Davao Region's COVID-19 rises, Davao de Oro under Alert level 2

A total of 299 new cases of COVID-19 was recorded in the past week, April 10-16, in Davao region which is 34.08% higher compared to the 223 cases recorded on April 3-9, the Department of Health XI says in a situation update on Monday, April 17 this year.

For the past two weeks, healthcare utilization rates in the region also increased from 31.1% to 34.6% for non-intensive care unit (non-ICU) beds and 40.4% to 42.5% for ICU beds.

The increased positivity rate prompted the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) to recommend that Davao de Oro province, along with the other 25 provinces, highly urbanized cities (HUC), and independent component cities (ICC), be placed on alert level 2 until April 30 via IATF Resolution No. 6-C, which was signed and approved on April 14.

"The following provinces, HUCs, and ICCs shall be placed under Alert Level 2, without prejudice to their respective component cities and municipalities which may be under a different alert level classification," the IATF said.

Moreover, IATF issued Alert level 1 status in some of the municipalities in Davao de Oro including Mawab, Nabunturan, Montevista, and New Bataan and among other areas in the country.

 

According to DOH, Alert Level 2 implied restrictions to some establishments or activities such that they "shall be allowed to operate or be undertaken at a maximum of 50% indoor venue capacity for fully vaccinated individuals and those under 18 years of age, even if unvaccinated, and 70% outdoor venue capacity".

 

Meanwhile, Alert Level 1 indicated that "intrazonal and interzonal travel shall be allowed without regard to age and comorbidities" and "all establishments, or activities, are allowed to operate, work, or be undertaken at full on-site or venue/seating capacity provided it is consistent with minimum public health standards," DOH added.

DOH XI advised the people to be more vigilant and compliant with the minimum health protocols, thereby mitigating the spread of the virus.

"The public is reminded to continue practicing minimum public health standards: wear the best-fitted mask, isolate when sick, double up protection with vaccination and boosters, and ensure good airflow. COVID-19 vaccination efforts are continuing throughout the region", DOH XI said.

Furthermore, DOH XI added that 3,353,416 people or 88.3% of the target population in the Davao Region, have been fully vaccinated as of March 10, 2023. (Jaynus Fernandez)

FEAR OF GETTING OLDER

For some, it’s a fear of the physical changes that come with aging. For others, it’s the fear of losing their independence and becoming a burden on their loved ones. And for many, it’s the fear of death itself.

Do you have a fear of aging? We all do, to some extent. Just take a look at what the media and pop culture promote on a daily basis – it seeps with promotions straight from the fountain of youth.

Take it a step further — do you also worry about what will happen when you die?

Unfortunately, many people, especially older adults, feel scared and anxious about aging and death.

As you age, some fears dissipate, yet fears about being over-the-hill can creep into your daily life.

Fear of not living up to expectations, fear of taking risks, fear of retirement, and a fear of the future.

The fear of getting older is something that everyone faces at some point in their life, but what we don’t realize is how much power this fear really holds over us and how it can affect every aspect of our lives if left unchecked.

No matter what form your fear takes, it can be a debilitating force in your life. It can make you worry about things that are far into the future and prevent you from enjoying the present moment.

Sadly, society sees old age as something undesirable and something to be afraid of. And not only could this not be further from the truth, but it’s also a form of ageism — social discrimination against older people.

People worry about losing their looks, their health, and their independence. But there’s no need to fear aging. It’s a natural process that happens to everyone. And it can be a beautiful time of life if you’re mentally, emotionally, and spiritually prepared for it.

We also fear death because it represents the end of our life as we know it. We’re afraid of all the things we’ll never get to do, see, or experience. Death is final, and that can be scary.

Just remember it’s about how you live your life, and not when you die, that matters. Instead of focusing on your fears, focus on living your life to the fullest and enjoying every moment without having to look back with any regret.

To make the most of your time and to help you embrace the journey ahead, read on for six tips on how to overcome the fear of aging and death.

You can educate yourself about what to expect as you age. There’s a lot of misinformation out there about getting older, so it’s important to separate fact from fiction. Just because you’re getting older doesn’t mean you’re automatically going to be frail, sick, and unable to enjoy life.

Not to mention, there’s increasing research uncovering the deep impact of trauma, stress, lifestyle, and mental state on the way that you heal and age — regardless of your family history and genetic makeup.

So it’s worth educating yourself about aging and dying. Lifelong knowledge is power, and understanding the aging process and what to expect can help you come to terms with your fear. One of the best ways to combat your fear of aging and death is to live in the present moment and reap the benefits of mindfulness. When you’re focused on what’s happening right now, it’s difficult to worry about things that haven’t happened yet.

I am soon approaching the age of 70. So what! Living in the Philippines for more than 25 years together with my Philippine family. I couldn’t live somewhere alone. I am blessed. I never fear aging or death. Maybe it’s my lifestyle here in the Philippines. Allow me to tell this to you: One of the best ways to combat your fear of aging and death is to live in the present moment and reap the benefits of mindfulness. When you’re focused on what’s happening right now, it’s difficult to worry about things that haven’t happened yet.

Pinoy Slang: Interesting Origin of Pinoy Words

Disclaimer: I am not a linguist nor an expert in language. I am simply a journalist who has been writing Filipino TV scripts for the past twenty years. I've always been fascinated with the Filipino language and the origin of certain words. The stories featured in this video are from some of the books and articles I've read, as well as from my conversations with anthropologists and experts on language/culture. I am not entirely sure if these theories/stories are all correct but nevertheless they make for an interesting piece of conversation. I hope I do not offend anybody. No hate please.

One of world's oldest newspapers to end daily print run

BY AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE

Apr 27, 2023 10:10 PM

  

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VIENNA, Austria -- One of the world's oldest newspapers still in print, Austria's Wiener Zeitung, will primarily move online, after a decision Thursday by the country's parliament.

The development marks the final step in a years-long dispute between the Austrian government and the newspaper about the future of the state-owned daily.

Founded in 1703 under the name Wiennerisches Diarium, and later renamed Wiener Zeitung in 1780, the formerly private bi-weekly paper was nationalised by Emperor Franz Joseph I of Austria in 1857, becoming the country's official gazette.

"It is adopted with a majority," Norbert Hofer, the third president of the parliament, said of a new law to primarily move the publication online from July 1.

The paper will maintain a minimum of ten print publications per year, depending on the funds available.

A woman holds the current issue of the "Wiener Zeitung" newspaper from April 27, 2023, with its front page illustrating the newspaper's age of 320 years, in Vienna, Austria, on April 27, 2023. The Wiener Zeitung is one of the world's oldest newspapers. (JOE KLAMAR / AFP)

The Wiener Zeitung was in 2004 ranked as one of the oldest newspapers still in circulation, the World Association of News Publishers told AFP.

The newspaper's role as official gazette, it's main source of revenue, will move to a separate state-owned online platform.

The government argued that this was in line with a European directive to centralise and publish official information online.

Meanwhile, the Wiener Zeitung will establish a media hub, a content agency, and a training centre for journalists.

"Some fear that the government just wants to keep the Wiener Zeitung brand with its 320-year-old history, while nobody knows what the future publication will look like -- whether it will still be serious journalism," its vice managing editor Mathias Ziegler told AFP.

Almost half of the newspaper's over 200 employees -- 40 of whom are journalists -- could be laid off, according to its trade union.

The Wiener Zeitung has a circulation of about 20,000 on weekdays and about twice as much on weekends.

EU Commission Vice-President Vera Jourova told Austrian news agency APA that she was "not happy with the situation".

"I think the Wiener Zeitung played a good role in informing people over the years".

Several hundred people took to the streets in Vienna on Tuesday to protest the government's move.

Metro Manila Covid-19 positivity rate increasing, may reach 20% — OCTA

BY ELLALYN DE VERA-RUIZ

  

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The Covid-19 positivity rate in Metro Manila is still rising, according to the most recent monitoring of the OCTA Research.

OCTA Research fellow Dr. Guido David reported on Thursday, April 27, that Metro Manila's seven-day positivity rate increased from 8.4 percent on April 19 to 13.4 percent on April 26.

Moreover, he does not completely rule out the possibility that Metro Manila's Covid-19 positivity rate will continue to rise in the days to come.

“This is expected to increase further, perhaps up to 20 percent,” David said.

Metro Manila’s Seven-Day Positivity Rate as of April 26, 2023 (OCTA Fellow Dr. Guido David / Twitter)

The OCTA fellow previously stated that the Covid-19 Omicron subvariant XBB.1.16 spreading in the country may be the cause of the increasing Covid-19 cases.

Positivity rate refers to the number of individuals who yielded positive results from among those who have been tested for Covid-19.

The benchmark for the positivity rate set by the World Health Organization is 5 percent.

On Thursday, the Department of Health announced 781 new Covid-19 cases across the country.

David projected that the country may record 900 to 1,100 new Covid-19 cases on Friday, April 28.

Marcos asks media to take lead in helping Filipinos discern real information, fake news, propaganda

 BY BETHEENA UNITE

  

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President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. has urged the fourth estate to help the citizenry discern between real information and propaganda at a time when fake news threatens the country's stability and objectivity.

President Ferdinand 'Bongbong' Marcos Jr. (Noel Pabalate)

Speaking at the 50th anniversary of the Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas (KBP) on Thursday night, April 27, Marcos recognized that the media industry has been facing various issues such as the challenge of ensuring the integrity
and credibility of information.

"Well, we started with mistaken information, then it became more active, disinformation, and misinformation and now, out-and-out, fake news," Marcos said.

He said these are among the negative effects of technological advancement and the social media age.

"However, it is something that is to be expected considering how powerful the tool social media has become," he further said.

"And like any powerful tool, it cuts both ways. And it is up once again to the KBP to bring a measure of stability, a measure of objectivity, to help our people discern what is the real information and what is propaganda," he added.

The President said in this situation, the fourth estate stands as "the stalwart partner of our conscientious and peace-loving citizenry, also of our legitimate and equally conscientious government."

He stressed that the press and broadcast media are instrumental in informing the citizenry, in shaping public opinion, and triggering social mobilization and change.

"Therefore, I exhort the KBP to continue your very important work with our people and with the government, addressing and remedying the issues and challenges that we face," he said.

"Take the lead and foster public discussion, truth and credibility, the rule of law, especially in the practice of broadcasting, news reporting and information-dissemination," he added.

'Continue to be the strong voice'

Marcos also encouraged the KBP to "continue to be the strong voice, it always has been."

The chief executive then committed that the government will continue to ensure transparency and good governance, freedom of expression and of the press, and the protection of media practitioners and their rights in the practice of their profession.

He also vowed that the government will work hand in hand with the press  to improve the Philippines' ranking in the World Press Freedom Index, where the country sits at 147th place.

"Onward to many more decades of important and relevant existence, may you genuinely dedicate them to upholding the truth, freedom, and social justice for the benefit and upliftment of the present and of succeeding generations of Filipinos," he said.

The KBP is a non-government and non-profit organization created on April 27, 1973.  It advocates for professional and ethical standards geared toward promoting responsible and free broadcast media, as well as maintaining a relevant role for its members in society when it comes to press freedom.

Heat index likely to hit 40 C in Metro Manila – Pagasa

April 28, 2023 20

 

By Arlie O. Calalo

WITH the easterlies expected to bring hot, humid weather across the country, residents especially in Metro Manila may experience as high as 40 degrees Celsius heat index on Friday, according to the state-run weather agency.

Weather specialist Benison Estareja of the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) reminded the public anew that going outdoors, especially during noontime and early afternoon when the heat is most intense must be limited.

"But if it is really necessary, make sure to cover your body against the sun and keep hydrated by drinking plenty of water to avoid heat cramps and heat exhaustion, among others," he told The Manila Times.

Other areas like Tuguegarao City, Dagupan City, Cabanatuan City, Laoag City, Legazpi City and San Jose (Mindoro) will also experience even higher heat index, Pagasa said.

Although weather disturbance is unlikely until Labor Day, May 1, the state weather bureau said the inter-tropical convergence zone (ITCZ) spotted near the Mindanao area may enter the Philippine Area of Responsibility over the weekend or on the first day of May.

"This may bring rain showers over the eastern sections of Visayas and Mindanao where a low pressure area may be formed within the ITCZ," Estareja said.

ITCZ, according to Pagasa, is an imaginary line where the northern and southern air meet and bring cloudy skies with scattered rain showers and thunderstorms.

In particular, Pagasa said that Metro Manila and the rest of the country will likely have partly cloudy to cloudy skies with occasional downpours and thunderstorms due to the easterlies and localized thunderstorms.

Preparing for El Niño

Philippine Daily Inquirer / 05:07 AM April 28, 2023

With the official weather bureau forecasting an 80-percent probability of El Niño in the coming months, pertinent government agencies have no excuse to dawdle on their job and should now speed up preparations for this catastrophic but expected weather phenomenon. According to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration, the probability of an El Niño occurrence has increased from 55 percent to 80 percent in June, July, August, and September, with an El Niño alert set to be issued next month.

El Niño, which is caused by the seasonal warming of the Pacific Ocean, upsets normal weather patterns and brings heavy rainfall in some countries, and dry spells and drought in others, including the Philippines. Fishermen from South America first noticed the phenomenon in the 1600s, and noted that it usually occurred toward the Christmas season, hence the name El Niño which refers to the child Jesus. Climate change however has broken that pattern such that El Niño may be expected in other months of the year.

This extreme weather condition has been known to cause the outbreak of diseases, heat stress, and respiratory ailments, as well as wreak devastation on agricultural lands that result in lower crop yields and, consequently, longstanding food shortages. Over the past decade, the Philippines has incurred P463 billion in damages from extreme weather events, 62 percent of that in the agriculture sector. The fisheries sector has not been spared, with warm ocean waters dispersing and driving schools of fish into deeper waters and drastically reducing one’s catch. Severe temperatures and lower ocean waters have also exposed and bleached fragile coral reefs, killed plankton, and triggered fish kills. Forest fires, degraded water sources, and other environmental risks can also be expected.

While there’s little that humans can do to influence El Niño’s onset, duration, and intensity, its severe effects can be mitigated with sound policy interventions, preemptive government actions, and long-term strategies informed by science. Expected to lead these initiatives is the Department of Agriculture (DA), and its acting secretary, President Marcos himself.

So far, the DA has outlined its plans to help the fisheries and agriculture sector cope with El Niño’s effects, including putting up more water-related infrastructure such as hydroelectric power plants, irrigation canals, and diversion dams. Small scale irrigation projects would also be developed or rehabilitated, and made available to farmers. The DA also said that it has already identified hybrid varieties of rice and other high value crops that can be planted during dry spells.

All well and good, though it remains to be seen if the agency blamed for spotty policies behind the skyrocketing prices of sugar, rice, and onions could follow through its plans and prove detractors wrong.

For his part, the President could have expounded on his announced plan for the government to slowly convert the country’s dependence on water supply from underground to surface water, since conventional wisdom has it that groundwater, being less polluted, is easier and cheaper to treat than surface water. Knowing about the risk of groundwater depletion and the reduction of water in streams and lakes, as well as the deterioration of water quality, should be enough to convince most people to go for it. The plan to help local government units install their own water supply systems should rain prove insufficient is sound, however. As is the executive order that the President said he had signed to create an office to manage the country’s water resources.

Just as noteworthy is the mitigation and adaptation plan set up by the Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Unit that includes the promotion of drought-tolerant and early maturing crop varieties, organic fertilizer to increase retention of soil moisture, the adjustment of the planting calendar, and crop shifting.

PH detects first Arcturus case

April 26, 2023 2970

Some citizens are seen wearing facemasks while other choose not to wear one, along Ilaya Street in Binondo, Manila. Health Officer in charge Maria Rosario Vergeire does not see the need to reimpose more stringent restrictions such as mandatory masking even if cases of Covid-19 continue to increase in the country. (PHOTO: MIKE ALQUINTO)

(UPDATE) THE Philippines has detected its first case of the Arcturus or XBB.1.16 subvariant, the Department of Health (DoH) said Tuesday.

The subvariant was found in a sample from Western Visayas and is one of the 89 samples that had Omicron subvariants during the latest sequencing run of the University of the Philippines-Philippine Genome Center, Research Institute for Tropical Medicine, and San Lazaro Hospital from April 12-17.

Arcturus is a sublineage of the XBB subvariant that was recently added to the list of subvariants under monitoring by the World Health Organization and the European Center for Disease Control.

It has been detected in 33 countries.

"Limited information is available for the variant and researchers are currently characterizing the variant in terms of transmissibility, immune evasion, and ability to cause more severe disease," the DoH said.

Public health expert Dr. Tony Leachon also warned the public against the Arcturus XBB.1.16 variant, which started in India.

Its symptoms are fever, cough, sore throat, and conjunctivitis or sore eyes.

"This should be something we should watch out for, but we should not panic because these are milder cases," Leachon said.

"I don't think there will be an increase in the hospitalization rate. And I can assure the public there will not be any economic lockdown, basically because of the milder cases that we're seeing right now, not only in the Philippines but also in other parts of the world."

As of April 23, the Covid-19 positivity rate was at 10.9 percent, although the health care utilization rate remains low.

Leachon said the wearing of masks should be mandatory to prevent viral transmissions.

Getting a second booster shot against Covid-19 for the general population is a "welcome opportunity," he added.

"The general population is actually the vulnerable one," he said, citing a Philippine Statistics Authority report that it is this group that could be more prone to getting the virus.

Leachon said the public should be concerned that 26 provinces have been placed under Alert Level 2 by the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID).

"It's something the public should be concerned about, but we should not panic because most of these cases will be milder," he said in a video interview with The Manila Times.

The provinces of Benguet, Ifugao, Quezon, Palawan, Camarines Norte, Masbate, Antique, Negros Occidental, Bohol, Cebu, Negros Oriental, Leyte, Western Samar, Lanao del Norte, Davao de Oro, Davao del Norte, Davao del Sur, Davao Occidental, North Cotabato, Sarangani, Sultan Kudarat, Dinagat Islands, Basilan, Maguindanao, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi are under Alert Level 2 until April 30.

Leachon cited a World Health Organization (WHO) declaration last January that the world is still under a public health emergency and that the pandemic is not yet in the endemic stage, but at a "transition point."

"We are in a transition point where we have mild Covid cases, but we are not out of the woods yet," he said in a Viber message to The Times.

"We will have episodic surges due to poor vaccination, waning immunity and lack of bivalent vaccines. We need to prepare the population if we need to open up the economy to investors and revitalize major industries," Leachon added.

Health Officer in charge Maria Rosario Vergeire does not see the need to reimpose more stringent restrictions such as mandatory masking even if cases of Covid-19 continue to increase in the country.

The Health department reported that there was a 32 percent rise in Covid-19 cases in the country during the week of April 17 to 23, translating to a daily average caseload of 450 cases per day.

During a media briefing at the sidelines of the Malaria-Free Awarding Ceremony in Quezon City on Tuesday, Vergeire shot down suggestions that there should be more restrictions in mobility among the unvaccinated and the resumption of mandatory masking. She instead urged the public to be more cautious and vigilant.

"Every one of us has the right to know what our risks are so that we will know if we would wear our masks or not," Vergeire said.

It is also counterproductive to reimpose restrictions now that the economy is slowly moving back on track after two years of lockdowns, she added.

She said the increase in the number of cases should not be attributed to the Holy Week exodus, but to the presence of more transmissible Covid-19 variants and the interaction of people during the dry season, among other things.

She noted that the IATF-EID has not elevated some provinces under Alert Level 2, explaining that the 26 areas remained under Alert Level 2 because of the level of vaccinations there.

Vergeire said the IATF' s new policy on the alert level system was still being discussed, specifically on the "decoupling" of the restrictions to the alert level system and that the system would just be used as a "warning signal" as a guide for local government units.

"We gave local governments the flexibility [to implement restrictions] as long as we follow the layers of protection to prevent more people from getting sick," she added.

Vergeire said the local government units were enjoined to implement the vaccination of second booster doses as the guidelines for its administration have been issued, and urged the public to get their booster shots at the nearest health center.

Tulfo most trusted, approved senator — survey

 BY ELLALYN DE VERA-RUIZ

Apr 26, 2023 09:31 PM

  

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Senator Raffy Tulfo received the highest trust and approval ratings among the country's current senators, according to the findings of a big data research firm's nationwide survey.

Tulfo received a 90 percent trust rating and an 83 percent approval rating from the 2,000 respondents in the Tangere survey, which had results released on Wednesday, April 26. 

(Photo from Senator Raffy Tulfo’s Facebook page)

Senators with the next-highest trust and approval ratings were Senator Grace Poe (84 percent trust rating and 79 percent approval rating), Senator Joel Villanueva (83 percent trust rating and 76 percent approval rating), Senator Sherwin Gatchalian (80 percent trust rating and 75 percent approval rating), and Senator Francis Escudero (80 percent trust rating and 74 percent approval rating).

Based on the survey results, the top five senators consistently received high ratings for both trust and approval, according to Tangere founder and CEO Martin Peñaflor.

Meanwhile, Senators Alan Peter Cayetano (53 percent trust rating and 51 percent approval rating), Cynthia Villar (55 percent trust rating and 51 percent approval rating), and Bong Revilla Jr. (57 percent trust rating and 53 percent approval rating) were "consistent" in the bottom rankings, Peñaflor said.

The mobile-based survey was conducted from April 17 to 20 with survey respondents proportionately representing the following areas nationwide: 12 percent from Metro Manila, 23 percent from North and Central Luzon, 22 percent from South Luzon (including Calabarzon, Mimaropa, and Bicol), 20 percent from the Visayas, and 23 percent from Mindanao.