Friday, March 07, 2025

Tag: COVID-19

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

Posted on by cmn

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.

Residents urged to observe Malaybalay One City, One Prayer practice

Posted on by cmn

MALAYBALAY CITY (April 08) – All residents of Malaybalay City were told to observe the One City, One Prayer practice every time the siren sounds at 8:00 pm daily.

In a Public Advisory issued on April 6, Mayor Florencio T. Flores Jr. is urging everyone to be united in prayer as well as in action, and Make One City, One Prayer as a daily habit!

Regardless of faith, religion, spiritual community, or group, Mayor Flores has requested them to cease from the daily routine every time the curfew siren sounds – and devote one full minute prayer.

People are requested to “PRAY for those afflicted and those who have loved ones affected; PRAY for the doctors, nurses and hospital workers who are caring for them, too; PRAY for the scientists and health experts who are seeking the cure; PRAY for the front liners keeping our borders safe, and for responding to the calls and needs during these trying times; PRAY for the back liners which are working to ensure the public as served as mandated; PRAY for the truckers, their drivers and helpers who are plying roads carrying our food and goods; PRAY for everyone to mind their neighbor’s welfare and well-being as well; PRAY for the peacekeepers, responders and barangay workers who are out daily to monitor the situation; PRAY for our policy-makers always make the sound decisions; Pray for everyone who are going through more than just this crisis; most of all; PRAY for the time to come soon when this will be over.”

Malaybalay City is under Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ) amid coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.

Based on Executive Order No. 83, series of 2020, effective 12:00 midnight on March 26 to 12:00 midnight on April 15, the entire city has been placed under ECQ due to the alarming increase of Persons Under Monitoring (PUM) and Persons Under Investigation (PUI).

Mayor Flores has also issued E.O No. 84 on March 30, making the mandatory wearing of face mask and temporary liquor ban. These were considered as additional measures to further strengthen the preventive measure already in place in the city.

Hospital prepares 141 Soldiers in NorMin to Handle COVID-9 patients

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MALAYBALAY CITY (April 3) – Personnel of Bukidnon Provincial Medical Center (BPMC) gave soldiers belonging to Army’s 403rd Brigade a 1-Day theory and practical on handling coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients inside Camp Osito D. Bahian based in the City last April 1 to 2.

Capt. Rene Belmonte, civil-military operations officer of 403rd Brigade in a statement, said soldiers were trained in 2 batches.

He said the 1st batch is composed of 61 soldier students last April 1, and another 80 have completed the orientation training the following day.

Ms. Marlah Samson, Health Emergency Staff Operations Officer of BPMC, said: “It is important that our soldiers learn the protocol and proper procedure especially those involved in patient transfer and those that are in the frontlines.”

The training entitled “Orientation on the Emerging Disease COVID-19: Donning and Doffing of PPE with Transport Simulation” involves half-day theory and a half-day practical at BPMC COVID19 Facility Infection Control Unit.

“During this pandemic on worst-case scenario wherein a lot of our healthcare workers were also infected by the virus, our soldiers must be prepared to reinforce us (health workers), especially on the transport of patients and other health works in healthcare facilities” Samson added.

Col. Ferdinand Barandon, Commander of 403rd Brigade covering Camiguin, Misamis Oriental, Bukidnon, and Cagayan de Oro City, thanked BPMC.

He said, “As soldiers, we train to win a war. We thank the BPMC for this initiative of training our soldiers on our worldwide battle against COVID19. This training will protect our soldiers as we continue to protect our people”.

Samson further said, “During our practical, our soldiers were able to transport and properly endorse mock patients to receiving hospital units. It was successful orientation training for our soldiers. We extend our heartfelt thanks as health workers to the 403Bde leadership and our students. God will help us with our battle against COVID19.”

Soldiers who attended the -2-day activity came from the Headquarters of the 403rd Brigade and the five battalions composed of 58th IB based in the Eastern part of Misamis Oriental, 65th IB based in the hinterland of Cagayan de Oro City, 1st Special Forces Battalion, 8th IB based in Impasug-ong, Bukidnon, and 88IB based in Maramag, Bukidnon.

Malaybalay is placed under Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ), while the entire province of Bukidnon is under General Community Quarantine (GCQ) and the State of Calamity.

PGB releases food, cash aid to beneficiaries

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MALAYBALAY CITY (April 8) – The Provincial Government of Bukidnon (PGB) has released the entire food and cash aid to beneficiaries from the province’s 20 towns and two cities amid coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19 Pandemic).

Mr. Hansel Echavez, supervising administrative officer of capitol’s Public Affairs and Information Assistance (PAIA) in a statement on April 7, confirmed that the PGB has released on April 2, the total balance of the food and cash aid to all towns and two cities.

The province of Bukidnon has been declared under General Community Quarantine through and Executive Order issued by Gov. Jose Ma. R. Zubiri Jr. on March 17 to “prevent the spread and contain the transmission” of COVID-19. On the same day, the Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) of Bukidnon declared Bukidnon under the State of Calamity.

Previously, Gov. Zubiri said the PGB has allocated a total of P700 million for the food assistance to 100,000 identified “poorest among the poor families” and those affected by ‘no work, no pay” scheme in the province. The PGB had initially released the food assistance to some towns in the province.

Each family beneficiary was given a sack of rice and assorted canned goods worth P6,250.

However, in the last meeting with some mayors, local government units urged the Governor to double the number of the beneficiaries, or from 100,000 families to 200,000 families.

Zubiri lastly decided to divide the P6,250 allocation per family of food assistance or cash aid into two and ordered the mayors to release it to the beneficiaries.

Of the province’s 20 towns and two cities, eight of them were given cash aid instead of food aid and use it to buy food assistance to be given to the beneficiaries in their respective barangays.

These are the towns of Baungon, Libona, Malitbog, Manolo Fortich, Sumilao, Talakag, and the cities of Malaybalay and Valencia.

Echavez clarified lately that “generally, the poorest among the poor and poor families in Bukidnon (specifically those listed at the city/town Social Development Office) are given priority to receive the assistance coming from the provincial government not only the “no work no pay” workers as previously reported in this paper.

He also clarified that Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps), MCCT-IPs, UCT, and those who are receiving a social pension are not included in the program because they are already receiving assistance from the national government through the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Office. 

Bukidnon to impose strict GCQ supplementary guideline

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MALAYBALAY CITY (April 8) – Bukidnon Gov. Jose Ma. R. Zubiri Jr., on April 8, has issued Executive Order No. 20 series of 2020, a supplementary guideline for the strict implementation of General Community Quarantine (GCQ) in the entire province of Bukidnon.

The strict implementation of the GCQ supplementary guideline will take effect at exactly 5:00 a.m. on April 13 and will end at 12:00 midnight on April 26, 2020.

Strict home quarantine shall be implemented in all households and residents in the entire province of Bukidnon.

The heightened presence of uniformed personnel (PNP and AFP) in coordination with the Provincial COVID-19 Task Force, Mayors, and Punong Barangays shall strictly enforce and monitor the home quarantine, which shall be observed in all households and ensure the implementation of the quarantine procedures.

Only one individual per household is allowed to go out from their homes to access food and other basic necessities.

All individuals going outside their homes must carry their quarantine pass and, whenever asked by law enforcement or local authorities, must present the said quarantine pass with their valid id. In the case of employees reporting for work, they may present only their employees’ id.

Upon the effectivity of the order, all residents and non-residents outside the province of Bukidnon shall be denied entry into the province. The movement of persons shall be limited to accessing basic necessities.

All residents traveling outside the province shall be denied re-entry at border points or community quarantine control points. The PJTF-BUK CV Shield shall ensure that this provision shall be strictly implemented.

Health workers responding to emergency situations as well as health workers are allowed entry subject to quarantine procedures and presentation of valid id.

All public transportation within the province of Bukidnon shall be suspended during the effectivity of this order. The transport or movement of goods, supplies, and cargoes shall remain in effect provided that the driver and one helper only shall present valid id and submit themselves to the proper processing of the COVID-19 Task Force, thereby limiting the entry per truck/vehicle to two persons.

The municipal or city LGU may expressly allow a number of public vehicles (motorela/tricycle/multicab) to continue operations only for purposes of transporting employees, and for the residents to access and carry food supplies and other basic necessities.

Private vehicles, including motorcycles, may still be allowed provided that only one person per vehicle is allowed and said person is carrying quarantine pass. Provided further, that such travel is solely for purposes of accessing basic necessities and medical needs.

Selected essential establishments and businesses shall remain open and shall continue operation, provided they shall institute their respective precautionary measures. The following shall be considered necessary establishments and businesses such as groceries, supermarkets, wet markets/palengke; water refilling stations; food delivery services, courier services, and other delivery services; hospitals, medical laboratories, pharmacies, and drugstores; banks, ATMs, savings and credit cooperatives, money-transfer service; gas stations and LPG stations; funeral parlors; and public utility services.

All establishments and businesses not included in the above mention shall be considered non-essential and shall be closed during the effectivity of this order.

All government offices in the province are advised to implement skeletal force working arrangements to continue necessary functions at their offices. However, those in security, health, social services, sanitation, and disaster shall continue to work on full operations.

The provincial government and respective CLGU/LGU shall provide transportation services to government workers whose work are all vital to the government’s overall efforts in managing the COVID-19 situation and the delivery of essential services.

Violations, resistance or disobedience to any of the provisions of this order shall be subjected to criminal, civil and/or administrative sanctions. Likewise, spreading fake news and such other acts that will undermine the health and security of the public will be dealt with in accordance with the full extent of the law.

The province of Bukidnon has been declared under General Community Quarantine through Executive Order No. 13, series of 2020 issued by Gov. Zubiri on March 17 to “prevent the spread and contain the transmission” of COVID-19. On the same day, the Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) of Bukidnon declared Bukidnon under the State of Calamity.

Just recently, the PGB has released the food assistance/cash aid to the 20 towns and two cities in the province.

By: Mel B. Madera

Malaybalay 22nd Charter Day Anniversary cancelled amid COVID-19 scare

Posted on by cmn

MALAYBALAY CITY (Feb.16) – The City Government here has canceled the crowd-drawing and mass gathering activities for the 22nd Charter Day Anniversary through an Executive Order.

Vice Mayor Jay Warren R. Pabillaran, the OIC Mayor of Malaybalay City, issued Executive Order No. 75 series of 2020 on Feb. 14.

Pabillaran, in his order, cited the unnumbered Department of Health Advisory and the Memorandum Order No. 431 series of 2020 issued by Gov. Jose. Ma. R. Zubiri Jr. on Feb. 12 noon.

DOH’s advisory has recommended and ordered the cancellation of significant events or mass gatherings because of the threat of the spread of 2019 novel coronavirus that emanates from Hubei, China and to ensure the safety and health of the public.

All 46 barangays of the city are also ordered to cancel all their activities, which will draw or gather large crowds in their respective area.

All public and private schools and offices, private establishments, and other associations and the general public are also strongly urged to cancel and or avoid organizing, attending, or participating in events or activities that draw a considerable number of attendees or crowds.

On the other hand, Gov. Zubiri’s memo order in canceling the 2020 Kaamulan also cited the DOH’s health advisory.

As of Feb. 18, Time.com reported that more than 73,000 people have confirmed with COVID-19 infection and nearly 2,000 deaths around the world.

By: Mel B. Madera