Magnitude 5.2 quake rocks DavOr town

RALPH LAWRENCE G. LLEMIT, SunStar Davao

A MAGNITUDE 5.2 earthquake struck Governor Generoso in Davao Oriental on Wednesday morning, August 9, 2023.

According to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs), the earthquake jolted the town at 8:57 a.m.

The tectonic quake had a depth of 39 kilometers.

The quake was felt at Intensity 4 in Malita, and Santa Maria in Davao Occidental; and Governor Generoso, and San Isidro in Davao Oriental.

Intensity 3 was felt in Compostela in Davao de Oro; Digos City, and Hagonoy in Davao del Sur; Don Marcelino, and Jose Abad Santos in Davao Occidental; Glan, and Malungon in Sarangani; and Tupi, South Cotabato.

It was felt at Intensity 2 in Maragusan, and Mawab in Davao de Oro; Tagum City, Davao del Norte; Kiblawan, and Santa Cruz in Davao del Sur; Davao City; Mati City, and Tarragona in Davao Oriental; Arakan, and Kidapawan City in Cotabato; Alabel, and Malapatan in Sarangani; Tampakan, South Cotabato; and Lutayan, Sultan Kudarat.

Gingoog City, Misamis Oriental; Magsaysay, Davao del Sur; Koronadal City, and Polomolok in South Cotabato; and General Santos City, meanwhile, felt the earthquake at Intensity 1.

Instrumental intensities:

Intensity 3 - Nabunturan, Davao de Oro; Don Marcelino, Davao Occidental; Pikit, Cotabato; and Malungon, Sarangani

Intensity 2 - Gingoog City, Misamis Oriental; Matanao, Davao del Sur; Davao City; Kidapawan City, Cotabato; Kiamba, Sarangani; Koronadal City, and Tampakan in South Cotabato; and General Santos City

Intensity 1 - Magsaysay, Davao del Sur; Jose Abad Santos, Davao Occidental; Alamada, and Magpet in Cotabato; Malapatan, Sarangani; Polomolok, South Cotabato; President Quirino, Sultan Kudarat; and Bislig City, Surigao del Sur

The reported intensity was based on reports of people who felt the earthquake, while instrumental intensity is measured using an intensity meter that measures ground acceleration. (RGL)

DOH-Davao monitors diseases brought by El Niño

 

(SunStar File Photo)

ROJEAN GRACE PATUMBON

THE Department of Health-Davao Region (DOH-Davao) warns people of possible diseases during El Niño season.

After the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) announced that the El Niño phenomenon will hit the country around the months of July to September, DOH-Davao notified the public of the emergence of diseases due to the sudden change in the weather.

Some of the diseases that DOH-Davao is expecting are diarrhea, skin infections due to lack of supply of water; food poisoning, difficulty in breathing, vomiting because of the consumption of fish affected by the red tide; diseases that are usually caused by the high temperature such as exhaustion, heat cramp or even heat stroke.

Aside from these types of illnesses, cholera, typhoid fever, and even vector-borne diseases like dengue and malaria are also expected during this season.

To combat these emerging diseases, DOH-Davao released some tips and guidelines that Filipinos should do to remain healthy especially, with the intense heat that we will be experiencing.

One is to ensure that the source of the water supply is clean. Two, conserve and use water properly. Three, do not forget to drink enough water and stay well-hydrated. Four, do not stay under the sun for too long, use sunblock or sunscreen if it is unavoidable to leave the house. Five, wear clothes that have thin or comfortable fabrics. Six, avoid outdoor activities during peak hours of the sun.

DOH-Davao is keeping a close eye on all emerging diseases, primarily water-borne diseases, and has issued an advisory to healthcare facilities, hospitals, and local government units in case there will be a shortage of water supply.

“We are continuously monitoring on a weekly basis and even on an event once na ma-detect na may ano, hala ba’t biglang dumami ito so nire-report kaagad yan ng mga health facilities sa Department of Health through the province and through the City Health Office (We are continuously monitoring every week and even on an event once we detect that there is a sudden increase in the number of reported diseases by the health facilities and the City Health Office), ” DOH-Davao Assistant Regional Director Gerna M. Manatad said.

El Niño is a weather phenomenon that is characterized by the unusually warmer than average sea surface temperature which is characterized by the limited amount of rain, which can cause negative effects such as drought and increased illness related to heat. (RGP)

Health official: Davao City exits surge as positivity rate drops to 5%

Photo by Macky Lim/SunStar file

By IONA FINLAY C. MENDOZA, SunStar Davao

AN OFFICIAL of the Davao City Covid-19 Task Force said the recent surge, suspected to have been caused by the Omicron variant of the Sars-CoV-2 virus, is over as the positivity rate drops to five percent as of February 20.

“Unta mag padayon siya but maging consistent lang ni siya kung consistent ang mga tao sa ilang pagka-disiplinado (It will only be consistent if the public is disciplined),” Dr. Michelle Schlosser, spokesperson of the Covid-19 Task Force, said during a radio interview on Wednesday, February 23.

In the latest Covid-19 Regional Daily Case Bulletin of the Department of Health (DOH)-Davao, as of February 22, Davao City had 588 total active cases, a significant development compared to approximately two weeks ago when a total of 3,930 active cases were tallied on February 6.

The City Government of Davao also announced that Davao City was classified as low risk for Covid-19 transmission after achieving a "low" -84.72 two-week growth rate (2WGR) and a "medium" 3.79 average daily attack rate (Adar).

With these developments, Schlosser said the City Government will continue to implement the Prevent-Detect-Isolate-Reintegrate (PDITR) + Vaccination strategy to keep the Covid-19 management in place.

This includes proper contact tracing, swabbing, testing, quarantine and isolation.

“(Hopefully) Consistent pud ang tao na magpadayon sa kooperasyon sa mga lakang sa gobyerno labi na gyod sa atong vaccination rollout,” Schlosser said.

(Hopefully, the public will consistently cooperate with the government’s protocols, especially with the vaccination rollout.)

The spokesperson previously said a positivity rate of five percent or lower would be a clear indication that the surge is over since it is the only "acceptable" positivity rate, and that any number over five percent is still considered high.

Meanwhile, the whole of Davao Region recorded a total of 2,975 active cases as of February 22, based on the data of DOH-Davao.

Of this number, Davao del Sur had the highest number of active cases with 1,080, followed by the 588 cases from Davao City.

Davao del Norte recorded 484 active cases, 394 cases from Davao Occidental, 222 cases from Davao de Oro, and 207 cases from Davao Oriental.

Araw ng Dabaw still online for 3rd year

By RALPH LAWRENCE G. LLEMIT, SunStar

DESPITE the lifting of the ban on face-to-face events organized by government offices in Davao City, the 85th celebration of the Araw ng Dabaw will still be held virtually.

City Tourism Operations Office Head Generose Tecson said in a radio interview on Wednesday morning, February 16, a hybrid celebration or a mix of physical and virtual activities is not possible because organizers have already made the preparations months prior.

"Since alam niyo naman na naka-prepare na po kami ng virtual celebration, 'yun na po 'yung mangyayari kasi alam niyo naman sa gobyerno, andami-daming processes, so hindi natin matse-change kaagad, but we prepared a one day celebration for everybody," Tecson said in an interview on 87.5 FM Davao City Disaster Radio.

(Since you know that we already prepared for the virtual celebration, changing it won’t be easy considering that it is a government event, it requires various processes, so we won’t be able to change it instantly, but we prepared a one-day celebration for everybody.)

The Araw celebrations were among the government-initiated activities affected when Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio issued Executive Order (EO) 69 in 2021, prohibiting face-to-face city and national government activities held within the territorial jurisdiction of the city.

However, on Monday, February 14, Duterte-Carpio issued EO 6, easing the regulations covering events by government offices in the barangay, local, and national level, including government-owned and controlled corporation events.

EO 6 now allows face-to-face, hybrid, or online facilitation of events like inauguration, anniversary, thanksgiving, ribbon-cutting, blessing, turnover, groundbreaking activity, launching program, salo-salo, birthday, press conference, oath-taking program, photo opportunity, retirement honors, welcome honors, testimonial program, summer outing, team building, training events, seminars, and other similar activities.

The mayor said in her EO that the easing of restrictions covering events is due to “the decrease in the number of cases reported, the active vaccination rollout within the city, and the availability of the Molnupiravir drug.”

Tecson, however, said the city is not being complacent despite the downtrend in Covid-19 cases.

"Because in the first place, even if bumaba na po 'yung ating mga (there is an easing of) restrictions, we have to remember that Covid is very much around," the official said.

She also said parades would attract crowds, which would be vulnerable to the transmission of the virus.

"We don't want that. Ang gusto natin is something na mag-celebrate tayo together pero (that we can celebrate together but) which will take us back to the new normal. We will set the example," Tecson said.

The complete lineup of activities has yet to be announced.

This would be the third year the city would forego the traditional celebration of the city's founding anniversary.

France under PH red list amid Omicron variant threat

By THIRD ANNE PERALTA-MALONZO, SunStar

THE Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) on Emerging Infectious Diseases has included France in the list of countries under red list amid the threat of the Omicron variant of Sars-CoV-2, which causes the coronavirus disease (Covid-19), Malacañang said on Wednesday, December 8, 2021.

Resolution 152-A issued by the IATF on December 7 stated that travelers from France, or those who have been in the territory over the past 14 days prior to arrival in the Philippines will not be allowed entry in the country from December 13 until December 15.

Passengers who have been to France within 14 days immediately preceding arrival in the Philippines and who arrive on or after 12:01 a.m. of December 10, but before 12:01 a.m. of December 13 will still be allowed entry but they are required to undergo 14-day mandatory facility-based quarantine with a reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test on the seventh day, with day one being the date of their arrival.

Travelers with negative RT-PCR results are still required to complete the 14-day facility-based quarantine.

Travelers who merely transited France and did not go out from the airport are not covered by the ban but are still required to undergo quarantine protocols.

Only Filipinos returning to the country from countries under red list via government-initiated or non-government-initiated repatriations and Bayanihan Flights may be allowed entry, subject to existing testing and quarantine protocols for red list countries/territories/jurisdictions.

France joined Austria, Czech Republic, Hungary, The Netherlands, Switzerland, Belgium, Italy, South Africa, Botswana, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Lesotho, Eswatini and Mozambique among the countries under red-list or with travel restrictions in the Philippines due to the Omicron variant.

The highly mutated Omicron variant (B.1.1.529) was first detected in Botswana, then in South Africa.

For all international inbound travel, testing and quarantine protocols also cover minors, regardless of their vaccination status.