STAY ALERT DURING RAINY SEASON

Posted on June 17, 2020  by administrator

Davao City Mayor Inday Sara Duterte has advised Dabawenyos, especially those residing in danger-zones, to stay alert and vigilant against risks of disaster and diseases common during wet season.

Mayor Sara warned that calamities such as flooding and landslides can happen as the country enters the rainy season from June to December.“Ang dala sa ulan, number one – landslide, ikaduha – baha, lightning. Mag-ingat ta everytime na kusog ang ulan (The rainy season can cause number one – landslide, second – flood, lighting. Let’s be vigilant during heavy rains),” she advised.

The mayor said it is also the season when diseases affect people such as leptospirosis, dengue, and tetanus.“Usually dala aning ulan is ang mga sakit nga leptospirosis, mao na siya ang hugaw sa ilaga na naa sa floodwater. So dili ta basta-basta mulusong sa tubig baha because duna na siya’y dala na mga hugaw, mga kagaw. Dili lang ang leptospirosis, posible tang masamad and magkasakit ta og tetanus (Usually the rain brings diseases like leptospirosis which is a bacterial infection acquired from rats during flood. We should avoid floodwater because of the bacteria and germs in it. Aside from that, we can get wounds and get tetanus),” Mayor Sara stressed.

She also reminded the people to be aware of their surroundings as dengue can be widespread influenced by rainfall. Dengue is a mosquito-borne viral infection.“Paniguraduhon nato nga malabay nato ang mga nagpundo nga hugaw nga tubig kay posible ni siya nga mahimong balay sa mga lamok (Let’s ensure to throw away the dirty, stagnant water because mosquitos inhabit there),” she warned.She said that increase of cases like these (dengue, leptospirosis, tetanus) will add to the problem in the hospitals not being able to serve so many patients.“Kung mudaghan atong mga dengue cases, kung mudaghan atong mga leptospirosis, ang mga nasakit ug tetanus… tanan nga lain nga sakit, magdungan sila tanan sa hospital so mubalik na pud ta sa atoang problema nga dili na makakaya ang atoang hospital nga magcarry og mga tao nga dunay sakit (If our dengue, leptospirosis, tetanus cases, and all other diseases increase and patients overwhelm the hospital, we will go back again to our problem of hospitals not being able to cater everyone),” Mayor Sara said.

CIO

DDO goes digital for household profiling and assessment

After a series of launching for the digital innovations of the Davao de Oro farmers (DDO Bagsakan), Virtual Capitol for the on line services, Call DdOC for those who needs medical attention thru online for the out-patient in 4 hospitals of the province, this time the household survey will be fully digitalized.

Through KoboCollect-powered application for the Household Profiling and Needs Assessment (HNPA), it is an easy way to get data and information from the people of DDO. Using any mobile device with Koolbox Apps, the transmission of data online for validation is faster compare to manual data gathering.

The main purpose is to value the importance of establishing a concrete, accurate and reliable baseline data that provides a point of reference and serves as basis for the decision makers and development planners to come up with an evidence-based quality, doable and implementable plans, policies programs and projects to be prioritized in facing the COVID-19 crisis.

Through this way the government will get new, accurate and correct data in terms of health, demographics characteristics, building/house structural characteristics, climate change and disaster information, and accessibility and communication.

On June 10, 2020 the Provincial Household Profiling and Needs Assessment Committee (PHPNAC) of DDO kicks off its activities with the Households Enumeration and Geo-tagging. Trained teams went to Barangays Sao-sao, Conception, Nueva Visayas and Andili of the Municipality of Mawab for the ongoing survey.

"The provincial management acknowledges the importance of having a qualify data set that facilitates in understanding the general situation and specific characteristics of individual households and family or all households in the population of the province, whereby decision making and policy investments will be appropriately directed towards implementation of programs and projects that best serve to the people in need", part of the Executive Order 0039-2020 states.

This activity is set to be completed until November this year and shall be conducted in all municipalities of the province as part of steeping up data collection, and improving DDO through Information and Communication Technology (ICT).

(Rey Antibo, ID DDO)

Davao de Oro gives out food packs to displaced tourism workers

Davao de Oro --- A total of 228 displaced tourism workers received grocery food packs from the provincial government of Davao de Oro spearheaded by Governor Jayvee Tyron L. Uy to help withstand amidst the crisis brought by COVID-19 pandemic.

The affected workers were from 16 tourism establishments which were not included to COVID-19 Adjustment Measures Program (CAMP) under Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE).

Tourism establishments such as resorts, hotels, inns, travel agencies and restaurants were the first to hit the Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ) and were closed for almost three months due to close-contact activities that may happen. The owners are at a great disadvantage and the employees are also the most affected.

The Provincial Tourism Office of Davao de Oro facilitated the application of 86 tourism establishments through DOLE's CAMP assistance whereas each employee receives Php 5,000 and only 70 of them are included in the program.

As a result, Governor Uy mobilized the release of food packs to the listed establishments as follows: Plates N'Cups, Lake Leonard Ecotourism, Beach View Resort, Tony's Beach Resort, Dayok Dayok Beach Resort, Comval Hotel, Rain and Angel Beach Resort, Einkorn Bakeshop, Leopard, Bundan, LS, Edison's Marie and Katrina's, Katrina's Grill, Pepito's Café and Countryside Café.

It is also a welcome blessing that within the new Modified General Community Quarantine (MGCQ), the establishment can start again and operate under 50% operational capacity after obtaining the Certificate of Authority to Operate (CAO) by the Department of Tourism for accommodation establishments (AEs) and provisional permits for non-AEs issued BY the Mayor's Office.

Not even the dreaded virus can take away the “bayanihan” spirit of the people in the province of Davao de Oro, ensuring that no one will be left behind. (Rheafe Hortizano, ID Davao de Oro)

Davao de Oro receives Pro-ACT’s handwashing facilities and hygiene kits

Davao de Oro Province--- Highly recommended by professionals in the medical field, handwashing remains one of the best prevention against acquiring the COVID-19 infection. Handwashing is a simple form of habit that could save lives of many when properly done in homes, workplaces and institutions both private and public.

In partnership with Pro-ACT implemented by Action Against Hunger and Fundacion Codespa, a total of 15 (fifteen) units of hand-washing facilities was handed-over to the Provincial Government of Davao de Oro together with the 68 hygiene kits or the basic PPEs for the municipal and barangay responders.

These hand washing facilities and hygiene kits mitigates the possible transmission of any forms of disease-causing agents including COVID-19. Pro-ACT’s initiatives also includes the distribution of food packs to families with senior citizens and person with disabilities to some barangays in the municipalities of Maco, Mabini, Nabunturan and Pantukan reaching a total of 1,333 families covered.

In addition, Action Against Hunger and Fundacion CODESPA’s COVID-19 response focuses in the distribution of food items, hygiene kits and hand washing facilities as well as the provision of agricultural inputs to selected and pre-identified Farmer’s Association or Cooperatives allowing them to minimize agricultural production losses and at the same time ensuring their families’ livelihood amidst the emerging crisis.

(Jasteen Abella, ID DAVAO DE ORO)

Europas Grenzen öffnen sich wieder

Polen, Tschechien, Frankreich, Norwegen: Die wegen der Corona-Pandemie eingeführten Beschränkungen an innereuropäischen Grenzen fallen nach und nach weg. Die "günstige Entwicklung" macht's möglich.

Polen öffnet seine Grenzen zu EU-Ländern (picture-alliance/dpa/S. Sauer)
Seit 13. Juni 2020, 0 Uhr, wieder offen: die deutsch-polnische Grenze

Nach knapp drei Monaten hat Polen seine Grenzen zu allen EU-Nachbarländern wieder geöffnet. Bereits am Freitag waren die Beschränkungen an der Grenze zu Litauen weggefallen - am frühen Samstagmorgen dann auch an den Grenzen zu Deutschland, Tschechien und zur Slowakei.

Für Nicht-EU-Staaten gilt die Regelung vorerst nicht, weil nach Ansicht der polnischen Regierung in einigen Staaten insbesondere in Lateinamerika und Nordamerika die Lage immer noch besorgniserregend ist. Auch Kontrollen an Polens Grenzen zur Ukraine, Weißrussland und zur russischen Exklave Kaliningrad (Königsberg) bleiben erhalten.

Frankreich hebt die Beschränkungen an seinen Grenzen für EU-Reisende am 15. Juni weitgehend auf. Dies geschehe in Übereinstimmung mit den Empfehlungen der Europäischen Kommission, teilten das Innen- und das Außenministerium in Paris mit. Menschen aus den Mitgliedsstaaten der EU sowie aus Andorra, Island, Liechtenstein, Monaco, Norwegen, San Marino, der Schweiz und dem Vatikan dürfen dann wieder ungehindert einreisen. Ausnahmen gelten weiterhin für Spanien und Großbritannien - einschließlich einer zweiwöchigen Quarantänepflicht für Einreisende, die in beiden Ländern ebenfalls besteht.

Frankreich Carling, Grenze zu Deutschland | Coronavirus | Baguette-Übergabe (Getty Images/AFP/J.C. Verhaegen)

Wird nächste Woche abgebaut: Absperrung an der deutsch-französischen Grenze

Seine Grenzen zu Ländern außerhalb des Schengen-Raums will Frankreich ab dem 1. Juli schrittweise öffnen. Der Zeitpunkt der Öffnung werde "je nach Gesundheitslage in den verschiedenen Drittstaaten" variieren und den Vereinbarungen entsprechen, "die bis dahin auf europäischer Ebene beschlossen worden sein werden".

Auch Tschechien öffnet seine Grenzen ab Montag für Bürger fast aller EU-Staaten, der Schweiz und aus Liechtenstein. Ermöglicht werde dies durch die günstige epidemiologische Entwicklung, teilte das Gesundheitsministerium in Prag mit. Die wegen der Pandemie eingeführten Grenzkontrollen zu Deutschland und Österreich waren bereits vor einer Woche  aufgehoben worden.

Bestehen bleibt das tschechische Einreiseverbot indes für Reisende mit Wohnsitz in Belgien, Portugal, Großbritannien, Schweden sowie der polnischen Woiwodschaft Schlesien. Diese Territorien gelten nach Ansicht der Behörden als Risikogebiete für eine Coronavirus-Infektion.

Norwegen will am Montag die Grenzen zu fast allen Nachbarländern ebenfalls wieder öffnen, wie die Regierung des Schengenstaates in Oslo bekanntgab. Reisende könnten von Dänemark, Finnland und Island problemlos nach Norwegen kommen - bei Schweden gebe es regionale Regelungen: Vorerst dürften nur Besucher von der Insel Gotland einreisen, weil in den anderen Regionen Schwedens das Infektionsniveau noch nicht "akzeptabel" sei.

wa/fw (dpa, afp, rtr)

THE BEAUTY OF NATURE

In times with Covid-19, more and more friends of mine are enjoying to share beautiful places of Mindanao. Their posts on Facebook have been paired with the desire to going there if the coronavirus is gone. Then we might be free. We might be allowed to go wherever we want to go. Meanwhile, I shared the same desire and dreams with them too.

If you talk about the beauty of nature, automatically creation sings God's praise. Psalm 104 shows appreciation for every aspect of nature, even creatures like wild goats, lions, and others. The Israelites, as herders and farmers, had no romantic idealization of the outdoors. Nobody who herds sheep thinks of them as soft and fluffy pets. But to the poet who wrote Psalm 104, creatures that are no "use" to anyone still have intrinsic worth - especially to God.

The intertwining of nature is not, for the psalmist, like a complex machine, dangerously sensitive. Things fit together because a personal God watches over them. Every breath of life depends on His will.

Modern people nowadays are often preoccupied with the fear of overcrowding and poisoning nature. This might happen again if we are leaving free after the coronavirus lockdown has been lifted. The psalms show not such fear, for overcrowding and pollution were not major problems in that preindustrial civilization. Yet interestingly enough, the psalm ends with a wish that God would clean up the earth. The beauty of the earth, made by God, calls out for purity - purity of the heart.

If we will be "free" soon and able to discover our surroundings, we should ask ourselves, how does nature affect us. And, even more important: how do we affect nature?

Philippines benefits from new German aid protecting agriculture and food security

Germany just granted new assistance (around EUR 3 million or Php 165 million) to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). The money is for a project benefitting also the Philippines: “Scaling-up Early Warning Early Action (EWEA) for agriculture and food security”.

The Embassy is pleased to inform about this new financial support in times of the global COVID-19 pandemic. It underlines that German support for the Philippines continues in times of crisis, and it shows that German aid looks beyond the immediate needs into the wider future.

Said initiative follows a new, forward-looking approach to humanitarian assistance. It supports high risk countries in Africa, Central Asia and the Philippines which are considered vulnerable to natural hazards and conflict. The project aims to protect agricultural livelihoods and food security of vulnerable households by acting before a disaster strikes. Therefore it reduces humanitarian needs, preventing the deterioration of food security and strengthening resilience.
In order to link early warning to early actions that can lessen the impact of a disaster, partner countries will be supported in their risk analysis, activation and implementation process among others.

#germanyinphl #botschaftMNL #humanitarianassistance #agriculture #FAO #EWEA

4TH ROUND OF FOOD AID TO ‘PIPS’

DAVAO CITY COMPLETES 4TH ROUND OF FOOD AID TO ‘PIPS’

Posted on June 9, 2020  by administrator

The Davao City government has completed the fourth round of the food distribution to the Women/People in Prostitution (PIP) whose source of income is also affected by the movement restrictions during the coronavirus pandemic.

Gina A. Molon, in-charge of the food assistance and the Officer-in-Charge of the Pre-schooler and Children’s Concern Division (PSCCD) of the City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO), said CSWDO has reached out to a total of 323 PIPs in the areas of San Pedro, Legaspi, Anda, Claveria, and Tiongco. Together with the food assistance, CSWDO also distributed hotline number cards in case they would need psychosocial assistance.

Molon said CSWDO has identified these beneficiaries previously because they are already clients of the city government’s different programs, advocacies, and livelihood assistance.

“Ato na man gyud na sila’ng kleyente. In fact, na-organize na nato sila. Naa ta’y organizations sa mga People in Prostitution (They are already our clients. In fact, we have organized them, we have organization for the People in Prostitution),” Molon said.

She added that aside from the livelihood assistance their children are also beneficiaries of the city’s educational program.“Beneficiary nato na sila sa atong mga livelihood ug sa atong educational assistance sa ilang mga kabataan (They are beneficiaries of our livelihood and the educational assistance for their children),” she noted. CIO

DAVAO CITY FIRM VS. GCQ VIOLATIONS

Posted on June 11, 2020  by administrator


The Davao City government has filed charges against over 200 persons who have violated the protocols of the community quarantine.Public Safety and Security Command Center (PSSCC) head Angel Sumagaysay said that 90 cases had already been filed in court against 277 violators for defying the rules on curfew, liquor ban, and social gathering.

Sumagaysay said that on the other hand, 145 cases had also been filed out of the 329 apprehensions for violations of the Food and Medicine Pass (FM Pass).Other cases are yet to be filed as these will be done through regular filing while other apprehended suspects are minors.

“We just have to follow the protocols, especially on the social distancing and wearing of mask,” he said. Sumagaysay said the protocols are being strictly implemented to prevent the further spread of the virus.The city has registered a total of 321 cases since the outbreak started. Of the figure, 192 have recovered but 30 have died.

Currently, 99 cases remain active. Sumagaysay also commended the police authorities for doing their job and ensure that the protocols are strictly implemented. “We are commending the security sector, particularly the Davao City Police Office for continued implementation of GCQ guidelines. We hope that Dabawenyos would cooperate and adhere to the guidelines (because) after all, this is for the good of our community,” he said.

By: CIO
Categorized in COVID-19, Peace and Order

Bundesregierung verlängert generelle Reisewarnung außerhalb Europas

Erneut hat das Kabinett über den Fortgang der Reisebeschränkungen entschieden: Innerhalb Europas sollen die Grenzkontrollen so schnell wie möglich fallen, außerhalb bleibt es bei der Reisewarnung, mindestens bis Ende August. Tourismus- und Luftfahrtbranche fordern mehr Differenzierung.

Heiko Maas
© stock.adobe.com / REUTERS / FABRIZIO BENSCH

Die Bundesregierung hat die Reisewarnung für mehr als 160 Länder außerhalb der Europäischen Union bis zum 31. August verlängert. Das hat das Bundeskabinett heute beschlossen.

Das Eckpunktepapier des Kabinetts sieht vor, dass das Pandemiegeschehen weltweit weiter beobachtet wird. Ausnahmen können für einzelne Länder gemacht werden, erläuterte Bundesaußenminister Heiko Maas (SPD). Voraussetzung sei, dass die Verbreitung des Virus ausreichend eingedämmt sei.

Anders als bei den europäischen Nachbarn gebe es für den Rest der Welt "noch nicht die gemeinsamen belastbaren Datengrundlagen, Kriterien und Abstimmungsprozesse, die einen uneingeschränkten Reiseverkehr ohne unkalkulierbare Risiken wieder möglich machen", so Maas. 

Maas weiter: 

"Die Bundesregierung hat heute entschieden, dass die weltweite Reisewarnung für alle Länder außer den Mitgliedsstaaten der Europäischen Union, den Schengen-assoziierten Staaten und dem Vereinigten Königreich vorerst bis einschließlich dem 31. August weiter gilt. Anders als bei unseren europäischen Nachbarn haben wir für den Rest der Welt heute noch nicht die gemeinsamen belastbaren Datengrundlagen, Kriterien und Abstimmungsprozesse, die einen uneingeschränkten Reiseverkehr ohne unkalkulierbare Risiken wieder möglich machen. 

Gleichzeitig ist uns sehr bewusst, dass viele Bürgerinnen und Bürger so schnell wie möglich auch außerhalb Europas wieder reisen möchten. Das betrifft Urlaubsziele in der Türkei und in Nordafrika aber auch Südostasien und Amerika. Ab wann solche Reisen auch zu touristischen Zwecken wieder vertretbar sind, wird vom Verlauf der Pandemie abhängen.

Wir werden deshalb die Reisewarnung auch vor September immer wieder auf den Prüfstand stellen, immer mit der Sicherheit der Reisenden als zentralem Kriterium. Dort - und nur dort - wo das Gesamtpaket aus positiver Pandemieentwicklung, einem stabilen Gesundheitssystem, stimmigen Sicherheitsmaßnahmen für den Tourismus und verlässlichen Hin- und auch Rückreisemöglichkeiten das zulässt, können wir möglicherweise schon früher von einer Reisewarnung zu Reisehinweisen zurückkehren.

Klar ist dabei aber auch: eine Aufhebung der Reisewarnung muss in das Gesamtbild passen. Solange pandemiebedingt Einreiseverbote aus Drittstaaten in die Europäische Union bestehen, wäre es nicht vermittelbar, wenn dort schon wieder zu Tausenden europäische Touristen unterwegs sind."

Foreign Minister Maas on the Cabinet decision concerning the extension of the worldwide travel warning until 31 August

Foreign Minister Heiko Maas issued the following statement today (10 June) on the decision by the Cabinet to extend until 31 August 2020 the warning against non-essential travel abroad for tourist purposes to all countries with the exception of the member states of the European Union, the countries associated with Schengen and the UK:

logo The German Government decided today that the worldwide travel warning for all countries except the member states of the European Union, the countries associated with Schengen and the UK will remain in place until 31 August. In contrast to our European neighbours, we do not yet have shared reliable data sources, criteria and coordination processes for the rest of the world which would make unrestricted travel possible again without incalculable risks. We can and will not risk Germans being stranded around the world again this summer or holidaymakers unsuspectingly bringing the virus back to Germany.

At the same time, we are very aware that many people would also like to travel outside Europe again as soon as possible. That applies to holiday destinations in Turkey and in North Africa, as well as South-East Asia and America. At what point such trips, also for tourist purposes, will be advisable again will depend on how the pandemic develops.

We will therefore review the travel warning on a regular basis before September and travellers’ safety will always be the central criterion. Where – and only where – the pandemic is developing positively, there is a stable healthcare system, appropriate safety measures for tourism are in place and both outward and return travel is assured, can we possibly revert at an earlier date from travel warnings to travel advisories.

However, it is clear that lifting the travel warning must fit into the overall picture. As long as there are pandemic-related bans on entries from third states to the European Union, it would be hard to justify thousands of European tourists travelling to those countries.

Reisewarnung fast für gesamten Schengenraum aufgehoben

Aufgehoben wird dagegen die Reisewarnung für die Länder in der Europäischen Union. Das selbe gilt für das gerade aus der EU ausgetretene Großbritannien sowie einzelne Staaten des grenzkontrollfreien Schengenraums, die nicht Mitglied in der EU sind: Island, die Schweiz und Liechtenstein. Die Aufhebung gilt ab 15. Juni.

Einzig Spanien und Norwegen sind von den Lockerungen aktuell noch ausgenommen - wegen noch bestehender Einreisesperren für Deutsche dort. Generell gilt aber bei allen europäischen Ländern: Sollten bestimmte Parameter in einem Land festgelegte Grenzwerte überschreiten, können auch wieder einzelne Reisewarnungen ausgesprochen werden.

Bundespolizei beendet innereuropäische Grenzkontrollen

Gleichzeitig beendet Deutschland zum 15. Juni die aufgrund der Corona-Krise eingeführten Binnengrenzkontrollen zu vier Ländern. Reisende aus Österreich, der Schweiz, Frankreich und Dänemark können dann wieder ungehindert nach Deutschland einreisen.

Bundesinnenminister Horst Seehofer (CSU) erläuterte im Anschluss an die Kabinettssitzung, dass mit dem Ende der Grenzkontrollen die Freizügigkeit innerhalb der Union wieder hergestellt werde. Das Innenministerium werde die Bundespolizei anweisen, die Kontrollen bis dahin schrittweise zurückzufahren.

Seehofer äußerte zugleich die Erwartung, dass bis Ende Juni alle Reisebeschränkungen innerhalb der EU aufgehoben werden. Zu Norwegen und Spanien sagte der Minister: "Wir handeln da gleichberechtigt", sagte Seehofer. Betroffen davon sei vor allem der Luftverkehr.

"Wirtschaftliche Erholung gefährdet"

Der Deutsche Reiseverband (DRV) kritisiert die Verlängerung der generellen Reisewarnungen für Ziele außerhalb Europas. Es brauche einen differenzierteren Ansatz, um die wirtschaftliche Erholung und die Wiederaufnahme von Handel und Tourismus nicht zu gefährden.

"Das Auswärtige Amt macht es sich mit der weltweiten Reisewarnung zu leicht. Die Pandemie klingt in sehr vielen Ländern der Welt ab. Entsprechend stellt sich das Infektionsgeschehen in den rund 160 Ländern, auf die sich die Reisewarnung bezieht, sehr unterschiedlich dar. Man soll und kann sie daher nicht alle über einen Kamm scheren", sagte DRV-Präsident Norbert Fiebig.

Man nehme zur Kenntnis, dass das Auswärtige Amt eine zweite Rückholaktion ausschließen wolle, daran dürfte die Aufhebung der Reisewarnungen jedoch nicht scheitern. "Im Fall der Fälle sorgen die deutschen Reiseveranstalter wie bisher auch dafür, dass die Gäste – sofern notwendig – vorzeitig und sicher nach Hause kommen. Die Rückholgarantie ist bei uns also inklusive – übrigens ohne Mehrkosten" so Fiebig mit Blick auf Pauschalreisen.

Auch der Flughafenverband ADV ist der Meinung, dass differenzierte Reisewarnungen schneller kommen sollten. Reisen zwischen Deutschland und Nicht-EU-Staaten sollten möglich sein, sofern das Infektionsgeschehen und die gesundheitlichen Bedingungen dies hergeben würden.

Den Wegfall der Grenzkontrollen innerhalb Europas begrüßt die ADV. Die schnelle Öffnung des Reiseverkehrs mit klaren, in einem Leitfaden definierten Sicherheitsstandards sei Anliegen der Flughäfen. "Je länger die Krise dauert, desto mehr Existenzen stehen auf dem Spiel", teilte der Verband mit.