Cordillera roads closed by landslides

BAGUIO CITY -- The Department of Public Works and Highways in the Cordillera Administrative Region reported some road closures due to landslides triggered by the rains brought by Tropical Storm Paeng.
    In Apayao, the Apayao-Ilocos Norte Road in Madatag, Kabugao town, and the Claveria-Calanasan Road in Calanasan town were closed to vehicular traffic because of landslides and unstable erosions along mountain slopes. The clearing operation was hampered by adverse weather conditions.
    In Benguet, the Governor Bado Dangwa National Road and Congressman Andres Acop Cosalan Road was closed because of soil collapse.
    In Ifugao, the Kiangan-Tinoc Road, Kiangan-Tinoc-Buguias Road, Banaue-Mayoyao-Alfonso Lista-Isabela Boundary Road and Ubao-Taang Road were closed due to landslides and mudflows.
    In Kalinga, the Lubuagan-Batong Buhay-Abra Road, Mountain Province-Calanan-Pinukpuk-Abbut Road and the Balbalan-Pinukpuk Road were closed because of landslides.
    The Baguio-Bontoc Road, Mountain Province-Cagayan via Tabuk-Enrile Road, and Talubin-Barlig-Natonin-Paracelis-Calaccad Road were also closed to traffic because of rock falls and landslides and road damage.
    Meanwhile, a 62-year-old native from Kalinga is now the subject of a search and rescue operation by the Kalinga Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (PDRRMC). The local government unit is working with its town counterpart in Tuao, Cagayan to locate Severino Lumacday from Balbalan town, who went missing at the height of the onslaught of "Paeng."
    According to initial reports from the Balbalan Municipal DRRM Office, Lumacday was hit by fallen rocks and was swept away into the creek leading to the Saltan River in Balbalan.
    The Saltan River joins the Chico River and drains through Tuao, Cagayan.
    Kalinga Gov. James Edduba requested the assistance of Tuao Mayor Francisco Mamba Jr. in informing all the villages near the Chico River banks within his town to assist Kalinga responders in looking for the 62-year-old victim.
    In Ifugao, a motorcycle rider was declared dead on arrival at the Ifugao General Hospital on Friday afternoon after an accident at Sitio Ibulao, Baguinge in Kiangan town. The motorcycle of the rider who was not identified went out of control while traveling the rough and slippery road.
 
 

Read more...

Quake cuts power lines in Northern Luzon

Parts of Ilocos and the Cordillera experienced power interruption after a magnitude 7.0 earthquake struck Luzon Wednesday.
    The National Grid Corp. of the Philippines (NGCP) reported that power outages affected the franchise area of the La Union Electric Cooperative (LUELCO).
    The NGCP said the Bacnotan-Bulala 69-kiloVolt line in La Union tripped at around 8:44 a.m.
    Normalization of loads came after the line was energized at about 1:07 p.m.
    The NGCP said initial investigation showed that a line segment owned and maintained by LUELCO tripped during the earthquake.
    Power interruptions were also experienced in parts of Pangasinan, Benguet, Tarlac and Abra. The affected lines were immediately restored.
    Lines and facilities serving the National Capital Region were not affected.  No private distribution utilities recorded tripping, according to the Department of Energy.
    The DOE said all power generation plants were under normal operations except for the HEDCOR hydropower plants in Mountain Province that went on outage due to the earthquake.
    All downstream oil industry facilities reported no damage and were operational. -- AFP

Read more...

PNP mobilizes teams to assist quake-hit areas in North Luzon

By Aaron Recuenco

The Philippine National Police mobilized its personnel who assisted mostly in road-clearing operations in Northern Luzon.
    This, as several roads, particularly in Cordillera Administrative Region, were rendered impassable due to landslides that were triggered by the 7.0 magnitude quake that hit the northern part of Luzon.
    Some roads were cleared, while work was on at press time to clear other thoroughfares.
    Police Lt. Gen. Vicente Danao, Jr., PNP officer-in-charge, said he instructed the PNP Area commander in     Northern Luzon, Police Lt. Gen. Rodolfo Azurin, Jr., to mobilize the Regional Mobile Force Battalions and Provincial Mobile Force Companies for road-clearing and disaster response operations.
    “The PNP high command, through the Disaster Incident Management Task Group has instructed the Regional and Provincial Police Offices to initiate efforts to clear main roads and thoroughfares of debris and road hazards to allow unhampered passage of emergency services and vehicles transporting essential disaster-response equipment and personnel to areas affected by tremor,” said Danao.
    In Cordillera Administrative Region, Police Brig. Gen. Ronald Lee, police regional director, ordered all his commanders to continue assisting the affected residents in their areas of responsibility.
    “All provincial directors from the provincial offices of PROCor are now on the ground to administer and provide all the necessary police assistance to the affected communities,” said Lee.
    He said 182 search and rescue- trained personnel were deployed while 1,978 personnel were activated as Reactionary Standby Support Forces.
    Based on the reports from police stations across the region, Lee said more than 150 residents were already evacuated, 56 infrastructures were reported damaged and 31 national and local roads are not passable.
    “At least 106 people were injured, with three casualties (dead),” said Lee.
    “At least 36 areas, on the other hand, have no electricity,” he added.

Read more...

‘Maring’ leaves 12 dead in NL, nine in Cordillera

Twelve persons have been reported dead in Northern Luzon as of press time amid incidents caused by severe tropical storm “Maring,” authorities said.
    Undersecretary Ricardo Jalad, National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council executive director, earlier released an initial report of ýnine fatalities.
    Later, the NDRRMC said it has already tallied 11 reported deaths as the fatalities in Benguet had increased to six.
    The regional office of the Philippine Information Agency said the number climbed to nine dead in Cordillera.
    Among the fatalities in Benguet were three young siblings killed in the landslide in Ambiong La Trinidad, Gov. Melchor Diclas’ office said in a social media post.
    Those children, aged 8, 6, and 2, were inside their home when rocks and mud from an elevated area fell on it, Monday evening, according to the NDRRMC.
    Two women aged 32 and 80 died in separate landslides in Itogon, also in Benguet, while a 53-year-old man was also reportedly killed in a landslide in Baguio City, the council said in its report.
    The Cagayan provincial government said two persons have already been reported dead in the province.
    After the fatality in Claveria, one Sheryl Guim, 33, drowned in floodwaters in Barangay Ajat of Iguigý town, around 5:30 a.m. Tuesday, it said.
    Four other persons drowned in a flash flood in Barangay Batang-batang of Narra, Palawan, said Jalad.
    According to the NDRRMC, at least 4,528 families or 19,147 persons were affected by incidents caused ýby “Maring.”
    Some 6,567 persons were still displaced as of posting.
In Cordillera, “Maring” has left P29.4 million worth of damage to crops, affecting 1,128 farmers, according to the Dept. of Agriculture.
    Farm damage in Cagayan was initially pegged at P14.655ý million, with rice, corn, aqua culture, and livestock taking the toll, according to the provincial government.
 

Read more...

Hedcor sets P9.5-M projs for Northern Luzon towns

By Estefany Mae Tawagon

To seal Hedcor’s commitment of advancing its host communities, Aboitiz Foundation Inc. together with Hedcor held separate one-time MOA signing events with its partners from Northern Luzon. 
    In the said event, Hedcor said the community projects it will implement for 2021 in the municipalities of Itogon, Sablan, Tuba, Bakun and La Trinidad in Benguet; Sabangan in Mt. Province; and Alilem in Ilocos Sur. 
    The MOA signing was attended by representatives and members of the local government, partner organizations, and government agencies as well as Hedcor’s team members under the flagship of president and COO Rolando Pacquiao and vice president for Corporate Services Noreen Vicencio.
    “Our partnership signifies our commitment to co-creating a better world-- having communities that are safe, empowered, and sustainable,” says Rolando Paquiao, Hedcor President and COO. “We commit to continuously carry out carefully designed projects that will truly respond to the needs of our host communities.”
    Among the listed projects for Northern Luzon host communities, those on education and health care comprise almost 77 percent of the lined-up projects for 2021.
    For education, these include senior high school financial assistance and college scholarships, and assistance to module reproduction, as well as capability training for teachers.
“    The educational initiatives will not only empower our educators to continue shaping our lives, but also our students to increase their retention of information now that learning is done digitally. We are aggressive in supporting our education sector” says Mayor Manuel Munar of the Municipality of Sablan, Benguet.   
    District Supervisor of Alilem, Ilocos Sur, Fian Siding furthered, “Our partnership best defines what bayanihan is, we are working together to provide quality education to our students.” 
    Moreso, community projects are also geared towards health and well-being such as construction and refurbishment of isolation facilities and procurement of medical equipment and medicines.
     “The Covid-19 measures we came up with Hedcor are relevant and sustainable in addressing the increasing needs of the Municipality for treatment and facilities,” says Mayor Romeo Salda of La Trinidad, Benguet. 
    Other community projects also include infrastructure projects particularly the installation of water systems. 
    Hedcor and Aboitiz Foundation have allocated about P17 million worth of projects for 2021. Hedcor targets roll out of project implementation immediately this year.
    Hedcor is a wholly-owned subsidiary of AboitizPower. It specializes in generating renewable energy from run-of-river hydropower systems.
    Today, Hedcor manages and operates 22 hydropower plants located in Ilocos Sur, Mt. Province, Benguet, Davao, and Bukidnon. They continue to supply the country with 278 MW of clean and renewable energy.
    With 42 years of experience, Hedcor is one of the leading run-of-river hydropower operators in the Philippines.

Read more...

Northern Luzon political leaders form group; push mayor Isko for president

A group of political leaders from Northern Luzon has called on Manila Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso to run for president in the 2022 national elections.
    The Isko Northern Alliance (INA), together with Ikaw Muna (IM) Pilipinas, issued a joint statement of support for Domagoso during the launch of their alliance on Wednesday, Sept. 15.
    “Malaki ang aming paniniwala sa norte na si Mayor Isko ay may kakayahan maitawid tayo sa pagdurusa na dinadanas natin, kalungkutan, at bangungot ngayon pandemiyang ito at crisis sa ekonomiya (We, in the north, are confident that Mayor Isko will be able to get us through the suffering, sadness, and nightmare that we are going through in this pandemic and economic crisis),” Cicero Lumauig, lead convener of INA, said.
    INA is composed of leaders from the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR), Ilocos Region, and the Cagayan Valley Region.
    Lumauig said there are over six million voters in the north from 15 provinces and 13 cities who will support Domagoso if ever he decides to run for president.
    By supporting Domagoso, the alliance also seeks to quash the so-called “Solid North” which heavily supports the Marcoses and their allies during elections.
    “As Ilokanos, we will not be denied by our past, but we will be defined by our future…Sama sama po kami na ipaglalaban po ang kabutihan para sa ating bansa at nakikita po namin ito sa isang taong nagngangalang Isko Moreno (We are together in fighting for what is good for the country and we see that in a person named Isko Moreno),” IM Pilipinas national convenor and former general manager of Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Tim Orbos said.
    Leaders of local governments in provinces and cities of Northern Luzon who were present in the alliance launch via Zoom also expressed their support for Domagoso.
    IM Pilipinas, in the same event, said they were “close to convincing” Domagoso to run for president in 2022.
“Malapit na malapit na po tayo sa pagdedesisyon ng ating Yorme para ipahayag ang kanyang pagsagot sa ating hamon na tumakbo [siya] bilang presidente (We are very close to convincing our Yorme to heed our call for him to run for president),” Bong Mangahas, IM Pilipinas’ national convenor and head of political affairs, said.
    Mangahas said their group has been convincing Domagoso for a very long time already and has expressed its support for the Manila mayor through the launch of its different chapters including INA.
“Abangan natin sa darating na mga araw, palagay ko po ay maririnig iyo na ang matamis na oo ng ating alkade ng Maynila at sasagutin na niya ang hamon mula sa norte hanggang sa Mindanao, ang hamon na pangunahan ang laban ng mga Pilipino para sa susunod na president (Let’s wait because I think, in the coming days, we will finally hear the sweet ‘yes’ of our Manila mayor and he will finally respond to the challenge from people from the north to Mindanao, the challenge to lead the Filipinos’ fight for the next president) ,” Mangahas added.
IM Pilipinas also said it will support whoever Domagoso chooses to be his running mate in the upcoming elections, as they have full confidence in the mayor’s decisions.
Domagoso has yet to respond to the INA proposal.
 

Read more...

Strict border control imposed in Luzon

By Ramon Efren Lazaro and Eva Visperas

STRICT BORDER CONTROL was implemented last week in Luzon provinces as nearby areas were placed on lockdown.
Pangasinan Gov. Amado Espino III issued an executive order intensifying Covid-19 measures and travel restrictions in the province to prevent the spread of the highly infectious Delta variant.
    Under the EO, non-authorized persons outside of residence (APORs) and tourists from areas under enhanced community quarantine and modified ECQ will not be allowed entry into Pangasinan.
    The ban covers those coming from Gingoog City in Misamis Oriental, Iloilo province, Iloilo City, Cagayan de Oro, Metro Manila, Bulacan, Cavite, Laguna and Rizal.
    APORs shall be allowed entry provided they present the required documents and pass Covid symptom screening.
    Only tourists from areas under general community quarantine and modified GCQ shall be allowed to travel to Pangasinan, but they should present a negative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction or antigen test.
    In Ilocos Norte, additional police personnel were deployed to help enforce the lockdown in Laoag, Batac and Pagudpud.
    The provincial government said a moratorium on the entry of locally stranded individuals and returning overseas Filipinos would be imposed.
    Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong extended the suspension of non-essential travel from all areas until Aug. 15 as a preemptive measure against the Delta variant.
    The extension is “appropriate and necessary, especially so that this is a crucial time to fully assess actions on border management, contact tracing and patient management in all health facilities,” Magalong said in an advisory.
    In Bulacan, 578 police and augmentation forces were deployed to man quarantine control points.
Col. Lawrence Cajipe, Bulacan police director, said checkpoints were put up in areas which have boundaries with cities in Metro Manila.
    Checkpoints were also put up along the North Luzon Expressway.
    The other checkpoints are in Barangay Sta. Rita in Guiguinto, Patubig in Marilao, Malhacan in Meycauayan, Tibag in Pulilan and at the  Balucuc Apalit Pulilan boundary.
    Cajipe said only APORs and those providing basic services and carrying essential goods are allowed to enter Bulacan.
 

Read more...

Flooding persists in Northern, Central Luzon; thousands flee

DEEP WATER Rescue teams in Samal, Bataan, use boats to reach flooded remote villages to evacuate residents. —PHOTO COURTESY OF SAMAL DRRMO

MORE THAN 1,500 families in Central and Northern Luzon Luzon fled their homes after massive floods triggered by incessant rains due to the southwest monsoon hit several cities and towns in the region last week, officials said.
    In Ilocos Norte, prolonged rains damaged at least P26 million worth of infrastructure, according to Gov. Matthew Marcos Manotoc.
    At least seven towns and cities in the province had been affected by the torrential rains, displacing 247 families, Manotoc said.
    The inclement weather also triggered a landslide along the national highway in Pagudpud town.
In Dagupan City, low-lying areas, including the central business district, were also submerged in floods worsened by high tide since July 29.
    The water that rushed down the mountain and drained to major rivers in the city also contributed to the flooding.
Despite the incessant rains, the elevation at San Roque Dam in San Manuel town, Pangasinan province, remained below the spilling level of 280 meters above sea level.
    In Pampanga province, Disaster officials said floods caused by monsoon rains and high tide had affected 51,464 families, or 224,232 people, in 10 towns as of July 29.
    At least 405 families (1,493 people) sought temporary shelter in 34 evacuation centers in the province.
    Floodwaters rose to 1.21 m (4 ft) in coastal areas of Masantol, Macabebe, Lubao, Mexico, Apalit, Guagua, Bacolor, Minalin, Sto. Tomas and San Simon, according to the provincial disaster risk reduction and management council (PDRRMC).
    The local governments of Macabebe and Masantol placed their respective towns under a state of calamity due to the widespread flooding.

Water overflowing from Pampanga River in Candaba and Apalit in Pampanga contributed to the flooding, the PDRRMC said.

Originating from the uplands of Nueva Ecija, Pampanga River drains to 30 rivers in Central Luzon.

Floodwaters eroded river banks, dikes and roads in Apalit, Magalang, Porac and Minalin towns.

The damage to agriculture had already reached P118 million, the PDRRMC said.

Meanwhile, floodwaters, reaching up to 1.82 meters (6 feet) in some low-lying areas, submerged at least 181 villages in Bataan province, reports from the regional disaster risk reduction and management council showed.

A heavy rainfall warning was hoisted over the province to torrential rains.

More than 60 other evacuation sites in Bataan were put up to accommodate the displaced residents.

A covered court in Hermosa town was converted into an evacuation center due to chest-high floods. Villagers in Mariveles, Orani, Orion, Pilar and Samal towns experienced knee-deep floods.

In Balanga City, rescue teams from the Bureau of Fire Protection and police used rubber boats to reach flooded villages and evacuate residents.

In Abucay town, the river dike in Barangay Laon collapsed due to rising water, threatening to submerge nearby residential areas. Another river dike at Barangay Calaylayan, also in Abucay, was damaged by the strong current.Olongapo, Pampanga rivers.

In Olongapo City, overnight heavy rainfall caused some of its rivers to overflow since July 29 flooding streets and residential districts.

Water level beneath the bridges in the villages of Sta. Rita and Mabayuan had reached the critical level, forcing the evacuation of families in flood-prone areas.

FLOOD AND TIDE The St. John the Evangelist Cathedral compound and its surrounding streets in Dagupan City are not spared from floodwaters, made worse by the high tide. Dagupan, a coastal city and a major business center in Pangasinan province, is crisscrossed by seven rivers and experiences perennial flooding during the monsoon season. —WILLIE LOMIBAO

Read more...

Covid cases in Northern Luzon provinces rise

By Raymund Catindig

Several provinces in Northern Luzon have recorded a surge in coronavirus disease 2019 or COVID-19 cases.

The Department of Health said 17 cases were recorded in La Union Monday.

Eight of the cases are from Caba, five in San Fernando and one each in Aringay, Bauang, Balaoan and San Juan.

A 14-year-old boy from Aringay is the youngest patient while the oldest was a 64-year-old woman from Caba.

Caba Mayor Philip Cesar Crispino placed six villages in the town, where the highest number of cases was recorded, under lockdown.

La Union now has 46 cases, 21 of them active.

In Cagayan Valley, the number of confirmed cases rose to 206, with 16 cases added yesterday.

Tuguegarao City recorded two cases while Solana, Peñablanca, Tuao, Camalaniugan and Iguig, all in Cagayan province, logged one each.

Six construction workers, all residents of Ilagan City in Isabela, also tested positive for COVID-19.

Kasibu, Alfonso Castañeda and Dupax del Norte  towns in Nueva Vizcaya recorded one case each.

The number of confirmed cases in Baguio City is now 10 after two were recorded yesterday.

Mountain Province recorded its second case on Thursday night.

The provincial health office said the patient traveled to Manila on July 8 to process his travel documents to work as a seafarer.

Contact tracing in Samoki, Bontoc is ongoing.

In Pangasinan, three cases were recorded yesterday. The province now has 134 confirmed cases.

Meanwhile, Bulacan Vice Gov. Wilhelmino Sy Alvarado confirmed that 12 inmates and six personnel of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) office in the province tested positive for the virus.

The CIDG office has been on lockdown since Thursday.

Alvarado said the public attorney’s office aside from the dialysis center of the Bulacan Medical Center were  on lockdown after some personnel were infected.

The three government offices are in the premises of the provincial capitol compound.

Bulacan reported 18 new cases on Thursday, bringing the number of confirmed cases to 763. -- Ramon Efren Lazaro, Eva Visperas, Cesar Ramirez

Read more...

Hedcor produces enough power despite quarantine

DESPITE the enhanced community quarantine, HEDCOR is still producing enough power for Luzon areas.

“Hedcor has a special significance in this crisis and it requires a special responsibility. Despite the challenging situation, Hedcor is practicing facility quarantine in all its hydro plants in Benguet, Mt. Province and Ilocos Sur to ensure unimpeded supply of power,” Justin Lee, a hydropower plant manager said.

Arnold Tandoc, plant manager in Ilocos Sur said with Hedcor is fulfilling its duty to stakeholders -- to not only provide clean and renewable energy but also make sure it is uninterrupted.

“Members of our operations and maintenance team are divided into groups, and FQ requires them to stay at different facilities for 15 days straight alternately. This reduces exposure of the team members-- keeping them, their families and our facilities COVID-19 free,” Ariel Salipan, plant manager said.

Plant manager, Dondi Laban, added, “FQ is operating in compliance to the ECQ being implemented by the government. With that said, our power plant operators' safety is also our utmost priority. Face-to-face interactions with them are limited. Health check of the team under FQ and disinfection of the facilities are done on a regular basis.

Even with ECQ, Hedcor’s 11 run-of-river hydropower plants in Luzon continue to generate a total 142MW of clean and renewable energy.

Hedcor also implemented the work from home scheme for its support departments. To date, around 82 percent of Hedcor’s workforce now working from home  as a result of the ECQ.

Read more...

6 Luzon health workers test positive for COVID

By Raymund Catindig, Ric Sapnu,Bebot Sison Jr. and Eva Visperas

A 70-year-old female doctor from Bataan and five health workers from Cagayan and Nueva Vizcaya have tested positive for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

The Bataan inter-agency task force said on Saturday that the doctor became the seventh confirmed COVID-19 case in the province.

The task force said two of the seven cases have recovered and were transferred to a facility designated by the Department of Health, where they would complete 14-day quarantine before undergoing another test.

Reports said the doctor earlier had guests from Manila at her house in Balanga City.

On March 10, she reportedly developed a fever and cold, and experienced sore throat and difficulty in breathing.

The doctor was taken to a hospital in Balanga City on March 15.

Meanwhile, the regional health office in Cagayan and Nueva Vizcaya yesterday confirmed that five health workers have tested positive for COVID-19.

Region 2 health director Leticia Cabrera refused to confirm that among those infected is a doctor at the Cagayan Valley Medical Center.

The doctor reportedly treated a COVID patient, from whom he was believed to have contracted the virus.

Three nurses from the same hospital who took care of the patient tested positive for COVID-19, Cabrera said.

In Nueva Vizcaya, a 27-year-old nurse at the Regional Trauma Hospital and Medical Center in Bayombong tested positive for the disease. 

The nurse reportedly helped take care of a 67-year-old patient who died of COVID.

First cases

The city of Olongapo in Zambales and the town of Asingan in Pangasinan each recorded their first confirmed COVID cases over the weekend.

The Olongapo COVID-19 task force said the 75-year-old man was first included in the list of persons under investigation and has travel history in Manila.

“The patient is in a stable condition and is confined at the Unihealth-Baypointe Hospital and Medical Center located at Subic Bay Freeport zone,” Mayor Rolen Paulino Jr. told The STAR yesterday.

The city has been under extreme enhanced community quarantine since Thursday.

Meanwhile, the patient in Asingan is a 66-year-old woman from Barangay Coldit, who has travelled to London.

The woman arrived on March 11 and was listed as a person under monitoring. She was confined in a hospital in Dagupan City for fever and chest pain. 

Read more...

North, Central Luzon PUMs up; Baguio sets Covid rules

 Pangasinan has 32,000 PUMs, Pampanga in state of calamity 

By Eva Visperas, Aileen P. Refuerzo, Mar T. Supnad and Franco Regala 

NORTH AND CENTRAL LUZON provinces reported increase in persons under monitoring (PUMs) as Covid-19 cases increased nationwide.

In the Cordillera, Dept. of Health regional director Amelita M. Pangilinan reported as of March 18, there was still only one Covid-10 confirmed case in the Cordillera.

The 39-year-old male from Abra who was admitted in a hospital in Region 1 is now in stable condition, she said.

Persons under investigation for Covid-10 was pegged at 61 with 40 already discharged.

Twenty one other PUIs admitted in health facilities were still awaiting laboratory results.

Out of the 21, nine were from Baguio, seven from Benguet, two from Kalinga and one each in Mountain Province, Abra and Apayao.

With this, Pangilinan urged regional constituents to stay at home and isolate themselves.   

“Those who have flu or respiratory illness symptoms or history of travel with Covid-19 confirmed cases are advised to have themselves checked up,” she added.

In Lingayen, Pangasinan, the Provincial Health Office reported a total of 32,358 persons under monitoring (PUMs), but was quick to underscore that the province remained free of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

Of this number, PHO reported that 534 PUMs have completed quarantine.

The PHO also reported the province has total of 22 patients under investigation (PUIs) for possible COVID-19 infection, 17 of them are still in the hospital while five have already been discharged.

According to Region 1 Medical Center (R1MC) medical director Dr. Joseph Roland Mejia, there were nine PUIs confined at R1MC.

Mejia has called on the public to stay calm, and comply with enhanced home quarantine.

” Very good immune system ang mahalaga. Social distancing, ang mga door knob dapat palaging malinis,” Mejia noted.

Mejia said, R1MC was prepared to accommodate patients who would be found positive for COVID-19 infection.

He added that R1MC has facilities and isolation rooms in case a patient wants to be admitted instead of going to Manila.

In  Baguio City, Mayor Benjamin Magalong March 17 amended executive order No. 65 series of 2020 (declaring the city under citywide community quarantine) to adapt guidelines in enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) status ordered by President Duterte over Luzon.

The Luzon ECQ issued March 16 was pursuant to a memorandum issued by the Office of the Executive Secretary with other guidelines set under Resolutions No. 11 and 12 of the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Infectious Disease.

 Under the mayor’s new Executive Order No. 67 series of 2020, movement of all persons in the City of Baguio will be restricted to their respective homes with the following exceptions:

*to access basic and essential necessities, food provisions and urgent medical needs only; to work in emergency front services, border control and other critical services to be done by as much as possible only one person from the household;

*persons working in emergency frontline services, border control and other critical services;

*those in the Armed Forces of the Philippines, Philippine National Police, Bureau of Fire Protection and the Naval Reserve Command and Army Reserve Command as they may be called to assist;

* Personnel deployed by the City Mayor’s Office and other persons as may be authorized;

*Persons who have secured clearance certificates from the City Mayor’s Office; and 

*Persons working in the following establishments: those providing basic necessities and such as activities related to food and medicine production i.e. public markets, supermarkets, groceries, convenience stores, hospitals, medical clinics, pharmacies and drug stores, food preparation and delivery services, water-refilling stations, hardware stores, laundry services, manufacturing and processing plants of basic food products and medicines, banks, money transfer services, power, energy, water and telecommunication supplies and facilities and business process outsourcing establishments.

Only these business establishments will be allowed to operate on regular hours while those not in the list will not be allowed to operate at all.

Checkpoints will be maintained and persons coming to the city must still pass through temperature screening and submit Health Declaration Form.

The coding scheme is lifted for vehicles used by medical personnel and those in health services.

Mass transport is suspended but some public utility vehicles may be tapped to serve commuters for emergency purposes and when exigency of service and necessity of the circumstances require to be coordinated with the barangay officials.

Curfew is 24 hours and applies to everyone so people should stay indoors at all times except to access basic goods and medical necessities.

The curfew for 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. is for persons working in establishments providing basic necessities and such as activities related to food and medicine production i.e. public markets, supermarkets, groceries, convenience stores, hospitals, medical clinics, pharmacies and drug stores, food preparation and delivery services, water-refilling stations, hardware stores, laundry services, manufacturing and processing plants of basic food products and medicines, banks, money transfer services, power, energy, water and telecommunication. 

Other features of the order are:

*There will be heightened presence of uniformed personnel to enforce quarantine procedures;

*Mass gatherings are prohibited;

*Work from home arrangement in the executive branch shall be implemented.  Insofar as the City Government of Baguio, those departments performing critical and essential functions shall provide for a skeletal workforce.  All other departments shall utilize an on-call or work from home arrangement. 

*The suspension of classes in all levels for public and private school and other institutions of learning, as stated in Executive Order No. 60, Series of 2020, is extended until 14 April 2020, and shall resume on 15 April 2020 or until assessment by the COVID-19 Inter-Agency Task Force.  Technical-Vocational Institutions, ESL schools, review centers, and tutorial centers shall also be covered hereby.  School officials and administrators are encouraged to formulate alternative methods of learning for their students;

*Mass public transport is suspended, however, certain operators of public utility vehicles may be tapped to serve commuters when the exigency of service and necessity of circumstances require, as may be determined by the COVID-19 Inter-Agency Task Force;

*Cargo and supply deliveries of medical supplies, basic goods, and grocery items to and from the city shall not be hindered, subject to the observance of strict sanitation methods and practices;

Those persons who refuse to abide by the rules and guidelines of the Enhanced Community Quarantine may be apprehended, and held liable for violation the provisions of Republic Act No. 11332, otherwise, known as the “Law on Reporting Communicable Diseases”, Article 151 of the Revised Penal Code of the Philippines, among other applicable laws;

Establishments allowed to operate should ensure the adoption of a strict skeletal workforce to support operations as well as strict social distancing measures and health protocols.

Business Process Outsourcing establishments and export-oriented industries shall remain operational subject to the condition that strict social distancing measures are observed, their respective personnel are provided appropriate temporary accommodations by 18 March 2020 and that a skeletal work force shall be implemented.  These establishments may in the meantime, provide shuttle services for their employees.

Media personnel shall be allowed to travel within the quarantine area, provided that, within seventy-two hours from effectivity of the Enhanced Community Quarantine, media personnel intending to travel within the quarantine area shall secure a Clearance Certificate from the City Mayor’s Office.

Meanwhile, Ilocos Sur was placed under community quarantine starting March 15, which included travel restrictions and other measures, to protect constituents from Covid-19.

The declaration was made during the inter-agency coordination meeting called by the provincial government of Ilocos Sur on March 15 where it was decided there was need to protect the province to prevent community transmission, minimize movement of persons and abate spread of the COVID-19. 

In attendance were officials from the Department of Health, Interior and Local Government, Education, Trade and Industry, Philippine National Police and all municipal/city mayors of Ilocos Sur. 

In Executive Order No. 14 issued by Gov. Luis Ryan Singson, movement of people to and from the province of Ilocos Sur was restricted until April 14. 

Residents will only be allowed to buy food and other necessities, and go to work if it's within the province.

Going to work in a neighboring province can be allowed, if the area is not hit by the virus, the order said.

 Non-residents of Ilocos Sur can enter the province if they are not infected with the coronavirus, and are not from an area affected by the disease. 

They will also need to undergo screening before entry. 

 Exempted from these protocols are health workers, responders, police and military personnel and other government authorities whose work station is in Ilocos Sur.

Travelers who will be passing through the province may enter, provided that they subject themselves to protocols, and no stop-over in the province will be made. 

 “No transfer and/or referral of patient/s coming from the neighboring provinces to any health facility in the province of Ilocos Sur shall be allowed during the entire community quarantine,” the executive order read.

Check points were also set up in all entry points of the province.

Public transport within the province will continue to operate but drivers and operators are required to observe transportation guidelines set by the government for all public utility vehicles. 

Delivery personnel of goods and commodities shall undergo screening at checkpoints and must present ID, latest health certificate from point of origin and other documents that may be asked by quarantine officers.

Social gatherings are prohibited and tourism activities are suspended.

Work-related meetings may continue but social distancing will be practiced until the end of the event. 

Business establishments in the province were directed to set up hygiene stations at their entrance areas.

 All restaurants and other food establishments shall avoid food preparation on cold buffet.

Take out and food delivery were encouraged. 

 The province also implemented curfew between 8 p.m. and 4 a.m. 

This does not apply to those rendering emergency and security work. 

 To date, Ilocos Sur remains Covid-19 free. 

In Pampanga, Gov. Dennis Pineda on Tuesday placed Pampanga under state of calamity amid the public health threat of Covid-19.

This, after the Pampanga Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council and Sangguniang Panlalawigan’s endorsement to allow the province’s 21 towns to utilize portion of their quick response funds and engage in emergency response to mitigate the effects of Covid-19.

The law states that local government units can have access to additional funds should their jurisdiction be placed under a state of calamity.

On Monday, the town of Porac was also placed under state of calamity after it reported its first case of COVID-19 last week. The 33-year old male, also the first case in the province, was a Grab driver who serviced the routes of Clark Freeport and other towns in the province.

Pampanga’s second recorded case was still confined, quarantined and being treated at Jose B. Lingad Memorial Regional Hospital. He frequented a prayer hall in San Juan, and was reportedly exposed to a previously confirmed case of COVID-19.

The third case was reported by a private hospital in the City of San Fernando. His case was reported on March 9, but he died two just two days later, when confirmation of his being COVID-19 positive coming on March 13.

Pineda said the provincial government conducted contact tracing of families, relatives, friends and neighbors to monitor them for symptoms of the virus and ensure immediate assistance to improve their health condition.

Read more...

North Luzon roads hit by landslides, flooding opened

FORTY EIGHT of 57 roads hit by landslides and massive flooding in Northern Luzon are now passable to all types of vehicles.

Public Works Secretary Mark Villar yesterday said clearing operations on the remaining roads are ongoing.

Villar said manpower and equipment were mobilized to clear the roads in Balbalan and Tanudan towns in Kalinga, Tinoc in Ifugao and Calanasan, Apayao. 

In Cagayan Valley, a portion of the Manila North Road along Sta. Praxedes, the Sanchez Mira bridge and Cabagan-Sta. Maria overflow bridge in Isabela remain closed to motorists due to flooding, washed-out middle pier, scoured embankment protection, landslides and mudflows.

Motorists going to Sanchez Mira in Cagayan may take the Sanchez Mira bypass road while those traveling to Isabela may use Daang Maharlika via Tuguegarao City as an alternate route.

Meanwhile, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) office in Bicol said it is working on a temporary detour road for motorists passing through the damaged La Medalla Bridge in Pio Duran, Albay to facilitate disaster response in affected areas. 

Based on initial reports submitted by concerned DPWH regional offices, damage to roads, bridges, flood control and other public infrastructure facilities due to rains spawned by the northeast monsoon, tail-end of a cold front and Typhoon Tisoy is at P2.7 billion.

Read more...

Northern Luzon sets sights on steady growth

By Freddie Lazaro

BANGUED, Abra – Northern Luzon is setting its sights on steady growth and inclusive development through meaningful laws, House of Representative Special Committee on North Luzon Growth Quadrangle Chairman JB Bernos said.

Bernos, the newly elected chairman of the House panel said that “while the regions of Northern Luzon are not lagging behind with other regions in the country, I admit that there are many things that still need to be done for the people and for the communities.”

The Abra lawmaker was elected Wednesday to lead the special House cluster, said his focus is on maintaining and improving economic growth as well as the delivery of social services throughout Ilocos Region, Cagayan Valley, and Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR), where he hails.

Bernos noted that only the Ilocos Region posted an increased in economic growth, to 6.5 percent in 2018 from 5.8 percent in 2017. Cagayan Valley and CAR grew by 3.3 percent and 7.3 percent, respectively.

“It is imperative now to ensure that the economic activities in the regions are strengthened, especially in agriculture, forestry, and fishing activities that are the predominant sources of livelihood in North Luzon,” Bernos said.

The lawmaker also vowed to take up issues most vital to the three regions: infrastructure development and disaster risk reduction and management.

“We are home to many tourism sites – churches, mountains, rivers, food tourism sites, and beaches; to propel visits and revenue generation, we have to look into improving infrastructure facilities,” Bernos said.

Bernos had warned that in the next four months, Northern Luzon will be bracing again for the onslaught of typhoons, “so it is also important to use our oversight powers to prepare the communities for torrential rainfall, landslides, and flooding”.

He urged his fellow North Luzon lawmakers to push for legislation that really matter for the people and communities.

“People always say that we live in the ‘Solid North’, so, together, let us show the country what we can do and achieve as a super region,” he said.

Bernos, 40, is the youngest congressman Abra had elected. He became a congressman in 2016 at 37, and maintained his post through a landslide last May.

Read more...

Portions of roads in CAR, Pampanga still impassable

Some sections of eight roads in the Cordillera Administrative Region and Region 3 have remained impassable as of Wednesday noon, almost two weeks after typhoon “Ompong” hit these regions.

               In an advisory, the Department of Public Works and Highways announced that the eight closed road sections in the two regions were still closed to traffic due to landslide, collapsed road, damaged slope protection, road slip and flooding.

One of the major roads leading to Baguio, Kennon Road, was still closed.

Two sections of Baguio-Bontoc Road — Busa and Tiging sections — were also closed.

Five sections of Baguio-Bua-Itogon Road located in Barangay Ucab and Barangay Poblacion in Itogon, Benguet were still impassable.

A section of Acop-Kapangan-Kibungan-Bakun Road in Bagtangan, Gambang, Bakun, Benguet also remained impassable.

The Nagparan section of the Abra-Ilocos Norte Road, a section of Apayao – Ilocos Norte Road, one section of Banaue-Hungduan-Benguet Boundary Road, and Bomba Bridge in Baliwag – Candaba – Sta. Ana Road in Pampanga were still closed to traffic.

Over the past two weeks, a total of 77 roads that were closed due to Typhoon Ompong and effects of Habagat have been cleared, according to the department.

Meanwhile, damaged to infrastructure caused by typhoon “Ompong” has reached P6.948 billion as of Wednesday.

The recorded partial cost of damage to infrastructure was combined from P1.539-billion damage to roads, P52-million damage to bridges, P5.278-billion to flood control structures, and P78.30 million to public buildings.

Read more...

30 North Luzon roads, most in Cordillera impassable: DPWH

The Dept. of Public Works and Highways said 30 road sections in Northern Luzon, mostly in the Cordillera Administrative Region, remain impassable due to the onslaught of Typhoon Ompong.

The DPWH said that a total of 30 road sections in Ilocos Region, Central Luzon, and CAR remain closed to traffic due to rock debris, landslides, fallen trees, mud-flow, washed-out road, road-cut, damaged slope protection and electric post, eroded bridge approach, and flooding.

The DPWH said that 24 roads in CAR were still not passable.

Roads with closed sections in CAR included Kennon Road, Baguio-Bontoc Road, Baguio-Bua-Itogon Road, Gurel-Bokod-Kabayan-Buguias-Abatan Road, City Limit-Sto. Tomas Road, Acop Kapanga-Kibungan-Bakun Road, and Cong. Andres Acop Cosalan Road.

Also included are Banaue-Hungduan-Benguet Boundary Road, Kiangan-Tinoc-Buguias Road, Nueva Vizcaya-Ifugao-Mt. Province Road, Mt. Province Boundary-Calanan-Pinukpuk-Abbut Road, Balbalan Pinukpuk Road, Tabuk Banaue Road via Tanudan Barlig Road, Kalinga-Abra Road, Lubuagan-Batong Buhay Road, Balbalan-Pinukpuk Road, Abra-Ilocos Norte Road, Abra-Kalinga Road, Abra-Cervantes Road, Kabugao-Pudtol Luna-Cagayan Boundary Road, Apayao-Ilocos Norte intermittent section, and Claveria-Calanasan Road.

In Ilocos Region, two road sections are also still impassable; Ilocos Norte-Abra Road, and Urdaneta-JCT Dagupan Road, YMCA Tapuac Section in Pangasinan.

In Pampanga, four road sections remain closed to traffic. These include Sto. Tomas-Minalin Road, Baliwag-Candaba-Sta. Ana Road, Candaba-San Miguel Road, and San Simon-Baliuag Road.

The agency noted that partial cost of damage to roads and bridges have reached P2.273 billion.

The DPWH said its Disaster Response Teams in the concerned regions will “continue to undertake clearing operations and road/bridge restoration works to ensure immediate reopening of national road networks.” – With a report from Liezle Basa Inigo

Meanwhile, motorists from the north going to Dagupan City and those originating from Dagupan traveling to the north may now use Cayanga Bridge in San Fabian as announced on Monday by DPWH region 1.

It was reported that Cayanga Bridge is not passable to all kinds of vehicles after its approach totally eroded on Sunday.

The damaged was immediately repaired by DPWH region 1 by filling of embankment.

Cayanga Bridge along Pangasinan-La Union Road is now open to traffic as of 5 p.m.

“Pwedeng two lanes at mayroon ding temporary foot bridge para naman sa mga tao na gusto tumawid,” said District Engineer Edith Manuel.

Read more...