DA releases P2.6-B loans

under SURE aid program

The Department of Agriculture (DA) has released more than PHP2.6 billion worth of loans under the Expanded SURE Aid and Recovery Project for micro and small enterprises (MSEs), and small, marginal farmers and fishers adversely affected by the quarantine measures due to the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic.

During the third Pre-State of the Nation Address (Pre-SONA) forum on Wednesday, Agriculture Secretary William Dar said the agency, through the Agricultural Credit Policy Council (ACPC), has released to its partner lending conduits PHP1.12 billion in loans for eligible farmers and fishers and PHP1.5 billion for MSEs.

Dar said as of date, PHP767 million was lent to some 30,699 small, marginal farmers and fishers, while PHP646 million was lent to 93 enterprises engaged in agriculture and fisheries production.

Under the SURE Covid-19 loan program, eligible farmers and fishers may borrow up to PHP25,000, with no collateral, zero interest, and payable in 10 years.

Eligible MSEs may avail of up to PHP10 million, zero interest, and payable in five years. A micro or small enterprise may be a single proprietorship, partnership, corporation, cooperative or association.

Aside from the loan program, Dar said the DA has also extended financial subsidy to rice farmers (FSRF), with a total of 591,246 beneficiaries benefitting from this pandemic relief.

The PHP5,000 cash subsidy is part of the DA’s initiatives to assist small rice farmers, who plant one hectare or less, located in 24 provinces not covered under the Rice Farmers Financial Assistance (RFFA) program.

The PHP3-billion FSRF fund is earmarked under the 2020 General Appropriations Act.

For the RFFA, Dar said another PHP3 billion was allocated and some 597,404 beneficiaries benefited from this amelioration program.

The RFFA Program is an unconditional cash transfer program which aims to give PHP5,000 financial assistance each to rice farmers tilling 0.5 to 2 hectares of land in 33 provinces nationwide.

Meanwhile, Dar noted that the Kadiwa ni Ani at Kita direct marketing program has recorded a total sales of PHP5.5 billion nationwide.

Some PHP2.24 billion worth of produce were bought by local government units under the same direct marketing program.

"Sinisiguro po natin na meron tayong sapat na pagkain (We want to make sure that we have enough food) during the pandemya (pandemic) and we would like to believe that we can survive and we can reboot again Philippine agriculture with the help of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte," Dar said.

Dar urged the Filipinos to be resilient and turn challenges into opportunities “to survive and move forward towards a food secure and more resilient Philippines with prosperous farmers and fishers”.

"I would like to conclude by saying that no amount of pandemic and or impacts of climate change can slow us down. No lockdown can really delay our activities in farming and fishing,” he added. (

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91% of public school students  

for academic year 2020-2021

 About 91 percent of the public school students from the last school year have enrolled for the incoming school year which begins August 24.

According to data from the Department of Education as of July 22, some 20,583,109 learners have enrolled in public schools.

Meanwhile, about 1,231,273 learners have enrolled in private schools.

The total number of enrollees in public and private schools for school year 2020 to 2021 is 21, 844, 452.

The Calabarzon region logged the highest number of enrollees at 2,956,455 and the Cordillera Administrative Region logged the lowest at 333,840.

The enrollees were from kindergarten to senior high school as well as learners with disabilities and those taking the alternative learning system. (PNA)

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City's isolation facilities full

By Letty Militante

City Health Officer Dr. Dulce Amor Miravite said that trhe city's Covid 19 isolation facilities are already full as  local or community transmission continue to increase .

Data show that there are about 2,674 Local Stranded Individuals who arrived in this city coming from Luzon,Visayas and Mindanao who are now in the different quarantine isolation facilities.

As off presstime, there is an  increases on the number of positive Covid 19 patients to  include the two (2) employees ( male and female) in Cityhall and the three employees  in KCC Mall who are now under isolation facilities  and in stable conditions.

Following the cases of Covid 19 , Cityhall (Annex and Main) was placed in suspension for three days for massive disinfections and decontaminations .

It was also learned that other government offices like the Land Transportation Office, Department of Agriculture (closed last July 14-17,2020) and among others have also   undergone a total disinfection to  include the Rapid Diagnostic Antibody Test on all employees .

The DA also closed its office due to exposure of an employee to a possitive Covid 19 patient .

Miravite said that if there will be surged,  preventive  transmission not only lies on the frontliners  but the responsibility of each and everyone .

She said that the situation  is quite alarming as there are already community transmission if a person is expose to the community , it is also expose in the workplace,Miravite said.

As this developed, Miravite is asking everyone to do only  essential travels, properly observe social or physical distancing,  especially during meals time when everyone removes the face mask.

Proper hygience is also a must and when any Covid 19 symptoms shows up, the person should  consult doctors immediately for diagnosis and   to be treated early,Miravite said.(Letty M.Militante)

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Covid 19 testing at LTO

The Land Transporation Office Regional IX coordinated the conduct of Rapid Diagnostic   Antibody Tests  on all employees against the Covid 19 pandemic in this city.

This is in compliance  with the memorandum issued last July 2, 2020.

The  West Metro Medical Center administered the  Rapid Diagnostic Antibody Test on all employees of the LTO Regional, District and Extension Offices which was  held at LTO 9 Regional Office, Veterance Ave., Brgy. Sta. Barbara.

This is to ensure that measures are established for early detection of infection among LTO employees and to prevent the spread of the virus among LTO employees and its clients who may be vulnerable to infections.

This is also part  of  a stringent safety and precautionary protocol to protect them and their families against the pandemic.

The listed  LTO Health Protocols for COVID-19 Pandemic are as follows: All employees who tested negative in the Rapid Test must immediately return to work and observe proper health protocols.

-Those who tested positive in the Rapid Test must be immediately isolated and put on home quarantine for 14 days. He/she must undergo RT-PCR Testing to confirm if he/she is positive for COVID-19 or not. 

-All close contact of the person positive in the Rapid Test must also undergo home quarantine. Close contact means the constant companion of the positive case: Those who eat together with the positive case, those who go home together with the positive case, and those who always converse with the positive case. They must be quarantined until PT-PCR Test of the case becomes negative.

All positive for Rapid Test must be advised to avoid physical interaction with his/her family and remain inside a room at all times until his/her testing for PT-PCR is negative. 

The work area of the positive case must also be isolated. It must be disinfected at least twice a day and people must avoid touching things inside the area.(Letty M.Militante)

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Health protocol violators led to

COVID19 surge in Zambo –DOH

The surge of COVID-19 cases in Zamboanga City  is a result of people not taking seriously and not abiding by health protocols, particularly the wearing of face masks, social distancing and frequent handwashing and sanitizing, an official from the Department of Health (DOH)  said.

“Mayroon talaga tayong hindi nagagawa na protocol to prevent the spread of the virus,” said DOH-9 Assistant Regional Director Dr. Joshua Brillantes during the Kapihan na Zamboanga Bantay COVID-19 Public Briefing held this morning (July 17).

Despite continuous public advisories, many residents still violate the minimum health protocols. A report released by Zamboanga City Police Office (ZCPO) spokesperson PCapt. Edwin Duco reveals that from July 15 to 16 in a span of only 24 hours, 459 health protocol violators were reported. The top three violations are not wearing face masks, violation of social distancing / gatherings and going out without quarantine passes.

The city reverted back to General Community Quarantine (GCQ) yesterday (July 16) due to the spike of COVID-19 cases.

“We encourage non-essentials to limit their movements, do not go outside your homes especially the children, senior citizens and those with co-morbidities,” Dr. Brillantes added.

“This is now a call for personal commitment and for the active role of each individuals to really abide by the new normal,” he said.

Yesterday (July 16), 14 additional cases of COVID-19 were reported in the city. The city now has 159 active cases. Total cumulative cases are at 356, with 189 recoveries and 10 mortalities.

The DOH recently launched the “BIDA Solusyon” campaign, which seeks to emphasize the following: B-awal walang mask, I-sanitize ang mga kamay, D-umistansya ng isang metro, A-lamin ang totoong impormasyon. (RVC/DIS/PIA9-ZAMSULTA)

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Zamboanga  records

12th Covid-19 death

 

 The local Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) coronavirus disease (Covid-19) on Saturday reported another death due to the disease, bringing the city's death toll to 12.

In a Facebook post, the local IATF said the 12th mortality identified as ZC343 is a 61-year-old female from Barangay Tetuan. She died on Friday due to respiratory failure brought about by high-risk community-acquired pneumonia.

Covid-19 cases in the city have reached 359 as local health authorities have also recorded three additional cases as of July 16.

The task force said the active cases now total to 158, with 189 recoveries.

The 11th Covid-19 death identified as ZC358 is a 75-year-old male from Barangay Culianan, who died at the Mindanao Central Sanitarium on July 11 due to acute myocardial infarction and high-risk community-acquired pneumonia.

The task force said two of the three new cases are identified as ZC357 and ZC359.

ZC357 is a 40-year-old female from Barangay Tetuan and a close contact of ZC 340, a 50-year-old male from the same village.

ZC357 is asymptomatic and admitted at the government-owned Zamboanga City Medical Center (ZCMC).

The task force said ZC359 is a 38-year=old female from Southcom Village, Barangay Calarian. She has mild symptoms and isolated at the Euntes isolation facility in Barangay Sinunuc.

Meanwhile, out of the 158 active cases, 82 are from the community, 21 are from the Zamboanga City Reformatory Center (ZCRC), 49 are locally stranded individuals and six are returning overseas Filipinos. 

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7K warned for violating

motorcycle pillion policy

Over 7,000 motorcycle riders across the country have been given warnings since the government allowed pillion riding only for married couples or live-in partners on July 10, the Joint Task Force Covid Shield (JTF Covid)) revealed on Sunday.

Police Lt. Gen. Guillermo Lorenzo Eleazar, JTF Covid shield commander, said the 7,091 violators recorded as of July 18 showed government’s resolve to implement the two rules for back riding -- that there must be installed barriers that pass the safety standard of the National Task Force (NTF) for Covid-19 and the riders must be married or living-in couples.

“For a long time, motorcycle riders had repeatedly requested the government to allow at least their partners to back-ride with them due to limited public transportation. And now that the government finally granted their request, they openly and brazenly disregarded the rules that the government was asking from them in return to ensure their safety from coronavirus infection,” Eleazar said in a statement.

He said most of the violators were caught back-riding with other relatives, friends, neighbors and other people which is in violation of the NTF for Covid-19 guidelines that the pillion riding is exclusive for married and living-in couples.

Eleazar said of the 7,091 accosted violators, 6,476 were not only couples but also with no installed barriers while 615 riders have barriers but were not couple or live-in partners.

Police Regional Office 7 (Central Visayas) has the most number of accosted violators with 1,755 unauthorized back riders followed by Police Regional Office 5 (Bicol) with 741 violators; Police Regional Office 6 (Western Visayas) with 737; and, Police Regional Office 3 (Central Luzon) with 675.

He said motorcycle riders have until July 26 to install either a prototype plastic shield as proposed by Bohol Governor Arthur Yap or a barrier designed by motorcycle ride-hailing platform Angkas.

“Let us allow the government to slowly implement these rules in order to ensure that everybody would comply and at the same time, for our law enforcers on the ground not to be overwhelmed by the large number of violators which was actually recorded in just a few days after pillion riding was allowed," Eleazar said.

He said success in the compliance of the rules on pillion riding “could serve as the basis for our policymakers to expand and allow more people for back-riding.”

Last Saturday, Interior Secretary Eduardo Año reminded the couples riding motorcycles to bring with them documents proving that they are married or common-law partners.

He said mandatory installation of safety barriers has been extended until July 26 to give riders enough time to comply.

Beginning July 27, Año said authorities will start issuing citation tickets to violators amid the government’s imposition of quarantine measures to combat the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) outbreak.

Motorists earlier asked for an extension to ensure that their compliance conforms with the safety standards set by the NTF for Covid-19.

“We hope that the two-week grace period is more than enough for motorists to conform to the safety standards of the two approved designs to ensure the safety of both the driver and the riders,” Eleazar said.

While waiting for the full implementation of the motorcycle barrier policy, Eleazar said they will continue to apprehend motorists for other violations including non wearing of helmets. 

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Angara wants epidemics, pandemics

integrated in education

Senator Sonny Angara is pushing for the inclusion of pandemics, epidemics and other health emergencies in the subjects for primary and secondary schools in the country.

Angara noted that the experience of the Philippines with the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic, particularly on the behavior of many Filipinos in spite of the dangers on their health, leaves a lot to be desired.

There are constant reminders about wearing face masks, covering sneezes and coughs and physical distancing during the pandemic but many people still insist on ignoring these health protocols, and as such has contributed to the spread of cases in the country.

Angara said one of the ways to ensure that people behave properly whenever there is a health emergency is to educate them about the dos and don’ts while they are young.

“By educating our children on pandemics, epidemics and public health crises preparedness, we hope to influence behavior in order to prevent the spread of diseases and increase awareness on what to do and what to avoid whenever there is a pandemic,” Angara said.

Angara has filed Senate Bill 1674 mandating the inclusion of pandemics, epidemics and other public health crises as part of the curriculum of all primary and secondary schools, be it public or private.

Last March, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) recommended a Covid-19 curriculum which included suggestions on how teachers can engage students of different ages on how to prevent and control the spread of the virus.

UNICEF stressed that any conversations or activities should always consider the specific needs of children, the guidance provided by the school and local and/or national authorities, and based on reputable sources such as UNICEF and the World Health Organization.

The Department of Education will be tasked to consult with the Department of Health, the National Disaster and Risk Reduction and other relevant public or private institutions in crafting the age and level-appropriate curriculum.

“By educating our students on the good health behavior such as covering coughs and sneezes, proper handwashing and social distancing, this will help ensure that such behavior is ingrained in each individual,” Angara said.

“If all members of society exhibit the proper health behavior whenever there is a pandemic such as Covid-19, this will allow the government to control the spread of the disease more effectively and help ease the burden that such health crises pose on the medical and health facilities and its workers,” he added. (PR)

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No tuition hike in most

of HEIs: CHED exec

The majority of higher education institutions in the country did not increase their tuition, an official of the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) said on Saturday.

"Pagpasok nitong pandemya na ito, majority of our higher education institutions have not increased their tuition fees (When this pandemic entered, majority of our higher education institutions have not increased their tuition fees)," CHED executive director Cinderella Filipina Benitez-Jaro said in a Laging Handa briefing.

Before the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) pandemic, she noted that some HEIs, as early as March, have already applied for an increase in tuition.

At present, CHED is still reviewing the remaining universities and colleges that are requesting for a tuition hike, she said.

CHED earlier said schools are now ready to start classes by August 2020 through a "flexible learning" arrangement or the blended offline-online learning.

Benitez-Jaro said this scheme allows continuity while adapting to the capacity of the students and the institutions.

She noted that HEIs have trained the faculty members and held consultations among students to determine ways to move forward under the so-called "new normal".

On the other hand, she echoed CHED chairperson Prospero de Vera III's call on HEIs to move laboratory work and internships to the second semester of the incoming school year.

"As much as possible, we recommend for those who will conduct their laboratory or limited face-to-face classes to do it at the latter part of the semester where the higher education institutions are more prepared," she said in Filipino.

She also confirmed that more funding was released to the Ifugao State University to augment five of its anti-Covid-19 projects.

Benitez-Jaro said CHED recognizes the efforts of state universities and colleges in finding solutions to cushion the impact of the Covid-19 in their respective communities.

"Alam naman natin na, of course, mayroon pa rin silang financial constraints kaya naman binigyan natin sila ng pondo para sa ganon lalo nila mapaigting ang kanilang pagtulong sa gobyerno and of course sa mga measures natin laban sa Covid-19 (We know that they still have financial constraints that's why we provided additional funding to boost their efforts to assist the government and of course in our measures to contain the Covid-19)," she said. 

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Zambo City Hall still closed

as 2nd worker gets Covid-19

City Hall and its annex building remained closed Friday to give way to disinfection activities, as well as contact-tracing, amid report of a second coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) case among city government workers.

The second case is among the 14 new Covid-19 cases reported by the City Health Office as of Wednesday, putting the total number of confirmed Covid-19 cases in this city at 356.

City Hall was closed to the public effective Wednesday to pave way for the conduct of disinfection and decontamination after one of the employees was tested positive of Covid-19 Tuesday.

Mayor Maria Isabelle Climaco-Salazar said that operation with a skeleton workforce arrangement is expected to resume on Monday, July 20.

However, Salazar said that financial backroom services to include the City Budget Office, City Treasurer's Office, City Accounting Office, and City Administrator's Office continued Friday afternoon.

Salazar said that the Centro Latino Convention Center in Paseo del Mar will serve police apprehensions related to Covid-19 Ordinance and payment as well as the release of confiscated driver’s licenses.

City government offices outside of City Hall will continue to serve the public. These include the City Health Office, Office of the Civil Registrar, Office of the City Agriculture, Office of the City Veterinarian, Office of the City Environment and Natural Resources, City General Services Office, City Tourism Office, City Social Welfare and Development Office, City Sports Development Office, and City Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office.

This city has been reverted to General Community Quarantine (GCQ) effective Wednesday as the Covid-19 cases here continue to soar.

The local health office has registered a total of 356 cases as of Thursday.

Meanwhile, Salazar said that the GCQ inspection teams will be roving to ensure compliance with the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) health protocols.

This city has been under GCQ for 45 days before shifting to modified GCQ (MGCQ) from July 1 until July 15

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