Saturday, April 13, 2024

Tag: COVID-19

Valencia records 13th COVID-19 related death

Posted on by cmn

MALAYBALAY CITY (March 03) – Another resident of the city has died due to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) related complications on March 2.

The fatality is confirmed case no. 548, a 67-year old female, a resident of Purok 6, Brgy. Laligan, with no travel history and experienced shortness of breathing.

She was one of the 22 confirmed cases reported on Feb. 18.

Mr. Sammy Langub, information officer of the city government, on March 3, said the senior citizen died while under medical care at Bukidnon Provincial Medical Center (BPMC) in Malaybalay City.

He disclosed that the 13th fatality was buried at the New City Public Cemetery in Purok 4, Brgy. Poblacion on March 2, the day she died.

As of March 2, Valencia has recorded total confirmed cases of 589 with 32 active cases due to 11 new cases, 544 total recoveries, and 13 deaths.

Meanwhile, Mr. Langub said Valencia is a pilot in the first inoculation program of the government. He said, most likely, the vaccination for health frontliners in the city will be held next week upon the arrival of the vaccines.

On March 1, the national government has started the first inoculation program in Manila using the Sinovac vaccine donated by China government. The 600,000 doses of the vaccine delivered in the country on Feb. 28.

The national government said the vaccine intended for Mindanao will be delivered in Davao City on March 5 to 6.

Mr. Langub said they are expecting that from Davao City, the vaccines will be transported to Valencia City soon.

Mga proyekto sa LGU Kibawe padayon nga ipatuman

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Sa wala pa nahidangat ug nahitabo ang COVID19 nga pandemya, gisugdan na sa lokal nga pangagamhanan sa munisipyo sa Kibawe ang pagtiwas ug ang pagpadayon sa mga proyekto nga gidamgo sa kasamtangan nga Mayor Renaldo “Jimboy” S. Ang Rabanes.

Kauban sa Mayor ang kinatibuk-ang pwersa sa Sangguniang Bayan members sa pagpanguna ni Bise Mayor Raymundo “Nonong” A. Batao alang sa ilang mga development plans ug gani ang uban niini nangatuman na.

Pamahayag ni Mayor Jimboy, nga una niining prayoridad ang mahitungod sa Education, ang pagrehab sa mga kalsada, infrastructure, turismo, health and wellness ug ang benipisyo sa mga senior citizens.

Gihatagan sa lokal nga pangagamhanan sa Kibawe og dakung pagtagad ang Edukasyon isip tubag sa pagsumpo sa kapobrehon.

Gani, bag-ohay pa lamang, gipahigayon ang groundbreaking ug signing sa Memorandum of Agreement tali sa National High School Campus sa Kibawe Central Elementary School.

Gikatakda sab nga pagatukoron ang tertiary nga tunghaan sa Kibawe. Nakig-alayon sa lokal nga pangagamhanan ang CMU kon Central Mindanao University Extension diin gihanyag ang duha ka major courses nga mao ang Bachelor of Science in Business Administration ug Office Administration.

Matud ni Mayor Jimboy nga pinaagi sa pwersa sa panaghiusa sa kadagkuan sa lungsod, LGU Kibawe, Senator Juan Miguel F. Zubiri, 3rd District Rep. Manuel “Manoy” F. Zubiri, pagatukuron niining tuiga ang nasampit nga National High School. Ang lakang suportado Dr. Arthuro B. Bayocot, regional director sa Department of Education sa Rehiyon 10, ug ni Dr. Randolph B. Tortola, Bukidnon Schools Division Superintendent.

Sa laing bahin, dol-an sa 1,000 ka mga senoir citizen beneficiaries sa Kibawe ang makadawat sa kinatibuk-ang 900ka pesos matag tulo ka bulan isip social pension. Ang munisipyo nigahin sa P300 social fund matag bulan niadtong wala nahilakip sa National Social Pension Fund ug kini inisyatibo sa kasamtangang mayor isip tabang ngadto sa mas labaw pa nga nanginahanglan. (Mel G. Molejon)

Motorcycle barrier dili na kinahanglan sa Rehiyon 10

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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)

Manna and Quail compound in Valencia under lockdown

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Gipamatay sa lalaking silingan ang magtiayon nga senior citizens sa Purok 2, Brgy. Natulungan, Kibawe, Bukidnon niadtong hapon sa Enero 30.

Huervas issued an executive order No. 55 on August 22, 2020, after the Department of Health (DOH) released its confirmatory test on the same day about the patient contracted with the virus.

Being at the critical zone, the movement of all persons within the lockdown area is strictly restricted for 14-days starting midnight on August 22, 2020.

The 28-year old female patient identified as local case No. 41 was exposed to a customer who dined in their family-owned restaurant along Sayre Highway in Brgy. Bagontaas on August 13, 2020.

A customer from the town of Manolo Fortich subsequently tested positive for COVID-19 on August 17, 2020.

The patient and those in close contact with the customer voluntarily submitted themselves to the City’s Isolation Facility on August 17, 2020, for evaluation and monitoring.

Valencia City Task Force against COVID-19 said those in close contact with the customer; only the patient tested positive for COVID-19.

The patient is the 41st confirmed case from Valencia City and the 10th active case. (Mel B. Madera)

Bukidnon COVID-19 patients now at 83 as of July 28

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MALAYBALAY CITY (July 27) – The confirmed coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients in Bukidnon has ballooned to 83.

According to Bukidnon COVID-19 Case Bulletin released by the Provincial Health Office (PHO) as of July 28, 2020, at 4 pm.

Of the 83 total patients, the confirmed on-going quarantine patients are 56. Twenty-seven (27) patients have been declared recovered. Still, the province has no confirmed death due to the virus.

The data said the City of Malaybalay is leading with the most cases in Bukidnon by having 26 confirmed cases. It is followed Valencia City with 21 cases, Quezon and Don Carlos have seven each, four in Kadingilan, the towns of Pangantucan, Maramag, Manolo Fortich, and Kitaotao have three each, two each for Sumilao and San Fernando, while Libona and Lantapan with one each.

The towns of Baungon, Cabanglasan, Damulog, Dangcagan, Impasug-ong, Kalilangan, Kibawe, Malitbog, and Talakag are still COVID-19 free.

Dennis P. Sangalang, city health officer of Malaybalay, said of the 26 patients in Malaybaay, 15 of them have recovered from the virus while 11 are still in strict isolation.

Sangalang disclosed the information in a press conference held at Loiza’s Pavilion in Brgy. Casisang, Malaybala City in line with the observance of the National Disaster Resilience Month on July 29.

He said most of the cases are attributed to the returning Locally Stranded Individuals (LSI) and while some are Returning Overseas Filipinos (ROFs). (Mel B. Madera)

PCOO Sec. Andanar initiates relief efforts for NorMin, Caraga media workers

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CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – Cabinet Officer for Regional Development and Security for Region 10 (CORDS X) and Presidential Communications Secretary Martin Andanar has extended aid to media workers in the regions of Northern Mindanao and Caraga.

Personnel from the Philippine Information Agency Region 10 (PIA 10) on April 22 facilitated the delivery of half of the intended 1,000 packs of rice to Butuan City, while the remaining 500 packs are allocated for Region 10.

“At this time of health emergency due to the COVID-19 disease, we recognize the need to extend a helping hand to our fellowmen and give assistance in any way we can,” Sec. Andanar said.

In his statement, Sec. Andanar said that the efforts of frontline media workers in delivering timely and accurate information to the public at this time of crisis are well-recognized, as they also suffer from the impact of COVID-19 in the country.
“We also recognize the invaluable service of all media members in this concerted fight against the COVID-19 disease,” he said.

“They are front-liners who are working hard to keep the public informed and updated, at a time where reliable and vetted information is much needed in order to allay the fears and concerns of the people. We pray for the continued safety and well-being of our fellow media,” he added.

The PCOO chief also reminded the public to remain indoors in order to stay safe and as their display of appreciation for the efforts of frontline workers in battling the pandemic.

“May we all continue to show compassion to those in need and appreciation for those in the frontlines. By staying home and keeping safe, everybody’s efforts will not be in vain,” he urged.

(Sec. Andanar is the head of the Laging Handa communications crisis center, which currently provides COVID-19 related updates, news, and information. He likewise hosts the Laging Handa Network Briefing, Laging Handa Public Briefing. He also has special COVID-19 coverage programs on Cabinet Report, Mediaman’s Mancave Podcast and on PTV’s Alerto.)

DSWD-10: Excluded from SAP may be reconsidered thru CICs

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CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY (Apr. 28) — For those who were not included in the Social Amelioration Program (SAP), Glofelia Uayan of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD)-10 said the local government units (LGUs) are provided with the COVID Intake Card (CIC) so a new listing will be obtained for additional funding.

During the NorMin COVID-19 Response Task Force press conference, April 28, Uayan said the LGUs have the discretion on how they will administer the distribution of the CICs.

“Para ni siya sa mga left out. Dili ta makaingo’g kanus-a kay ato pa man siyang irequest ug (This is intended for those who were left out from SAP. We can’t determine when the beneficiaries will be provided with the assistance since we will still request for) fund to the Department of Finance for additional funding,” Uayan cited the target of CICs.

For complaints on the unqualified beneficiary or ‘politicking,’ Uayan said concerned citizens may complain to the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG).

As for the SAP validation, DSWD-10 channelled such to the LGUs. Some barangays have their volunteers to conduct the validation while other LGUs have the DSWD workers, including the municipal action team to handle the work.

In choosing the beneficiaries, DSWD strictly follows the national guidelines and such indicate that only families could become a beneficiary. “So kung duna’y single nga naapil, pwede na nila ireklamo (If there is a single person included as SAP beneficiary, a complaint can be sent to DSWD),” Uayan added.

In terms of SAP distribution, DSWD requires LGUs to complete the payment by April 30 as the department’s secretary also needs to report to the president.

As of April 27, nine municipalities in Bukidnon have already distributed the SAP to 61,269 beneficiaries with a total disbursed amount of P367 million. For Camiguin, 16,083 have been provided with the P6,000 SAP, each with a total disbursement of P96 million.

In Lanao del Norte, 23 LGUs have already distributed to 116,827 beneficiaries and disbursed a total of P700 million. In Misamis Occidental, 9 LGUs have disbursed P238 million to 39,818 beneficiaries.

For Misamis Oriental, 21 LGUs provided SAP to 221,722 beneficiaries and disbursed a total of P1.3 billion. (Recthie T. Paculba/PIA10)

Bukidnon logs 2 probable COVID-19 cases

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MALAYBALAY CITY (BukidnonNews.net)— Bukidnon has logged two probable COVID-19 cases after they tested positive for antibodies that may be linked to the dreaded disease, officials said.

At the emergency meeting called by Gov. Jose Ma. Zubiri Jr on April 25, Dr. Sulpicio Henry Legaspi Jr, chief of the Bukidnon Provincial Medical Center, reported to more than a hundred government officials and stakeholders.

Dr. Legaspi said: “We have one who tested positive for rapid antibody test…And just yesterday we have one also who turned positive for a rapid antibody test. So, all in all, we have two probable cases of Covid-19…”

However, in an interview with Bukidnon News, the BPMC chief said the result is inconclusive.

“The rapid antibody test only captures the antibodies, not the virus itself,” he said.

“So even if it targets COVID-19, it can also capture antibodies from other pathogens or viruses.”

Antibodies are proteins created by the immune system to fight off viruses and bacteria.

Dr. Legaspi said confirmatory tests will still be done using real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test, which DOH called the “gold standard” for testing.

He announced in the meeting, “Ang isa ka pasyente nakuhaan na nako ug swab. And amo nang gipadala sa SPMC. Ang kanang isa, I scheduled her next Monday.”

The Southern Philippines Medical Center in Davao City remains the only COVID-19 testing laboratory in Mindanao.

In the meeting, Gov. Zubiri first mentioned the identities of the patients. He said: “Right now we have one positive…and then…The girlfriend and the soldier who might also be positive.”

When asked for the status of the two, Dr. Legaspi said the soldier is admitted at the BPMC while the girlfriend is home quarantined.

However, Dr. Ricardo Reyes, chief of the Provincial Health Office, clarified April 27 that while the first probable case is the 27-year-old soldier from Quezon, the second is from another town and is not the soldier’s girlfriend.

According to him, the girlfriend is yet to be tested.

Dr. Reyes earlier said the province has one confirmed, two probable, and 16 suspected cases. The latter have flu-like symptoms but are still untested.

The Department of Health recently modified the classification of cases dropping persons under monitoring (PUM) and replacing persons under investigation (PUI) with the suspect and probable categories.

Last week, BPMC received 2,000 rapid antibody test kits from the office of Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri. The test kits, made by Xiamen Boson Biotech in Fujian, China, were part of the 6,000 he donated to four hospitals in Mindanao. (APT/ BukidnonNews.net)

April Rose Torion, First posted: 25 April 2020 | Updated: 27 April 2020

Bukidnon reopens biz industries, lifts strict quarantine order

Posted on by cmn

MALAYBALAY CITY, Bukidnon (April 27/PIA) — Governor Jose Maria R. Zubiri Jr. on April 25 signed Executive Order No. 21 (EO 21) that lifted the strict general community quarantine (GCQ) to allow the reopening of selected local businesses and trade that would at least reinforce the province’s resources in the midst of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.

In an emergency meeting with the 22 mayors and other stakeholders in Bukidnon, the governor poured his heart out as he reaffirmed that COVID-19 is eating up the province’s coffers.

He said that the P700 million he spent was a scant sum to help those who lost their jobs and livelihood due to the imposed community quarantine.

“The province spent hundreds of millions of pesos to help our poor residents, but that was not enough. We need to reopen up selected business industries but we must do what we did in the past such as keeping people in their homes, adherence to the rules on social distancing, and wearing of facemasks, among other health advisories and precautionary measures on COVID-19 prevention,” Zubiri said.

He clarified that the province should soften some restrictions by opening up other business industries such as production, manufacturing, construction, quarrying, e-commerce, delivery, repair services, maintenance, and housing provided that they operate in accordance with the Department of Health’s prescribed standards.

Zubiri, meanwhile, reported that the latest resolution of the Inter-agency Task Force on the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-MEID) provides that Bukidnon is classified as a “low-risk area” on COVID-19 transmission because the province has only one confirmed COVID-positive since the pandemic broke out.

Therefore, the province shall remain under general community quarantine, and shall adopt the guidelines set by the IATF for “low-risk areas,” he added.

The new guidelines under EO 21 require that the public may go out for necessities but those aged 0-20 and 60 years old and up, shall stay at home.

It added that workers and employees residing outside Bukidnon shall be allowed entry only upon presentation of ID, passes, and health certificate as proof that the person is not a suspect of COVID-19.

All non-residents of the province shall be denied entry except when they are health workers; authorized government officials; traveling for urgent and medical reasons; persons transiting to seaports/airports for essential travel; those providing basic services and public utilities; and labor and workforce of businesses authorized to resume operations.

Public transport vehicles may resume operations provided that they travel within the province only and carry passengers at 50 percent of their normal capacity.

Likewise, motorcycles are allowed to carry one passenger upon showing proof that they belong to the same household.

The EO added that schools, amusement centers, tourism services, and other similar services shall continue to be closed.

In same way, it says that mass gatherings and religious activities shall continue to be prohibited.

This EO 21 that took effect Monday, April 27, is the newest order, which lifted the strict general community quarantine under EO 20 that ended midnight of 26 April 2020. (RLRBalistoy/PIA Bukidnon)

Sen. Migs, Cong. Manuel donate 2K COVID-19 test kits to BPMC

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MALAYBALAY CITY (Apr. 20) – Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel F. Zubiri and his brother Bukidnon 3rd District Representative Manuel F. Zubiri are donating 2,000 COVID-19 antibody diagnostic kits to Bukidnon Provincial Medical Center in Brgy. Casisang, Malaybalay City.

The staff of Senator Zubiri headed by Engr. Rene Escrupulo and Staff of Rep. Zubiri headed by Ms. Nora Villapaz led the turn-over of the testing kits on April 20, afternoon.

Dr. Sulpicio Henry M. Legaspi Jr., BPMC chief of Hospital, accepted the two boxes of donated COVID-19 testing kits in the presence of some BPMC and health officials in Bukidnon.

Escrupulo said the 2,000 COVID-19 antibody diagnostic kits are manufactured by the company Xiamen Boson Biotech Co. Ltd. based in Fujian, China. He said the 2,000 testing kits cost P3 million.

The 1,000 of the testing kits came from Sen. Zubiri, and the other 1,000 came from Rep. Zubiri.

Dr. Legaspi said the testing kits will be used to COVID-19 suspected patients in Bukidnon.

He said, currently, there are six suspected COVID-19 patients at BPMC COVID-19 ward.

The Senator is also donating test kits to Misamis Oriental, Surigao del Norte, and the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.

A report from Philippine News Agency (PNA) said the Senator had donated a total of more than 6,000 antibody diagnostic kits to various hospitals in Mindanao.


Earlier this month, he donated test kits to the Philippine General Hospital as well.

“Kung sa Metro Manila lang tayo mag-focus, hindi natin matatalo itong COVID,” Zubiri said in a statement.

He said, “The longer we hold other regions back from massive testing, the higher the chances that the virus will continue to spread there, even with community quarantine. We can’t afford for that to happen. Dapat maagapan natin as soon as possible.”

The donated test kits are the rapid antibody test kits recently promoted by President Rodrigo Duterte during his weekly briefings. These kits can be used without testing laboratories.

“I know the gold standards of testing for COVID-19 are the PCR test kits, like those we donated to PGH. But in the absence of accredited laboratories across the country, these rapid test kits will have to do for now,” Zubiri said.

“I am prioritizing these areas of Mindanao, as the DOH has yet to accredit a single testing lab in these areas. This is one of my biggest frustrations, as there is only one accredited laboratory in Mindanao, located in Davao City and nowhere else at the moment. The DOH should cut the bureaucratic tied tape and at least focus on regional laboratories and testing centers.”

While Luzon, particularly Metro Manila, holds the majority of the country’s COVID-19 cases so far, Mindanao has not been spared from the virus. There have been over one hundred and thirty (130) positive cases in Mindanao as of writing, an alarming number given the limited testing capacity in the region so far.

Zubiri, who himself had been diagnosed with COVID-19 and recovered from it, voices sympathy for health care workers in Mindanao.

On March 16, Zubiri tested positive for COVID-19 after sitting on a Senate hearing where an infected person attended. The senator tested negative for the virus during the second testing on April 12.

He said, “so many nurses, doctors, hospital workers back home have reached out to me, asking if there’s a way we can help them. Nasa frontlines sila araw-araw, risking their own wellbeing for us, and yet they can’t get tested because of a shortage of kits. It’s disheartening. I hope some of the test kits that we’re sending out can be allocated for our health workers so that they can continue with their noble duty to our people.”

“We really need nationwide testing. That’s the only way we can properly identify the scope of this virus, and the only way we can begin to eliminate it,” the Senator added.