MAASIN CITY- Mayor Nacional Mercado of this city has confirmed that the city has zero active cases of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) after the recovery of its two remaining patients.
The city recorded a total of eight COVID-19 cases since June 17, 2020.
Mercado said the patients were already discharged from their isolation facility for community reintegration.
However, he reminded the residents to maintain the established health protocols for the safety of the city.
“With or without cases, we urged the public to religiously practice the infection-prevention and control measures,” the city mayor said.
Meanwhile, Mercado disclosed that the newly constructed quarantine facility located in Barangay Rizal is almost completed meant for locally stranded individuals who will return to the city.
Mercado said they will be accepting 50 individuals at the quarantine facility starting next week.
“This may not be as comfortable compared to your own rooms but we are doing our best in giving quality service to our constituents most especially in times of crisis,” he said.
Earlier, the Philippine Red Cross-Southern Leyte chapter and the Maasin city government launched the first “Red Cross 143 Covid-19 Skills Camp”, a skills training program in a safe quarantine facility for returning residents during their 14-day quarantine.
(RONALD O. REYES)
Maasin City reports zero active COVID-19 case
City government to resume ‘no segregation, no collection campaign’
TACLOBAN CITY- Personnel of this city’s Solid Waste Management Team (SWMT) composed of the City Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO), the City General Services Office (CGSO), Business Permits and Licensing Division (BPLD), TOMECO, Barangay Affairs, City Information Office (CIO) have discussed plans for the resumption of the info dissemination on the city government’s ‘No Segregation, No Collection’ Campaign that was started early this year.
The team has decided that it is now time to focus on the 30 barangays of Area Two (Real, Magallanes, Sagkahan, Sampaguita, San Jose, Apitong, Fatima, V & G, Imelda Village, Marasbaras, etc.) after the activity was suspended in February this year when the city’s focus was on the preparation for the COVID – 19 pandemic.
It may be recalled that the implementation of the ‘No Segregation, No Collection’ policy in Area One (Downtown/Central Business District) was successful.
For Solid Waste Management, CENRO has divided Tacloban City into three areas. The third area is composed of barangays from Anibong to Tacloban North.
During the meeting, held last July 15, representatives from the City Mayor’s Office were present as well. (TACLOBAN CITY INFORMATION OFFICE)
EV’s enrollment reached 1.13 million
TACLOBAN CITY- More than 1.13 million students from Eastern Visayas have been enlisted for this school year.
This was announced by the regional office of the Department of Education (DepEd) through its information officer, Jasmin Calzita.
The current 1.13 million enrollees represent around 86 percent compared to last school year’s enrollment of 1.31 million, Calzita said, adding that they project more students to be enrolled as the opening of classes draw near.
“We cannot refuse to accept students,”she said.
This year’s school term is to start on August 24.
“There are still parents who remain undecided. I guess the number of enrollees will still increase but we are not sure if we can exceed (last school year’s enrollment).We are just ready to provide an opportunity to all learners for them to be enrolled,” Calzita said.
The enrollment for this school year officially ended on July 15 but due to the current health pandemic caused by coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), there are still parents who appear to be hesitant in enrolling their children.
The DepEd, in answer to the COVID-19 pandemic, is using a blended method of learning or through modules or online.
Of the current 1.13 million students who have enrolled so far, 77,873 are in Kindergarten; 536,116 of them are in the elementary and 496,794 in the senior high. About 21,998 have also enrolled at the ALS or alternative learning system.
Gary Vacunawa, school principal of Cabacungan National High School in Allen town, Northern Samar, said that he expects his enrollment to increase in this school year.
In fact, as of Monday (July 20), he already have 350 enrollees which is already higher compare to last school year of 287.
According to Vacunawa, the increase of their enrollment was the increase of transferees who were enrolled in other schools.
“This is to avoid contact of other people,” Vacunawa, in direct message, said, alluding to avoid of getting the COVID-19 infection.
By: Ronald O. Reyes/Joey A. Gabieta
Kalanggaman Island to start accepting tourists this August
Region’s tourism crown jewel
TACLOBAN CITY- The Kalanggaman Island in Palompon town, Leyte province is set to open to tourists this August, almost seven days after it was closed due to quarantine.
And initially, the island known for its white powdery sand beaches and crystal clear blue waters, would only cater among residents of the town who will be required to show a barangay certificate stating that they are indeed local residents, Paulette Tuan, municipal tourism officer, said.
“We will strictly observe the health protocols like the wearing of face masks and social distancing,” she said.
Kalanggaman Island is being managed by the local government unit of Palompon and is considered to be the top tourist attraction not only of Leyte but the entire Eastern Visayas region.
While they are excited for the reopening of Kalanggaman Island, they are still a little bit worried considering of the current situation, Raoul Bacalla, municipal environment and natural resources officer, in another mobile phone interview
“It’s more of calculated risk kind of excitement rather than fun excitement we are feeling right now because everything is a whole new ball game. We are hoping for the best but preparing for the worst,” he said.
“The local government unit will be using Kalanggaman Island as a pilot project relative to reenergizing the tourism industry of the locality. Hence, it is not an economic augmentation initiative but rather a strategy to ready tourism sector in adapting the new normal,” he added.
Initially, only 50 percent of the island’s carrying capacity of 500 a day would be allowed to set foot on the island once it open in August, he added.
Tuan said that they hope that by next year, they could fully open to tourists the Kalanggaman Island saying that much of their local income are generated from tourist receipts.
She said that last year, they generated P29 million from the more than 100,000 tourists who visited Kalanggaman Island.
“We are really depend on the coming of tourists as much of Palompon’s local income are derived from our tourism sector. And this will also help our micro- entrepreneurs like those in the restaurant and transportation business and even those in souvenir-making industry,”Tuan said.
(ROEL T. AMAZONA/JOEY A. GABIETA)