SBMA Chairman Wilma T. Eisma said these will be released to the eight neighboring LGUs next week.

The LGU shares are broken down as follows: P32,859,441.37 for Olongapo City; P21,145,468.61 for Subic, Zambales; P16,883,070.73 for San Marcelino, Zambales; P12,831,070.73 for Castillejos, Zambales; P11,968,060.18 for San Antonio, Zambales; P17,509,805.94 for Dinalupihan, Bataan; P15,003,180.96 for Hermosa, Bataan; and P12,402,469.66 for Morong, Bataan.

The shares, which are sourced from the five-percent taxes paid by business locators in the Subic Bay Freeport, are meant to promote parallel development in communities near the Freeport and enhance LGU projects in tourism, infrastructure, education, peace and order, health, and livelihood generation.

Eisma said the new allocation is 18 percent smaller than the LGU shares released in August last year, which totaled P166.16 million, but surpassed by more than 12 percent the P123.1 million total distributed in February 2021.

The LGU shares for the first half of the year is released in August, while that for the second half is released in February the next year.

Eisma said, however, that the SBMA will do away with the usual check-releasing ceremony as a precaution in face of the recent surge of Covid-19 cases nationwide, including in local communities.

“For the first time, I won’t be releasing the checks personally because I want to avoid crowding in pursuit of health protocols that we are enforcing in the Subic Bay Freeport. So, we advise LGU representatives to please claim their checks at the SBMA Treasury instead,” Eisma said.

According to SBMA records, the Subic agency has now distributed a total of P2.83 billion in LGU shares since 2011 when the SBMA started releasing shares directly to the LGUs. Previously, the distribution of LGU shares were coursed through the National Treasury.

The LGU shares are computed according to population (50%), land area (25%), and equal sharing (25%).

The biggest LGU beneficiary ever since is Olongapo City, which received a total of P672.73 million since 2011. It is followed by Subic, Zambales with P427.35 million; Dinalupihan, P353.89 million; San Marcelino, P341.03 million; Hermosa, P293.12 million; Castillejos, P255.68 million; Morong, P246.28 million; and San Antonio, P245.6 million.

Latest report showed there are 81 confirmed Covid-19 cases in the province with 15 recovered and four dead.

“Nakalulungkot man pong sabihin nitong mga nakaraang araw, biglaan ang pagtaas ng bilang ng confirmed positive health workers sa BGHMC dahil halos sabay-sabay na lumabas ang resulta ng confirmatory test na isinagawa sa kanila (It is sad to say that in the past days, the number of confirmed positive Covid-19 health workers at BGHMC abruptly increased because the results of their confirmatory tests were released simultaneously),” Dr. Glory Baltazar said in a statement.

She said hospital workers who reported for work from April 1 to the present have been subjected to laboratory examination.

At present, Baltazar said there are more than 700 hospital health workers who have undergone testing. Of the total number, 230 turned negative while more than 400 are still awaiting results.

“Ang patuloy na tumitingin sa mga Covid cases ay regular at mas madalas ang testing (Those who are continuously looking after Covid-19 cases are tested regularly more often),” the hospital chief said.

Baltazar said contact tracing showed that the spread of Covid–19 at BGHMC started when a male patient underwent emergency surgical procedure on the first week of April.

She said the surgeon was asymptomatic when subjected to Covid-19 test on April 5 but when the result was known on April 10, the doctor was found positive of the virus.

From then on, she said, all with direct contact to health workers confirmed Covid-19 positive and the operated patient underwent testing.

She said the hospital workers were divided into two groups. The first group was composed of those without direct contact with workers who turned positive and with no symptom of the virus. The second group comprised those with direct contact to those who were infected but also without symptom.

She said the hospital workers were further grouped into low, medium and high risk.

Nine hospital workers with mild symptoms were quarantined at the Bataan People’s Center in Balanga City.

Some 100 health workers billeted in hotels continued with their hospital duties because the result of their confirmatory test was negative, she said.

The provincial government under Gov. Albert Garcia has taken care of the food, hotel, transportation and security of all hospital workers, both quarantined and those continuously working.

She also said that BGHMC has no shortage of personal protective equipment, medical supplies and even hospital beds. A 20-bed state-of-the-art mobile hospital was set up in the hospital compound.

Baltazar said 200 doctors, nurses and other hospital staff who were tested negative of the virus and have no direct contact with those confirmed positive continue serving patients at the BGHMC. (PNA)

PILAR, Bataan — A one-hour light show was held in the giant War Memorial Cross at the Mt. Samat Shrine in this historic town on Sunday evening to pay tribute to front-liners in the war against coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19).

The event dubbed as “Salute of Lights for Front-liners: We Light as One, We Heal as One,” was spearheaded by Mt. Samat Flagship Tourism Enterprise Zone (FTEZ) and the Philippine Veterans Affairs Office (PVAO), in coordination with OGV Lights and Sounds.

Carissa Bautista, Mt. Samat FTEZ information officer, said on Sunday the event was an initiative of the lights and sounds industry of the country to call for solidarity “amid the health crisis the whole world is facing”.

Lights and sounds business owners nationwide simultaneously illuminated the sky from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. OGV Lights and Sounds held the event at the 92-meter high cross to make it more visible in Bataan and to the front-liners.

“With the Salute of Lights, we give thanks to our present day heroes – those who are risking their lives to fight against this dreaded disease with utmost courage and valor that match our forefathers,” Mt. Samat FTEZ administrator Francis Theodore Initorio said in a statement.

“As we salute them, we must ensure that their efforts and sacrifices will not be in vain by doing our part – slowing down the spread of the infection; flattening the curve,” he added.

Bautista said PVAO fully supported the event.

“Just as how our forebears fought together during the darkest moments in our history, may we also unite as a nation as we all battle the threats posed by the pandemic today,” she quoted PVAO administrator Undersecretary Ernesto Carolina as saying.

Governor Albert Garcia said the light show was aimed at convincing every Filipino to cooperate more in solving the health crisis affecting the world and to show appreciation to the front-liners.

He called on every one to help the so-called modern-day heroes and not to discriminate them.

The governor said the big cross on Mt. Samat was built not only as a symbol of heroism of World War II veterans 78 years ago but also as a symbol of God’s love in times of crisis.

“While the veterans fought identified enemies and known situations during World War II, we now face a different war that we cannot see. Covid-19 is causing destruction not only in the Philippines but in the whole world,” Garcia said in a statement.

He spelled out what the provincial government has been doing in the war against Covid-19 like the procurement of rapid test kits, confirmatory test kits, personal protective equipment, ventilators and medical supplies for front-liners.

Isolation and quarantine facilities are being established while two hotels serve as temporary home of health workers with free food and transportation accommodations.

Distribution of food packs and decontamination also continue, Garcia said.

The governor said licking the virus will mean a second Araw ng Kagitingan.

“Hangga’t maaari manatili tayo sa bahay at kung kailangang lumabas magkaroon ng social distancing na apat na dipa ang pagitan at ugaliing laging maghugas ng kamay (As much as possible, let us stay home and if there is a need to go out, have social distancing with four arms’ length distance and always wash hands),” Garcia said .

Meanwhile, the number of patients found positive of Covid-19 in this province rose from 27 to 36 as of Sunday.

The new patients are a 32-year-old girl from Hermosa, a 30-year-old female from Orion, a 19-year-old male from Samal, a 27-year-old male from Limay, a 54-year-old male from Orani, and four women from Balanga, whose ages range from 31 to 34.

Of the total number of cases in the province, three died while 10 have recovered and presently completing the 14-day post-discharge quarantine before their final release.

The number of persons under monitoring (PUMs) reached 2,622, patients under investigation (PUIs) with mild cases at 824 and PUIs with moderate to severe status at 221. (PNA)

BALANGA CITY– Bataan General Hospital and Medical Center (BGHMC) is now an exclusive medical facility for coronavirus disease (COVID-19) cases.

Governor Albert Raymond Garcia said the Provincial Inter-Agency Task Force decided to take the initiative as an immediate response to prevent the rapid spread of the disease in the hospital.

“This initiative also aims to protect the well-being of all BGHMC patients, including their families,” Garcia said in a statement.

The governor revealed that there are now 29 healthcare workers including doctors, nurses and nursing attendants who tested positive to the infectious disease.

“According to the latest report of PHO [Provincial Health Office], as of April 16, 2020, they have registered 14 new cases of COVID-19 in Bataan, all of which are healthcare workers at BGHMC,” he added.

All employees showing COVID-19 symptoms are now admitted inside the hospital, while asymptomatic patients who didn’t had any direct contact to positive cases are quarantined at Bataan People’s Center.

Meanwhile, BGHMC Medical Center Chief Glory Baltazar assured sufficient personnel to treat patients despite the rising number of COVID-19 cases in the hospital.

“We still have over 200 doctors and nurses and other staff members who had no direct contact and they tested negative to the disease so they continue to serve and treat BGHMC patients,” Baltazar stressed.

A private resort near the hospital was turned into a quarantine facility for employees continuing their work in the hospital.

Residents who wish to consult via phone with doctors at BGHMC can schedule a teleconsultation by visiting https://www.bghmc-sdn.net/telemedicine. Teleconsultation is available Monday to Friday from 8:00AM to 5:00PM.

Other patients needing emergency assistance such as maternity services or animal bite treatment are advised to visit the nearest district hospital or Centro Medico de Santisimo Rosario in Balanga City. (PIA 3)

A 36-YEAR-OLD FEMALE DOCTOR working at the Bataan General Hospital (BGH), knowing she was a Person Under Investigation (PUI) for the Wuhan Virus (COVID19) infection, shopped at a duty-free shop here in the Subic Bay Freeport yesterday, exposing hundreds, if not thousands of shoppers and company employees.

“Earlier today (April 14), the SBMA received information from the DOH Regional Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit that a health worker from Bataan, who was allowed access in the Subic Bay Freeport Zone under Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ) rules, had tested positive for COVID19,” Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) Chair & Administrator Wilma T. Eisma said in a statement.

According to Eisma, “the health worker entered the Royal Choices duty-free shop to buy some items on April 13, Monday, at about 11:00 a.m.”

This has prompted SBMA to impose a new rule that will allow only holders of SBMA-issued Quarantine pass and ID “entry in all duty-free shops and similar business establishments in the Subic Bay Freeport.”

“Quarantine Passes issued by various local government units will not be allowed and accepted starting today, April 14, 2020,” Eisma said.

The Royal Choices duty-free shop has been shut down starting today and is undergoing “thorough disinfection.”

It is unclear, though, if the duty-free shop should open on Thursday (April) 16, as planned, considering that all it’s personnel could have been exposed to the virus carried by the COVID19 positive doctor.

Eisma advised that “all persons who were inside the Royal Choices and its perimeter on Monday, April 13, from 10 a.m. onwards to go to the nearest Public Health Center for the necessary declaration and monitoring protocols.”

This development has caused an uproar on Social Media questioning the discretion of a front liner, a doctor at that, in mingling with people knowing all too well that she is a PUI for Covid 19.

“Lahat na nagsasakripisyo, may ganyan pa na dapat siya mismo ang unang nakaka-alam ng protocol,” Patrick S. Escusa, president of Batang Gapo People’s Org, Inc., said.

Meanwhile, Olongapo Mayor Rolen C. Paulino, Jr. has announced that the City has now a total of 7 Covid19 positive cases, up from 5 yesterday.

With one (1) patient already recovered from the virus, there remains some 121 PUI and 187 PUM (Person Under Monitoring). (VVV)

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