Feature

Alicia spreads Christmas

Cheers amidst pandemic

The pitched voice shattered the dimly lit plaza where about a thousand people have gathered outside the security cordons.

Ten, Nine, Eight… and the crowd picked on the cue.

At the strike of zero, Alicia Mayor Victoriano Torres led the crowd gathered at the town plaza in the countdown that roared across the ground ending in the much awaited annual switching on of the Christmas lights illuminating every nook in the town plaza, December 4.

“We still have COVID, let COVID be, but, it can not let us down,” the mayor blared as the crowd roared in appreciation.

The switching on of the lights also came with a cacophony of Christmas carols played on the sound system, the roar of the crowd as the fireworks exploded rose in fine counterpoint while everyone with mobile phone cameras jostled for the best position to capture the momentous event.

As the lights turned on, it transformed the plaza into a magical world of Christmas.

“We have to do this, this is the people’s money and we think they deserve to see this in this gloomy time of the pandemic,” he added.

Now on its second year, the annual switching on of the Christmas themed public park lights is Alicia’s outward show of its psychedelic resolve to rise up above the gloomy atmosphere brought about by the threat of coronavirus disease.

SURVEYING THE SPECTACLE. Mayor Victoriano Torres looks over the results of weeks of planning which culminated in the switching on of the lights December 4. (PIABohol)

“We will not be dampened by this COVID, we will stand because we have at least the Christmas to hope for,” the mayor said.

The crowd, took long queues as the town police chief, Lieutenant Flores, reminded people to follow the minimum health protocols in getting in the cordoned part to take souvenir pictures.

Only vaccinated people can come in, as volunteers manned the entrance gates making sure the group that comes into the park has 15 minutes of time before they are asked to proceed to the exit gate and another batch of guests come in.

Already made colorful with the dancing fountain that spews geyser of colors as the crowd, roared with appreciation.

The town plaza now is made even more attractive with LED lights and Christmas lights including three major installations apart from the dancing fountain that spew bursts of geysers reaching out to the fireworks exploding overhead.

As the water from the fountain spills into a tiny pond, it flows into a series of lit cascades going between two footpaths to the highway.

PEACOCK MEANS HOPE. The peacock designed Christmas Nativity is made of indigenous materials and led lights. (PIABohol)

A couple of meters beside it is a giant Christmas tree of fairy lights and red mistletoes.

A step further down is a giant crown bedecked with blue series lights, the hollow space is enough for a group of friends to snuggle for photos.

Across the access road to the town hall is a huge nativity set with its theme Inspired by the peacock.

LIGHTS SHOW. Alicia town plaza is now bedecked with Christmas lights as local officials believe giving the people a feel of what their tax money is doing for them, (PIABohol)

Lit like a playbill in some downtown theater, the nativity is the town’s official entry to Bohol’s Belen Contest as organized by the Provincial Government.

Also hosting guests for the town’s reopening of its extreme sports trails, Alicia gathered most of the trail runners joining the 5 kilometer and 0 kilometer trail run, at the plaza to witness the event and jam.

A band stand is set in a tent in the plaza for those athletes and guests who wish to jam and loosen up before straining for the run.

And to set the mood for the night of fun and Christmas joy, local employees performed a choreographed Zumba dance as the sound system blared lively music.

CHRISTMAS ZUMBA. Alicia employees led the crowd in a Zumba rendition. Alicia timed their switching on of the Christmas Park with the GLU Christmas Party and Yearend Assessment. (PIABohol)

The town guests for the lighting event were Valencia mayor Katrina Lim, Board Member Elpidio Bonita, and Padayon Bohol’s Provincial Board members slate.

Officially lit now, the plaza would remain open to guests at night but authorities are making sure that their Christmas contribution would be a joy to the soul and not anguish to their loved ones.

Let us follow protocols, and let us allow people from other places to set foot in our plaza, as long as they obey the protocols, the mayor reminds the people. (rahc/PIA-7/Bohol)

Tagbilaran, 10 towns reach

100%+ NVD vaccine target

TAGBILARAN CITY, Bohol, Dec 3 (PIA) –Vaccination teams from ten towns and Tagbilaran City delivered more than they committed for the three days of National Vaccination Days (NVD), November 29 to December 1, 2021, adding some 31,770 first dose jabs.

The figures however still could not drag Bohol’s vaccination accomplishment for the three days over the threshold as committed, as some of the towns accomplished below 50% of their targets.

Bohol committed to inoculate 167,457 individuals of the 239,224 which was initially the 3-day NVD target, according to the Bohol Inter Agency task Force on the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases Strategic Communications cluster, in its December 3 report.

Team Tagbilaran City under Mayor John Geesnell Yap II vaccinated twice as much as their committed NVD target of 4,856 when they reached 7,662 individuals given the first dose during the three days of vaccination operations, accomplishing 203%.

The original 3-day NVD target for the city was 6938, and was reduced to a daily target of 1619.

Jagna, under Mayor Joseph Rañola on the other hand under committed to vaccinate 3,138 residents for the three days and instead got to 4,606 individuals covering some 146.80% accomplishment for the 3-day NVD.

Originally Jagna had 4428 NVD target and was reduced to 1046 daily target for the three days.

The vax team of Duero, under Mayor Conrada Amparo committed to vaccinate 2,162 residents but got to 3,026 residents, exceeding their target by 33% or accomplishing 133% for the 3-days operation.

Initially, the NVD target for Duero was 2162 but this was lessened to a daily target of 721 jabs.

On the other hand, Sevilla team led by Mayor Juliet Dano showed force and resolve when they committed to inoculate 1017 and accomplished 1260 instead for a 123% vax rating.

The landlocked town was originally set to get 1017 individuals vaccinated but was reduced to 1017.

Sikatuna team with mayor Justiniana Ellorimo committed to get to 692 residents and inoculated 854 residents to earn a 123.38% vaccination rating for the NVD.

Sikatuna had to get to 989, but this was reduced to 692.

Loay team, under Mayor Hilario Ayuban committed to vaccinate 1,590 residents and accomplished 1899 to earn for them a rating of 119.43%.

From 2272, Loay committed to 1590.

Alicia vax team led by Mayor Victoriano Torres committed to get to 3343 individuals for the 3-days vaccine operation and hit 3,962 instead for the seventh place in Bohol with 118.52%.

From originally 4475 residents for the jabs, Alicia committed to 3343 or a daily target of 1114.

Alburquerque team with Mayor Don Ritchie Buates, committed to 1301 and accomplished 1476 for a 113.47% accomplishment. Albur committed to 1372 from the 1858 NVD original target.

Loboc vaccination team under Mayor Leon Calipusan had to get to 1372 as 3 day target and accomplished 1538 to earn some 112.13% vaccination rate.

From 1959, Loboc was set for an NVD target of 1969 but this was reduced to a daily target of 457.

Team Dimiao under Mayor Randolph Ang said they can get to 1641 and proved they still can get more with 1,664 getting 102.1% accomplishment. Dimiao was to hit 3529 but this was cut to a 547 daily vaccination target.

Last on the list of towns attaining over 100% in their vaccination targets is Bilar vaccination team led by mayor Manuel Jayectin which committed to 2241 residents to be jabbed and hit the 2246 individuals for a 100.22%.

Bilar was set to hit 3202 individuals with the vaccine shots but settled for a 747 daily target. (rahc/PIA-7/Bohol)

LOWER THAN EXPECTED. From 239,224 individuals set to be vaccinated in the three day National vaccination Days, Bohol could only get to 129,646 for a low 77.42% or its committed 167,457 Boholanos vaccinated for the duration. (rahc/PIA-7/Bohol)

EO 52-D extends vaxcards use

For returning locals ‘til Dec 31

TAGBILARAN CITY, Bohol, Dec 3 (PIA) –Boholanos can still use their vaccination cards in place of the tough-to-get vaccination certificates.

This as Governor Arthur Yap issued Executive Order No. 52-D, which effectively amended the three preceding orders especially on the use of vaccination cards and authenticated vaccination certificates in place of the costly coronavirus disease test by Reverse Transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR).

Issued on December 1, EO 52-D extended the EO 52-A which allowed fully vaccinated individuals to present as their entry document to Bohol, their validated and authenticated vaccination certificate.

It may be recalled that the governor earlier issued EO 52 on October 33 which lifted the negative for coronavirus disease in attest result validated by Reverse Transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) as entry to Bohol requirement by fully vaccinated individuals.

However, the requirement for vaccination certificate proved to be a tough-to-comply document, as several local government units failed to immediately update their vaccination records and upload the same to the Department of Health (DOH) website.

The uploaded files from the vaccinating LGUs provide the data for the DOH to give out the vaccination certificates.

With this new predicament, the governor issued on the trail of EO 52, EO 52-A, which temporarily allowed fully vaccinated individuals who wish to return to Bohol to present his duly signed and authenticated vaccination card, along with a government-issued identification card and an approved s-pass in the absence of vaccination certificate.

The order is until November 30.

A few days later, another EC, EO 52-B, temporarily accepted vaccination cards in the absence of vaccination certificates and streamlined the travel requirements for inbound vaccinated individuals.

The subject EO 52-B lists the vaccination card issued by the LGU or DOH accredited medical institution, government issued ID and s-pass, whether approved or pending approval.

The same EO 52-B lifted the endorsement list requirement which lists the approved travelers who could buy their tickets and are allowed to0 board the vessel to Bohol.

On the issue that focal persons could not immediately act on the travel application, the order allows the traveler to show approved or pending s-pass application, with the vaccination card and government-issued ID.

For unvaccinated individuals, the negative test results for COVID via RT PCR is still needed, while kids 4 years old and below are exempted from the RT PCR requirement.

And then, there was EO 52-C, which expanded the exemption of the TR PCR test from 4 years old and below to 11 years old and below.

It also cancels the Barangay Certificate and Letter of Acceptance as a previous travel document requirement.

Last December 1, the governor issued yet again another EO, EO No 52-D, which extended the use of vaccination cards in the absence of vaccination certificate, from December 1-31.

The order said the continuing mass vaccination program of the National Government and the LGUs would further delay the uploading of vaccination data to the DOH website, thus the need to extend the effectivity of the previous order. (rahc/PIA-7/Bohol)

LESS CUMBERSOME TRAVEL. Bohol has issued a series of twisting and turning executive orders on the use of the hard to fake but also tough to obtain vaccination certificate, as local officials struggle to keep Bohol free from the threats of other COVID variants. (rahc/PIA-7/Bohol)

No RT-PCR for kids 11 years

old below, traveling to Bohol

TAGBILARAN CITY, Bohol, Dec 4 (PIA)– As long as they are accompanied by fully vaccinated parents or guardians, kids 11 years old and below are now exempted from the discomfort of a nasopharyngeal swab for their previously mandated coronavirus disease test when they come to Bohol.

This is according to Executive Order No 52-B series of 2021, which the Governor Arthur Yap signed November 26, 2021.

The new EO is already an amendment to two previous Executive Orders, which lifted the mandatory requirement of a negative COVID test result through Reverse Transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) assay for fully vaccinated individuals who are entering Bohol.

Previously Executive Order No 52 lifted the requirement of negative RT PCR test on fully vaccinated individuals upon its entry to Bohol instead of requiring them to present validadte and authenticalte vaccination certificate.

And then, due to the need for more clarifications on the issued mandate, the governor issued again Executive Order No. 52-A, series of 2021 and Executive Order No 52-B series of 2021 which further simplified the travel requirements to Bohol.

The said Executive Orders officially mandated that travelers to Bohol need to present their vaccination cards issued by their respective local government units , the Department of Health or their accredited medical institution, private company, foreign country or any state, province as long as these are authenticated by the DOH-Bureau of Quarantine.

Other than this, the two mentioned Executive Orders also mandates the presentation of a government-issued identification card and a valid s-Pass travel document, which may be pending or approved.

For the unvaccinated individuals, Executive Order 52-B says a negative test result by RT PCR taken 72 hours prior to travel is needed, and that children 4 years old and below are exempted from such requirement.

Earlier, the national Inter Agency Task Force on the management of Emerging Infectious Diseases, in its Resolution No 148-F, classified Bohol under Alert Level 2.

The IAFT did this, noting the drastic decrease in COVID-19 cases in Bohol in the past 2 months.

Along this and of the perception that COVID in Bohol is now relatively stable, and a response mechanism on the establishment and operationalization of Temporary Treatment and Monitoring Facilities, the governor sees the need to further relax the travel protocols to Bohol to encourage travel and jumpstart the local economy.

With these premises, the governor issued the order to expand the exemption from RT PCR testing to now include children aged 11 years old and below, who enter Bohol accompanied by their respective fully vaccinated parents or guardians.

Provincial Tourism Council Chairman Atty Lucas Nunag believes the relaxed travel requirement could push more parents to get the vaccines as this can allow them to travel with their minors who now are excluded in the swab testing to gather samples for the RT-PCR tests.

Many BIATF members also believe that children 11 years old and below have very few chances of COVID contacts as they have been on strict home quarantine, despite that fact that they have strong immune systems. (rahc/PIA-7/Bohol)

MOTIVATE PARENTS TO GET VACCINATED. Bohol has lifted the RT PCR requirement for 11 years old and below as long as these minors are accompanied by fully vaccinated adults. Many believe this will motivate vacationing families to have parents vaccinated for lesser travel hassles. (rahc/PIA-7/Bohol)

In the last three months

COVID 19 deaths

continue to wane

TAGBILARAN CITY, Bohol, Dec 2 (PIA) –The decreasing trend of local deaths by coronavirus disease (COVID-19) continues as the month of November ended with 22 viral disease related deaths.

The deaths this month however is 76.59% lesser than the COVID related death tracked in the month of October of this year.

In October, at the end of the month, Bohol recorded 94 deaths, with some 240,430 fully vaccinated Boholanos already seeing the notable decrease in the COVID numbers.

The October deaths too, were a huge heave of relief compared to the 177 deaths recorded in September 2021.

The deaths in October were already 46.8% lesser that the deaths marked in September, notably the grimmest month for Bohol’s COVID history.

In September of this year, COVID posed a serious threat to Boholanos with a recovery from the disease at 84% of every 100 COVID active cases.

The recovery rate crawled a few notches in October at 95%, according to the daily COVID tracker shared by the Bohol Inter Agency Task Force Strategic Communications (BIATF StratCom) Cluster.

By the end of November, the COVID recovery rate climbed some more at 97%, or 97 of every 100 cases can quickly recover.

By the end of November too, Bohol’s fully vaccinated has reached the critical milestone at 33% with 329,411 Boholanos getting their second doses of the anti-COVID vaccines.

The biggest news however is the number of new active COVID cases as detected from the test results in Bohol’s two molecular laboratories.

Since October 4, or in straight two months, new COVID cases based on the test results from Bohol’s testing centers showed numbers in double digits, a clear indication of the dwindling number of cases in Bohol.

While the highest detected new COVID cases happened in September 22 with 317 cases, the lowest new case detection so far is in November 16 with just 4 new cases.

In Bohol, local health authorities ascribe the massive decrease in the COVID death toll to the growing number of vaccinated individuals.

As December enters, Boholanos are seeing better times, but local officials continue to remind people to remain vigilant, keep to the minimum public health and safety protocols and be rady for another threat, that of the omicron variant. (rahc/PIA-7/Bohol)

WITH COVID DEATHS EBBING, local governments are starting to ease out travel protocols and airports and ports are slowly getting repopulated again. This is in the hope that the economic activities could also follow suit. (rahc/PIA-7/Bohol)

3-day NVD add 15,000+

Fully vaccinated locals

TAGBILARAN CITY, Bohol, Dec 4 (PIA) –In a week, those who received the complete dose of the coronavirus disease (COVID) vaccines increased by 15,152, bringing the total fully vaccinated individuals here, from 33% to 36% of the 961,872.

Bohol health authorities have staked the 961,872 as the 70% of the total Bohol population target of the vaccination program, which theoretically would deliver to the province its herd immunity from COVID.

The 3 points increase in fully vaccinated individuals is totally swamped by the huge leap in the number of Boholanos who have eventually received the first dose.

From 48%, it shot into 54% of the prioritized groups in the master list of 961,872 individuals.

From 329,411 individuals who have received the primary two doses of the vaccines which the Food and Drugs Administration authorities have given the Emergency Use Authority, the number increased to 344,563, which is still 36% of the 70% or all Boholanos.

Of those who have received the first jabs until November 25, they numbered 394,268.

A week later, or on December 2, the figure has risen to 521,155, the huge jump of 126,887 owes to the three-day National Vaccination Days (NVD) in November 29, 30 and December 1.

The local vaccination average still pales in comparison to the whooping 45.32% of Filipinos who have received the two doses which afford them the needed protection against the fatal viral disease.

As of December 2, about 34,963,067 Filipinos have gotten the full protection having received the two doses of a 2-dose and or single dose vaccine.

This, according to reports is already equal to 45.32% of the total population of the country.

Another 57.69% of Filipinos, or some 44,502,112 received their first dose on or before the date the report was made.

During the NVD, Bohol was given a 3-day target of 239,224 individuals for vaccination but Bohol only committed to 167,457.

Getting the nearly 80,000 jabs a day was, according to local authorities, hard as even getting the 20,000 shots dispensed on a day is already a huge challenge.

While committing to the 55,819 daily target was a poser for vaccination teams, Bohol could only deliver a little over 37,000 jabs a day for the three days of vaccine operations.

Over-all, Bohol attained a 77.42% coverage of the committed number of jabs, at the end of the three days.

During the 3-days vaccine operations, except Tagbilaran City, only 10 of Bohol’s 48 local government units accomplished over 100% of their committed targets.

Tagbilaran City accomplished 259.89% of its committed number for vaccinations.

On the other hand, seven LGU vaccination teams could not even get to half of their committed number of vaccine recipients. (rahc/PIA-7/Bohol)

GETTING CREATIVE. Tagbilaran City created many teams, set up more fixed vaccination sites and used the malls to encourage more people to get vaccinated while there are still available vaccines. Other LGUS used only single vaccine sites, which dampened their accomplishments. (ecbPIABohol)

Drive-thru vax for trike, 

PUV drivers held in Bohol

TAGBILARAN CITY, Bohol, Dec. 1 (PIA) -- In celebration of Bonifacio Day, the Tagbilaran City Government offered a drive-through vaccination against COVID-19 for tricycle drivers, public utility vehicle drivers, and private vehicles for senior citizens and persons with disability (PWD) on Nov. 30 at the Tagbilaran City Hall Ground.

Tricycle driver Ricky Tabaranza, 47, from Pamaong Extention, said he is grateful for the city vaccination drive because of the ease of access offered to the drivers.

“Nindot kay di na me mag pila-pila sama sa mga malls. Diha ra gyud me bakunahan sakay sa among gi-drayban nga tricycle (It’s nice because we don’t need to go through the long lines unlike in the malls. We were just vaccinated inside our tricycle),” Tabaranza said.

The City Health Office (CHO) has also set up COVID-19 vaccination sites at the Island City Mall, Alturas Mall, and BQ Mall which were manned by 75 CHO employees and augmented by a 25-strong volunteer team for the three-day National Vaccination Days which started on Nov. 30.

Tagbilaran City Mayor John Geesnell "Baba" Yap II, who personally inspected the vaccination sites, thanked the public for heeding the government’s call for hastened vaccination.

Tagbilaran City has been ranked first in Central Visayas and fourth among local government units nationwide outside Metro Manila in terms of vaccination rate.

The mayor attributed the high vaccination rate to the city’s vaccine information campaign.

Yap encouraged residents to get vaccinated against COVID-19 to reach herd immunity in the province, and assured that there is enough vaccines freely available.

Tagbilaran City has the highest administration rate against COVID-19 on the second day of the National Vaccination Days in Bohol on Nov. 30 with 3,805 vaccinees.

Around 36,693 Boholanos have been inoculated on the second day of the Bayanihan Bakunahan National COVID-19 Vaccination Days. (ECB/PIA7 Bohol)