PIA Davao Region

Davao del Sur Governor Marc Cagas (holding ceremonial key) turns over the dorm facility to DSPH DAVAO CITY, Jan. 31 (PIA) – The provincial government of Davao del Sur has provided four (4) units of dormitories intended for frontline workers in the province.   The three (3) units which amounted to P4.9 million, were recently turned over to the Gregorio Matas District Hospital (GMDH) in the municipality of Kiblawan.   Governor Marc Cagas also turned over one unit of dormitory and two (2) isolation facilities worth P5.1 million to the Davao del Sur Provincial Hospital (DSPH) in Digos City.   The dormitory units will give temporary shelter to frontline workers, while the isolation facilities are for treatment of COVID-19 patients.   “The dorm and treatment facilities are really beautiful facilities which include kitchen or commissary. This is a manifestation that our intention is well,” Cagas has stated during the turnover ceremony.   “We must take the baby steps, a step at a time to lay d

DAVAO CITY, Jan. 31 (PIA) The city chief executive clarified that not all persons with COVID-19 will be treated with Molnuperavir, an anti-viral medicine used to treat COVID-19 infection. Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio told the Davao City Disaster Radio that it is up for the doctor to diagnose if a person with COVID-19 can be given with this medicine.   “Only the pulmonologist and the infectious disease doctor can recommend for someone to take the medicine.   Do not self-medicate,” Duterte-Carpio said.   The City Government purchased this medicine for the Southern Philippines Medical Center who might use the medicine for the critical and severe cases of COVID-19 infection. Duterte-Carpio said that infection due to the COVID-19 is certain to happen with the surge still going on.   She said people really wonder why despite people have no travel history, they are still afflicted with the COVID-19 virus. However, expressing her personal opinion, Duterte-Carpio said that as a mother, authorities

DAVAO CITY, January 31 (PIA) - The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), together with other national government agencies such as the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), and the Department of Agriculture (DA) highlighted in the One Davao Virtual Presser insitiated by the Philippine Information Agency XI the various support services provided to the first batch of Balik Probinsya Bagong Pag-asa Program or BP2P in 2021 in the region. DSWD XI BP2P Focal Lee Mercris Berdos emphasized that there are many applicants of the program or those individuals/families who wanted to relocate to the Davao province from Manila after being severely affected by the impact of the pandemic. The BP2P is a long term program of the government providing certain packages for the beneficiaries upon their return or relocation to their provinces for good. Each beneficiary family of BP2P received a transportation/relocation assistance of P3,000 to P35,000; a Transitory Family Support Package am

DAVAO DE ORO, January 31, 2022 (PIA) - - An Infectious Disease Specialist and consultant of Davao de Oro Provincial Hospital urged the public, who are fully vaccinated, to get booster shots against COVID-19. During the Virtual Forum on Omicron, Dr. Kathryn Uy Roa stressed that booster shots are needed to replenish the depleting antibodies against COVID-19 that were injected from the primary dose or doses. “Nakita man gud sa studies nga after some time, nagamubo na ang antibodies (against COVID-19) sa atong lawas, so kinahanglan nato na isaka napud ang mga antibodies para ang atong level of protection taas lang gihapon against severe disease and death,” Dr. Roa said. (It was discovered in the studies that after some time, our antibodies (against COVID-19) in our system deplete, so there is a need to increase the antibodies so that we will have high level of protection against severe disease and death.) Roa also explained that as of this moment, only one booster shot is recommended in t

DAVAO DEL NORTE, Jan. 31 (PIA) – A dormitory for Ata  Manobo IP students  of Talaingod will soon rise thru the joint effort of the municipal government, the 56 th  Infantry Battalion of the Philippine Army,  and the 534 Construction Engineering Battalion.   Cooperating military units with Talaingod local chief executives led by Mayor Jonnie Libayao recently conducted a ground breaking ceremony and turnover of lot at Purok 6-B, Brgy. Sto.Nino, Talaingod Davao del Norte.   In a phone query, 56 th  Infantry “Tatag”  Battalion commander, Lt Col  Osmalik Tabayan said LGU Talaingod turned over on January 25  the 2.6-hectare parcel of land for the student dormitory and a multi-purpose facility that the Tatag Battalion intends to develop.    He explained the project as part of the Tatag IP Students’  Support Program that the 55 th  Inf Battalion is conceptualizing and will be pursuing in partnership with  the private  and civic sectors.   “We want to  provide IP students an  atmosphere conduci

DAVAO CITY, Jan. 28 (PIA)- The Bago Aplaya- Talomo section of the Davao City Coastal Road has been opened today (Jan. 28) but only for non-vehicular traffic. According to the announcement of the City Government of Davao, entry to the road is limited to the following activities; walking, cycling, playing, jogging, exercise and skating. Vehicles including motorcycles are not yet allowed at the road. There are parking areas where visitors can leave their vehicles. Minimum health protocols are to be strictly observed at the road these include wearing of face mask, observe social distancing. No face mask, no entry is strictly observed. The Davao City Coastal Road is an 18.2 kilometer road project which snakes through the coastal areas in the city from Bago Aplaya to R. Castillo. The project has an estimated cost of P19.8 billion. Aside from roads and the 11 bridges, the coastal road also has open spaces like esplanade and parks. (PIA/RG Alama, photo by Mark Perandos)

  MALITA, Davao Occidental, Jan. 28 – The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) – Davao Occidental provincial office is expected to complete its January 2022 Labor Force Survey (LFS) and 2021 Family Income and Expenditure Survey (FIES) by end of January this year.   Jessie A. Madulin, PSA Davao Occidental chief statistical specialist, said that his office hired 52 statistical researchers to interview 1,540 sample households from the different barangays of the five municipalities in the province.   The statistical researchers are using the Computer-Assisted Personal Interviewing (CAPI) during the interviews, Madulin said in a press release.   He added that the researchers have been trained to equip them with the concepts and definition, related knowledge, enumeration strategies and responsibilities to ensure quality of output and compliance to targets and survey requirements.   Madulin explained that the LFS is a nationwide quarterly survey of households conducted by PSA that aims to pr

DAVAO CITY, January 25 (PIA) -  In the hope of further increasing the number of vaccinated individuals against COVID19, the Department of Health (DOH) XI is also preparing for the vaccination rollout in medical clinics. DOH XI clarified that the rollout is conducted in a phased approach. The Phase 2 will cover additional vaccination sites in NCR as determined by the NVOC. The Phase 3 will expand the rollout in other regions, depending on site readiness as determined by the Center for Health Development. As soon as Phase 3 will be implemented, vaccination in medical clinics in the region will then start to accommodate individuals 12 years and above under all priority groups: Priority Group A1 (health workers), Expanded Priority group A1, Priority Group 3, Group 3 Pregnant Women, Pediatric A3 or 12 to 17 years old and with co-morbidities,  A4 or workers in essential service, A5 or poor population, the rest of the adult population, and the rest of the pediatric population. Vaccination in

DAVAO ORIENTAL, Jan. 27 (PIA)—The Municipal Government of Boston in Davao Oriental is enforcing  the checking of vaccination cards of commuters and riders entering the regional borders with Davao de Oro, Agusan del Sur and Surigao del Sur. Guesting during the latest edition of Network Briefing News, Boston Municipal Mayor Rowell Rosit said he has instructed police of the border checkpoints to ask for the vaccination cards of all those entering the province. The last east-coast town at the northern tip of Davao Oriental,  the Municipality of Boston bears the task of checking entrants to the province coming from the three adjacent provinces. “Kailangan po ng vaccination card bago  pumasok sa probinysa Davao Oriental para na din po sa safety ng ating mga kababayan.  (Vaccination card is needed before  entering Davao Oriental for the safety of our fellows in Davao Oriental),” he said. Meanwhile, Boston already hit 90.4 percent vaccination rate but Mayor Rosit is still aiming to reach out

DAVAO CITY, Jan. 26 (PIA) - The Bolton Bridge I or the southbound portion is now open to vehicles six tons and below. This follows the reopening of Bolton Bridge II (northbound) to light vehicles on Jan 19. The two bridges were closed after a fire hit 24 houses belonging to informal settlers living under the bridge. The Department of Public Works and Highways had to close the two bridges to check on the integrity of the structure. The closure of the two bridges created heavy traffic congestion in several parts of Davao City as vehicles flocked to alternative routes. The reopening of the two bridges is expected to alleviate traffic congestion in parts of the city. (PIA/RG Alama)

Silted and discolored Mapagba River in Banaybanay DAVAO ORIENTAL, Jan. 26 (PIA) -- The Provincial Government of Davao Oriental wants a permanent halt in the operations of the Riverbend Consolidated Mining Corporation/Ark Nickel Resources, Inc., (RCMC/ANRI), whose irresponsible practices caused the massive siltation discoloring the Mapagba and Pintatagan Rivers in the Municipality of Banaybanay. Provincial Governor Nelson L. Dayanghirang sent his letter to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) requesting to revoke the license of the mining firm RCMI/ANRI after the massive siltation in the rivers of Mapagba and Pintatagan in Banaybanay due to its disregard for the environmental-friendly and sustainable mining practices. After assessing the site, the rivers became discolored, which turned orange due to the presence of nickel laterite after heavy rainfall in the previous days, the statement in the provincial's social media page reads. "Based on the findings of

DAVAO CITY, Jan. 26 (PIA) - The Police Regional Office XI has defined the areas of concern for this year’s national and local elections. Speaking in the AFP-PNP Press Corps briefing, Major Eudisan Gultiano, spokesperson of the PRO XI revealed that an area is considered hotspot due to factors namely the occurrence of election-related violent incidents, vulnerability to the attacks of communist terror group and intense political rivalry. She said the areas of concern for Davao Region are Digos City, Kiblawan and Matan-ao in Davao del Sur and Pantukan and Monkayo, Davao de Oro.   “There was an election-related violent incident in Digos City in the past while Kiblawan and Matan-ao were vulnerable to the attack of the rebels with their location in the hinterlands.   On the other hand, there was intense political rivalry in Pantukan and Monkayo before,” Gultiano said. She said in Davao Region, there was no private armed groups employed by politicians. Colonel Consolito Yecla, commander of th

Davao del Norte Gov. Edwin Jubahib DAVAO DEL NORTE, 26 Jan. (PIA) - Providing livelihood and income opportunities can save marginalized folks from joining rebellion, Provincial Governor Edwin I. Jubahib pointed this out as he bids to sustain income-generating programs in support to ending local communist armed conflict.   In his first term stint as the provincial governor, he noted the importance of sustainable livelihood program involving backyard animal raising  or livestock production, vegetable  gardening, planting of fruit trees, among others.   “Nakikita ko na ito yong yong importante na meron silang kita. Sino ba ang magagalit sa gobyerno kung buwan-buwan may kita sila?,” he pointed out.   He said the Provincial Government of Davao del Norte wages implementation of KAAGAPAY (Kausa sa Agrikulta ug Panginabuhian sa Barangay)  which basically provides  agri-based livelihood and income-generating opportunities especially for those in marginalized communities.   “Kumikita ang mga mas

DAVAO CITY, Jan. 26 (PIA) - Members of the Regional Vaccination Operation Center (RVOC) in Davao Region are now preparing for the rollout of the COVID19 vaccination of the pediatric population 5 to 11 years old. This was discussed in the weekly RVOC meeting where the draft guidelines was tackled as part of the preparation of the vaccination for this new priority group. During the Talk to the People held last Monday (January 25), National Task Force (NTF) Against COVID19 chief implementer Sec. Carlito Galvez Jr announced that the government is set to rollout the COVID19 vaccination for five to 11 years old on February 4. In the draft guidelines, the administration for this new priority group will still be in a phased approach. The Phase 1 will cover pilot sites in the National Capital Region (NCR) while the Phase 2 will be the expansion in vaccination sites in NCR and pilot sites in other regions. The rollout will still be done in designated vaccination sites with vaccination teams and

DAVAO CITY, Jan. 25 (PIA) -  The Department of Health (DOH) XI is now preparing for the vaccination rollout in pharmacies. DOH XI clarified that the rollout is conducted in a phased approach. It is still being implemented in the selected pilot sites in the National Capital Region (NCR) which started last January 20, 2022. The Phase 2 will cover additional vaccination sites in NCR as determined by the National Vaccination Operation Center (NVOC). The Phase 3 will expand the rollout in other regions, depending on site readiness as determined by the Center for Health Development. As soon as Phase 3 will be implemented, vaccination in pharmacies in the region will then start to accommodate individuals 18 years and above under Priority Group A1 (health workers), Expanded Priority group A1, A4 or workers in essential service, A5 or poor population, and the rest of the adult population. However, the pediatric population, senior citizens, and individuals with comorbidities will not be allowed

DAVAO ORIENTAL, Jan. 25 (PIA) --- The City Government of Mati recently started constructing Indigenous Peoples (IP) villages in barangays Luban and Dawan named "Balai Kalipay" and "Balai Maganahay" respectively.    The IP housing projects has been given a grant of P40 million from the National Housing Authority (NHA) through  its Housing Assistance Program for Indigenous people (HAPIP) The City Government started the construction of one of the IP villages situated in Barangay Luban, which was named "Balai Kalipay," translated as "house of happiness" on January 5, 2022. Mati City Mayor Michel Rabat personally donated a 1.4 hectare of land in Barangay Luban for Balai Kalipay. Meanwhile, a ground-breaking ceremony took place on January 6, 2022, for the other housing project in Barangay Dawan named "Balai Maganahay," covering an 8-hectare property owned by the City Government of Mati. The P30-M cheque was released by the NHA last year for t

DAVAO CITY, Jan 24 (PIA)- The Bakuna Booster by the Sea (BBBTS) concluded on Sunday (Jan. 23) with 3,279 people vaccinated inside the picturesque vaccination site. The BBBTS started ran from Jan. 12 to 16 and Jan. 19 to 23. It was held at the Garden Pavillion of the Waterfront Insular Hotel Davao. This seaside vaccination program is the continuation of the much heralded Bakuna by the Sea (BBTS) held last year to vaccinate tourism industry workers in the city. Last year’s BBTS vaccinated over 14,000 tourism workers in the city. The original BBTS won the third place in the Pearl Awards for best tourism practice in the country. The Bakuna Booster by the Sea was opened to other sectors aside from the tourism industry sector in an effort to beef up the population with the anticipated surge brought about by Omicron variant. The organizers had targeted 10,000 vaccinees for the booster shots. “We would like to thank all our partners and sponsors for our 2nd week. Your support has greatly contr

DAVAO DEL NORTE, Jan. 21 (PIA) --- “Do not bring your children to public places,” said Infectious Disease Specialist Dr. Mitzie Lou Osabel of the Davao Regional Medical Center.   Dr. Osabel raised this warning in the Kapihan sa DavNor online taping during which she revealed noticeable increase in number of children being admitted due to  COVID-19 infection.  She was particularly referring to unvaccinated children under 12 years of age.   When protocol guards on children were recently lowered, Dr. Osabel noted the consequent rise in number of COVID cases among children not only in DRMC but also in private  hospitals which she has contact with as infectious disease specialist.   Basing on clinical cases, Dr. Osabel said some children found with COVID-19 were taken to hospitals due to diarrhea, chronic coughing, and fever.   A mother of still young children, she sadly noted seeing children in  malls and in other public places where she noted them taking off their masks and eating, making