the distribution.
 
But more than just these measures and despite of the long process, she emphasized that cooperation from the residents has been key to the successful distribution of SAP in their barangay.
 
She said: “It was a long process but it’s worth it. I commend the courtesy of Macasandig residents. Despite if there were some who were not abiding the rules, there is a combined effort between the barangay personnel and people.”
 
The observance of social distancing during the SAP distribution in Macasandig proves cooperation between the barangay and its people is possible. By working hand-in-hand, everyone can help our collective pursuit to cope up with the current public health situation.
 
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Thursday, 07 May 2020 03:45

100 'basuheroes' families receive care packages from Fraternitas Scintilla Legis

100 'basuheroes' families receive care packages from Fraternitas Scintilla Legis
Over 100 families of garbage collectors or “basuheroes” received care packages from the Fraternitas Scintilla Legis (FSL) on Wednesday, May 6, 2020.
 
“We, in the Fraternitas Scintilla Legis, believe that this is the best time to take part in this global crisis,” said FSL Grand Chancellor Jasper Alon from the Xavier University College of Law chapter. “This effort may be small, but we are honored to become instruments of this whole process.”
 
The project dubbed as “The Unsung Heroes” started with 50 beneficiaries, but because of the generous donations, FSL managed to increase the number of beneficiaries to 100.
 
The basuheroes received FSL care packages composed of sanitary items (body soap, alcohol, toothbrush, and toothpaste), vitamins from Unilab, facemasks, rubberized gloves, and five kilos of rice.
 
The group also thanked Amaya View through Candy Unabia and Andreya - A Modern Karenderia by Chef Mich Uapal for providing100 packed meals for the basuheroes. The same gratitude was extended to Sliq Activewear for the customized face masks.
 
“We thank God, our families, friends, brothers, and members of the community who supported us in this undertaking,” Alon said after the turnover of care packages to the basuheroes.
 
FSL continue to encourage more organizations, business establishments, and individuals to donate to “The Unsung Heroes” project. Interested parties may contact GC Jasper Alon (0945-8220-412) and/or deposit their donations to this BPI Account: Bobby John Urquia (2019275372).
 
 
 
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Wednesday, 06 May 2020 02:01

COVID-19 Pandemic: Feed the Hungry

COVID-19 Pandemic: Feed the Hungry
If we are to look back at Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, food is among the most essential needs of a human being. Without it, probably we can still get through for a few days, but later on, we won’t be able to survive. The COVID-19 pandemic has put many lives at risk, particularly, of hunger. This encompasses a wide spectrum of causes especially in this time when people are losing jobs, businesses are not operating, and other economic activities are being halted. This brings us to the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) #2 — which targets to end hunger by 2030 — a real challenge.
 
Public and private institutions have been working together to address the need to feed the Filipinos during this time. One of the many efforts is coming from the Cagayan de Oro College (Phinma Education Network) on Max Suniel Street in Barangay Carmen, CDO. They call their initiative “Helping Hands” as their way to extend help to the community by providing food packs to the people in need.
 
 
The project started with their provisions of hygiene kits to the community surrounding the school with the hope to influence the people to keep a healthy and clean environment. The efforts were intensified as the school administration also donated food to the most vulnerable communities for their survival. More than 2,000 food packs were distributed through the “Helping Hands” project. Each food pack comes with rice, canned goods, instant noodles, and vegetables.
 
With the help of the Philippine National Police and volunteers (both the students and employees), the food packs reached the intended beneficiaries in barangays Carmen, Macabalan, Puntod, Dansolihon, and in Sitio Naga and Sitio Balok-balok in Puerto.
 
In his Easter message, Phinma Education President and CEO Ramon R. Del Rosario shared a word of hope to the community: “The virus tried to steal hope, but I am convinced that we will remember that never did we allow the fires of hope to die out. That we fanned the flames of hope from small embers to a roaring fire of warmth and comfort for all. That eventually, we did overcome.”
 
 
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Tuesday, 05 May 2020 07:53

DOH-10: No new COVID-19 case in NorMin, urges public to stay vigilant

The Department of Health - Region 10 reported today that there is no new case of novel coronavirus (COVID-19) infection in Northern Mindanao but this does not mean the public should be complacent.
 
At today’s press briefing at the City Hall, DOH-10 Infectious Disease Cluster head Dr. Ian Christian Gonzales said that the number of COVID-19 cases in the region remains at 14.
 
“So far, we still have 14 cases in the entire Northern Mindanao,” Gonzales iterated.
 
“However, we remind the public to stay vigilant. We have the clear guidance from the national government, regional task force, and city government.”
 
Gonzales urged the public to help the local authorities to maintain order in the city and minimize crowding in public places.
 
“Let’s not to wait for the law enforcers to reprimand us. We know better for ourselves if our purpose for going outside is essential or not. Ask yourself if that can still wait or not.”
 
He added: “Aside from staying at home, let’s continue doing regular handwashing, physical distancing, and proper wearing of mask when going to public places.”
 
To address the shortage of medical staff to fight against the spread of COVID-19, the DOH-10 is on emergency hiring for doctors, nurses and other medical professionals.
 
City Mayor Oscar Moreno warned the public to strictly comply with the existing safety protocols under the General Community Quarantine (GCQ) Guidelines.
 
Moreno issued on May 4 a seven-page memorandum clarifying and reiterating the Executive Order 112 of President Rodrigo R. Duterte. Under the said memo, the movement of all people in areas under GCQ “shall only be limited to accessing essential goods and services.”
 
(Read the memo here: bit.ly/2W1optg)
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Tuesday, 05 May 2020 03:15

The Goal is to Stay Clean

The Goal is to Stay Clean
Like any other rights that we all have, sanitation is also a human right. Part of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations is Goal #6 which aims to achieve universal access to clean water and sanitation. With the global threat of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), maintaining hygienic surrounding, especially among vulnerable communities, must be done more than ever.
 
A private college situated on Max Suniel Street in Barangay Carmen, CDO makes sure that people living in high-risk areas, where physical distancing and sanitation are a privilege, are not left out in this time of the pandemic. As a first response to help their immediate community, the institution has given hygiene kits to mitigate the spread of the virus. In this way, sanitation would become accessible to those who would rather buy food to fill their aching stomach than allocate a portion of their measly income to something inedible like hand soap or sanitizers. The hygiene kits include three bars of hand soap, a bottle of bleach for home disinfection, and a roll of tissue paper.
Residents living beside a creek near the school as well as sikad drivers situated just outside were some of the recipients of these essentials. Meanwhile, volunteers distributed the kits to people with disabilities (PWDs) in Divisoria. Aside from them, barangay healthcare workers (BHWs) in Carmen and Macasandig health centers received these hygiene kits to secure their safety while serving the country and the people on the frontline.
 
Francis Albert Calas, one of the volunteer employees of the institution in this initiative, explains the importance of extending our hands to people in the grassroots: “The vulnerable cannot just stay at home kay unsaon nalang man nila ilang pangita para sa ilang pamilya? We are providing them with hygiene kits to lessen their chance of catching the virus even when they are outside their houses trying to make ends meet. Our collective kindness and understanding would create a positive ripple effect throughout the vulnerable sector.”
 
The higher learning institution’s advocacy of “Making Lives Better” as a vital part of nation-building is a big influence why this initiative continues to run not only in Cagayan de Oro but also in seven Philippine cities and provinces where the network of schools is situated.
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Monday, 04 May 2020 08:32

181 individuals traced for ‘possible exposure’ to 21-year-old COVID-19 patient

181 individuals traced for ‘possible exposure’ to 21-year-old COVID-19 patient

Health authorities of Cagayan de Oro, led by epidemiologist Dr. Joselito Retuya from the City Health Office (CHO), reported during the May 4 press briefing that a total of 181 individuals have already been traced for possible exposure to the 21-year-old COVID-19 patient.

 

The total exposed individuals are composed of 91 health workers from the Northern Mindanao Medical Center (NMMC); 40 private hospital workers including 7 doctors; 35 rescuers at the time of the accident; 15 family members, friends, visitors, and fellow passengers of the said patient during the vehicular accident.

 

As of this morning, 59 of them have undergone the swab test for COVID-19. The specimens will then be sent to the Southern Philippines Medical Center (SPMC) for testing and confirmation.

 

The 21-year-old man was rushed to the NMMC after he figured in a vehicular accident on April 19, and he underwent a spinal surgery on April 21. He was transferred to a private hospital on April 22, but was moved back to the NMMC after he tested positive for COVID-19.


The city officials have assured the public that they have intensified the active surveillance and contact tracing of people who have been exposed to the fourth patient from Cagayan de Oro City confirmed to have been infected by COVID-19.


“We would like to convey to the public that all these people have been contacted already and were given proper instructions on how to go about their quarantine,” said CHO Chief Dr Lorraine Nery.


In light of recent events, City Mayor Oscar Moreno has warned the public to strictly comply with the existing safety protocols under the General Community Quarantine (GCQ) Guidelines.


Moreno also issued today a seven-page memorandum clarifying and reiterating the Executive Order 112, dated April 30, 2020, issued by President Rodrigo Duterte on "Imposing an Enhanced Community Quarantine in High-Risk Geographical areas of the Philippines and a General Community Quarantine in the rest of the country from May 1-15, 2020, Adopting the Omnibus Guidelines on the Implementation thereof, and for Other Purposes."


Under the said memo, the movement of all people in areas under GCQ shall only be limited to accessing essential goods and services. Moreno also has mandated everyone to observe physical distancing and to wear their face masks when going to public places.

 

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Thursday, 30 April 2020 04:39

30 OFWs safely return to Cagayan de Oro City

30 OFWs safely return to Cagayan de Oro City
Thirty Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) safely arrived in Cagayan de Oro City on Thursday dawn, April 30, as part of the government’s Malasakit Voyage Program (Balik Probinsya Program) amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
 
City Health Office OIC Dr. Lorraine Nery announced during the 40th press conference that medical teams, personnel from the Philippine National Police (PNP), and an Incident Management Team (IMT) were dispatched to the city port to check on the OFWs.
 
The local teams facilitated the profiling of the OFWs, conducting of interviews, and health check-ups for any signs and symptoms of respiratory illnesses.
 
Nery earlier said that the repatriated OFWs already completed the 14-day quarantine period in areas where they come from and they were issued with Certificate of Quarantine Completion.
 
She also assured the public that they all tested negative for coronavirus after conducting a rapid diagnostic test.
 
The OFWs attended an orientation on the current situation and response programs in CDO to curb the spread of the novel coronavirus.
 
The city government of CDO also thanked the cooperation of six other local government units (Gingoog, Medina, Damilag, Initao, Manticao, and Naawan) for the successful repatriation of the OFWs.
 
The program would not have been successful without the collaboration among the Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA), Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), Philippine Ports Authority (PPA), Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), Bureau of Quarantine (BOQ), Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), Cagayan de Oro
 
Police Office (COCPO), and the CDO Humanitarian Assistance, Logistics, and Health Clusters.
 
The repatriates will stay in one of the City Isolation Units for 14 days with free food, medicines, and other provisions sponsored by the OWWA and LGU Cagayan de Oro.
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Thursday, 30 April 2020 02:07

City police to impose ‘heavier penalty’ against curfew violators

City police to impose ‘heavier penalty’ against curfew violators
Cagayan de Oro City Police (COCPO) spokesperson Major Evan Viñas, during the 40th press conference on COVID-19, has warned the public of a “heavier penalty” for curfew violators.
 
He said that those who will violate the city ordinance on curfew hours will face criminal charges before the prosecutor’s office.
 
Viñas said the stricter penalty will replace the old scheme that only requires violators to watch a video presentation with educational content about COVID-19.
 
With the imposition of a new policy, COCPO has amplified their call for Kagay-anons to avoid staying outside their homes beyond 9:00PM.
 
The guidelines for the said heavier penalty are yet to be released to the public.
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Tuesday, 28 April 2020 04:46

Moreno vows to expedite purchase of COVID-19 testing machines

Cagayan de Oro City Mayor Oscar Moreno has assured the public that the local government is doing its best to expedite the purchase of two COVID-19 testing machines.

 

"We are fast-tracking the testing [equipment] and hopefully, in the next few weeks, they will be installed,” Moreno said in a press briefing at the City Hall.

 

“We cannot expect that by the moment the machines will arrive, the problem with testing will be solved [right away]; it is still a long way to go,” he added.

 

The Department of Health - Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (DOH-RITM) will also provide one COVID-19 testing equipment to the city; making the total number of testing machines three for CDO.

 

Moreno warned that while the city is waiting for the equipment’s arrival and installation, Kagay-anons must continue to observe social distancing, regular hand-washing, and staying at home to curb the spread of the virus.

Dr. Ian Gonzales, head of the Infectious Diseases Cluster of DOH Northern Mindanao, also updated the public on the ongoing renovation of the Tuberculosis Reference Center in Barangay Carmen to be established as the local COVID-19 testing center.

 

"With the assistance from the city government, we are getting our laboratory at the regional office ready to do the Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) test,” Gonzales said. “This will eventually give us an accurate result and a bigger picture of the epidemic.”


The local health officials are optimistic that the local testing center can accommodate patients not just from Region 10, but also from the CARAGA and Zamboanga Peninsula areas.

The Tuberculosis Reference Center and the Northern Mindanao Medical Center’s (NMMC) laboratory are now on Stage 3 of the accreditation process for COVID-19 testing capability, including the training of medical personnel in handling real-time PCR and GeneXpert tests.

 

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