PALO, Leyte- Police Regional Office 8 (PRO-8) is now undertaking security operations response against the coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19), a report from PRO-8 based in Camp Ruperto Kangleon, this town, said.
Police Brigadier General Ferdinand Divina, PRO-8 regional director, said that this is in response to the declaration of state of public health emergency by Pres. Rodrigo Duterte due to COVID-19 in the country that needs a whole of the nation approach and appropriate Police response to ensure public safety and security.
Divina disclosed that prior to the said declaration, PRO-8 has already created a Critical Incident Management Task Group (CIMTG) headed by PRO-8 regional director and 12 key officers to address the critical and crisis incident in response to the Coronavirus outbreak.
In addition, the Regional Reactionary Standby Support Force (RRSSF) composed of 220 personnel, Search and Rescue (SAR) Teams composed of 195 personnel, Quick Reaction Teams (QRT) composed of 162 personnel were activated and ready for deployment to support security and response operations as the need arises.
“Police assistance desks (PADs) were likewise established in airports, seaports and areas of convergence to ably assist the Bureau of Quarantine (BOQ) of the Department of Health 8 (DOH8) with regard to the security, isolation and control of quarantine areas,” Divina said.
Divina reported that PRO8 has also acquired 16 sets of COVID-19 personal protective equipment (PPE) which are intended for the use of the trained Regional Standby Support Force Team of PRO8 responding to the COVID-19 outbreak upon notice from the DOH.
The PRO8 has started to utilize non-contact thermometers/thermal scanners to all individuals entering the camp. PRO-8 also has a temporary quarantine facility for those who will record a high temperature upon scanning.
Divina advised the community to do the following to prevent the spread of the disease: FLU WISE, which stands for W- Wash, I- Informed, S- Social Distancing and E- Etiquette and in case someone has acquired flu, virus and other infectious diseases, FLU CARE which stands for C- Care, A- Assess, R- Rest and E- Educate so as to reduce mortality.
“Let us all be health conscious, especially at this time when this virus has reached the Philippines. Our police force stands ready and prepared for any assistance you may need. Each one of us is responsible for the safety and security of our community,” Divina stated.
(RESTITUTO A. CAYUBIT)
PRO-8 undertakes security operations response against COVID-19
Leyte now under general community quarantine, move to contain possible spread of COVID-19
TACLOBAN CITY- Leyte Governor Leopoldo Dominico Petilla has placed the entire province under a general community quarantine.
Under Executive Order Number 03-2020-03 he issued on Tuesday (March 17), non-residents of Leyte would be barred to enter the province with few exceptions.
Exempted to enter any parts of the province while the general community quarantine is in effect are the returning residents; those working in Leyte but are from outside the province; students studying outside the province; members of the Philippine National Police, Army, and health personnel; and those driving vehicles carrying food supplies and equipment.
Petilla said that the placing of the entire province under the general community quarantine will take effect midnight on Wednesday (March 18) and to end on April 17, unless the situation calls for its extension.
The move of the governor is part of the measures to ensure that Leyte would remain free from the dreaded coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19).
Under the same order, Petilla also ordered that checkpoints be put into placed to be manned by the police, Army, health and disaster risk reduction management personnel and Coast Guard those assigned at the various sea ports.
Mass gatherings were also suspended in the duration of the general community quarantine.
(ROEL T. AMAZONA with JAZMIN BONIFACIO)
Mayor Romualdez oversees meeting on the designations of exit and entry points against COVID-19 measure
TACLOBAN CITY- Mayor Alfred S. Romualdez met with members of the surveillance and monitoring team on Monday to designate entrance and exit points here in Tacloban City, as part of the stringent measures against COVID-19(coronavirus disease 2019).
As agreed during the meeting, there will be authorities from the City Health Office and the Philippine National Police who will be manning the identified checkpoints.
The entry points will have three lanes and one lane will be provided for the exit points, said Traffic Operation, Management, Enforcement, and Control Office (TOMECO).
The entrance and exit points that have been identified are in Imelda Village, Tigbao and San Juanico. Also, included in the entry point is the road in Marasbas, while Manlurip will likewise be designated as one of the exit points.
Meantime, motor vehicles not bound here in the City will be diverted to Salvacion- Sta. Fe bypass road.
The team will also thermal scan all incoming passengers and will provide declaration forms for those individuals who will exhibit symptoms, as part of the heightened prevention and response over the said deadly disease.
(TACLOBAN CITY INFORMATION OFFICE)
DOH warns arrest of those not following the mandatory 14-day quarantine directive
TACLOBAN CITY-The Department of Health (DOH) here in the region has issued a warning to identified persons under monitoring (PUMs) to isolate themselves inside their homes or face possible arrest by the police.
The warning made by the DOH came in the wake of reports that there are PUMs who reportedly kept in going out inside of observing a self-quarantine.
Under the protocols of the DOH, those considered to be PUMs or those coming from areas where there are confirmed cases of coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19) should automatically quarantine themselves for 14 days.
“We have received information that some PUMS are stubborn who kept in going out or socializing which is in violation of the order for them to self-quarantine for 14 days,” John Paul Roca, information officer of the DOH-8, said.
“If they will continue to violate this, the barangay health emergency response team can call the police for assistance and they could be arrested,” he added.
In Rosario town, Northern Samar its police went to Barangay Ligaya, an island village, to force a PUM to submit himself a home quarantine after report that the person refused to do so.
The DOH-8 has monitored about 43 PUMs but this number could be higher as local government units are now tasked to monitor those coming from areas where there are COVID-19 cases like Metro Manila.
In Tacloban City, alone, for example, there are more than 900 PUMs and Samar province has more than 2,000 PUMs.
Eastern Visayas remains to be COVID-19 free.
(JOEY A. GABIETA)
COVID-19 forces closure of tourist destinations
(Photo Courtesy Spark Samar)
TACLOBAN CITY- With the threat of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) continues, top tourist attractions in the region were temporarily closed as a measure against possible spread of the virus.
And these moves of the local government units and the people’s organizations managing these tourist attractions should be respected and followed, Karina Rosa Tiopes, regional director of the Department of Tourism, said.
“(This is) to ensure that the number of persons infected by the virus will not rise high, it requires a “whole of country approach”, where every Filipino should voluntarily impose upon himself / herself the patriotic duty to support the campaign against COVID-19 and cooperate by following the measures put in place by the proper authorities,” she said.
Tiopes said that they understand the decision to close the destinations “knowing that the main reasons behind these closures are to support the national government’s decisive move to put to a stop human to human and community transmissions of this life threatening virus and to protect the health of the populace.”
“The plunge in visitor arrivals and income from tourism in now a reality that we in the tourism industry should accept, try to mitigate and find ways to overcome. These latest developments are actually hurting our tourism businesses and our tourism social enterprises (people’s organizations) in Eastern Visayas,” the tourism regional added.
For An Waray Rep. Florencio ‘Bem’ Noel said that the impact of the COVID-19 on the tourism industry is a major blow not just to the local economy but also to small business enterprises that rely their income on it.
“Although we are not dependent on our tourism industry alone but for our local tourism industry this is a big blow, a major concern, especially that most of our arrivals are domestic tourist,” Noel said.
The best thing to do now, he said, is to follow all the advisories of the Department of Health (DOH) and the national government to prevent further spread of the virus.
Among the tourist destinations that are currently closed to tourists are the Sohoton Cave and Natural Bridge, the Balantak Falls and Saob Cave, all in Basey town; Langun-Gobingob Cave and Lulugayan Falls, both in Calbiga town.
Also closed were the Lobo Cave in Jiabong town; Extreme Torpedo Boat Ride and the Paranas Eco-Trail in Paranas and the San Juan by the Bay.
The city government of Calbayog has also temporary suspended the operation of its zipline and Malajog Nature Park until further notice.
In Leyte province, tourist destinations that were closed were the Kalanggaman Island in Palompon; Canigao Island in Matalom; and Apid, Digjo and Mahaba, the three islets in Inopacan town that are part of the Cuatro Islas are also close for tourist activities.
In Southern Leyte, Cambaro Cave and at the Macrohon Bird and Marine Sanctuary were also off limits to the tourists.
In Eastern Samar, the Canhugas Nature Park and the Guinduyanan Cove, both in Hernani town; Divinubo Eco-Tour Park and Ando Eco-Destination in Borongan City are also temporarily closed effective March 14, 2020.
Among the tourist destinations in Biliran province that were closed is the Higatangan Island in Naval. (ROEL T. AMAZONA)
Romualdez places Tacloban under lockdown
As a measure against the COVID-19
BY: JOEY A. GABIETA, LIZBETH ANN ABELLA
TACLOBAN CITY- For 23 days, this city, the regional capital of Eastern Visayas, would be effectively in a lockdown as Mayor Alfred Romualdez steps up measures to control possible entry of the dreaded coronavirus disease 2019(COVID- 19).
This means, the movements of the people, both the residents and even those coming from outside Tacloban specifically mentioned under Executive Order 2020-03-107 issued by the city mayor on Wednesday(March 18), are to be monitored or restricted.
All the five exits and entry points within the city are to be in full alert, manned by policemen and personnel of the city government, while the ‘intensified restrictions’ are in effect.
This early, Mayor Romualdez issued an appeal to the public to extend their whole and full support and cooperation to these measures.
The city mayor defended his decision as a way ‘to control the spread of COVID-19(coronavirus disease 2019), mitigate its effect and impact to the community, or curtail/eliminate the threat.’
He said that measure also aim to lessen the influx of people coming to the city which poses risk of possible spread the virus thus the prohibition of people coming outside the city.
At present, Tacloban City remains to be COVID-19 free though the City Health Office reported that there are 15 persons under investigation (PUIs) and 1,379 persons under monitoring (PUMs).
During the entire lockdown period, all business establishments in the city are mandated to cease operations save for hospitals and specialty clinics; providing basic services like power and water utilities, internet service, media, cable and telecommunications; restaurants, coffee shops, and food or snack houses though they are to observe take out or drive-thru orders; supermarkets, groceries, markets, pharmacies and hardwares;banks,and money remittance centers; laundry services, water refilling stations; gasoline stations; and funeral parlors.
Public transports going to the city are also banned but those servicing within the city are still allowed but they are only to carry half of their original capacity of passengers as part of the social distancing policy.
Government offices located in the city would still continue though they are to practice shorten period of work and only skeletal force are to report for work. Work for home is encouraged during the lockdown period.
The suspension of classes across the city, which started on March 13 will end on April 12, the day the lockdown is supposed to be lifted.
Mayor Romualdez also authorizes all the barangay leaders of the city to have their own quarantine systems like having their own checkpoints to ensure the movements of their people are restricted.
Starting on Thursday (March 19), barangay officials using their public address system, informed their respective inhabitants that the city would be in the lockdown which restricts the movement of the people.
As part of their measures, practically all of the city’s 138 barangays would be issuing their quarantine passes wherein only one member of the household would be allowed to go outside their respective barangays to do some errands or buy items outside their areas.
Curfew has been in place since this week starting from 8 pm to 5 am, regardless of age.
While the ‘intensified restrictions’ are in full force, non-residents could still be allowed entry to the city provided that they are doctors, nurses and in medical professions working within Tacloban; national government officials and employees; members of the Philippine National Police, Armed Forces of the Philippines, Bureau of Fire and Protection and Coast Guard; workers in courier, cargo and delivery services; those availing medical services and surgical operations in the city; and media practitioners.
All the workers or personnel of these facilities or establishments are mandated to wear face masks and limit their numbers and always present their IDs or employment certification.