Navotas residents get cheaper bread amid COVID crisis

MANILA, Philippines — The local government of Navotas yesterday donated 320 sacks of flour to 32 bakeries in the city for the residents to buy bread at a cheaper price amid the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.

The city hall distributed P1 million worth of flour donated by San Miguel Corp., Mayor Toby Tiangco said.

“We delivered sacks of flour to registered bakeries that are willing to sell their products at a lower price,” Tiangco said.

The bakeries were given flour in exchange for pan de sal, monay, buns and loaf breads that are up to P5 cheaper than the original price.

“We hope this will help Navoteños, especially those who are affected by the enhanced community quarantine,” Tiangco said.

The city’s Price Coordinating Council will monitor the compliance of the bakeries.

The graduates of bread and pastry production at the Navotas Training and Assessment Institute will provide 1,000 pieces of bread to each of the city’s 18 barangays from April 7 to May 29.

As of Sunday, there were seven COVID-19 cases in Navotas with two fatalities.

Mobile drug store

In Caloocan, a mobile drug store was deployed yesterday to give free medicine and supplements as COVID-19 cases in the city rose to 51.

The city government launched its “mobile botika” to provide free amplodipine, metformin, multivitamins capsules and syrup, losartan, metoprolol, lagundi syrup, paracetamol and soap.

Mayor Oscar Malapitan advised residents to bring their prescriptions for maintenance medicine.

Fourteen have died of COVID-19 in Caloocan while four others recovered.

Marikina unveils TeleHealth app

In a bid to reduce the risks of COVID-19 infection among health workers, Marikina City launched a mobile platform for residents to inform doctors about their medical concerns without the need to go to a hospital or health center.

Called “V See Messenger,” the TeleHealth app allows residents – through individual accounts that are linked to a specific doctor or health provider – to have free consultations through messaging and video conference. Doctors have prepared forms that patients can fill out.

“Doctors would readily respond to queries. They have information and forms for patients to fill out in order to assess their health conditions,” Mayor Marcelino Teodoro said.

The app can be downloaded on Play Store and App Store.

“It is a way of taking care of medical frontliners and patients, who no longer have to go out of their homes at the risk of spreading the virus,” Teodoro said.

He said Pilipinas TeleHealth developed the app, whose features are compliant with the Department of Health and World Health Organization’s screening process.

One problem that the program poses is internet accessibility as half of Marikina residents do not have Wi-Fi.

The city has recorded 45 cases of COVID-19 with nine deaths.

In Taguig, the city government launched a program to address concerns about mental health.

Dubbed “Mental health support teleconsultations,” city hall personnel give advice to residents with mental health problems such as depression.

Taguig also launched “Education Hour,” which tackles lessons about COVID-19 on Facebook.

In San Juan, five new cases of COVID-19, including two deaths, were recorded on Sunday, bringing the city’s total number to 131.

The new cases came from Barangays Salapan, Greenhills and Addition Hills.

“We are entering the fourth week of the enhanced community quarantine and in order not to waste the sacrifice made in the early weeks, we need to continue following quarantine protocols,” Mayor Francis Zamora said.

In Pasig, 105 people have tested positive for COVID-19 with 15 deaths.  Thirteen have recovered from the disease.

Decontamination tents

The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) has set up decontamination tents in public hospitals and government offices to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

Decontamination tents were installed at the Philippine Heart Center and East Avenue Medical Center in Quezon City; Malacañang Palace; Department of Health central office in Tayuman, Manila; Department of Social Welfare and Development Operations Center in Pasay, and another DSWD satellite office on Commonwealth Avenue, Quezon City.

“The tents have a diffuser system that disinfects people passing through,” MMDA Chairman Danilo Lim said.– With Neil Jayson Servallos, Ghio Ong