Cotabato mayor appeals to ‘close contact’ of Covid-19 patients

                                     Mayor Frances Cynthia Guiani-Sayadi 

COTABATO CITY --- Mayor Cynthia Guiani-Sayadi has appealed to persons who had close contact with two health front-liners of the Cotabato Regional and Medical Center here, who have tested positive for the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19), to report to health authorities.

The two nurses – one male and one female – tested positive for the virus on Wednesday, she said.

Sayadi said the two health workers had been to several places in the city before testing positive for the disease.

The male nurse is a regular marketer of the regional hospital and could have contracted the virus at the city public market.

On the other hand, the female nurse had attended a “kanduli” (thanksgiving party) in one of the villages in the city before catching the virus.

“You know who you have (been) in close contact with, if ever, please see your barangay health center or report to the city health office,” Sayadi said.

She downplayed speculations of possible local transmission, saying it was too early to tell.

“Two nurses with Covid-19 working in the same hospital could not let alone prove the existence of local transmission,” Sayadi said.

She has ordered the reimposition of the “No Movement Sunday” in the city starting August 16 to disinfect and decontaminate public places. (WITH A REPORT FROM NOEL PUNZALAN/ EDWIN FERNANDEZ, PNA, MINDANAO EXPOSE')

BTA Parliament holds ‘public consultation’ on Bangsamoro Administrative Code

 

BTA Member of Parliament Atty. Raissa Jajurie (speaking) heads the panel during public consultation with BARMM local government units (LGUs), Bangsamoro Cabinet and experts on the proposed Bangsamoro Administrative Code. (GILMHAR A. LAO, BTA PARLIAMENT, MINDANAO EXPOSE')

 COTABATO CITY --- The Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA) documented the insights of various Bangsamoro government entities through a 2 day ‘public consultation’ on the proposed Bangsamoro Administrative Code held at the Bangsamoro Planning and Development Authority (BPDA) conference hall..

The three-part series of public consultations concluded yesterday, August 17 as the last part where ‘experts’ were invited as resource speakers. The first and second series involved BARMM local government units (LGUs) and the Bangsamoro Cabinet.

Earlier, Member of Parliament (MP) Atty. Raissa Jajurie was tasked by the Committee on Rules (the main body deliberating the said code), to chair a panel in facilitating public consultations to identify the position, concerns, and proposals on the administrative code with BARMM Local Government Units (LGUs), Bangsamoro Cabinet, and some experts as resource persons.

“The panel will submit the points raised by them and so we can capture the updates from our resource persons. We welcome their comprehensive position papers and suggestions for consideration,” Jajurie said.

Some of the concerns raised by LGU officers include functions and powers of provincial offices, engagement on the provincial level in terms of performance and services, as stated in the administrative code draft. Each LGU may opt to submit their position paper to the panel.

Further more, Bangsamoro Government’s Attorney General Atty. Sha Elija Dumama-Alba also presented the highlights and provisions included in the Bangsamoro Administrative Code during the said consultation, including the structure of the offices, commissions, and ministries.

Meanwhile, the panel members approved a motion by MP Atty. Maisara Latiph to require the BARMM ministries to send their position papers regarding the proposed administrative code.

A committee report will be presented to the plenary during the second stage of the bill, after the panel submits their findings to the Committee on Rules. (GILMHAR A. LAO WITH REPORTS FROM BUREAU OF PUBLIC INFORMATION, MINDANAO EXPOSE')

SONA 2020: BARMM execs revisit milestones of Bangsamoro

Bangsamoro Chief Minister Ahod “Al Haj Murad” Ebrahim and Bangsamoro Transition Authority’s (BTA) Parliament Speaker Atty. Ali Pangalian Balindong revisited the significant strides of the one-year-old regional government. (BUREAU OF PUBLIC INFORMATION, MINDANAO EXPOSE')

COTABATO CITY ---Bangsamoro Government’s Chief Minister Ahod “Al Haj Murad” Ebrahim and Bangsamoro Transition Authority’s (BTA) Parliament Speaker Atty. Ali Pangalian Balindong revisited the significant strides of the one-year-old regional government since the passage of the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL) on the same day when President Rodrigo Roa Duterte delivered his fifth State of the Nation Address (SONA).

Ebrahim stated during the “SONA 2020: Revisiting Bangsamoro” held on Monday, July 27, that the establishment of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) will remain as one of President Duterte’s significant legacy.

Since the inauguration of the BARMM in March 2019, it has established its call for “moral governance” and has created programs like the Project Tulong Alay sa Bangsamoro ng Nangangailangan (TABANG), Ayuda ng Medikal Mula sa Bangsamoro (AMBAG) Program, and Bangsamoro Job Portal, among others, for the benefit of its constituents.

“We pray that the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region will continue to succeed for the benefit of the people,” Ebrahim stated.

Balindong, on the one hand, noted the importance of the BOL for the Bangsamoro people and that the recognition of the Bangsamoro people’s aspirations was unprecedented.

Meanwhile, the Bangsamoro Administrative Code, Local Government Code, and the Civil Service Code were introduced during the July 2020 BTA parliament sessions, and are currently on the committee level being deliberated by the Committee on Rules.

“The laws that we have enacted are consistent with the national laws,” Balindong noted. “There are other legislations that we’ve lined up and hopefully, this will be done within the year, including the six priority legislations stated in the Bangsamoro Organic Law.”

On March 23, BARMM turned one year. Due to the emergence of Coronavirus Disease (Covid-19), the Bangsamoro Government commemorated its first anniversary through public service delivery, instead.

As of today, there are 448 recorded Covid-confirmed cases with 9 fatalities. Despite this, the regional government continues to accept the arrival of Locally Stranded Individuals (LSIs) and Returning Overseas Workers (ROF) through Duterte’s Hatid Probinsya Program.

“These are the challenges that we continue to address, because they are our people and we need to serve them for their benefit. The BARMM government will continue to supply the needs to fight the pandemic,” Ebrahim stated. (BUREAU OF PUBLIC INFORMATION, MINDANAO EXPOSE')

Salvador town receives rice assistance from BARMM

AID --- Member of Parliament (MP) Said “Abu Salman” Shiek (3rd from left) led the rice distribution during ceremonial turnover Monday, July 27 held at Salvador municipal gymnasium. (LOVELLA LASTIMOSA WITH PHOTO BY OFFICE OF MP SAID SHIEK, MINDANAO EXPOSE')

 SALVADOR, Lanao del Norte --- Around 6,500 households in this town received one sackof rice (25 kilos) eachon Monday, July 27, from the “Project TABANG Relief Operation” of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM). 

Member of Parliament (MP) Said “Abu Salman” Shiek spearheaded the distribution of rice assistance with the support of Momungan Youth Action Network (MYAN) volunteers.

"Bangsamoro communities outside BARMM should not be left behind especially now that we are in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic," MP Shiek said.

Meanwhile, Mayor FarhanieTawantawan, expressed her gratefulness to the Bangsamoro government for the rice support allocated to their town.

"Thank you BARMM government headed by Chief Minister Ahod Ebrahim through the Office of MP Shiek for the support," Mayor Tawantawan said.

Further, the Office of MP Shiek along with MYAN volunteers released sacks of rice to every household after the ceremonial turnover held at the municipal gymnasium. 

In attendance during the rice distribution were Lanao Relief Operation Team Leader MP Dr. Marjanie S.M. Mimbantas, former mayors HassanorTawantawan and Sultan Johnny Tawantawan, Sangguniang Bayan Member and former 2nd District Board Member Aguam M. Mutia, MILF Provincial Chairman Ustadz Nabil, MILF Municipal Chairman Ustadz Talib Panaob, MILF BIAF members, barangay officials, Philippine National Police,  Armed Forces of the Philippines and sectoral representatives.

Meanwhile, Salvador is politically divided into 25 barangays, Barandia, Bulacon, Buntong, Calimodan, Camp Alere, Camp III, Curva-Miagao, Daligdigan, Inasagan, Kilala, Mabatao, Madaya, Mamaanon, Mapantao, Mindalano, Padianan, Pagalongan, Pagayawan, Panaliwad-on, Pangantapan, Pansur, Patidon, Pawak, Poblacion, Saumay and Sudlon.  (LOVELLA LASTIMOSA, MINDANAO EXPOSE')

Senate passes Bayanihan 2 bill on final reading

MANILA --- The Senate passed on Tuesday, July 28 the Bayanihan to Recover as One Act on third and final reading, a day after President Rodrigo Duterte called for its immediate passage during his fifth State-of-the-Nation Address (SONA).

Senate Bill 1564 was approved with 22 affirmative votes and one negative vote. Only Senator Francis Pangilinan voted “No. 

The Bayanihan 2 bill provides for a PHP140-billion stimulus fund for various socio-economic and health programs as part of the government’s recovery plan amid the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) pandemic.

Under the proposed measure, PHP10 billion will be appropriated for testing and extraction kits, supplies, materials, and reagents for Covid-19 testing, as well as boosting the capacity of the Department of Health (DOH).

The bill also provides for the allocation of PHP15 billion for a cash-for-work program in communities, and another PHP17 billion in assistance to displaced workers or employees.

 

Meanwhile, PHP50 billion will be given to different government financial institutions for the grant of low-interest loans to businesses in distress, particularly micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs).

The amount is broken down to: PHP 5 billion to the Philippine Guarantee Corporation; PHP 30 billion to the Land Bank of the Philippines; and PHP 15 billion to the Development Bank of the Philippines.

For the agriculture sector, PHP17 billion is allocated for direct cash subsidy, interest-free loans and other forms of assistance to farmers, fishermen, livestock raisers and other agricultural enterprises under the Plant-Plant-Plant program of the Department of Agriculture (DA).

The Department of Transportation (DOTr) will be allocated PHP 17billion to assist transportation workers who have lost their jobs, and for the development of a bicycle infrastructure.

The measure also provides a PHP10-billion fund for the tourism sector, which was the first to be directly and severely hit by the pandemic.

For the education sector, a PHP3-billion fund is provided for state universities and colleges (SUCs) for the development of “smart campuses” to implement flexible learning.

The Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) will be also be allocated PHP1 billion for technical and vocational courses for workers, including displaced overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), who needed to retool, retrain and upgrade their skills amid the new normal. (JOSE CIELITO REGANIT, PNA, MINDANAO EXPOSE')

NoCot council to probe schools 'teaching' anti-gov’t doctrine

COTABATO CITY --- North Cotabato Governor Nancy Catamco ordered on Wednesday, July 29 the creation of an investigating body to verify reports that several private schools in the province are allegedly being used to promote anti-government ideologies.

Presiding over the Provincial Peace and Order Council (PPOC), Catamco agreed to the proposal of M’lang Mayor Russel Abonado to look into the operation of schools under the Mindanao Interfaith Services Foundation Incorporated (MISFI) in the province.

“I guess there is a need for the council to conduct an in-depth or thorough investigation to know whether or not there is indeed a violation on the part of the administration of these MISFI schools on the alleged teaching of insurgencies and ideologies against the government,” Abonado said during the meeting at the provincial Capitol.

Abonado said his proposal has the support of the military. “If indeed, after impartial investigation, there is a violation, we will recommend to the Department of Education the closure of these schools," he said.

The MISFI operates schools in Barangay Kisante, Makilala town; Barangay Batang in Tulunan; Barangay Celo in Magpet; and Barangay Manarapan in Carmen, all in North Cotabato province.

The areas have long been identified by the military as being influenced by the communist New People’s Army (NPA) rebels.

Earlier, Colonel PontencianoCamba, commander of the Army’s 1002nd Infantry Brigade, recommended to the PPOC to look into the operation of the school 

Citing intelligence information, Camba told PPOC members that children in these schools are indoctrinated to hate the government.

“The Army also wanted to find out whether these schools have the permit to operate from the Department of Education,” Camba said.

Western Mindanao Command chief Lt. Gen. CirilitoSobejana, the incoming Philippine Army chief who was also present during the meeting, said he supported the PPOC's decision to investigate MISFI.

Also during the meeting, Catamco approved the PHP44-million budget to intensify the fight against illegal drugs in the province to be implemented by the Provincial Anti-Illegal Drugs Abuse Council (PADAC).

The funds will be used to support the anti-drug enforcement operation, the provincial anti-drug council, the North Cotabato Kontra-Droga Community Development, education, and prevention program, the establishment of the Provincial Treatment and Rehabilitation Center (Balay Silangan), and development of a community treatment and rehabilitation program. (EDWIN FERNANDEZ, PNA, MINDANAO EXPOSE')

Northern Kabuntalan inaugurates Covid-19 isolation facility

BARMM Executive Secretary Abdulraof  Macacua (speaking) served as guest of honor and speaker during inauguration Tuesday, July 28 of Northern Kabuntalan’s Covid-19 isolation facility led by Mayor Datu Umbra “Ramil” Dilangalen (seated, left). (LGU-Kabuntalan)

NORTHERN KABUNTALAN, Maguindanao---This local government formally opened and inaugurated Tuesday, July 28, its 18-bed capacity Covid-19 isolation facility located at Barangay Gayonga.

Mayor Datu Umbra “Ramil” Dilangalen said the construction of the isolation center came was funded through the Bayanihang rants plus the 20% counterpart of the municipal government from the Internal Revenue Allotment (IRA). The cost of the project is 3 million pesos.

“This is for our Locally Stranded Individuals (LSI’s) and Returning of Overseas Filipinos (ROFs). We complied follwing the national government’s mandate to all local government units to support and accommodate our constituents who are in dire need due to the ongoing global Covid-19 pandemic crisis,” Mayor Dilangalen said.

BARMM Executive Secretary Abdulraof Macacua, who was the guest of honor and speaker during the activity, committed to extend 200 sacks of rice intended for the LSI’s and ROFs of this town.

“We will also give them sacks of rice after they graduated from the 14-day quarantine, as assistance or rice subsidy,” Macacua said. 

Further, Vice-Mayor Mary Jane C. Bayam also committed to give grocery items, medicines, vitamins, hygiene kits and other personal belongings inside the facility like, blanket, towel and malong 

“This is our way of at least helping them in these trying times,” Vice-Mayor Bayam said.

Meanwhile, the inauguration of the isolation facility was also attended by MBHTE Chief of Staff Atty: Haron Meling, MILG Maguindanao Provincial Director Engr. Amina Dalandag, Dr. Ariff Baguindali from the Integrated Provincial Hospital (IPHO) Maguindanao, 34th IB Battalion Commander LtCol. Glen Caballero, and representatives from the Ministry of Social Services and Development (MSSD), Rural Health Unit (RHU), Philippine National Police (PNP), municipal officials and employees as well as Barangay officials. (Anne B. Acosta)

MP Macacua facilitates ‘consultative meeting’ with Buldon farmers

 

Buldon Mayor Abolais A. Manalao expresses his gratitude to the Office of MP

Abdulraof  A. Macacua through its #SALIG project for facilitating a ‘consultative meeting’last July 26 between MAFAR-BARMM and select farmers of Buldon. (GILMHAR A. LAO WITH PHOTO BY OFFICE OF MP ABDULRAOF MACACUA, MINDANAO EXPOSE')

 COTABATO CITY --- The Office of Member of Parliament Abdulraof A. Macacua through its Bangsamoro Services and Actions with Love and Integrity from the Government (#SALIG) project facilitated last July 26,  a consultative meeting between the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Agrarian Reform (MAFAR) in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) and local farmers of Barangay Aratuc in Buldon, Maguindanao.

Macacua said the meeting focused on High Value Crops Development Program’s (HVCDP) crop establishment.

“We care for our farmers. This is a good venue since agriculture plays an important role in our economic development,” Macacua said.

Buldon Mayor Abolais  A. Manalao expressed his gratitude to the Bangsamoro government most especially to the Office of MP Macacua and MAFAR. 

“I would like to extend my sincerest thanks and gratitude to our partners from MAFAR most especially to the Office of MP Macacua for facilitating this successful  activity. The local government strongly support such initiative,” Mayor Manalao stressed.

Further, MAFAR Consultant on Agriculture Dr. Jalika D. Mangacop ensured the local farmers of the ministry’s assistance in bringing ‘modern technologies’in agriculture.

“This is important so our farmers could have higher crop productivity,” Dr. Mangacop said.

Meanwhile, MAFAR consultant on Information and Extension Dr. Kadiguia R. Abdullah said that as a result of the consultative meeting, MAFAR is slated to conduct a training with the farmers of the town on August 18, 2020. (GILMHAR A. LAO, BTA PARLIAMENT, MINDANAO EXPOSE')

MOH traces unvaccinated children against polio

The Ministry of Health (MOH) leads the ongoing Rapid Coverage Assessment (RCA) to trace unvaccinated children against polio in the Bangsamoro region. (BUREAU OF PUBLIC INFORMATION, MINDANAO EXPOSE')

MAGUINDANAO --- The Bangsamoro Government’s Ministry of Health (MOH) is conducting a seven-day Rapid Coverage Assessment (RCA) to trace unvaccinated children against polio in the region.

The RCA is MOH-BARMM’s evaluation procedure to find unimmunized children below five years old and vaccinate them against polio for its ‘SabayangPatakKontra Polio’ campaign.

The MOH has started the RCA in the provinces of Maguindanao and Lanao del Sur last July 27, and will run until August 5. Meanwhile, the schedule for the island provinces of Basilan, Sulu, and Tawi-Tawi is yet to be finalized.

The Sabayang Patak Kontra Polio campaign, which kicked off in the region on July 20, is the Department of Health’s program to end polio in the country. Bangsamoro Government targets to immunize at least 839,677 children in the region’s five provinces until August 2.

A team from MOH led by Nurse Soraida Amilil conducted an RCA on Thursday, July 30, in the town of Datu Saudi Ampatuan in Maguindanao.

Amilil said the RCA was also aimed at identifying possible causes and challenges faced by health workers in the immunization process and to plan and execute actions to correct them.

Noraisa Adam, 32, of Sitio Mala in Brgy. Kabengi, said having her children immunized against polio in their barangay health center ensures her children’s health.

Noraisa is a mother of nine children, and all of her three children under age five have been immunized against polio on July 21.

“Langun na programa na health center sya sale kami na bagangayan ko. Libre pan e check-up endu gamot nin (I attend all of our health center’s programs. They offer free check-up and provide us free medicine),” Noraisa said in a local language 

Bai Nadia Utto Abdulkarim, OIC barangay chairperson of Barangay Tabengi, said grassroots information drive on polio vaccination helped in the non-refusal of parents to immunize their children and the high turnout of the campaign.

As of July 27, the total coverage in the region is at 74.1% or 622,564 children vaccinated.

Several RCA teams of MOH-BARMM has since covered the towns of Sultan Sa Barongis, Parang, Datu Anggal Midtimbang, Ampatuan, Datu Piang, South Upi, Buldon, Datu Unsay, and Buluan in the province of Maguindanao, and in Piagapo, Saguiaran and Lumbaca Unayan in Lanao del Sur. (BUREAU OF PUBLIC IN

FORMATION, MINDANAO EXPOSE')

Kapatagan receives 4,000 sacks of rice aid from BARMM

BTA Member of Parliament Marjanie S. M. Mimbantas (4th from right) turned over Tuesday, July 28 to Kapatagan Mayor Raida Bansil Maglangit the 4,000 sacks of rice (25 kilos) assistance from the Bangsamoro government. (Anne B. Acosta)

KAPATAGAN, Lanao del Sur --- This local government headed by Mayor Raida Bansil Maglangit received on Tuesday, July 28 around 4,000 sacks of rice (25 kilos) assistance from the Bangsamoro government.

Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA) Member of Parliament (MP) Marjanie S. M. Mimbantas led the distribution 

Mimbantas was assigned as focal person for the second wave of rice distribution for the entire province of Lanao del Sur including 9 municipalities in Lanao Norte, where ‘yes votes’ won during the plebiscite last year January 2019. 

In an interview, MP Mimbantas emphasized that the 4,000 sacks of rice assistance to be distributed in this locality and the succeeding municipalities in the province came from the Office of Chief Minister Ahod Balawag Embrahim as part of the Project Tabang COVID-19 ”Tulong  Alay sa Bangsamorong Nangangailangan sa Ranaw Region.”

“This is only an initial or the first batch of distribution, while we are still waiting for the list of exact and validated number of households to be submitted by this locality, he said.

MP Mimbantas stressed that if ever the rice assistance for the households of this town are not enough, they are going to have another round of distribution based on the number of remaining validated households.

Meanwhile, Mayor Maglangit has expressed her sincere thanks and gratitude to the BARMM leadership most especially to Chief Minister Ebrahim for the support extended to them.

“This is a big aid to our constituents. Although this is not actually enough, MP Marjanie assured that they will conduct a second batch of distribution for those who have not yet received their rice assistance,” Mayor Maglangit said. (Anne B. Acosta)

Hunt on for killers of village worker in Maguindanao

COTABATO CITY--Police are tracking down gunmen onboard a sports utility vehicle (SUV) who killed a village official of Shariff Aguak, Maguindanao on Tuesday, July 28.

Major Alexander Butuan, town police chief, identified the slain village official as Mahdi Simpal, the secretary of Barangay Malingao.

Butuan said the victim had just boarded his vehicle after buying medicine from a local pharmacy situated along the highway around 8 a.m. when fired upon by two gunmen onboard a black SUV without plate number.

“The victim died on the spot due to multiple gunshot wounds,” the police official said.

Witnesses said they saw the attackers’ vehicle speeding off southwards of the town. A police manhunt is ongoing, Butuan said.

Initial investigation indicates “personal grudge” as a possible motive behind the shooting.

Roadblocks were immediately set up on all strategic entry and exit points of Shariff Aguak following the incident, the police official said. (NOEL PUNZALAN, PNA, MINDANAO EXPOSE')

Cotabato City exec issues guidelines for Eid’lAdha observance

COTABATO CITY --- Mayor Frances Cynthia Guiani-Sayadi issued Monday, July 27 the guidelines for the celebration of the Eid’l Adha or Feast of Sacrifice in the city on Friday, July 31. 

The celebration of Eid'l Adha fundamentally starts on Thursday night and ends on Friday night. 

It is the second of two Islamic holidays, the other being Eid'l Fitr, celebrated worldwide each year and considered the holier of the two. It honors the willingness of Ibrahim to sacrifice his son Ismael as an act of obedience to Allah’s command. 

In her Executive Order 358, Guiani-Sayadi said all prayers will be performed inside mosques, buildings, and other closed establishments.

“No Eid prayers will be performed outdoors or in open spaces,” she said.

She added that penalties would be imposed upon those who will not wear face masks, observe physical distancing, and not follow other minimum health protocols.

Eid’l Adha also marks the end of the annual Hajj to Mecca, Saudi Arabia this year. (EDWIN FERNANDEZ, PNA, MINDANAO EXPOSE')

BARMM sends home BaSulTa bound LSIs

The Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao started sending home Wednesday, July 29 Locally Stranded Individuals (LSIs) bound for the island provinces of Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi. (BUREAU OF PUBLIC INFORMATION, MINDANAO EXPOSE')

 COTABATO CITY --- Bangsamoro Government has successfully sent home Wednesday, July 29,  fifty (50) Locally Stranded Individuals (LSIs) bound for Basilan province.

 The individuals are among the first batch of the 405 LSIs who will be sent off to the island provinces of Basilan, Sulu, and Tawi-Tawi (BaSulTa).

Said 50 LSIs tested negative in Covid-19 swab testing and completed the 14-days quarantine in Sultan Kudarat, Maguindanao. They were sent home with the assistance of the Philippine Navy.

The remaining 355 BaSulTa bound LSIs who completed their 14 day quarantine period, and after following health protocols, will be sent off at the soonest possible time.

The 405 LSIs from Manila were originally bound for the island provinces but were rerouted to Cagayan de Oro City on July 7.

The Bangsamoro Government hired 17 buses to take them to Zamboanga City, which should have been the nearest port of entry to the island provinces. However due to circumstances beyond the control of the Bangsamoro Government, the buses had to be rerouted to Sultan Kudarat, Maguindanao.

Upon their arrival in Maguindanao, the Bangsamoro Government ensured their safety and welfare. They immediately underwent reverse transcription-polyemerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) testing.

The BARMM’s Ministry of Social Services and Development (MSSD) has been providing them with daily hot meals for breakfast, lunch, dinner, coffee, and drinking water.

At least four (4) MSSD workers have also been staying 24/7 at the isolation facilities in Maguindanao to provide psychosocial support for the LSIs and modified camp management.

Interior and Local Government Minister Atty. Naguib Sinarimbo, who represented Chief Minister Ahod Ebrahim, stressed during Wednesday’s sending off ceremony that the Bangsamoro Government will continuously help the LSIs and ensure their safe return to their respective provinces.

“It’s important that we keep the spirit of looking after the welfare of each one,” Sinarimbo said, adding that it is the duty of the regional government to help its constituents especially in times of crisis.

 Meanwhile, MSSD Minister Atty. Raissa Jajurie said “Hindi lang po iisang ahensya ang tumulong para maisa katupara nito, hindi lang po BARMM ngunit pati ang ating kasundaluhan at hukbong dagat.”

The MSSD and BARMM-READI (Rapid Emergency Action on Disaster Incidence) provided cash assistance worth of P5,000.00 to each individual, hygiene kits, and relief goods including 25 kilos of rice.

Wednesday’s sending off ceremony was also attended by MOH-RESU head Dr. Amirel Usman, Parang, Maguindanao Vice Mayor Adnan Biruar, Representative of PNP PRO-BAR PCOL Jaime Mojica Jr. , Sultan Kudarat LGUs, and members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines. (BUREAU OF PUBLIC INFORMATION, MINDANAO EXPOSE')

 

30K Cotelco consumers benefit from month-long free electricity

COTABATO CITY --- More than 30,000 families in North Cotabato have benefited from the “Pantawid Liwanag” program of the Cotabato Electric Cooperative (Cotelco) in North Cotabato province. 

In a press briefing at the Cotelco headquarters in Matalam town on Monday, July 27 engineer Godofredo Homez, Cotelco general manager, said the beneficiaries were residential “lifeline” consumers mostly belonging to the marginalized sector heavily affected by the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic. 

“These are the families who mostly depend on their farm harvest or minimum wage workers whose industries were suspended due to this pandemic,” Homez said. 

Lifeline consumers are households whose electricity consumption is less than 25 kilowatts per hour.

“They will not be paying the electric bill for the month of April when the whole country was under the enhanced community quarantine,” he said.

As of Tuesday, Cotelco data indicated that some PHP3.4 million has been allotted for the free electric bills of 32,151 households on the first wave of the “Pantawid Liwanag” program in the province.

Homez said Cotelco has allocated a supplemental fund to subsidize the payment of other power suppliers and transmission charges.

“We canceled some activities to augment adequate funds for the program, which really benefited the needy and pandemic-affected families,” he said.

The "Pantawid Liwanag" program forms part of the rural electrification sector’s contribution to the Bayanihan to Heal as One Act during the Covid-19 crisis. (Noel Punzalan, PNA, MINDANAO EXPOSE')

Editorial

Free COVID-19 vaccines to 20 million people

 President Rodrigo Duterte said in a recent taped address that it has enough funds to purchase and distribute free coronavirus vaccines to 20 million Filipinos once it is available.

 In fact, the President expressed confidence that a vaccine will be developed by December and said it is possible that China will be one of the first countries to complete its research. He even claimed that the Philippines will get priority access to the vaccines because of its ‘good relationship’ with China.

 And while the world awaits for a coronavirus vaccine, the Philippine government is already preparing how to fund, procure, and distribute it to Filipinos.

 Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III, who was tasked by Duterte to take care of the funding, detailed how the Philippines plans to procure 40 million doses of vaccinesestimated to cost P20 billion. Dominguez stressed they have a “plan”.

 He said the vaccine chosen by the DOH will be bought through the Philippine International Trading Corporation (PITC), which is under the Department of Trade. It will be initially financed by the Land Bank of the Philippines and the Development Bank of the Philippines, then paid off by the DOH.

 Dominguez also said that once the vaccine is readily available in the Philippines, the country's economy will finally recoverespecially after hitting the "lowest part" in April and May. He also reiterated that once the vaccine is available, the economy can be fullyopened and we can start the normal life.

Meanwhile, it was learned that the Duterte administrationshall prioritize the poor families in the initial distribution of vaccines, with the military in charge of handing them out.

 he President emphasized first on the list are the poorest of the poor or those who received cash aid during the crisis. They will also give it for free to those who are sick or dying, middle income class families as well as military and police.

 However, he notably missed including the healthcare workers in his list.

Editorial

No contact tracing team

 The Department of Health warned in a recent report against fake contact tracers and disclosed that the agency currently does not have its own team for contact tracing, an important preventive step against the COVID-19.

Based on a statement issued by DOH on August 10, it was said that they received reports about a new scheme where in some people received calls from supposed members of the health agency’s contact tracing team to extract personal information and exploit money from them.

We believe it is a good move to advise the public earlier against entertaining these calls. It is a must that the public is reminded that the agency does not have a contact tracing team. We should not let these people to take advantage of the pandemic. 

While the advisory fairly rceived positive reception on Facebook, most of us noticed of the DOH’s admittance that it does not have its own contact tracing team. Some even expressed confusion on the purpose of contact tracers assigned by local government units. In fact, others recalled that the DOH previously announced a budget dedicated to hiring thousands of contact tracers last May.

The World Health Organization (WHO) explained earlier that aside from mass testing, contact tracing is also an effective public health tool because it can break transmissions of the highly contagious disease, thus control outbreaks 

The WHO stressed that when it is systematically applied, contact tracing will break the chains of transmission of infectious disease and is thus an essential public health tool for controlling infectious disease outbreaks.

For the record, since March, the DOH and other related government agencies tasked to handle the country’s pandemic response had been making promises of assigning personnel dedicated to tracing people who have been in close contact with suspected and infected patients. The health agency even posted a publication material that announced the call for volunteers to conduct contact tracing activities.

Moreover, the DILG has since hired around 73,000 contact tracers. It only used to have 52,463 contact tracers in June and planned on increasing it to over 82,000.

It was also reported that the DOH announced that it needs 94,000 contact tracers, which corresponded to at least one contact tracer per 800 people. It allotted a hefty P11.7 billion funding to hire 136,000 contact tracers, an amount questioned in the Senate

Several people also questioned the DOH last June over its postings asking COVID-19 survivors of their statuses and details. They asked if this is how health authorities conduct contact tracing.