Items filtered by date: October 2021

BATULAKI, Glan, Sarangani (October 28, 2021) – A quincentennial historical marker in a coastal village in barangay Batulaki was unveiled on October 26, exactly 500 years after the remaining crew members of the Magellan-Elcano expedition were forced to drop anchor along its shores to shelter from the “most furious storm” as described by the chronicler Antonio Pigaffeta.

The marker was installed on a promontory from where Sarangani Island can be seen, the last stop before the expedition reached Maluku.

GENERAL SANTOS CITY (October 27, 2021) – Dr. Edvir Jane Montañer (right), regional immunization program manager of the Department of Health – Center for Health Development XII, oversees the arrival and transport of Covid-19 vaccines on October 20 at the General Santos City Airport. The vaccine shipment came all the way from DOH National Office in Manila to General Santos City Airport via Cebu Pacific flight 5J995. The vaccines arrived at 4:41 pm and were immediately transported to the different recipient local government units through a refrigerated container van. Of the 32 boxes intended for General Santos City Health Office, Polomolok Rural Health Unit, and Sarangani Provincial Health Office, four boxes containing 6,000 vials of Sinovac and two boxes containing 1,755 vials of Pfizer were allocated for Sarangani PHO. “This is the first time in Sarangani na direct ‘yung allocation natin from DOH Manila to our storage in Sarangani,” said Maria Razel Bustria, provincial NIP (National Immunization Program) coordinator. Bustria said the vaccines the province had just received will be immediately distributed to its seven municipalities “for A1 frontline health workers, A2 senior citizens, A3 adult with co-morbidities, A4 essential workers, and A5 indigent population.” (Jori Mae Samillano/SARANGANI PROVINCIAL INFORMATION OFFICE)

GENERAL SANTOS CITY (October 27, 2021) – A total of 32 boxes of Covid-19 vaccines were immediately transferred to a refrigerated container van on October 20 at 5:09 pm after the Department of Health central office shipped the vaccines to the General Santos City Airport via Cebu Pacific flight 5J995 which arrived at 4:41 pm. The vaccines were allocated for General Santos City Health Office, Polomolok Rural Health Unit, and Sarangani Provincial Health Office. Sarangani got four boxes containing 6,000 vials of single-dose Sinovac vaccines and two boxes containing 1,755 vials or 10,530 doses of Pfizer vaccines. (Jori Mae Samillano/SARANGANI PROVINCIAL INFORMATION OFFICE)

ALABEL, Sarangani (October 27, 2021) – Annaliza Lanchita, 33, and husband Arbert Lanchita, 31, receive their first dose of Pfizer vaccines on October 21 at the Capitol gym during the Tutok Buntis drive initiated by the Provincial Health Office (PHO). The couple was among those who responded to “The best protection against Covid-19 comes in pair” strategy launched by the PHO to encourage pregnant women to get vaccinated together with their husband or other members of the family. The ceremonial kick-off of the vaccination “in pair” strategy for pregnant women and a companion during the Tutok Buntis was witnessed by (from left) Dr. Honorato Fabio (2nd from left), Alabel municipal health officer; Sangguniang Panlalawigan member Irish Arnado; Dr. Amalia Braña, obstetrician-gynecologist from General Santos City; and Maria Razel Bustria, provincial NIP (National Immunization Program) coordinator. According to Bustria, the presence of the OB-GYN and other doctors during the inoculation drive “gave them the confidence to submit themselves sa pagpabakuna.” (Tres Besana - Jori Mae Samillano/SARANGANI PROVINCIAL INFORMATION OFFICE)

ALABEL, Sarangani (October 27, 2021) – Dr. Amalia Braña (left), obstetrician-gynecologist from General Santos City, counsels Annaliza Lanchita, and husband Arbert Lanchita on the importance of getting vaccinated against Covid-19 especially during pregnancy and lifestyle for safe and healthy delivery. The consultation was done during the Covid-19 vaccination through Tutok Buntis drive on October 21 at the Capitol gym. Braña also highlighted the importance of giving birth in a health facility despite the threat of Covid-19. After the consultation and Covid-19 inoculation, a “buntis kit” was given to each of the 27 pregnant women from Alabel containing facemasks, alcohol, Ferrous sulfate, Vitamin C, Calcium, and long-lasting insecticide nets. The activity was initiated by the provincial government of Sarangani in partnership with Mahintana Foundation. (Tres Besana – Jori Mae Samillano/SARANGANI PROVINCIAL INFORMATION OFFICE)

ALABEL, Sarangani (October 27, 2021) – Dr. Laudencio Mendoza (left), Dentist III, conducts dental check up to a pregnant woman on October 21 at the Capitol gym as part of the Tutok Buntis activity. According to Maria Razel Bustria, provincial NIP (National Immunization Program) coordinator, oral care for pregnant women is important “kasi kung may sira yung ngipin ng buntis, it might cause discomfort at hindi sya makatulog ng maayos. Ma-stress yung kanyang baby at minsan di rin makakain ng maayos.” Dental kits were also given to the pregnant women after the dental check-up. Also, the pregnant women, along with their husband or other family member, received their first shot of Covid-19 Pfizer vaccines. The activity was initiated by the provincial government of Sarangani in partnership with Mahintana Foundation. (Tres Besana – Jori Mae Samillano/SARANGANI PROVINCIAL INFORMATION OFFICE)

ALABEL, Sarangani (October 27, 2021) - Senior citizen Luzviminda Roquero Jalipa (right), 75, from Barangay Kawas, receives her first jab of a Pfizer vaccine on October 21 during the provincial government’s vaccination drive at the Capitol gym. Jalipa was accompanied by her son-in-law who was taking a photograph of her while being administered with the vaccine. Her son-in-law, Joemar Francelliso, 47, also got his Pfizer shot. According to Maria Razel Bustria, provincial NIP (National Immunization Program) coordinator, this is part of Sarangani’s newly-launched vaccination strategy “the best protection against Covid-19 comes in pair.” The program allows senior citizens to “bring a companion, caregiver or guardian” who can also avail of the vaccine,” Bustria added. (Tres Besana – Jori Mae Samillano/SARANGANI PROVINCIAL INFORMATION OFFICE)

ALABEL, Sarangani (October 27, 2021) – Dr. Honorato Fabio (2nd from left), Alabel municipal health officer, and Dr. Amalia Braña (2nd from right), obstetrician-gynecologist from General Santos City, lead the assessment and counseling of pregnant women for Covid-19 vaccination during the Tutok Buntis activity on October 21 at the Capitol gym. The activity was in response to the advisory of the Department of Health and the Philippine Obstetrical and Gynecological Society recommending the vaccination of pregnant women in their 2nd and 3rd trimester with Covid-19 vaccines. In the Tutok Buntis one-stop-shop drive, services such as free laboratory tests, hemoglobin tests, blood-typing, Hepa-B testing, dental check-up, and Covid-19 vaccination were offered to pregnant women. (Tres Besana - Jori Mae Samillano/SARANGANI PROVINCIAL INFORMATION OFFICE)

ALABEL, Sarangani (October 27, 2021) – The Provincial Health Office in Sarangani has launched its strategy for vaccination “in pair,” allowing pregnant women and senior citizens and their companion to get a Pfizer shot.

According to Razel Bustria, Sarangani the province’s National Immunization Program coordinator, this is to encourage the elderly in the province to get vaccinated.

“Para magbaton sila ug kaisog magpabakuna kay ang ilang mga caregiver o gabantay sa ilaha maapil pod sa pagbakuna. At least, ‘yung senior citizens confident din s’ya kasi ‘yung nagbabantay sa kanya bakunado din,” Bustria said. “While gina-establish din natin itong strategy na ito to encourage ‘yung mga buntis na magpabakuna na together with their husband or other members of the family.”

GENERAL SANTOS CITY (October 20, 2021) – John Oliver Tablazon (right), Sarangani’s provincial youth development officer-designate, speaks before the project facilitators of Kaalaman para sa Kapayapaan at Kaunlaran or the 3K project during the conduct of training on mental health awareness and Alternative Learning System (ALS) module functional literacy on October 12. The activity was aimed at imparting knowledge to the facilitators particularly in handling and overcoming the arising mental health issues brought about by the Covid-19 pandemic. According to Leah Rosauro, Sulong Karunungan project manager, the facilitators are expected to relay the discussion to their learners in their respective communities. The ALS module training was intended to level up the facilitators’ basic teaching method. The 3K literacy project is under Sulong Karunungan, a flagship program of Governor Steve Chiongbian Solon which was established to provide opportunity for the illiterate adults to develop their reading, writing and numeracy-related skills. Also, the project aims to recognize the beneficiaries’ capabilities and strengths and appreciate their varied social and economic roles in the society. The project continues to help more beneficiaries through the collaborative effort of the agriculture and education departments. (Jake Narte-Joshua John Pantonial/SARANGANI PROVINCIAL INFORMATION OFFICE)