(TLC for MSMEs: Ms. Rae Legaspi (second from right), MSME Consultant to the Cagayan de Oro Trade and Investment Promotions Center (Oro-TIPC), with business owners in the pottery sector during a value-chain analysis workshop last March)

File photo taken before the COVID-19 pandemic.

Small Business Corporation (SB Corp), a government-owned and controlled corporation (GOCC) which offers financial services for micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), will reopen its COVID-19 Assistance to Restart Enterprises (CARES) Program online Borrower Registration System (BRS) on 17 August 2020.

Micro enterprises (asset size excluding land: not more than PHP3-million) can avail of loans up to PHP200,000.00, and small enterprises (asset size excluding land: >PHP3-million to PHP15-million) up to PHP500,000.00, payable for up to 24 months without interest.

Application for this second run, called CARES 2, is exclusively online through https://brs.sbgfc.corg.ph. No manual applications will be accepted.

(Batting for the hometeam: Local Economic and Investment Promotions Officer (LEIPO) Eileen San Juan champions homegrown MSMEs at an event promoting local chocolatiers last February.)

“This is of particular interest to the Cagayan de Oro business community since 99% of our 24,000-plus registered businesses are MSMEs,” says Local Economic and Investment Promotions Officer Eileen E. San Juan.

She adds that her office, the Cagayan de Oro Trade and Investment Promotions Center (Oro-TIPC) is ready to assist business owners with their applications through MSME Consultant Raelita Legaspi who heads a team that will coach applicants through the process. Applicants who need coaching may email their contact information to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

According to Ms. Legaspi, the loan applications will be queued on a first come-first served basis so she encourages local MSMEs to prepare their requirements and apply as soon as the portal opens.

Further loan application and process details are available here.

ORO-TIPC Facebook link https://www.facebook.com/OROTIPC/

Mga higala, are you itching for a run?! Join the first-ever Kagay-an Festival Virtual Run from August 22 to 27.

Registration may be done online (https://stby.co/virtual_run) or done personally by going to Ale Restaurant at G/F Robinsons, Limketkai Center. Registration ends on August 22. 

Participants may choose to run the distance of either 5km or 10km. They may finish their chosen distance in one session or accumulated within the 6-day period of the run. 

Running applications are available online to track the distance already covered by the participants who are encouraged to post their mileage on the Circle Productions, Inc Facebook fanpage (https://www.facebook.com/CircleProductionsCdO/).

Shirts for the run completers are available at Ale Restaurant from August 28 to 31, or it may be delivered via Streetby right at the doorstep. 

The Kagay-an Festival Virtual Run forms part of the official month-long roster of activities for Higalaay 2020.  

For more information on Higalaay 2020, please visit the page: (https://www.facebook.com/thehigalaayfestival/)

As of August 12 (Wednesday), the number of positive cases of COVID-19 in Northern Mindanao has increased to 804.

Out of the total positive cases, 663 came from Locally Stranded Individuals (LSIs) or Returning Overseas Filipinos (ROFs).

Positive cases in Cagayan de Oro City alone reached 192 (actual count), wherein 158 came from LSIs/ROFs.

Figures from CDO also indicated 64 people on quarantine, 120 recoveries, and 8 deaths.

Records from the Feasibility Analysis of Syndromic Surveillance using Spatio-Temporal Epidemiological Modeler (FASSSTER Philippines) have indicated that the case doubling time for CDO is at 14.41% with 15.38% Critical Care Utilization Rate (CCUR) for the period of July 10-18, 2020.

FASSSTER Philippines is an evidence-based forecast of possible cases and scenarios on the spread of COVID-19 in the country.

The Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) has placed the entire Region 10 under the Modified General Community Quarantine (MGCQ) status until August 15, 2020.

The MGCQ status is the transition phase between GCQ and New Normal when the following temporary measures are relaxed and become less necessary: (1) limiting movement and transportation, (2) the regulation of operating industries, and (3) the presence of uniformed personnel to enforce community quarantine protocols.

#NagkahiusaBatokCOVID19 #CDOCOVID19Response #iCanDOit #HealAsOne #COVIDI19PH

Marshals will be stationed inside two of SM Downtown Premier’s cinemas for monitoring while minimum health safety protocols will be enforced to protect the moviegoers.

“The Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) allows the operation of cinemas at half or 50 percent capacity in areas under modified general community quarantine (MGCQ). SM Downtown Premier asked us to inspect their cinemas and we did while we reminded them to observe minimum health safety protocols like physical distancing,” said Atty. Jose Edgardo Uy, who heads the Economic Cluster of City Hall’s Emergency Operations Center (EOC) during Tuesday morning’s (Aug. 11) press briefing.

Uy said among the measures set in places by mall management include a ‘two-seat’ apart’ seating arrangement for moviegoers, foot bath at the entrance and exit, temperature checks and wearing of face masks inside the cinema. “Moviegoers will also disinfect their hands with alcohol before and after every film screening,” Uy said.

Uy said moviegoers were also encouraged to book their tickets online to avoid the lines which will still be allowed provided each moviegoer stands one meter apart from each other. “We advised the mall management to implement a ‘no face mask, no ticket’ policy,” he said.

For her part Dr. Magdalena Juan reminded moviegoers to wear their face mask properly by making sure to cover both their noses and mouths. Markers were also in place to ensure one way flow of movement and minimize contact. “Management is also reminded to observe adequate time for disinfection inside the cinema to allow the odor to dissipate before allowing moviegoers to go inside,” Dr. Juan said.

Again, Uy said mini-movie theaters are barred from operating due to its cramped and enclosed space which prevents enforcement of physical distancing.

In contrast, SM Downtown Premier’s two cinemas can accommodate more than 200 moviegoers but will be allowed only 80 persons in compliance with physical distancing requirements.

Uy also said the management didn’t indicate that they would raise the prices of tickets to moviegoers. He confirmed that both City Mall in Barangay Bulua and SM Uptown signified their intention to open their cinemas to them subject to inspection and clearance from City Hall.

An online site operated by Cagayan de Oro City Hall that would allow users to provide basic health information to establishments will be rolled out later this year to the public, both the City Tourism Office and City Hall’s Management Information System (CMIS) said Wednesday morning (Aug. 12).

“This online service will generate a QR (quick response) code that provides data required in the health declaration forms to the restaurant or establishment the user entered in that can provide information for contact tracing by City Hall,” CMIS chief Zelfred Anthony Cocon said during Wednesday morning’s press briefing.

Cocon said users need to register and provide permission for use of their personal information in compliance with the Data Privacy Act. “The establishments can generate reports but firewalls are set up to prevent hackers from accessing the user’s personal data,” he said.

Only smartphones, not analog phones can use the site and users need not install an app for this service since it can be accessed by the smart device’s mobile operating system. “For Android phones it is the Google browser while it’s Safari for IPhones and IPads,” Cocon said.

For her part City Tourism Officer Chedilyn Aissa Dulguime said the online service is one way for City Hall to meet the challenge of enabling city residents to provide health information to establishments minus the inconvenience of filling out health information forms of every establishment.

“This service is only an option since these establishments are still required to provide forms for their clients to fill out their health information for contact tracing operations (amid the pandemic). This will help the user retrace their itinerary (in case of reports of a certain area),” Dulguime said.

“This online service came about after meeting with the CMIS and with Dr. (Teodulfo Joselito) Retuya (CHO resident epidemiologist) who advised us on this project. This initiative will help the city government in securing health information crucial to tracing persons (that were exposed to COVID-19),” Dulguime said.

A portion of Purok 5, Zone 10-B in Upper Barangay Carmen is placed under localized containment Wednesday afternoon (Aug. 12) by Cagayan de Oro City Hall following the death of a 73-old female resident who tested positive for COVID-19, the eighth recorded local mortality in the city.

“She has a history of travel from Bukidnon province and suffers from hypertension, Type 2 diabetes and chronic kidney disease. Her remains were cremated at 2 pm Tuesday as facilitated by the Management of the Dead Cluster and we already identified 13 persons with close contacts to Case 192 including some hospital workers and five family members,” City Health Office (CHO) resident epidemiologist Dr. Teodulfo Joselito Retuya said in Wednesday noon´s (Aug. 12) press briefing.

All of these contacts were quarantined at the city isolation units and placed under observation while the CHO expanded their contact tracing with assistance from Carmen´s barangay health emergency team, Dr. Retuya said. “We met with Dr. Retuya, City Health Officer Dr. Lorraine Nery and barangay officials to map out the quarantine area last Tuesday,” said Nic Jabagat, acting chief of the City Disaster Risk Reduction Management Department (CDRRMD).

“As per procedure I will ask for information on the area for basis on the executive order I´ll issue to place the site under localized quarantine with concurrence from the Regional Inter-Agency Task Force and informing the City Council on this. Again I will ask for cooperation from the residents to stay at their homes while food aid will be given to them at their households for the duration of the two-week quarantine,” Mayor Oscar Moreno said.

The last recorded local COVID-19 death occurred two weeks ago, Mayor Moreno said. Dr. Retuya also clarified that based on the recent zero prevalence survey that there is no evidence to suggest that there is sustained local community transmission of COVID-19 in Barangay Carmen, the most populous village in Cagayan de Oro City.

The Department of Interior and Local Governments (DILG) expressed favor to Cagayan de Oro City Mayor Oscar Moreno´s offer to use a city-owned three-storey facility to house persons deprived of liberty (PDLs).

“City DILG Director Jane Docallos and I exchanged messages with Regional DILG Director Arnel Agabe last Tuesday evening (Aug. 11) on the city´s proposal and Agabe said he will follow it up with Interior and Local Governments Secretary Eduardo Año. Secretary Año initially favored the proposal but he wanted to have some issues clarified (and he later agreed),” Mayor Moreno said during Wednesday noon´s (Aug. 12) press briefing.

Still, Mayor Moreno said the other stakeholders like the police should do their part to fast-track the investigation into charges against the PDLs to avoid detaining them far longer than necessary.

“(Also) the slow, delayed processing of inquest (proceedings) contributed to the problem (of jail congestion). That´s a sign of negligence and it´s not reassuring,” Mayor Moreno said.

Cagayan de Oro City Hall under the Moreno administration built a three-storey building inside the Lumbia City Jail that includes an infirmary to treat ailing inmates. The Cagayan de Oro City Police Office (COCPO) earlier requested the City Health Office for a temporary holding area for PDLs as a preventive measure against COVID-19.

Mayor Moreno said he instructed the City Health Office to institute measures that will protect the health of the PDLs.

“We have to strategize on what steps to take. (CHO resident epidemiologist) Dr. (Teodulfo Joselito) Retuya will decide on what these measures will be. What´s important is we prevent COVID-19 from entering the facility and infecting the PDLs,” Mayor Moreno said.

As of August 11, the number of positive cases of COVID-19 in Northern Mindanao has risen to 770.

Out of the total positive cases, 651 came from Locally Stranded Individuals (LSIs) or Returning Overseas Filipinos (ROFs).

Positive cases in Cagayan de Oro City alone reached 192 (actual count), wherein 158 came from LSIs/ROFs.

Records from the Feasibility Analysis of Syndromic Surveillance using Spatio-Temporal Epidemiological Modeler (FASSSTER Philippines) have indicated that the case doubling time for CDO is at 14.41% with 15.38% Critical Care Utilization Rate (CCUR) for the period of July 10-18, 2020.

FASSSTER Philippines is an evidence-based forecast of possible cases and scenarios on the spread of COVID-19 in the country.

The Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) has placed the entire Region 10 under the Modified General Community Quarantine (MGCQ) status until August 15, 2020.

The MGCQ status is the transition phase between GCQ and New Normal when the following temporary measures are relaxed and become less necessary: (1) limiting movement and transportation, (2) the regulation of operating industries, and (3) the presence of uniformed personnel to enforce community quarantine protocols.

#NagkahiusaBatokCOVID19 #CDOCOVID19Response #iCanDOit #HealAsOne #COVIDI19PH

Rather than risk direct national government intervention similar to what happened in Cebu City, Mayor Oscar Moreno said he will order the City Health Office (CHO) to offer the city’s isolation units and temporary treatment management facility (TTMF) to house COVID-19 patients of Iligan City.

“We don’t want a situation in which the national government will have to send their people to Iligan City similar to what happened in Cebu City and even Zamboanga City. We want to avoid a surge in COVID-19 cases that would overwhelm Northern Mindanao Medical Center (NMMC) and result in a region wide lockdown that would make life harder for the people of Cagayan de Oro,” Mayor Moreno said during Monday noon’s (Aug. 10) press briefing.

Based on data from the Department of Health (DOH-10), Iligan City registered 27 COVID-19 positive cases from Aug. 3 to 9, up from 11 cases last Aug. 2. Mayor Moreno previously offered the city’s TTMF for use by the mayors of Misamis Oriental’s towns to help house some of their COVID-19 positive patients.

In reiterating NMMC’s role as northern Mindanao’s COVID-19 referral hospital, Mayor Moreno said the NMMC’s critical care utilization rate or capacity to handle COVID-19 patients should not be overwhelmed beyond their current level.

“The NMMC is the region’s vessel and all of us are passengers in the same boat trying to reach the (shore of recovery). We must protect our boat,” Mayor Moreno said.

For his part, NMMC liaison officer Dr. Bernard Julius Rocha said they are further upgrading their facilities in anticipation of more patients once the national government lifts the modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ) over the National Capital Region (NCR).

Things are going to be different for businesses this time around because of the COVID-19 pandemic. While the country is suffering from economic paralysis, local businesses in Cagayan de Oro City have silently adapted to the new normal in business life — all from changes in logistics to adjustments in operations as mandated by the government.

“Transaction count has been greatly affected since [the] start of quarantine.” Misamis Oriental Retailers Association (MISORRA) president Marie Claire Tan shares the general trend for their members.

However, this did not hinder the association from implementing the 60-day price freeze last March 12 to help their customers weather the crisis.

"Retailers continue to offer diverse day to day essentials. We are committed to providing the needs and wants of our customers in this trying time. Deals, discounts and bundling promotions are offered to help Kagay-anons to stand on their feet amidst the pandemic.” 

Local government officials have also lauded the association for the swift implementation of the government health and safety protocols.

Tan said: “Our response to COVID19 pandemic requires everyone to work as one. We as an organization, MISORRA, ensures that our customers are safe in our stores by working hand in hand with our LGU in implementing necessary precautions.”

“Social distancing, disinfecting, and the wearing of face masks and face shields are also mandatory for our employees. This is the responsible action of all supermarkets in CDO.” she adds. 

This aside from the mandatory temperature check and disinfection practices that customers must go through before entering business premises.

MISORRA is composed of all supermarkets, pharmaceutical businesses, and auto-dealers in the province. It is supported by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) MisOr Provincial Director Almer Masillones, DTI MisOr Trade and Industry Development Specialist Rozanne San Juan, City Price Coordinating Council Chairman Atty Jose Edgardo “Egay” Uy, and Committee Chairman on Trade and Commerce and City Councilor Honorable George Goking.

“Words seem so inadequate to thank MISORRA Officers and members as we are all essential employees who are risking lives during these challenging times to make sure that our families and the entire community in the city will be served accordingly, and are safe.” Tan shares.

For MISORRA members, the future is not without hope.