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DOH-10 kicks off 2021 national deworming campaign
CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, (PIA)--While responding to the coronavirus disease (COVID)-19, the Department of Health (DOH)-10 has recently launched its annual National Deworming Month campaign to eliminate parasitic intestinal among minors aged 9-19 years old in Northern Mindanao.
Launched at Barangay Macasandig here on Jan. 7, DOH-10 emphasized the importance of deworming to 20 children and their parents while giving deworming tablets.
DOH-10 Regional Director Dr. Adriano Subaan, Assistant Regional Director Dr. Ellenietta HMV Gamolo, and City Health Office (CHO) chief, Dr. Lorraine Neri and some representatives of the Department of Education (DepEd)-10 turned up in said activity.
“We always urge parents to get their children dewormed and that the medicine is safe and effective ,as it is approved by the World Health Organization. If they experience any side-effects, it is natural as the tablet’s effect is to kill the parasites in the stomach,” DOH-10 Supervising Health Program Officer Maria Rachel Escatron said.
Acknowledging that there are some parents and guardians hesitant in getting their children dewormed or vaccinated, Escatron said they are doing community engagement to educate, eliminate anxieties, and correct misinformation, as he cited that interpersonal communication remains a key factor for the success of any health campaign.
“To the parents who are worried of the adverse effects of our safe and effective tablets, they can take comfort in the fact that we have our nearest health centers to assist and give their children support,” she said.
Through their OPLAN: Goodbye Bulate campaign. DOH-10 will provide free deworming tablets house-to-house in line with minimum health safety protocols. (VPSB/PIA10)
DOH-10 Regional Director Dr. Adriano Subaan demonstrates proper hand-washing and tooth hygiene. (DOH 10)
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COVID-19 mitigation
“At first, it was a challenge for our general public to internalize the health protocol standards since it was still new but as of now, in my observation the public has adapted these measures in our public spaces,” PNP-10 Spokesperson PCapt. Francisco Sabud shared during Talakayan sa PIA, noting the paradigm shift when it comes to minimum health safety protocol compliance for the mitigation of COVID-19 in region.
Sabud reiterated that their role of imposing NIATF guidelines regarding COVID-19 prevention and containment has shifted from strictly establishing ‘BIDA Solusyon’ to now merely reminding and encouraging the general public for compliance, lauding establishments such as malls and businesses for proactively having marshals in ensuring health compliance for their patrons.
Crime watch and war on drugs
In terms of crime neutralization in the region, the PNP-10’s Enhance Managing Police Operation (EMPO) consistently have provincial directors present prevailing crimes in their area of responsibility to strategize and adjust police deployment in converging areas to cater to the incidents.
“As of December, we have high murder case rates in Northern Mindanao, two in Bukidnon, one in Misor, two in Lanao Del Norte, one Misamis Occidental, and one in Iligan. We also have three homicide cases in Bukidnon, one in Iligan, and one in MisOr,” Sabud shared.
He also disclosed that they have found a surge of rape cases at the start of the COVID-19 quarantine stay-at-home order, especially in domestic households in remote areas with minors comprising most of the victim statistics.
“These crimes we have gathered are already filed in prosecutors’ office and are now awaiting trial,” Sabud said.
Further, due to the shift of digitalization in adaption of COVID-19 protocols, the PNP-10 regional anti-cyber-crime group are working overtime in ensuring the protection of minors from exploitation, online scammers, and online fraud.
To boost policing capabilities, Sabud said their modernization program for 2020 included in the establishment of a grandstand accommodating 500 persons in their Police Regional Office, and the renovation of their main building in camp Alagar.
In-line with the administration’s war against drugs, Sabud shared that they have conducted 44 illegal operations in the whole of region 10 and have arrested 66 individuals, with only 3 armed confrontations. Seizing an estimated of weight of 270,245 grams amounting to P1,409,266 in their December operation.
“Despite the pandemic, we are still prioritizing illegal drugs, since it is the mandate of our administration; we are also going with the holistic approach by trying to neutralize illegal activities as much as possible,” the spokesperson added.
ELCAC support
As for their support with Executive Order (EO) 70, the PNP-10 cites that they are proactively building strong community engagement in isolated villages by providing peace and security in those areas alongside the AFP and other government agencies.
“Us in the PNP, we are not in the offensive level but are mostly doing police works, our mobile forces, are the ones who address the insurgency problems and we support them in any way possible,” Sabud shared, adding that they are working closely with the military, as the PNP-10 validates sightings and reports of communist activities.
NEDA-10 conducts staff training for stronger Internal Quality Audit
With more than 30 NEDA-10 and Regional Development Council–10 staff in attendance, the course aims to equip the staff with basic competencies on internal quality audit and prepare them to be internal auditors of the organization’s quality management system (QMS).
The NEDA-X Management wants to ensure the availability of a pool of well-trained internal quality auditors of its QMS.
The training conducted by Infoadvance, Inc. enhanced the participants’ understanding of Internal Audit as an essential component of any management system as it serves as a quality tool to check the effectiveness of processes in delivering intended results and trigger improvements.
Aurelio L. Ebita, lead auditor and trainer, underscored that the overall intent of internal audit is to achieve conformity and effectiveness and not to find nonconformities. Should a nonconformity arise, it is raised against a process and not against a person, for improvement.
On December 23, 2020, the SOCOTEC Certification International issued a new Certificate of Registration for ISO 9001:2015 to NEDA-X which will expire September 21, 2023, covering the processes of Socioeconomic and Physical Planning and Policy, Technical and Advisory, Investment Programming, Monitoring and Evaluation and Support Services. The first certification was issued September 21, 2017 and expired September 21, 2020. (NEDA10/PIA10)
The National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA)-10 conducts an online training course on Effective Internal Audit for ISO 9001:2015, December 28-29, 2020, to continually improve its operations and delivery of services. (NEDA 10)
DILG-10 ensures apt training for brgy frontliners
During the NorMin COVID-19 Response Task Force press conference, December 29, Agabe says aside from providing facility or equipment for COVID-19 response, the government also continuously monitor the skills training needed by LGUs down to the barangay level. (DILG 10)
NorMin ensures illegal firework policing as New Year looms
To ensure zero to low firework-related injuries and stop illicit illegal firework trade in the city, the Department of the Interior and Local Government-Cagayan de Oro City (DILG-CDO) and Philippine National Police (PNP)-10 have bolstered their campaign to police illegal firework trade in city while also ensuring COVID-19 health safety practices.
“As far as DILG is concerned, there are no changes in the guidelines for Iwas Paputok as of now, even with the PNP, I understand there is now a draft being presented to the secretary probably integrating there-in the COVID present situation but in the meantime, we are still using the same guidelines from 2018,” shared DILG-CDO City Director Jane Docallos during Talakayan sa PIA.
Using the Memorandum Order No. 31 of 2018, the DILG-10 alongside the PNP-10 conducts inspections to ensure manufacturers, distributors, retailers, and users of pyrotechnic devices are in compliance with safety guidelines under existing law, rules, and regulation under RA No. 7183.
“In terms of fire crackers and pyrotechnics devices in Cagayan de Oro we still haven’t caught anyone, which is a good sign that people are following our guidelines, in Misamis Oriental however, we have seized around 3 cartons,” PNP-10 Regional Civil Security Unit Asst Chief PMaj. Rocky Neri said.
Neri attributed the city’s zero violations to their ensured cooperation with legal dealers, “here in Cagayan de Oro, we only have two dealers of firework devices, which means that those retailers’ permits given by the RCSU-10 can only be bought from certified sources.”
As far as community involvement is concerned, Docallos shared in addition to COVID-19 health practices engagement, they are also working with other government agencies in advocating regulated firecrackers celebrations in the local government units and their areas of responsibility.
“We are closely monitoring sellers, we are targeting zero casualties and injuries, the government can only do so much, the regulators can only do so much, everything will depend on the cooperation of everybody especially the community,” she emphasized.
List of banned firecrackers based on the 2018 guidelines include Watusi, piccolo, super lolo, atomic triangle, large Judas belt, large bawang, pillbox, bosa, Goodbye Philippines, Bin Laden, mother rocket, lolo thunder, coke in can, atomic bomb, five star, pla-pla, giant whistle bomb and kabasi. (VPSB/PIA10)
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DILG-10 trains 29 ELCAC town reps on local legislation
CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, Dec. 6 (PIA)--Members of Local Legislative Bodies of the 29 Ending Local Communists Armed Conflict (ELCAC) Municipalities participated in the initiative of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG)-10 to gather local legislators and provide a training on CDP/LDIP Retooling in Aid of Local Legislation, November 19-20.
The department has provided comprehensive perspective to the Sangguniang Panlalawigan/ Sangguniang Barangay members to instill better understanding on the process of planning, budgeting, and resource mobilization through the discussion of Retooled Community Support Program (RCSP)—President Rodrigo Duterte’s priority program aimed towards putting an end to local armed communists in the country.
“It [CDP] serves as the LGU’s road map to progress and development. It contains the strategic plans for five development sectors namely economic, environment, social, institution, and infrastructure,” DILG-10 Regional Director Arnel M. Agabe said, highlighting the importance of CDP as one of the major plans mandated under the Local Government Code of 1991.
Moreover, Agabe emphasized the presence of government through RCSP to the ELCAC barangays of Region 10.
“We should continue to let everyone know that the government is there because that is our mandate and that is where we are best, rendering effective and efficient public service to everyone,” he added.
Furthermore, LGOO VI Jacillo Orongan presented the latest related issuances of the local legislation in connection to the COVID-19 pandemic. Issuances include the department’s memorandum on the mandatory wearing of face masks in public areas, guidelines on the risk-based public health standards for COVID-19, the establishment of Local Epidemiology and Surveillance Units (LESUs), among others.
The two-day webinar workshop ended with Local Government Capability Development Division (LGCDD) Chief and LGOO VII Hazel L. Occeña discussing the dynamics and mechanics of the CDP and the Local Development Investment Program. Further, she stressed the importance and crucial role of LGUs in advancing the country’s competitiveness and ease of doing business. (DILG10/PIA10)
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DILG-10: LGUs will decide quarantine ease on holidays
Based on the recent announcement of DILG Sec. Eduardo Año, minors from general community quarantine (GCQ) areas will be allowed to go out and shop for the holidays as long as they are accompanied by their parents, DILG-10 Assistant Regional Director Yvette Tolentino-Sunga says during the NorMin COVID-19 Response Task Force press conference, December 1. (DILG 10)
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DepEd, DSWD underscore care for children amid pandemic
“As of November 19, our policy and planning unit recorded that we are already at 93 percent enrollment rate from kindergarten to Grade 12 despite the COVID-19 pandemic,” DepEd-10 Legal Officer IV Lawyer Candice Zennia Razon said.
Changes in education setting
Due to the suspension of face-to-face classes in adherence to health safety protocols, DepEd-10 opted for a modular and online approach in which she admitted has made some parents apprehensive especially in far-flung areas.
“I think the reason why we haven’t reached 100 percent is because we also respect the decision of the parents that are apprehensive or have challenges in getting modules, we acknowledge that our students here in the Philippines are really used to face to face classes,” Razon added.
Acknowledging that the confinement may have perhaps created an impact in children’s social development, DepEd-10 has also provided mental health support through the provision of psychosocial activities such as online webinars for parents, teachers, and learners in addition to their modules and other activities related to education to help children adapt to the new learning landscape.
“Here in the region, the fact that we are at 93 percent in our enrollment would affirm that it’s not only the DepEd-10 but also our parents and guardians who see the importance of education for our children. They are one with us in believing that education must continue amid this pandemic,” she said.
Espousing children's rights
For DSWD-10’s part, SWAD Team Leader and Children Focal Cristituta Omoyon-Eurese and Early Childhood Care and Development Focal Marylou Aniñon said in light of Children's Month, their department is focusing on children's "Right of Survival and Development" due to the economic uncertainty caused by COVID-19, especially for parents who have lost their jobs.
“Amidst the pandemic, we are trying to protect the children in any form of violence, so considering our children now are always in their homes and have restricted movement, it’s making them more vulnerable to violence and exploitation, it’s not just DSWD but also other inter-agencies are also looking into that,” Aniñon said.
In addition to coordinated efforts with other line agencies, DSWD-10 also has partnerships with the local government units (LGUs) in their Regional Juvenile Justice Welfare Committee to aid children in conflict with the law and survivors to enact proper intervention and rehabilitation.
Eurese also said alongside different agencies of the government, they are continuing rescue operations from human trafficking and online sexual exploitation cases as a significant initiative to the imposed lockdowns and stay-at-home protocols brought by the pandemic.
Furthermore, they are also aiding households in recognizing and preventing online sexual exploitation especially in the age of digitalization amid the new normal aside from handling human trafficking and domestic abuse interventions.
"Have an open communication with your children and know the signs, think before you click and educate yourselves, there are a lot of pedophiles and predators online," Eurese says.
Emphasizing communication as a key factor when it comes to protecting children in the digital age, she also encourages parents to have a proper conversation with their children to the social effects of the COVID-19 pandemic to avoid disconnection and lessen anxiety with their children.
DepEd-10 Legal Officer IV Lawyer Candice Zennia Razon shares their department's firm commitment in giving the children of Northern Mindanao proper educational services despite the global health crisis. (JAKA/PIA10)
Cdeo, MisOr on alert vs African Swine Fever
DA-10 confirms first case of African swine fever in NorthMin
The Department of Agriculture Regional Field Office 10 (DA-RFO-10) confirmed Wednesday, November 18, that serum specimen samples taken from hog livestock from Barangay Pugaan, this city, were tested and turned up positive for the African swine fever (ASF) viral DNA.
In Talakayan sa PIA, DA-RFO-10 Executive Director Carlene Collado said coordination and ground activities to contain the disease were conducted with the Regional ASF Task Force and the Local Government of Iligan City isolating the affected area, eliminating the infected animals and compensating the affected farmers.
"NorMinHog voluntarily compensated the affected hog farmers at P2,000 per culled hog. The Department of Agriculture will provide an indemnity fund at P5,000 per culled hog, and the City Government of Iligan will allocate a certain amount too," he said.
According to him, the P5,000 from the DA will be released upon submission of complete documents to the DA Central Office.
Collado gave an assurance that the Regional ASF Task Force, concerned LGUs, hog industry, and other stakeholders are doing their best to isolate, eliminate and compensate (IEC), as well as manage, contain, and control the viral disease.
He called for support in disseminating to the public that ASF is a deadly viral disease to hogs with no vaccine and could greatly affect the swine industry of Region 10, if not contained.
"We are appealing to the public to respect and step on the footbath on the respective Animal Quarantine Stations and to refrain from bringing in from ASF affected areas any pork and its by-products.," he further said.
He also urged online sellers of siomai, kekiam, longganisa and other pork by-products to ensure the origin of their products and secure business permits from their LGUs. Backyard raisers and all concerned are also advised to refrain from swill feeding.
Earlier, Iligan City Mayor Celso G. Regencia ordered the City Veterinarian's Office and the Iligan City Police Office to restrict animal movement in all parts of the city, especially in Pugaan, including entry to Mandulog, Pala-o, Abuno, and Tipanoy. He also ordered stricter surveillance and monitoring of transport of live pigs as well as pork products entered in the city.
The Iligan City Information Office, on the other hand, disclosed that Mayor Regencia initially allocated P1.5 million from the Disaster Fund for financial assistance for backyard raisers in Barangay Pugaan. (APB/PIA-ICIC)
Heart attack tops death causes in Northmin
During the NorMin COVID-19 Repons Task Force press conference, November 17, Department of Health (DOH)-10 Regional Director Adriano Suba-an says in terms of mortality, the hospitals and local government units are mandated to monitor such and submit reports to DOH-10 quarterly. (VPSB/PIA10)