Palace to implement temporary travel ban to and from Hubei Province in China — SBG

STATEMENT OF SEN BONG GO

1:30am Jan 31, 2020

Nais ko pong ipaalam sa publiko na nakausap ko po si Pangulong Rodrigo Duterte kanina at inirekomenda ko ang pag-impose ng temporary travel ban upang maprotektahan ang ating mga kababayan sa pagkalat ng Coronavirus. Sang-ayon po si Pangulo na iimplementa ang temporary travel ban sa mga manggagaling mula Wuhan city and the entire Hubei province ng China.

The President and concerned government officials are also studying the possibility of imposing temporary travel restrictions for those coming from other places affected by the infection.

In addition, a meeting has been scheduled by the President next week with medical experts and key government officials to discuss all necessary measures to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus. Rest assured that the Duterte administration takes this threat seriously. I am appealing to the public to cooperate with authorities in order to ensure the safety of everyone.

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Bong Go statement on Coronavirus

STATEMENT OF SEN. BONG GO:

In a press conference earlier today, DOH has confirmed the first case of Novel Coronavirus in the Philippines. The patient is a 38-years-old woman from Wuhan who arrived in the Philippines last January 21 from Hong Kong. The patient was admitted in a government hospital last January 25 after experiencing mild cough.

Kani-kanina lamang ay nakausap ko si Sec. Francisco Duque III. Ngayon po ay nasa San Lazaro hospital daw itong pasyente. Contained naman ito at pinapangalagaan ito ng ating health officials at doctors. Nasa 14 day period of quarantine ang patient at ginagamot na siya. Importante ay hindi ito makahawa ng iba.

As of today, DOH has recorded a total of 29 Persons Under Investigation (PUIs): 18 in Metro Manila, 4 in Central Visayas, 3 in Western Visayas, one 1 in MIMAROPA, 1 in Eastern Visayas, 1 in Northern Mindanao, and 1 in Davao. DOH assured that its health facilities are equipped and prepared to receive and care for PUIs and confirmed 2019-nCoV cases.

I am in agreement with DOH and we will recommend, if necessary, to impose temporary restrictions of travel for those from the entire province of Hubei while assessing if there is a need to add to the list with travel restrictions more places affected by the infection.

Sa ngayon, wala pa pong desisyon ang ating Pangulo na i-ban yung pagpasok ng lahat ng Chinese nationals kasi hindi lang naman po ang China ang tinamaan ng virus na ito. May ibang bansa rin po na tinamaan. It will not be proper if we will single out on China alone.

As part of our precautionary efforts, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) has earlier stopped the issuance of visas-on-arrival to Chinese nationals. The DFA also eventually temporarily stopped the issuance of visas to travellers from Hubei province, altogether.

I am urging authorities concerned to strictly impose precautionary measures to protect Filipinos by implementing quarantine procedures and providing regular advisories to guide the public. WALANG TULUGAN SA PAGMANMAN.

As Chairperson of the Senate Committee on Health, we will conduct a hearing on the matter on February 4. We will invite representatives from all concerned agencies, especially from DOH, DFA and airport officials. Our priority is to lay down measures to help ensure the safety of Filipinos.

Bantay sarado po ang ating mga officials dito lalong lalo na sa airport and other points of entry. Mayroon tayong thermal scanners in different points of entry all over the country. Itong sinasabi ng DOH officials natin ngayon ay first ever case kaya nakatutok talaga ang gobyerno dito at walang dapat magpabaya.

Communicable disease preparedness procedures on all CAAP-operated airports, especially in international gateways were reactivated by CAAP. Airport personnel are told to be extremely vigilant in handling passenger arrivals to strictly monitor those who are possibly infected by the virus.

Public advisories about coronavirus infections and the strict monitoring of suspected passengers are also being enforced. NAIA and other international airports are in full coordination with the Bureau of Quarantine in support of their safety protocols.

Directives were issued to all ports operated by the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) to coordinate with quarantine offices. They are implementing strict passenger screening at arrival areas.

More strict security measures are also in place, especially in areas frequently visited by tourists such as Cebu, Bohol and Caticlan in Aklan. Flights from Wuhan to Kalibo were also cancelled since Jan 23 and passengers who arrived in Kalibo were sent back last Jan 27.

The Philippine Coast Guard advised all medical units in its 13 Coast Guard Districts to be on high alert. Strict passenger screening and safety measures are also in place on the country’s land terminals and railway networks.

I am asking all Filipinos to cooperate with the government and to follow the guidelines provided by our health experts. Wash your hands frequently, avoid contact with live animals, drink plenty of water and make sure that food being consumed are cooked properly. Avoid public places, avoid contact with those who have cough and colds and always cover one’s mouth and nose when coughing and sneezing to stop the possible spread of viruses. Those with flu-like symptoms are also advised to consult a doctor.

Let us not panic, but at the same time, let us take the threat seriously and cooperate with authorities in order to ensure the safety of Filipinos.

In addition, the government is also ready to assist Filipinos in Wuhan who are willing to voluntarily return. The DFA has been in close coordination with the Philippine consulate in Shanghai regarding the Filipinos staying in Wuhan. So far, there are around 40 Filipinos in Wuhan who expressed intent to go home and the DFA is expected to release an updated number soon.

Sara Duterte’s supposed temporary ban on Chinese tourists denied

An alleged statement of Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte temporarily banning the entry of group tourists from China was denied by the City Government as an official statement coming from the City Mayor’s Office.

In a LinkedIn account with the photo and name of Sara Z. Duterte, this supposed statement was posted:

MAYOR SARA DUTERTE’S STATEMENT TO DAVAO CITY AMID FEARS OF NOVEL CORONAVIRUS:

I got your messages expressing concerns about the Wuhan Novel Coronavirus and I’m sorry if you feel that I put the city in distress for not taking proactive measures on the rising case of possible nCov. We are all worried for ourselves and our loved ones, the city and overseas.

The rise of nCov is developing and spreading in a very alarming rate, the city health institute activated contingency plan and measures, and rest assured our quarantine spaces, medical staff, and newly arrived doctors and scientists from Japan are fully prepared if nCov would lead to outbreak.

We will continue to monitor the situation closely and I ask the public to please remain calm. All of us can do our part to limit transmission by executing maximum caution. Wash your hands regularly, seek medical help early, and wear a mask if you feel unwell.

As Mayor, I will take executive action to temporarily ban group tourist inbound for Davao City from affected cities in China following the health authorities across the globe which is on high alert.

For this I believe is part of the precautionary measures to curb the spread of the virus in the southern Philippines.

#philippines #saraduterte #davaocity #coronavirus

In a released statement Thursday evening, Davao City Information Officer Jef Tupas said:

AGAIN

If a statement has not been directly released by Mayor Inday, please be wary and consider it fake.

If not her, official statements are released by the City Government of Davao.

She doesn’t have a Linkedin account. Her only social media account is her PERSONAL IG account.

To avoid stress and sunog on your part, unless you love the feeling, please always ask.

Salamat mga lalabs

Several Dabawenyos have criticized the arrival of Xiamen Air in Davao City directly from China on Wednesday with 79 Chinese nationals onboard.

The Xiamen Air arrival came after the statement from the Chinese government advising all tour operators to temporarily stop tours from China to other countries.

Bong Go assures public gov’t Is on red alert vs corona virus

Senator Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go said on Sunday, January 26, that the government is keeping tight watch on foreign tourists and returning Filipinos to make sure that the deadly novel coronavirus that originated in Wuhan City in China will not spread in the country.

“Bantay sarado ang ating mga medical workers at officials. They are implementing strict measures upang hindi makapasok ang virus. Meron tayong mga thermal scanners sa mga airports all over the country. Kwarenta po ‘yan, nakakalat,” Go said during an interview after the inauguration of a new basketball gymnasium in Valenzuela City.

He added that as the chairperson of the Senate Committee on Health, it is part of his responsibility to monitor this particular situation. “Tungkulin ko rin po ito, at nag-aalala ako kung sakaling makapasok ‘yan sa ating bansa. Huwag naman sana.”

The previously unknown coronavirus, which experts say may have been transmitted from animals to humans, has infected more than 2,000 individuals since December 2019, mostly in Wuhan, the capital of Hubei province in China. At least 56 people have died from the virus as of January 26, and cases have been confirmed in several countries around the world.

Suspected cases have been reported in the Philippines, but the results have been negative. “Kinausap ko si Secretary Duque kagabi, at so far naman po, sabi niya wala, walang positibo,” Go said, referring to Health Secretary Francisco Duque III.

The Civil Aeronautics Board, with the approval of the Department of Transportation, has suspended all flights between Wuhan and all points in the Philippines to prevent the possible spread of the virus. Tourists from Wuhan were also prohibited from extending their stay in the country and ordered to go home by January 27.

The Chinese government has also imposed its own travel ban between Wuhan and other cities in China.

Go asked Filipinos to cooperate with the government’s efforts. “Kapag merong kahinahinala, i-report niyo agad sa ating health officials. Sundin niyo ang mga payo nila, at ang mga bawal, huwag niyong gawin. Kung kailangan, maglagay ng face mask. Maghugas tayo palagi ng ating mga kamay,” he said.

According to a health advisory of the Department of Health, severe cases of coronavirus may result in pneumonia, acute respiratory syndrome, kidney problems and death. DOH has advised the public to wash their hands frequently, avoid contact with live animals, drink plenty of water and make sure that food being consumed are cooked properly.

DOH also advised the public to avoid those who have cough and colds and to always cover one’s mouth and nose when coughing and sneezing to stop the possible spread of viruses. Those with flu-like symptoms are also advised to consult a doctor.

Go advised the public to take the threat seriously and cooperate with authorities in order to ensure that Filipinos will not be affected by the virus.

“Talagang delikado po ito. Mahirap i-contain ito. Tingnan niyo po sa Wuhan. Medyo paralyzed na ang lugar,” Go said.

Female cop arrested for selling drugs

WHAT: OPLAN Big Bertha (Anti Illegal Drug Operation)- Follow up Operation

WHEN: January 24 2020/ 10:00 am

WHERE: Blk 5, Lot 1, Loise St., Victors Valley, Tigatto, Davao City

WHO: Police Senior Master Sergeant SHIELA LATURGO BANDE, female, 43 yrs old, married, PNP member, res. Of Blk 5, Lot 1, Loise St., Victors Valley, Tigatto, Davao City

HOW: CiDG Davao City Field Unit led by PMaj Milgrace C Driz together with Sasa PS, led by PMaj Ruben T Libera. MAPIO and PDEA XI jointly arrested the above suspect thru Buy Bust operation after the suspect engaged in peddling illegal drugs locally known as shabu to the police officer who acted as posuer buyer which resulted to her arrest. Said suspect is presently assigned in Philippine Bomb Data Center (PBDC)

Othet Details:

Confiscated from her possession the following evidences:

1) one pc rectangular shape transparent sachet containing suspected shabu (Buy bust item)

2) Two pcs square shape transaprent plastic sachet containing suspected shabu (Object of possession)

3) one pc 1000 peso bill bearing serial number LG 659881 (Buy bust money)

4) one pc black case

Estimated weight of suspected shabu in possession of the suspect is MOL 2 grams with estimated street value MOL Php20,000

For info.