TACLOBAN CITY- The vaccination campaign being initiated by the city government is intended only for city residents and not those coming from outside Tacloban.
This was stressed by Mayor Alfred Romualdez in a press conference held last July 24, 2021 at the Pacific Point, San Jose, Tacloban City.
“The Department of Health (DOH) vaccine allocation for Tacloban is for our constituents. You have yours in your place,” he said.
He further asked residents of neighboring places to please give way to Taclobanons. “Don’t flock at vaccination centers by taking chances, you will not be entertained,” Mayor Romualdez said.
The city mayor made this statement after thousands of people flocked to the two vaccination sites last week to avail Johnson and Johnson vaccine which is administered on a single-dose only.
The city has received 10,000 doses of the American manufactured vaccine.
It was learned that among those who went to the vaccination sites, held at the two Robinsons shopping malls, were those from outside the city, depriving in the process qualified residents of Tacloban City.
The chaotic situation at the two vaccination sites also received negative reactions from some netizens, criticizing the city government for what they claimed to be an unorganized vaccination campaign.
“It’s not fair for the team working behind the vaccination. They are sacrificing themselves serving thousands of constituents per day only to be bashed,” Romualdez lamented.
“We are trying our best to improve the system. Rest assured we are here to serve you the best way we could. Let’s all be safe by following the minimum health protocols such as wearing of mask and shield and social distancing,” the city mayor said.
Mayor Romualdez: vaccines delivered to the city are for Taclobanons
Region’s population up by 107,000
Based on the 2020 census
TACLOBAN CITY- The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) in Eastern Visayas has announced that that region’s population now stand at 4,547,150 as of May, 2020.
The region’s population is higher by more than 107,000 compared to the 2015 population survey.
PSA Regional Director Wilma Perante said that the census of the region’s inhabitants was successfully conducted despite of the raging coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic.
All six provinces of the region have posted increase of population with Leyte posting the highest population with 1,776,847 followed by Samar with 793,183 and Northern Samar, 639,186, she said on her report.
Eastern Samar has 477,168 inhabitants; Southern Leyte, 429,573; and Biliran, 179,312, which incidentally posted the fastest population growth rate with 0.93 percent of all the provinces.
Tacloban City, the regional capital and the only highly urbanized city, has a population of 251,881, higher by 9,792 compared to the 2015 survey.
Following Tacloban is Ormoc City in Leyte with 230,998 people followed by Calbayog City in Samar, 186,960 and Baybay City, Leyte with 111,848.
Meantime, Catbalogan City in Samar has a population of 106,440 and Borongan City in Eastern Samar as the least populated city with 71, 961.
The least populated town in the region, based on the 2020 survey, is the municipality of Maslog in Eastern Samar with 5,463 inhabitants.
The number of residents of the said town is lower compared to the most populated barangay in the region which is Barangay 105 in Tacloban City with 12,296 inhabitants.
(JOEY A. GABIETA)
Alfred ready for DOH suggestions
Amid crowding incident due to J&J vaccination
TACLOBAN CITY – Mayor Alfred Romualdez said that he is open to implement the recommendation made by the Department of Health (DOH) to improve the inoculation process for the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) vaccines.
He, however, was quick to say that several things must be considered first before adapting them.
These includes the number of vaccines provided to the city, and additional vaccination sites and teams.
Currently, Covid-19 inoculation drive of the city is conducted at two Robinsons mall located in Marasbaras and in Abucay.
In the latest inoculation drive of Tacloban using the Johnson and Johnson(J and J) vaccine, several people aired their sentiments on the process of inoculation due to overcrowding outside of the venue.
Due to this problem, some suggested that it should be done in the barangay while the DOH during the city council regular session last week gave several suggestion that the city may adapt to improve the system.
“We can take that suggestions but obviously it depends on the number of vaccines that comes,” Mayor Romualdez said in a press conference held Saturday.
Romualdez added that once the repair of the Tacloban Astrodome is finish they will make it as additional site for vaccination.
“Right now we got two sites, and as you can see like on Monday, most likely mauubos na yung Johnson and Johnson, that is 10 thousand and we do that in three to four days. Now I will make that adjustment accordingly, let say Monday may dumating na 15 thousand then I will ask the help of the Philippine Nurses Association (PNA) and we will look for additional places, then we can do that,” Romualdez said.
Romualdez added that they can’t just make one place as vaccination sites as they need to consider the some necessities such as the presence of running water, and toilets including if the location is near a pharmacy or drug store.
“We have to look for a place that is not only accessible but is also convenient and if they can practice social distancing,” he said.
During the regular session in July 21 at the city council Dr. Ma. Teresa Caidic, DOH-8’ chief local support division, shared to the Tacloban City council members some observation they have during the inoculation schedules of the city, noting the crowding that is happening outside the venue like what happened during the schedule for Janssen vaccine inoculation.
“We can consider that as super spreader event if we have crowding,” she said to members of the city council.
Caidic said that crowding needs to be address because of possibility that there are asymptomatic individuals who are infected with Covid-19 who are also in the crowd lining–up to get vaccinated particularly now with presence of Alpha and Delta variant in the country which are consider very transmissible, inoculation protocols must always adhere to the minimum health protocols such as physical distancing to limit transmission of the virus.
Caidic said that this crowing can be address by adding more vaccination sites in Tacloban.
She added that they city government may also replicate the vaccination by schedule wherein they are texting the people who will be inoculate in specific time.
“This should be strictly no walk-in, everyone should be registered to avoid crowding, and people will be comfortable and will not wait for longer time,” Caidic added.
She also suggested for the city to have partnership or seek help from groups like the Philippine Nurses Association and government agencies like the Bureau of Fire Protection and the Philippine National Police that has medical reserve group to increase the number of vaccination team.
The DOH official also recommended for the city to improve the accessibility of seniors to vaccines by making an specific schedule for them on holiday or during weekends when their children or guardian are not busy at work.
Based on the record presented by Caidic to the city council members, the city has a target of more than 25,000 seniors for inoculation based on the estimate from the Philippine Statistics Authority, of which only more than 7,000 had been inoculated.
“There should also an advocacy to their children, not only to seniors because what we learned is that usually it is their children who decides if their parents will get vaccinated or not,” she added, adding that doing domiciliary visit for vaccination is also an option to reach as many seniors or those with comorbidities.
“You are doing well in vaccination, very good in you consumption rate but there are still rooms for improvement for you to obtain the optimum performance,” she said.
2nd Eastern Samar PMFC Celebrates PCR Month thru BARANGAYanihan programs
QUINAPONDAN, Eastern Samar-In support of all stakeholders to help the community during this pandemic crisis, the 2nd Eastern Samar PMC, headed by Police Major Rolando C. Dellezo, OIC, force commander, has extended its services through BARANGAYanihan Programs to different Barangays in Eastern Samar.
The month of July every year under Presidential Proclamation No. 764 signed on January 24, 2005, was declared as Police Community Relations Month. PCR Month celebration aims to develop closer interaction between the police and the community in handling peace and order concerns.
The PCR Month celebration is an opportune time to strengthen community participation in crime prevention. It also forges stronger partnership and community support in peacekeeping and public safety programs of the PNP.
This year’s theme is “Pulisya at Pamayanan, BARANGAYanihan sa Hamon ng Pandemya at Laban sa Krimen”.
On July 10, 2021, at Brgy. San Pedro, Quinapondan, E. Samar, this unit conducted a Feeding Program which caters to almost 200 Children. Likewise, on the afternoon of the same day, the team assisted around 60 senior citizens and PWD’s of Barangay Palactad, Quinapondan, E. Samar by giving them relief items and other essentials.
In Brgy. Caridad, Salcedo, E. Samar, the members of the Kabataan Kontra Droga At Terorismo or KKDAT Caridad Chapter gave their full support to our team during the Tree Planting and Clean-Up Drive Program on July 17, 2021. The team was able to plant around 80 seedlings of different species in their Barangay and the watershed area located in Brgy. Naparaan, Salcedo, E. Samar.
“This year, we continue to strengthen our services as we provide more assistance to our less privileged members in the society especially those persons with disabilities who are deeply affected economically due to the COVID-19 pandemic,” PMaj. Dellezo said.
“It is our desire and mission to assist them during these hard times. We will strive harder to ensure the people’s safety and let them feel that we in the PNP is always ready of service despite any trials we face in our community, he added. (PR)
Chief PNP Eleazar: Make police stations clean and safe as a way to regain public trust and confidence
BAYBAY CITY-Philippine National Police Chief Guillermo Eleazar has urged police force in the region to always make their stations presentable and make the public closer and trustful to them.
The PNP chief made this appeal during his visit on Thursday (July 22) to this city in the morning and later to Borongan City as he immediately went to visit the Baybay City Police Station where he checked the entire compound and was glad to see it is clean and presentable.
Eleazar added that aside from making the police station presentable, every policemen should also embodied the characteristic of a police community officers.
“Being a police community officer should not end when you leave your police station. This characteristic should be with you even if you are inside you home, in dealing with your family, with your neighbors, most especially when we are fulfilling our mandate not only inside the police station but also when you are at the field,” Eleazar said.
“This is our way to regain the trust and respect of the community to the PNP aside from other programs and project that we implement for them,” he added.
After visiting the Baybay police station, Eleazar lead the signing of memorandum of agreement (MOA) with the city government as represented by Mayor Jose Carlos Cari together with Leyte Rep. Karen Javier(2nd district).
The MOA involved for the construction of two police community precincts in the city, turnover of police car, for the establishment of explosive ordnance disposal/K9 unit office for 50 years within the area of Baybay City Sports Complex.
A memorandum of usufruct was also signed between the PNP and Baybay City to use the 1,000 square meter for the establishment of Baybay PNP highway patrol unit headquarters.
Eleazar also signed an MOU for the use of 1,000 square meter property of Rep. Javier in Barangay Macopa, Jaro, for the construction of the 4th Maneuver Platoon of the 2nd Leyte Provincial Mobile Force Company building.
He also lead the awarding of plaque of recognition to Department of Interior and Local Government Regional Director Karl Ceasar Rimando, Office of Civil Defense Regional Director Lord Byron Torrecarion, National Intelligence Coordinating Agency Regional Director Eustacio Bacabac, An Waray Representative Florencio “Bem” Noel, 5th District Representative Carl Nicolas Cari, Mayor Cari, Governor Leopoldo Dominico Petilla, Rep. Javier, Rotary International, and Baybay City SK Federation president Mark Michael Unlu-cay.
Eleazar also spearheaded in the awarding of medals to deserving personnel. They included PCol Rodelio Samson, Leyte PPO Director, and PLtCol Demosthenes Magnaan, Medalya ng Kagaligan (PNP Medal Merit) to PLtCol Magnaan, and Medalya ng Papuri (PNP Commendation Medal) to Police Trainee Francisco Casiano.
The chief PNP also led in the signing of the pledge of commitment for the implementation of Project Gabay, a program that the provincial government under Gov. Petilla leadership tangible and sustainable support to former rebels such as housing, livelihood and education assistance.
This was followed by the turn-over the housing and livelihood to Alma Gabin, former deputy education secretary of CPP/NPA/NDF, Eastern Visayas Regional Party Committee, who is now an active advocate in the campaign of the Police Regional Office 8 against insurgency problem in the region.
(ROEL T. AMAZONA)