Soldiers donate blood to help save lives

Davao de Oro --- Soldiers belonging to the operating units of the Army’s 71st Infantry (Kaibigan) Battalion have participated in a bloodletting activity held at the battalion headquarters in Barangay Nueva Visayas, Mawab, Davao de Oro on July 8, 2020.

 

The initiative is part of the soldiers’ continuing humanitarian efforts to help sustain the adequate blood supply in the blood banks that could save more lives during emergencies.

 

“We are not only ensuring the safety of people and securing the land but also saving lives,” 2nd Lt. Kim Carlos of 71st IB said in his brief message during the activity, dubbed, “Dugo mo, Alay sa Kapwa mo. Sa Pagtulong at Serbisyo, Kaibigan: Makiisa Tayo”.

 

The event was spearheaded by Lt. Colonel Sonny E. Gonzales, 71st Commanding Officer and made possible in partnership with Kiwanis International, Local Government Unit (LGU) of Mawab, Philippine Red Cross of Davao de Oro Chapter, and Office of the Governor thru Provincial Tourism Office.

 

A total of 45 blood bags were collected from 50 soldiers and will be used in case of emergency.

Prior to the bloodletting, some children received Jollibee food packs and toys as they attended a children’s party organized by the army on the afternoon at the same day.

 

Carlos also emphasized that this humanitarian effort is part of their campaign in peace and development program and commitment to achieve the objective of the Executive Order (EO) 70 which is to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (ELCAC) in the countryside.

 

The areas of coverage of the army’s 71st IB are the municipality of Mawab, Maco, Mabini, Pantukan in Davao de Oro and Tagum City in Davao del Norte. (Rheafe Hortizano, ID Davao de Oro,) (Photo courtesy of 71st IB)

PLGU-Davao de Oro conducts site inspection in tourism establishments

Davao de Oro Province--- When several restrictions begin to ease including the tourism sector, it’s no surprise that people were itching to get out and breathe after months of lockdown, but safety remains a paramount concern.

Tourism-related establishments and destinations in Davao de Oro adhere to the DOT’s Memorandum Circular No. 2020-002 “Health and Safety Guidelines Governing the Accommodation Establishments under the New Normal” and AO No. 2020-002 “Guidelines on the Operations of Hotels and other Accommodation Establishments under a Community Quarantine.” Guidelines on minimum health protocol for dine-in restaurants and fast food establishments set by the DTI, DOLE and DOT were also followed.

With this, PLGU-Davao de Oro through the Provincial Tourism Office with the Department of Tourism conducted a site inspection in the municipalities of Pantukan and Mabini this week.

“We conducted the inspection to ensure the compliance for their observance to minimum health protocols like sanitation, social distancing measures, disinfection mechanism, and contact tracing efforts” said Christine Dompor, Senior Tourism Operations Officer of Ddo.

Six (6) tourism establishments in Pantukan with provisional accreditation and Certificate of Authority to Operate (CAO) were inspected and thirteen (13) non-accredited or without provisional permit establishments were also monitored. Meanwhile in Mabini, eight (8) establishments issued with CAO by the DOT XI were also inspected.

Dumpor also said that information materials for public information at entrances were distributed, as well as health declaration and contact tracing forms and Emergency Operations Center (EOC) directory for a close coordination during emergencies

According to the EO. NO. 0043.2020, accommodation and ancillary establishments under MGCQ may undertake normal operation provided that operations shall be 50% operational capacity, retain skeleton workforce which may or may not comprise in house staff and ensure compliance with issuance and guidelines on minimum public health standards.

It’s now everybody’s responsibility to adhere the safety protocols set by the authorities as Covid-19 still lurks in places or individuals we never know. (Jasteen Abella, Information Division, Davao de Oro)