NMP welcomes Congress move not to remove school from DOLE
TACLOBAN CITY – The National Maritime Polytechnic (NMP) based here, will remain under the Department of Labor and Employment(DOLE)instead being attached to the Philippine Merchant Marine Academy(PMMA)-Visayas Extension Campus.
This after Cagayan de Oro Rep.Rufus Rodriguez withdrew his authored House Bill No. 6367 which calls for the conversion of the NMP as extension school of PMMA.
“After they have given the position paper, I see the light that the PMMA should not anymore convert NMP to be part of them. I see their vision of being able to also open other satellite schools that they will manage. So I am now withdrawing practically my bill because in due deference and in respect to NMP who has given their position paper objecting to my bill. So, I therefore reiterate my motion to table this, meaning that it will not be discussed anymore, it’s a dead bill”, Rep. Rodriguez disclosed on August 7.
NMP Executive Director Joel Maglunsod welcome the decision of the Cagayan de Oro solon as he stressed his opposition to any move to detach NMP from its current mother unit, the DOLE.
“We have no objection to the vision of Congress of expanding PMMA to the Visayas and Mindanao. However, we would like to reinforce our stand that NMP as a learning institution that provides world-class education and training to Filipinos, which purpose is aligned with the mandate of DOLE to promote gainful opportunities and develop human resources, consistent with its mandate as stipulated in Presidential Decree No. 1369”, Maglunsod said.
He added that NMP is also planning to establish a satellite offices in Cebu and Mindanao to provide an alternative maritime training center that provides accessible, affordable yet quality maritime trainings. (RESTITUTO A. CAYUBIT)
Maasin mayor appeals unity amid COVID-19 threat
As city marks its 20th founding anniversary
TACLOBAN CITY- Mayor Nacional Mercado of Maasin City has called for unity against coronavirus disease (COVID-19) as the city marked its 20th cityhood anniversary on Monday (August 10).
Following this year’s theme “Panaghiusa panahon sa pandemya,” Mercado appealed for everyone’s support and prayer for the city to surpass the challenges posed by the dreaded virus.
Maasin City has 20 confirmed COVID-19 cases.
“Due to the present situation on COVID-19 in our province and city, once again we are asking for all your understanding and cooperation to strictly follow basic and mandatory health protocols for us to be able to stop the chain of transmission. We cannot win if we cannot work together in fighting against this virus,” the mayor said.
Meanwhile, Mercado thanked the different groups and individuals who continue to extend donations to the city’s COVID-19 response.
The mayor lauded Floi Dolauta of Rotaract Maasin City Chapter for their move to distribute alcohol, vitamins, and pulse oximeter to the three health units in the city.
“In times like this, no amount is too big or small. Every donation counts,” Mercado said in a statement.
He also thanked Maasin Community Multi-Purpose Cooperative (MCCI) board members led by the Chairman of the Board Arnulfo Abiñon and its manager Alberto Gaviola for their “Feed a Returnee and Frontliner Program” from August 5 to 11.
With over 85,000 population in its 70 barangays, Maasin became a component city of Southern Leyte on August 10, 2000 by virtue of Republic Act 8796.
Under the leadership of Mercado, the fourth-class city successfully passed in the prestigious 2019 Good Financial Housekeeping from the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG).
(RONALD O. REYES)
With 41 cases, Basey village now a hot spot of COVID-19 pandemic
TACLOBAN CITY- An upland interior village in Basey town, Samar province, has now become a hot spot area for coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19).
Barangay Villa Aurora, more than 10 kms away from the town center, 41 COVID-19 cases, more than half of the 70 cases of Basey.
The village first case involved a 77-year old man who is suffering from a chronic ailment and confined at the Eastern Visayas Regional Medical Center(EVRMC, based this city.
On August 8, Mayor Luz Ponferrada placed the entire town of more than 1, 200 people, in a lockdown that is to end on August 21. This bars the villagers to go out Villa Aurora.
The move is to ensure that the virus would be contain. The villagers, who depend on agriculture as their livelihood, are being provided with foods by the local government unit.
The DOH said that most of the new infected people of the village were friends, relatives or family members of the 77-year old man, to include his daughter and wife.
Until now, the authorities have yet to determine where the man got the virus as he was known to have no travel history.
The DOH has identified Basey, due to the rising number of COVID-19 cases in Villa Aurora, as one of the areas in the region where there is a localized cases of the dread virus.
“Since the affected barangay has been on lockdown for days, and the nearby barangays have been restricted in their movements, we are hopeful that we will get through this crisis soon,” Mayor Ponferrada said.
Aside from Villa Aurora, also placed under lockdown were its neighboring villages of Cancaiyas and Balante.
Of the 41 COVID-19 patients of the village, 18 are already isolated at the Municipal Ligtas COVID-19 Center (MLCC), while three are confined at the EVRMC.
Dr. Ludina Insigne, DOH8 medical surveillance officer, who visited the village to gather swab samples from the identified close contacts of the early confirmed patients disclosed that during their visit, they noticed that some residents were not following the health protocols.
“We were able to talk to village officials and reiterated to follow the lockdown imposed by the municipality because we have observed that some residents were still living their respective homes and even the village,” she said.
“We also reiterate to them the importance of following the protocol as well as for the community to cooperate to stop spreading the virus,” she added.
In the lockdown imposed by the municipality, minors, senior citizens and pregnant women including those with high risk of infection are prohibited from leaving their respective homes.
Residents are also advised to continue observing and following health protocols such as wearing of face masks, physical distancing and proper handwashing, and social gathering while the village is under lockdown is prohibited.
(ROEL T. AMAZONA)
Gov. Tan lauds frontliners during his Samar Day speech
(Photo Courtesy Michael Balan)
TACLOBAN CITY – Samar Governor Reynolds Michael Tan expressed his appreciation to the frontliners who continue to work despite risking their own lives against the coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19).
Tan made known of his gratitude to the frontliners during his speech marking the 179th Samar Day celebration last August 11.
Unlike in past celebrations, this year’s provincial founding anniversary was toned down amid the threat of the COVID-19 pandemic.
In his message, Gov. Tan urged Samarnons to be thankful for the hard work that all health workers are doing to keep them safe from the spread of the virus.
“Allow me to take this opportunity to sincerely thank all of our frontliners for their back-breaking hard work and commitment to contain and eliminate the virus whenever it appears in our shores,” he said.
“Today as we celebrate Samar Day, let us also celebrate the heroism of our frontliners. Thank you for your sacrifices that benefit of people in Samar,” the governor added.
As of August 13, Samar province has 324 confirmed COVID-19 cases of which 202 were recovered, 120 are still active cases and two deaths, one each from Tarangan and Calbayog City.
Aside from thanking the frontliners which includes not only health workers but also uniformed personnel, village officials, local government unit officials, and volunteers, Gov. Tan also cited the municipality of Tarangnan as example of what the LGU and its residents should do in the fight against COVID-19.
“My hats off to LGU Tarangnan and the people of the municipality for bravely taking on the initial challenge. Their immediate but well-taught off response led to the containment of the virus,” Tan said.
“The same goes to every LGU that has the same positive cases that are still fighting to keep the virus contain while ensuring the recovery of their patients,” he added.
(ROEL T. AMAZONA)