After a social media post claiming an individual from Wuhan, China who tested positive for the coronavirus disease, or Covid-19, disappeared from a hotel in Bacolod City circulated online, Bacolod City Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran warned anybody who spreads “fake news” about the virus could land in jail.
He pointed out, anyone caught spreading such false information is in violation of RA 11332, or the Mandatory Reporting of Notifiable Diseases and Health Events of Public Health Concern Act. Section 9 indicates “intentionally providing misinformation” as a prohibited act, which is punishable by a fine between P20,000 to P50,000, along with a possible jail sentence between one and six months. Meanwhile, Dr. Grace Tan, spokesperson for the Bacolod City Inter-Agency Task Force Against Novel Coronavirus, also called the post a hoax, pointing out, “It is impossible for Chinese nationals, especially those from Wuhan, to travel to the country since President Rodrigo Duterte already imposed a travel ban for China, Macau, and Hong Kong.” In addition, other localities in Negros Occidental, such as San Carlos City and Pontevedra, also posted similar warnings about “fake news” with the Pontevedra municipal police threatening to arrest anyone in the town proliferating false information about the virus./DGB, WDJ
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Bacolod City Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran discouraged the public from discriminating against Chinese and Korean nationals currently living in the city. “It is wrong to discriminate against them,” he stated. “They are not new arrivals.” (PIO photo) Amid ongoing concerns surrounding the coronavirus disease, or Covid-19, Bacolod City Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran discouraged the public from discriminating against Chinese and Korean nationals living in the city. According to a report published by the World Health Organization last Monday, China reported 8,774 confirmed cases, while another 4,212 were recorded in South Korea.
In a radio interview with Aksyon Radyo-Bacolod, the vice mayor, who chairs the Bacolod City Inter-Agency Task Force Against Novel Coronavirus, said a majority of Korean and Chinese nationals, particularly those studying in the city, arrived before news of the virus arose. “It is wrong to discriminate against them,” he stated. “They are not new arrivals.” Familiaran said he has received reports claiming newly-arrived foreign nationals in Bacolod City are being asked by neighbors to present health certificates. Earlier, the Bacolod City Health Office (CHO) reported they are currently monitoring 20 new patients for Covid-19. CHO Environment and Sanitation Division chief, Dr. Grace Tan, said 13 of them recently arrived from South Korea; four originated from Malaysia; along with one patient each from Singapore, Japan, and Thailand. The CHO official noted, all but one are Filipinos. She added, the 20 are not confined to a hospital but are under self-quarantine at their respective homes and, pointed out, the city currently has no patients under investigation. “We don’t need to admit them because they are just [undergoing] monitoring within 14 days from the day they arrived,” Tan explained. She noted, the patients in question arrived between February 24 and 28./DGB, WDJ Bacolod City Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran discouraged the public from discriminating against Chinese and Korean nationals currently living in the city. “It is wrong to discriminate against them,” he stated. “They are not new arrivals.” (PIO photo) Amid ongoing concerns surrounding the coronavirus disease, or Covid-19, Bacolod City Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran discouraged the public from discriminating against Chinese and Korean nationals living in the city. According to a report published by the World Health Organization last Monday, China reported 8,774 confirmed cases, while another 4,212 were recorded in South Korea. In a radio interview with Aksyon Radyo-Bacolod, the vice mayor, who chairs the Bacolod City Inter-Agency Task Force Against Novel Coronavirus, said a majority of Korean and Chinese nationals, particularly those studying in the city, arrived before news of the virus arose. “It is wrong to discriminate against them,” he stated. “They are not new arrivals.” Familiaran said he has received reports claiming newly-arrived foreign nationals in Bacolod City are being asked by neighbors to present health certificates. Earlier, the Bacolod City Health Office (CHO) reported they are currently monitoring 20 new patients for Covid-19. CHO Environment and Sanitation Division chief, Dr. Grace Tan, said 13 of them recently arrived from South Korea; four originated from Malaysia; along with one patient each from Singapore, Japan, and Thailand. The CHO official noted, all but one are Filipinos. She added, the 20 are not confined to a hospital but are under self-quarantine at their respective homes and, pointed out, the city currently has no patients under investigation. “We don’t need to admit them because they are just [undergoing] monitoring within 14 days from the day they arrived,” Tan explained. She noted, the patients in question arrived between February 24 and 28./DGB, WDJ CHO Environment and Sanitation Division chief, Dr. Grace Tan, confirmed they are currently monitoring 20 new patients for coronavirus disease. (PIO/File photo) The Bacolod City Health Office (CHO) is currently monitoring 20 new patients for coronavirus disease, or Covid-19. CHO Environment and Sanitation Division chief, Dr. Grace Tan, said 13 of them recently arrived from South Korea; four originated from Malaysia; along with one patient each from Singapore, Japan, and Thailand.
The CHO official noted, all but one are Filipinos. She added, the 20 are not confined to a hospital but are under self-quarantine at their respective homes and, pointed out, the city currently has no patients under investigation. “We don’t need to admit them because they are just [undergoing] monitoring within 14 days from the day they arrived,” Tan explained. She noted, the patients in question arrived between February 24 and 28. Meanwhile, Bacolod City Mayor Evelio Leonardia said the Bacolod City Inter-Agency Task Force Against Novel Coronavirus met yesterday to discuss the Health Declaration Form. “The task force [has] noticed the form has no compulsion if [left] as is,” the mayor explained. “We are studying the possibilities of making it more forceful by making it some kind of legal document that will resolve to sanction persons that refuse to give correct information.” In addition, he advised Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran to propose an ordinance requiring business establishments such as airlines, shipping companies, hotels, and others to strictly require clientele to fill out the Health Declaration Form./DGB, WDJ Bacolod City Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran, who is currently serving as acting mayor, expressed surprise over Police Lt. Colonel Jovie Espenido being relieved of his post as BCPO deputy director. The city official recently welcomed officials from the Southern Leyte chapter of the Vice Mayors’ League of the Philippines at the Bacolod City Government Center. (PIO photo) Bacolod City Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran, who is currently serving as acting mayor, expressed surprise over Police Lt. Colonel Jovie Espenido being relieved of his post as Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO) deputy director.
“Honestly, I was surprised, in fact, we even had a meeting last Thursday,” the city official pointed out. With regard to Espenido asking the Bacolod City government last month for additional logistical support for their campaign against criminality and illegal drugs, he said they received the request. Last month, after the law enforcement official met with Barangay Banago officials and residents of Sitio Sibucao, which is located within the said neighborhood, to discuss the area’s ongoing problem with illegal drugs, Familiaran lauded the approach, calling it “effective.” According to the city official, Espenido’s actions are part of the City Anti-Drug Abuse Council information and education campaign in order to encourage local residents to avoid illegal drugs. The acting mayor affirmed, with or without Espenido, the campaign against illegal drugs in the city will continue. Last Friday, Espenido was relieved from both his BCPO post and as City Drug Enforcement Unit chief. The police official was reassigned to Philippine National Police (PNP) headquarters, specifically, the office of PNP chief, Police Director General Archie Gamboa. President Rodrigo Duterte earlier ordered Espenido’s assignment to Bacolod City claiming the locality has been “badly hit” by illegal drugs./DGB, WDJ Bacolod City Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran, who is currently serving as acting mayor and chairs the Bacolod City Inter-Agency Task Force Against Novel Coronavirus, said they will soon release protocols for hotel and pension house establishments in the city to combat the 2019 novel coronavirus (nCoV).
The task force previously met with hotel managers and their representatives last week to discuss measures against nCoV, especially for hotel clients with a travel history to nCoV-affected countries. According to Familiaran, a draft of the protocol will be deliberated by task force members and partner government agencies. Following approval, he said they are preparing to conduct trainings for barangay health emergency response teams in all 61 city barangays. Last week, the Bacolod City Sangguniang Panlungsod ratified a resolution approving P10 million for the task force. The legislation, which was crafted by the City Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (CDRRMC), was passed on the condition that the CDRRMC submit a list of equipment and program./DGB, WDJ Bacolod City Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran lauded the anti-drug approach by Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO) deputy director, Police Lt. Colonel Jovie Espenido, in Barangay Banago, calling it “effective.” According to the city official, Espenido’s actions are part of the City Anti-Drug Abuse Council information and education campaign in order to encourage local residents to avoid illegal drugs.
Familiaran praised Espenido for his early success. Meanwhile, the vice mayor said he also believes Barangay Banago Captain Ricky Mijares and his council are “doing their best” in addressing the problem of illegal drugs. Earlier this week, Espenido met with Barangay Banago officials and residents of Sitio Sibucao, which is located within the said neighborhood, to discuss the area’s ongoing problem with illegal drugs and appealed for residents to cooperate with law enforcement. He addressed drug offenders living in the area and warned of police operations if illicit activity continues, wherein they will be taken into custody or worse should they resist arrest. The law enforcement official pointed out, some of the illegal drugs seized across the region have been traced to Barangay Banago. “You can never hide it,” Espenido said. “Those who live for [something] illegal should stop because there will be consequences.” “Today, you may enjoy it, but time will come [when] you will pay for it,” he added./DGB, WDJ Diocese of Bacolod Bishop Patricio Buzon celebrated mass for the Feast of Señor Sto. Niño last week at the BCGC. (PIO photo Diocese of Bacolod Bishop Patricio Buzon celebrated mass for the Feast of Señor Sto. Niño last week at the Bacolod City Government Center (BCGC).
Present for the mass were Mayor Evelio Leonardia, Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran, City Councilors Ana Marie Palermo and Bartolome Orola, department and office heads, among others. The mass was concelebrated with Fr. Farley Ray Santillan. This is the second year such a mass was held at the BCGC./WDJ Government plans to formalize holiday fireworks displays
During an interview with Bombo Radyo-Bacolod, Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran expressed optimism for the coming year, noting, there are a number of investments expected to enter the city. However, he said one challenge stands in the way of acquiring such funds, which he identified as waste disposal. The vice mayor called on the public to follow guidelines on segregating garbage, which he said will reduce the city’s waste problem. He added, fill implementation of the “No segregation, No collection” policy is planned this year. Meanwhile, Familiaran said the Bacolod City Sangguniang Panlungsod will be proposing an ordinance to formalize fireworks displays for both Christmas and New Year’s observances. The vice mayor said he wants to institutionalize fireworks displays as the number of people attending the event has reportedly tripled over the past few years./DGB, WDJ Bacolod City Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran is requesting the Bacolod City Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP) to propose an ordinance setting a deadline for the processing of business permit applications.
The vice mayor wants processing to be limited to two months. Another option Familiarian suggested is to include the proposal as a provision in the proposed amendment to the revenue tax code. He affirmed, the SP will caucus with Mayor Evelio Leonardia on the proposal. The proposal was made following last week’s deadly fire at the Java Pension House. According to the Permits and Licensing Division, the Mayor’s Permit for the Java Pension was “in process” as the facility lacked a fire inspection certificate./DGB, WDJ |
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