defense chronicle volume 4 issue 2 2020 i 1

DEFENSE CHRONICLE VOLUME 4 ISSUE 2 2020 I 1

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A CREDIBLE DEFENSE ORGANIZATION, A RELIABLE PARTNER IN NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT, AND A STRATEGIC PLAYER IN THE ASIA PACIFIC REGION

Public Affairs Service (PAS) Department of National DefensePAS Building, Natividad Avenue Camp General Emilio Aguinaldo,

Quezon City 1110Tel: (+632) 982-5679

Fax: (+632) 911-7113Email: [email protected]

Editor-in-ChiefMiriam G. Albao

Associate EditorNoriza S. Atienza

News EditorEva B. Delos Santos

Layout ArtistThemis N. Escalada

Media RelationsPrime S. Berunia

FinanceNelson L. Gallarde

ContributorsPublic Affairs Service

Shane Krista YumikuraPatricia Ann C. Lo

PhotographerPinky Rose A. Fernandez

Support ServiceSSg Anthony B. Cadiz

Shella D. SonoganJasper Abueg

Public Affairs Offices ofOffice of Civil Defense

Philippine Veterans Affairs OfficeArmed Forces of the Philippines, Philippine

Army, Philippine Navy/Philippine Marine Corps, Philippine Air Force

VOLUME 4 ISSUE 2 2020 I 3

One day in March 2020, we went to sleep with the biggest uncertainties in our hearts and minds. The next day we woke up to a changed world. It seemed like our lives came to a screeching halt. Our major daily ac-

tivities momentarily stopped and the pause took longer than we wanted. Only a pandemic can change life on earth this swiftly and on such a global scale.

The decisiveness of the government to immediately place the country under quarantine effectively slowed down the spread of the COVID-19 pan-demic. We Filipinos remain hopeful that the road to recovery is not that far after the more than two months of home quarantine and community lock-downs that were imposed on us proved to be effective.

Unfortunately, the lockdown may be over but the pandemic is not. The dreadful, deadly virus remains with us, still virulent, still active, and still invisible. So, as we try to reclaim our lives that were so abruptly put on hold, it is obvious that we cannot yet fully return to normalcy.

Safeguards and protocols to avoid a resurgence of infections must re-main strictly in place and complied with. We have to make adjustments in our lifestyle at home, in the transport system, in the workplace practically everywhere to delay the onset of a second wave of the pandemic.

Just as the ECQ, GCQ and the quarantine variations worked because of the concerted efforts of the government, the private sector and our local communities - the Bayanihan of the Filipino people. The Filipino way of life af-ter the lockdown will now have to change. The new normal, shall now become our new lifestyle.

We have come this far because of the collective sacrifices of our front-liners and every family who have endured the losses and difficulties brought about by the pandemic. We worked and prayed hard together. We shall con-tinue until we beat COVID-19.

THE NEW NORMALMESSAGEfrom the

SECRETARY OF NATIONAL DEFENSE After the unprecedented, lengthy lockdown that we have experienced as part of our country’s efforts to address the COVID-19 pandemic, I am pleased to welcome back everyone in the Department as we return to our respective offices and fully resume our operations, with the hope that everyone continues to be safe and in good health.

While many of us in the Department served as frontliners to help ensure the success of the measures taken by the government, most of us had to work from home during the lockdown period. Let me thank you for doing your part in the Filipino people’s Bayanihan to beat the COVID-19 and heal as one nation. The collective effort of the government, the private sector and our local communities successfully slowed down the spread of COVID-19 and statistically speaking, started to flatten the curve of the viral infections.

But lest we forget, let us be reminded that the virus is still very much among us and remains unseen. So as we return to our offices, we have to ensure that public health standards must be complied with and continu-ously observed at all times. While we move forward and help our country recover from its losses, we have to adapt and operate in the “new normal”.

In these uncertain times vigilance and faithful compliance to government directives that are based on the recommendation of health experts are very important not only for the individual well being of our employ-ees but for the collective safety of our Department. We should all therefore strictly follow new safety ahd health protocols, which shall now become part of our daily lives. Let us build on the gains of our collective work to save our people from this deadly pandemic. I enjoin every member of the One Defense Team to continue to do your part until this battle is won. With the help and guidance of the Almighty, we shall win this battle for our loved ones, for those we have lost, and most especially for all of us who fight and heal as one.

DELFIN N. LORENZANA Secretary

LIFE AFTER LOCKDOWN

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An unconventional battle has begun for the de-fenders of the country as a new enemy emerged, an adversary that is both silent and invisible –

the SARS-CoV-2 virus that caused the COVID19 pan-demic. The threat that this virus posed to public health and security prompted the Armed Forces of the Philip-pines (AFP) to take massive efforts in protecting the Filipino people against the unseen enemy.

The AFP has utilized its personnel, resources, and assets to aid the government and provide essential services to the communities affected by the pandemic.

Leading the enforcement of the Enhanced Com-munity Quarantine (ECQ) with the Philippine National Police (PNP), the AFP has deployed both active and re-serve military personnel to different parts of the coun-

DEFENDERS VS. COVID19:AFP’s battle against the new enemy

try to ensure strict implementation of community quar-antine and lockdown measures of the government.

Deployed troops manned checkpoints and quar-antine assistance stations, as well as provided trans-port assistance to the stranded frontliners, students, and Balikbayans.

To help address the growing number of COV-ID-19 cases, the AFP has stepped up its efforts by ex-panding its logistical and operational capabilities. The Philippine Army (PA), Philippine Navy (PN) and Philip-pine Air Force (PAF) deployed their military assets to perform relief and transport operations.

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Defenders...Continued from page 6

The AFP also supported the Local Government Units (LGUs) in the distribution of relief goods, as well as assisted NGOs and other stakeholders in delivering donations to the affected areas in Metro Manila and other regions.

Relief operations to remote areas and indige-nous peoples communities were also carried out. AFP’s mobile kitchen moved to different locations to give free hot meals to homeless individuals and families.

Meanwhile, the ships and vessels, of the Navy such as BRP Bacolod City (LS550), BRP Ramon Alcaraz (PS16) and BRP Davao Del Sur (LD602) were deployed to pick-up both procured and donated personal protec-tive equipments (PPEs), COVID-19 testing facilities, and other medical gears from countries like China and In-dia.

The C130 aircrafts of PAF were also proactive in airlifting needed medical kits, food supplies, and PPEs.

The urgent need for medical equipment and facilities, as well as necessity to augment the medical workforce led the AFP to consider other initiatives to cater the needs of both health workers and civilians. The AFP started to make DIY face shields and PPEs for the frontliners, recycle drums to construct portable wash stations and infectious waste bins, as well as build Emergency Quarantine Facilities (EQFs), which were turned over to various LGUs.

Furthermore, the AFP has tapped its medical corps, and recruited more medical doctors and nurses to accommodate the rising demand for medical profes-sionals to care for COVID19 patients.

In this time of global health crisis, the AFP as defender of the state, endeavors to uphold its mission of “protecting the people, securing the state” by contin-uously supporting the Philippine government’s efforts in the fight against COVID-19, and by taking an expand-ed role to alleviate the impacts of the pandemic to the Filipino people.

Photos courtesy of AFPPAO, AFPAO, NPAO and OACPA


As the country grapples with the effects of the COVID19 pandemic, the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) remains committed to its institutional

mandate in risk reduction and disaster management through the consolidation and distribution of life-saving items from international and domestic donees to support the country’s front liners.

Aside from its mission stipulated under the Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Law or Republic Act No. 10121, Administrative Order 27 (s. 2020) tasks the OCD to consolidate, allocate, and deliver donations directed to the the national government, such as personal protective equipment (PPEs) and medical supplies, as well as food items and monetary assistance.

This policy ensures equitable allocation and distribution of assistance donated by foreign and local

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OCD joins bayanihan

for COVID19 frontliners

governments and establishments, private companies, civil society organizations, and philanthropic individuals, as well as those procured by the OCD and the Department of Health (DOH).

Said donations and procurements continue to benefit universities and COVID19 front liners in hospitals, government agencies, local government units, OCD field offices, and personnel from the Armed Forces of the Philippines and Philippine National Police.

Among the thousands of items in OCD’s inventory are the PPE suits, surgical and N95 masks, gloves, shoe covers, alcohol gallons, and raincoats from SM Foundation. The agency also received more than a thousand cots for medical health workers from the United States government.

Furthermore, the OCD received and distributed medical and food supplies to various frontliners within

and outside Metro Manila from the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce (Phil) Inc. and other donors.

Meanwhile, the OCD distributes DOH-procured PPEs from China to COVID19 referral hospitals. OCD-procured PPEs, face masks, and bottles of water are also delivered to numerous medical facilities.

The OCD, as the lead bureau of the Logistics Cluster of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council and as a member of the Task Group Resource Management and Logistics of the National Task Force on COVID19, sustains its accomplishments with various stakeholders in responding to the emergency crisis that has crippled nations across the globe.

The Office of Civil Defense has a section on its website where the public can access the list of donations, the status, and other details. Kindly visit www.ocd.gov.ph to monitor updates on donations.

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#ONEDEFENSETEAMPH


G E N D E R A N D D E V E L O P M E N T

Entering motherhood in the time of COVID19

As public health efforts continue to mitigate the spread and the effects of

COVID19 in our communities, this edition of GAD Corner aims to impart information from authorities such as the Department of Health and the World Health Organization (WHO) regarding pregnancy, childbirth and breastfeeding.

Pregnancy and COVID19 Presently, there is no evidence suggesting that pregnant women have a higher risk for COVID19 infection. However, WHO noted that “due to changes in their bodies and immune systems, we know that pregnant women can be badly affected by some respiratory infections.”

To lessen the risk of contracting COVID19, pregnant women must observe the precautions advised to the general public. These include frequent washing of hands with soap and water, observing physical distancing and avoiding crowds; and avoiding touching the eyes, nose and mouth.

Pregnant women must regularly undergo prenatal check-up in their respective health centers/hospitals or other birthing facilities until pregnancy comes to term. According to DOH, expectant women are to continue taking prescribed iron-folic acid supplements. More importantly, they should keep healthy by maintaining good personal hygiene, and eating well-balanced and nutritious meals.

The Veterans Federation of the Philippines (VFP) promptly responded to the Veterans Memorial

Medical Center’s (VMMC) call for emergency assistance in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.

Secretary of National Defense (SND) Delfin N. Lorenzana commended VFP President, former Justice Manuel Pamaran, for his initiative and decisive action in responding to the urgent call for assistance by the VMMC.

VMMC Chief Director Dominador M. Chiong requested the VFP to help fund some of its urgent requirements to capacitate the VMMC in dealing effectively with the pandemic. Out of a total funding requirement of PhP 221.04 million, the SND approved the amount of PhP 81.84 million as VFP’s share in helping VMMC combat the dreaded COVID-19 which has killed seventeen (17) veterans patients so far.

The VFP President, through the VFP Vice President for Finance Col. Gilbert Baladjay (Ret), assured sufficient funding from its realized savings in the F.Y. 2019 Budget and cancelled activities in the F.Y. 2020 Budget as a result of the lockdown and strict implementation of quarantine measures. Col. Baladjay also reported that the Federation was accumulating retained earnings through the years and are deposited in government banks. These funds are for the welfare and promotion of the interest of all the Filipino veterans as provided in the VFP Charter, Republic Act 2640. Notably, under the recently passed law to combat COVID-19 crisis, Republic Act 11469, the government may tap all unspent funds of all Government-Owned and Controlled Corporations (GOCC) for the purposes of dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic.

The SND also lauded the VFP President for his quick response in immediately tasking the VFP Management to transfer an initial support of PhP 10 million for the urgent needs of the frontline health workers exposed to COVID-19 patients. The remaining portion of the VFP assistance amounting to PhP 72.77 million shall be transferred to VMMC upon the letter’s submission of the pertinent procurement documents.

In his Memorandum to the members of the VFP Management Committee, Justice Pamaran declared that, “... the said assistance is in line with VFP’s mandate to serve the veterans especially during this time of pandemic. Hence, all Heads of Offices and Staff are encouraged to support said request and process the same as soon as possible.”

VOLUME 4 ISSUE 2 2020

Childbirth amid the pandemic

While our hospitals tend to COVID19 patients, the DOH advises pregnant women to seek the advice of their health workers to determine the appropriate health facility suited to the prenatal and childbirth needs of the mother. Aside from hospitals, pregnant women may deliver their child in other health facilities licensed by the DOH and accredited by PhilHealth, such as the birthing facility of your local health center, private lying-in clinics with midwife, nurse and doctors, and infirmaries.

There is still no evidence showing that pregnant women pass the virus to the baby during pregnancy or delivery. If a pregnant woman is suspected or confirmed to be COVID19-positive, the DOH strongly recommends informing the health worker of the status and health condition of the mother to ensure proper medical service for the delivery of the child. Additionally, health experts urge mothers to have “immediate and continued skin-to-skin care, including kangaroo mother care,”

Recognising the extent to which disease outbreaks affect women and men differently is a

fundamental step to understanding the primary and secondary effects of a health emergency on different individuals and communities, and

for creating effective, equitable policies and interventions.1

which improves temperature control of the newborn baby, helps in beginning breastfeeding, and reduces mortality.

Breastfeeding: Best for mothers and babies

According to WHO, transmission of

infection-causing COVID19 virus through breast milk and breastfeeding has not been detected as of this writing. Our DOH recommends that even COVID19-positive mothers may continue breastfeeding, as long as the mother strictly observes cleanliness, washes her hands, wears masks, and avoids kissing the child.

Studies have shown that in every setting, breastfeeding “improves survival and provides lifelong health and development advantages to newborns and infants. Breastfeeding also improves the health of mothers.”2 In fact, the WHO maintains that, “the numerous benefits of skin-to-skin contact and breastfeeding substantially outweigh the potential risks of transmission and illness associated with COVID-19.”3

Sources:1Wenham, C., Smith, J., & Morgan, R. (2020). COVID-19: the gendered impacts of the outbreak. The Lancet, 395(10227), 846–848. doi: 10.1016/s0140-6736(20)30526-22, 3 ___ (2020). Q&A: Breastfeeding and COVID-19. World Health Organization.<https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/question-and-answers-hub/q-a-detail/q-a-on-covid-19-and-breastfeeding>

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Veterans umbrella organization helps VMMC deal with the pandemic

In his letter to the VFP President, Secretary Lorenzana expressed his appreciation and said, “Consistent with the VFP’s mandate in its Charter, RA 2640, to represent and defend the interest of all Filipino veterans, your quick response to the urgent call for assistance by the Director of the VMMC is highly commendable and gives relevance and meaning to the Federation’s reason for being.”

Meanwhile, the Philippine Veterans Affairs Office (PVAO) established the Veterans Communication

Center (VCC) to intensify its online presence for a more extensive and systematic dissemination of information among veteran leaders and affiliated organizations.

The VCC will provide the veterans community with online platforms to connect and be apprised with updates on veterans affairs and welfare. It is also intended to help sustain a more unified front that will aid in addressing veterans-related issues posed by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Amidst social distancing measures being imposed due to the current health emergency, a Facebook group and a VCC Viber Group were created for the Filipino veterans community to provide them the recent news, press releases, PVAO advisories, and updates on veterans-related affairs. Included in the online groups are leaders and representatives from the Veterans Federation of the Philippines (VFP), Charter Organizations and Affiliated Organizations.

Veteran leaders are encouraged to raise their issues and concerns in the online groups which will be properly coordinated with the divisions and agencies concerned. The same set of information will also be sent to veteran leaders and the veterans community through electronic mail and a text blast system. As soon as veteran leaders receive information relating to veterans affairs and welfare, they are expected to update and apprise their local veterans community. This will help in informing veterans residing in far-flung areas and give them opportunity to raise their concerns that need prompt and appropriate actions.

PVAO is also enlisting the help of VFP, and their Regional Presidents and Vice Presidents to increase the number of VFP memberships to get a fair representation of the Filipino Veterans Community.

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