Cebu Muslims to observe Ramadhan without congregational prayers

 By John Rey Saavedra 

RAMADHAN. Muslims perform prayers at the Al-Khairiah Masjid in Barangay Mambaling, Cebu City on March 6, 2020. The Cebu City Office of Muslim Affairs and Indigenous Cultural Communities on Thursday (April 23, 2020) said congregational prayers and “tarawih” prayer are temporarily suspended due to the enhanced community quarantine. (Photo courtesy of Al-Khairiah Masjid) 

CEBU CITY – Muslims here will celebrate the holy month of Ramadhan without congregational prayers and gathering in support of the city government’s efforts to combat the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) threat to public health.

Dr. Ijoden Saripada Mamacol, executive director of Cebu City’s Office of Muslim Affairs and Indigenous Cultural Communities (OMAICC), said leaders of different Muslim organizations in the city “highly recommended the temporary suspension of congregational prayers and tarawih prayer” due to the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ).

The suspension of Muslim religious activities may also affect the culmination of Ramadhan on the day of Eid al Fitr.

Mamacol said his office has consulted the Cebu Mufti Alim Majid Said, the Sugbo Muslims Imam, and Ustadz Organization, religious leaders, and some Muslim community leaders in arriving at the best decision amid the ECQ.

“As officially declared by Mufti of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) that our Ramadhan will begin this April 24, I would like to extend my greetings to my fellow Muslims ‘Ramadhan Mubarak’ (blessed happy Ramadhan),” he said in a statement sent to the Philippine News Agency (PNA).

Mamacol explained that the holy month in every ninth month of the Islamic calendar is a time for religious gatherings of Muslim families to celebrate, read the Quran, and pray to become closer to Allah.

As one of the five pillars of Islam, Ramadhan is a time for Muslims to do fasting and iftar (breaking of the fast), he said.

During the month, Muslims converge in a masjid (mosque) and do the congregational prayers every evening, which they call the “tarawih” prayer.

“This year, our Ramadhan is very challenging for us and (will be celebrated) very different from the past. Unfortunately for us Muslims, our holy month falls in this time that (the) Covid-19 pandemic persists," Mamacol said.

He encouraged his fellow Muslims to observe “Ramadhan in the context of the Covid-19 pandemic” by obeying the protocol set by health officials, such as social distancing, wearing of face mask, hand washing, and staying and praying at home.

“I think once it (ECQ) will be lifted, we can do the congregational prayers, and, inshallah (God willing), normal life will be back,” Mamacol said. (PNA)

BARMM's island provinces maintain 'zero' positive Covid-19 case

Cotabato City —The island provinces of BARMM maintained zero positive Coronavirus Disease (Covid-19) case according to the region’s Health Minister Dr. Saffrullah Dipatuan on Wednesday, April 22, in a virtual press briefing held in Cotabato City.

The BARMM island provinces include Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi (BaSulTa) where no confirmed positive cases of Covid-19 were registered since the onset of the pandemic on January.

Dipatuan said while the BaSulTa has a total 127 suspected cases, none were tested positive for Covid-19.

"In the whole BARMM we have recorded a total of 235 suspected cases, but only 12 of these remain to be under strict monitoring and subject for Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) testing," Dipatuan said.

Recently, the two (2) PUI deaths in Sulu tested negative for Covid-19 according to the Sulu Integrated Provincial Health Office (IPHO).

"There are more municipalities in the region with no recorded case. Among these are some municipalities in Lanao del Sur and Marawi City. Out of its 40 municipalities, only the municipalities of Kapatagan, Balabagan, Malabang, Picong, Marawi City, Saguiaran, and Piagapo are the areas where suspected cases of Covid-19 are still present," Dipatuan said.

“The same case with Maguindanao, not even ten (10) percent of its total number of municipalities are affected. The province has only one (1) positive and 19 suspected cases,” Dipatuan added.

However, despite these notable developments in the said BARMM areas, the Minister stressed that there is still no reason to be complacent.

“Hindi po tayo puwede mag-kumpiyansa dahil sa may mga suspicion na ang ibang mga kababayan natin, marami pong hindi nagsasabi ng totoo,” Dipatuan said.

Dipatuan underscored that those individuals who went to events with known Covid-19 cases, such as the Tabligh gathering in Malaysia and Araw ng Dabaw six-cock derby in Davao City, should not be afraid to seek help from the authorities.

“Nangangamba kami dahil maaaring mayroon pa tayong hindi nauulat na kaso diyan dahil sini-sikreto ng mga kamag-anak,” Dipatuan stated. “Dahil dito, kailangan talaga nating mag-take ng precautionary measures,” he added.

Meanwhile, Minister Dipatuan acknowledged the efforts of the members of Bangsamoro Inter-Agency Task Force (BARMM-IATF) in containing and preventing the further spread of the virus.

The change in number has been a positive fortification on the region’s IATF, which continuously executes its responsibilities, including relief good operations throughout its area of responsibility.

“Noong una talagang medyo natakot tayo na maaaring hindi ito ma-control, ngunit sa magandang pagkakataong nangyari, binigyan tayo nang pagmamahal ng ating mahal na Allah kaya nakikita natin kung paano ito bumababa ngayon,” he said.

“Sa totoo lamang po, very sharp at malaki ang ibinaba nito, ngunit hindi pa ito nawawala nang lubusan,” he added.

To date, a total of nine (9) Covid-19 confirmed cases are recorded in the autonomous region—eight (8) from the province of Lanao del Sur, and only one (1) from Maguindanao.

Of these, one (1) is admitted to the hospital, one (1) under home quarantine, four (4) recovered, and three (3) succumbed to the said virus. (Bureau of Public Information)

Sulu 1st Engineering distributes rice subsidy on ECQ Covid 19 pandemic affected families

By: Becky D. de Asis

Jolo, Sulu - The Sulu 1st Engineering District of Ministry of Public Works  headed by District Engineer Ajan S. Ajijul with his staff distributed  a rice subsidy  to the affected families in Jolo Sulu just earlier.

The rice distribution of the said office is the respond of the call of the President Duterte to give help our constituents who were affected these ongoing ECQ caused by Covid 19 pandemic.

Ajan said, that t his office the 1st DEO, MPW-BARMM  immediately initiated to purchased a hundred sacks of rice and other goods for the immediate helps for the people of Jolo, he added.

"Kayanin namin hangat makaya, para makatulong kami sa aming mga kababayan kahit papaano", said Ajan.

"We Salute the President as will as the BARMM government  for their efforts to fight this Covid 19 pandemic, and we're support the ongoing ECQ because this is the main solution to avoid spreading the virus in our different communities", said Ajan. (By: Becky D. de /Asis-The Redline News blogs)

5k SAP was distributed to indigent families in Libungan - Mayor Chris "Amping" Cuan

By: Becky de Asis

Photo from the top/left to right: Mayor Amping Cuan with Ms Evangeline "Vangie" Nadela, while Cabaruyan Brgy. Capt. Joridin Bonao (right) posed with some vendors during the distribution of SAP yesterday. (By: Becky D. de Asis)

Libungan North Cotabato - The Social Amelioration Program (SAP) of the national government through the Bayanihan to Heal as One Act Law under the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) in order to distribute the emergency subsidies to indigent families affected the Enhance Community Quarantine on Covid 19 pandemic was already distributed in Libungan recipients.

Mayor Amping Cuan was very thankful to the frontliners most likely the DSWD Libungan that they were very active to distribute the 5K subsidies even though they were also affected the  ECQ.

"I will bring the market to every barangays while releasing the SAP because we should be sure that SAP will gonna goes to the main purpose of the government while the ECQ still on going.

The mobile market was initiated by the local government through the local business men and women in the municipality in order to answer and help our government while the country under the ECQ due to Covid 19 pandemic.

Ms. Evangeline "Vangie" Nadela  said, "We will initiated this mobile market  because we bring our goods nearer to the people in order to avoid infections  or infected while our people going to our public  market or somewhere else, said Ms Nadela.

Brgy.Capt. Joridin Bonao also added, that the SAP distribution in his barangay of Cabaruyan  was very successful even though they were some individuals were not follow the rules on ECQ like social distancing and double entry, "May mga nahuli tayong individuals nga  nag double entry dito, nakakuha na ang asawa nila sa kabilang barangay while sila naman ang gustong kumuha rito, ayaw natin payagan yan dahil marami rin ang nangangailangan pa na karapat dapat", said Bonao.

The said Social Amelioration Program covers the 18-Million low income household including the 4.4 Million beneficiaries of the expanded Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program or 4Ps in the country, (By: Becky D. de Asis)

Palace says ECQ in Visayas, Mindanao up to LGUs

By Ruth Abbey Gita-Carlos /repost by Becky D. de Asis-The Redline News

MANILA – Local government units (LGUs) in the Visayas and Mindanao have the discretion to impose enhanced community quarantine (ECQ), Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles said on Wednesday.

Nograles, also acting as the spokesperson of the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management for the Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID), said LGUs in Visayas and Mindanao can place their respective areas under ECQ, “if they deem it necessary.”

His statement came following the extension of ECQ in the entire Luzon until April 30.

“We wish to reiterate that the ECQ covers the regions of Luzon; for areas outside Luzon, such as regions in Mindanao and the Visayas, local government units have the discretion to implement ECQs if they deem it necessary,” Nograles said in a virtual presser aired on state-run PTV-4.

Several areas in Visayas and Mindanao have already been placed under ECQ to arrest the spread of coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) in the country.

Nograles said local governments that have plans of imposing an ECQ in their respective areas should coordinate with the Department of Health (DOH) and the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG).

“Obviously, kailangan nating bigyan din ng leeway ang ating mga LGUs (we need to give LGUs the leeway) to enforce a community quarantine within their area para hindi rin po sila magka-infection ng Covid-19 (so the people there will not be infected with Covid-19),” he said.

The number of Covid-19 cases in the Philippines jumped to 3,764, as of Tuesday.

Around 177 Covid-19 patients died, while 84 others recovered from the infectious disease.

Nograles said the majority of Luzon residents heeded the national government's directive to observe strict home quarantine.

He cited the findings of Google’s global study which showed that Luzon did “very well” since the entire island was placed under ECQ.

“So meaning to say, if you look at that study, it means almost everybody cooperated with the stay at home,” Nograles said.

Nograles said the government is focused on improving the country’s Covid-19 testing capacity and isolating infected people and other potential carriers during the implementation of ECQ in Luzon.

He, however, could not tell whether the Luzon-wide ECQ would be lifted after April 30.

Nograles said the extension of the ECQ means that for the next few weeks, "we will be dependent on our front-liners and relying on them for our health, security, and safety”.

“If we are successful (in improving the testing capacity and isolating Covid-19 patients and potential carriers), then that will help us make a decision (before) April 30,” he added. (PNA)

"We flatten the curve", A friendly reminder from Sulu 1st DEO, MPW-BARMM

Holy Week Special - Lenten Season

Libungan government start their 1st rice subsidy on Covid 19 affected residents - 3 kls per family

Libungan, North Cotabato - In response the call of the President Rodrigo R. Duterte to give food packs or any cash aid to the Covid 19 - Community Quarantine affected residents in their respective areas.

The municipality of Libungan distributes their 1st 3 kilos of rice subsidy in Sitio Cue and other barangays of this municipality.

According to  DSWD volunteer  Liling de Pio said, this is only our 1st distribution and hoping that our next distribution will be coming very soon to help our residents and fight this Covid 19 pandemic in our country, "Stay Home to be keep Safe". (By Becky D. de /Asis-The Redline News).

PRRD seeks add'l funds for Covid-19 response

By Azer Parrocha  (repost by Becky D. de Asis-The Redline News

President Rodrigo Duterte (Presidential Photo)

MANILA -- President Rodrigo Duterte has asked Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III to look for more sources to fund the government’s response against the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19).

In a public address aired over state-run PTV-4 late Monday night, Duterte said the initial PHP100 billion fund for one month or PHP270 billion for two months is “not enough money to go around".

Unlike the Pasig River, he said the government’s funds would eventually run out.

“I’m calling on the Secretary of Finance to generate. Magnakaw ka, maghiram ka, wala akong pakialam, i-produce mo ‘yung pera kasi ‘pag naubos na ito… Hindi ko malaman (Steal, borrow, I don’t care, produce money because if this runs out…I don’t know what will happen),” he said.

Under the Bayanihan to Heal as One law or Republic Act No. 11469, the government has set aside a PHP200 billion emergency subsidy for about 18 million low-income families affected by the month-long enhanced community quarantine of Luzon.

These low-income households will be receiving financial assistance between PHP5,000 and PHP8,000.

Duterte made this call after confirming that he received the letter of Cavite Governor Jonvic Remulla requesting the government to include middle-class families in the government’s Social Amelioration Program (SAP).

“Sinulatan ako ni Governor Jonvic Remulla…who is appealing to include the middle class in their constituency because kailangan din nila (they also need it). Ako (Me) I agree, I know the political-economic horizon of the country,” he said.

He said he agreed with Remulla that the health crisis brought by Covid-19 affected everyone and “not just the poorest of the poor”.

“Alam ko na (I know) we cannot just focus or zero in itong the poorest of the poor. It’s actually a --- it has bloomed into something ginagamit sa politika ng mga politiko na (that politicians use) ‘will go for the poorest of the poor’. Pero ‘yan talaga ang totoo (But that’s the truth),” he said.

He said he would try to look into ways to include the middle class, but admitted that it would be a difficult task.

“I will discuss it when I reach the point raised by Governor Remulla of Cavite which I think is valid. We’ll try to remedy whatever kung may mapulot pa tayo sa daan (if we can pick up some from the road),” he said.

He said he really wanted the social amelioration program to cover everyone, but the funds were only enough to cover low-income households.

A greater challenge, he said, is that the Luzon-wide enhanced community quarantine has forced the economy to be on standstill.

“The economy is not moving, standstill, so wala tayong kita. Ang ginagamit natin ito na ‘yung nireserba natin na pera (so we have no earnings. What we’re using now is the money we have reserved),” he said.

He reiterated the importance of providing immediate assistance to the vulnerable citizens or they would have nothing to eat.

“Ang unahin natin ang tao, ang tiyan. Kasi ‘pag wala ng kinakain (Let’s prioritize people and their stomachs. Because if they have nothing to eat), a human being can be violent,” he said.

Meanwhile, he sought for cooperation and patience, vowing to manage the distribution of food and other assistance so that everyone gets their equal share.

His appeal comes after around 21 persons demanding food and other assistance were arrested in Quezon City for holding a protest rally sans government permit on April 1. (PNA) 

Stay Home and Protect your Family, Stay Safe...

Stay Safe everyone...

Sitangkai mayor call attention to his constituents to cooperate the ECQ-Covid 19 implementation

Mayor Hadji Tiblan C. Ahaja of Sitangkai, Tawi-Tawi appeal to the businessmen  and all residents of Sitangkai, Tawi-Tawi to cooperate re: implementation of the Enhance Community Quarantine too avoid the possible spread or contamination of COVID-19 in his Municipality.

 He said PREVENTION is better than Cure.  He ordered to his constituents to have a temporary closure of Restaurant, coffee shops and other businesses wants  to cooperate the ECQ protocol.  

Those  restaurants, coffee shops still can operate through take out, said the mayor.

He is very thankful to all his constituents for their better cooperation on the on going ECQ protocol. (Courtesy from MTO-Sitangkai/ Posted by Becky D. de Asis)

DSWD start distribute forms for cash aid program on ECQ Covid 19 affected

Libungan, North Cotabato – The Department of Social Works and Development (DSWD) here started to distribute cash aid  form to those selected and qualified beneficiaries on Covid 19 Cash Aid program today,

According to Barangay Capt. Joridin Bonao of Barangay Cabaruyan of this municipality  allegedly said,   he is no longer a direct person to process and release the said cash Aid but the DSWD. “Yung mga reklamo nyo na hindi makatangap ng cash aid please direct to DSWD dahil sila ang namamahala niyan, said Bonao.

“Maraming nagareklamo dahil pinipili ang binibigyan lamang yung mga  residente na may low income lang ”, he said.

But the President Duterte announce recently over PTV-4  “ everybody can receive a cash aid of 5K – 8K because they are all affected on Enhance Community Quarantine, Hindi kayo magugutom lahat mabigyan dahil may pera tayo sa pagkain hanggang matapos and Covid-19 na ito”, said Duterte just recently.

On the other hand, House Speaker Peter Cayetano clarifies the issue of who shall receive the cash assistance from the government under the social amelioration program of DSWD pursuant to the recently passed “Bayanihay to Heal as One Act” shall be given to each low income families or household.

“Lahat makatangap at walang pipiliin dahil pareho naman na apektado ang lahat sa Pandemic na ito”, Duterte said yesterday during his speech in malacanang.

Both President Duterte and Speaker Peter Cayetano gives different announcement that made people or residents  nang kaunting kalituhan...

During the distribution of forms there are few recipients received the forms kaya marami din ang nagreklamo baket marami ang hindi nabigyan at talagang low income din naman sila, (By Becky D. de Asis)

DSWD urged to simplify processes in distribution of Covid-19 aid

Repost by Becky D. de Asis/The Redline News

By Filane Mikee Cervantes  

MANILA – Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano on Friday urged the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) to simplify the processes and guidelines for the distribution of the social amelioration program to mitigate the impact of the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19).

In a virtual press briefing, Cayetano said the current guidelines for the distribution of the government's emergency cash subsidy for the 18 million low-income families are too complicated, which could hamper the delivery to about 10 to 15 days.

"We got the guidelines. Ang nakita namin, napakahaba ng proseso (What we saw is that the process is too long). And also, medyo maraming safeguards, maraming levels ng validation (there are a lot of safeguards, as well as levels of validation)," Cayetano said.

"In effect, it would take them 10-15 days bago makuha yung kanilang PHP5,000 to PHP8,000 (before they could receive their PHP5,000 to PHP8,000)," he added.

Under the current guidelines, the local government units (LGUs) will prepare the list of the target beneficiaries of the social amelioration measures and endorse this with the complete documentary requirements to the concerned DSWD Field Offices for verification.

A Social Amelioration Card (SAC) that captures the family profile will be distributed to the LGUs to enable the beneficiaries to access the assistance. It will also serve as a monitoring tool to avoid duplication of delivery of services.

Cayetano said the several levels of validation could be simplified into just a single process since it would take time to produce the pertinent documents to avail of the financial aid.

"Yung hiningi namin na general principle (The general principle that we are asking for) is how to get the resources in the fastest possible way to all the 18 million Filipinos with the least regulations and guidelines," he said.

He suggested a counterproposal which only involves four steps: 1) the DSWD enters a memorandum of agreement (MOA) with LGUs; 2) the LGU team identifies and validates beneficiaries; 3) the LGU distributes the payout, and 4) the LGU liquidates.

He also stressed that the social amelioration card forms should be simplified. "Yung forms na nilabas nila napaka-complicated (The forms that they released are too complicated). It would take time to finish those forms."

Under Republic Act (RA) No. 11469 or the “Bayanihan to Heal as One” Act, 18 million low-income households, including 4Ps household beneficiaries, are expected to receive emergency cash assistance to cushion the impact of the public health emergency due to the coronavirus disease (Covid-19).

The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) has released PHP100 billion to the DSWD to cover the funding requirements for the social amelioration programs.

Specifically, the released amount shall be used for the protective services for individuals and families especially in difficult circumstances, or assistance to individuals in crisis situations, and shall be extended to the target low-income household beneficiaries in the form of cash. (PNA)- Posted by Becky D. de Asis/The Redline News

2 positive COVID-19 patients in BARMM recovered, discharged

Cotabato City  – Two patients who tested positive for Corona Virus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) in Lanao del Sur have finally recovered, and were discharged.

BARMM’s Minister of Health Dr. Saffrullah Dipatuan announced this during the Bangsamoro Inter-Agency Task Force’s press briefing held today, April 3, in the city.

“Meron tayong positive na balita. Ang tinutukoy ko ay as of yesterday, two patients from Amai Pakpak Medical Center ay gumaling na at discharged from the hospital,” Dipatuan said. 

The first patient, identified as PH490, is a 56-year old female from Marawi City with a travel history in Metro Manila. While the second patient, PH419, is a 61-year old male from Marawi City with a travel history in Metro Manila.

The two were admitted in Amai Pakpak Medical Center in Marawi City, both have comorbidities.

Their first results were released on March 23, 2020, and both tested positive for COVID-19.

On March 30, 2020, after re-testing, their laboratory results tested negative and were then discharged on April 1, according to Dipatuan.

Dipatuan also said all six positive cases of COVID -19 in the BARMM are from Lanao del Sur. Of the six, three died, two recovered, and one still on strict home quarantine.

Meanwhile, Lanao del Sur Provincial Governor Mamintal Alonto Adiong Jr. clarified that Lanao del Sur has no case of local transmissions.

“Wala kaming local transmission [sa Lanao del Sur dahil] ang lahat nang nag-positive ay galing sa labas,” he asserted.

While Amai Pakpak Medical Center, a Department of Health retained hospital in the region, has 14 isolation rooms, Adiong said they created additional temporary shelters as a quarantine area in anticipation of more confirmed cases.

As of 9:00 PM of April 2, 2020, the entire BARMM region has recorded 7,584 Persons Under Monitoring (PUM) and 228 Persons Under Investigation (PUI). (Bureau of Public Information)