Friday, November 01, 2024

AFP sees more rebel surrenderers in NorMin

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – The Eastern Mindanao Command (Eastmincom) of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) has expressed confidence that more communist rebels will give up arms and surrender in Northern Mindanao in the coming weeks.

In a statement Thursday, Lt. Gen. Greg Almerol, Eastmincom commander, said the death of Jose Maria Sison, co-founder of Communist Party of the Philippines, has affected the morale of its armed wing, the New People’s Army (NPA).

“With this situation, we expect more of their comrades to surface and lay down their arms,” Almerol said.

Almerol also called on remaining NPA combatants “to surrender without hesitation as the freedom and benefits of the Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program (E-CLIP) are waiting upon their return.”

Almerol’s statement came after the surrender of eight NPA leaders on Jan. 3 in Lantapan and Pangantucan towns, Bukidnon.

The following day, the surrenderers led the government troops to the location of three arms caches in Barangay Tikalaan and Barangay Miarayon in Talakag, Bukidnon, resulting in the recovery of several firearms and medical supplies.

Meanwhile, the Misamis Oriental Police Provincial Office presented five former rebels who surrendered early this week.

“It was a good decision I surrendered, because I want my children to continue going to school,” a former rebel was quoted as saying in a statement issued by the police. (Nef Luczon/PNA)

CRC helps Bukidnon PDLs get access to digital connection

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – One of the jail facilities in Bukidnon has become a recipient of humanitarian aid that would enable persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) connect with their relatives and lawyers.

In a statement on Sunday provided by Amer Hassan Sanggacala, information officer of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) based in Iligan City, said the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) in Malaybalay City was given mobile devices in support of the government’s “E-Dalaw” project.

ICRC said the project gained momentum during the height of the Covid-19 pandemic when it was hard for PDLs to contact outside the jail facility, especially those with families who do not have access to digital technology.

“To help restore contact between detainees and their families and facilitate virtual court hearings, the ICRC has been supporting the government’s ‘E-Dalaw’ and ‘E-hearing’ programs by providing tablets and internet loads to places of detention,” ICRC said.

ICRC also said supporting PDLs is also part of its humanitarian activities, which aim to secure humane treatment and detention conditions for all PDLs.

Since 2020, more than 300 digital tablets have been distributed nationwide to BJMP’s 150 facilities, including the Malaybalay City Jail.

The ICRC’s goal is to provide over 500 tablets to nearly 200 detention facilities, in addition to phone and internet load to places of detention until 2023.

In 2022 alone, ICRC facilitated over 467,000 calls between PDLs and their families, 6,000 calls with lawyers, and at least 40,000 virtual court hearings. (Nef Luczon/PNA)

DOH-10 urges parents to register eligible children for pediatric COVID-19 vax

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY (PIA)-The Department of Health (DOH)-10 urges parents to have their eligible children ages 12-17 register for COVID-19 vaccination.

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Dr. David Mendoza of DOH-10 shared during the Northern Mindanao Task Force (NMTF) for the COVID-19 press briefing, November 5, which they have set the target of 594,168 population for pediatric vaccination in northern Mindanao.

In fact, the vaccination for this population has started in big cities like Cagayan de Oro, on October 29, and big provinces like Bukidnon, November 3, said Mendoza. This includes the cities and municipalities of Malaybalay, Cabanglasan, Dangcagan, Damulog, Lantapan, Malitbog, Maramag, and Talakag.

Other provinces are also having ongoing pediatric vaccination which includes Guinsiliban and Mambajao in Camiguin; Calamba, Don Victoriano, Sapang Dalaga, Tudela and Ozamiz in Misamis Occidental; Kapatagan in Lanao del Norte and Balingasag, Claveria, Kinoguitan, Laguindingan, Salay, and its two cities Gingoog and El Salvador in Misamis Oriental.

Meanwhile, Iligan City starts pediatric vaccination, November 5.

Mendoza clarified that there are only two kinds of population for this vaccination which are the A3 with co-morbidities and the rest of the pediatric population.

Further, pediatric vaccination of beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) will be pushed in the days to come, said Mendoza.

As to pilot schools that will have face-to-face classroom setup, the DOH will monitor these schools. As of date, there are 11 public schools and two private schools that are eligible for face to face in northern Mindanao.

Mendoza still urges those who have not been vaccinated to still get vaccinated. As of the latest, northern Mindanao is still at 29% of the 70% target herd immunity.

NorMin gets 4,000 more doses of COVID vaccines for CDO, Bukidnon

MISAMIS ORIENTAL (02 June 2021/PIA) – Another 4,000 doses of CoronaVac (Sinovac) vaccines have arrived for Northern Mindanao, particularly Cagayan de Oro City and Bukidnon.

“There are 4,000 doses of [CoronaVac] sinovac vaccines that arrived today. These vaccines are part of the purchased vaccines made by the government for the vaccination rollout. The order for these vaccines is for Cagayan de Oro City and Bukidnon, but we also give these to other [places],” said Dr. David Mendoza, Local Health Support Division chief of the Department of Health (DOH)-10.

Meanwhile, Mendoza said that the COVID-19 is increasing, and the positive cases of the region had exceeded the 20,000 mark. He also stated that last May 30, an additional 300 plus positive cases were recorded, and the case fatality rate remains at 3.2 percent.

In comparison, Mendoza said that the previous months’ active cases were only between 900-1000. As of May 30, the active cases in the region reached 4,000.

The increase in COVID-19 cases also affected the recovery rate of the region, which went down from 90 percent to 74 percent.

To date, there are 85 percent of the A1 target population and 20 percent of the A2 target population who had received their shots of COVID-19 vaccines.

DOH also urges the senior citizen to avail of the free vaccines in their respective municipalities/cities.

PDEA destroys over P61-M illegal drugs in CDO

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY (May 18) – The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency in Region 10 (PDEA-10) destroyed Tuesday illegal drugs amounting to over P61.4 million.

PDEA-10 officer-in-charge Benjamin Recites III said the illegal drugs consisted of over 9,043 grams of shabu, some 4.5 grams of marijuana fruiting tops, and 0.4 gram of marijuana dried leaves.

The substances were burned using the cremation facility of the Cosmopolitan Memorial Chapel here.

Recites said the illegal drugs were seized by the agency from various operations in Northern Mindanao. The drugs were presented as evidence in various cases filed against drug suspects.

Pursuant to section 21, Article 11 of RA 9165, and Dangerous Drugs Board Resolution Number 1, series of 2002 and 2007, the destruction of the illegal drug evidence from concluded cases ensures the prevention of circulating it back to the streets.

Despite the downtrend in illegal drug trade activities amid the heightened security checkpoints and stay-at-home rules related to the coronavirus disease pandemic, Recites said PDEA remains “steadfast in pursuing its mandate because some illegal drug trade is still existing in the region.”

50 CDO frontliners still get infected despite full vaccination

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY (MindaNews / 11 May) – Just because you are already fully vaccinated doesn’t mean you can go back to your normal life as it was before the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, as 50 of them in this city have found out.

Dr. Joselito Retuya, the chief epidemiologist of the City Health Office, said in a virtual press conference on May 11 that 50 of those who have already received their second dose of Sinovac’s CoronaVac vaccine were still infected.

He said there were 31 others who got infected after receiving their first dose of the Sinovac, and 26 of those who got their first jab of the AstraZeneca vaccine.

Retuya said there were also a case for each of returning overseas Filipino workers who got infected despite getting the Sinopharm and Pfizer vaccines. But he did not mention if the two OFWs were already fully vaccinated.

“The vaccines we have are not perfect. Some vaccinated people still end up catching the virus,” Retuya said.

He said that the primary purpose of the vaccine is to prevent a person from getting really sick.

He noted that of those infected after being vaccinated, only two have shown moderate symptoms, the rest were either asymptomatic or only had mild symptoms.

Despite the risk of still getting infected despite vaccination, the doctor advised Kagay-anons to “take whatever vaccine is available because it will protect you from death 100 percent.”

Cagayan de Oro started administering vaccines to its frontline health workers in March, and to senior citizens towards the end of April.

A shipment of 74,000 doses of AstraZeneca vaccine for Northern Mindanao arrived via the Laguindingan Airport last week, according to the Department of Health regional office.

Mayor Oscar Moreno asked the people’s cooperation in helping contain the spread of the virus. “If the people get reckless, become complacent, then they get infected, and infect their loved ones as well,” he pointed out.

Retuya advised Kagay-anons to refrain from holding parties these days, suggesting sending virtual greetings instead. “Of course we remove our mask when we eat, and we’re all closely huddled together. There’s no more social distancing in those situations,” he added.

Dr. Lorraine Nery, acting head of the City Health Office, advised offices to refrain from holding face-to-face meetings. “Let’s do virtual meetings for now,” she stressed.

She reported that as of 10 p.m. on May 9, Cagayan de Oro has cumulative COVID-19 cases of 5,469, of which 758 are active. She reported 39 new cases in the past 24 hours and 230 deaths against 4,481 recoveries.

The city reported 128 new cases over the weekend, among the highest so far.

Motorcycle barrier dili na kinahanglan sa Rehiyon 10

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – Gipahibalo ni Police Brig. Gen. Rolando Anduyan, regional director sa Police Regional Office 10 nga dili na kinahanglan ang motorcycle barriers base sa anunsyo sa National Task Force COVID Shield sa miaging Agosto 18, 2020.

Subay sa report sa PRO-10 viber group pinaagi ni Police Lt. Col. Mardie Hortillosa, PRO-10 spokesperson, ang mga musunod mao ang mga guidelines ubos sa GCQ sa pagtugot nga dili na kinahanglan ang motorcycle barrier.

Una, mga riders nga nagpuyo sa isa ka balay; ikaduha, sa mga riders nga wala nagpuyo sa isa ka balay kinahanglan ang Angkas-designated barrier; ikatulo, ang backrider kinahanglan isa ka APOR; ikaupat, ang driver puwede o bisan dili APOR; ikalima, ang motor kinahanglan privately owned ug dili for hire ug wala gi-hire sa trip; ikaunom, kinahanglan ang mga sakay sa motor naka-facemask ug naka-face helmets.

Samtang ang Northern Mindanao nga ubos sa Modified General Community Quarantine (MGCQ), ang Local Chief Executives ang dunay discretion nga mo-adapt ug mupatuman sa GCQ guidelines base sa ilang tagsa-tagsa nga sitwasyon.

Nag-advice ang PRO-10 sa general public nga magdala ug ipresenta ang proof of documents nga ang driver ug backrider nagpuyo sa isa ka balay. Ang PRO-10 hugot nga nagmonitor ug nag-coordinate sa LGU sa implementasyon sa motorcycle back-riding guidelines. (Sean G. Sulugan)

3 NorMin provinces get P5.6-M agri aid

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY (Aug. 25, 2020) – The Department of Agriculture (DA) 10 (Northern Mindanao) will distribute some PHP5.6 million worth of basic farm inputs as an aid for three provinces in the region that were affected by the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19), an official said Tuesday.

These are Bukidnon, Lanao del Norte, and Misamis Occidental, said Azbie Talib, DA-10 focal communicator for the agency’s Special Area for Agricultural Development (SAAD) program.

“The provinces will receive farm inputs composed of 20,192 packs of vegetable seeds, 1,125 packs of sweet corn seeds, and 2,500 bags of organic fertilizers,” the agency said in a statement.

The intervention will be fully distributed before the end of the month, it said.

At least 30 towns in the region will benefit from the intervention, Talib said, as he called on farmers in the area to increase production to mitigate the impact of the ongoing health crisis.

He said DA-10 had refocused PHP11.2 million of its 2020 budget for SAAD to fund the procurement of basic inputs for crops and livestock production this year. (Nef Luczon/
PNA)