Through SM Foundation, SM is helping the community with the crisis that we’re facing today, donating over PHP170M towards the fight against COVID 19, surpassing its initial allocation of PHP100 M to help ensure: Healthcare workers in hospitals nationwide are armored with personal protective equipment; Testing is made more widely available; Providing ICU-grade ventilators to help hospitals manage patients with severe cases.
CHINESE GENERAL HOSPITAL
Among the hospitals that received PPE donations as of March 27, 2020 are the following designated COVID Hospitals: University of the Philippines PGH, Lung Center of the Philippines and Jose N Rodriguez Memorial Hospital.
RIZAL MEDICAL CENTER
Major government hospitals are: Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM) , National Kidney and Transplant Institute, San Lazaro Hospital, East Avenue Medical.Center, Jose Reyes Memorial Medical Center, Philippine Heart Center, National Children’s Hospital and Rizal Medical Center.
PHILIPPINE GENERAL HOSPITAL
Other hospitals include Jose Fabella Memorial Hospital, Chinese General Hospital, University of the East Ramon Magsaysay (UERM) Memorial Medical Center, Manila Doctors Hospital, University of Sto Tomas Hospital, Makati Medical Center, The Medical City, Ospital ng Muntinlupa and more.
Shopee works together with Senator Bong Go to help medical front liners.
Shopee, the leading e-commerce platform in Southeast Asia and Taiwan, continues its efforts to help contain the COVID-19 outbreak in the Philippines with its latest initiative Shopee Bayanihan. Together with the Office of Senator Bong Go, Shopee donates 100,000 surgical masks and 3,000 FDA approved COVID-19 test kits to support public hospitals and front-liners in their battle against COVID-19. The 100,000 masks were distributed to over 40 hospitals across Luzon including public and private hospitals from Quezon City, Makati, Pasig, Quezon City, Rizal, and Batangas.
Martin Yu, Associate Director of Shopee Philippines said, “It is important for us to tide through this fight against the COVID-19 outbreak as one community. Our medical front liners and hospitals in the Philippines are working around the clock to contain the outbreak and we applaud them for their hard work and dedication. We are committed to doing what we can to support these medical front liners, the government, and the wider community during this period.”
Senator Bong Go said, “We laud Shopee for their generous donation and for stepping up their social responsibility efforts to help fight COVID-19. Shopee, as an e-commerce platform, helps support our government’s efforts to promote social distancing by ensuring that consumers can get their goods safely and conveniently straight to their own homes. Both the government and the private sector must work together and do what we can to address and respond to the growing threats of COVID-19. Magbayanihan po tayo. Tulungan nating bumangon ang bawat Pilipino bilang isang nagkakaisang bansa. Together, we can heal as one.”
Gerard Ho, Singapore Ambassador to the Philippines said, “I commend Shopee in their efforts to support the Filipino community during this Enhanced Community Quarantine period in the country. Their donation will help medical front liners battle the crisis caused by COVID-19. This is a great example of a private enterprise contributing to the community.”
Shopee Bayanihan demonstrates its commitment to provide support to
those most affected by the COVID-19 outbreak. Shopee will continue to work
closely with the government and step up its efforts to support them to prevent,
detect and manage COVID-19.
It’s no secret that people are scared of the current Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) outbreak, previously known as Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV). Some even resorted to believing some misconceptions, claiming that it can help them avoid contracting it.
The outbreak has now affected 81 countries, including China, where the new coronavirus strain, which has not been previously identified in humans, was first recorded.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), clustering pneumonia cases of unknown etiology was reported in Wuhan, China, last December 2019—this signaled the start of the outbreak, which has since spread globally, affecting more than 94,0000 individuals who have tested positive for COVID-19.
In outbreak situations like this, the saying, “prevention is better than cure,” becomes relevant more than ever. But, what should you do to protect yourself and the others against the disease
Citing the WHO and DOH advisories, Sante, a provider of premier organic health and wellness products and services, lists down the basic preventive measures you should know and more importantly practice, amid the COVID-19 outbreak:
Practice frequent and proper handwashing. Wash your hands frequently with soap and water for at least 20 seconds to eliminate the virus if it is on your hands. It also important that you know how to properly wash your hands. You may also use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer if your hands are not visibly dirty.
Observe proper cough etiquette. When coughing and sneezing, cover your mouth and nose with a tissue. Don’t forget to discard the tissue once you use it and wash your hands after or disinfect with alcohol or hand sanitizer. In the absence of this, cover your mouth and nose with a flexed elbow.
By doing so, you can prevent the spread of germs and viruses, especially when you use your bare hands, you may contaminate objects or even the people you touch.
Avoid touching eyes, nose and mouth. Our hands touch many surfaces, which might be contaminated with the virus. If you touch your eyes, nose, or mouth with your contaminated hands, you might transfer the virus from the surface to yourself. Should you need to touch any part of your face, make sure to wash your hands before doing so.
Maintain Social Distance. If possible, maintain at least a meter (3 feet) distance away from other people, particularly those who are coughing, sneezing, and with a fever. When someone infected with respiratory diseases coughs or sneezes, that person projects small droplets containing the virus. If you are too close, you might breathe in the virus.
Avoid unprotected contact with farm or wild animals. As a general precaution, you should practice general hygiene measures when visiting live animal markets, wet markets, or animal product markets.
When you go to these places, make sure that you sanitize or wash your hands with soap and water after touching the animals and animal products. Also, avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth. If there are sick animals or spoiled animal products, avoid close contact with them.
Any contact with other animals in the market, such as stray cats and dogs, rodents, birds, cows, pigs goats and bats, should also be avoided, including the potentially contaminated animal waste or fluids on the soil or structures of shops and market facilities.
Cook food thoroughly. Per good food safety practices, you must handle raw meat, milk, or animal organs with care to avoid cross-contamination with uncooked foods. It also pays to ensure that all your meals are well-cooked.
Maintain a healthy lifestyle. While in the flu season, you need to maintain an active and healthy lifestyle. Aside from a well-balanced diet and regular exercise, it also pays to take vitamins and food supplements to boost your immune system. This is what Santé has been promoting to help everyone to live more and do more in life.
With its mission to improve the quality of life of people around the world, Santé provides premier organic health and wellness products and services with Santé Barley at its core. Barley grass is an effective antioxidant, rich in vitamins and minerals that not only detoxifies the body but also, aids in digestive health and boosts the immune system. Santé’s products are also made, specifically, with organic pure barley from farms, as certified by BioGro, New Zealand’s leading organic certification agency.
Among its products is Daily C, Sante’s non-acidic vitamin C contains 568mg of Sodium Ascorbate. When taken daily, Daily C can aid in boosting your immune system. Its non-acidic form makes it gentler on the stomach and safer for daily use. Without the acidic pain from your usual vitamin C, you get the most out of this vitamin source.
Santé, a provider of premier organic health and wellness products and services, formally introduced celebrity fitspiration Matteo Guidicelli, as its newest ambassador, alongside TV host and weatherman Kuya Kim Atienza, recently at the Marco Polo Ortigas Manila in Pasig City.
According to Santé CEO Joey Marcelo,
2020 will be an exciting year for the brand, especially with the addition of
Guidicelli to its roster of brand ambassadors.
“Aside from being an actor, singer,
and a triathlete, Matteo embodies healthy living. As a company, this is what
we, at Santé, are passionate about. We are glad and excited to welcome Matteo
to the Santé family and, we hope that he will serve as a true fitspiration for everyone,”
Marcelo added.
As an actor, model, member of the armed
forces, businessman, and triathlete, he knows how important it is for him to
stay healthy so he could live more and do more things in life. And because
there are so many exciting developments to his career and personal life this
year, the need to stay healthy so he could enjoy the journey has become even
more important to him. Matteo Guidicelli also expressed his excitement,
especially that he has known Santé as a brand that promotes a healthier and
more active lifestyle.
“Ever since I started joining
triathlons, I have seen and raced along with the Santé Barley TriTeam, Kuya
Kim, and Sir Joey. I also have always dreamed of being part of the Santé
family,” added Matteo. “Santé, as a brand, also just talks about the importance
of living a healthy and active lifestyle. It is very positive. And so, I am
excited and honored to represent the brand.”
Kuya Kim, on the other hand, is also
ecstatic about Matteo, joining him as a Santé ambassador. “I, personally, know
Matteo and his family. When he gets into something, he’s really into it. He
lives a healthy lifestyle and is a good person. He’s a good son and a good husband-to-be
and, he’s highly principled. I am so honored to be doing this endeavor with
him,” he said.
Kuya Kim Atienza has been Sante’s
ambassador for ten years. He said that he started taking Santé Barley, the
company’s flagship product, a few years ago, after learning about the health
benefits of organic barley grass. Indeed, he credits Santé Barley as
instrumental in how he has not only bounced back from ill-health, but more
importantly, how he has maintained his health that has allowed him to stay
healthy, be more active and live more.
“There is a saying that health is
wealth. It may sound cliché because people use it all the time but, I know that
through experience because I almost died twice—when I had a stroke in 2010 and
when I got sick again in 2013. After those two health scares, it was embedded
in my mind, and my heart, that I should be healthy not just for myself but also
for my family and my God,” added Kuya Kim.
Santé Barley is made from organic pure
barley grass, an effective antioxidant, rich with vitamins and minerals that
not only detoxifies the body but also aids in digestive health. This product is
also certified by BioGro, New Zealand’s leading organic certification agency.
Aside from Santé Barley, the company also offers other products and services that improve the quality of life of people around the world since it was founded in 2007.
In the photo (L-R) Eric Maranan, CFO of Santé International, Matteo Guidicelli, Santé newest brand ambassador and Joey Marcelo, CEO of Santé International.
“The whole Santé family is glad to
welcome Matteo Guidicelli, as well as to celebrate the renewal of our
partnership with Kuya Kim Atienza, who has been with us for ten years. We look
forward to a stronger year as we continue encouraging everyone to live more and
do more,” Marcelo added.
Medicard Supremo Obstacle Challenge to encourage a healthier lifestyle.
Last February 19, 2020, Medicard, a leading health and maintenance organization in the country, enjoins the public to live a healthier and active lifestyle through the Medicard Supremo Obstacle Challenge. This first and one-of-a kind activity will gather both beginners and fitness enthusiasts who want to start their way to a healthier and fitter lifestyle.
The Medicard Supremo Obstacle Challenge will kick-off with a conditioning program for the first two weeks beginning March 16 and end on May 31 at the Glorietta Activity Center. The activity is open to all individuals who want to start living a healthier and fitter lifestyle by conquering a series of obstacle course challenges.
Before participants can join the culminating event, they must first pass a two-week conditioning program from March 16 to 27 at Eton Centris in Quezon City, from April 20 to May 1 at Festival Mall in Alabang, and from May 5 to May 15 at Ayala Triangle in Makati. The conditioning program will run every Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from 6pm to 8pm. Participants who complete the two-week conditioning program will qualify for the Supremo Obstacle Challenge culminating event on May 31.
The top three male and top three female participants from both the beginners and advanced categories will compete in the culminating event. Only 36 participants will be selected for this.
“We are excited to launch the first ever Medicard Supremo Obstacle Challenge. This is part of our advocacy to enjoin Filipinos to live a healthier and fitter lifestyle,” said Dr. Nicky Montoya, MediCard President. “This activity brings together as well, coaches from Affiliate Alliance. Their expertise will ensure that those who participate will push themselves to be the best that they could physically be.”
Unlike other aerobic and exercise activities, Supremo Obstacle Challenge combines several workout routines that are meant to test the agility, flexibility, balance, cardiology, dexterity, endurance of each participant through a combination of cardio, running and rope exercises, Crossfit workouts through the use of dumbbells, and short but high intensity exercises.
Moreover, professional coaches closely monitor and supervise the progress of the participants and make an evaluation of their readiness before they are profiles either as a beginner or an advanced athlete. The coaches also develop workout programs that are suited to the participants of both categories.
The Affiliate Alliance is a network of CrossFit-affiliated boxes all over the country. It was established just last 2015 with the goal of promoting CrossFit as well as promoting overall fitness. Coach Jason Monteverde is the head coach of Affiliate Alliance.
Aside from Coach Monteverde, the group counts in its ranks several of the country’s recognized fitness experts such as Andrea Arcega, former head coach of Spartan Race Philippines, Mark Lamson, one of the elite athletes in the country, Cilyn Abella, a four-year coach at the Complete Fitness in Ortigas and Asian Development Bank’s corporate coach, Nolan Collado, a physical therapist, CrossFit coach and former trainer at Planet Infinity Gym, Raymond Manual, another CrossFit trainer with a background in calisthenics and gymnastics, and Vlad Salum, also a CrossFit trainer and weightlifter.
“We would like to enjoin the public start living a healthier, more active and fitter lifestyle by signing up for the MediCard Supremo Obstacle Challenge. We owe it to ourselves and our loved ones.” Montoya added.
Medicard is the first health and maintenance organization founded and managed by doctors. Over the years, it has provided the most comprehensive and innovative health care programs and fitness activities that help people achieve a healthier life.
For more information on how to join, please visit www.medicardlifestyle.com.
To set the foundations of the country’s health emergency response and prevention system, UN Global Champion for DRR and Albay 2nd District Rep. Joey Sarte Salceda filed the country’s first ever comprehensive health emergency mechanisms and policy framework, as House Bill No. 6096.
Apart from institutional and policy reforms necessary to expand the country’s health emergency response mechanisms, the bill also creates a Center for Disease Control and Prevention, which will prepare the country’s mitigation of and response to communicable diseases.
Albay 2nd District Rep. Joey Sarte Salceda
“My bill essentially lifts our communicable disease control and prevention units out of the depths of the DOH bureaucracy and into the more visible levels of decision-making and policymaking,” Salceda said. “Inahon ko yung communicable disease control kasi sa ngayon, nakabaon sa ilalim ng maraming agency, kaya hindi makagalaw ng maayos.”
“The hazards kasi will always be there – but they are rising and are more complex. We have always had to contend with microscopic enemies. But the risks have geometrically multiplied by our exposure: tropical climate, leading tourist destination (with 8.4 million in 2019), leading source of overseas labor (12 million OFWs in 2019), growing status as work destination for foreign workers (including 280,000 POGO workers).” Salceda explained.
“In a globalized world, borders are becoming more and more porous. But our mechanisms are still calibrated as if borders are only relevant as far as preventing trafficking of humans and goods are concerned. Hindi na sapat yan. Legal entry can no longer be automatically taken as safe for public health,” Salceda said.
Salceda’s bill creates the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, as a separate agency under the supervision of the DOH and will be led by Executive Director with Undersecretary rank, but with broader policymaking, implementation, surveillance, disease control and prevention powers over communicable or infectious diseases. Such diseases are rapid-onset in nature, meaning the risks compound exponentially over time without early and decisive intervention.
The CDC would ensure that intervention is made at the earliest opportunity, having been lifted out of the depths of the bureaucracy.
The bill also creates a National Health Emergency Response Unit (NHERU) under the DEMB, which shall act as the frontline force in ground and surveillance operations of the CDC. This shall be a well-trained unit of first-responders.
“Kung naalala niyo yung mga naka-white protective gear during the Ebola crisis, that will be the function of NHERU. Parang special forces natin for disease control and prevention,” Salceda said.
Apart from these, the bill also provides for mechanisms for the declaration of the state of a public health emergency, a coordinating council for the same, and broader quarantine powers for the CDC.
The bill also makes quarantine misdeclarations perjurious, as it requires these declarations to be made under oath.
SUPPLEMENTAL BUDGET FOR DPBC
“Naturally, the bill is very broad in scope. But the basic idea is: the current approach, the way we organize ourselves to confront outbreaks will no longer suffice, will not make us safer, will not convince our people to trust public institutions. But first things first, Congress should pass a supplemental budget to increase the budget of DPCB to P800 million, especially since it has been reduced from P263 million in 2019 to P115 million,” he added.
Salceda’s CDC bill is part of his office’s National Resilience Agenda, which includes the creation of the Department of Disaster Resilience and the Taal Commission and TERRA Fund. The bill also follows Salceda’s “Bill, Bill, Bill” agenda of comprehensive government reform, a commitment he made in an Aide Memoire to Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano and Majority Leader Martin Romualdez last January 26, 2020.
RATIONALE OF THE CDC ACT 2020
1. The Philippines, with its tropical location, its large population, high rates of urbanization, a highly mobile and transborder population (with an estimated 10.4 million Filipinos overseas in 2019 and 3.4 million stock of OFW at any time), as a top tourist destination (with an estimated 8.4 million tourists in 2019), with 6,272,092 nationals going abroad in 2018 (2.3 million OFWs, 2.979 million as tourists, 980,772 for other reasons) for and increased numbers of foreign workers (with about 280,000 from Philippine Offshore Gaming Operations alone) is especially prone to the increasingly globalized risks of communicable diseases. Many such diseases, including those we have eradicated already in the past, are emerging and reemerging, threatening the health and safety of the public.
2. Aside from porous borders, our lack of institutional capacity to implement comprehensive public health management programs, as well as the present orientation of border law enforcement towards smuggling of excisable products and the prevention of human trafficking and smuggling, but not towards public health protection, stymies the country’s ability to decisively address the risks of communicable disease.
3. Presence of hazards, our increased exposure to such hazards, and the lack of existing mechanisms and capacity to address them emphasize the national imperative for a framework for effective intervention.
4. Quick and decisive intervention will not come from the depths of the bureaucracy. There is a need for a high-level public institution imbued with the capacity, the competencies, the ecosystem, and the authority to confront these risks decisively and thus protect the public welfare and enable development to proceed amidst these rising risks
HIGHLIGHTS OF THE CDC PROPOSAL (HB 6096)
1. Creation of the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, as a separate agency under the control and supervision of the DOH, but with broader policymaking, implementation, surveillance, disease control and prevention powers including direct response over communicable or infectious diseases. Such diseases are rapid-onset in nature, meaning the risks compound exponentially over time without early and decisive intervention. The CDC would ensure that interventions are made at the earliest opportunity, having been lifted out of the depths of the bureaucracy.
2. The strategic focus of the new agency is RAPID and SUDDEN ONSET HEALTH HAZARDS AND EMERGING DISEASES, principally communicable diseases.
3. Separation of the Disease Control and Prevention Bureau of the DOH, with the CDC absorbing communicable disease units in a newly established Communicable Disease Prevention Bureau. This would solidify the delineation between communicable and non-communicable disease prevention and control in the least organizationally-disruptive manner possible.
4. Absorption of the Epidemiology Bureau and the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine into the CDC. This would strengthen the CDC’s disease control and prevention capacity.
5. Creation of the Disease Emergency Management Bureau (DEMB) to calibrate the CDC’s response to health emergencies.
6. Granting of broader quarantine powers to the Secretary of Health and the CDC
7. Creation of the Health Emergency Coordination Council, which shall coordinate national government response to health emergencies, and which shall declare the existence of a state of health emergency;
8. CDC thru the council may authorize the DOH and other responding agencies to a health emergencies to access the NDRRMF or authorize specific LGUs use calamity funds during a state of health emergency;
Albay 2nd District Rep. Joey Sarte Salceda
9. Broad health emergency powers to the HECC and the CDC including a redefinition of the relationship between the CDC and the Bureau of Quarantine during health emergencies;
A comprehensive health emergency management framework, including provisions for vaccination and treatment, isolation and quarantine, and disease surveillance;
10. The creation of a National Health Emergency Response Unit (NHERU) under the DEMB, which shall act as the frontline force in ground and surveillance operations of the CDC; This shall be a well-trained unit of first-responders.
11. A comprehensive framework for tracking public health emergencies;
12. A mandate for the Secretary of Foreign Affairs and the Secretary of Health to recommend beneficial agreements on exchange of health information with international organizations and with other countries.
In my opinion, the creation of PH’s Center for Disease Control and Prevention is necessary because good health is part of a successful healthy living of person’s every daily activities. However, this bill will succeed if there’s a proper campaign, communication and education to the community that will starts from the members of the family, community in the barangay, schools and local government unit.
Thank you so much to Mr. Richard Mamuyac and Ms. Divine Reyes who organized the meet-up with Cong. Salceda and members Filipino Bloggers Network that was held last February 13, 2020 at Shakey’s Tiendesitas, Pasig City.
Do you consider to buy an affordable, healthier and safety poultry products?
Bounty Agro Ventures Inc. (BAVI), one of the country’s leading manufacturers and distributors of dressed chicken, continues to provide Filipinos with high-quality, affordable, and safe poultry products.
BAVI is the only poultry integrator in the country to produce “no antibiotics ever” (NAE) chickens which are naturally healthy and safer to eat. This is done by eliminating the use of any antibiotics throughout the entire poultry production process.
“Growing healthy chickens without antibiotics will help us fight antimicrobial resistance, which can be fatal to humans,” said Dr. Erasmus Paderes, BAVI SVP for Animal Health and Feed Mill Operations.
The World Health Organization defines antimicrobial resistance as “the ability of a microorganism (like bacteria, viruses, and some parasites) to stop an antimicrobial (such as antibiotics, antivirals and antimalarials) from working against it. As a result, standard treatments become ineffective, infections persist and may spread to others.”
Prior to implementing its NAE system, BAVI has already reduced its antibiotics use by 48% or 43 mg/kg in 2017, and further slashed it to 29 mg/kg in 2018. Aside from manufacturing and distributing Bounty Fresh dressed chickens, BAVI also operates the Chooks-to-Go roasted chicken brand nationwide.
BAVI’s antibiotics-free chickens ensure Filipinos of healthier, safer poultry products.
Valentine’s Day has always been about spending that singular day once a year with your special someone—going out on an unforgettable date, buying each other gifts, or spending intimate moments together.
While these traditional ways of celebrating will always be there, no doubt one of the best ways to express your love is to really make your partner feel safe and protected—more so by using proper protection such as condoms.
Together with preventing unwanted pregnancies with a 98% effectivity rate, condoms, when properly used during sexual intercourse, has been proven to be one of the best ways to prevent the spread of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) such as HIV or Human Immunodeficiency Virus.
Figures from the Commission on Population (POPCOM) shows how more adolescents engage in premarital sex, with 500 teenage girls giving birth every day. Similarly, HIV cases are on the rise in the country, with UNAIDS reporting that the number of new infections in the Philippines has more than doubled, something not to be taken lightly.
With all of these, having a condom at the ready simply shows your partner how much you really care this Valentine’s Day, which incidentally is also National Condom Day. It’s a reflection of how you both have your health and wellness in mind, and is as well a sign of deep respect and, ultimately, love and affection. And buying condoms need not to be an embarrassing experience anymore.
Thankfully, brands such as Durex make condoms accessible sans the awkwardness associated with purchasing them. Aside from making them available in retail outlets such as pharmacies, groceries and convenience stores, Durex condoms can now also be bought through online through sites like Lazada, with the available option of ‘privacy guaranteed packaging’ wherein condoms can be packed in ‘discreet books’ that really do look like an honest-to-goodness book on the outside.
So this Valentine’s season, express your love in the most meaningful of ways, show how much your partner means to you, and always come protected.
REFERENCE:
John Paulo Ondra Caparros
Public Relations Department
Strategic works, Inc.
+63.893.7472 | +639. 17.158.7918
john.caparros@stratworks.ph
2nd Floor Zaragoza Building, 102 Gamboa Street, Legaspi Village, Makati City PH
