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https://up.edu.ph/uplb-publishes-free-to-download-childrens-ebooks-on-covid-19-prevention-and-control-measures/ | UPLB publishes free-to-download children’s ebooks on COVID-19 prevention and control measures – University of the Philippines | UPLB publishes free-to-download children’s ebooks on COVID-19 prevention and control measures UPLB publishes free-to-download children’s ebooks on COVID-19 prevention and control measures April 21, 2020 | Written by Celeste Ann Castillo Llaneta, UP Media and Public Relations Office Cover of “Ang mga Maskara ni Miko,” one of the two children’s ebooks published by the UPLB Department of Human and Family Development Studies. The Department of Human and Family Development Studies (DHFDS) under the UP Los Baños College of Human Ecology (UPLB-CHE) has published free-to-download children’s e-books about the importance of social distancing and of wearing face masks during this time of COVID-19. This was announced in recent posts on UPLB’s Facebook page. Cover of “Isang Metro,” the other children’s ebook published by the UPLB Department of Human and Family Development Studies. The first book is “Isang Metro: Kwentong Pambata ukol sa COVID-19”, written by Kate del Rosario, and illustrated by Dandin Espina, with with Paeng Ferrer as editor and layout artist. In it, a little girl named Ella asks her mother, Aling Marie, why people need to maintain social or physical distance, staying one meter apart from one another. Her mother then shares with her other measures to prevent the spread of the viral disease, such as washing hands and refraining from touching one’s face. Ella then finds ways of working with the social distancing rule to still have fun with a friend. Download “Isang Metro” ebook for free here. One of the illustrations from “Isang Metro”. The second book, “Ang mga Maskara ni Miko: Kwentong Pambata Ukol sa COVID-19” (2020), was also written by Kate del Rosario and illustrated by Rachelle Ann Fabula, with editing by Paeng Ferrer and layout by Kenneth Turaray. The story centers around a little boy named Miko, who asks his father why people nowadays have been wearing face masks that cover their nose and mouth. Miko then goes on to compare these masks to the ones that he himself plays with. His father, Mang Berto, explains to him the need for people to wear these masks, and the different types of masks that frontliners use. Download “Ang mga Maskara ni Miko” ebook for free here. The books, as well as the audio/video reading of “Isang Metro” are a good help for parents seeking to explain to their children the need and ways to stay safe and healthy during this time of a pandemic, in language that children can understand. They were published under the Tsikiting Stories series of the DHFDS. Watch ‘Isang Metro: Kwentong Pambata ukol sa COVID-19’. One of the illustrations from “Ang mga Maskara ni Miko”. Special discounts, however, are available on quantity purchases by corporations, associations and others. For inquiries, please contact the Department of Human and Family Development Studies, UPLB-CHE, or Tsikiting Stories at tsikitingstories@gmail.com. |
https://up.edu.ph/up-ait-houses-qc-district-6-testing-center-for-covid-19/ | UP AIT houses QC District 6 testing center for COVID-19 – University of the Philippines | UP AIT houses QC District 6 testing center for COVID-19 UP AIT houses QC District 6 testing center for COVID-19 April 22, 2020 | Written by Jo. Florendo B. Lontoc Booths and paraphernalia being trucked into the UP-AIT compound along Commonwealth Avenue to establish the City District 6 COVID-19 testing center. Photo courtesy of Jojo Cabangon, April 19, 2020, retrieved from the UP-AIT Facebook page. The east wing of the newly renovated UP Asian Institute of Tourism (AIT) building located along Commonwealth Avenue is now COVID-19 Testing Center of Quezon City District 6. “When a request for assistance in setting up a COVID-19 testing center in Quezon City was received from [District 6 Representative] Kit Belmonte by [UP Diliman] Chancellor Fidel Nemenzo, an affirmative response was immediately given after consultations with [UP] President Danilo Concepcion and myself as the head of unit of the building that was identified as the suitable location for the purpose,” UP-AIT Dean Leticia Susan Lagmay-Solis told the UP Media and Public Relations Office. For testing operations that would begin on April 20, 2020, an ocular inspection of what used to be the AIT House Hotel was undertaken on April 17, 2020 by Belmonte and QC Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (DRRM) Head Karl Marasigan, together with personnel from the UP Diliman (UPD) Office of the Vice Chancellor for Planning and Development, the UPD Office of the Campus Architect, and UP-AIT. They addressed operational concerns and identified the most efficient way of setting up the facility at the soonest possible time. This included clearing the areas of furniture and equipment and disinfecting the internal and external areas of the building on April 18, 2020. Thus, the center was set up, with booths and paraphernalia coming from the LGU, within two days after the request from the city; and was operating on the third. A room furnished with cots at the UP-AIT COVID-19 testing center. Photo courtesy of Jojo Cabangon, April 19, 2020, retrieved from the UP-AIT Facebook page. “As time is of the essence… the University extends its full support without hesitation… as it tries to find ways to prevent the further spread of COVID-19, and to find solutions to end the pandemic,” Lagmay-Solis said. “We in AIT wholeheartedly offer the building we consider our second home as our humble contribution in response to the urgent appeal of the QC LGU for support,” the dean added. “All throughout this period, I, Chancellor Nemenzo, Vice Chancellor for Planning and Development Raquel Florendo, and Congressman Belmonte were in constant communication… until nighttime to ensure smooth operations when the testing facility is finally opened,” she said. “We constantly coordinate even now as the facility is already operational.” Lagmay-Solis assured that all safety precautions and protocols are in place to ensure the welfare of all stakeholders. Booths from the Quezon City Hall installed at a UP-AIT lobby. Photo courtesy of Jojo Cabangon, April 19, 2020, retrieved from the UP-AIT Facebook page. After pilot-testing community-based testing the previous week at the Quezon Memorial Circle, the city opened the AIT testing center along with the testing center each for Districts 4 and 5. Based on a Quezon City government press release dated April 20, 2020, the city opened the testing centers for Districts 1, 2, and 3 on April 21, 2020. The testing centers are equipped with swab booths to handle a targeted 50 tests per day, blood testing and x-ray examination. District health officers, in coordination with barangay health center personnel, will man and supervise the booths. Specimens are forwarded to the Lung Center of the Philippines and St. Luke’s Medical Center-Quezon City for processing. The city has also partnered with other organizations and agencies to expand testing and include house-to-house tests, particularly of senior citizens and immuno-compromised constituents. “For those who would like to undergo testing, the QC government requests its residents to coordinate with their barangay health officers for initial interview and assessment before they will be scheduled and brought to the testing centers,” according to the press release. Seats spaced according to social distancing protocols at the UP-AIT COVID-19 testing center. Photo courtesy of Jojo Cabangon, April 19, 2020, retrieved from the UP-AIT Facebook page. |
https://up.edu.ph/up-historic-building-to-shelter-persons-for-covid-19-isolation/ | UP historic building to shelter persons for COVID-19 isolation – University of the Philippines | UP historic building to shelter persons for COVID-19 isolation UP historic building to shelter persons for COVID-19 isolation April 23, 2020 | Written by UP Media and Public Relations Office Beds lined up in parts of Palma Hall designated as isolation areas. Photo by UP COVID-19 Task Force and Act as One PH, April 19-20, 2020, from the UP-CSSP Facebook page Operations of “Kanlungang Palma” will begin on April 22 after the historic Palma Hall of UP Diliman (UPD) was designated an isolation area for suspected and probable cases of persons with COVID-19, according to bulletins from the UPD College of Social Sciences of Philosophy (CSSP). The shelter will handle cases coming from the UPD area. In an update by CSSP on April 21, 50 of the 85 beds that were set uphave been retained foruse. This was to accommodate the University Health Service’s (UHS) capability to handle only 50 cases at any given time. In the same bulletin, CSSP revealed that the installation of plastic dividers of bed areas was already underway via the volunteers of Act as One PH, led by Dr. Jesusa Catabui, UHS director. There will only be two patients in each classroom to ensure proper physical distancing. Arrangements were previously made for the setting up of tents at the parking lot across the façade to serve as the swabbing or testing area of the UHS. A classroom converted into an isolation area. Photo by Jem Javier, April 18, 2020, from the UP-CSSP Facebook page Palma Hall, the home of CSSP, has been known as a shelter for activism.“Ang mga silya ay nasa fourth floor, echoing [the First Quarter Storm] and the Diliman Commune, pero ang kalaban ngayon ay sakit. At sa halip na magtaboy ng manunupil ay tatanggap ng mga nangangailangan,” said Prof. Jem Javier of CSSP’s Department of Linguistics on the latest social engagement by the University in the storied building. Javier was referring to classroom furniture being moved to the fourth floor, as the second and third floors might also be used for isolation, to give way for isolation beds. The classrooms were being prepared under the supervision of the UPD Office of the Campus Architect and the UHS, with proper ventilation and spacing of beds ensured. “Only the front entry of Palma Hall will be used and the east and west wing gates will be closed. The pavilions and all offices will also be closed off,” according to CSSP’s bulletin dated April 18. Dr. Jesusa Catabui of the University Health Service, an Act as One PH volunteer, and Palma Hall Assistant Building Administrator Roy Ramos discuss the partitions to be placed between beds. Photo by UP COVID-19 Task Force and Act as One PH, April 19-20, 2020, from the UP-CSSP Facebook page In its first bulletin dated April 17, the College assured its constituents that the decision would not risk their safety as “we are not returning to our physical classes for the rest of the semester and the midyear.” CSSP added that all proper health protocols identified by UP COVID-19 Task Force to keep the personnel, including security guards, safe would be followed. “Only the custodial workers who volunteer for the task will work in the area, with consideration for their own health conditions. They will all receive hazard pay,” according to CSSP. As of April 18, seven such workers had volunteered. The UPD Administration added another five to the task of preparing the area. They were provided meals. CSSP said that these workers will be replaced by “professional janitors” once isolation operations start on April 22. Disinfection and decontamination before and after the COVID-19 operations will be conducted by a Sanitary Anti-Viral Entry Point or SAVEPOINT team following WHO protocols and utilizing “internal establishment disinfecting” services and misting tents, among others. |
https://up.edu.ph/stop-covid-deaths-clinical-management-updates-webinar-series/ | Stop COVID Deaths: Clinical Management Updates Webinar Series – University of the Philippines | Stop COVID Deaths: Clinical Management Updates Webinar Series Stop COVID Deaths: Clinical Management Updates Webinar Series April 22, 2020 | Posted by UP Media and Public Relations Office Changes in the diagnosis and treatment of COVID-19 as an infection, and as it impacts on all medical and surgical conditions occur at great speed. There are no experts in COVID-19. But over the past month, expertise in different specialties of medicine is growing. The University of the Philippines, in partnership with the UP Manila National Telehealth Center and the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation, strongly support the promotion of the highest possible standards of care for COVID-19 patients and also seek to protect the entire health system from the devastation of viral spread through measures and interventions that will insulate the whole range of the practice of medicine and all its sub-specialties in the post-Enhanced Community Quarantine phase and for continuing pandemic preparedness and response. To tap into the experiences of clinicians, hospital administrators, and researchers on COVID-19, a series of Zoom meeting-webinars are organized every Friday from 12:00 NN to 2:00 PM (Manila time) by the University of the Philippines in partnership with the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation. This partnership is a public health measure, designed to ensure that health workers are protected in the first instance, and that health facilities remain viable, safe and will continue to provide for a wide range of medical and health needs of the Filipino people. In this regard, everyone is cordially invited to the first Zoom meeting-webinar on the Clinical Management of COVID Pneumonia on Friday, April 24, 2020, at 12:00 NN (Manila time) with Dr. Camilo Roa, Dr. Leonora Fernandez, and Dr. Aileen David Wang as resource persons.All medical staff and practitioners are encouraged to avail of this opportunity to be part of a learning network on the management of COVID-19. Registration is free and open to all at https://tiny.cc/StopCOVIDDeaths. |
https://up.edu.ph/statement-on-the-reported-proposal-of-the-up-covid-19-pandemic-response-team-to-delay-the-reopening-of-schools-up-to-december-2020/ | Statement on the Reported Proposal of the UP COVID-19 Pandemic Response Team to Delay the Reopening of Schools up to December 2020 – University of the Philippines | Statement on the Reported Proposal of the UP COVID-19 Pandemic Response Team to Delay the Reopening of Schools up to December 2020 Statement on the Reported Proposal of the UP COVID-19 Pandemic Response Team to Delay the Reopening of Schools up to December 2020 April 24, 2020 | Written by UP COVID-19 Pandemic Response Team In a press briefing at Malacañang Palace on 21 April 2020, the scientific findings by the UP COVID-19 Pandemic Response Team on age-group social interactions and its implications on flattening the so-called epidemic curve was presented. For everyone’s guidance on the matter, we are issuing this statement to clarify the following: The analysis conducted by our modeling group shows that the 0-19 years old age-group accounts for the greatest number of possible interactions which is about 56%. From one of our projections, eliminating the interaction of this group, which takes place primarily in schools, can substantially reduce spread of the COVID-19 virus. If unmitigated, this number can represent a substantial amount of transmissions if and when we lift the Luzon-wide Enhanced Community Quarantine after April 30, 2020. The proposal to start the school year much later is under the assumption of a full contact (physical) setup. Even with the closure of school grounds, it does not mean we have to discontinue class delivery. Alternative and innovative approaches for continued learning are encouraged and should be explored and implemented. Ultimately, the decision when or how to reopen the schools should be nuanced with the actual situation on the ground. The decision to close schools, or for any action for that matter beyond April 30, is entirely an executive government matter. We only present the results of our models based on data for a science-based approach in the war against COVID-19, especially when we transition to the “new normal.” We presented on 20 April 2020 the results of our models and their corresponding meaning to President Rodrigo Roa Duterte and several Cabinet Secretaries upon the invitation of the Office of the President. We do recognize that there are factors that need to be considered as there are consequences for any decision. But those will ultimately be decided upon by the concerned agencies, in particular the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) and Department of Education (DepEd). For everyone’s information. |
https://up.edu.ph/urugup-upv-taclobans-call-for-cooperation-amid-covid-19-crisis/ | URUGUP: UPV Tacloban’s call for cooperation amid COVID-19 crisis – University of the Philippines | URUGUP: UPV Tacloban’s call for cooperation amid COVID-19 crisis URUGUP: UPV Tacloban’s call for cooperation amid COVID-19 crisis April 23, 2020 | Written by Arlyn VCD Palisoc Romualdo, UP Media and Public Relations Office Partner, ally, kaugop. This is what UP Visayas Tacloban College (UPVTC) advocates each and everyone to be in facing the COVID-19 pandemic. Based on the Waray word, ugop, URUGUP is UPVTC’s institutional initiative in bringing together various sectors to help those in need in these trying times. From collecting donations for the production of alcohol by its Chemistry faculty, researchers, and alumni to putting together and distributing relief packs to its stranded students off campus, URUGUP has been hard at work to continue the delivery of needed assistance. While there are no students living on campus, there are those who remain in boarding houses and with friends and relatives because they cannot travel to their hometowns to be with immediate family. And UPVTC is doing what it can to provide for them. On April 3, URUGUP provided the Eastern Visayas Regional Medical Center with 20 liters of 80% ethyl alcohol, Maasin City Hospital with 5 liters, and Abuyog District Hospital with 2.5 liters. The UPVTC Security Office also received 600 milliliters of 75% isopropyl alcohol and almost 3.8 liters of 80% ethyl alcohol. The following day, 1.5 liters of 75% isopropyl alcohol were given to personnel manning Tacloban entry and exit points. As of April 13, URUGUP raised almost P60,000 in cash donations. Faculty and staff have also banded together for UPVTC Puso. On April 1, UPVTC Puso donated the face shields it produced to frontliners in seven hospitals in Leyte and food packs to four barangays in Tacloban. Face shields and food packs were also given to UPVTC security personnel. Hygiene kits were distributed to 200 tricycle driver members of two associations. On April 8, UPVTC Puso gave cash assistance of P1,000 each to 15 security guards on campus and to the nine security guards in the Sta. Elena property. They, along with the UPVTC Security Office, were also given face shields. UPVTC is also cognizant of the importance of mental and psychosocial health, so it has made available the necessary support for affected individuals and communities in Eastern Visayas through its Psychology program. Apart from this, the Division of Humanities and UP An Balangaw Performing Arts Group are using the arts to provide emotional and mental relief. Pasundayag Paghilom: Songs and Poetry for Healing at the Time of COVID-19 was launched for April’s National Literature Month and International Month of Poetry 2020. The video performances are available via UP An Balangaw’s Facebook page. UPVTC’s call for partnerships through donations and whatever form of support continues as it maintains its commitment to serve not only its community, but the region of Eastern Visayas as well. |
https://up.edu.ph/up-sets-guidelines-on-proceeding-with-academic-year-affected-by-the-ecq/ | UP sets guidelines on proceeding with academic year affected by the ECQ – University of the Philippines | UP sets guidelines on proceeding with academic year affected by the ECQ UP sets guidelines on proceeding with academic year affected by the ECQ April 25, 2020 | Written by Jo. Florendo B. Lontoc The University of the Philippines released on 23 April 2020 implementing guidelines for proceeding with the Second Semester of Academic Year 2019-2020, which has been affected by the Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ) in Luzon and other parts of the country. The guidelines, issued by UP President Danilo L. Concepcion, reflect the resolution of the UP Board of Regents (BOR) in its special meeting on 16 April 2020. The resolution was based on the 13 April 2020 recommendations of UP’s President’s Advisory Committee (PAC) which, in turn, were drawn from the recommendations of the UP System Academic Affairs Committee that were based on the decisions of the Constituent Universities’ Executive Committees in consultation with College Secretaries, Graduate Program Coordinators, Deans and faculty. The PAC endorsed the following proposed policy on the Second Semester AY 2019-2020 to the BOR: 1) end the semester on 30 April 2020; 2) assure that students will not fail the course but that their grade of P (Pass) with optional adjectival remarks will be deferred until they meet adjusted course requirements by 31 May 2021; and 3) allow earlier completion of requirements by students on a CU-set deadline. Guided equally by the UP’s mandate as the National University committed to quality education and by the extreme conditions confronting its students and faculty during the ECQ in Luzon and other parts of the country, the BOR adopted the PAC-proposed “Policy on the Second Semester AY 2019-2020 in the time of COVID-19”, dated 13 April 2020, with revision. Specifically, the Board replaced the recommended P (Pass with optional adjectival remarks) with numeric grades and granted units offering graduate courses the leeway to determine how best to proceed with learning and assessment, in consultation with their students and in consideration of the current crisis situation. The Academic Year and deadlines The last day of class for the semester is 30 April 2020. The CUs will set a deadline for faculty members to disseminate the adjusted course requirement to all their students. Faculty members who are unable to reach some students may seek the assistance of the College Secretaries of the students’ home unit. The CUs will also set the deadline, allowing sufficient time, for the earlier completion within the semester of adjusted course requirements by graduating students and other students who may opt for this. The end dates indicated in the approved academic calendar—such as for the submission of grades and University Council meetings for graduating students—will be revised by the CUs for approval by the UP President. The CUs may decide on proceeding with Midyear 2020 on a schedule informed by ongoing assessments of the COVID-19 situation. In any case, Midyear 2020 should be seen as an opportunity to offer bridging programs. Academic activities after 30 April 2020 There will be no face-to-face classes for the rest of the academic year for both undergraduate and graduate programs. Due to internet access issues that will be addressed in the next semester, online classes are discouraged, but may be conducted only for leveling expectations, clarifications, overall guidance, and summation. Real-time online meetings should not impact grading and should be recorded and disseminated to all students concerned. Units offering laboratory, studio, PE, NSTP, and similar courses are free to redesign the course and explore options to facilitate the completion of these courses remotely. Adjusted course requirements may take the form of an examination or alternative forms of summative assessment (e.g. reflection paper or critical analysis) to be scheduled by the units based on the CU deadline for earlier completion. As a sit-down proctored final examination may no longer be feasible, online exams may be administered. For this, the platform to be used, the students’ internet connection, and their psychological preparedness to take the exam online must be considered. Graduate programs are strongly encouraged to adopt or conform with the general framework, rationale and guidelines on the conduct of academic exercises, as contained in the BOR Resolution. Units offering or handling graduate programs may opt to adopt the policies in this section. Grading No student will be given a grade of 4.0, 5.0 or INC for courses in the Second Semester AY 2019-2020. Students may elect to drop at any time and re-enroll their courses or re-enroll in alternative elective courses or equivalent courses in succeeding semesters. DRP given for the Second Semester AY 2019-2020 will be annotated in the Transcript of Records with an asterisk to indicate: due to COVID-19. Students may also choose not to pursue, in any way, their enrolled courses for the Second Semester AY 2019-2020, as long as they inform in writing their registrar, through their dean, of this choice at any time before 31 May 2021. The students will be deemed dropped as of that date and will not receive grades for these courses in their transcript of records. They will be allowed to re-enroll their courses or equivalent courses in the succeeding semesters. Faculty members who have sufficient basis to give their students a grade as of the end of the semester must give a numeric grade to students with passing status and a deferred grade to those failing or incomplete. The latter have until 31 May 2021 to complete the adjusted course requirements. “When faculty members are unable to perform their academic function due to the COVID- 19 crisis, their respective units, out of duty and compassion for the faculty members concerned and their students, shall ensure that those who comply with the adjusted requirements of the course are given a grade.” Where there is no sufficient basis for giving students a grade as of the end of the semester, grades will be deferred. Again, students have up to 31 May 2021 to complete the adjusted course requirements. Upon completion, the faculty will give a numeric grade to students who have complied with the adjusted course requirements, or drop the students unable to comply for whatever reason, whose performance is unsatisfactory or whose status is failing. The latter may re-enroll the same course or equivalent subject in succeeding semesters. Numeric grade exemption A unit, on behalf of its faculty members, may file applications for exemption from the provisions of the UP System policy of imposing only a numeric grading system in the Second Semester AY 2019-2020. The application should be justified and limited to seeking authority to give P (Pass) as a grade with the faculty having the option to give numeric grades to students whose circumstances so require. Applications must be filed on or before 15 May 2020 through the chancellors, who will then endorse them to the UP President through the Office of the Vice-President for Academic Affairs for eventual consideration of the BOR. Academic standing and scholarship The University is waiving academic deadlines on scholastic standing and student financial assistance for this semester. The deadlines for dropping subjects and filing leave of absence for this semester have also been lifted. The semester will not be included in the reckoning or in the counting of years of residence of a student. A student who incurred an INC or a 4.0 in Second Semester 2018-2019 will be allowed to remove the INC or 4.0 until the first semester of AY 2020-2021. For this semester, the University is suspending the rules on scholastic standing having to do with delinquency, and policies on student financial assistance tied to scholastic standing. Bridging programs A student enrolled in a course this semester that is a prerequisite to another will be allowed to enroll in the latter course for credit, despite having no grade yet for the prerequisite course. Appropriate bridging mechanisms by the offering units should be devised to help these students catch up with the prerequisite course. The bridging programs may be in the form of self-instructional modules, learning packages, or online workshops. The design and mode of delivery of the bridging programs should consider the current crisis conditions as well as the need to manage the workload of both faculty and students. The unit can develop programs, that will hone the competence of students in the critical courses of their programs, designed for flexible delivery that students can avail in the Midyear 2020 or the First Semester AY 2020-2021. Graduating students Graduating students completing the requirements by the deadline set by the CU for the Second Semester AY 2019-2020 will be endorsed for graduation to the BOR when it meets in June or July 2020. However, graduation ceremonies are postponed “to a more auspicious time”. Graduating students with deferred grades at the end of this semester, who complete their requirements after the deadline set by the CU for the Second Semester AY 2019-2020, will be endorsed for graduation to the BOR in the semester the student completes the requirements. However, the student will be deemed “graduated as of the Second Semester AY 2019-2020”. Download the UP System Policy on the Second Semester AY 2019-2020 in the Time of COVID-19. Download the Implementing Guidelines of theUP System Policy on the Second Semester AY 2019-2020 in the Time of COVID-19. Related: UP students given options in complying with course reqs, safety nets against failing grades |
https://up.edu.ph/up-united-how-the-state-university-is-raising-head-and-heart-against-covid-19/ | UP united: How the state university is raising head and heart against COVID-19 – University of the Philippines | UP united: How the state university is raising head and heart against COVID-19 UP united: How the state university is raising head and heart against COVID-19 April 23, 2020 | Posted by UP Media and Public Relations Office As expected of the country’s national university, the University of the Philippines has been among the main institutions at the forefront of the battle against the coronavirus. The spirit of honor, excellence and compassion shines brightly among faculty, students, alumni, and staff across constituent universities nationwide. There is the selfless courage of those who continue to serve daily in the Philippine General Hospital (PGH), or as PGH Director Dr. Gerardo Legaspi aptly puts it, the “people giving hope.” Despite a directive to pull out interns from medical colleges, about 214 PGH interns have volunteered to stay on duty, assisting and augmenting the hospital’s health workers. Despite the danger, PGH has accepted the appointment as one of the country’s COVID-19 referral hospitals. Aiming for more tests In the search for solutions, there are minds hard at work at the UP National Institutes of Health and the Philippine Genome Center (PGC). Scientist Dr. Raul Destura has called on laboratories and hospitals for proper equipment to test their locally developed SARS-COV 2 detection kits. According to UP’s National Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, the search for equipment and qualified personnel to properly conduct tests will be in preparation for the expanded testing of the Department of Health (DOH). Completion of field tests over a two- to three-week period may allow these more affordable test kits to be readily available. Increasing the testing capacity for coronavirus in other regions has also been stressed by UP Mindanao’s (UPM) PGC. Its director, virology professor Dr. Lyre Anni Murao, has proposed a diagnostic program for free testing of COVID-19. Currently in Mindanao, only the Southern Philippines Medical Center (SPMC) is capable of running the test. The proposal includes building a biosafety molecular lab attached to a hospital that will not only help the region against COVID-19 but can eventually help against other infectious and emerging diseases. Discussions ongoing about the establishment of a COVID-19 testing lab in the Davao Regional Medical Center in Tagum City. Involved are Dr. Lyre Anni Murao, director of the Philippine Genome Center-Mindanao, and the DRMC team, led by chief of hospital Dr. Bryan Dalid and pathologist Dr. Alejandro Domingo. Additional testing labs are an urgent requirement of local governments and the Department of Health to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 in the Philippines. Photos from Dr. Murao, taken from a UP Mindanao Facebook post, April 6 Ideas and more Over at the UP Diliman College of Engineering (CoE), a meeting of minds converged to find engineering solutions to the virus outbreak. Five feasible proposals with immediate benefits were identified. The first project pools together all 3D printers across the university system for the production of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). Second is the development of a prototype adult ventilator, as COVID-19 is essentially a respiratory illness. Third is a movement tracker in conjunction with government agencies and telcos for registered Persons Under Investigation. The tracking solution will help assess possible contamination in an area. Fourth is the creation of a mobile plasma treatment apparatus for the disinfection of hospital walls, ERs, walkways, PPEs, health utilities like air filters, and office equipment. Last is a prototype cleaning chamber based on ultraviolet exposure that can disinfect used PPEs. Photo from the UPD College of Engineering Facebook page, March 28 Project implementation will be conducted in coordination with the UP Engineering Research and Development Foundation, Inc. (UPERDFI) and UP Alumni Engineers (UPAE). The UPERDFI has called for donations as the projects will have a total cost of over P1.6 million. The cause has led to generous donations in both cash and kind, including the donation of electronic equipment and devices for prototype and fabrication works. Dr. Enrique Ostrea, Jr. (UP Med’65), patent holder of a ventilator for newborns, has waived his right to the patent to shorten the prototype development of the proposed adult ventilator. Facing the shortages The UP Cebu FabLab assembles over 100 lasercut faceshields for Cebu’s medical frontliners in half a day. Photo from the Fablab UP Cebu Facebook page, March 25 With the shortage of masks and safety equipment, UP units in the Visayas have also used their creativity and resourcefulness to help. The UP Cebu Fabrication Laboratory (FabLab), built for the Product Design program in partnership with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Cebu, has used a 3D printer and laser cutter to come up with about 100 face shields. Additional materials from DTI are expected for more face shields to be made. Students at UP Visayas (UPV) in Miagao and Iloilo campuses have initiated a project to mass-produce alternative face shields. Based on a design from a health worker at the Iloilo Mission Hospital, the face shield is made from Velcro straps, acetate sheets, craft foam and PVC covers. Both campuses are accepting donations of materials including adhesives, double-sided tapes, staples and staplers. The students have so far produced 300 face shields that have been distributed to hospitals across Iloilo. They hope to make many more for the Western Visayas Sanitarium, which is being eyed as a COVID-19 center for the province. UP Visayas student-dormers assembling faceshields to donate to the frontliners. Photo from the UP Visayas Facebook page, April 16 Volunteers were mobilized from among many dormers still in the UPV campuses. Because of travel restrictions to Manila and other provinces, about 174 students remain stranded. Fellow students and alumni groups have been donating food and supplies, especially as the Miagao campus is about 42 kms south of Iloilo City. UPV, through its Philippine Genome Center Visayas, has also transferred its PCT Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) machine and its Digital Dry Bath to the Western Visayas Medical Center. With these transfers, Iloilo City becomes better equipped to diagnose the disease. An alumni group from UPV has also met with government officials to push for the establishment of an accredited coronavirus testing center in the city. Stranded students In the meantime, UP Los Baños (UPLB) has experienced a similar plight to UPV and has appealed for help. The campus has been providing supplies to 700 students in university dorms and another 900 in off-campus housing facilities. The university needs at least P2 million a week to help feed the students. UPLB recently concluded Oplan Hatid in partnership with the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) 2nd Battalion, the UP Rural High School Alumni Group and the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs. Some 94 UPLB students were reunited with their families in CALABARZON and across NCR. Some UPLB dormers, such as those from the Women’s Residence Hall, have decided to be productive about their stay. Difficult as it is to find food and supplies, the residents have managed to make 100 DIY face shields in a project initiated by the School of Environmental Science and Management. Beta Sigma-UPLB chapter has called for volunteers to make more face shields as their group provides instruction guides and raw materials. Aside from face shields, the UP community has been looking at other equipment. A group of designers, engineers and chemists from UP Diliman have put together a prototype COVID-19 decontamination tent. The group, called SaniTents PH, said it could guide hospitals and other establishments who want to increase their safety protocols against the disease. The booth can be constructed in one and a half days, and features a diffuser that sprays disinfectant from head to toe. SaniTents PH has released the design for the general public, so that it can be freely copied or modified for use. SanitentsPH is inviting LGUs and individuals who have developed their own handwashing stations, sensitive to the current situation, to share their ideas in their SaniTents PH Bayanihan Community group: https://tinyurl.com/ud4qsfa. Post taken from SaniTents PH Facebook page, April 13 A listening ear The UP Diliman-Psychological Services (UPD PsycServ), established to provide accessible mental health and psychosocial support services for students, faculty and staff, has offered free therapy services for frontliners. The organization encourages these overworked and stressed-out medical staff to contact 0906-3743466 via text or Viber for free tele-psychotherapy. The UPD PsycServ is composed of licensed psychologists and experienced clinical practitioners completing graduate degrees in Clinical Psychology. A listening ear is another way to support our harried health care workers. There are many other stories of the generosity of the entire UP community, a generosity that extends from thoughts and ideas to concrete action. An alumna, who wishes to remain anonymous, continues to send cash donations for food, medicines and vitamin C to students still in UPLB. Journalist Kara David has driven around the Diliman campus to distribute face masks and alcohol to UP workers, including food sellers, street sweepers and security guards. Shamcey Supsup-Lee, national director of the Miss Universe Philippines Organization and Architecture alumna, has been donating food to Diliman dormers, as well as to the National Children’s Hospital. UP Baguio has distributed 114 care packs containing food, hygiene kits and medicines to students. Many remain on campus due to the Luzon lockdown and need donations for food and supplies. UP Baguio distributes care packs to its stranded students. Photo from the UPB Facebook page, April 9 Nowhere to Go But UP, a volunteer group supporting UP sports teams, has been steadily raising funds for a number of healthcare frontliners that include hospitals, AFP checkpoints, the MMDA Rescue Hotline Group, the Research Institute of Tropical Medicine, and the Philippine Genome Center. Their projects include Oplan Hatid for some 272 Diliman dormers, and more recently, a Canon Digital Masterclass series that will allow participants to donate to UP. The needs are great, and the danger is real. But it is in these situations that UP rises to the ideals that embody its purpose. Give to UP. Donations in cash, kind or volunteerism will be contributions to the welfare not only of our community but of our nation as well. Visit https://giveto.up.edu.ph/gate/covid19 to learn how to donate or email giveto@up.edu.ph or contact the UP Padayon Public Service Office at 0917 571 8886. |
https://up.edu.ph/upv-team-submits-post-ecq-plan-to-iloilo-city-govt/ | UPV team submits post-ECQ plan to Iloilo City gov’t – University of the Philippines | UPV team submits post-ECQ plan to Iloilo City gov’t UPV team submits post-ECQ plan to Iloilo City gov’t April 29, 2020 | Written by Arlyn VCD Palisoc Romualdo UP Visayas (UPV) Professors Maria Elisa Baliao (Sociology), Rhodella Ibabao (Management), Hanny John Mediodia (Economics), Cristabel Parcon (Sociology), Juhn Cris Espia (Political Science), and Vicente Balinas (Statistics) have forwarded their team’s proposed exit plan to the Iloilo City government in anticipation of the eventual lifting of the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ). At the time of the group’s submission, the ECQ was scheduled to be lifted on 01 May 2020. As of April 24, following the announcement of the Iloilo provincial government to extend the ECQ until May 15, Iloilo City Mayor Jerry Treñas said the LGU is still studying the prospect of extension. He explained that the city government will consult Iloilo Governor Arthur Defensor Jr. and the other governors of Panay Island and Guimaras on the matter. In the proposed post-ECQ plan, a “phased reopening and scaling back” of the city government’s support to the local economy would gradually allow businesses to operate and help mitigate the economic losses brought by the COVID-19 pandemic. This, while maintaining safety protocols against the disease. A redefined way of life to combat the spread of COVID-19 would have to be the new normal as going back to pre-pandemic activities immediately is not advised. According to Treñas, this involves continuing the practice of physical distancing, wearing of face mask, and frequent hand washing. He has sent copies of the UPV post-ECQ proposal to other sectors for their input. |
https://up.edu.ph/upd-department-offers-free-counseling-in-a-time-of-physical-distancing/ | UPD department offers free counseling in a time of physical distancing – University of the Philippines | UPD department offers free counseling in a time of physical distancing UPD department offers free counseling in a time of physical distancing April 23, 2020 | Posted by UP Media and Public Relations Office Image from https://www.facebook.com/updpsycserv/ The UP Diliman Department of Psychology, along with its UPD Psychosocial Services (PsycServ) program, has offered free telepsychotherapy services to frontliners, PUMs and PUIs, COVID-19 positive individuals, their relatives, and others severely affected by COVID-19. The latter can send a text or Viber message to 09063743466 or 09167573157 with their name and concern or accomplish the form on the link http://bit.ly/PsycServPH to receive a call from a PsycServ volunteer. PsycServ operates from Monday to Friday, from 9 am to 5 pm. “Indeed physical distancing is hard but we can still enable people to connect for encouragement and comfort,” said Dr. Violeta V. Bautista, PsycServ director and Clinical Psychology Program chair of the Department. Image from https://www.facebook.com/updpsycserv/ According to the https://www.facebook.com/updpsycserv/, the program aims to provide support and a listening ear to those feeling anxious in quarantine with no one to talk to, those diagnosed with the disease or caring and directly working with those who were and thinking of the worst possibilities, those in anguish over a loved one who is ill or who died, and those unsettled and destabilized by the uncertainties and tragedies of the times. The Facebook page offers a general advice: “Halo-halong emosyon ang dala ng COVID-19 sa buhay natin: takot, lungkot, saya, galit, gulat, at marami pang iba. Alalahanin nating normal lang na maranasan ang mga ito lalo na sa panahon na ito. [COVID-19 has awoken mixed emotions in our lives: fear, loneliness, relief, anger, shock, and others. Let us remember it is normal to experience these especially at these times].” Images from https://www.facebook.com/updpsycserv/ The telepsychotherapy team is composed of licensed psychologists, experienced psychologists-in-training, clinical psychology graduate students, and trained counselors of the department. UPD PsycServ was formed in 2017 in response to an increasing number of students who are at risk for psychiatric conditions and those already suffering from them. |
https://up.edu.ph/upd-chemists-produce-sanitizers/ | UPD chemists produce sanitizers – University of the Philippines | UPD chemists produce sanitizers UPD chemists produce sanitizers April 24, 2020 | Written by Jo Lontoc, UP Media and Public Relations Office Production of alcohol in a UP Diliman Institute of Chemistry laboratory. Photo courtesy of the UP Diliman Institute of Chemistry Like other UP campuses with chemists and chemistry laboratories, UP Diliman (UPD) has been producing alcohol sanitizers—the demand for which has significantly increased due to the COVID-19 pandemic. These were distributed to the UPD community and the Philippine General Hospital (PGH). Dr. AC Yago of UPD’s Institute of Chemistry (IC) said a team from the institute had produced a total of more than 100 liters of isopropyl and ethyl alcohol from three batches from April 6 to 16. “The preparation of alcohol formulations as hand sanitizers was initially requested by [UPD] Chancellor [Fidel] Nemenzo to IC,” Yago told the UP Media and Public Relations Office. “IC responded positively and provided guidelines on the preparation of alcohol sanitizers, following the Food and Drug Administration guidelines,” he added. The volunteers included 10 members of the Institute, who included faculty members, instructors, research associates who are licensed chemists, laboratory technicians and a staff member. They were: Dr. Marlon Conato; Dr. Hiyas Junio; Dr. Monissa Paderes; Dr. Grace Gregorio; Dr. AC Yago; Mr. Mark Jeffrey Diaz; Mr. Vicenzo Torreno; Mr. Francis Alinabon; Mr. Manuel Dela Paz; and Mr. Bryan Rivera. Chemicals being processed in the production of alcohol in a UP Diliman Institute of Chemistry laboratory. Photo courtesy of the UP Diliman Institute of Chemistry As part of the UPD bayanihan activity, the alcohol sanitizers were distributed to UPD constituents, which include the University Health Service, Solid Waste Management, Campus Maintenance Office, the police, and the Special Services Brigade. All UPD dormitories received a 4-liter bottle of the prepared alcohol. “We have also donated to [the PGH], both as pure reagents and prepared alcohol sanitizers. And yes, our staff and maintenance personnel also received some of the alcohol sanitizers for their use,” Yago said. After preparing laboratories on April 3, 2020, 69 liters of 75% isopropyl alcohol and 32.5 liters of 80% ethyl alcohol have been produced. “April 23, technically is our last day of preparation, so the amount [mentioned] could change slightly,” Yago said. Alcohols prepared by a UP Diliman Institute of Chemistry team being received at the Campus Maintenance Office, the UP Diliman Police, Acacia Residence Halls, and the University Health Service. Photo courtesy of the UP Diliman Institute of Chemistry |
https://up.edu.ph/more-support-for-up-cebus-stranded-students/ | More support for UP Cebu’s stranded students – University of the Philippines | More support for UP Cebu’s stranded students More support for UP Cebu’s stranded students April 29, 2020 | Written by Celeste Ann Castillo Llaneta Photo by Abegail May Soria, from the Tug-ani Facebook page More support has come in for the students left stranded at the University of the Philippines Cebu campus following the declaration of enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) and travel ban over the City of Cebu. According to posts in the UP Cebu Office of Student Affairs (OSA) Facebook page, stranded UP Cebu students were given relief assistance from the Department of Social Welfare and Development Region VII (DSWD-7) on Wednesday, April 22. This was first reported by Tug-ani, the official student publication of UP Cebu. The UP Cebu OSA wrote a letter to DSWD-7 Director Rebecca Geamala on April 17 to request assistance for the dormer and non-dormer students left stranded in the city, numbering over 70. In an interview conducted by Tug-ani, OSA Director Alvin Ray Yu said that initiatives from the other UP campuses are being adopted by the UP Cebu administration to help its students, including making arrangements to distribute supplies to students residing in apartments outside the UP Cebu campus. As of April 22, the UP Cebu University Student Council (USC) has received Php17,500 in financial aid for the stranded students, with a total of Php 4,822.70 remaining balance. The USC has been able to conduct three batches of supply distributions for the students. Since the implementation of ECQ, the stranded UP Cebu students have received support in the form of in-kind and financial donations from UP alumni, administrators, faculty members, and staff. The UP Cebu administration and the USC are still welcoming donations for the students in light of the two-week extension of the ECQ. Donors may transfer their funds to the following contact details: Bibi Jessica Golocino BPI bank account: 9389242443 Niño Aldjenn Belocura GCASH: 0977 777 0769 In-kind donations may be dropped off at the UP Cebu Entrance Gate. Original story and photos by Abegail May Soria, from the Tug-ani Facebook page. |
https://up.edu.ph/up-holds-stop-covid-deaths-clinical-management-updates-webinar-for-healthcare-frontliners/ | UP holds “Stop COVID Deaths: Clinical Management Updates” webinar for healthcare frontliners – University of the Philippines | UP holds “Stop COVID Deaths: Clinical Management Updates” webinar for healthcare frontliners UP holds “Stop COVID Deaths: Clinical Management Updates” webinar for healthcare frontliners April 30, 2020 | Written by Celeste Ann Castillo Llaneta The University of the Philippines continues its mission to help educate our country’s medical and healthcare workers and frontliners, enabling them to win the battle against the COVID-19 pandemic through the sharing of information, research, experience, and expertise. The latest of such endeavor from UP is the series of Zoom meeting-webinars dubbed “Stop COVID Deaths: Clinical Management Updates”, organized by UP, in partnership with the UP Manila National Telehealth Center and the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth). The first of this webinar series, held last April 24, focused on the “Clinical Management of COVID Pneumonia”, and featured heads of national and international medical associations and research units and professors of the UP College of Medicine as speakers. [Watch the recording of the webinar here] A graphic from Dr. Roa’s lecture showing the pattern of disease progression for COVID-19, with most recoveries by patients showing mild to moderate symptoms happening within 3-6 weeks, and most deaths for COVID-19 patients with severe to critical symptoms happening within 2-8 weeks due to acute respiratory failure, sepsis, or hospital acquired infections. Screenshot from the “Stop COVID Deaths: Clinical Management Updates” replay. The first speaker, Dr. Camilo Roa, Global Governor of the American College of Chest Physicians and past president of the Philippine College of Chest Physicians, presented an overview of the clinical management of patients. He noted that while most of COVID-positive patients have mild to moderate symptoms, around 20% have severe or critical symptoms. Factors such as age and co-morbidities such as cardiovascular illnesses, diabetes and cancer affect one’s chances of dying from COVID-19, and as yet, there is no proven antiviral treatment for the disease. Thus, for healthcare workers, managing patients means supporting the patient’s immune system as it battles the disease, watching out for critical developments such as hospital acquired infections or other complications, and to use drugs with compassionate purpose and the informed consent of the patient. A slide from Dr. Wang’s lecture, showing the various COVID-related research initiatives of the UPM-PGH COVID-19 Research Initiative Program. Screenshots from the “Stop COVID Deaths: Clinical Management Updates” replay. The second lecture was delivered by Dr. Aileen David Wang of the UP College of Medicine’s Department of Medicine. She stressed the critical role that research plays in the global fight against the pandemic, reflecting lessons from past epidemics. Research, such as those being done by the UP Manila-Philippine General Hospital (UPM-PGH) COVID-19 Research Initiative Program and on a global scale, the World Health Organization’s Solidarity Trial, is needed to find a antiviral treatment for the disease, to help hospitals cope with the influx of COVID patients, and to come up with strategies to deal with the pandemic at the medical, psychosocial, and socioeconomic levels. Research based on a combination of randomized controlled trials and real-world evidence will be key to winning the global war against COVID-19. A slide from Dr. Fernandez’ lecture showing a revised algorithm for the respiratory management of COVID-Patients. Screenshot from the “Stop COVID Deaths: Clinical Management Updates” replay. Finally, Dr. Leonora Fernandez, head of the UPM-PGH Division of Pulmonary Medicine, spoke about a critical aspect in the management of COVID patients. She cited findings that show that COVID patients who end up on mechanical ventilators have a higher chance of dying from Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome. Instead, she recommends a new approach in ventilator therapy for COVID-19: the non-invasive high flow nasal canula (HFNC) oxygen therapy, which in combination with the strategy of self-proning, can improve the outcomes for a COVID patient. The highly successful webinar drew in more than 180 participants. The second webinar in the series will be held tomorrow, May 1, 2020 (Friday), at 12:00 noon (Manila time), and will focus on infectious diseases and fighting and controlling the spread of an infection such as COVID-19. Speakers will be Dr. Regina P. Berba, head of the PGH Infection Control Unit and faculty of the UP College of Medicine, and Dr. Marie Yvette Barez, chair of the Infection Prevention and Control Unit, Southern Philippines Medical Center. [Register now at http://bit.ly/StopCOVIDDeaths or watch the livestream at TVUP.] As UP Manila Chancellor Carmencita Padilla said: “Physicians lead lives of learning throughout their lives. But what happens when we are dealing with a virus that is not behaving like the old types of viruses? We turn to experience. Decisions will have to be made based on our experience or the experience of others. We are fortunate that we live in a generation where technology is in our favor. This webinar series is a commitment of service to our fellow health workers and our patients.” |
https://up.edu.ph/upso-up-musicians-come-together-in-alay-sa-sambayang-pilipino-sa-panahon-ng-agam-agam-a-musical-tribute/ | UPSO, UP musicians come together in “Alay sa Sambayang Pilipino sa Panahon ng Agam-Agam”, a musical tribute – University of the Philippines | UPSO, UP musicians come together in “Alay sa Sambayang Pilipino sa Panahon ng Agam-Agam”, a musical tribute UPSO, UP musicians come together in “Alay sa Sambayang Pilipino sa Panahon ng Agam-Agam”, a musical tribute May 4, 2020 | Written by Celeste Ann Castillo Llaneta UP musicians come together while staying apart in a virtual performance. Watch the video here: https://www.facebook.com/upsymphonyorch/videos/2678550799042064/ Musicians, vocalists and choristers from the University of the Philippines came together in a virtual performance to honor of the medical and healthcare workers, the frontliners, and the ordinary Filipino people battling against a global pandemic and socio-economic uncertainty. In a project dubbed “Alay sa Sambayanang Pilipino sa Panahon ng Agam-Agam”, the UP Symphony Orchestra (UPSO), led by Maestro Josefino “Chino” Toledo, brought together various artists and UP choirs to perform “Maghintay Lang, Kaluluwa at Diwa,” an adaptation of Finnish composer Jean Sibelius’ Finlandia (Op. 26), with lyrics from Psalm 46 translated into Filipino by Toledo, and arrangement and orchestration by the same. Performers included vocalists Michelle Mariposa (alto), Malvin Macasaet (tenor) and Stefanie Quintin (soprano), and the UP Madrigal Singers. The chorus consisted of members and representatives of the UP Concert Chorus, the UP Staff Chorale, Auit Vocal Ensemble, and UP Chorus Classes from the UP College of Music. Including the members of the UPSO, the group consisted of over a hundred individuals, all performing or singing remotely and practicing social distancing, yet coming together in a stirring tribute to hope, faith, and the Filipino spirit in a time of unprecedented darkness. View the video, which was uploaded on the UPSO’s Facebook page on April 19. The UPSO is the official system-wide orchestra of UP. Founded on August 30, 2018, the UPSO is supported by the UP System and hosted by the UP College of Music. The orchestra consists of 65 members coming from within the UP community, including alumni, students, faculty and staff from all UP campuses. It functions as a training ground for both composers and musicians, and as a representative not only of the University but also of the country on the worldwide stage. “Alay sa Sambayanang Pilipino sa Panahon ng Agam-Agam” was supported by the UP Office of the President, the Office of the UP Diliman Chancellor, the UP College of Music through Dean LaVerne de la Pena, the heads of the various performing choirs, and Mr. Paul Cyril Torrente. |
https://up.edu.ph/up-beta-epsilon-fraternity-donates-10000-ppes-for-upm-pgh-frontliners/ | UP Beta Epsilon Fraternity donates 10,000 PPEs for UPM-PGH frontliners – University of the Philippines | UP Beta Epsilon Fraternity donates 10,000 PPEs for UPM-PGH frontliners UP Beta Epsilon Fraternity donates 10,000 PPEs for UPM-PGH frontliners May 5, 2020 | Written by Celeste Ann Castillo Llaneta Alumni-brothers of the UP Beta Epsilon Fraternity delivering the 10,000 isolation coveralls for the frontliners of the UPM-PGH. Photo from Engr. Tito Aliga. The UP Beta Epsilon Fraternity (UPBE), based in the UP Diliman College of Engineering, is doing its part to help the country win the war against COVID-19. As reported in an April 29 post in the UP Beta Epsilon’s Facebook page, the fraternity donated 10,000 high-grade isolation coveralls to the medical and healthcare frontliners of the UP Manila-Philippine General Hospital (UPM-PGH), one of the country’s designated COVID-19 referral centers. The Class-A isolation coveralls were approved by UPM-PGH officials and department chairpersons beforehand, and delivered to the hospital via two trucks on April 28. The trucks bearing the 10,000 donated PPEs arrive at the UPM-PGH. Photo from Engr. Tito Aliga. The donation of the isolation coveralls was the result of a three-week mobilization of UPBE brothers and friends, some of whom worked to secure funding for the project, while other members who are based in China handled selection, procurement and air-freighting. UPBE alumni Engr. Alex Ibasco (EE ’78) and Engr. Ojie Alzona (IE ’77) spearheaded the effort. As UP Beta Epsilon Fraternity member and UP Engineering Research & Development Foundation, Inc. (UP ERDFI) executive director Engr. Alfonso “Tito” Aliga, Jr. shared in an email, UPM-PGH executive director Dr. Gerardo Legaspi thanked the fraternity for its efforts, but noted that “the challenge continues,” although he cited the greater number of COVID-19 recoveries than deaths as an encouraging development. According to the Facebook post, “PPEs (personal protective equipment) are rapidly decreasing everyday as our hospitals continue their battle against the coronavirus pandemic. The donated PPEs will hopefully help the PGH frontline medical workers to properly equip themselves with protection against the COVID-19 virus.” Photo from Engr. Tito Aliga. The UP Beta Epsilon Fraternity, which stands for “Brotherhood of Engineers”, is the oldest engineering fraternity in Asia, having celebrated its 90th anniversary last August 23. The fraternity is exclusive for Engineering and Architecture students of UP Diliman, and has strong ties with the UP College of Architecture, recognizing the importance of architecture in the engineering discipline. The UPBE is one of the three organizations and the only fraternity to be given the Wenceslao Q. Vinzons Award for outstanding service to the UP with its conceptualization and construction of the Beta Epsilon Way. It is also the first and only recipient of the Best Fraternity award back in 2004. |
https://up.edu.ph/upou-launches-edu-hack-podcast-series/ | UPOU launches “Edu-Hack” podcast series – University of the Philippines | UPOU launches “Edu-Hack” podcast series UPOU launches “Edu-Hack” podcast series May 5, 2020 | Written by Arlyn VCD Palisoc Romualdo Image from the UPOU website, https://www.upou.edu.ph/news/upou-launches-edu-hack-a-podcast-on-crises-adaptation-for-higher-education/ Flexibility and compassion. These were the key takeaways in the first episode of UP Open University’s (UPOU) podcast series, “Edu-Hack: Navigating through a Turbulent Educational Landscape” on April 28. The discussion centered on answering the question, “How are Philippine Universities Responding to Disruptions in Education Brought About by COVID-19 Pandemic?” Dr. Alexander Flor, Dean of the UPOU Faculty of Information and Communication Studies, moderating the first of UPOU’s podcast series, “Edu-Hack: Navigating through a Turbulent Educational Landscape”. Screenshot from the replay of the podcast. The panelists were UPOU Chancellor Melinda Bandalaria, University of Batangas (UB) Vice President for Academic Affairs Abegayle Chua, and De La Salle University (DLSU) Association of Faculty and Educators President Antonio Contreras. This year saw Southern Luzon and Metro Manila being hit with back-to-back crises, with the phreatomagmatic eruption of Taal Volcano in January and the COVID-19 pandemic in March. For the education sector, it meant multiple weeks-long class suspensions. While the institutions to which the panelists belonged had online learning systems in place, Chua said it best: “No one was prepared for this kind of lockdown.” UPOU Chancellor Melinda Bandalaria. Screenshot from the replay of the podcast. UPOU started shifting to online classes in 2001 and its classes were fully online by 2007, so Bandalaria said that the University initially assumed things would be business as usual. But she admitted the quarantine brought up issues beyond the usual open and distance e-learning operations. Anxiety, stress, accessibility, work-school scheduling, and health risks were some of the concerns raised by faculty, staff, and students alike. Chua described the class and work suspensions due to Taal Volcano activity as the “dry run” for the COVID-19 quarantine. While web presence and blended learning were already in place at UB, the pandemic forced the institution to shift everything online. Chua, being an otorhinolaryngology (ear, nose, throat or ENT) surgeon, knew “we could not go back to school” because of the health risks. University of Batangas (UB) Vice President for Academic Affairs Abegayle Chua. Screenshot from the replay of the podcast. Sixteen years ago, DLSU already started adopting a learner-centered, outcomes-based approach and online platforms eventually replaced face-to-face sessions when classes were suspended. COVID-19 changed things drastically, but Contreras said, “We hit the ground running.” “We anchored our response to this crisis on flexibility and compassion,” explained Bandalaria. “Now is not the time to be rigid,” according to Contreras. As for Chua, “Everything now is fluid [and] leniency is key at this time.” The panelists were in agreement that higher education institutions need to monitor and adjust its actions according to changes in the COVID-19 situation—from government decisions to emerging concerns from their academic and surrounding communities. UB has prepared scenarios for different end-of-quarantine periods and has anticipated its next term to be fully online. Chua said they have also studied the possibility of limited physical attendance for necessary laboratory work and preparations for those who will be taking licensure examinations. De La Salle University (DLSU) Association of Faculty and Educators President Antonio Contreras. Screenshot from the replay of the podcast. DLSU has been providing internet connectivity support for its students and faculty, and has refunded the fees it collected for the use of its facilities. Contreras revealed that DLSU is working under the assumption that classes will resume on July 1, but fully online. Like UB, has started to look into managing courses with key activities that require physical presence. The private university has also foreseen a possible decrease in enrollment following the COVID-19 pandemic. UPOU, because of its nature as an open and distance e-learning institution and its fully online classes, has thus far been exempted from class suspensions and other decisions on the academic year. To cater to the needs of its students, UPOU has made revisions to its academic calendar, adjusting academic year terms, registration schedules, and admission applications periods. The changes will be announced once approved. As it is primarily a graduate institution, UPOU has also anticipated a decrease in enrollment at the graduate level. This episode of “Edu-Hack” may be viewed here. For announcements on succeeding episodes of the podcast series, follow the UPOU Facebook account. |
https://up.edu.ph/upv-to-stranded-students-prepare-to-go-home/ | UPV to stranded students: “Prepare to go home” – University of the Philippines | UPV to stranded students: “Prepare to go home” UPV to stranded students: “Prepare to go home” May 5, 2020 | Written by Arlyn VCD Palisoc Romualdo UP Visayas (UPV) has advised its students stranded in campus and off-campus housing to start preparing to go home. Memorandum No. RPB 2020-04-052 issued by UPV Chancellor Ricardo Babaran on April 26 states that the move was prompted by the April 30 closing of the second semester this academic year. While the University is finding ways to provide transportation and coordinating with relevant government agencies for those living within Panay Island, it has asked all students to make travel arrangements such as purchasing or rebooking tickets. For those needing interisland travel, whether by boat or plane, local transport to the airport or seaport “is being considered” by UPV. The memo also says that students are responsible for immediately contacting their parents or guardians to get information on the requirements of their localities for returning residents. The Office of Student Affairs is in charge of distributing and collecting copies of an undertaking that students need to accomplish. UPV will also assist students in COVID-19 testing, should it be required by their localities, three days before their definite date of departure. Departures are expected to begin on May 16 as the enhanced community quarantine in the Province of Iloilo is scheduled to end on May 15. From the UP Visayas website, https://www.upv.edu.ph/index.php/announcements/reminders-on-preparations-for-returning-home-at-the-end-of-the-second-semester. |
https://up.edu.ph/up-law-offers-free-legal-aid-online/ | UP Law offers free legal aid online – University of the Philippines | UP Law offers free legal aid online UP Law offers free legal aid online May 5, 2020 | Written by Jo. Florendo B. Lontoc Image from the UP College of Law Facebook page The UP College of Law launched on April 20, 2020 an online portal to “handle requests for legal assistance, legal advice and education, and if necessary, legal representation for issues arising from the implementation of the Enhanced Community Quarantine [ECQ].” Law Dean Fides Cordero-Tan, in an open message posted at the college website, announced the signing on of #UPLawHelps, which can be accessed at https://law.upd.edu.ph/uplawhelps/ and emailed at uplawhelps@up.edu.ph. “#UPLawHelps brings together the commitment, passion, expertise, resources, and networks of the entire UP Law Community—faculty, REPS, staff, students, and alumni (with a lot of friends and allies joining in)—into one, focused effort to help our people through this pandemic,” Cordero-Tan said. According to the portal, #UPLawHelps is an ad hoc initiative to assist the public in following legal areas:“the exercise of civil and political rights; the conduct of private and public entities specific to the rights of COVID-19 patients; the interruption of businesses and other day-to-day operations, in relation to payments and like obligations; and, conflicting rights and obligations arising from scenarios particular to COVID-19 or the ECQ.” The college formed teams corresponding to these areas. These are the teams on: • Civil and Political Rights (CPRT), operating out of the UP Law Civil and Political Rights Clinic under Atty. Theodore Te; • COVID-19 Patients and Family Rights (PFRT), operating through Volunteer Lawyers Against Discrimination under Atty. Divina Pedron; • Conduct of Business (CBT), operating through volunteer lawyers from UP Law Class of 1993 under Atty. Paul Alcudia; and • Rights under Quarantine (RQT), operating through the UP Office of Legal Aid under Director Carlo L. Vistan. Additional teams may be formed as the need arises, according to the website. Those requesting legal assistance or advice can email a team at uplawhelps@up.edu.ph. All requests are attended to between 8 AM and 12 noon and 1 PM to 5 PM, Mondays to Fridays. Those wishing to volunteer to help with any of the four teams may email Atty. Golda Miñoza at ggminoza@up.edu.ph. |
https://up.edu.ph/upv-increases-priority-of-relief-to-its-affected-communities/ | UPV increases priority of relief to its affected communities – University of the Philippines | UPV increases priority of relief to its affected communities UPV increases priority of relief to its affected communities May 5, 2020 | Written by Arlyn VCD Palisoc Romualdo Photo from the UP Visayas Facebook page While the University continues to deliver public service in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, UP Visayas (UPV) has decided to give more priority to the sectors that have been affected by its work and class suspensions. These include its students and employees as well as those who rely on the UPV community’s patronage: tricycle drivers, food vendors, and laundry service providers, among others. UPDanay and UP, Magbubunga Tayo!, UPV’s donation drive and relief fund campaign, respectively, will be putting more of its resources to intensify support for the aforementioned sectors in its Miagao, Iloilo City, and Tacloban campuses. Undergraduate students, for example, will receive food subsidies varying at P150, P120, or P100 per day at the UPV Employees Cooperative (UPVEC), depending on their financial capacity. A viand serving costs between P20 to P30 and a serving of rice costs P10 at the UPVEC. All UPV personnel, including job orders and contract of service employees, were granted full salaries for the month of April. The University remains the recipient of cash and in-kind donations from alumni, faculty, staff, and private individuals and organizations. Activities to help the greater community such as alcohol production, training programs, and information campaigns continue to be conducted. Recognizing the importance of mental and emotional well-being in a time of crisis, UPV Tacloban’s Division of Humanities has launched “Paghilom, Paglaom (To Heal and To Hope): Arts for Healing at the Time of COVID-19.” All resources are uploaded on Facebook. The program includes “Pasundayag Paghilom: Songs and Poetry Performance Video Series” featuring members of UP An Balangaw, a performance group, as well as their friends and family. Watch the performances here. “Paglantaw ha Sidawan: A Poetry and Photo Exhibit” showcases the works of BA Communication Arts students who underwent the Siday Writing Workshop of the Division. Sidawan combines “siday” (poem) and “ladawan” (image). Explore the exhibit here. “Ato! Pag-arnis! Basic Arnis Moves on Video” features basic moves of arnis, which is also known as Kali or Eskrima. The initiative aims to promote physical activity during home quarantine. View the videos here. |
https://up.edu.ph/elevate-air-pollution-problem-in-post-ecq-new-normal-agenda-upd-scientist/ | Elevate air pollution problem in post-ECQ “new normal” agenda – UPD scientist – University of the Philippines | Elevate air pollution problem in post-ECQ “new normal” agenda – UPD scientist Elevate air pollution problem in post-ECQ “new normal” agenda – UPD scientist May 5, 2020 | Posted by UP Media and Public Relations Office Oblation at UP Baguio (Photo by Misael Bacani, UP MPRO) A scientist from the University of the Philippines-Diliman Institute of Environmental Science and Meteorology has called on all sectors to consider putting the issue and solutions to the air pollution problem in the higher agenda for a post-enhanced community quarantine (post-ECQ) “new normal” Philippines. “If we wish to maintain ‘good air quality’ to be the ‘new normal’, we have to make conscious choices in our activities pre-ECQ”, said Dr. Mylene Cayetano, an Associate Professor from the Institute of Environmental Science and Meteorology. Dr. Cayetano, who advocates clean air for all, called on the government to (1) strengthen the long-term solutions that are being discussed (inclusive mobility, mass transport system, green cities, urban planning, road space to non-motorized transport systems, fuel economy, clean energy), and make them happen fast; (2) increase transparency in the emission testing system, proper and rightful apprehension to emission testing violators; (3) set-up more motor vehicle inspection systems; (4) insure road worthiness compliance to all vehicles (including armored vehicles, nothing and nobody should be exempt!); and most importantly, (5) think about protecting our hospital zones, which are located along major thoroughfare with trucks and pre-euro vehicles fleeting along. For individuals, Dr. Cayetano recommends the following choices: (1) if you own a vehicle, avoid unnecessary idling; (2) avoid burning solid wastes in open spaces; (3) avoid smoking in public places; (4) be responsible with your own vehicle. Follow the periodic maintenance schedule and minimum protocols and drive a road-worthy vehicle; (5) inform as many people as you can about the disadvantages and benefits of clean air, because knowledge is power; and (6) learn more about the science of air pollution and how you can help prevent it by check Airtoday.ph before you head out. “Clean air in cities has become a luxury. Normally, we need to go to the seaside or the lush provinces to breathe in cleaner air. And it took us a total lockdown, a number of front liners (COVID-19 mortalities) to attain this. Not to mention the trillions lost in the stock market, and jobs lost by our fellowmen. LGU funds are depleted to feed the people. We wouldn’t want this scenario again to attain clean air,” she said. |
https://up.edu.ph/air-quality-after-ecq-far-from-new-normal-expectations-upd-experts/ | Air quality after ECQ far from ‘new normal’ expectations – UPD experts – University of the Philippines | Air quality after ECQ far from ‘new normal’ expectations – UPD experts Air quality after ECQ far from ‘new normal’ expectations – UPD experts May 5, 2020 | Written by Dr. Mylene G. Cayetano, Dr. Gerry Bagtasa, and Ms. Roseanne Ramos, UP Diliman IESM Experts from the University of the Philippines Diliman College of Science and College of Engineering are looking at the positive impact of the enhanced community quarantine on air quality, but are not seeing this to be the “new normal” in a post-enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) Philippines. In making this conclusion, they conducted ground-, satellite- and modeling-based approaches to visualize the extent of air quality during pre-ECQ and while on lockdown. “If we wish to maintain ‘good air quality’ to be the ‘new normal’, we have to make conscious choices in our usual activities pre-ECQ”, said Dr. Mylene Cayetano, an Associate Professor from the Institute of Environmental Science and Meteorology. [Read this story for more: Elevate air pollution problem in post-ECQ “new normal” agenda – UPD scientist] She emphasized that people surely noticed how clean air surroundings look and feel like after the lockdown, but this is far from what we can expect after the ECQ is lifted. “As we slowly enter the ‘new normal’ activities, the air pollution will go back to moderate to unhealthy levels”, Dr. Cayetano warned. Weeks before the ECQ implementation in the northern and central NCR cities, elevated levels of NO2, a criteria pollutant that ‘primarily gets in the air from the burning of fuel, i.e., emissions from cars, trucks and buses, power plants, and off-road equipment, were observed (See Figure 1). On the first two weeks of ECQ up to the sixth week of quarantine, however, the weekly average levels of NO2 decreased, according to Roseanne V. Ramos, Assistant Professor from the Department of Geodetic Engineering, who mapped Metro Manila’s weekly NO2 average. 2 weeks before ECQ Mar 2-8 1 week before ECQ Mar 9-15 ECQ Week 1 Mar 16-22 ECQ Week 2 Mar 23-29 ECQ Week 3 Mar 30 – Apr 5 ECQ Week 4 Apr 6-12 ECQ Week 5 Apr 13-19 ECQ Week 6 Apr 20-26 Figure 1. Weekly average of NO2 Total Vertical Column density, derived from satellite sensor Sentinel 5P TROPOMI L3 products. Graph generated for Research purposes, contact Roseanne V. Ramos for more details. rvramos@up.edu.ph The above observation was also confirmed by the continuous data from the www.airtoday.ph stations in Quezon City and EDSA Munoz, which records improvements in PM2.5 in the Quezon City stations of Lung Center of the Philippines and EDSA Munoz (see Figure 2). The airtoday.ph is a joint effort by the UP Diliman, Rotary Club of Makati and Lung Center of the Philippines. Figure 2. Hourly plots of PM2.5 levels in the LCP and EDSA Munoz station, showing improvements of breathing-level air quality while Quezon City is on ECQ. Graphs generated for Research purposes, contact Dr. Mylene G. Cayetano for more details. mcayetano@iesm.upd.edu.ph Dr. Gerry Bagtasa, Professor of the Institute of Environmental Science and Meteorology, who plotted the aerosol optical depth (AOD) using Himawari-1 satellite data products (See Figure 3), also confirmed that the drop in NCR pollution levels in the second week of March are due to the ECQ. During this time, however, parts of Pampanga, Tarlac, and Cagayan Valley actually experienced higher pollution levels due to open burning. Dr. Bagtasa also pointed out the existence of transboundary pollution from Indochina region during the first half of April, as the northern seas (Luzon Strait and north of West Philippine Sea) was evidently polluted, but unaffecting the NCR. The first half of April also marked higher aerosol levels over Rizal/Bulacan – but there is still a need to confirm if these are due to burning or other human-related activities. Mar 16-31 Apr 1-14 Apr 15-28 Figure 3. Aerosol Optical thickness from Himawari-1 satellite data products. Graph generated for Research purposes, contact Dr. Gerry Bagtasa for more details. gbagtasa@iesm.upd.edu.ph “Car emission is a big contributor, but not the only contributor to NCR pollution”, Dr. Bagtasa said. The second half of April (ECQ Weeks 4,5 and 6) registers an overall lower pollution in most of Luzon, but increase in NCR and south of NCR. Slightly higher pollution in NCR maybe due to dust and contamination from open burning in some parts of Central Luzon, brought to NCR by winds from north. |
https://up.edu.ph/up-pays-tribute-to-covid-19-fatalities/ | UP pays tribute to COVID-19 fatalities – University of the Philippines | UP pays tribute to COVID-19 fatalities UP pays tribute to COVID-19 fatalities May 6, 2020 | Written by Jo. Florendo B. Lontoc Screenshot from the IN MEMORIAM UP Video Tribute UP honors the memory of those who have succumbed to COVID-19 as “unknown heroes who fell during the night” in a music video of Fr. Manuel Francisco’s “Hindi Kita Malilimutan”, featuring the symbolic image of UP’s Oblation and an alumni roster whose lives were also taken by the virus. UP’s internet television, TVUP, produced the video “In Memoriam: UP Video Tribute” with the song performed by the UP Villancico Vocal Ensemble as arranged by Eudenice Palaruan. Twenty-two alumni were memorialized in the video, headed by those who died as active medical frontliners: Dr. Romeo Gregorio Macasaet, Dr. Marcelo Jaochico, Dr. Raul Jara, Dr. Francisco Avelino Lukban, Dr. Salvacion Rodriguez Gatchalian, Arch. Raul Della Eslao RN, Dr. Leandro Resurreccion III, Dr. Dennis Ramon Tudtud, Dr. Ephraim Neal Orteza, Faye Marie Palafox RN, and Dr. Eduardo Vidal. The alumni from various other fields were Nida Cortes Paqueo, Dr. Aileen San Pablo Baviera, Dr. Alan Ortiz, Gen. Prudencio Regis Jr., Domingo Cobarrubias, Amb. Bernardita Catalla, Asec. Gladys Fua Rosales, Dr. Victor Rivera, Dr. Renato Velasco, Catherine Bello, and Sen. Heherson Alvarez. UP alumni and UP Alumni Association chapters worldwide are invited to watch “In Memoriam: UP Video Tribute”, and to honor the UP alumni heroes who have fallen during the night. Screenshot from the IN MEMORIAM UP Video Tribute |
https://up.edu.ph/5-tips-to-maintain-psychosocial-health-amid-covid-19-pandemic/ | 5 tips to maintain psychosocial health amid COVID-19 pandemic – University of the Philippines | 5 tips to maintain psychosocial health amid COVID-19 pandemic 5 tips to maintain psychosocial health amid COVID-19 pandemic May 6, 2020 | Written by Arlyn VCD Palisoc Romualdo Image from the UPOU website Physical health is not the only thing that needs precious care in this COVID-19 crisis. Equally important is mental and psychosocial well-being. UP Open University (UPOU) Assistant Professor Finaflor Taylan of the Faculty of Management and Development Studies, who is also a registered social worker, gives advice on maintaining psychosocial health during this time. While aimed at helping UPOU students, these tips are useful to the general public as well. 1. Accomplish what you can, within your capacities and limits. Manage your expectations of yourself. Forgive yourself for your shortcomings. 2. Have constant communication with your support group/s. This can include your family, friends, teachers, co-learners, or even your pet. 3. Take care of yourself. Stay healthy. This includes your mental aspect. Have enough rest. Spend time on people, things, or activities that make you feel calm or at peace. Your favorite film, song, or spot in the house is waiting for you. 4. You are not alone. Reach out to professionals for help if deemed necessary. There are volunteers who are willing to share their time and listening ears. You can also be one of them. 5. Count your blessings. The sun shines for a reason. UPOU students, in particular, may contact the Office of Student Affairs through its Offering Sincere Advocacy Helpdesk, which was launched in response to the COVID-19 crisis. Students may email osa@upou.edu.ph or send messages to the hotline 0929-818-1996. UPOU has announced on April 20 that the registration for AY 2019-2020 third trimester and midyear term is postponed until further notice. To those seeking psychosocial support, Taylan may be reached via her Facebook account (Taylan Fina) or email at finaflor.taylan@upou.edu.ph. She is also part of the Facebook group, United Registered Social Workers, where members “provide free and confidential psychosocial support and psychological first aid.” They have agreed to post their contact information in the group page for those who need support. (With reports from Anna Cañas-Llamas and the UPOU Information Office) |
https://up.edu.ph/upcat-2020-results-targeted-for-release-within-the-month-of-may/ | UPCAT 2020 results targeted for release within the month of May – University of the Philippines | UPCAT 2020 results targeted for release within the month of May UPCAT 2020 results targeted for release within the month of May May 5, 2020 | Posted by UP Media and Public Relations Office Image from the UP Office of Admissions Facebook page As previously announced, the release of the UPCAT2020 results has been delayed due to the enhanced community quarantine. The Office of Admissions, like all other units and offices in the University of the Philippines, has had to adapt by operating with only a tiny fraction of its workforce to complete the necessary validation procedures and the final computations of results for over 100,000 UPCAT examinees. We understand your concern about the pending release of UPCAT 2020 results, but rest assured that the Office of Admissions continues to do its utmost despite severe limitations and challenges. The results are targeted for release within the month of May. Please disregard any announcements other than those coming from the UP Office of Admissions and refrain from sharing misleading information through social media in order not to exacerbate the anxiety of our UPCAT applicants. We thank you for your continued understanding. |
https://up.edu.ph/ups-stopcoviddeaths-webinar-to-discuss-covid-19-treatment-landscape/ | UP’s “StopCOVIDDeaths” webinar to discuss COVID-19 treatment landscape – University of the Philippines | UP’s “StopCOVIDDeaths” webinar to discuss COVID-19 treatment landscape UP’s “StopCOVIDDeaths” webinar to discuss COVID-19 treatment landscape May 7, 2020 | Written by Arlyn VCD Palisoc Romualdo The third installment of the UP webinar series, “Stop COVID Deaths: Clinical Management Updates,” will happen on Friday, May 8, at 12:00 PM in Taipei. Dr. Marissa Alejandria will talk about “The Treatment Landscape of COVID-19.” She is the director of the Institute of Clinical Epidemiology of the National Institutes of Health, UP Manila (UPM); a professor at the UPM College of Medicine (UPCM); and the president of the Philippine Society for Microbiology and Infectious Diseases. Dr. Alejandria leads the Philippine contingent participating in “Solidarity,” the international randomized and adaptive clinical trial to test the safety and effectiveness of four possible therapies in treating COVID-19 in comparison to standard of care. “Solidarity” involves more than 100 countries around the world. The Philippines has 20 hospitals participating in the study that investigates the safety and potential therapeutic effects of the following: the investigational antiviral Remdesivir, antimalarial drug Chloroquine or Hydroxychloroquine, antiretroviral drugs used to treat HIV Lopinavir with Ritonavir, and Lopinavir with Ritonavir plus Interferon beta-1a. “Stop COVID Deaths” was launched on April 24 with “Clinical Management of COVID-19 Pneumonia.” The speakers were Dr. Camilo Roa, Global Governor of the American College of Chest Physicians; Dr. Aileen David Wang of the UPCM’s Department of Medicine; and Dr. Leonora Fernandez, head of the UP-Philippine General Hospital (PGH) Division of Pulmonary Medicine. The second episode, “Fighting Back COVID-19 Infection,” was held on May 1 and featured Dr. Regina P. Berba, head of the UP-PGH Infection Control Unit and a member of the UPCM faculty, and Dr. Marie Yvette Barez, chair of the Infection Prevention and Control Unit of the Southern Philippines Medical Center. The UP webinar series taps into the experiences of clinicians, hospital administrators, and researchers with the goal of protecting the health systems against COVID-19 by bridging the gap between knowledge and practice in the clinical management of cases in the Philippines. The University has partnered with the National Telehealth Center and the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation for this undertaking. These institutions are united in its support for the promotion of the highest possible standards of care for COVID-19 patients. They endeavor to protect the entire health system from the devastation of viral spread through measures and interventions that will insulate the whole range of the practice of medicine and all its sub-specialties in the post-enhanced community quarantine phase and for continued pandemic preparedness and response. To register for the webinar series, click the link: http://bit.ly/StopCOVIDDeathsWebinar3. |
https://up.edu.ph/covid-19-ecq-and-crash-landing-on-you/ | COVID-19, ECQ, and Crash Landing on You – University of the Philippines | COVID-19, ECQ, and Crash Landing on You COVID-19, ECQ, and Crash Landing on You May 8, 2020 | Written by Arlyn VCD Palisoc Romualdo Question: How does one explain the COVID-19 crisis from a governance perspective in an easily digestible and palatable manner? Answer: Use a popular web series for parallelism. Screenshot taken of Dr. Kristoffer Berse’s talk, “Crash Landing on ECQ: Crisis Leadership and Accountability in COVID-19 Philippines” This was what Dr. Kristoffer Berse did in his talk, “Crash Landing on ECQ: Crisis Leadership and Accountability in COVID-19 Philippines.” It was organized by the Master of Management Program of the UP Open University (UPOU) Faculty of Management and Development Studies in partnership with the Association of Schools of Public Administration in the Philippines, Inc. as part of UPOU’s “Let’s Talk It Over” online lecture series. Berse is a faculty member of the UP Diliman National College of Public Administration and Governance. He is also the director for Research and Creative Work at the UP Resilience Institute and part of the UP COVID-19 Pandemic Response Team. What constitutes a crisis? Threat, uncertainty, and urgency, Berse said. When South Korean heiress Yoon Se-ri finds herself hanging from a tree on the wrong side of the border, following a paragliding mishap, all three elements are present. All three elements are present in this COVID-19 pandemic as well. Both illustrate the threat to life and safety, the uncertainty of survival with or without injury and repercussion, and the urgency to deal with the threat. He said there were four ways to respond to a threat: tolerate, terminate, treat, or transfer. One can just accept the losses due to the threat, do something to eliminate the threat, mitigate the impacts of the threat, or share the impacts of the threat. And the response could be a combination of those. In the series, Se-ri removes the threat to her life and safety by deciding to get off the tree, and ends up in the arms of Ri Jeong-hyeok, captain of North Korea’s Special Police Force. Berse likened Se-ri to the Philippines wanting to eliminate the threat of COVID-19 and the landing in Jeong-hyeok’s arms as the resulting enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) that broke the fall. Minus the kilig factor, of course. Dr. Kristoffer Berse delivers his lecture, “Crash Landing on ECQ: Crisis Leadership and Accountability in COVID-19 Philippines” Delving deeper into the Philippine government’s response to COVID-19, Berse said it adopted a “whole of government” approach. He then zeroed in on one of the national action plan’s objectives. That is, to “prevent, contain, and/or eliminate the spread of COVID-19.” “Is the ECQ effective?” Berse asked. The answer was not a simple yes or no. Using available data at the national level, he showed the UP COVID-19 Pandemic Response Team’s “Time-Varying Reproduction Number of the Philippines” graph as of May 5, 12:49am. In it, the average transmission over a period of time by infected individuals is a little over one. For an epidemic to be under control it needs to be one or less. This means that a person with COVID-19 infects only one other person, at most. The higher the average transmission number, the greater the number of people an infected person transfers the disease to. So if the average transmission number is four, then one infected person has the capability to infect four other individuals. While the national picture may look promising, Berse countered that the average transmission is not “uniform across the country.” When broken down into specific localities, some record higher or lower numbers than the national average. “We must be careful,” he cautioned, because the pace of the disease spread varied across the country. Berse added that scientific projections were only as good as the best available data. Screenshot taken of Dr. Kristoffer Berse’s talk, “Crash Landing on ECQ: Crisis Leadership and Accountability in COVID-19 Philippines” In dealing with the uncertainty of a crisis, there were three key leadership attributes, he said. One was sense-making, like Se-ri perhaps asking herself what was going on. The second was decision-making, where Jeong-hyeok may be asking himself what he should do. And the third was meaning-making, with Se-ri and Jeong-hyeok working together to establish their story. Berse emphasized the importance of crisis communication in dealing with an uncertain situation. The government has been consistent, at the national and local levels, about “science-based decision-making.” Scientists and technical experts have played major roles in the COVID-19 crisis, again making use of best available data. He pointed out, however, that the country’s data management system “has yet to stabilize.” There was also the issue of data access and ownership, where a balance must be struck between privacy and public safety. Accountability in missing or erroneous data must also be established. Berse also said that accuracy and the speed by which information is delivered affected the credibility of experts and government leaders. Empathy and openness resulted in trust. On the matter of urgency, Berse enumerated three ways decisions “happen”: non-decision-making, decentralization, and improvisation. In the Philippines, the initial response was overly-cautious and slow, and downplayed the risk. In crisis decision-making, he said there were some key considerations such as acceptability, compatibility, cost effectiveness, environmental effects, individual freedom, organizational objectives, regulatory requirements, and risk creation. Screenshot taken of Dr. Kristoffer Berse’s talk, “Crash Landing on ECQ: Crisis Leadership and Accountability in COVID-19 Philippines” How society emerges from a crisis will be influenced by answering what went wrong and what should be done, he explained. There may also be what he called the “crisis-induced blame games.” But the bottom line, he said, was the question of changing or maintaining the status quo. Citing Drennan and McConnell (2007), Berse showed four forms of post-crisis policy change: no change, symbolic gestures but no substantive change; instrumental refinement of existing policies/procedures; and realignment through new policies/goals/institutions. No one has the answer to how the COVID-19 pandemic will exactly play out. Whether a relatively happy ending is in store, like Se-ri and Jeong-hyeok getting together, remains to be seen. |
https://up.edu.ph/upd-nimbb-trains-med-techs-for-covid-19-detection/ | UPD-NIMBB trains med-techs for COVID-19 detection – University of the Philippines | UPD-NIMBB trains med-techs for COVID-19 detection UPD-NIMBB trains med-techs for COVID-19 detection May 8, 2020 | Written by Jo. Florendo B. Lontoc Participants of the UPD-NIMBB training workshop for COVID-19 detection at a UPD-NIMBB workstation. Photo courtesy of UPD-NIMBB The University of the Philippines is training medical technicians in performing the qRT-PCR assay for the detection of the SARS CoV2, to support the training efforts of the Department of Health (DOH) and the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM) for COVID-19 testing. Dr. Jose Enrico Lazaro, director of the National Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology (NIMBB) in UP Diliman (UPD), said the training program that the Institute administers will have served 80 participants in May after the first batch served on April 18 and 20, 2020. Funded by the UP System, each training session is composed of one day each for a lecture and a hands-on workshop. Participants of the UPD-NIMBB workshop on COVID-19 detection go over rules of sample management. Photo courtesy of UPD-NIMBB “The lecture covers the science of virus detection and the rules on sample management and data interpretation,” Lazaro said. “An exam is administered by the team at the end of the workshop, upon which a certification of completion is issued,” he added. The certification is a requirement for the accreditation of participating diagnostic laboratories. According to Lazaro, the NIMBB made the proposal to the DOH and RITM for UP to cater to medical technicians unable to attend the DOH and RITM training workshops because of the current high demand. Participants of the UPD-NIMBB workshop on COVID-19 detection go over rules of sample management. Photo courtesy of UPD-NIMBB. A biosafety course is required of the participating professional medical technicians. They are then provided lectures by NIMBB’s Dr. Pia Bagamasbad and the UP-Philippine Genome Center’s Dr. Benedict Maralit. Laboratory workshops are facilitated by volunteer graduate students and research assistants of the Institute under the supervision of NIMBB Biosafety Officer Mark Fran. The Sansure qRT-PCR kit is used for the demonstration, and positive controls in the form of plasmids are used instead of human samples, according to Lazaro. The kit is the one being used by the DOH-RITM for its proficiency exam. As of the first week of May, the NIMBB has trained participants from Marikina Molecular Diagnostics, Singapore Diagnostics Laboratory and Singapore Medical Laboratories, De La Salle University Medical Center-Dasmariñas, De La Salle Medical and Health Sciences Institute-Dasmariñas, the Philipine General Hospital, UP Los Baños, Bataan General Hospital and Medical Center, PNP Crime Laboratory, PNP Health Service, National Kidney and Transplant Institute, Divine Word Hospital-Tacloban City, Lucena United Doctors Hospital and Medical Center, Ilocos Training and Regional Medical Center, Tarlac Provincial Hospital, and Hi-Precision Diagnostics. University personnel and participants of the UPD-NIMBB workshop on COVID-19 detection at the training premises. Photo courtesy of UPD-NIMBB |
https://up.edu.ph/pandemic-shines-light-on-countrys-brightest-minds/ | Pandemic shines light on country’s brightest minds – University of the Philippines | Pandemic shines light on country’s brightest minds Pandemic shines light on country’s brightest minds May 11, 2020 | Written by UP COVID-19 Pandemic Response Team UP System executive vice-president Dr. Ted Herbosa, one of the team leaders of the UP COVID-19 Pandemic Response Team, leads the team’s exploratory meeting with QC Government’s City Health Office, March 20. Photo from Dr. Emmanuel Luna. If there’s one other way the health crisis has changed the world as we know it, it’s seeing Filipino scientists and scholars operating at the forefront of managing a global threat. For far too long, their advances and contributions fell to the back pages of the news, if at all. Not this time. Their heroics are happening in hospitals and laboratories, in schoolrooms closed for classes and out in the open,as our brightest minds tackle this deadly disease. Take the brain trust that is the UP COVID-19 Pandemic Response Team. Organized just four days after the ECQ, the University of the Philippines gathered some 200 professors, researchers, alumni and students from across the entire UP System, from Baguio to Mindanao. Specializations included epidemiology, emergency medicine, public health, veterinary medicine, computer science, data science, disaster science, mathematics, statistics, economics, geography, public administration and governance, social work and community development, and political science.By utilizing this wide range of expertise, the team sought to cover different aspects of the pandemic. Among its recent contributions to the fight has been the Outbreak Threshold model, which can help design localized community quarantine protocols for LGUs. The response team has drafted a number of policy notes based on the results of their studies, including recommendations for a graduated activation of the ECQ that depends on the level of risk per area. Dr. Jomar Fajardo Rabajante (top) and Dr. Peter Julian Cayton (bottom), members of the UP COVID-19 Pandemic Response Team, presenting their respective projections, analysis, and post-ECQ recommendations in a meeting with international and national civil society organizations on 27 April 2020. Screenshot via Skype, c/o Dr. Kristoffer Berse. While much of their data are from the Department of Health, the team has been vocal about gaining more open data to refine their studies, urging: “We have to gather and share as much data as possible, apply the best science available, and ultimately listen to what the numbers could tell us.” The team has had to reach out to LGUs for updates on COVID-19 cases in different localities to refine their studies through cross-validation of methodologies and outputs among scientists. Aside from working with national and local government units, the UP response team has been collaborating with academics from the National University of Singapore, University of California Davis and University College London as well as local academic institutions. On the international front, the team has joined the Forecast-based Warning, Analysis and Response Network (FOREWARN), an organization of academics, scientists and humanitarian workers. The network aims to mitigate disasters and enable early humanitarian action, providing the team with opportunities for mutual consultations and improved data-gathering. Press briefing at Malacañang Palace, with Dr. Alfredo Mahar Lagmay, one of the UP COVID-19 Pandemic Response Team’s leaders, presenting the findings of the team, April 21, 2020. Photo from Dr. Kristoffer Berse. Team members have also given presentations to the President and the Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Disease (IATF). Given their highly specialized competencies, members have been called to join the IATF Technical Working Group on Anticipatory and Forward Planning. To better inform the general public, the team has also redesigned their studies into animation, video formats and flashcards to be more accessible. Policy notes are now available in English as well as Tagalog, Ilokano, Bikol Sentral, Waray, Cebuano, Hiligaynon, Aklanon, Kapampangan, Itawis, Chavacano de Zamboanga, Meranaw, and Bahasa Sug. The team’s works and research, including the regularly updated case overview, are accessible on their website, endcov.ph. The work of groups like the UP COVID-19 Pandemic Response Team will help reshape life and society post-lockdown, and further down the line, post-COVID-19. Guided by their mandate to serve the Filipino people, the U.P. team reflects the persistence and determination of what our best minds can achieve under such troubling circumstances. The UP Resilience Institute’s YANI, the COVID-19 chatbot, featured on ANC, April 19. Photo from Dr. Kristoffer Berse. |
https://up.edu.ph/up-to-provide-its-workforce-additional-emergency-allowance/ | UP to provide its workforce additional emergency allowance – University of the Philippines | UP to provide its workforce additional emergency allowance UP to provide its workforce additional emergency allowance May 14, 2020 | Written by Jo. Florendo B. Lontoc In consideration of the unprecedented situation confronting its constituents, UP is providing its workforce an additional emergency allowance of P5,000 each not earlier than May 15, 2020. UP gave an initial P5,000 emergency allowance to UP personnel in April 2020 to provide immediate economic relief during the period of enhanced community quarantine, declared first in Luzon then across local government units in the Visayas and Mindanao to stem COVID-19 transmission. According to a memorandum released by the Office of the Vice President for Administration on May 13, 2020, the qualified recipients of the additional grant are all UP faculty, REPS, and administrative staff, whether regular, permanent, temporary, or on contractual, casual, or substitute status; Contract of Service and Job Order workers rendering full-time service; and professors emeriti in active service as of March 17, 2020. “Project-based personnel may also be granted the emergency allowance if funds are provided in the budget of the projects, and if they have complied with the service requirement stated [in the preceding paragraph],” the memorandum spelled out. The UP Board of Regents approved the proposal of the UP System Administration to grant the additional emergency allowance through a referendum conducted from May 6 to 9, 2020. |
https://up.edu.ph/philippines-in-a-global-race-to-find-a-treatment-for-covid-19/ | Philippines in a global race to find a treatment for COVID-19 – University of the Philippines | Philippines in a global race to find a treatment for COVID-19 Philippines in a global race to find a treatment for COVID-19 May 13, 2020 | Written by Celeste Ann Castillo Llaneta Screenshot from the replay of the third “Stop COVID Deaths: Clinical Management Updates” webinar, streamed live on May 7, 2020, on TVUP’s YouTube channel As the COVID-19 pandemic shut down the planet, medical experts and scientists around the world have found themselves in an unprecedented race to find a treatment for the disease. “At this time, there are no medical therapies that have been definitively shown to improve outcomes in patients with COVID-19,” said, Dr. Marissa Alejandria, director of the Institute of Clinical Epidemiology of the UP Manila National Institutes of Health, professor at the UP College of Medicine, and president of the Philippine Society for Microbiology and Infectious Diseases. Screenshot from the replay of the third “Stop COVID Deaths: Clinical Management Updates” webinar, streamed live on May 7, 2020, on TVUP’s YouTube channel Speaking during the third installment of the UP webinar series, “Stop COVID Deaths: Clinical Management Updates” held on May 8, which focused on “The Treatment Landscape of COVID-19”, Dr. Alejandria reports that a number of drugs currently being studied around the world have demonstrated in vitro activity against the SARS-CoV-2 virus or have demonstrated potential clinical benefits in observational or small, non-randomized studies. She also presented clinical data on four antiviral drugs being used to treat COVID-19: chloroquine or hydroxychloroquine, lopinavir-ritonavir, remdesivir, and favipiravir. “We have no drug that has been really approved, no effective antiviral therapy at this time,” she said. “The studies raised optimism, but we all know the limitations of observational studies and case series without a control group, so we don’t know if it’s the drug that resulted in a clinical benefit or if it is due to host factors or a combination of interventions. We still need clinical trials.” Screenshot from the replay of the third “Stop COVID Deaths: Clinical Management Updates” webinar, streamed live on May 7, 2020, on TVUP’s YouTube channel, showing the evidence network for clinical trials for drugs being compared vs standard of care, while the curved arrows on the right show the number of non-comparative trials. Adequately powered randomized clinical trials are currently enrolling and are needed to establish the efficacy of these proposed therapies. One is the World Health Organization (WHO) SOLIDARITY Trial, which aims to test the safety and effectiveness of the four possible therapies in treating COVID-19 compared to standard of care. The Department of Health announced the participation of the Philippines in this last April 22, with Dr. Alejandria as country representative leader. Other randomized clinical trials around the world are the Anti-Coronavirus Therapies to Prevent Progression of Coronavirus Disease 2019 Trial or ACT COVID19; and the Adaptive COVID-19 Treatment Trial or ACTT. For now, when it comes to the management of COVID-19 patients, the standard of care in the country is delivering best supportive care while the body battles the virus: treatment of symptoms, hydration, antibiotics for bacterial pneumonia, oseltamivir for influenza, and for patients with severe or critical cases, intensive respiratory management and intensive care support. Screenshot from the replay of the third “Stop COVID Deaths: Clinical Management Updates” webinar, streamed live on May 7, 2020, on TVUP’s YouTube channel However, there is another way that patients and medical workers can contribute to the race to defeat COVID-19. “The priority should be to enroll the patient, if they qualify, in a clinical trial [of the investigational drugs], if these do not have the contraindications that would cause harm to the patient,” said Alejandria. Patients who are stable or who do not have evidence of oxygen requirements or pneumonia can generally be managed with supportive care alone. But patients with hypoxia or pneumonia, especially those with risk factors, can be considered for a specific COVID-19 therapy after discussing the risks and benefits with their doctors and giving their informed consent, in accordance with local hospital treatment guidance. “Now that we have the WHO Solidarity Trial in the country, there is an option for the clinician to enroll the patient into the clinical trial rather than just outright giving chloroquine, lopinavir or tocilizumab,” said Alejandria. “It would be a benefit to science if we are able to contribute to this clinical trial to be able to answer the question on which antiviral treatments are effective for COVID-19.” “As of today, we have 63 enrolled patients, with hospitals contributing to the trial, number of patients being enrolled per day,” said Alejandria. There are 24 site hospitals in the country participating in the trial, including nine government hospitals, one of which is the UP Manila Philippine General Hospital, and 15 private hospitals. “We hope to be able to contribute more. This is not a race against each other, but a race against time to find the effective drug that will hopefully end this pandemic.” Screenshot from the replay of the third “Stop COVID Deaths: Clinical Management Updates” webinar, streamed live on May 7, 2020, on TVUP’s YouTube channel The UP “Stop COVID Deaths: Clinical Management Updates” webinar series taps into the experiences of clinicians, hospital administrators, and researchers with the goal of protecting the health systems against COVID-19 by bridging the gap between knowledge and practice in the clinical management of cases in the Philippines. This webinar series is produced by the University in partnership with the National Telehealth Center and the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation. The fourth webinar in the series, set for May 15 at 12:00 noon, will tackle the impact of COVID-19 on the other parts of the body, specifically the kidneys. Dr. Elizabeth Montemayor, Professor, UP College of Medicine, and Vice President, Philippine Society of Nephrology, will be the speaker. Register here. |
https://up.edu.ph/yani-the-endcovbot-has-unlocked-a-new-skill/ | Yani the EndCovbot has unlocked a new skill! – University of the Philippines | Yani the EndCovbot has unlocked a new skill! Yani the EndCovbot has unlocked a new skill! May 12, 2020 | Posted by UP Media and Public Relations Office Remember Yani the EndCovBot? If you’re looking for the latest COVID-19 statistics in your municipality, city, province, region, or for the whole Philippines, 𝗷𝘂𝘀𝘁 a𝘀𝗸 𝗬𝗮𝗻𝗶 on Messenger: 𝗺.𝗺𝗲/𝗬𝗮𝗻𝗶𝗘𝗻𝗱𝗖𝗼𝘃𝗕𝗼𝘁 Yani is the first AI member of the UP COVID-19 Pandemic Response Team, designed to provide information on the latest numbers, nearest hospitals and testing centers, therapy and counselling, and COVID-19 policies. Yani can be found chilling at the encov.ph dashboard where other information resources are also available. For more updates, please like and follow YaniTheEndcovbot at https://www.facebook.com/YaniEndCovBot. #UPCOVID19ResponseTeam #UPRI #COVID19PH |
https://up.edu.ph/up-beta-sigma-fraternity-up-visayas-chapter-ramps-up-covid-19-response-distributes-medical-supplies-sends-relief-in-southern-iloilo/ | UP Beta Sigma Fraternity – UP Visayas Chapter ramps up COVID-19 response, distributes medical supplies, sends relief in southern Iloilo – University of the Philippines | UP Beta Sigma Fraternity – UP Visayas Chapter ramps up COVID-19 response, distributes medical supplies, sends relief in southern Iloilo UP Beta Sigma Fraternity – UP Visayas Chapter ramps up COVID-19 response, distributes medical supplies, sends relief in southern Iloilo May 21, 2020 | Written by Jay Pascual UP Beta Sigma Fraternity, UP Visayas Chapter members Mark Aaron Tinambunan (in black shirt) and Mon Francis Sorongon (in white) donate two gallons of alcohol and three boxes of disposable face masks to the Municipality of Oton. The donation was received by Oton Municipal Administrator Juan Miguel M. Flores The local chapter of UP Beta Sigma Fraternity in the University of the Philippines Visayas (UPV) distributed 100 liters of alcohol and 1000 pieces of medical grade surgical masks to different health centers and hospitals in the first district of Iloilo, including the municipalities of Oton, Tigbauan, Guimbal, Miag-ao, and the UPV Infirmary and dormitories. UP Beta Sigma Fraternity, UP Visayas Chapter members Mark Aaron Tinambunan (in black shirt) and Mon Francis Sorongon (in white) donate four gallons of alcohol and four boxes of disposable face masks to the Rural Health Center of the Municipality of Tigbauan. The donation was received by Tigbauan Tourism Officer Phoebe M. Torrico The Fraternity is also providing 20 essential Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs) to the UPV health unit. The said PPEs are part of the project of UP Beta Sigma Fraternity, UP Los Baños Chapter. The distribution was facilitated by Betan alumni Mark Aaron Tinambunan and Mon Francis Sorongon who are also residents of the first district. Beta Sigma, in partnership with its sorority counterpart, UP Sigma Beta Sorority-UP Visayas Chapter, is also continuing its daily food drive effort to help stranded UP Visayas students in the municipality of Miag-ao. To date, the members of Beta Sigma and Sigma Beta were able to provide 12 sets of healthy meals to the stranded dorm residents in the past two weeks, and they will continue to provide meals to the students in the coming weeks. UP Beta Sigma Fraternity, UP Visayas Chapter donates one gallon of alcohol to Balay Kanlaon Dorm in UP Visayas Miag-ao. The Fraternity donated one gallon of alcohol each to all the active dorms in UP Visayas, Miag-ao. From left to right: El Andro Obar, Mon Francis Sorongon, Balay Kanlaon Dorm Head Head Divina Punongbayan, Balay Kanlaon Dorm Representative Lara Shane Alcantara, L’Jude Mikkel Cortes, Mark Aaron Tinambunan, Kyle Dominic Barnuevo Last Monday, May 4, Beta Sigma also distributed fuel relief aid to frontline workers of the University. It handed Php120 worth of cash assistance to more than 40 workers belonging to different units of UPV. According to one of its alumni, Atty. Doni June Almio, the increased relief effort is the “Fraternity’s response to the pressing need of the people in southern Iloilo during this crucial time of the pandemic.” “We will continue to help our fellow Filipinos and UPV students because this is our sworn duty as responsible members of a larger community,” said Almio, who supervises the group’s relief effort. Almio added that “the entire membership and alumni of the UP Beta Sigma Fraternity in UPV are ready to extend essential aid so long as we have the resources for it.” UP Beta Sigma Fraternity, UP Visayas Chapter donates four gallons of alcohol and four boxes of face masks to Miag-ao Rural Health Unit. From left to right: Mon Francis Sorongon, Marv Aranjuez, Kyle Dominic Barnuevo, Dr. Jesel Cometa-Gellada, L’Jude Mikkel Cortes, Mark Aaron Tinambunan Almio also added that they are now preparing to provide water and snacks to UPV students who will be ferried home by the university officials in the coming weeks. Aside from this, he mentioned that the fuel relief for UPV workers will continue next week. He also thanked alumni members who donated to the group’s relief effort. Founded in 1946, the UP Beta Sigma Fraternity is one of the oldest fraternities in the Philippines, with tens of thousands of members across the country. Its local chapter in UP Visayas is one of the leading fraternities in the campus. UP Beta Sigma Fraternity, UP Visayas Chapter at the Guimbal District Hospital with Admin Support Staff Shenly Kate Robles UP Beta Sigma Fraternity, UP Visayas Chapter at UPV Balay Lampirong with Dorm Rep Patrick Casana. |
https://up.edu.ph/up-cebu-cenvi-presents-a-timeline-in-maps-of-cebu-citys-battle-against-covid-19/ | UP Cebu CENVI presents “a timeline in maps” of Cebu City’s battle against COVID-19 – University of the Philippines | UP Cebu CENVI presents “a timeline in maps” of Cebu City’s battle against COVID-19 UP Cebu CENVI presents “a timeline in maps” of Cebu City’s battle against COVID-19 May 21, 2020 | Written by Celeste Ann Castillo Llaneta From the website “COVID-19 Brief : A Timeline in Maps” The University of the Philippines Cebu Central Visayas Center for Informatics (CENVI), a Department of Science and Technology-funded project under the NICER program, created last May 5 a story map showing the series of events that took place after the first COVID-19 cases were reported in Cebu City. From the website “COVID-19 Brief : A Timeline in Maps” “COVID-19 Brief : A Timeline in Maps” lays down the story with a map of highly urbanized Cebu City as well as its 80 barangays, divided into urban (lowlands) and rural (highlands), and delineated by population density. The map also shows the places in the highly dense residential areas of Cebu City where “social distancing”, which means staying ideally two meters away from other people, is virtually impossible. The timeline of Cebu City’s battle against COVID-19 begins on April 1, after the Cebu City Health Department reported the first 20 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Cebu City on March 29 and released a breakdown by barangay on April 1. The map goes on to plot the progression of the number of cases per barangay one week later, and on April 15. From the website “COVID-19 Brief : A Timeline in Maps” The story map also focuses on Barangay Luz, which had an outbreak of cases, particularly in Sitio Zapatera. By April 22, another community, the Cebu City Jail, had become a hotspot. By April 30, the City Government ordered the extension of the enhanced community quarantine to May 15 as the city continued to record a high number of cases as mass testing was employed. From the website “COVID-19 Brief : A Timeline in Maps” The story map also shows the number of deaths and recoveries, financial aid deployed, and the number of Bayanihan Response Centers. The map then projects into the future or the “new normal” through Project Balik Buhay, which aims to transition the city from enhanced to general community quarantine. The UP Cebu CENVI makes use of computing techniques to produce solutions to pressing environmental problems, which in 2020 includes constantly mapping and monitoring the progression of a fast-spreading viral pandemic in its localities. Among the products being offered by the UP Cebu CENVI are remote sensing and GIS, climate and disaster risk assessment, DRRM-CCA, ecosystem conservation and management, web and database management, policy research, and Visualization and analytics In a related news, according to a latest update, UP Cebu’s CoVcheck web app, which was developed by the FireCheck Project team and UP Cebu, now includes mass testing data entry, patient monitoring, and dashboard functionalities for LGUs. Interested LGUs may contact CovCheck. From the website “COVID-19 Brief : A Timeline in Maps” |
https://up.edu.ph/negrense-students-of-upv-go-home/ | Negrense students of UPV go home – University of the Philippines | Negrense students of UPV go home Negrense students of UPV go home May 21, 2020 | Written by Arlyn VCD Palisoc Romualdo UP Visayas students at the seaport on their way home to Negros Occidental. Photo taken from the UP Visayas Facebook account, where photo credits were given to Fermin Novilla, Lyncen Fernandez, and the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Administration Twenty-three UP Visayas (UPV) students from Negros Occidental who were stranded in Miagao and Iloilo City due to the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) have gone home. The UPV Office of the Vice Chancellor for Administration facilitated the May 5 travel of the students in coordination with the Office of Civil Defense Office of the Governor, Negros Occidental; and the Office of the Mayor, Bacolod City. The undertaking followed two memoranda from UPV Chancellor Ricardo Babaran. Memorandum No. RPB 2020-04-052 issued on April 26 advised students to start making preparations for going back to their hometowns. Memorandum No. RPB 2020-05-055 issued on May 3 provided more details on what the students needed to do. UP Visayas students board the bus that will take them to the seaport so they can go home to Negros Occidental. Photo taken from the UP Visayas Facebook account, where photo credits were given to Fermin Novilla, Lyncen Fernandez, and the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Administration The later memo instructed stranded students to fill in a request for assistance form to be submitted to the Office of Student Affairs by May 5. As in the earlier issuance, Babaran reiterated that students should coordinate with their parents or guardians about their plans and the requirements on entry of their respective localities, such as quarantine protocols and passes. Students were also reminded to secure medical certificates from the UPV Health Service Unit. Medical certificates and quarantine passes were needed at the border control gates for students to pass through. UPV assured transportation to the airport or seaport from Miagao and Iloilo City for those who need to travel interisland. Fares for air and sea travel will be shouldered by the students. UP Visayas students on their way to the seaport where the next leg of their journey home will begin. Photo taken from the UP Visayas Facebook account, where photo credits were given to Fermin Novilla, Lyncen Fernandez, and the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Administration The wearing of masks in public, physical distancing, and the use of disinfectants were also emphasized in the memo. While students living in the main campus dormitories in Miagao were making preparations, they were provided daily meal vouchers by UPV until May 15 to be redeemed at the UPV Employees Cooperative cafeteria. The ECQ is expected to be lifted by May 16. Those living in Balay Ilonggo in the Iloilo City campus have been allowed to continue cooking their meals in the dorm kitchen. Other needs of stranded students will be considered depending on available funds. Finally, UPV will only waive lodging fees up to May 15, following “budget cut directives from the national government.” The dormitories will undergo disinfection and sanitation after May 15 and will be prepared for the next school term. Only Balay Apitong in Miagao will remain in operation for graduating students. |
https://up.edu.ph/kidney-patients-more-vulnerable-to-covid-19/ | Kidney patients more vulnerable to COVID-19 – University of the Philippines | Kidney patients more vulnerable to COVID-19 Kidney patients more vulnerable to COVID-19 May 21, 2020 | Written by Celeste Ann Castillo Llaneta Screenshot from the replay of the fourth UP “Stop COVID Deaths: Clinical Management Updates” webinar, streamed live on May 15, 2020, on TVUP’s YouTube channel The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 or SARS-CoV-2, the virus behind the COVID-19 pandemic, is well-known for causing respiratory problems. However, the virus does not only attack the lungs but targets other organs as well. As UP College of Medicine professor and Philippine Nephrology Society vice president Dr. Elizabeth Montemayor said: “Patients with kidney problems are a very special group of patients who will need very special attention.” Clockwise, from top left: Dr. Susan P. Mercado, Board Director, Philippine Health Insurance Corporation; Dr. Raymond Sarmiento, Director, UP-NIH National TeleHealth Center; and Dr. Elizabeth Montemayor, Vice President, Philippine Nephrology Society. Screenshot from the replay of the fourth UP “Stop COVID Deaths: Clinical Management Updates” webinar, streamed live on May 15, 2020, on TVUP’s YouTube channel Dr. Montemayor delivered her talk on “COVID-19 and the Kidneys” during the fourth installment of the UP “Stop COVID Deaths: Clinical Management Updates”, which was held on May 15, with replay available on the TVUP YouTube channel. She discussed four different kinds of patients with kidney disease who are especially vulnerable to COVID-19: patients with Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD); patients who have had kidney transplants; patients who are on hemodialysis; and patients who have developed acute kidney injury (AKI). Screenshot from the replay of the fourth “Stop COVID Deaths: Clinical Management Updates” webinar, streamed live on May 15, 2020, on TVUP’s YouTube channel According to Dr. Montemayor, patients with Chronic Kidney Disease have a higher risk of developing severe COVID-19. “This should be emphasized, because CKD patients should be advised to take extra precautions to minimize risk of exposure to the virus. Doctors engaged in the care of CKD patients should be really monitoring them for timely detection of disease progression,” she said. She also discussed the effect of the virus on ACE (angiotensin-converting enzyme) receptors in the kidneys, and the use of ACE inhibitors and angiotensin II receptor blockers, which are used to treat hypertension and to prevent kidney failure in patients with diabetes. Screenshot from the replay of the fourth UP “Stop COVID Deaths: Clinical Management Updates” webinar, streamed live on May 15, 2020, on TVUP’s YouTube channel Kidney transplant recipients need to take immunosuppressants to keep their bodies from rejecting the transplanted organ. These significantly reduce their body’s ability to fight off pathogens, including the SARS-CoV-2. As a result, the mortality rate is high for transplant patients who contract COVID-19. Hence, Dr. Montemayor stressed the need to enhance a transplant patient’s protection against contact with the virus. She also reiterated the statement of the Philippine Society of Transplant Surgeons, which recommends that “all living and deceased organ transplant surgical procedures be suspended indefinitely.” The situation in the Philippines for patients undergoing hemodialysis during the time of COVID-19. Screenshot from the replay of the fourth UP “Stop COVID Deaths: Clinical Management Updates” webinar, streamed live on May 15, 2020, on TVUP’s YouTube channel Patients undergoing hemodialysis are another distinct population in the COVID-19 outbreak, given their relatively large number; their mobility as they travel to and from the dialysis facilities, which makes them potential vectors for infection; their close proximity to other patients and medical staff; and their impaired immune systems and comorbidities. In the Philippines, many hemodialysis facilities cannot handle or accept COVID-positive patients, displacing these patients and putting pressure on remaining hemodialysis facilities. “There is a need for designated COVID-19 dialysis units in different parts of the country to cater to the needs of this special group of patients,” Dr. Montemayor noted. Finally, patients hospitalized for COVID-19 run the risk of developing Acute Kidney Injury (AKI) along with respiratory failure. Dr. Montemayor discussed the findings of various studies showing the association between respiratory failure and AKI, among others. Identifying patients with AKI may lead to a better allocation of hospital resources and better clinical outcomes for the patients. Screenshot from the replay of the fourth UP “Stop COVID Deaths: Clinical Management Updates” webinar, streamed live on May 15, 2020, on TVUP’s YouTube channel The UP “Stop COVID Deaths: Clinical Management Updates” webinar series taps into the experiences of clinicians, hospital administrators, and researchers with the goal of protecting the health systems against COVID-19 by bridging the gap between knowledge and practice in the clinical management of cases in the Philippines. This webinar series is produced by the University in partnership with the National Telehealth Center and the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation. The fifth installment of the webinar series will focus on COVID-19 and how it impacts other infections the Philippines is already battling with, such as tuberculosis, HIV and dengue, focusing on the experience of San Lazaro Hospital. The featured speaker will be Dr. Rontgene M. Solante, head of Adult Infectious Diseases, Tropical Medicine, San Lazaro Hospital. Register for the UP “Stop COVID Deaths: Clinical Management Updates” webinar no. 5 here. |
https://up.edu.ph/upvtc-turns-47/ | UPVTC turns 47 – University of the Philippines | UPVTC turns 47 UPVTC turns 47 May 22, 2020 | Written by Arlyn VCD Palisoc Romualdo Photo by Jojit fb, from Wikimedia Commons What to do when mass gatherings are not allowed to celebrate an occasion because of a pandemic? Take it online. This is what UP Visayas Tacloban College (UPVTC) is doing for its upcoming 47th founding anniversary on May 23. With the theme, “URUGUP para han Kaupayan han Katilingban ngan Kalibutan” (Solidarity for the Well-Being of Our Community and the World), UPVTC’s celebration will kick off with the launch of Pagsurumpay: Online Talk Series. “Pagsurumpay” is Waray for “to connect.” The pilot episode, “Context, Opportunities, and Challenges for Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) in the Time of COVID-19,” will feature UPVTC Psychology lecturer Ruth Edisel Rylle Sadian-Cercado and Prof. Ervina Espina, and licensed psychologist Mary Jane Flores. It will be available for viewing on UPVTC’s Facebook page. Apart from Pagsurumpay, UPVTC’s institutional call for donations, URUGUP, will also launch the 47th Anniversary URUGUP Fund Drive for Eastern Samar. It will raise funds for cash or in-kind donations to the communities severely affected by Typhoon Ambo, such as Jipapad, Maslog, and San Policario. The UPVTC Student Council’s official donation drive, Bulig Oble, will be launched on the same day as well. It will consist of donation drives for specific causes, the first of which is Project HangkUP, intended to help UPVTC students in Eastern Samar affected by the recent Typhoon Ambo. UP KA1SSA is the Student Council’s partner in this initiative. On May 26, the Kalungganayan Community Vegetable Garden will be launched with a ceremonial planting. It is spearheaded by the All UP Worker’s Union (AUPWU) Tacloban Chapter. The word “kalungganayan” means “benefit, blessing, grace, or the bringing of abundance, wealth, or livelihood to people.” And on May 29, the Student Council will hold the 8th EdukAksyon Quiz Bee with the theme “47 Years of Militant Solidarity: Breaking the Silence amid the Storm and Social Pandemic.” For information and updates on UPVTC activities, announcements, and news, visit its Facebook page. UPVTC was established in 1973 through a decision by the UP Board of Regents to “(1) provide quality education in the Eastern Visayas region and turn out graduates who possess essential attributes for becoming productive and responsible members of the community; (2) undertake and encourage scientific research in public affairs that will help illuminate phenomena as well as serve practical values of resolving problems and enhancing regional development; and (3) offer technical assistance to the community, viz., government, business, and the public at-large toward the further improvement of the quality of life in the Eastern Visayas region.” |
https://up.edu.ph/ovpaa-memorandum-no-2020-62-reiteration-of-the-grading-system-in-the-implementing-guidelines-of-the-up-system-policy-on-the-second-semester-2019-2020-in-light-of-covid-19/ | OVPAA Memorandum No. 2020-62: Reiteration of the Grading System in the Implementing Guidelines of the UP System Policy on the Second Semester 2019-2020 in Light of COVID-19 – University of the Philippines | OVPAA Memorandum No. 2020-62: Reiteration of the Grading System in the Implementing Guidelines of the UP System Policy on the Second Semester 2019-2020 in Light of COVID-19 OVPAA Memorandum No. 2020-62: Reiteration of the Grading System in the Implementing Guidelines of the UP System Policy on the Second Semester 2019-2020 in Light of COVID-19 May 22, 2020 | Posted by UP Media and Public Relations Office The University of the Philippines Office of the Vice President for Academic Affairs has issued Memorandum No. OVPAA 2020-62 reiterating the grading system in the implementing guidelines of the UP policy on the second semester 2019-2020 in light of COVID-19. To clarify, the University has NOT reversed its position on mass promotions and that all provisions regarding the grading system as stated in the implementing guidelines REMAIN VALID AND IN EFFECT. The Board of Regents merely approved the applications for exemption from numeric grades as endorsed by the Chancellors following the provisions under Section 6.1.6 of the implementing guidelines. Please read Memorandum No. OVPAA 2020-62 and be guided accordingly. Related story: https://www.up.edu.ph/up-sets-guidelines-on-proceeding-with-academic-year-affected-by-the-ecq/ |
https://up.edu.ph/more-upv-students-reunite-with-families/ | More UPV students reunite with families – University of the Philippines | More UPV students reunite with families More UPV students reunite with families May 29, 2020 | Written by Arlyn VCD Palisoc Romualdo UPV students heading home to Palawan. Photo from UPV Facebook page Stranded no more. Students of UP Visayas (UPV) who hail from other cities, municipalities, provinces, and regions have gone home as UPV has continued to facilitate their return to their families with the province of Iloilo’s transition to general community quarantine. Their journey was coordinated with their respective local government units and other relevant agencies by UPV. On May 22, a student from Passi, Iloilo along with 13 students from Aklan, Capiz, and Mindoro Oriental left Miagao to travel back home. Those who returned to Aklan were immediately debriefed and were even treated to lunch by UPV alumni and the Aklan provincial government. UPV students practice physical distancing while waiting for the bus that will take them to the respective jump-off points for travel to Aklan, Capiz, and Mindoro Oriental. Photo from UPV Facebook page. On May 24, a student bound for Lemery, Iloilo and 18 students going back to Palawan were sent off by the UPV Logistics Team. On May 27, seven students going home to Negros Oriental were brought to the Dumangas Port. They were provided packed food by the UPV Logistics Team. UPV student bound for Negros Oriental (Photo by Juvy Janeo of UPV OSA, taken from UPV Facebook page) Prior to these departures, UPV had already sent home 23 students to Negros Occidental on May 5. Seven students made up the first batch of those who had been successfully reunited with their families on March 21 within the province of Iloilo. On May 18, Office of Student Affairs Director Agustin Huyong released an advisory on the retrieval of personal belongings left by UPV students in dormitories. They were instructed to contact dormitory managers to set a schedule; issue a letter of authorization to a representative who will claim their belongings if the students are unable to do it themselves; and present a health certificate from their local health unit issued not more than five days prior to claiming of belongings. Retrieval period is scheduled from May 25 to June 22, 9:00AM to 4:00PM. Dormitories will cease operations on June 23. For those who will be unable to get their things, UPV will temporarily store them for safekeeping. Final retrieval will resume not later than the enrollment period for AY 2020-2021. Those who prefer to have their belongings stored by UPV will need to accomplish a waiver. |
https://up.edu.ph/23-stranded-up-mindanao-students-return-to-hometowns-through-inter-agency-efforts/ | 23 stranded UP Mindanao students return to hometowns through inter-agency efforts – University of the Philippines | 23 stranded UP Mindanao students return to hometowns through inter-agency efforts 23 stranded UP Mindanao students return to hometowns through inter-agency efforts May 29, 2020 | Written by Rene A. Estremera, UP Mindanao UP Mindanao students departing for Region 12 (Soccsksargen), assisted by the UP Mindanao Office of Student Affairs, in coordination with the Office of the President‒Presidential Management Staff and the Office of the Special Assistant to the President (Note: Images are intentionally blurred in compliance with the Data Privacy Act.) Photo from the UP Mindanao Office of Student Affairs. Twenty-three students of the University of the Philippines (UP) Mindanao successfully returned to their respective hometowns starting May 6, following a tightly coordinated inter-agency operation. Ten more students are awaiting their turn. These students from different parts of the country were stranded on campus following the imposition of a nation-wide community quarantine to control the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic. UP Mindanao students departing for Region 10 (Northern Mindanao), assisted by the UP Mindanao Office of Student Affairs, in coordination with the Office of the President‒Presidential Management Staff and the Office of the Special Assistant to the President (Note: Images are intentionally blurred in compliance with the Data Privacy Act.) Photo from the UP Mindanao Office of Student Affairs. “We were exploring various options to bring the students home. Fortunately, I got a call from an official of the Office of the President‒Presidential Management Staff (PMS). They offered to bring our students to the borders of their respective hometowns, from where the local PMS staff will take over and bring the students home,” said UP Mindanao Office of Student Affairs (OSA) director Ma. Teresa Escano. “I submitted the list of the hometowns of our students, and the PMS, the Office of the Special Assistant to the President, the Davao City Tourism Office, and the City Government of Davao took action,” she added. On May 6, three UP Mindanao students, together with a UP Diliman student and a UP Los Baños faculty member also stranded in the city, boarded the Davao‒Manila sweeper flight. The CALABARZON local government units (LGUs) arranged for transport from the airport to their hometowns. “Davao City Councilor Mabel Acosta helped in the arrangements for the air transport,” Escano said. Among the Mindanao-based students, seven went home to the CARAGA Region on May 6, eight went home to SOCCSKSARGEN on May 7, and five went home to Northern Mindanao on May 8. The PMS brought each group to the designated hand-over points in Monkayo, Davao del Norte, for those bound for CARAGA; Bansalan, Davao Del Sur, for those bound for SOCCSKSARGEN; and the boundary of Bukidnon Province for those bound for Northern Mindanao, where their respective LGUs received them. UP Mindanao students departing for Region 13 (Caraga), assisted by the UP Mindanao Office of Student Affairs, in coordination with the Office of the President‒Presidential Management Staff and the Office of the Special Assistant to the President (Note: Images are intentionally blurred in compliance with the Data Privacy Act.). Photo from the UP Mindanao Office of Student Affairs. All 23 students arrived in their respective hometowns, as ascertained by the UP Mindanao OSA through their group chat and other student monitoring mechanisms, and are either on strict home quarantine or at a quarantine facility, as required by their LGUs. Of the 10 remaining students, five come from provinces in the Davao Region. The City Government of Davao and the PMS are still making transport-sharing arrangements for these students. The other students come from Zamboanga (2), Palawan (1), Cebu (1), and Iloilo (1). “We have sent a letter to the Office of the President to request for sweeper flights. Rest assured that we are exhausting all possible ways and means to bring them home too,” Escano said. Throughout the quarantine period, the stranded students were housed in the Elias B. Lopez Hall dormitory within the campus and nearby boarding houses. Last March, OSA held a donation drive to provide food and personal hygiene kits for the stranded students, which saw participation from UP Mindanao constituents, the alumni, and various organizations. Aside from monitoring their physical wellbeing, OSA also provided psychosocial support. Three UP Mindanao students, one UP Diliman student, and one UP Los Baños faculty member bound for Region 4A (Calabarzon) awaiting their flight at the Davao International Airport; they were assisted by the UP Mindanao Office of Student Affairs, in coordination with the Office of the President‒Presidential Management Staff and the Office of the Special Assistant to the President (Note: Images are intentionally blurred in compliance with the Data Privacy Act.) Photo from the UP Mindanao Office of Student Affairs. Before traveling, the UP Mindanao administration assisted the students in complying with travel requirements, which include medical certificates, quarantine clearances, letters of acceptance from the receiving LGUs, and the parents’ authorization. The Association of the UP Beta Sigma Fraternity-UP Mindanao Chapter provided transportation for the students during the health clearance process and, together with UP Sigma Beta Sorority, Alpha Phi Omega‒ Lambda Nu Chapter, and UP Omega Alpha Sorority, distributed food packs during the send-off. The PMS provided two vans for each departing group to abide by social distancing rules. The Inter-Agency Task Force has classified the Mindanao regions as being under a low or moderate risk for COVID-19 through its Resolution No. 35, and economic activity is expected to resume with health guidelines in place. |
https://up.edu.ph/upvtc-reflects-on-mhpss-in-covid-19-crisis/ | UPVTC reflects on MHPSS in COVID-19 crisis – University of the Philippines | UPVTC reflects on MHPSS in COVID-19 crisis UPVTC reflects on MHPSS in COVID-19 crisis May 29, 2020 | Written by Arlyn VCD Palisoc Romualdo Screenshot from the video of UPVTC’s Pagusurumpay Online Talk Series Episode 1, on “Context, Opportunities, and Challenges for Mental Health and Pyschosocial Support (MHPSS) in the Time of COVID-19.” The COVID-19 pandemic, just like previous emergency and crisis situations, activated the UP Visayas Tacloban College (UPVTC) mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) core team. But unlike previous emergency and crisis situations, traditional face-to-face interaction was no longer possible. In a time of physical distancing and stay-at-home measures, MHPSS, as with many other forms of service, had to shift online. In “Context, Opportunities, and Challenges for MHPSS in the time of COVID-19,” the inaugural episode of Pagsurumpay Online Talk Series streamed on May 23 in UPVTC’s Facebook page and launched in celebration of UPVTC’s 47th founding anniversary, three of the nine-member MHPSS core team discussed the group’s experience and reflected on ways it can improve and move forward in the new normal. It was moderated by fellow team member and UPVTC Psychology faculty member, Prof. Pierce Docena. Prof. Ruth Edisel Rylle Sadian-Cercado (Screenshot taken of her in “Context, Opportunities, and Challenges for MHPSS in the time of COVID-19″) Setting the context was Psychology Prof. Ruth Edisel Rylle Sadian-Cercado, who said that “MHPSS” is used in the Inter-Agency Standing Committee Guidelines in Emergency Settings and “refers to any type of local or outside support that aims to protect of promote psychosocial well-being and/or prevent or treat mental health conditions.” She explained that MHPSS is nuanced and must be appropriate to the culture, language, health, and social system of the client. Within each population, Sadian-Cercado clarified, there are groups that are more vulnerable than others and their needs must be taken into account as well. These groups include children, elderly, persons with disabilities, marginalized persons such as members of the LGBT community, and in the current pandemic, people with suppressed or compromised immune systems. Standards in response, the identification of individuals who may be trained to respond, the identification of issues that are inherent to the community, clarity of organization roles, referral pathways, and access to needed services must also be established. Dr. Ervina Espina (Screenshot taken of her in “Context, Opportunities, and Challenges for MHPSS in the time of COVID-19″) Fellow Psychology professor and UPVTC Office of Student Affairs Coordinator, Dr. Ervina Espina, then discussed the opportunities presented by COVID-19 to the delivery of MHPSS. First of which was the use of ICT as the shift to online mode has become inevitable. The creation of online platforms, use of digital resources and materials, and tele-processing were all part of moving away from face-to-face sessions. The pandemic also allowed the team to focus on specific groups such as UPVTC students and frontline workers. It opened avenues for partnerships with psychiatrists in Eastern Visayas and with organizations like Cognitio+. Espina expressed the group’s desire to eventually expand its clientele and create an MHPSS webinar series. Dr. Mary Jane Flores (Screenshot taken of her in “Context, Opportunities, and Challenges for MHPSS in the time of COVID-19″) Dr. Mary Jane Flores of Chong Hua Hospital in Mandaue, Cebu and one of the team’s supervising clinical psychologists talked about the challenges in MHPSS at this time. While the shift to online mode afforded many possibilities in the delivery of MHPSS, it was not without problems. Access and connectivity were still major problems. In addition, the team also had varying levels of technical know-how. The team itself only consisted of nine members and continued to look for possible qualified recruits or those trained in psychological first aid (PFA). As for client response, Flores pointed out the low turnout of respondents, numbering around 70. And in this group who filled out the online rapid assessment form, only around ten were willing to communicate further. She said that the low turnout may be attributed to lack of access, not enough dissemination of UPVTC’s MHPSS offering, and/or fear of stigmatization. As for those who were hesitant to talk with members of the team, she surmised that it may be due to their perception of their ability to cope, protection of their privacy, and/or the perception of the services provided or the people providing the services. Sadian-Cercado added that help-seeking needs courage and depends on the person’s readiness to talk. She also said that the low response may also be a good thing if it means that more people were coping better with the crisis. Prof. Pierce Docena (Screenshot taken of him in “Context, Opportunities, and Challenges for MHPSS in the time of COVID-19″) Moving forward, Flores emphasized the need to continuously evaluate the MHPSS program; to remove the negative image of the need for mental health services through education; to increase awareness on available resources and services; and to strengthen institutional support for MHPSS. To end the online discussion, Sadian-Cercado, Espina, and Flores left the following messages: ● Stress and fear are normal responses to a crisis; ● Listen to what you feel; ● Do not be ashamed or afraid to ask for help; ● Make connections; ● Your level of well-being is not entirely dependent on your circumstances; and ● Never think that there is nothing you can do to make yourself feel better and that you can always make yourself feel better. |
https://up.edu.ph/frontliners-at-the-forefront-of-the-6th-up-stop-covid-deaths-webinar-may-29/ | Frontliners at the forefront of the 6th UP “Stop COVID Deaths” Webinar, May 29 – University of the Philippines | Frontliners at the forefront of the 6th UP “Stop COVID Deaths” Webinar, May 29 Frontliners at the forefront of the 6th UP “Stop COVID Deaths” Webinar, May 29 May 26, 2020 | Posted by UP Media and Public Relations Office The University of the Philippines, in partnership with Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) and the UP Manila NIH National Telehealth Center, is inviting you to join the fight against COVID-19. The UP Webinar Series “STOP COVID DEATHS: Clinical Management Updates” is scheduled EVERY FRIDAY from 12nn to 2pm. In late April, the Department of Health reported COVID-19 infections of more than 1000 health care workers—422 doctors, 386 nurses, 30 medical technologists, 21 radiation technologists, 51 nursing assistants, and 152 other personnel including barangay health workers. At that time, there were 26 deaths, including 19 doctors. The numbers have gone up since. This initial shock reverberated through health care facilities throughout the nation. Part of the problem was the rapid spread of COVID-19 among patients who did not have a history of travel or known exposure. Part of it was that patients had non-specific symptoms. Part of it was that there was a lack of personal protective equipment— not then required for interaction at patient admission, ER consults, OPD check-ups. SARS-CoV-2 is a highly infectious agent. This places health care workers at the highest risk for disease transmission as it is inevitable that procedures, conversations and treatment be done without close interaction. How are our hospitals retrofitting their physical, social and therapeutic environments to ensure safety of hospital personnel? Vision, teamwork and strong management are required to keep our frontliners safe. The Lung Center of the Philippines as a COVID referral center shares lessons learned for protection of hospital personnel. Join the sixth installment of the UP Webinar Series “STOP COVID DEATHS: Clinical Management Updates,” on May 29, 2020 at 12:00 NN, focusing on “Hospital Personnel Safety During the COVID-19 Pandemic” and featuring Dr. Antonio B. Ramos, Manager of Administrative Services, Lung Center of the Philippines, as resource speaker. Limited slots only. Register now at bit.ly/StopCOVIDDeathsWebinar6 |
https://up.edu.ph/lessons-from-the-san-lazaro-experience/ | Lessons from the San Lazaro experience – University of the Philippines | Lessons from the San Lazaro experience Lessons from the San Lazaro experience June 3, 2020 | Written by Fred Dabu Screenshot from the replay of the fifth webinar in the UP “Stop COVID Deaths” series on the TVUP YouTube channel. In the fifth presentation of the UP webinar series,“STOP COVID DEATHS: Clinical Management Updates,” on May 22, 2020, Dr. Rontgene M. Solante, head of the Adult Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine unit of the San Lazaro Hospital, shared valuable insights from their care and management of COVID-19 patients with pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB), human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), and other infections. The San Lazaro Hospital is a 500-bed infectious diseases referral hospital and is one of the 31 subnational referral laboratories for COVID-19. It is also an HIV treatment hub, DOTS and multidrug-resistant TB referral hospital. It was the hospital that admitted the first two COVID-19 cases in the Philippines on January 23, 2020. Dr. Solante, one of the Philippines’ top experts on infectious diseases, discussed how the hospital is managing COVID-19 cases and is participating in the World Health Organization (WHO) Solidarity Trial for interventions using investigational drugs, wherein hospitals in more than 70 countries compare treatment options to assess effectiveness against COVID-19. In Solante’s presentation on COVID-19 and other infectious diseases, dengue was shown as the top case admitted in San Lazaro, followed by tetanus, TB, and others. He explained that anybody who is admitted with fever now has to be tested for COVID-19. “We have to look at the history and findings of respiratory tract infections. Focusing on COVID, we now have a total of 88 confirmed cases (as of May 14). Most of the deaths (total of 19) were of males 50 years old and abovewho died due to sepsis or acute respiratory disease syndrome,” he said. Dr. Solante said the patient’s age is a major risk factor of determinant for survival, as well as patients who are immunocompromised, with TB or other infections or comorbidities. The majority of those who died have comorbidities, with hypertension as the most common, followed by diabetes, which also reflect the findings from COVID-19 research in China. He added that there were also patients who died with influenza B, streptococcus pneumoniae and staphylococcus hominis bacteremia. Dr. Solante explained that the radiographic findings for 16 of those who died showed that they had bilateral pneumonia and two had lobar pneumonia. Some of their Chest CT (Computed Tomography) findings showed ground glass opacification, but most showed none. The RT-PCR test must always be used in detecting COVID cases, he added. Screenshot from the replay of the fifth webinar in the UP “Stop COVID Deaths” series on the TVUP YouTube channel. Interventions using investigational drugs Dr. Solante said that as part of the solidarity clinical trial for COVID-19 treatments, the San Lazaro hospital is among those that test the following investigational drugs for inhibiting viral replication or entry, and for preventing receptor activation of inflammatory molecules: remdesivir, lopinavir/ritonavir, lopinavir/ritonavir with interferon beta-1a, chloroquine or hydroxychloroquine, and tocilizumab. He said the use of tocilizumab on selected patients showed significant improvements seen in radiologic and chest CT results. However, extra care should be done to prevent the use of these drugs that would have interaction or effects on other medications needed by the patients, he explained. Screenshot from the replay of the fifth webinar in the UP “Stop COVID Deaths” series on the TVUP YouTube channel. Managing COVID-19 and co-infections (bacterial, PTB, HIV) Dr. Solante explained that if one is a COVID-19 patient with multiple infections, a higher rate of mortality is also expected. For instance, a COVID-19 patient with PTB would have a higher mortality rate, especially if untreated, or if the patient is immunocompromised, elderly, and with comorbidities. “It is advisable to test for TB with the Genexpert. COVID-19 and PTB would exacerbate the symptoms of each other,” he said. Dr. Solante advised that people and “patients with TB lung disease should limit their exposure to high-risk environments. Stop using tobacco or vape products.” He emphasized that the TB treatment programs for patients should continue, with the daily observed therapy (DOT) replaced with alternatives, such as self-administered therapy (SAT), video-observed therapy (VOT), and mobile-phone supported adherence strategies. “If a patient has HIV but continues the antiretroviral medication, the risk would be the same as with a normal person.But if the medication is stopped, the risk of getting the infection is very high since the patient is already immunocompromised. The antiretroviral treatment for all HIV patients should continue,” he added. Dr. Solante emphasized that “prevention and precautionary measures are very important for these high-risk populations, including the elderly. Hand hygiene, face mask and physical distancing,” plus vaccinations (influenza and pneumococcal vaccines) should be up-to-date. Patients should also be screened for COVID, TB, and HIV, he reiterated. Care for healthcare workers In addition to personnel safety protocols and precautions, Dr. Solante said San Lazaro Hospital conducts regular health surveillance and testing for its healthcare workers. He said that out of the 196 given rt-PCR testing, seven were found positive (one doctor, three nurses and three lab personnel), although none of them had fever. Their common symptoms were fatigue, headache, cough, and sore throat, among others. Since healthcare workers are highly vulnerable, they should be monitored and tested regularly, he explained. UP webinar series This series of webinars is conducted by the University of the Philippines, in partnership with the National Telehealth Center and the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation, to promote the highest possible standards of care for COVID-19 patients and also to seek to protect the entire health system against COVID-19. The webinars, scheduled every Friday from 12nn to 2pm,are hosted by Dr. Raymond Francis Sarmiento of the National Telehealth Center, Dr. Susan Pineda-Mercado of Philhealth, and Dr. Eva Maria Cutiongco-De La Paz of the National Institutes of Health and UP Manila. The video of this webinar is available at TVUP’s website and YouTube channel. On June 5, 2020 (Friday), 12nn, Dr. Paulyn Jean B. Rosell-Ubial, former Secretary of Health, Medical Volunteer at the Quezon Institute COVID-19 Community Isolation Facility, and Head of the Philippine Red Cross Biomolecular Laboratories, will talk about “Supportive Care for Mild Pneumonia in Community Isolation: The Quezon Institute Experience.” Interested parties can sign up for the next webinar here. |
https://up.edu.ph/up-alumni-association-to-hold-kapihan-ng-bayan-sa-up-on-covid-19-and-the-economy/ | UP Alumni Association to hold Kapihan ng Bayan sa UP on “COVID-19 and the Economy” – University of the Philippines | UP Alumni Association to hold Kapihan ng Bayan sa UP on “COVID-19 and the Economy” UP Alumni Association to hold Kapihan ng Bayan sa UP on “COVID-19 and the Economy” June 11, 2020 | Posted by UP Media and Public Relations Office From jobs lost, businesses shutting down, manufacturing and supply chains interrupted, the COVID-19 pandemic has taken a tremendous toll on both the global and national economy. How far this impact goes, at both the macro and micro-economic level, will be the topic for discussion of the upcoming “Kapihan ng Bayan sa UP,” hosted by the University of the Philippines Alumni Association, Inc. (UPAA). This online UPAA “Kapihan,” on the topic of “COVID-19 and the Economy,” will be held via Zoom on June 16, 2020, Tuesday, at 3:00-5:00 p.m. (Manila time). Professor Emeritus of Economics of UP and former Secretary of Socioeconomic Planning, National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA), Dr. Ernesto M. Pernia will be resource speaker. He will share his thoughts on the once-in-hundred-years pandemic that is having profound and far-reaching effects on the lives of all Filipinos. An open forum will be held following his discussion. All members of the UP community—alumni, faculty, students and staff—as well as the general public are invited to participate. Please register with the UPAA Secretariat at tels. 920-6868; 920-6871; Mobile 0917-8372098; or e-mail upalumniasso@gmail.com to get the Zoom meeting ID and your personal participant’s password. The “Kapihan ng Bayan sa UP” is a public service project of the UPAA aims to serve as a regular forum for intelligent and constructive discussion of issues relevant to our development as a nation. In a democracy like the Philippines, such public discourse is a valuable tool for guiding the national leaders and all concerned citizens to collectively confront and attempt to resolve the challenges posed by current issues of general concern. |
https://up.edu.ph/medical-elearning-at-the-time-of-covid-19/ | Medical eLearning at the time of COVID-19 – University of the Philippines | Medical eLearning at the time of COVID-19 Medical eLearning at the time of COVID-19 May 29, 2020 | Posted by UP Media and Public Relations Office UP College of Medicine, DOH, and APMC to hold month-long Medical eLearning: Behind the Screens Virtual Conference on June 2020 The Department of Health, in collaboration with the University of the Philippines College of Medicine, and the Association of Philippine Medical Colleges, will hold the Medical eLearning: Behind the Screens, a virtual conference series on the use of computers in medical education, from 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM on all Tuesdays and Thursdays of June 2020. It will be available at https://livestream.up.edu.ph/ and https://fb.com/mccodtraining/. This virtual conference series stems from the development of the eLearning Course on Medical Certification of Cause of Death (MCCOD). More than 1,850 medical students and interns from seven medical schools and hospitals across the country have completed the Course. Towards the DOH campaign for better quality health data, this Project is a step in developing more effective physicians – central to better quality death certificates. The UP College of Medicine prides itself for taking part in this endeavor by leading the development of this MCCOD eLearning Course, and engaging six other medical schools and hospitals to produce a high quality, learner-centric educational material for physicians. Medical eLearning: Behind the Screens makes the case for computer-based training as assistive to clinical instructors and medical schools to meet student learning needs. This is heightened especially amidst the continued threat of COVID-19 where physical distancing, and community quarantines are a reality. Using the MCCOD eLearning Course as an example, this Virtual Conference will instruct participants on how to craft their eLearning modules, engage with their target participants, and scale-up for wider use in each of their institutions. This emphasizes the importance of good quality data on MCCOD and each health workers’ role in managing causes of mortality and improving overall health. The Department of Health aims to launch the MCCOD eLearning Course for wider use by APMC member schools, APMC-accredited hospitals, and the wider healthcare workforce nationwide. As an ally in education, the DOH promotes continuous learning in a format available 24/7 and on-demand. The Course will be made available at the DOH Academy (https://learn.doh.gov.ph) to participants of this Virtual Conference series. About the MCCOD eLearning Course: The MCCOD eLearning Course contributes to the efforts of the Department of Health (DOH) in fostering good quality capture of mortality data as a crucial input to evidence-based health planning and decision-making. In 2015, the DOH Knowledge Management and Information Technology Service (DOH KMITS) produced the first version of the handbook on medical certification for MCCOD. Likewise, the Post Graduate Interns (PGI) Practicum Guidelines on MCCOD was crafted through support from the World Health Organization (WHO) and partnership with the Association of Philippine Medical Colleges. To ensure scale and sustainability, the eLearning modality is designed for the PGI Program of APMC-accredited hospitals, medical students, and even licensed medical doctors. The MCCOD eLearning Course Development and Implementation Project is led by the UP College of Medicine on behalf of the DOH. The team is led by Professor Portia Fernandez-Marcelo MD, with UPCM Consultants Ma. Cecilia Alinea MD, Jose Modesto Abellera III MD, Cecil Lim MD, Patrick Sylim MD, and UP CPH Professor Buenalyn Teresita Ramos-Mortel. They are joined by Asuncion Anden MD (former DOH Regional Director), Maria Lora Cabrera-Tupas MD and Aretha Gacutan-Liwag MD (both UPCM alumna and currently with the West Visayas State University Medical Center), Abegail Jayne Amoranto, RN MSGC (UP College of Nursing Class 2012 and Research Consultant) and Monica Sunga (eLearning Design and Development Consultant). The Project Team includes Manu Gaspar (Project Manager), Jae-Ann Sumalo, RN MPH-c (Advocacy and Deployment Officer), Romeo Luis Macabasag, RN MAN (Research Officer), Ma. Ysabel Leanne Brual RND MSPH-c (Research & Project Assistant), Nicole Ysabel Dela Luna (Research & Project Assistant), and Rupert Sievert (Research & Project Assistant). |
https://up.edu.ph/upou-sets-more-online-lectures-and-discussion/ | UPOU sets more online lectures and discussion – University of the Philippines | UPOU sets more online lectures and discussion UPOU sets more online lectures and discussion June 10, 2020 | Written by Arlyn VCD Palisoc Romualdo The easing of restrictions does not mean the crisis is over, with the impact of COVID-19 cutting across various sectors. In an effort to continue the capacity-building of affected individuals, organizations, and fields, the UP Open University (UPOU) has embraced its unique role as online education provider, at a time when physical distancing is a must and mass gatherings are prohibited. As the leading open and distance e-learning institution in the country, UPOU has remained true to its commitment of providing public service and delivering quality education through digital means such as online lectures and webinars. Its repository of learning materials are readily available for access online. As of this writing, it has four upcoming web stream events in UPOU Networks. The Master of Public Management Program of the UPOU Faculty of Management and Development Studies, in partnership with the Association of Schools of Public Administration in the Philippines, Inc. (ASPAP), has the three-part “Are We Really Going Online? ASPAP Webinar Series on Public Administration and Governance Education During the Time of the New Normal.” It will kick off on June 10, 10:00 AM, with “Open and Distance e-Learning in Philippine Public Administration/Governance Education: Practices and Lessons.” The second of the webinar series, “Instructional Design and Content Development for Public Adminstration/Governance Programs,” will be on June 17. Closing off the three-part series is “Online Tutoring/Support and Assessment: Requirements and Challenges” scheduled on June 24. UPOU’s Let’s Talk it Over online series also has an upcoming discussion titled “Who Takes Care of the Caregivers? The COVID-19 experience,” that will be streamed live on June 11 at 2:00 PM. To view, listen, and participate in UPOU’s online discussions in real time, register at networks.upou.edu.ph. |
https://up.edu.ph/up-researchers-develop-vr-prototype-of-stay-homecare-for-behavioral-and-psychological-conditions/ | UP researchers develop VR prototype of stay-homecare for behavioral and psychological conditions – University of the Philippines | UP researchers develop VR prototype of stay-homecare for behavioral and psychological conditions UP researchers develop VR prototype of stay-homecare for behavioral and psychological conditions June 3, 2020 | Posted by UP Media and Public Relations Office Neurological conditions, such as Dementia and Cerebral Palsy, affect the cognitive abilities, motor functions, and performance of activities of daily living of patients. These manifestations may occur throughout the patients’ lifetime, which may render poor quality of life for both the patients and their families. To date, there is no cure for both of these conditions, as pharmacologic management is limited to symptomatic treatment only. There are several therapies available for patients with these conditions, such as physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech and language therapy, and recreational therapy, which may improve outcomes and enhance the quality of life of patients and their families. In international settings, research studies are being conducted to explore the use of virtual reality technology as an innovative tool for the rehabilitation management of these conditions. Most relevant to the current Covid19 pandemic, the technology is seen to redefine homecare as stay-homecare. The VR media is meant to promote home therapy for the target patients, mostly composed of a population that is vulnerable to the current pandemic. The research team – composed of Dr. Jaime DL. Caro (Department of Computer Science, UP Diliman), Dr. Veeda Michelle M. Anlacan, Dr. Michael L. Tee, Dr. Cherica A. Tee, Dr. Dominic Jamora, Dr. Marilie Ruiz Aguila (College of Medicine, UP Manila) and Prof. Gregg S. Lloren (College of Communication, Art, and Design, UP Cebu and the University of Edinburgh) – is developing an immersive technological system to rehabilitate the different neuropsychiatric symptoms that come with behavioral and psychological dementia. (Top L-R) Dr. Veeda Michelle Anlacan, Prof. Gregg Lloren (Bottom L-R) Dr. Cherica Tee, Dr. Michael Tee, and Dr. Jaime Caro (Not in the photo: Dr. Dominic Jamora and Dr. Marilie Ruiz Aguila) The proposed Immersive Technology System (ImTS) will serve as a complementary strategy for implementing rehabilitation techniques for patients with dementia and behavioral and psychological symptoms and patients with cerebral palsy and mobility limitations. ImTS will manage the creation, customization, and fruition of multimedia interactive simulation of the world in a virtual environment (VE) that is meant to optimize the power of a technology that augments human capability. Such technology supplies a more flexible environment than the real world, thus giving users a new experience with minimized risk of real danger or physical harm. The program aims to improve the overall quality of life of both patients and their caregivers by assisting patients to recall memories, encourage physical activity, improve social interaction, enhance their emotional well-being, and perform activities of daily living through the interactive visual content/game applications. The research also aims to establish an effective immersive technology system that can be integrated into the standard therapeutic practices in rehabilitation management. As an alternative to HMD, the research team will develop a cheaper version of a semi-CAVE (an immersive screen) for the projection of interactive immersive media. This example of a projection of a panoramic painting by Robert Barker (18th century) of Old Town, Edinburgh, UK, is at the Main Library of the University of Edinburgh. Dr. Veeda Anlacan, Dr. Mike Tee, Dr. Chericca Tee, Dr. Dominic Jamora, and Dr. Marilie Ruiz Aguila will be conducting the clinical trials. Dr. Jaime Caro and his team will focus on software and engineering of the prototype, and Prof. Lloren and his team in uCreate Laboratory from the University of Edinburgh will deal with media design. The research is composed of four projects that all touch on different behavioral and psychological conditions. The first phase will focus on the design and development of a semi-CAVE system for non-HMD (Head Mounted Display) users, customized software VR solution, and training of healthcare professionals. The study will run for two and a half years. The second phase will focus on clinical trials and pre-clinical studies and will run for fifteen months. The research is funded by the Philippine Council for Health Research and Development (PCHRD) with the technical support of uCreate Makerspace Studio of the University of Edinburgh. To record/capture ‘memory’ scenes and archive them in a virtual environment for memory triggers, Prof. Lloren uses a stereoscopic 360 video camera in the production and design of an immersive audiovisual experience. The media is designed to augment the memory functions of the brain in terms of recall, reminisce, and remember. Professor Gregg S. Lloren developing a VR media for memory triggers at the uCreate Maker Space laboratory of the University of Edinburgh. The idea is to trigger memory recollection, reminiscence, and remembrance through an immersive audiovisual experience. Prof. Lloren tests a more advanced VR Head Mounted Display (HMD) with whole-body motion tracking at the uCreate Makers Space laboratory, University of Edinburgh, UK. The technology is meant to diagnose, assess, and train mobility among patients suffering from Parkinson’s Disease. This feature was originally posted on the UP Cebu website at https://upcebu.edu.ph/up-researchers-develop-vr-prototype-of-stay-homecare-for-behavioral-and-psychological-conditions/. |
https://up.edu.ph/up-mindanao-launches-online-platform-to-track-covid-19-cases-in-the-davao-region/ | UP Mindanao launches online platform to track COVID-19 cases in the Davao Region – University of the Philippines | UP Mindanao launches online platform to track COVID-19 cases in the Davao Region UP Mindanao launches online platform to track COVID-19 cases in the Davao Region June 2, 2020 | Written by Fred Dabu Screenshot of COVID-19 Insights COVID-19 Insights, a web-based platform created and maintained by the UP Mindanao COVID-19 Modeling Team for tracking COVID-19 cases in the Davao Region was launched last month. The team created the platform to provide local government officials, policymakers, researchers, and health professionals valuable tools for decision-making. The dashboard features a map showing locations, charts, and numbers of COVID-19 cases, and also the total patient recoveries and deaths. The portal also features text analytics and spatial modelling pertinent to Region XI in Mindanao. Screenshot showing text analytics for research on COVID-19. The platform shows information on localized COVID-19 cases and enables viewing and sharing of models and comparisons of results under different assumptions and scenarios. Users can input data to derive projections and simulate scenarios for epidemiological modeling and for survival analysis. Screenshot of page for survival analysis from COVID Insights. Prof. Nilo Oponda, UP Mindanao Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs, heads the COVID-19 Insights team, with Prof. Pedro Alviola IV, Prof. May Anne Mata, Vladimer Kobayashi, and Zython Lachica as members. As of 4:00 PM of June 1, the Department of Health reported that the total number of verified cases of COVID-19 in the country is now at 18,638 with a total of 13,220 active cases. The DOH also reported the total number of recoveries to 3,979. Region XI will be included under the Modified General Community Quarantine areas starting June 1. |
https://up.edu.ph/upv-community-takes-care-of-upd-students/ | UPV community takes care of UPD students – University of the Philippines | UPV community takes care of UPD students UPV community takes care of UPD students June 11, 2020 | Written by Arlyn VCD Palisoc Romualdo Photo by Nickrds09 at English Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0 The arrival of 14 Ilonggo UP Diliman (UPD) students in Iloilo City on May 31 may have come as a surprise to the UP Visayas (UPV) administration and alumni, but they wasted no time in taking care of these students. The students were able to return to Iloilo after being cleared to go home. They were stranded in Metro Manila when flights were cancelled due to the implementation of quarantine measures to reduce the spread of COVID-19. While UPV had prepared its dormitories in its Iloilo City and Miagao campuses for UP constituents coming home from other units, it learned of the UPD students’ arrival only after they had already landed at the Iloilo International Airport via a sweeper flight organized by the Iloilo City government. No prior official communication had been delivered to UPV regarding the students’ inclusion in the flight. UPV alumni sprung into action upon learning that the UPD students were brought to Iloilo City Diamond Jubilee Hall, the city’s isolation facility, where they will wait out the required 14-day quarantine. Recognizing the urgency of protecting them from possible exposure to SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, the alumni coordinated with the local government and UPV for the transfer of the UPD students to another location. They are now finishing their quarantine period in a private pension house at a great discount. UPDanay, UPV’s institutional call for relief in response to the pandemic, will do what it can to help pay for their lodgings. UP alumni groups, such as the UP Alumni Association-Iloilo Chapter and the UP High School in Iloilo alumni organization, iAmUPhi, through UPV Legal Counsel Nellie Jo Regalado, have campaigned to provide the students with food and other health needs. Faculty and staff members of UPV have also sent various forms of assistance. The UPD students await the result of their RT-PCR tests while in quarantine. Once they have been given the all clear, UPV will transport them to their residences to be with their families. The arrival of these Ilonggo students from UPD has prompted UPV Chancellor Ricardo Babaran to instruct the Office of Student Affairs to coordinate with its counterpart offices in other UP constituent universities to ensure that Ilonggo UP students from across the country will be taken care of by UPV upon arrival in Iloilo. (With report from the UP Visayas Information and Publications Office) |
https://up.edu.ph/up-webinar-takes-on-covid-19-and-its-impact-on-heart-disease/ | UP webinar takes on COVID-19 and its impact on heart disease – University of the Philippines | UP webinar takes on COVID-19 and its impact on heart disease UP webinar takes on COVID-19 and its impact on heart disease June 11, 2020 | Posted by UP Media and Public Relations Office One out of four adult Filipinos has hypertension, while a large portion of the population are not aware that they have persistently high blood pressure. How does the COVID-19 pandemic impact adult Filipinos with heart disease? Heart disease and COVID-19 is the topic of the eighth installment in the UP Webinar series “STOP COVID DEATHS: Clinical Management Updates,” which is produced in partnership with the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) and the UP Manila NIH National Telehealth Center.The webinar is scheduled every Friday from 12nn to 2pm. People with hypertension or heart disease are at risk for developing more severe forms of COVID-19, compared to people without heart disease. A report from China among 136 COVID-19 patients shows that 26% of them required cardiovascular intensive care, while a more recent report from the Chinese Centre of Disease Control shows a mean death rate of 2.3%, which increases to 5% in patients with cardiovascular disease and to 7.3% in those with diabetes. Collated data from England and Wales, the Netherlands, Italy and New York State have also highlighted notable levels of excess mortality, not all attributable to COVID-19. What is not clear is whether these excess deaths are due to unconfirmed or unsuspected COVID-19 infection in a high-risk population or if more people are suddenly dying of heart attacks because they are afraid of going to hospitals. Resource person for this very important topic is Dr. Chito C. Permejo, Medical Specialist III in Cardiology-Intensive Care of the Philippine Heart Center. The webinar is open to all health and medical frontliners, practitioners, hospital administrators, public officials and the general public. The webinar is set this Friday, June 12, from 12 nn to 2 p.m. Registration slots are limited, so sign up NOW: bit.ly/StopCOVIDDeathsWebinar8. |
https://up.edu.ph/gender-inclusion-appreciative-resilience-vital-to-crisis-response/ | Gender inclusion, appreciative resilience vital to crisis response – University of the Philippines | Gender inclusion, appreciative resilience vital to crisis response Gender inclusion, appreciative resilience vital to crisis response June 16, 2020 | Written by Arlyn VCD Palisoc Romualdo Visit the UPOU Networks for more educational videos. Response to a crisis, whether the crisis may be resolved quickly or drawn out over a long period, benefits greatly from gender inclusion and appreciative resilience. For which reason these actions are vital to successfully ensuring the psychosocial well-being of persons dealing with crises. In “Capacitating Oneself for the New Normal”, Prof. Finaflor Taylan and Dr. Emely Dicolen discussed institutional and personal strategies in dealing with a crisis like COVID-19, from the prolonged quarantine period to the new normal. The online lecture was organized by the Social Work Program of the UP Open University (UPOU) Faculty of Management and Development Studies (FMDS) as part of the University’s Let’s Talk it Over series and was streamed on May 27 in UPOU Networks. Taylan, a registered social worker who is a faculty member of the FMDS Social Work Program, talked about “Gender Perspective in Psychosocial Support and Well-Being”. She said the COVID-19 pandemic has magnified vulnerabilities and placed multiple burdens on women, especially the abused who may be “locked in” with their abusers. Unplanned and at-risk pregnancies may also occur. There have also been reports of power struggles in quarantine management, such as instances of “sex for quarantine pass”. Screenshot of Prof. Finaflor Taylan delivering her presentation on “Capacitating Oneself for the New Normal”. Taylan emphasized the fact that as individual, we should know the importance of our rights, recognize or condition and report violations of our human rights, be aware of existing and new rules and laws, and do volunteer work. She also mentioned “proactive protection programs” that may be undertaken by households and communities. Using a code word to report abuse when one is afraid because the perpetrator is nearby, and having an exit plan to escape abuse are actions that may be taken, among others. In the delivery of gender-inclusive well-being programs, functioning structures for violence against women and children, gender and development, and reproductive health must not be derailed by the pandemic, because these programs address issues that did not go away when COVID-19 reached the country. Taylan also mentioned the need to review referral pathways as the crisis has given way to new protocols. The remote delivery of psychological first aid (PFA), for example, is a critical form of service. It would help, she added, if previous reports of abuse were used to identify target areas for random, but regular, roving by security personnel for community safety. Screenshot of Prof. Finaflor Taylan’s presentation slide on “COVID-19 and Gender Context.” In giving psychosocial support to survivors of gender-related violence, PFA or the first interaction in a case is crucial. She underscored the necessity of using gender-fair, non-judgmental language. Building rapport by showing support, being empathetic, and empowering courage are keys to helping survivors sort through fears and anxieties. “They need support, not scrutiny,” Taylan said. She explained that help-seeking is a turning point for them and begins the healing process, so it is imperative that insensitive language is avoided because the survivors should not be “re-victimized”. Taylan closed her talk by reiterating that gender rights are human rights, which means these rights ensure the well-being of all, regardless of gender. Dicolen, the program chair of the UPOU Diploma in and Master of Social Work program, as well as being an associate professor at the UP Manila National Teacher Training Center for the Health Professions, discussed “Appreciative Resilience in Times of Crisis”, which was more of a personal technique to cope with problems. Screenshot of Dr. Emely Dicolen giving her talk in “Capacitating Oneself for the New Normal”. Appreciative resilience (AR), Dicolen explained, stemmed from appreciative inquiry (AI), which is “the search for what is life-giving and possible within the people and the world around us”. It is purposely seeking what one wants to accelerate and develop, realizing that “what we appreciate, appreciates.”She said that it shifts the focus from the problem to what has been going well. In the current situation, Dicolen suggested finding one’s personal answers to the following questions: “What was the BEST thing that ever happened to you during the [enhanced community quarantine]? How have you used your strengths to help yourself and others during the COVID-19 times? What is the one small action you can take today to help make tomorrow better for you and others?” AR was conceptualized by Joan McArthur-Blair and Jeanie Cockell in their 2018 book, Building Resilience with Appreciative Inquiry: A Leadership Journey through Hope, Despair, and Forgiveness. In it, the authors say AR “assists people in developing their own understanding and personal call to resilience by using AI principles and practices.” Screenshot of Dr. Emely Dicolen’s presentation slide on appreciative inquiry, which is about reformulating questions from the negative to the positive. There are three elements of AR: despair, forgiveness, and hope, Dicolen said. Despair is where one is doubtful because of uncertainty. Forgiveness makes moving forward possible by resolving to give up “resentment, anger, and fear and step toward accepting things as they are”. Hope is the belief that the “future will open possibilities” and “looks at ‘what is’ and ‘what might be’“. Dicolen shared her own experience of despair, forgiveness, and hope to illustrate how AR has helped her. Her moment of despair came when her daughter, Kelly, a graduate student in Germany, was found to be COVID-19 positive on March 19 after returning from a study trip to Belgium. Forgiveness came when Dicolen let go of blame and anger—at the organizers of the study trip, at her daughter, at the whole situation. Hope, she revealed, sprung from her family members supporting each other and realizing that relationships within their family could still get better and stronger, even when they thought they were already as close as family could get. She clarified how people have different capacities to cope. While there is no timetable for the process of healing, she said, “It’s OK not to be OK, but it shouldn’t be forever. Dicolen ended her talk by encouraging everyone to take a “self compassion break” during trying times by telling oneself, “May I be kind to myself at this moment. May I accept this moment exactly as it is. May I accept myself exactly as I am in this moment. May I give myself the compassion I need.” The archived video of the web streamed lecture and discussion may be viewed at networks.upou.edu.ph. Get tips from Taylan on maintaining psychosocial well-being during the current pandemic here. |
https://up.edu.ph/upv-tacloban-college-maps-the-covid-19-outbreak-in-eastern-visayas/ | UPV Tacloban College maps the COVID-19 outbreak in Eastern Visayas – University of the Philippines | UPV Tacloban College maps the COVID-19 outbreak in Eastern Visayas UPV Tacloban College maps the COVID-19 outbreak in Eastern Visayas June 16, 2020 | Posted by UP Media and Public Relations Office Motivated by recent developments in the COVID-19 situation and incremental movements towards the new normal in Eastern Visayas, the University of the Philippines Visayas Tacloban College, through its Regional Environmental Information Systems program and Health Services Unit, has endeavored to visualize key COVID-19 data in the region. This album is a collection of maps based on data from the Department of Health – Eastern Visayas Center for Health and Development. The presentation, which highlights spatial relationships between data, provides a different perspective on the public health crisis faced by the region. It also underscores the importance of protocols for mitigating the spread of the virus. It is hoped that these maps will serve as valuable input to the policymaking process of local government units and decision-making by individual members of society. Disclaimer: The figures reported here do NOT represent final numbers and are subject to change after the inclusion of delayed reports and review of cases. As of May 22, 2020, there were 26 confirmed COVID-19 cases reported. Tarangnan, Samar had the biggest number, followed by the municipality of Buruean with two confirmed COVID-19 cases. Three other cities and municipalities were also reported to have confirmed COVID-19 cases. As of June 2, 2020, 43 confirmed COVID-19 cases in Eastern Visayas have been reported, with Tarangnan, Samar having the biggest number of confirmed cases. Burauen comes in second with three confirmed COVID-19 cases, followed by Tanauan with two confirmed cases. Seven other cities and municipalities have also been reported to have one confirmed COVID-19 case each. The increase in the number of cases may be attributed to the influx of citizens returning from Manila and overseas. As of May 29, 2020, there were 3,382 cumulative suspected COVID-19 cases in Eastern Visayas, majority of which have already recovered and are currently asymptomatic. The map shows that Tarangnan, Samar has the highest cumulative suspected cases in Eastern Visayas. As of May 29, 2020, 3,384 polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests have been conducted to detect SARS-CoV-2 RNA in Region VIII. Of these, 1443 PCR tests were done in Tarangnan, Samar. There are 86 hospitals in the entire Eastern Visayas—77 Level 1 and infirmary level, seven Level 2, and two Level 3. Levels 2 and 3 facilities are located in cities while Level 1 and infirmary level facilities are spread out across all six provinces of Region VIII. In terms of individual facility bed capacity, the facility with the biggest capacity is in Tacloban City with 73 allocated beds, followed by the facility in Naval, Biliran with 30 beds. There are hospitals with no allocated beds for COVID-19 patients: six in Northern Samar, four in Eastern Samar, five in Leyte and one in Southern Leyte. As of May 22, 2020, there are 294 Level 1 or infirmary level beds, 38 Level 2 beds, and 76 Level 3 beds allocated for COVID-19 patients in Eastern Visayas. Tacloban City has the highest cumulative bed capacity with 90 allocated beds, followed by Ormoc City with 58, Naval in Biliran with 30, and Calbayog City with 25 beds. Facilities in other cities and municipalities have less than 20 cumulative bed capacities. There are three areas with no cumulative bed capacity—Laoang, Northern Samar; Capul, Northern Samar; and Matalom, Leyte. As of May 22, 2020, the majority of the COVID-19 referral hospitals in Eastern Visayas have 0-25% occupancy rate of the allocated beds for COVID-19 patients. The facility with the highest occupancy rate is in Maasin City at 217%. |
https://up.edu.ph/upcat-qualifiers-enrolling-in-up-can-expect-the-new-normal-of-remote-learning/ | UPCAT qualifiers enrolling in UP can expect the “new normal” of remote learning – University of the Philippines | UPCAT qualifiers enrolling in UP can expect the “new normal” of remote learning UPCAT qualifiers enrolling in UP can expect the “new normal” of remote learning June 15, 2020 | Written by Celeste Ann Castillo Llaneta For this year’s batch of successful UPCAT qualifiers who will be entering the University of the Philippines (UP) as freshmen enrollees, their first taste of university life will be that of the “new normal”: remote teaching and learning, with the possibility of blending remote and face-to-face meetings. A memorandum issued by the UP Office of the Vice President for Academic Affairs dated June 4, 2020 lays down what incoming UP freshmen can expect. Remote teaching and learning The memorandum states that UP, like other universities in the country, ASEAN and the world, is “putting the safety of our students and faculty first.” This will be done by adopting remote teaching and learning for academic year 2020-2021. A combination of remote teaching/learning and face-to-face meetings will be done in laboratory, studio and practicum courses, if the COVID-19 situation permits it, and following public health and social distancing requirements. Remote teaching and learning cover both asynchronous or non-real time communication between teachers and learners, and synchronous or real-time communication between teachers and learners. Asynchronous communication includes text-based communication such as email, Facebook Messenger, Viber groups, etc., and online discussion boards in different learning platforms such as UP’s Learning Management Systems, Canvas, Google Classroom, etc. Synchronous communication includes lectures, webinars and teleconferences using such platforms as Zoom, Google Hangouts Meet, etc. “Given the uncertain trajectory of the pandemic at this time, the University is preparing for the scenario where courses are delivered remotely throughout the first term without sacrificing quality,” the memorandum states, adding that remote learning is not necessarily inferior and in certain cases may even be superior to face-to-face learning. Starting July 1, UP faculty will be redesigning course offerings for remote learning. Laying the infrastructure In addition, UP is laying the physical infrastructure for remote learning, such as gadgets for online learning, Internet or cell phone data connectivity. The academic infrastructure is also being strengthened through upgrading the University’s Library Management System, subscribing to a cloud-based service that provides remote access to library resource, subscribing to relevant databases of peer-reviewed literature and e-publications, retooling faculty and staff, and redesigning courses for remote delivery to different types of students depending on their internet connectivity in their homes. To ensure UP’s readiness for remote learning, the UP System administration has obtained the Board of Regents’ approval in principle to move the opening of classes to September 10, subject to ongoing consultations with faculty and students. UPCAT qualifiers will be informed of the academic calendar, including the opening of classes, and details of UP’s remote learning delivery within July. Important deadlines Generally, UPCAT qualifiers are categorized into four types: Type 1 would be those accepted in their first choice of degree program; Type 2 would be those accepted in their second choice of degree program but waitlisted in their first choice; Type 3 would be those who are waitlisted in their choices of degree programs; and Type 4 would be those who will be assigned to a degree program with available slots. UPCAT qualifiers were reminded of the following deadlines: June 30, 2020 to confirm their acceptance of the University’s offer of an admission slot in UP for 2020; July 6 to 31, 2020 to confirm acceptance at the level of the constituent unit (CU) they applied for, for those who are waitlisted and those who are assigned to a degree program with available slots; and July 5 to August 15, 2020 to appeal for reconsideration, to be submitted to their CU of interest. More than 100,000 high school students took the UPCAT in October 2019. Results were released on May 30, 2020, with 12,000 qualifiers offered slots to enter the national university. Download a copy of the memorandum here. |
https://up.edu.ph/catastrophic-loss-in-jobs-and-work-hours-save-the-msmes-and-protect-the-workers/ | Catastrophic Loss in Jobs and Work Hours: Save the MSMEs and Protect the Workers – University of the Philippines | Catastrophic Loss in Jobs and Work Hours: Save the MSMEs and Protect the Workers Catastrophic Loss in Jobs and Work Hours: Save the MSMEs and Protect the Workers June 17, 2020 | Posted by UP Media and Public Relations Office Statement of the UP School of Labor and Industrial Relations on the COVID-19 crisis impact on labor and call to action 8 June 2020 About 8 million Filipinos lost their employment in the first quarter of 2020 compared to the first quarter of 2019 corresponding to a decline in the number of employed from 41.8 million workers to 33.8 million workers (April 2020, Labor Force Survey, Philippine Statistics Authority). Moreover, for the majority of those who managed to stay employed, they do so at less than the standard 48-hour workweek. The percent of workers who worked at least 48 hours a week dropped from 68 percent in the first quarter of 2019 to 28 percent in the first quarter of 2020 or a decline by 18.6 million full-time workers. Of the 23.6 million part-time workers as of April 2020, 17.3 million cited the COVID-19 lockdown as the reason for working less than the standard workweek. Equally disturbing is the sharp decline in the labor force participation rate from 61.3 percent in April 2019 to 55.6 percent in April this year, the lowest since the 1970s and translates to 3 million less Filipinos in the working ages that are participating in the labor force. More catastrophic losses in both jobs and work hours are expected in the second and third quarters of 2020 in view of: (a) the expansion of the lockdown from Luzon in mid-March to virtually the rest of the country by early April 2020; (b) the extension of the community quarantine until a vaccine against COVID-19 is available and made more widely accessible; and (c) the influx of tens of thousands of displaced overseas Filipino workers. In the provision of the proposed 1.3 Trillion pesos economic stimulus package, we call on the government to ensure priority to both the economic recovery of the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), which comprise 99.5 percent of total business establishments, and the protection of their workers which account for 63.2 percent of all workers in the country, by providing higher financial incentives (e.g. zero-interest soft loans, deferment of loan payments for a year without penalties, wage subsidies for regular employees, etc.) to MSME employers who will keep at least the same level of employees before the lockdown and regularize their employment. We call on the government and employers to effectively involve trade unions and workers’ representatives in the crafting and implementation of any programs and adjustment measures that address economic and business recovery. The imposition of the lockdown to contain the spread of the corona virus has inflicted the most severe damage upon the informal workers (e.g. tricycle and jeepney drivers, street vendors, own-account workers, etc.) who, without work and social security protection, were deprived of the means for survival for themselves and their families. We call for the immediate passage of the Magna Carta for Workers in the Informal Economy, which mandates the State to uphold decent work standards for the informal workers. Finally, where the crisis has stripped most workers of their capacity to earn subsistence incomes, it becomes incumbent upon the State to adopt bolder and effective social reform measures. At the height of the Global Depression in the 1930s, then US President Franklin Roosevelt acted swiftly to curb economic paralysis by enacting the New Deal program of massive job creation through public works that was supplemented by the passage of laws recognizing the right of workers to associate and bargain collectively. Similarly, the then Philippine President Manuel L. Quezon made a bold response by launching a Social Justice Program and establishing the Department of Labor for the protection of labor. We call on the government to take a swift and bold action for social reforms that are necessary to prevent the COVID-19 crisis from morphing into a national human and economic crisis, and to build social cohesion and solidarity through consultation and social dialogue with all affected sectors, including the organized and unorganized workers. This statement was originally posted on the UP School of Labor and Industrial Relations Facebook page. |
https://up.edu.ph/is-there-more-to-a-zero-in-disease-statistics/ | Is there more to a zero in disease statistics? – University of the Philippines | Is there more to a zero in disease statistics? Is there more to a zero in disease statistics? June 17, 2020 | Posted by UP Media and Public Relations Office UP Mindanao’s (UPMin) Interdisciplinary Applied Modeling (IAM) laboratory will hold a free webinar to discuss this topic. “Are Zeroes Really Zeroes?: Detecting Underreporting in Disease Reports” featuring Zython Paul Lachica will be streamed live via the One UP Applied Mathematics YouTube channel on June 19, 10:00 AM, Philippine Time. This initiative is part of the One UP Applied Mathematics Webinar Series, where researchers from across the UP System discuss different topics in applied mathematics each week. Lachica is a member of the IAM laboratory and has been involved in the conduct of COVID-19-related research. He is also a research assistant in the Commission on Higher Education-Discovery-Applied Research and Extension for Trans/Interdisciplinary Opportunities: Synoptic Study on Transmission and Optimum Control to Prevent Rabies Program or the CHED DARE-TO: STOP Rabies Program, which is headed by UPMin. The IAM lab is a research group of the UPMin Department of Mathematics, Physics, and Computer Science, composed mostly of applied mathematicians who promote interdisciplinary research. The IAM team focuses mainly on the application of mathematical modeling to study real-world phenomena and generating approaches to address gaps in a variety of disciplines, including the physical, chemical, biological, and engineering sciences. |
https://up.edu.ph/up-webinar-highlights-lung-centers-innovations-in-fighting-covid-19/ | UP webinar highlights Lung Center’s innovations in fighting COVID-19 – University of the Philippines | UP webinar highlights Lung Center’s innovations in fighting COVID-19 UP webinar highlights Lung Center’s innovations in fighting COVID-19 June 18, 2020 | Written by Fred Dabu Screenshot from the livestream of the sixth installment of the UP “STOP COVID DEATHS: Clinical Management Updates” webinar series. Dr. Antonio B. Ramos, manager of the Lung Center of the Philippines (LCP) Department of Administrative Services and resource speaker for the sixth episode of the University of the Philippines’ “STOP COVID DEATHS: Clinical Management Updates” webinar series held on May 29, talked about the LCP experience in promoting hospital personnel safety during the COVID-19 pandemic. The LCP serves as the country’s premier hospital for the treatment of lung diseases and as a referral center for COVID-19 moderate to severe respiratory diseases. Dr. Ramos said their personnel are now using about 500 personal protective equipment (PPEs) per day due to the increasing number of patients over the past weeks, and the hospital is still stockpiling PPEs for appropriate personnel safety and patient care. According to Dr. Ramos, the LCP decided to make personnel safety its priority. He further talked about the hospital’s incident command system, safety officer and zoning, infrastructure modifications, equipment, supplies, and personnel care. The structure of the incident command system includes the hospital’s officers for public information, safety, liaison, planning, operations, logistics, finance, and sub units, taskforces (medical, triage, personnel), and teams under these main sections. They hold daily briefings at the incident post situated outside of the hospital buildings. This post maintains an open-air ventilation setup to prevent virus transmission among personnel. Hospital zoning and safety policies Colored signs, pictures, maps, instructions, and reminders are posted in all corners and hallways of the LCP. Screenshot from the livestream of the sixth installment of the UP “STOP COVID DEATHS: Clinical Management Updates” webinar series. Dr. Ramos said the hospital was divided and labelled into “safety zones”, with the red colored zones indicating “very high risk” areas, orange for “high risk”, yellow for “medium risk”, and blue for “lower risk”. He said that “for red zones, hospital personnel must wear full PPEs with boots. For orange zones, they have to change PPEs every time they have to enter a new room since there they are not yet sure if the patients are COVID positive or negative. For yellow zones, the laboratories and radiology areas, they wear their face mask unless there is need to wear full PPE if procedures are done. For blue zones, all other areas of the LCP, they are required to wear their face mask. There are no green zones or safe zones.” “Upon entering the hospital grounds, everyone must wear a face mask and regularly perform hand hygiene,” Dr. Ramos said. “There are colored signs, pictures, maps, instructions, and reminders posted in all corners and hallways of the complex to increase LCP personnel’s awareness. Medical and non-medical personnel are also segregated, wherein passageways and elevators are also designated to prevent possible contact and virus transmission among personnel,” he explained. Modifications and innovations The LCP COVID ward. Screenshot from the livestream of the sixth installment of the UP “STOP COVID DEATHS: Clinical Management Updates” webinar series. According to Dr. Ramos, the LCP infrastructure modifications include the putting up of: CCTV cameras, patients’ monitors, translucent and plastic doors, controlling ACH (air change per hour), temporary plastic walls, donning and doffing areas, and other modifications. He elaborated that these modifications allow the hospital personnel to see and monitor their patients better, control flow of air, and prevent virus transmission. “Another advantage of the LCP architecture is that it has interconnected halls and corridors that allow a one-way flow of personnel” wherein the entry for one area is at one end while the exit is on the opposite end, he added. LCP equipment for monitoring their COVID patients. Screenshot from the livestream of the sixth installment of the UP “STOP COVID DEATHS: Clinical Management Updates” webinar series. Dr. Ramos described their COVID-19 ward: “The air is controlled, the supplies, equipment and other needed items are segregated, including the tables, trashcans and disinfectants that are adequately replenished after every shift.” The nurses’ station is equipped with monitors for displaying patients’ vital stats side by side with CCTV display to allow them to see the patients’ conditions. In the intensive care unit, the nurses can directly see the patients through a glass wall while computer monitors and CCTV also allow them to see the patients’ stats. LCP Medical Intensive Care Unit. Screenshot from the livestream of the sixth installment of the UP “STOP COVID DEATHS: Clinical Management Updates” webinar series. Among the tips mentioned during the webinar were: COVID-19 facilities should not have centralized air conditioning; hospitals should separate medical and non-medical personnel; and other (non-hospital) buildings must rethink the use of centralized air conditioning or recirculated air to prevent transmission of the virus. In addition, Dr. Ramos said the LCP, together with their partners and donors, are attending to the healthcare workers’ needs for shelter, food, transportation, and psychosocial support. He said the temporary shelters donated to LCP have beds, toilets, showers, and Wi-Fi, and that they also have services for personnel haircut, manicure/pedicure. He added that the LCP, with a heightened sense of preparedness, is still accepting donated PPEs and ventilators for the hospital to be able to have a reliable supply of needed equipment in case there would be a surge of COVID-19 patients. Screenshots from the livestream of the sixth installment of the UP “STOP COVID DEATHS: Clinical Management Updates” webinar series. Safety officers and promoting a culture of safety Dr. Ramos shared how their safety reminders and precautions for personnel extend outside the hospital grounds, to their homes and families. He said the LCP campaigns to maintain safety and awareness at all times. Their safety reminders feature detailed, step-by-step instructions for maintaining hand hygiene, eating habits, wearing and removing protective equipment, and other reminders for conducting daily activities under the “new normal”. Dr. Ramos furthered that every hospital, all homes, and all businesses should have a safety officer. He said everybody should eventually imbibe the role of the safety officer, and that the safety officer of corporations should even be able to cite their CEO for any violation. While the zoning prevents the spread of viruses and the wastage of PPE worn by the healthcare personnel, he said the safety officers in every unit make sure that everyone in their unit is wearing proper PPE, practicing regular hand hygiene, and observing physical distancing. Safety officers have to guarantee that all the precautions and disinfection procedures are followed, even in the upkeep of equipment, air conditioning and for needed repairs. Dr. Ramos emphasized that “the best way to take care of our patients is to take care of our health personnel.” He concluded his presentation with a reminder: “the bottom line is, if you cannot protect healthcare workers and they get sick, the whole system goes down.” This sums up the LCP prioritization for personnel safety. UP webinar series Dr. Antonio B. Ramos, Dr. Raymond Francis Sarmiento, and Dr. Susan Pineda-Mercado. Screenshot from the livestream of the sixth installment of the UP “STOP COVID DEATHS: Clinical Management Updates” webinar series. More than 250 participants from across the nation and even from abroad attended this webinar. This webinar was hosted by Dr. Raymond Francis Sarmiento of the National Telehealth Center, and Dr. Susan Pineda-Mercado of Philhealth. The video of this webinar is available at TVUP’s website and YouTube channel. The webinar series is made possible by the University of the Philippines, in partnership with the National Telehealth Center and the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation. It provides the country’s health professionals and clinicians a venue to share the best information on how to best manage COVID-19 cases and to protect the entire health system. Upcoming webinar: The Cebu Experience |
https://up.edu.ph/upvtc-urugup-distributes-2nd-batch-of-alcohol/ | UPVTC URUGUP distributes 2nd batch of alcohol – University of the Philippines | UPVTC URUGUP distributes 2nd batch of alcohol UPVTC URUGUP distributes 2nd batch of alcohol June 17, 2020 | Written by Arlyn VCD Palisoc Romualdo Photo by the UP Visayas Tacloban College Office of the Continuing Education and Pahinungod. UP Visayas Tacloban College (UPVTC), through URUGUP, its institutional response to the COVID-19 crisis in Eastern Visayas, distributed its second batch of 80% ethyl alcohol URUGUP hand rub on May 27. Photo by the UP Visayas Tacloban College Office of the Continuing Education and Pahinungod. Five liters each of the UPVTC-produced antiseptic solution were given to: the Philippine National Police Region VIII Infirmary; Schistomiasis Hospital;the local government of MacArthur, Leyte; and, the local government of Guiuan, Eastern Samar. These institutions also received 3D-printed face shields produced by the Department of Science and Technology-Metal Industry Research and Development Center in partnership with UPV. Photo by the UP Visayas Tacloban College Office of the Continuing Education and Pahinungod. URUGUP hand rub is produced by UPVTC Chemistry faculty, researchers, and alumni. UPVTC previously provided: the Eastern Visayas Regional Medical Center with 20 liters of 80% ethyl alcohol; Maasin City Hospital with 5 liters; and Abuyog District Hospital with 2.5 liters. The UPVTC Security Office received 600 milliliters of 75% isopropyl alcohol and almost 3.8 liters of 80% ethyl alcohol. Personnel manning Tacloban entry and exit points were also given 1.5 liters of 75% isopropyl alcohol. (With report from Marvie Villones, UPVTC Office of the Continuing Education and Pahinungod) |
https://up.edu.ph/up-baguio-opens-arts-and-crafts-market-at-oblation-grounds/ | UP Baguio opens arts and crafts market at Oblation grounds – University of the Philippines | UP Baguio opens arts and crafts market at Oblation grounds UP Baguio opens arts and crafts market at Oblation grounds June 22, 2020 | Posted by UP Media and Public Relations Office It is the artists and artisans their turn at trading their works at the University of the Philippines Baguio (UPB) Oblation Grounds with an arts and crafts fair dubbed “Mandëko Kito, Artisans Market” scheduled every Monday and Tuesday 9:00am-12:00nn starting June 15. Convenor of the activity, UPB faculty member Dr. Analyn Salvador-Amores said the activity will cover a month-long period or up to July 15 and is an offshoot of the farmer’s market being held in the same venue from Wednesday to Friday. Dr. Amores, former director of the UP Baguio Museo Kordilyera said the activity aims to provide a venue for artists and artisans to market their merchandise since their livelihood had been heavily impacted by the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic. It also taps into the concept of creative economy espoused by the city’s membership in the UNESCO Creative Cities Network. UPB chancellor Raymundo D. Rovillos said the artisans’ market is a university initiative that serves as a “continuity of its engagement in the creative cities endeavor.” He added that support to artists and artisans is even more imperative since arts and crafts is now emerging as a new paradigm for sustainable tourism in Baguio. “If we hope to recover and bounce back from the debacle of this pandemic, the city’s decision-makers must incorporate creativity, innovation, and sustainable development into its plans and programs for economic recovery,” the chancellor said. The arts and crafts sector could provide an outlook for a gradual post-pandemic recovery. The artisans market initiative embodies a regionwide scope that includes artists and artisans from the Cordillera. The participating artists and artisans and their products include Ifugao Nation, Can-eo Bontoc Weavers, Dye Indigo Abra, Pasakalye, Knitting Expedition, Narda’s, John Frank Sabado, Tam-Awan Artists, Pine Gypsy, Everything is Pine, Ibagiw Tublay, Basketweavers, Butatow Artists, Museo Kordilyera, Asin Woodcarvers, Loakan Crafters, Masalingga Arts and Crafts Kalinga, Cafe by the Ruins, Pilak Handicrafts, Marge Gomez, Made by Flor, Battallna Ga’dang, Armstrong Mina, and Indi Socks. Products include silvercraft, custom-designed shirts, hand-embroidered face masks, and hand-woven ikat, bamboo craft, woodcarving, weaving, and knitting among others. The coordinating group for participating artists and artisans is the Baguio Arts and Crafts Collective, Inc. (BACCI). Heightened health security protocols are still observed at UP Baguio. Shoppers are reminded to cooperate and observe basic sanitation practices by wearing face masks, follow physical distancing guides measures, and to also bring their own shopping bags or containers. Photo gallery (Text and photos by Roland Rabang and J.L. Lazaga, UP Baguio Public Affairs) |
https://up.edu.ph/surviving-covid-19-becoming-a-better-nurse/ | Surviving COVID-19, becoming a better nurse – University of the Philippines | Surviving COVID-19, becoming a better nurse Surviving COVID-19, becoming a better nurse June 23, 2020 | Written by Arlyn VCD Palisoc Romualdo Photo from the Facebook page of the UPOU Faculty of Management & Development Studies. John Alex Melencio is a charge nurse and team leader at The Royal Brompton Hospital in London, UK. He is also a UP alumnus, having earned his Master of Arts in Nursing (MAN) degree from the UP Open University (UPOU). He was one of three nurses who shared their COVID-19 experiences in “Who Takes Care of the Caregivers?”, the latest installment of the UPOU Let’s Talk it Over online lecture series that was streamed live on June 11 in UPOU Networks. It was organized by the UPOU MAN program of the Faculty of Management and Development Studies. Screenshot of John Alex Melencio in “Who Takes Care of the Caregivers?” “It’s not easy being a patient and because of my experience, I am pushing harder to become a better nurse,” Melencio said, after having been a COVID-19 patient and eventually returning to work upon recovery. It was March 26 and the end of a particularly long day at the COVID-19 unit where he worked. He went home, ready to face another long-day shift the next day. But he woke up in the middle of the night with chills and a high-grade fever. The lockdown in London had just started. He called in sick the following morning. Soon, Melencio developed a dry cough. He felt nauseated. He lost his sense of taste, his sense of smell. He felt dizzy. He was aware he had COVID-19 symptoms and was struck with fear and anxiety. He called the National Health Service (NHS) hotline and after finally getting through, was instructed to self-isolate for seven days. He told his roommate, his best friend, who had to self-isolate as well. “But my best friend still took care of me,” Melencio revealed. When his fever had not abated for around ten days, Melencio asked his roommate to bring him to the hospital where he worked to get tested for COVID-19. The Royal Brompton Hospital had just begun testing their employees. By then, Melencio was already experiencing shortness of breath. He went home after getting tested. “I didn’t feel I was getting any better, so I called NHS again and they finally sent people to see me,” he recalled. But the result of that visit was not what he expected. He was advised to continue self-isolation. “You are a nurse. You know you can handle this. There’s no need for you to go to the hospital,” he was told. And then he got his test result. Melencio had COVID-19. He had to tell his partner. He had to call his family back in the Philippines to break the news. He also decided he needed to go to the hospital. “I am a nurse and I knew I needed proper care.” On April 8, he was confined to the acute care unit (ACU) of a nearby hospital, where he had previously worked. His chest x-ray revealed patches in his lungs. “It made me feel even more depressed.” His heart rate was high and when he saw his arterial blood gas result, he knew it did not look good. “For some patients, those levels meant intubation.” But the acute care doctors had faith in his ability to recover and did not recommend intubation nor a transfer to the intensive care unit (ICU). He went from 60% to 40% to 35% oxygen support and he thought things were going great. Until his oxygen saturation level dropped. He was referred to the ICU, but it was decided that the ACU could still handle his case. Melencio said he told his loved ones to be strong for him and he just kept his faith, that he would survive COVID-19. “I never stopped praying.” He was discharged after five days and was told to rest. His heart rate was still above normal. Over his recuperation period, Melencio did all he could to maintain good physical health by getting proper nutrition, enough rest, and exercise. As for his mental and emotional well-being, he felt the care of not only his best friend, but also of his partner and family members who, while unable to be with him, still sent messages of love and encouragement. He appreciated the support of friends who sent him food and other necessities. “After three weeks of rest, I went back to work. I wanted to be productive again,” he said. Melencio could have stayed home and rested for alonger time. His superiors at the hospital told him as much. But he believed that he would feel much better if he was back serving as a nurse again. There was no discrimination upon his return, only compassion from his co-workers, which meant a lot to him. His experienced has re-emphasized in him the belief that “our patients deserve the best care from us.” As a COVID-19 patient, he found that “kindness, patience, compassion, and love” made a lasting impact on his recovery. As a survivor and a nurse, Melencio returned to work guided by that realization, resolute in his goal to be the best nurse that he can be for his patients. |
https://up.edu.ph/csc40-anniversary-lecture-katatagan-at-pagbangon-sa-panahon-ng-pandemya/ | CSC@40 Anniversary Lecture: “Katatagan at Pagbangon sa Panahon ng Pandemya” – University of the Philippines | CSC@40 Anniversary Lecture: “Katatagan at Pagbangon sa Panahon ng Pandemya” CSC@40 Anniversary Lecture: “Katatagan at Pagbangon sa Panahon ng Pandemya” June 24, 2020 | Written by UP Baguio Office of Public Affairs The UP Baguio Cordillera Studies Center invites everyone to join us on Friday, 26 June 2020, 10:00 a.m., via Livestream for the CSC@40 Anniversary Lecture titled, “Katatagan at Pagbangon sa Panahon ng Pandemya” to be delivered by Prof. Rozel Balmores-Paulino of the Department of Anthropology, Sociology and Psychology, University of the Philippines Baguio. Prof. Balmores will talk about the impact of a pandemic and the diverse psychological reactions to the crisis as well as the practical ways of dealing with pandemic-related emotional distress, and managing the impact of COVID-19 through a resilience framework. An online question and answer (Q&A) session will follow the lecture. Questions may also be sent in advance by private message on CSC’s Facebook page. The Livestream link will be posted on Facebook and will be shared with you via email once available. Please do follow the CSC page at https://www.facebook.com/cordistudiescenter/. You may also share this information via Facebook through: https://web.facebook.com/OfficialUPB/posts/2361710780790149. For other information and updates on UP Baguio, please follow https://web.facebook.com/OfficialUPB/. |
https://up.edu.ph/bawal-lumabas/ | “Bawal lumabas.” – University of the Philippines | “Bawal lumabas.” “Bawal lumabas.” June 23, 2020 | Written by Arlyn VCD Palisoc Romualdo Photo from the Facebook page of the UPOU Faculty of Management & Development Studies. Angelique Rosete is a gynecology and trophoblastic nurse, and a research coordinator at the UP-Philippine General Hospital (UP-PGH) who is currently finishing her thesis in the Master of Arts in Nursing (MAN) program of UP Open University (UPOU). She was one of three nurses who shared their COVID-19 experiences in “Who Takes Care of the Caregivers?”, the latest installment of the UPOU Let’s Talk it Over online lecture series that was streamed live on June 11 in UPOU Networks. It was organized by the UPOU MAN program of the Faculty of Management and Development Studies. Screenshot of Angelique Rosete in “Who Takes Care of the Caregivers?” Rosete likened her experience to elements in “batas ng classroom” (law of the classroom), the meme that recently went viral. In a class, she said, people learn and gain strength from each other. During her first week of duty as part of Team 3 when UP-PGH started operating as a COVID-19 referral center, she said, “We felt like we were going to war.” Her anxiety increased with each passing day and she isolated herself from her peers. But she pushed herself to have a positive attitude and focused on providing forms of community service “to gain back [her] sanity”. She provided carpool services, looked for nearby accommodations for co-workers, and participated in surveys that she knew would help in the formulation of strategies against COVID-19. It was in the course of her volunteer work that she developed a dry cough and had headaches. She was tired and felt afraid. Getting transferred from a non-COVID-19 ward to a medical intensive care unit COVID-19 ward did not make things easier for her. Screenshot of Angelique Rosete’s presentation slide showing photos of her providing carpool services to fellow UP-PGH employees “Bawal lumabas” (going out is prohibited), she said, just like in the meme. There were limited supplies of personal protective equipment (PPE) back then. No doffing of her level 4 PPE for less exposure, she explained. No bathroom breaks and no food or liquid intake for the entire shift in PPEs that felt like “sauna suits.” She still had a dry cough and was told by a resident-on-duty that she needed to get tested for COVID-19. She had to self-quarantine for 14 days. “Bawal lumabas.” She was negative for SARS-CoV-2 and was diagnosed instead with an allergic cough. Rosete was grateful that her condition was taken into consideration by her superiors. who then assigned her to a non-COVID area, with patients who tested negative. But a fellow nurse got infected and Rosete was now a suspect case. She had to be tested and self-isolated for the second time. “Bawal lumabas.” Again, she had a negative result. Screenshot of Angelique Rosete’s presentation slide showing photos of her and her colleagues wearing donated face shields “As the meme says, if you comply, ay pwede na pala ikaw lumabas” (you can now go out), she said with a laugh, talking about adherence to safety and quarantine protocols. She credited the people around her—her husband and baby, other family members, friends, colleagues, and the UP-PGH administrators—for continuing to take care of her and helping her get through this pandemic. She is also thankful for individuals and organizations that have been making her and her UP-PGH co-workers feel appreciated and valued through donations of PPEs, food, and other necessities. Rosete said of nurses, “Kami’y mapapagod pero hindi susuko” (We’ll get tired but we’ll never give up). |
https://up.edu.ph/10th-up-philhealth-webinar-will-be-about-childrens-health-during-covid-19-pandemic/ | 10th UP-PhilHealth webinar will be about children’s health during COVID-19 pandemic – University of the Philippines | 10th UP-PhilHealth webinar will be about children’s health during COVID-19 pandemic 10th UP-PhilHealth webinar will be about children’s health during COVID-19 pandemic June 24, 2020 | Posted by UP Media and Public Relations Office There are many ways in which the COVID-19 pandemic may negatively affect the health, wellbeing, and development of children. Like adults, they are also at risk of getting COVID-19 or facing various stressful situations, such as lack of access to food, vaccination, healthcare, education, and other basic needs due to lockdown policies, unfavorable environment, or possibly other illnesses. Children may also become anxious about this “new normal” or have difficulties in expressing their feelings about the situation. Although most reports showed children with COVID-19 recovered quicker or had mild to no symptoms, new findings are showing that some may have a multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) that can lead to life-threatening problems with the heart and other organs in the body. On the other hand, we also have to learn more about how to properly detect, treat and manage COVID-19 in children, to distinguish this from other infectious diseases, and to protect children with other types of diseases, like cancer or rheumatoid arthritis, who are more at risk as the number of confirmed cases in the country surpassed 30,000 this week. “COVID-19 and Children: The Experience of Southern Philippines Medical Center (SPMC), Davao”, our 10th webinar in this series, will be held on June 26, Friday, 12nn. SPMC Pediatric Infectious Disease Specialist Ma. Delta S. Aguilar will discuss with us how to protect and care for children during the pandemic. The UP webinar series, “STOP COVID DEATHS: Clinical Management Updates,” is hosted by the University of the Philippines, in partnership with the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) and the UP Manila National Institutes of Health (NIH) National Telehealth Center, every Friday from 12nn to 2pm. Registration slots are limited, so sign up NOW at bit.ly/StopCOVIDDeathsWebinar10.Videos of the previous webinars can also be viewed and shared via the YouTube page of TVUP. |
https://up.edu.ph/upou-offers-free-online-bridge-courses/ | UPOU offers free online bridge courses – University of the Philippines | UPOU offers free online bridge courses UPOU offers free online bridge courses June 23, 2020 | Written by Arlyn VCD Palisoc Romualdo True to the University as a public service institution, UP Open University (UPOU) will offer free online bridge courses in English and Mathematics for senior high school students, college freshmen, and all other interested individuals starting July 1. The courses will be conducted in UPOU’s portal for massive open online courses, UPOU MODeL. The initiative, tagged “Kahandaan, Kasanayan, at Kaalaman” (Readiness, Proficiency, and Knowledge), is a joint undertaking of the Faculty of Education and Ugnayan ng Pahinungod of UPOU. The latter was established in June 2019, following the revival of the Ugnayan ng Pahinungod/Oblation Corps program, the University’s volunteer service program, as a UP System unit. The program had previously been devolved to UP’s constituent universities. To sign up, go to https://tinyurl.com/UPOUBridge2020. For further inquiries, send an email to pahinungod.upou@up.edu.ph or a message via the Facebook page of Ugnayan ng Pahinungod UPOU. UPOU is the leading open and distance e-learning institution in the country. Apart from UPOU MODeL, it also has other portals for online learning materials. UPOU Networks is the repository of all UPOU-produced materials. Open UP Connect is UPOU’s official blog, where members of its community share their expertise and experiences. The UPOU YouTube channel has a collection of videos on a wide variety of topics. |
https://up.edu.ph/up-mindanao-dost-xi-to-help-set-up-covid-19-testing-facility-in-davao-de-oro/ | UP Mindanao, DOST XI to help set up COVID-19 testing facility in Davao de Oro – University of the Philippines | UP Mindanao, DOST XI to help set up COVID-19 testing facility in Davao de Oro UP Mindanao, DOST XI to help set up COVID-19 testing facility in Davao de Oro June 26, 2020 | Posted by UP Media and Public Relations Office Davao de Oro Governor Jayvee Tyron Uy, UP Mindanao Chancellor Ρrof. Larry Digal, Davao de Oro Chief of HospitalsDr. Ferdinand Soberano, Ρhiliррine Genome Center Mindanao Director Ρrof. Lyre Anni Murao sign the Memorandum of Agreement for a COVID-19 testing facility in Davao de Oro. (Ρhiliрpine Genome Center Mindanao) The University of the Philippines (UP) Mindanao will help set up another COVID-19 testing facility in Davao de Oro Province, signing a memorandum of agreement with the Provincial Government and the Department of Science and Technology Region XI last 22 June 2020 at the Provincial Capitol in Nabunturan, Davao de Oro. UP Mindanao Chancellor Prof. Larry Digal, Davao de Oro Governor Jayvee Tyron Uy, and DOST XI Assistant Regional Director Kenneth Barroga signed on behalf of their government institutions. Philippine Genome Center Mindanao Director Prof. Lyre Anni Murao and Davao de Oro Chief of Hospitals Dr. Ferdinand Anthony Soberano were witnesses to the agreement. The facility, to be set up in the Provincial Hospital in Montevista Town, will be used to test patients, frontline workers, and other individuals for COVID-19 once accredited by the Department of Health (DOH). The service can also be extended to nearby provinces. The facility can also serve as a surveillance and research center for other infectious diseases. Chancellor Digal thanked Governor Uy for giving UP Mindanao the opportunity to assist the province against COVID-19. “It is a good opportunity to share the commitment of UP Mindanao and the expertise of Dr. Lyre Murao and her team in the Philippine Genome Center Mindanao and to partner with the DOST, the funding agency of PGC,” he said. UP Mindanao will provide training in molecular diagnostics and biosafety for personnel who will operate the Davao de Oro facility, as well as help in designing the facility following DOH guidelines, develop a manual of operations, and give technical assistance in the accreditation process. The university will also provide consultancy services for technical issues that may arise during regular operations of the facility and formulate programs for the expanded use of the facility in infectious disease surveillance and research. Department of Science and Technology XI Assistant Regional Director Kenneth Barroga, Davao de Oro Governor Jayvee Tyron Uy, UP Mindanao Chancellor Ρrof. Larry Digal, Davao de Oro Chief of Hospital Dr. Ferdinand Soberano, and Ρhiliррine Genome Center Mindanao Director Ρrof. Lyre Anni Murao show the Memorandum of Agreement for a COVID-19 testing facility in Davao de Oro. (Ρhiliрpine Genome Center Mindanao) For this initiative, the DOST XI will provide financial support for the training of personnel for the facility.Assistant Regional Director Barroga described the Davao de Oro leadership as “agile and innovative” in responding to the needs of its people and offered the services of the DOST Regional Health Council in funding projects “not just for COVID-19 but other infectious diseases as well.” The Provincial Government will design and construct the facility, procure the laboratory supplies and equipment to be used in the facility, apply for DOH accreditation, and serve as the fund manager. It will spearhead the sample collection and storage and take charge of the facility’s maintenance and operation. Governor Uy said it was timely that UP and DOST came in when President Duterte gave the Bayanihan funds for the province. “It’s one less worry, and hopefully, the COVID-19 facility will be up and running by August,” he said. UP Mindanao, through the Philippine Genome Center (PGC) Mindanao, also lent its expertise for a COVID-19 testing facility in Tagum City on 19 May 2020 and provided training for the personnel. UP Mindanao also entered into a strategic partnership with the Southern Philippines Medical Center on 26 May 2020 to train personnel who will operate other COVID-19 testing facilities in Mindanao. The PGC Mindanao is the training arm of the UP-DOH collaboration for COVID-19. (Rene Estremera, Public Relations Officer, University of the Philippines Mindanao) |
https://up.edu.ph/self-reliance-needed-in-countrys-response-to-covid-19/ | Self-reliance needed in country’s response to COVID-19 – University of the Philippines | Self-reliance needed in country’s response to COVID-19 Self-reliance needed in country’s response to COVID-19 June 30, 2020 | Written by Arlyn VCD Palisoc Romualdo Screenshot of Dr. Charlotte Chiong in “COVID-19 and the Heart”, with replay on TVUP’s YouTube channel. UP Manila (UPM) College of Medicine (UPCM) Dean Charlotte Chiong said, “We need to be self-reliant in testing, prevention, and treatment.” This was her statement after being asked by PhilHealth Board Director Susan Mercado to comment on the country’s independence in the fight against COVID-19. Chiong was a guest speaker in the eighth installment of UP’s STOP COVID DEATHS webinar series, “COVID-19 and the Heart,” of which Mercado was a co-host, along with UP Manila National Telehealth Center (NTHC) Director Raymond Sarmiento. The episode was streamed live on June 12, the 122nd anniversary of Philippine Independence. Screenshot of Dr. Charlotte Chiong in “COVID-19 and the Heart”, with replay on TVUP’s YouTube channel. Chiong said that the University started developing RT-PCR test kits as soon as the genetic sequence of the virus was made available. The effort was led by Dr. Raul Destura. While the country had to order test kits from abroad and initially had the tests done abroad as well, the locally made kits were undergoing validation in the laboratory as a requirement for in-country use. The capacity to test for COVID-19 was also strengthened within the University. In UPM alone, there are two accredited testing laboratories: the UP Philippine General Hospital (UP-PGH) Medical Research Laboratory and the UP National Institutes of Health, where the test kits were developed. Chiong added that they are expecting the arrival of two automated RT-PCR machines in July. As for disease prevention, different research groups in UP are looking into the creation of a vaccine. It is hoped that a center for vaccine research and development would emerge from the initiatives in this pandemic. Chiong admitted that such a project is ambitious. “Can we afford it? Or do we just focus on clinical trials?” In the treatment of COVID-19, Chiong revealed that while UP-PGH, which was designated as a COVID-19 referral hospital in March, is part of the World Health Organization (WHO) Solidarity clinical trial, it still validates all information and protocols handed by WHO. Chiong said, “The WHO protocols that we followed hook, line, and sinker turned out to be inapplicable to us, like we don’t need ventilators as much because high flow of oxygen can work.” In the course of their COVID-19 management experience, some realizations were made, such as that convalescent plasma therapy must be given earlier than usual, and that some prophylactic antibiotics are not effective. “What treatment is applicable to the Filipino? Our reactions to certain medications may be different,” she said. Innovation was and remains a key factor in dealing with the challenges of COVID-19 management, Chiong emphasized. With the help of the UP Diliman (UPD) College of Engineering (CoE), face shields were being produced for UP-PGH workers. The UPCM Surgical Innovations and Biotechnology Laboratory developed telepresence monitors to help patients connect virtually to their families. The RxBox, a telemedicine device developed by the NTHC, UPD Electrical and Electronics Engineering Institute, and UPD National Institute of Physics, was repurposed to become telemetry stations for UP-PGH patients. Classrooms were converted to convalescent plasma therapy centers, so that plasma donors are kept away [Ed: outside the hospital building?] from the hospital building. UPCM and UPD CoE have also embarked on the development of SANI-POD, a self-contained cubicle for sanitation of health frontline workers. Four locally made ventilators were also in the process of safety validation. Research also plays a significant role in improving the management of present and future diseases. Chiong said studies on the effect of virgin coconut oil on COVID-19 patients and on the validity of antibody rapid test kits, for example, are being undertaken, with numerous others awaiting research funding. “During World War II, UP-PGH was the only University unit operating. We look at [the] COVID-19 [pandemic] as a war. . . . We’re one with the Filipino [people]. When we were called to serve, we said yes.” Watch “COVID-19 and the Heart” in full here. The UP webinar series “STOP COVID DEATHS: Clinical Management Updates” is scheduled every Friday from 12nn to 2pm. The webinar on “Rehabilitation for Critical Care Survivors of COVID-19”, with Dr. Celso F. Bate, physiatrist of The Medical City and VRP Medical Center, is set for Friday, July 3. Registration slots are limited, so sign up NOW: bit.ly/StopCOVIDDeathsWebinar11. |
https://up.edu.ph/upri-launches-policy-sourcebook-on-covid-19/ | UPRI launches Policy Sourcebook on COVID-19 – University of the Philippines | UPRI launches Policy Sourcebook on COVID-19 UPRI launches Policy Sourcebook on COVID-19 July 3, 2020 | Written by Celeste Ann Castillo Llaneta With the barrage of news, information, and social media posts coming from all sides, it can be a challenge for ordinary Filipinos to stay up-to-date with the national government’s efforts to fight COVID-19. In light of this, the University of the Philippines (UP) has come up with a way to keep track of the government’s latest policies and measures to defeat the viral pandemic in the country. The UP Resilience Institute’s (UPRI) Research and Creative Work team has developed a policy sourcebook of the government’s policy responses to the COVID-19 pandemic. Managing the COVID-19 Pandemic in the Philippines: A Policy Sourcebook consists of two volumes. Volume I covers national issuances while Volume II, which will be released at a later date, will focus on local government policies. This policy sourcebook is an evolving work that will be updated monthly as part of UPRI’s contribution to the efforts of the UP COVID-19 Pandemic Response Team and in pursuit of UP’s mandate as a public service university. It is meant to help and inform the public, students, scholars, researchers, policymakers, and practitioners in the intersecting fields of public health, disaster risk management, and crisis governance by providing an accessible and comprehensive annotated list of COVID-related policies in one document. Read and download Managing the COVID-19 Pandemic in the Philippines: A Policy Sourcebook, Volume 1: National Government (as of 30 June 2020). For questions or clarifications related to the policy sourcebook, please send an email (upri.rcw@gmail.com) to Dr. Kristoffer B. Berse, Associate Professor and Director for Research and Creative Work, UP Resilience Institute. |
https://up.edu.ph/off-label-drug-therapies-in-covid-19-may-lead-to-arrythmias/ | Off-label drug therapies in COVID-19 may lead to arrythmias – University of the Philippines | Off-label drug therapies in COVID-19 may lead to arrythmias Off-label drug therapies in COVID-19 may lead to arrythmias July 2, 2020 | Written by Arlyn VCD Palisoc Romualdo Screenshot from the replay of “COVID-19 and the Heart”, available on TVUP’s YouTube channel. The use of antivirals and antimalarials as off-label therapies in the treatment of COVID-19 may result in arrythmias or heartbeat irregularities, according to Dr. Chito Permejo, a UP Manila College of Medicine 2001 graduate who is a cardiology intensivist at the Philippine Heart Center. In his talk, “COVID-19 and the Heart”, the eighth installment of UP’s STOP COVID DEATHS webinar series streamed on June 12, Permejo said these medications should be used with caution and extreme care in patients with preexisting cardiac issues who have contracted COVID-19. These drug therapies are linked to QTc interval prolongation, which may lead to arrythmias, including life-threatening torsades de pointes. Screenshot of Dr. Chito Permejo in “COVID-19 and the Heart” from the replay on TVUP’s YouTube channel. The side effect of these drugs, along with COVID-19-related cardiac injury and the cytokine storm resulting from the body’s abnormal immune response, may be fatal and thus necessitates careful management and monitoring by doctors. It is acknowledged that those with heart conditions are at a higher risk for severe illness if they are infected by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), which causes COVID-19. Cardiac involvement figures prominently in the disease. Based on the studies that Permejo has read, he enumerated the most likely causes of cardiac injury in COVID-19 patients: increased cardiac stress due to respiratory failure and hypoxemia or low oxygen levels in the blood; direct myocardial injury; indirect injury from systemic inflammatory response; or, the combination of all three. He revealed that studies have shown acute cardiac injury in COVID-19 patients, preceded by sepsis and acute respiratory distress syndrome. Screenshot of Permejo’s presentation slide in “COVID-19 and the Heart” showing the likely causes of cardiac injury in COVID-19 patients. For those with co-morbidities in particular, he said the link between COVID-19 and angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) provides “a good theoretical mechanism for cardiac dysfunction.” While cellular ACE2 is associated with positive qualities, such as “vasorelaxation, cardioprotection, anti-oxidant, anti-inflammation, anti-Angiotensin II-induced signaling, and anti-fibrosis”, it is also the binding site of SARS-CoV-2, like SARS-CoV, because of the transmembrane protease serine 2 receptor. ACE2 is found in the heart, brain, vessels, kidneys, testes, intestines, and lungs. It is expressed abundantly in the last two. Permejo posited, “ACE2 downregulation leads to cardiac dysfunction because they’re being used up by COVID-19.” In the management of COVID-19 in patients with cardiac issues, he advised weighing drug potential against cardiovascular risk. He also emphasized the importance of regular diagnostics to monitor the patient’s condition and be alerted to a possible cardiac event. To view Permejo’s “COVID-19 and the Heart” in full, go to this link. The UP webinar series “STOP COVID DEATHS: Clinical Management Updates” is held in partnership with the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) and the UP Manila NIH National Telehealth Center. The series is scheduled every Friday from 12nn to 2pm, with the next webinar on July 3 focusing on “Rehabilitation for Critical Care Survivors of COVID19”. Dr. Celso F. Bate, physiatrist of The Medical City and VRP Medical Center, will be the guest speaker. Register here: bit.ly/StopCOVIDDeathsWebinar11. |
https://up.edu.ph/up-webinar-to-tackle-the-challenges-of-staying-safe-while-serving-in-the-line-of-fire/ | UP webinar to tackle the challenges of staying safe while serving in the line of fire – University of the Philippines | UP webinar to tackle the challenges of staying safe while serving in the line of fire UP webinar to tackle the challenges of staying safe while serving in the line of fire July 7, 2020 | Posted by UP Media and Public Relations Office Anesthesiologists, doctors who provide perioperative care to COVID-19 patients, are among medical workers who serve at the frontlines in the battle against the viral pandemic. As such, they face health risks due to their exposure and close proximity to COVID-19-positive patients in enclosed spaces. How then can these medical frontliners keep themselves safe while taking care of their patients? This is the topic for the upcoming webinar on “COVID-19 Challenges for Anesthesiologists”, to be held on Friday, July 10, at 12nn. Guest speaker and resource person for this webinar is Dr. Grace Anne Herbosa, Chair of the Department of Anesthesiology, UP College of Medicine and the Philippine General Hospital. The webinar is the 12th installment in the UP Webinar Series on “STOP COVID DEATHS: Clinical Management Updates”, organized by the University of the Philippines in partnership with Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) and the UP Manila NIH National Telehealth Center. Anesthesiologists perform a number of interventions for COVID-19 patients and patients with severe pneumonia, including tracheal intubation, non-invasive ventilation (NIV), high-flow nasal oxygen (HFNO), bronchial suctioning, bronchoscopy, and sputum induction. However, these interventions are considered aerosol-generating procedures, and it is well known that SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, is spread through droplet and aerosol transmission. Moreover, in emergency and elective surgical procedures, anesthesiologists often stand near the head of the patient to monitor them for problems in breathing and other vital signs. This puts anesthesiologists near the patient’s upper respiratory tract, directly in the line of fire for viral load transmission. Given these risks and challenges, what types of innovation in clinical practice are proven to keep anesthesiologists safe? This webinar will examine techniques, methods and strategies of anesthesiologists at the frontline. Register now for the “COVID-19 Challenges for Anesthesiologists” webinar: bit.ly/StopCOVIDDeathsWebinar12. |
https://up.edu.ph/up-badass-hits-a-serve-for-ip-communities/ | UP BadAss hits a serve for IP communities – University of the Philippines | UP BadAss hits a serve for IP communities UP BadAss hits a serve for IP communities July 6, 2020 | Written by Andre DP Encarnacion The UP BadAss and Abra Indigo Manila are selling facemasks created by the Itneg community to cushion the effects of COVID-19 on their community. Photo taken from UP BadAss page. Even with COVID-19 putting a strain on the country’s healthcare system and economy, experts have found that the world’s indigenous peoples have been disproportionately affected. The United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs recently cited that their relatively poor access to healthcare, higher rates of communicable and non-communicable diseases, and lack of access to essential services make indigenous communities especially vulnerable to the ravages of a global pandemic. As part of their mandate of social responsibility, the UP Badminton Association in Diliman (UP BadAss) has organized two projects to assist the indigenous communities, particularly the Itneg, of Namarabar, Peñarrubia, Abra to find a partial solution to these problems. Some of the designs being sold at the UP BadAss page made by the Itneg community. Visit https://facebook.com/UPBadAss to see more. Photo taken from UP BadAss page. Recently, the group partnered with slow-fashion brand, Abra Indigo Manila, to help raise funds for the community. The first was a donation drive in May 2020 to raise funds and provide relief packs for 160 families in Namarabar. This drive to cushion the social and economic effects of COVID-19 on the community was also done in partnership with UP Circuit and the UP Economics Society. More recently, the UP partnership of the UP BadAss and Abra Indigo Manila has been selling facemasks made by the Itneg community via their Facebook page. The face masks are made with neoprene and painted with natural dyes, patterned according to the designs of Itneg embroidery. According to the page, each mask carries a unique symbol embossed by the embroiderer that carries a piece of Itneg history and culture. Please pay via the following channels. Visit the UP Badass page to learn more. Photo taken from UP BadAss page. Buying a facemask from the UP BadAss Facebook page is quick and simple. You can do so by commenting ‘mine’ under the picture of the design one is interested in, sending a message containing your contact details to the page, and paying via the four indicated channels (BDO, GCash, Landbank, and BPI). You may send proof of your transaction to the email: upbadass@gmail.com For more details, and to see all the designs for yourself, please visit the UP BadAss Facebook page. View a similar story from our partners at UP Diliman: https://upd.edu.ph/up-badass-sells-face-masks-for-ips/. Visit the Abra Indigo Manila Facebook page at: https://facebook.com/AbraIndigoManila/. |
https://up.edu.ph/urugup-para-han-jipapad/ | URUGUP para han Jipapad – University of the Philippines | URUGUP para han Jipapad URUGUP para han Jipapad June 30, 2020 | Posted by UP Media and Public Relations Office Photo from the UPVTC OCEP UP Tacloban turned over to the local government of Jipapad, Eastern Samar 231 sacks of rice (@ 10 kilos), 10 liters of alcohol-based hand rub, and 350 3-D printed face shields on 21 June 2020 for distribution to residents. The donation was delivered with the assistance of Navara Nation Philippines-Eastern Visayas Chapter. Photo from the UPVTC OCEP The sacks of rice were purchased from funds donated by UP Tacloban faculty and staff, amounting to 95,400 pesos, including a donation of 50,500 pesos from Batch 83 led by Assoc. Prof. Ladylyn Mangada and Prosecutor Nemitz Negado. The faculty and staff fund drive was held on 20-29 May 2020, as part of the College’s 47th founding anniversary celebration. Photo from the UPVTC OCEP The alcohol-based hand rub is courtesy of the UP Tacloban hand rub production team led by Dr. Rolly G. Fuentes. The 3-D printed face shields were produced by the Department of Science and Technology-Metal Industry Research and Development Center (DOST-MIRDC) in partnership with the University of the Philippines Visayas led by Chancellor Ricardo P. Babaran. (Report from Marvie Villones, UPVTC OCEP) |
https://up.edu.ph/be-visible-be-available/ | ‘Be visible. Be available.’ – University of the Philippines | ‘Be visible. Be available.’ ‘Be visible. Be available.’ July 6, 2020 | Written by Arlyn VCD Palisoc Romualdo Image from the Nursing Program of FMDS, UPOU Facebook page. Ma. Rita Villanueva-Tamse teaches in the UP Open University (UPOU) Master of Arts in Nursing (MAN) program and at the UP Manila College of Nursing, where she earned her bachelor’s and master’s degrees. She is a former chief of the UP Philippine General Hospital (UP-PGH) Division of Clinical Nursing Operations and a former deputy director for Nursing at the same hospital. She has almost 40 years of experience in nursing administration. She was one of three nurses who shared their COVID-19 experiences in “Who Takes Care of the Caregivers?”, an episode of UPOU’s Let’s Talk it Over online lecture series that was streamed live on June 11 on UPOU Networks. It was organized by the MAN program of the UPOU Faculty of Management and Development Studies. Screenshot of Ma. Rita Villanueva-Tamse in “Who Takes Care of the Caregivers?”. The replay of the webinar can be viewed here. So, what do nurses need from their leaders? That visibility and availability rank high up in that list is what Tamse revealed. They need to show their nurses that they are readily available to listen to concerns and give assistance. Establishing an open line of communication is crucial to letting frontline workers know they are valued and cared for by their institutions. Health care organizations being attuned to their needs, through consultation and participation allows these organizations to create operational strategies during a crisis that strike a balance between providing service and making sure their workers are not overwhelmed. Tamse explained how, for example, during a pandemic, responding to a disruption in regular health care services entails: looking at the necessary resources; innovative task shifting; restructuring services; making appropriate and rational staff assignments; and, surge planning. Decision-making must be fluid to adapt to a crisis. Knowing the physical, emotional, and mental health needs of their workers, professionally and personally,ensures that health services are delivered in the best way possible. She said how ironic it is that while 2020 marks the International Year of the Nurse and the Midwife, this year has also become very challenging for nurses because of COVID-19. Nurses, who already play a critical role in the healthcare system, have seen the magnification and increased gravity of their contribution to the management of a highly infectious new disease. As they tend to COVID-19 patients, they are in a position to orchestrate coordination for interdisciplinary care and are the first to deal with patient safety and mitigation of complications. Tamse said that it is the responsibility of nursing administrators and institutions to manage the knowledge and skills gap. She said, “Not all nurses are infectious care nurses.” In a crisis where it is all hands on deck, it is necessary to arm nurses with the proper knowledge and skills to allow them to perform their new tasks better. This requires not only training but “mix-matching” non-infectious care nurses with infectious care nurses who serve as mentors to the former. She emphasized how all health care workers, including utility personnel, should be considered in a well-crafted response to a crisis. The engagement of hospital employees in successfully managing COVID-19 should be encouraged by the institution through its leaders. Timely and consistent information is shared. Conflicts are managed efficiently. Workers are empowered to innovate and be creative. Support is clearly given with a positive attitude. Milestones should be celebrated and service is given meaningful recognition. Policy directions resulting from the COVID-19 crisis should “synthesize experience to come up with evidence-based practice”. Tamse added that principles on pandemic response must be harmonized, including human resource management. Protocols must be fine-tuned through research. Relevant agencies must collaborate to draft a pandemic preparedness and response plan that is appropriate and sensitive. All this are needed so as to create a Philippine-specific system of managing pandemics. Tamse, whose graduate degree focused on mental health and psychiatric nursing, addressed nurses by giving them the following advice: eat well and get enough sleep and rest; acknowledge, verbalize and share feelings of anxiety; and, be positive by using positive language. On patient care, she said that nurses should provide a calming presence because “the most frightening thing [for patients] in this pandemic is being alone . . . . If we are fearful, our patients are doubly fearful. If we are anxious, they are more seriously anxious.” She added that the tone of voice and choice of words were key to reassure patients that they are receiving the best care possible in this situation. By giving accurate information, nurses can also ease uncertainties felt by their patients. And if nurses and the hospitals themselves can find ways to enable their patients to virtually connect with their families, then it will make their patients feel more supported in their fight against COVID-19. Tamse, talking to nursing administrators this time, underscored the need to prioritize the prevention of burnout in nurses by providing psychosocial support mechanisms on top of physical well-being considerations. Some of the ways by which this can be accomplished include providing opportunities for communication through briefing and debriefing before and after shifts, or during their donning and doffing of personal protective equipment. Mandatory breaks should also be observed. A buddy or mentoring system can be put in place as a support strategy. “[Also], don’t prevent our nurses from expressing how they feel . . . . Encourage hopefulness, learning, flexibility, and adaptability.” In the workplace, caring for these caregivers ultimately rests upon the nurses themselves, their peers and colleagues, their nursing leaders, and the administrators of their institution. |
https://up.edu.ph/up-prof-emeritus-pernia-talks-covid-19-and-the-economy-at-upaa-kapihan/ | UP Prof. Emeritus Pernia talks COVID-19 and the Economy at UPAA Kapihan – University of the Philippines | UP Prof. Emeritus Pernia talks COVID-19 and the Economy at UPAA Kapihan UP Prof. Emeritus Pernia talks COVID-19 and the Economy at UPAA Kapihan July 3, 2020 | Written by Andre DP Encarnacion UP alumni and members of the UP community gather via Zoom for the UPAA Kapihan featuring UP Professor Emeritus and former NEDA Secretary Ernesto M. Pernia (top left corner). Replay of the Kapihan can be viewed here. An enriching discussion titled “COVID-19 and the Economy” on the intersection of human and economic health took place on June 16, 2020, as former National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Secretary and UP School of Economics Emeritus Professor Ernesto M. Pernia was the guest and resource speaker at the UP Alumni Association’s (UPAA) Kapihan ng Bayan sa UP program. [Watch the replay here] UP Professor Emeritus and former NEDA Secretary Ernesto Pernia speaking during the UPAA Kapihan via Zoom. The afternoon discussion, held over the online communications platform, Zoom, explored the Philippine government’s priorities in managing the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as policies that promised to balance health preservation and the resuscitation of the economy. True to his promise to “advance propositions to provoke discourse”, Pernia identified key policy suggestions that he said would align with the short- and long-term goals of the country. Pernia’s talk centered on recommendations from the Anticipatory and Forward Planning (AFP) Technical Working Group of the COVID-19 Inter-Agency Taskforce, chaired by NEDA. He said that such measures were important to renew the people’s trust in both the government and the private sector. Pernia said that while health should always come first, the economy should not be allowed to lag far behind. The first objective of the AFP Technical Working Group of the COVID-19 Inter-Agency Taskforce, according to Pernia, is to restore the people’s confidence in the health sector, which ideally should culminate in solutions that enhance the sector further to deal with future threats. He was critical of the national health system’s response over the nearly three-month struggle against COVID-19, citing limitations that persist to the present in comprehensive “testing, tracing, and treating” (T3) measures. Pernia said that these limitations were, together with the country’s stringent lockdown measures, some of the factors that led to disturbing turns in key economic indicators, such as unemployment, manufacturing, and trade. The second objective, therefore, is to rebuild consumer and business confidence via a robust T3 program, as 87% of the public expressed “fear, worry, and anxiety” over the current situation. He said that reviving consumer confidence was of paramount importance, as consumption spending amounted to 70% of GDP. Weak consumer spending would keep the economy “in the doldrums”, as businesses and employment would fail to recover. Lastly, Pernia recommended policies and programs to help adapt to a new economic and social normal. He cited the importance of two bills to future progress on these fronts: the Philippine Economic Stimulus Act (PESA/ARISE, costing P1.3 trillion over 3 years); and, the Philippine Program for Recovery with Equity and Solidarity (PH PROGRESO, estimated at P846 billion). UPAA President Reynaldo C. Laserna welcomes the Kapihan participants. The Kapihan ng Bayan sa UP is a public service project of the UPAA that aims to serve as a forum for intelligent and constructive discussion of issues relevant to national development. Find out more by visiting: facebook.com/UPAA.Secretariat. |
https://up.edu.ph/plans-possibilities-and-progress-up-academics-moving-into-thenext-normal/ | Plans, Possibilities and Progress: UP academics moving into the “next normal” – University of the Philippines | Plans, Possibilities and Progress: UP academics moving into the “next normal” Plans, Possibilities and Progress: UP academics moving into the “next normal” July 2, 2020 | Written by Celeste Ann Castillo Llaneta The University of the Philippines (UP) is coming to terms with the fact that we can no longer go back to the traditional modes of teaching and learning. However, this “next normal”is also opening up new prospects, platforms, and possibilities for teaching and learning, which UP is set to explore within the next two months. A memorandum released by the UP System Office of the Vice-President for Academic Affairs (OVPAA Memorandum No. 2020-68) dated June 19, 2020 states that even before COVID-19, UP was already planning how UP students can continue learning despite class suspensions due to natural hazards, disasters, or social and political eventualities. “Anticipating many more such suspensions in today’s volatile, uncertain, complex and ambiguous world, the pre-COVID-19 UP System plan already entailed strategies to: 1) expedite the paradigm shift to lifelong learning; 2) accelerate changes in pedagogies and assessment that include the blending of face-to-face, virtual and experiential course work; and, 3) provide course packs at the start of every semester to facilitate independent learning as a value in itself, but most especially to make up for disruptions in the learning process, among others,” the memorandum stated. Challenging but exciting The COVID-19 pandemic that shut down the world merely catalyzed this overdue transformation of higher education in general and UP education in particular. The work during this unprecedented time is challenging but exciting, too, as opportunities open up for higher education institutions, including UP, to experiment with new and creative ways of delivering programs and courses, and to institutionalize innovations that enhance learning. Indeed, the “new reality” has revealed possibilities that were perhaps not as obvious before. Some examples the memorandum mentioned are the following: • Inviting eminent visiting professors who in the past have hesitated to accept UP’s invitation because they could not afford to be physically away for an extended period of time; • Inviting experts such as noted literary authors, artists, scientists, researchers, and practitioners to interact with students in virtual class sessions; • Using uploaded plays, art works, music, TVUP (http://tvup.ph/) panel discussions, and Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs); • Offering modular courses in sequence within a semester when feasible; • Incorporating available virtual reality applications in courses, while ensuring that students without online connections are able to access uploaded works and recorded sessions with experts asynchronously; and, • Designing common courses collaboratively within a unit or across the UP System, among other possible changes. For the next two months, UP faculty, administrators, students, and staffwill be working on “new ways of doing”, especially when it comes to: new modes of teaching and learning in the first semester of the new UP academic calendar, AY 2020-2021; preparing the physical and academic infrastructure for remote learning; preparing programs and courses for the possibility of blended learning; and, enhancing and modifying support for students’ academic instruction and well-being. Modes of teaching and learning The memorandum stresses that the safety of UP’s constituents is the University’s first priority when it comes to adopting remote learning and/or blending remote and face-to-face learning, if the public health situation allows it. Because of this, all courses in the first semester will be delivered remotely. Any exemption must be approved by the chancellor of the constituent unit (CU), subject to strict compliance with the guidelines set by the Inter Agency Task Force (IATF) and local government units, and in consideration of the situation of students in the class which a unit endorses for exemption. Remote teaching and learning covers both asynchronous or non-real time communication (e.g., email, Facebook Messenger, Viber groups) and synchronous or real-time communication (e.g., lectures, webinars and teleconferences via Zoom or Google Meet) between teachers and learners. To avoid confusing students, the memorandum has instructed CUs to adopt one or at most two uniform Learning Management Systems (e.g., UP’s UVLE and VLE, Canvas, Google Classroom, Edmodo, etc.). Academic calendar The COVID-19 pandemic has prompted adjustments to the academic calendars of higher education institutions (HEIs) around the world. UP, for its part, is retaining the semester and midyear system with some adjustments, subject to the final approval of the Board of Regents (BOR). One adjustment is the shortening of the first and second semesters to 14 weeks and the opening of the first semester on September 10, 2020, subject to student consultation. This shortening of the semesters was approved in principle by the BOR at its meeting on May 21, 2020. The memorandum notes that the reduction in the number of weeks in the semester will not affect the delivery of content, since lessons will be delivered asynchronously or synchronously, and remote modes of teaching do not limit the time students have to interact with the learning content, the teacher, and their classmates. For students without Internet connectivity, their independent learning will be supported by activity and assignment guides in the course packs, which will be delivered to them in USB flash drives or as printed material. Physical and academic infrastructure Physical infrastructure is required to support remote learning. UP is currently undertaking several initiatives to prepare its infrastructure, including: maintaining its institutional subscription to Zoom for faculty meetings, webinars, workshops, synchronous classes, student group work and interactions; discussing with telecommunication companies the procurement of gadgets, Internet connectivity, support for educational data packs, computer loans and subsidies for financially challenged students and faculty; launching fundraising and resource generation campaigns among UP alumni and private sector donors for computers and laptops for students; and, exploring the use of TV and radio as an alternative to the Internet for areas with poor signals or Internet connectivity. Initiatives for laying down the academic infrastructure for remote learning include: piloting an in-house developed Library Services Platform and Discovery Service to replace the existing Library System (iLib) that will feature a union catalog of print and electronic resources of all CU libraries and a centralized patron database; subscribing to databases and collections for all CUs; subscribing to Open Athens (remote access platform) for each CU; procuring a Learning Management System (LMS) to supplement the CUs’ LMS if necessary; and, making local and international online educational resources available, among others. Program and course preparations for remote learning UP academic units will be reviewing their curricula in light of the move to remote learning this coming academic year, noting the possibility of blended learning in the second semester. The review, which will be concluded by July 10, 2020, will determine the possible sequencing of courses to be offered in the first and second semesters of AY 2020-2021 and the proposed modified midyear. Some questions to be considered include: Which courses can be entirely delivered remotely and which of these can be offered in the first semester? Which courses should have a face-to-face component and can be delivered in a blended mode? Which courses cannot be delivered either remotely or in blended mode, and what protocol should be set to ensure students’ safety if they have to go to school for these courses? What is the reasonable student load in a remote learning mode? Can the academic unit offer more sections for the course? If not, can the course be offered in a large class with Teaching Assistants (TAs) and Teaching Fellows (TFs)? Following the review, academic units will then come up with course packs to be distributed to students. The course packs will have the following components: a course guide with detailed syllabus; learning resources such as readings, multimedia resources like video lectures, and other content resources; study and activity guides; and assignment guides. Student support In addition to enhancing existing student support programs, the University is instituting two new grants to support the academic instruction of students: Learning Assistance Grants to aid students in need of equipment and subsidy for connectivity service; and Peer Learning Groups and Networks, which are networks of student assistants to support students in remote learning contexts. Two more programs are designed to ensure the safety, health and dignity of students. One is the Student Wellness System and Networks, which is a network that provides information, referral systems and mental health services to students with additional needs, spanning UP campuses and linking the University with agencies that can support better health outcomes. The other is the Student Helpdesk and Guidance, which is a network of social workers and counselors who can provide academic, emotional, and legal support to students in special circumstances (e.g., domestic violence, working students, legal concerns). Dialogues with stakeholders The University held a three-part series of webinar-workshops for faculty members across the UP System on “Taking Stock and Gearing UP for AY 2020-2021” on June 8, June 15, and June 22. Special webinars for faculty on course redesign, design thinking, LMS training and other topics, as well as the retooling of UP administrative staff will be announced separately. UP also held dialogues with its faculty and students at the CU level from June 29 to July 2. Dialogues with the UP administrative staff, research, extension and professional staff (REPS), and concerned parents of incoming first-year students, will be announced soon. In sum, the OVPAA memorandum reminds the members of the UP community that, ultimately, all the changes the University is compelled to make within severe time constraints aim to ensure that UP students will continue “to thrive in their learning environment, engage in learning leveraging digital and information technology, learn with appropriate pedagogical practice best suited to their enrolled course, and create through various learning partnerships.” |
https://up.edu.ph/up-webinar-takes-on-the-mental-and-emotional-impact-of-covid19/ | UP webinar takes on the mental and emotional impact of COVID-19 – University of the Philippines | UP webinar takes on the mental and emotional impact of COVID-19 UP webinar takes on the mental and emotional impact of COVID-19 July 22, 2020 | Posted by UP Media and Public Relations Office The COVID-19 pandemic poses a threat not just to people’s physical health, but perhaps more insidiously, to their mental, emotional and psychological health as well, with uncertainty and fear of the unknown causing and exacerbating worry and stress. For those who are quarantined at home, it is not uncommon to experience restlessness, frustration, anger and desperation for not being able to do what one used to do, or engage in activities that provided meaning and pleasure in the past. On the other hand, patients who are hospitalized due to COVID-19 face loneliness and loss of hope. Being alone and having limited interaction with hospital staff and loved ones at a time when support is most needed takes faith and the ability to cope by using previous experiences, memories and skills for survival. The same goes for the families and loved ones of COVID-19 patients, whose worry, fear and sense of loss are magnified by the isolation forced upon the patients. What is the impact of COVID-19 on mental health and well-being? And how can we help one another cope with feelings of anxiety, fear and even anger? The 14th installment of the UP Webinar Series “STOP COVID DEATHS: Clinical Management Updates”, which is scheduled on July 24, Friday, at 12 n.n., will delve into these issues. Titled “COVID-19, Mental Health and Mindfulness”, the webinar will focus on coping and resilience, particularly the use of mindfulness exercises that can be used by patients, and more importantly by health care workers who are overwhelmed by their circumstances caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Dr. Anselmo Tronco, chair of the University of the Philippines (UP) Philippine General Hospital’s Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, will be the resource speaker. The UP Webinar Series “STOP COVID DEATHS: Clinical Management Updates” is organized by UP in partnership with Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) and the UP Manila NIH National Telehealth Center. Register here: bit.ly/StopCOVIDDeathsWebinar14 You may also watch the replay on TVUP‘s YouTube Channel. |
https://up.edu.ph/long-road-to-recovery-for-survivors-of-critical-covid-19-cases/ | Long road to recovery for survivors of critical COVID-19 cases – University of the Philippines | Long road to recovery for survivors of critical COVID-19 cases Long road to recovery for survivors of critical COVID-19 cases July 14, 2020 | Written by Arlyn VCD Palisoc Romualdo Screenshot of “Rehabilitation for Critical Care Survivors of COVID-19” showing (clockwise from top left) Dr. Celso Bate and co-moderators, Dr. Raymond Sarmiento, director of the UP Manila National Telehealth Center, and Dr. Susan Mercado, member of the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation Board of Directors “We want our patients to be able to go back to the lives they had before being critically ill.” This is the end goal of physiatrists in providing rehabilitative care and treatment, as emphasized by Dr. Celso Bate of The Medical City and the Victor R. Potenciano Medical Center, in the eleventh episode of UP’s STOP COVID DEATHS webinar series on July 3. And that journey back is a long one. In “Rehabilitation for Critical Care Survivors of COVID-19”, Bate clarified that because the disease is new, rehabilitative care and treatment protocols have yet to be established; but most helpful are existing strategies used in patients with prolonged confinement in the intensive care unit (ICU) and/or who are afflicted with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). Critical COVID-19 patients are sedated and immobilized for a long period of time. Their muscles weaken. Their joints get stiff and painful to move. They get pressure injuries. And they even develop the risk of getting deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism. They have difficulty swallowing because of intubation. Bate said that in ARDS, patients are usually intubated for three to five days, “but COVID-19 patients are intubated and extubated multiple times and they are intubated for weeks!” “The things that are happening to COVID-19 patients and the care they require—we’ve never seen these things before: being on a ventilator for so long and so many procedures being done at the same time,” he revealed. Rehabilitation of critically ill patients should start as soon as possible, even while they are in the ICU. “They grow two to three percent weaker with each day. . . . This is the price they have to pay to survive but we have to do something to reduce these effects.” According to Bate, all guided by the intensivists looking after the patient, the goal of early mobilization in the ICU serves to increase muscle strength and decrease reliance on mechanical ventilation. Teaching critical care survivors how to go back to doing things that most people take for granted, like breathing normally, sitting, standing, eating, or even just being able to make simple hand and arm movements, is not as easy as it seems. “We usually give patients a year [to regain functional baselines],” he said, but stressed that patients must also be willing to rehabilitate themselves. “It is difficult, but it is the only way to regain strength.” Screenshot of Dr. Celso Bate’s slide in “Rehabilitation for Critical Care Survivors of COVID-19”, showing examples of simple exercises that may be done early in the rehabilitation of a critical care patient who is confined to his bed: clockwise from top left, diaphragmatic breathing, lifting of both arms, knee flexion, knee extension, dorsiflexion, and sitting. Apart from the toll critical illness takes on the body, it also wreaks havoc on the mind. Survivors experience anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder. With COVID-19, the patients are mostly alone in their ICU rooms, which makes the situation more unbearable, although communication technology has been helping alleviate some of confinement’s negative psychosocial effects. Patients also experience delirium as well as cognition issues. “Imagine you are heavily sedated, you have all these tubes attached to you and you can’t move nor speak. Then people in strange suits come in. You can’t see their faces, they talk funny, and they do all these things to you that you don’t understand. It’s traumatizing.” Bate recalled one patient who thought that having his temperature taken with an infrared thermometer was someone playing a dangerous game of Russian roulette with him and that each time the “gun” did not fire was a big relief because he was still alive. While not all health care workers are psychology experts, “. . . we should always ask our patients about their concerns and give them explanations,” he said. Sometimes, the patients themselves ask to be referred to psychologists or psychiatrists, if their attending physicians have not already done so. It takes a village, as the saying goes, and Bate agreed. “All of us in health care need to work together for the patient.” Being free of the SARS-CoV-2 virus is just the first step toward recovery from COVID-19. And rehabilitation, which must begin in the ICU, continues on until critical care survivors have managed to return, as much as possible, to their functional and healthy selves. To see Bate’s full presentation, go to this link. The UP Webinar Series “STOP COVID DEATHS: Clinical Management Updates” is organized by the University of the Philippines in partnership with Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) and the UP Manila NIH National Telehealth Center. The 13th installment of the webinar series, which will be held this Friday, July 17 at 12 n.n., will focus on ““Genetic Sequencing Research: Mutation of SARSCov2 (Implications for Clinical Management and Vaccine Development)”, with Dr. Cynthia P. Saloma, Executive Director of the UP Philippine Genome Center and professor of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology at UP Diliman as resource speaker. Register here: bit.ly/StopCOVIDDeathsWebinar13. |
https://up.edu.ph/up-copes-helps-build-psychosocial-resilience-of-self-and-others/ | UP CoPES helps build psychosocial resilience of self and others – University of the Philippines | UP CoPES helps build psychosocial resilience of self and others UP CoPES helps build psychosocial resilience of self and others July 14, 2020 | Written by Andre DP Encarnacion The UP CoPES was organized to better coordinate and harmonize the psychosocial aspect of UP Ugnayan ng Pahinungòd’s volunteer services. Image taken from UP CoPES official Facebook page. Times of crisis can inflict not only physical and economic, but also psychosocial harm. These psychosocial hazards take a toll on both individuals and families, compromising the safety and productivity of those involved. To respond to the need to provide members of the University and its partner communities with adequate psychosocial health during periods of crisis, the UP Ugnayan ng Pahinungòd recently launched the Committee on Psychosocial Emergency Services, or UP CoPES. The primary aim of the committee is to promote psychosocial well-being by providing volunteering opportunities to members of the UP community and its partners, especially during emergencies. The approach the program and its constituent university counterparts take is “strengths-based” and “resilience-based” This approach taps into and recognizes the inner strength and ingenuity of individuals and communities. With respect to the University, the project works to equip students, faculty, staff members, and alumni of UP with the knowledge and skills to offer psychosocial support to themselves, their families, their peers, and communities. A System of Support UP CoPES is the system-wide umbrella committee for various psychosocial support programs being implemented by Pahinungod in UP’s constituent universities. It has three working areas: kamalayan (awareness promotion); ugnayan (setting up referral mechanisms, partnerships, support); and, kasanayan (training volunteers who can, in turn, also train others). With the Ugnayan ng Pahinungòd celebrating its first year of reactivation under UP President Danilo Concepcion, as the official volunteer service program of the UP System, Pahinungòd Constituent Universities can now also collaborate through UP CoPES to coordinate and improve the psychosocial aspect of their volunteer and public service efforts. Through this body, UP’s CUs may combine their strengths to provide swift, robust solutions to emergencies, as well as to share best practices in training and public service. Team members from the UP Los Baños Ugnayan ng Pahinungòd team who did preliminary assessment work in Taal eruption-affected communities last January. Photo by UPLB Ugnayan ng Pahinungod Important precursors to UP CoPES were initiatives combining the expertise of different CUs to provide holistic public service in emergency situations. In the wake of the 2019 Mindanao Earthquakes, the Ugnayan ng Pahinungòd joined hands with the UP Resilience Institute to form the UP Pahinungòd Mindanao Humanitarian Effort (MHE). UP Mindanao Pahinungòd Director Michael Gatela served as overall coordinator for volunteers; while UPD Department of Psychology Emeritus Professor Elizabeth Ventura headed the Psychosocial Team, Dr. April Mendoza of the UP Manila College of Medicine headed the Medical team, and Dr. Johnrev Guilaran of the UP Visayas College of Arts and Science acted as field focal person. The team heads joined other volunteers from the above units, as well as UP Cebu, UPV’s Tacloban College, and the UP Philippine General Hospital to conduct psychosocial support to 300 families in 8 barangays. The overall humanitarian effort, as well as UP CoPES as a whole, was organized by UP Ugnayan ng Pahinungòd System Director Dr. Grace Aguiling-Dalisay. During the acute stage of the Taal Volcano eruption in January 2020, the UP Los Baños Pahinungod team partnered with other units from that CU to conduct rapid assessments of the psychosocial situations of children and families in selected evacuation centers. Projects like the abovementioned inspired the ultimate creation of UP CoPES that makes the Pahinungòd’s psychosocial efforts more sustainable and easily activated in a crisis. Psychosocial Health Amidst a Pandemic With the COVID-19 pandemic being the most widespread current threat to psychosocial health, UP CoPES has rolled out several public service efforts that allow volunteers from UP and its partner communities to reach out to those in need. More recent activities spearheaded by UP CoPES include creating and disseminating information on individuals and centers where people can seek free psychosocial and mental health support, as well as two batches of orientations and Psychological First Aid and Community Resilience Model training for volunteers. UP Diliman Ugnayan ng Pahinungòd’s psychosocial support program poster. Source: UP Diliman Facebook page Moreover, UP Diliman CoPES members, Dr. Jowima Ang-Reyes of the College of Social Work and Community Development and Dr. Michelle Ong of the UP College of Social Science’s Psychology Department, champion the delivery of online peer support, which the group hopes can be expanded to serve more locations and communities in the future. The project team was convened by UP Diliman Pahinungòd Director Dr. Joyce Caragay. Several other CUs have likewise implemented their own tailor-fitted psychosocial health solutions, with Pahinungòd partners like UPV’s Psycho-Social Support, UP Cebu’s Office of Student Affairs, UP Baguio’s Taskforce for Counseling and Psychosocial Support, UP Mindanao’s Mental Health Helpline, UP-PGH’s Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine, and UPLB’s own Ugnayan ng Pahinungòd, all offering their own psychosocial assistance programs for community members and front liners. The efforts of UP CoPES not only stay true to the Ugnayan ng Pahinungòd’s mandate to provide service to the wider community and promote a spirit of caring volunteerism, but also complement existing mental health efforts by entities like UPD’s University Health Service and UPD PsycServ. Notably, the program’s volunteers can ease the burden on mental health specialists at the present time by providing the first layer of psychosocial support to those in need of assistance. Padagos, Pahinungòd! We would like to thank Ms. Diana Ruth Arcega, the focal person for UP System Ugnayan ng Pahinungòd, for being the primary resource person for this article. Learn more about UP CoPES at: https://facebook.com/UPCoPES/. Learn more about UPD Ugnayan ng Pahinungòd and their free psychosocial peer support service at: https://facebook.com/updpahinungod. |
https://up.edu.ph/kaagapayup-project-to-bring-hope-to-financially-challenged-up-students/ | #KaagapayUP project to bring hope to financially challenged UP students – University of the Philippines | #KaagapayUP project to bring hope to financially challenged UP students #KaagapayUP project to bring hope to financially challenged UP students July 23, 2020 | Written by Andre DP Encarnacion The word kaagapay is typically associated with being at one’s side. Its constituents, the affix, ka-, which indicates relation, and its root, agapay, or support, together connote mutual assistance, trust, care, and respect from individuals who desire that others become fully functional persons. With these qualities in mind, the University of the Philippines (UP) launched the Kaagapay sa Pagaaral ng mga Iskolar ng Bayan or #KaagapayUP project on July 21, 2020. The project’s primary aim is to help UP’s financially challenged students acquire the resources to engage in the remote and blended learning solutions instituted by the University in response to COVID-19. The launch was broadcast live over Zoom, and through the TVUP Youtube channel. UP Vice President for Public Affairs Elena Pernia (at podium, left) and Assistant Vice President for Public Affairs Jose Wendell Capili (at podium, right) at Quezon Hall during the virtual launch of the Kaagapay sa Pag-aaral ng mga Iskolar ng Bayan. Photo by Jun Madrid, UP MPRO. For many students of UP, finding a source and sense of support in these difficult times is a necessity. The pandemic has transformed the landscape of education in the country and the world. UP itself, via a Memorandum from the Office of the Vice President for Academic Affairs dated June 4, 2020, has adopted remote teaching and learning for academic year (AY) 2020-2021, with the possibility of blended remote and face-to-face learning in courses with discipline-specific skills (i.e. laboratory, studio, practicum, etc.), provided public health requirements are met. Unfortunately, not all of UP’s students can effortlessly adapt to these changes. In her message, UP Vice President Elena E. Pernia estimated that of its roughly 60,000 students, there are around 1,600 financially challenged students who do not have the resources to acquire computers and stable internet access. Furthermore, there are some 4,000 students from households categorized “vulnerable”, whose incomes cannot fully support these needs because of the pandemic. Screenshot from the official launch of the Kaagapay sa Pag-aaral ng mga Iskolar ng Bayan fundraising campaign via Zoom. The replay may be viewed on TVUP’s YouTube channel. The #KaagapayUP program aims to raise funds to provide financially challenged students with their own laptop computers and internet connections that can help them access UP’s remote learning courses starting in AY 2020-2021. These courses will utilize asynchronous communication platforms, such as online message boards and instant messaging applications, as well as synchronous or ‘real-time’ platforms, such as UP’s Learning Management Systems, Zoom, Google Classroom, Edmodo, and others. As its name suggests, the Kaagapay sa Pag-aaral program encourages the global UP community to support its most financially challenged students. The project aims to create a culture of philanthropy on all levels, from the alumni to the student body, and to promote the practice of giving back and paying it forward. More importantly, the project was created to inspire confidence among UP’s own students with the thought of having someone on their side in times of need. This is poignantly symbolized by the project’s icon, two sunflowers growing side-by-side, representing not only mutual support, but hope. Screenshot of Vice President for Academic Affairs Cynthia Rose Bautista’s message during the official launch of the Kaagapay sa Pag-aaral ng mga Iskolar ng Bayan fundraising campaign via Zoom. The replay may be viewed on TVUP’s YouTube channel. UP Vice President for Academic Affairs Cynthia Rose Bautista noted that the COVID-19 pandemic expedited UP’s remote and blended learning solutions, which were being developed the past few years to deal with disruptions from calamities or sociopolitical unrest. The #KaagapayUP project, therefore, would aid in the training of all of UP’s students by seeking to level the remote learning playing field for those who might otherwise struggle to adapt to an educational landscape that has changed overnight. Bautista noted that while “intelligence may be normally distributed, opportunities in this country are not,” which leads to many talented but financially disadvantaged students being admitted into UP. “We cannot allow the highly unequal structure of Philippine society to further disadvantage these students in the time of COVID,” she insisted, an inequality that is even more sharply manifested in the different capabilities of students in access to basic learning materials and devices. UP is, therefore, tapping into the generosity of its community and the public to help the nation’s future leaders through the #KaagapayUP project to “transcend the socioeconomic divide that constrains the fulfillment of their potential and allow them to thrive, engage, learn, and create even in times of adversity.” UP President Danilo L. Concepcion delivering his message to the UP Community. Photo by Jun Madrid, UP MPRO. In their messages, UP President Danilo L. Concepcion and UP Alumni Regent Reynaldo C. Laserna both lauded the aims of the project, while pledging their full support to the fulfillment of its mission. “Hindi po natin nais na itigil ang pagtuklas ng talino sa pamamagitan ng pag-aaral at pagsasaliksik. At kung may maiiwanan po, gagawa tayo ng paraan upang sila ay ating makasama. Ang maiwanan ang kahit isang iskolar ng bayan ay masakit po para sa atin. Kaya gagawa po tayo ng paraan sa abot ng ating kakayahan upang sila ay ating mai-angkas at mabitbit sa ating pag-usad [We do not want to cut short the discovery of intelligence through learning and research. And if anyone is in danger of being left behind, we will find a way to make sure they are with us. That even one of our iskolar ng bayan would be left behind is painful to me. That is why we will find ways, to the best of our abilities, to ensure that they are with us in our journey toward progress].” Laserna for his part stated that with the postponement of UP’s Annual Grand Alumni Homecoming, the 2020 Jubilarians together with the UP Alumni Association’s (UPAA) 180 chapters worldwide will instead channel their resources to support the #KaagapayUP project. The cost of supporting a typical UP student through four years of tertiary education is estimated to be P110,000 per student, with P30,000 being the cost of a laptop computer with suitable specifications, and P80,000 covering the cost of internet connectivity for four (4) years. Donation packages have been created and tailor fitted to support all or part of these amounts per student. UP Alumni Regent and President of the UP Alumni Association Reynaldo Laserna during his message. Photo by Jun Madrid, UP MPRO #KaagapayUP is the overall umbrella project for all system-wide efforts to support financially needy students to cope with the challenges of remote learning. Both payment options and UP’s range of donating partners have been expanded to assist as many students as possible. All entities from corporations/private institutions, alumni organizations and individual alumni, socio-civic groups, and current UP faculty, staff, and students can make a difference. Interested donors may make use of a range of payment portals to facilitate their donations. One may donate directly via cash or check through the UP System’s Landbank of the Philippines (LBP) trust account or to #KaagapayUP accounts handled by the UP Foundation. One may also utilize bank deposits, wire transfers, online bank transfers and remittances, credit/debit cards, and digital payment platforms, such as PayMaya, GCash, PayPal and DragonPay. For more information on how to donate and what option might be the best for you, please visit kaagapay.up.edu.ph. For assistance, contact the Kaagapay secretariat at 0916 723 1200 or kaagapay@up.edu.ph. |
https://up.edu.ph/up-covid-19-pandemic-response-team-tracks-ph-cities-road-to-recovery/ | UP COVID-19 Pandemic Response Team tracks PH cities’ road to recovery – University of the Philippines | UP COVID-19 Pandemic Response Team tracks PH cities’ road to recovery UP COVID-19 Pandemic Response Team tracks PH cities’ road to recovery July 23, 2020 | Posted by UP Media and Public Relations Office How are cities in the Philippines faring in the fight against COVID-19? Where are they now on the road to recovery towards the goal of zero cases? The UP COVID-19 Pandemic Response Team (UP PRT) has launched “CITY vs COVID”, a feature within the endcov.ph dashboard that provides information on how cities are recovering from COVID-19 over time, based on DOH and LGU data. Users can simply select their city to generate charts showing the latest number of cases, deaths, and recoveries, and information on their locality’s recovery rate, fatality rate, and current phase of community quarantine. Users can also find COVID-19 statistics of past dates by hovering their cursor on the bar aligned to the specific date they’re looking for. The “CITY vs COVID” chart is color-coded for ease of use. The number of active cases is shown in blue, the number of deceased in turquoise, and the number of recovered in pink. According to the web feature, “to quickly get a sense of how a city is doing, one way is to check out the pink bars. It indicates the number of infected people who have recovered over time relative to the total number of cases. At the end of the day, the goal is simple: to see the graph dominated by recoveries (read: pink bars) as much as possible.” Some cities, such as San Fernando City, La Union, are working hard to maintain their status of zero cases, while other cities like Cebu City require urgent attention due to the increasing number of transmissions. “CITY vs COVID” is a useful resource for the public to monitor the current situation and for LGUs to make informed decisions as they chart their path to recovery. The goal is for LGUs to see pink. “CITY vs COVID” is one of the many features and resources of endcov.ph that are available to the public. The UP COVID-19 Pandemic Response Team remains committed in serving the people and in helping the nation in its fight against COVID-19. For questions or clarifications related to endcov.ph, please send an email (upri.covid19@up.edu.ph) to the UP PRT. |
https://up.edu.ph/upou-shares-tutorials-for-creating-video-lectures/ | UPOU shares tutorials for creating video lectures – University of the Philippines | UPOU shares tutorials for creating video lectures UPOU shares tutorials for creating video lectures July 28, 2020 | Written by Arlyn VCD Palisoc Romualdo The shift to remote learning because of COVID-19 brings the possibility of using video materials for teaching. Video lectures by teachers will be an important tool, especially in asynchronous learning, where lessons are discussed without the constraint of having all students together at the same place or at the same time. Whether one is a teacher or a resource person for a learning material, creating one’s own video lecture may be daunting for some who have not done it before and who worry that they need high-tech recording equipment to do it. This is why UP Open University (UPOU), through UPOU Networks, has put together three quick video tutorials for those who want to learn how to make better quality recorded lectures using smartphones. These may also help those who have already gone into producing do-it-yourself (DIY) video lectures, but seek to improve them. “Mobile Video Recording for Video Lectures: Settings, Stabilization, and Framing” discusses: the rule of thirds; how to keep the device steady using household items; and, the best resolution, aspect ratio, and frame rate settings, among others. “Mobile Video Recording for Video Lectures: Lighting and Set Design” teaches proper placement of source light as well as setting up an appropriate background. “Mobile Video Recording for Video Lectures: Audio Management” talks about ensuring clear audio by soundproofing the recording area and checking the capacity of the smartphone to receive audio. These videos are open educational resources that are part of the UPOU Networks “Technology for Teaching and Learning” playlist. Visit https://networks.upou.edu.ph/ to explore the various learning materials available. |
https://up.edu.ph/up-offers-educational-materials-to-the-public/ | UP offers educational materials to the public – University of the Philippines | UP offers educational materials to the public UP offers educational materials to the public August 17, 2020 | Posted by UP Media and Public Relations Office Photo from the screenshot of UP Diliman’s “109th Pangkalahatang Pagtatapos”. The University of the Philippines serves as the country’s premier community of scholars, experts, academics and researchers, and a rich reservoir of knowledge, information, cutting-edge research, innovations and technologies. In accordance with its mandate as the country’s national university, tasked with taking the lead in the country’s national development as a teaching, graduate, research and public service university, UP makes it a point to open up its repository of knowledge and expertise to all sectors and members of the general public, and make its resources available to all who seek to learn, to do research and to sincerely serve the country and its people. And in this extraordinarily challenging time, as the world faces down the COVID-19 pandemic and the unprecedented socioeconomic hardships that go with it, as individual lives, communities and societies are shaken to the core by the resulting upheavals, UP as a higher education institution and as a community is even more cognizant of its role in educating our people, in letting science lead the way out of this public health crisis, and in informing policy- and decision-making at all levels with the best knowledge and expertise we can offer. Here are only a few of the resources UP is offering to members of its community since the beginning of the COVID-19 crisis this year. These include resources that are directly related to concerns regarding the COVID-19, such as symptoms, diagnoses and data on case numbers, as well as resources to help individuals and communities cope with the changes brought on by the pandemic. Almost all of these can be accessed by anyone with an Internet connection. UP Mindanao’s COVID-19 Insights. COVID-19 Outbreak and Case Information Endcov.ph The UP COVID-19 Pandemic Response Team hosts and maintains endcov.ph, a web portal that provides the public with vital information and tools in the fight against COVID-19. The UP PRT has contributed new resources to the dashboard including features that show Case Projections, the State of Transmissions in NCR based on LGU data, Municipal/City Density Map based on current active cases, and a Policy Sourcebook on COVID-19. UP Mindanao’s COVID-19 Insights The UP Mindanao COVID-19 Modeling Team created and maintains COVID-19 Insights, a web-based platform that tracks COVID-19 cases in the Davao Region for the information of local government officials, policymakers, researchers, health professionals, and members of the public. The dashboard features a map showing locations, charts, and numbers of COVID-19 cases, and also the total patient recoveries and deaths. The portal also features text analytics and spatial modelling pertinent to Region XI in Mindanao. UP Cebu’s CoVcheck The FireCheck Project team of UP Cebu has developed CoVcheck, a web-based application that allows the local government to collect data from its constituents about cases or potential cases of infection. By doing so, the concerned agencies as soon as necessary. On top of that, with the collected data, the local government can plan and execute localized, ad hoc measures to control or contain transmission or support the affected communities. Physical and Psychosocial Health Bayanihan Na! UP-PGH Bayanihan Na! Operations Center Hotline Number 155-200 Manned by 60-70 student volunteers, the UP-PGH Bayanihan Na! Operations Center is equipped with Hotline Number 155-200 that aims to answer queries related to COVID-19 from both members of the UP Community and the general public. UP Ugnayan ng Pahinungod Committee on Psychosocial Emergency Services (UP CoPES) The UP CoPES was launched to promote psychosocial well-being by providing volunteering opportunities to members of the UP community and its partners, especially during emergencies. With respect to the University, the project works to equip students, faculty, staff members, and alumni of UP with the knowledge and skills to offer psychosocial support to themselves, their families, their peers, and communities. UP Diliman Health Service uphs.appointlet.com The UP Diliman Health Service (UPHS) is providing telemedicine outpatient consultations to all UP-mandated clientele and residents. A new service aims to offer consultations in the following specializations: ophthalmology, obstetrics and gynecology, ear, nose and throat, surgery and dermatology. Appointments may be made with any of the UPHS family physicians via uphs.appointlet.com. If online services are not available, appointments may be made by calling 8981-8500 local 2702. All telemedicine consultations are by appointment basis only. Physicians will be corresponding with patients through voice call, Viber, or Google Meet platforms once an appointment schedule has been set and confirmed. For other inquiries, please contact local 2702 or email uhs.updiliman@up.edu.ph. UP Diliman Psychosocial Services (UPD PsycServ) The UP Diliman Psychosocial Services addresses urgent and pressing mental health and psychosocial wellbeing needs of the UPD community. UPD PsycServ provides the following services: Individual Therapy Sessions, Relapse Prevention Group Therapy Sessions, Suicide Prevention and Postvention Programs, Training Workshops, and Personal Wellbeing Workshops. When Luzon was placed under Enhanced Community Quarantine, UPD PsycServ expanded its services to accommodate Filipinos who have been affected and/or disturbed by the COVID-19 pandemic. UPLB Office of Counseling and Guidance “OCG Cares’ Kumustahan” To help UPLB students with their psychosocial needs despite the ECQ, the Office of Counseling and Guidance (OCG) of the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs (OVCSA) implemented an online means of consultation through its program “OCG Cares’ Kumustahan.” Through this program, students may get psychosocial support from a Guidance Services Specialist (GSS). The program is available for UPLB students from Mondays to Saturdays. UP Visayas Disaster Command Center Psychosocial Cluster The UP Visayas Disaster Command Center Psychosocial Cluster can be reached via email at upv.psychosocial.sup@gmail.com, or through the following mobile numbers: (Globe) 0926 746 5671, 0917 486 1042; (Smart) 0999 223 6498, 0908 131 4461, 0998 982 7383; and (Sun) 0922 869 1097. UP College of Education’s Resources for Remote Learning. University Library Services and Other Educational Resources UP Los Baños University Library universitylibrary.uplb@up.edu.ph The UPLB University Library (UL) has intensified its online services by building its e-resources collection and putting in place online mechanisms. Through its website, one could chat with ELVA, or the Electronic Library Virtual Assistant, for inquiries and assistance. In performing basic and initial research, one may opt to do this through the EBSCO Discovery Service (EDS) that uses typical search engine-like functionality as it crawls to various databases. UL also extends its services to faculty members working to digitize course readings, and continues to offer its regular Information Literacy Program (ILP) and Library Instruction Services (LIS) on specific courses, which are provided online on a scheduled and per appointment basis. UP Manila University Library Free Resources on COVID-19 The UP Manila Library has a dedicated page that lists the free resources on COVID-19, including national and international portals and databases, academic, medical and scientific journals, and resources from UP itself such as the COVID-19 Dictionary for Children. The site is updated regularly. The UP Diliman Main Library’s Electronic Resources The UP Diliman Main Library continues to provide university library services online. Its iLib Online catalog allows people to search for books, eBooks, and theses. EZproxy gives access to online databases and eBooks. The Index to Philippine Newspapers is a resource for local newspaper articles, while the Index to Philippine Periodicals allows for searches for local magazine and journal articles. The Digital Archives provides access to UP publications and electronic theses. Finally, the Open Access Repository gives access to local digital resources such as rare periodicals. The UPD Library also provides webinars on information literacy in the new normal for UP faculty in its “Rediscovering Your Library in the New Normal Information Literacy Webinar” series. UP Diliman College of Education Resources for Remote Learning The UP Diliman College of Education is curating and making available resources for remote learning to assist educators shifting from traditional classroom instruction to blended learning. These online resources comprise materials from: leading institutions of higher learning such as the University of Denver, University of Zurich, Ryerson University, and University of Limpopo, among others; international institutions such as UNICEF, Smithsonian, World Bank and UNESCO; and local resources produced by C&E Publishing Inc., the Department of Education, UP Diliman College of Social Sciences and Philosophy, Unilab Foundation (Covid Comics), UP Los Baños Department of Human and Family Development Studies and materials produced by the College itself. The official YouTube channels of the various UP constituent units also offer free educational videos featuring talks, conferences and interviews of faculty and experts. • UP Baguio Systems and Network Office • University of the Philippines Mindanao • UPLB Official • University of the Philippines Diliman • UP Manila Channel • UP Visayas Information and Publication Office In addition to these resources, two UP institutions, the UP Open University (UPOU) and TVUP, are noteworthy in their initiative and drive to offer UP’s knowledge resources and expertise to both the members of the UP Community and the general public for free. The UP Open University’s resources on remote learning, teaching and working. The UP Open University The UPOU, which pioneered remote, distance and online learning in higher education in the country, has taken the lead in training, educating and guiding various sectors of society through the “new normal” as the COVID-19 pandemic forces almost every aspect of daily life, including education, to go online. The UPOU serves as a venue for teachers and educators to share best practices and research findings, and for students to gain supplementary knowledge in needed subjects, and for parents to receive guidance in helping their children adjust to open and remote teaching and learning. Its resources on remote learning, teaching and working are available for free to the public on its website. These resources include free online courses and educational videos aimed to assist UP faculty, staff and the entire Philippine academic community in shifting/migrating to an online mode of teaching and learning to cope with the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. In particular, the UPOU Networks serves as an online repository of all UPOU-produced multimedia resources, including open educational resources (OERs), publications, web-streamed lectures/presentations/seminars/university events, radio, and podcasts. The UPOU MODeL is the official platform of the UPOU massive open online courses (MOOCs), which provides learners with a secure and integrated system to create personalized learning through MOOCs, which are online courses open to the public for free. MOOCs target a number of learners all over the world to share and learn from other learners. The UPOU also offers a free online course on “Quick Guide on How to Convert your Classes Online.” The Open UP Connect Blog, on the other hand, is the official blog site of UPOU. More video lectures on various subject matters are also available for free on the UPOU YouTube channel, which at present has racked up a total of over 438,000 views since 2013, with its educational videos garnering up to tens of thousands of views. For a more in-depth list of UPOU’s educational offerings and resources, please see attached PDF list. The TVUP website. TVUP TVUP, UP’s Internet television network, on the other hand, continues to deliver free content for information and educational purposes. TVUP participates in generating open educational resources (OERs) to be made public by producing its own materials and collecting other content from existing sources, and sharing all these freely with all state universities and colleges, private and public higher training institutions, other training institutions, and the general public. TVUP is a testament to the University of the Philippines’ character as the national university—a teaching, research, public service, and global/regional university—shared freely with all state universities and colleges, private and public higher training institutions, other training institutions, and the general public. Just some of TVUP’s programming include weekly and daily educational videos on Filipino cultural heritage; documentaries; financial matters and social entrepreneurship; talks on gender, health and human rights issues; short films; latest news on scientific innovations, disaster risk reduction and management, and other environmental issues; and many more. In fact, the TVUP YouTube channel has had over 600,000 views since 2016 with its most popular educational videos garnering tens of thousands of views. Access TVUP here: Website: http://www.TVUP.ph/ YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/TVUPph Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/TVUP.ph Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/TVUPph |
https://up.edu.ph/uplb-graduates-ready-to-take-on-the-challenge-of-a-post-covid-world-regent-laurel/ | UPLB graduates ready to take on the challenge of a post-COVID world – Regent Laurel – University of the Philippines | UPLB graduates ready to take on the challenge of a post-COVID world – Regent Laurel UPLB graduates ready to take on the challenge of a post-COVID world – Regent Laurel September 8, 2020 | Written by Celeste Ann Castillo Llaneta Screenshot from the replay on UPLB’s YouTube channel. “The year 2020 is the year that will forever be remembered as the time of the COVID-19 pandemic. It is a daunting challenge to say the least. This is where the UP education comes into play.” So spoke UP Regent and UP Los Baños (UPLB) alumnus Francis C. Laurel, entrepreneur and member of the third generation of the esteemed Laurel clan, in his address to the UP Los Baños Class of 2020 who marched, figuratively, in UPLB’s first-ever virtual commencement exercises. The 48th UPLB Commencement Exercises was held online on August 15, livestreamed via the UPLB YouTube channel. UP Regent Francis Laurel sharing his pointers for success with the new UPLB graduates. Screenshot from the replay on UPLB’s YouTube channel. Regent Laurel went on to give the graduates five pointers on how they can succeed out in the real world. The first is to stay positive all the time, to remain optimistic and focused, to capture the moment, and to be committed. The second is to think out of the box. “This pandemic has brought a myriad of opportunities never thought of before. As UP graduates, you are best prepared to undertake this challenge,” said Regent Laurel, stressing that for UP graduates to succeed, they will need the “extra edge” of innovation and creativity. The third is to always uphold integrity and honesty, to not lose sight of the forest for the trees, and “in whatever you do, to plan well and execute well”. Regent Laurel’s fourth tip is to work extremely hard, as the only way the new graduates can repay the sacrifices their parents made to help them finish a UP education is to have a successful career. Finally, “embrace the challenges and crises of your life”, tempering optimism with courage at all times. “Graduating from the UPLB is a milestone,” Regent Laurel finished. “Be proud of it. And as you move on, always remember your roots. Bear in mind you are a part of the great tradition called the Los Baños spirit. It is as old as UP. It is a spirit truly unique to our beloved UPLB.” The members of UPLB Class of 2020 shift their sablay and swear their loyalty to their Alma Mater as new UP alumni. Screenshot from the replay on UPLB’s YouTube channel. The UPLB became the third UP constituent unit to hold its first ever virtual commencement exercises, during which the UPLB Class of 2020 officially became alumni of the University and the first batch to graduate in the time of pandemic. Of the 1,630 members of UPLB Class of 2020, nine graduated magna cum laude and 72 graduated cum laude. Class valedictorian Shantel Anne Nicole E. Chavez addressing her fellow graduates. Screenshot from the replay on UPLB’s YouTube channel. Shantel Anne Nicole E. Chavez, BS Agricultural Economics, magna cum laude, was this year’s class valedictorian. In her message to her fellow UP graduates, she exhorted her fellow graduates to remember that “each of us has a story worth sharing” and to “let your stories be heard and to spark hope in our nation during these trying times. Let your stories inspire other UP students who are still fighting for their eventual graduation. Let your stories help in building a dream of a 10-year-old elementary student in your community. Let your stories encourage incoming and current college students to broaden the purpose of their professional dreams from just earning a decent income for their families to also serving our nation.” UPLB Chancellor Fernando Sanchez presenting the graduates. Screenshot from the replay on UPLB’s YouTube channel. UPLB Chancellor Fernando C. Sanchez congratulated the new graduates for finishing their studies while facing the unprecedented challenges that the COVID-19 pandemic has wrought. He also addressed their worries about the future, especially as the world grapples with the largest health crisis of modern times. “These times demand more from you, from all of us. In this pandemic, the work to find sustainable solutions for climate change, enviornmental management, the development of affordable and clean energy, food and nutrition security and safety, and promoting inclusive and just social policies does not and should never stop,” Chancellor Sanchez urged the graduates. “These are fields that you can take part in and contribute to. The crisis will require greater creativity, greater courage, flexibility and resilience. But have faith that the knowledge, dedication and strength of will that you have honed these past years as UPLB student, will serve you well.” UP President Danilo L. Concepcion addressing the UPLB Class of 2020. Screenshot from the replay on UPLB’s YouTube channel. On his part, UP President Danilo L. Concepcion also emphasized that while the graduates venture forth into a world of unprecedented crisis, it is also a world of unprecedented opportunity to find new ways to serve the people. “Ating tandaan ang panahon ng krisis ay hindi lamang isang masamang panaginip. Ito rin ay isang mabuting pagkakataon upang tayo ay lalong magpunyagi, magpakahusay, at makapaglingkod sa bayan. Isa-buhay natin ang diwa ng UP: ang pagkakaisa, ang paglilingkod ng buong husay at dangal. Patunayan natin na walang hangganan ang pag-aambag ng ating unibersidad at ng kanyang mga alumni sa paghahanap at paglalapat ng mag epektibong alternatibong at solusyon sa anuma ng suliranin [Let us remember that the time of crisis is not just a bad dream, but a good opportunity for us to further commit to honor, excellence and service to the country. Let us live up to the spirit of UP: the unity, the honor and excellence in service. Let us show that there are no limits to what our University and its alumni can offer in terms of generating effective alternatives and solutions to any problem],” UP President Concepcion said. |
https://up.edu.ph/covid-infection-and-inflammation-highlighted-in-ups-next-online-medical-grand-rounds-this-friday/ | COVID infection and inflammation highlighted in UP’s next online medical grand rounds this Friday – University of the Philippines | COVID infection and inflammation highlighted in UP’s next online medical grand rounds this Friday COVID infection and inflammation highlighted in UP’s next online medical grand rounds this Friday August 12, 2020 | Posted by UP Media and Public Relations Office Following the success of the last two online medical grand rounds, the University of the Philippines (UP), in partnership with the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) and the UP Manila NIH National Telehealth Center, will focus on a new COVID-positive patient’s case in the upcoming 17th installation in the “STOP COVID DEATHS: VIRTUAL GRAND ROUNDS” webinar series. Grand rounds are a tradition in medical education and inpatient care, wherein doctors, residents and medical students gather to discuss medical problems, research findings and the treatment of a particular patient. In the webinar set for August 14, Friday, at 12:00nn, Dr. Ralph Elvi Villalobos, a consultant at the Division of Pulmonary Medicine, UP College of Medicine (UPCM) and the UP Philippine General Hospital (UP PGH), will present the case of a patient whose COVID-19 infection has led to swelling in the leg. Infection and inflammation are both processes that come into play in COVID-19. Most patients will battle the infection over two weeks and only have a mild case of the disease. In some patients, however, inflammation may be severe, leading to cytokine storms and organ failure that are difficult to manage. Inflammation may injure the endothelial lining of blood vessels. It is associated with the blockage of blood vessels caused by emboli that can result in venous and arterial thrombosis or blood clots in the blood vessels, pulmonary embolism (PE) or blood clots in the lungs, and even strokes. Blood clots can be a serious feature of COVID-19 and medical teams should be prepared for cases with higher risks, such as a history of hypertension, obesity, or cancer in an elderly patient. This Friday’s online grand rounds on “COVID-19 Patient Develops Swollen Leg” will review the case of a senior patient with a previous history of hypertension and cancer who develops severe COVID and thromboembolism in the right iliac vein of the leg and extensive pulmonary embolism.Dr. Jubert Benedicto, Associate Professor of the UP College of Medicine and Head of the PGH CCU-Management Action Team, will be the discussant. Dr. Shelley Ann F. De la Vega, Director of the Institute of Aging, UP Manila National Institutes of Health, will be the reactor. The UP webinar series “STOP COVID DEATHS: VIRTUAL GRAND ROUNDS” is organized in cooperation with the UP CM and the UP PGH. The webinar series is scheduled every Friday from 12:00 n.n. to 2:00 p.m. Register now at: bit.ly/StopCOVIDDeathsWebinar17. |
https://up.edu.ph/upou-kaagapay-launched/ | UPOU-Kaagapay+ launched – University of the Philippines | UPOU-Kaagapay+ launched UPOU-Kaagapay+ launched September 10, 2020 | Written by Arlyn VCD Palisoc Romualdo Screenshot of the UPOU website. In consonance with the UP System’s Kaagapay sa Pag-aaral ng mga Iskolar ng Bayan Fundraising and Resource Generation Campaign (Kaagapay UP), UP Open University (UPOU) launched its own UPOU-Kaagapay+ program on September 1. Kaagapay UP seeks to provide more than 5,600 students with their remote learning needs, such as computers or laptops and internet connectivity. Of these students, around 1,600 have no financial capacity at all to acquire these technologies, and more than 4,000 are no longer able to sustain their resources because the COVID-19 pandemic has significantly reduced their household income. The University has estimated the cost of this initiative at P80 million. While UPOU leads in open and distance e-learning and its classes are fully online, not all of its students are equipped with the necessary technologies to continue their education at home. Some rely on internet shops, family members, or friends for computers and connectivity. Others need to physically find locations with strong and stable internet connections. And because UPOU students are not in a traditional university setup like their peers from other UP constituent universities, they have different and unique issues. This is why UPOU-Kaagapay+ was conceived. It builds upon Kaagapay UP’s efforts to include: student loans; income generating projects; academic support via online tutorial courses and bridge courses; technological support using apps that assist in study skills, note-taking, organizational skills, etc.; psychosocial support through counseling, access to free online support resources, helpdesk, referral system, among others; and, peer support and virtual interactions through spaces like virtual hangouts. UPOU-Kaagapay+ details may be requested through inquiries@upou.edu.ph. For those who wish to provide financial support directly to UPOU students through UPOU-Kaagapay+, donations may be deposited to the UP Open University Foundation, Inc.’s account at the Bank of the Philippine Islands (Los Baños, Laguna branch) with account number 0911-0656-14. |
https://up.edu.ph/surviving-the-lockdown-and-beyond/ | Surviving the Lockdown and Beyond – University of the Philippines | Surviving the Lockdown and Beyond Surviving the Lockdown and Beyond April 27, 2020 | Posted by UP Media and Public Relations Office Discussion Paper 2020-04: “Surviving the Lockdown and Beyond” Toby C. Monsod, Orville Jose C. Solon, Maria Socorro Gochoco-Bautista, Emmanuel S. de Dios, Joseph J. Capuno, Ma. Joy V. Abrenica, Agustin L. Arcenas, Ma. Christina Epetia, Laarni C. Escresa, Karl Jandoc, Aleli D. Kraft, Cielo Magno, Renato E. Reside Jr. Download full text here. |
https://up.edu.ph/briefer-on-how-an-epidemic-happens-and-what-is-an-epidemic-wave/ | Briefer on How an Epidemic Happens and What is an Epidemic Wave – University of the Philippines | Briefer on How an Epidemic Happens and What is an Epidemic Wave Briefer on How an Epidemic Happens and What is an Epidemic Wave May 22, 2020 | Posted by UP Media and Public Relations Office Briefer on How an Epidemic Happens and What is an Epidemic Wave Mary Grace Dacuma, Ph.D.* University of the Philippines, Los Baños The COVID-19 epidemic in the Philippines has most likely started with an imported case from an infected person or persons who entered the Philippines. This infected person or persons with the virus is/are the index case(s) that spread the virus to others locally. The index case(s), especially those that did not cause local transmission, does not form part of the epidemic wave. When the virus is transmitted locally to other people, there is an incubation period. For COVID-19, the incubation period (meaning the virus infecting the new host but without any symptoms/clinical signs yet) can be on average 5.2 days up to 14 days. That is why you see a flat line after the introduction of the index case (see Figure). After the incubation period, newly infected hosts develop symptoms and clinical signs – that is why they seek medical attention. In addition, because of the threat of the pandemic, our country increased its vigilance and capacity to screen more people. Hence, you can see the rapid spread and increase of cases (see Figure). The ease of movement of people by plane, land transportation, or boat made it very easy to spread the virus across the Philippines. Hence, we have an epidemic (meaning it has spread all over to many provinces and infecting thousands of people). We will know that we have reached the peak of the curve when the net increase in the number of active cases is starting to decline (because of lockdowns, country-wide vigilance, etc.). Eventually, there will be reduction in number of cases (where the number of infected people recovering will be higher than those becoming infected). Then there will be a point where there are no more cases. That’s when we know the epidemic has stopped. That curve from the rapid rise of local cases to reaching the peak to reduction in number of cases to the extinction of an epidemic is one epidemic wave. I did not include the index cases that started the epidemic in the “wave”. They acquired infection elsewhere out of the country. Note: The term epidemic instead of Pandemic was used because the COVID-19 infection is spreading locally. It is a pandemic because it is now in 213 countries and territories infecting millions of people. This is just a simplified curve or wave for an epidemic. It can be more complex when we plot actual data. *The author is a member of the UP Covid 19 Pandemic Response Team and the UPLB Kontra Covid19. She is a Molecular Epidemiologist and Ph.D. graduate from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. Paliwanag Kung Paano Nagaganap ang Isang Epidemya at Ano ang Ibig Sabihin ng Epidemic Wave Mary Grace Dacuma, Ph.D. University of the Philippines, Los Baños (salin sa Filipino ng orihinal na Ingles) Ipinagpapalagay na nagsimula ang epidemyang COVID-19 sa Pilipinas nang magkaroon ng imported na kaso mula sa isang tao o mga taong may impeksiyon na pumasok sa Pilipinas. Ang tao o mga taong may virus na ito ay ang pinakaunang natukoy na kaso ng nakahahawang sakit (index case) na nagkalat ng virus sa iba dito sa bansa. Hindi kabilang ang (mga) index case, lalo na yaong hindi naman naging dahilan ng lokal na transmisyon, sa bugso ng epidemya (epidemic wave). Kapag nagkaroon ng lokal na transmisyon ng virus sa ibang tao, may panahon ng ingkubasyon (ibig sabihin nito na nahawa na ng virus ang isang tao ngunit wala pang anumang sintomas o klinikal na mga senyales) na karaniwang 5.2 araw hanggang 14 na araw lumalabas. Iyon ang dahilan kung bakit may patag na linya pagkaraang magkaroon ng index case (tingnan ang Pigura). Pagkaraan ng panahon ng ingkubasyon, unti-untinang nagkakaroon ng sintomas at klinikal na mga senyales ang mga taong nahawahan–kaya sila humingi ng atensiyong medikal. Dagdag dito, dahil sa banta ng pandemya, mas pinaigting ng bansa ang pag-iingat at dinagdagan ang kapasidad sa screening ng mas maraming tao. Kaya, makikita ninyo ang mabilis na paglaganap at pagdami ng mga kaso (tingnan ang Pigura). Ang kaluwagan sa pagbiyahe sa eroplano, mga transportasyong panlupa, o sa bangka at barko ang higit na nagpabilis sa paglaganap ng virus sa Pilipinas. Kaya, nagkaroon tayo ng epidemya (ibig sabihin, kumalat na ito pati sa maraming probinsiya at nakapanghawa ng libo-libong mga tao.) Malalaman natin kung narating na natin ang pinakarurok ng kurba kapag ang kabuoang pagtaas ng bilang ng aktibong kaso ay nagsisimula nang bumaba (dahil sa mga lockdown, pinaigting na pag-iingat sa buong bansa, at iba pa). Sa huli, magkakaroon ng pagbaba sa bilang ng mga kaso (mangyayari ito kapag mas marami ang bilang ng gumagaling kaysa mga nahahawahan). At pagkaraan ay may puntong wala nang maitatalang anumang kaso. Doon natin malalaman na napigil na ang epidemya. Yaong kurba mula sa mabilis na pagtaas ng bilang ng lokal na mga kaso hanggang marating ang pinakarurok hanggang sa pagbawas ng bilang ng mga kaso hanggang sa lubusang pagkasugpong isang epidemya ay ang tinutukoy na isang bugso ng epidemya (epidemic wave). Hindi ko isinama ang mga index case na nagsimula ng epidemya sa “bugso.” Nakuha nila ang impeksiyon sa ibang lugar sa labas ng bansa. Tala: Ginamit ang terminong epidemya sa halip na pandemya sa dahilang ang impeksiyong COVID-19 ay kumalat nang lokal sa bansa. Pandemya ito ngayon sa 213 mga bansa at mga teritoryo at nanghawa ng milyong-milyong tao. Pinasimpleng kurba o bugso lamang ito ng isang epidemya. Maaaring magkaroon ng higit na kabuoan kapag ginamit natin ang aktuwal na datos. Ang awtor ay kasapi ng UP COVID-19 Pandemic Response Team at ng UPLB Kontra Covid19. Isa siyang Molecular Epidemologist at nagtapos ng PhD mula sa London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. |
https://up.edu.ph/post-ecq-job-risks-analysis-and-recommendations/ | Post-ECQ Job Risks: Analysis and Recommendations – University of the Philippines | Post-ECQ Job Risks: Analysis and Recommendations Post-ECQ Job Risks: Analysis and Recommendations May 22, 2020 | Written by UP COVID-19 Pandemic Response Team Problem Situation On 12 May 2020, the IATF announced the relaxing of community quarantine protocols as we transition from Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ) to Modified ECQ (MECQ), General Community Quarantine (GCQ), and Modified GCQ (MGCQ) starting on 16 May. Under the new schemes, the list of economic activities to be allowed are expanded at varying levels of capacity and subject to minimum health standards. To inform the phasing-in of different sectors and jobs, we present here findings from our risk assessment of various job types.[1] Our analysis showed that: • As economic activities are opened up, proper phasing in of different sectors and jobs should consider both economic contributions and the health risks involved, with health as the top priority. Understanding disease-related risks associated with different jobs and sectors can help guide management of the COVID-19 pandemic. • About half of Philippine jobs are categorized as high contributors to the economy for the next 18 months but are high-risk spreaders. • Half of the jobs are exposed to moderate risk to disease, while 38% are at high risk. • Manageable interventions like increasing PPE and hygiene practices and/or effectivity, and switching to work from home arrangements can lessen jobs at moderate to high risk by at least 21%. We also propose simple decision support tools that can be used as guides for the reopening of workplaces. Potential COVID-19 Spreaders by Job Type The previous ECQ practically suspended on-site work for all job types, except for our so-called healthcare- and non-healthcare frontliners. This has serious economic implications especially since 816 out of 987 job types (82%) in the Philippines have high importance to sustain the economy in the next 18 months (Figure 1)[2]. Our main challenge then is that the majority of these jobs (65%) have high potential to spread the COVID-19 disease as they require close or regular interaction with people. This includes health workers (Category E) who make up 13.8% of jobs. Aside from those in the healthcare industry, most of the jobs that are both highly important and high-risk spreaders at the same time (Category D) are in the food, agriculture, manufacturing, and service sectors. These sectors are highly interdependent with others, and effects on one sector can have long-lasting effects on another. Outside of healthcare workers, we need to carefully reconsider the costs and benefits of reactivating activities related to this group, and ensure that strict public health measures are followed. We also need to look into the case of jobs that are relatively not as critical in sustaining the economy for the next 18 months but are high risk disease spreaders. These comprise 16.4% of jobs (Category C), mostly in the education and recreation sectors. These jobs are relatively less interdependent on others. For this sector, a clear intervention would be to explore other modes of job delivery to minimize social interaction, without necessarily completely discontinuing operations, such as through continued work from home and other alternative working arrangements. This way, the potential for spreading the disease through these jobs becomes low. About one-fifth of jobs (17.7%) are of great importance to sustaining the economy for the next 18 months and are low risk disease spreaders (Category B). Most of these are in the financial, banking and BPO companies. These also are highly interdependent and have long-lasting effects on other sectors. Only less than one percent (0.9%) of jobs are considered part of Category A which contribute less to sustaining the economy for the next 18 months and are low risk disease spreaders. Minimum public health measures should be observed in these two groups (Categories A and B). COVID-19 Risk to Various Workers To understand the potential impact of reopening certain economic activities, we analyzed the potential risk of becoming sick and spreading the disease through various jobs in particular sectors and occupations. The risk scores were calculated using their potential exposure to the disease and physical proximity to others. The level of exposure to disease of the different job sectors were based on the number of people they encounter and how long they work, while physical proximity is estimated based on how crowded their workplace is. The risk score also takes into account workers’ protection level, such as use of personal protective equipment (PPE) and hygiene practices.[3] Assuming a 30% level of workplace protection, our analysis revealed that half of the jobs are exposed to moderate risk to disease, while 38% are at high risk. Aside from health and social workers, high risk industries include workers involved in water supply, sewerage, waste management and remediation activities; education; accommodation and food service activities; transportation and storage; arts, entertainment and recreation; and other service activities. Not surprisingly, by occupational group, high risk was found among service and sales workers, professionals, but mostly due to health care professionals, and technicians and associate professionals. Breaking these down into sub-major groups, the ones most at risk include the armed forces, personal care workers, and protective services workers. Job Risk by Income Level Our analysis further showed that there is no correlation between average monthly salary and risk level. Majority of the jobs have average monthly incomes of around 20,000 to 60,000 pesos, with varying risk scores ranging from low (0.08) to high (4.55). A few high-salary jobs (more than 80,000 pesos) were estimated to have low or moderate risk scores. These include high-ranking army officers, judges, chief executives, and managers (Figure 2). In any case, while the level of risk is not particularly related to the level of job salary, COVID-19 may have disproportionate impacts as those in the lower income bracket would have a much harder time to cover hospitalization expenses or recover lost income due to suspension of work. We also note that the data we have for the analysis do not account for jobs in the informal sector. Job Risk by Regions The impact of the pandemic varies across regions, with the National Capital Region, CALABARZON and Central Visayas the hardest hit in terms of incidence and prevalence of the disease. Cognizant of this, the IATF released risk-based guidelines in deciding whether regions, provinces or highly urbanized cities should be under ECQ, MECQ, GCQ or MGCQ.[4] To shed light on which sectors can be activated while minimizing risk at the same time, we conducted Binary Integer Goal Programming at the regional level. Our model showed that for regions to produce at least 60% of the Gross Regional Domestic Product, 22.7 million workers can go to work with the average computed risk score of 0.58 +/- 0.77. These workers belong to several sectors, namely, agriculture, hunting and forestry; fishing and aquaculture; manufacturing; electricity, gas, steam, and air conditioning supply; water supply; sewerage, waste management and remediation activities; wholesale and retail trade; repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles; transportation and storage; information and communication; financial and insurance activities; real estate activities; public administration and defense; compulsory social security; and human health and social work activities. Additionally, for this to happen, the Education and Other Services sectors may not need to resume activity under GCQ in all regions. Effect of Interventions on Job Risks Protection level plays a key role in the risk level. Decreasing the protection level increases the risk of each job for each industrial sector, occupational group, and UPSE classification. Without any protection, almost two-thirds (63%) of UPSE Category D jobs and one-third (33%) of UPSE Category B jobs will be at high risk of getting infected. Under increased protection level (45%), which assumes perfect use of face masks and strict hand hygiene, 74 out of 505 (15%) UPSE Category D and 11 out of 175 (6%) UPSE Category B jobs are at high risk. Job risks due to disease spread can be managed through various measures like the use of PPEs, hygienic practices and work from home arrangements to lessen contact. Job risks are lowered when protection levels were increased by 1) general increase in protection levels by 15% assuming increased or more effective use of PPEs; 2) 99% protection level for jobs that can shift to work from home; and, 3) 80% protection levels for certain health workers again assuming increased or more effective use of PPEs. Moderate and high-risk jobs lessened by 8% and 14%, respectively. Low risk jobs increased by 21%. There is ample room for intervention from the work from home setup since currently, around 90% or 887 jobs are normally not work from home, and most of these are moderate and high infection risk jobs. Decision Support Tools to Guide Workplace Reopening Out of the 987 jobs we have identified in our analysis, only 100 (10.13%) can be done through a work from home arrangement. The proportion is even smaller for jobs that pay Php18,200 or less per month, where only 28 of 488 jobs (5.74%) can be performed remotely. In light of the foregoing, the UP COVID-19 Pandemic Response Team has developed simple decision support tools that both public and private organizations can use as we transition to modified community quarantine. Figure 3 below shows a decision tree that institutions can refer to in quickly assessing their readiness to resume operations. It takes into account the basic health requirements of the IATF and DOH. Figure 3. Decision tree to guide workplace reopening | Source: Adopted with modifications from CDC to reflect IATF guidelines Another tool that government agencies, companies, or even individuals may find useful in assessing relative risks and interventions is our Job Risk Profiling Tool developed up by the UPLB Biomathematics Team. It provides more information on the analysis presented here, and comes with calculators that can be used to search for specific job risk profiles and specify different configurations of encounters, work shift duration, workplace crowd density, and level of protection. This open calculator can be used to look at potential scenarios of intervention in specific workplace situations. Endnotes [1] Jobs based on the National Center for O*NET Development (Center) (https://www.onetcenter.org/overview.html) which has data on exposure and physical proximity per job. [2] Adopted with modifications from the UP School of Economics (UPSE) classification. [3] Methods based on the paper by Dy, L., & Rabajante, J. (2020) A COVID-19 Infection Risk Model for Frontline Health Care Workers. doi: 10.1101/2020.03.27.20045336 were used to derive exposure to disease, physical proximity data and the list of job titles from the National Center for O*NET Development. Work Context: Physical Proximity. O*NET OnLine. (Retrieved April 17, 2020, from https://www.onetonline.org/find/descriptor/result/4.C.2.a.3), and National Center for O*NET Development. Work Context: Exposed to Disease or Infections. O*NET OnLine. (Retrieved April 17, 2020, from https://www.onetonline.org/find/descriptor/result/4.C.2.c.1.b?a=1). Risk scores and assessment were calculated using the risk model similar to Gamio, L. (2020). The Workers Who Face the Greatest Coronavirus Risk (Retrieved 17 April 2020, from https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2020/03/15/business/economy/coronavirus-worker-risk.html) [4] See https://www.covid19.gov.ph/issuances For questions or clarifications related to the technical or other aspects of this policy note, please send an email to upri.covid19＠up.edu.ph. Scientific reports related to this statement will be posted in the endcov.ph site. |
https://up.edu.ph/prevailing-data-issues-in-the-time-of-covid-19-and-the-need-for-open-data/ | Prevailing Data Issues in the Time of COVID-19 and the Need for Open Data – University of the Philippines | Prevailing Data Issues in the Time of COVID-19 and the Need for Open Data Prevailing Data Issues in the Time of COVID-19 and the Need for Open Data May 12, 2020 | Written by UP COVID-19 Pandemic Response Team POLICY NOTE NO. 6 / 08 May 2020 Introduction Our previous policy notes already highlighted some epidemiological metrics vital for monitoring the state of the country in its fight against COVID-19. These metrics provide context, give insight, and serve as a guide to help stakeholders take control of the disease and monitor our own progress. As we have repeatedly pointed out since Day 1, any analysis is only as good as the data that we have. Relevant, and accurate data about COVID-19 and the resources the country has in the fight is important. The speed and timeliness of how such is released is equally critical. We do recognize the difficulties in the collection of detailed and timely records of COVID-19 data on a nationwide scale. However, no matter how difficult, these problems need to be addressed at the soonest possible time and should be of top priority. Here, we discuss prevailing data issues we have observed, and our recommendation for open data moving forward. Data Sharing Practices Collecting COVID-19 data has not been easy. Since the country finally accepted the presence of community transmission around the first week of March 2020, government’s data reporting protocols have changed far too often (Table 1). There was initially no standard time of the day for when DOH posted the official daily numbers. There was even a brief period when DOH stopped releasing updates, leaving people using the data in the dark. Fortunately, the DOH has been open to feedback, and this has been reflected in the improvement in reporting. There is now a centralized resource for modelers to use as a common reference. There is also regularity and predictability on when reports are given, and this is commendable given that transparency and timeliness are key to managing any crisis situation, especially a pandemic. However, there is still room for improving the quality of the data, and the process of collecting information for DOH’s data drop in the tracker. It is important to make sure that correct data is captured as swiftly as possible to minimize uploading of erroneous and anomalous, if not missing, data. Data Accuracy and Integrity The availability of accurate and relevant data is a basic requirement in managing any situation that requires urgent and targeted response. Almost three months since we had our first confirmed case in the person of a Chinese national on 30 January, we have yet to reconcile differences in numbers between DOH and LGU sources. For example, on 03 May 2020, DOH reported 7 deaths (28 recoveries) in Laguna, which was 22 deaths (65 recoveries) lesser than the provincial government’s official count. Accuracy, however, goes beyond correctness in reporting aggregate numbers. Recent data drops by DOH revealed a number of alarming patient-level inconsistencies, if not gross errors. A quick comparison of the April 24 and April 25 data drops showed that forty-five (45) cases have changed sex from male to female or vice-versa; while 75 others had the data on age modified. This is on top of the 516 cases where the residence data was reclassified to another city, if not a completely imaginary city (i.e. a barangay or district) like what happened in the City of Manila (Table 2). Related to the problem of accurate residential reporting is the handling of certain variables in the DOH data drop. For example, RegionRes is a variable for the region of residence and is coded in text such as “NCR”, “Region III: Central Luzon”, and so on. RegionPSGC is the region code based on the Philippine Standard Geographic Code [PSGC], compiled by the Philippine Statistics Authority, based on their mandate to prescribe “uniform standards and classification systems in the generation of government statistics to ensure harmonization and comparability of statistics in the country and at the international level” (PSA 2020). The DOH data drop introduced this variable last April 26, 2020 for regional, provincial, and city/municipal classification. Each region has a unique code in the PSGC; however, as seen in the table below, inconsistencies in the coding of the PSGC for cases within regions have been problematic. It is noted that the DOH Tracker uses the RegionRes variable for statistics, not the Region PSGC (Table 3). * Total does not necessarily agree with the 10,004 cases reported in May 6, 2020 as regions with full-matching PSGC codes have been disregarded. There are other troubling anomalies in recent data drops of DOH. For example, 18 cases no longer have data on residence in the April 25 update. On the same date, the recovery dates of two cases were either missing or changed. One patient who reportedly died on April 24 is no longer dead the following day. The DOH data drop is also inconsistent with its use of date formats, which makes it difficult for automated systems of extracting and updating data from case information. It has made the work of data analysis difficult because of these sudden changes (Table 4). These lapses may seem small relative to the total size of data contained in the daily updates, but they have significant implications on the reliability of our scientific analyses on COVID-19. Patient case data is the keystone for effective and insightful metrics and analysis. The integrity of the data drops is particularly important given that no less than President Rodrigo Roa Duterte himself has said many times that the government’s decision on managing COVID-19 will be based on science. We fully support President Duterte on this call for science-based decisions, hence this statement. Transparency and Accountability We acknowledge the importance of data privacy as provided for in our existing laws such as the Data Privacy of 2012 (RA 10173) and the Mandatory Reporting of Notifiable Diseases and Health Events of Public Health Concern Act of 2018 (RA 11332), among others. However, there are important data that can already be anonymized and made available to serve public interest. For example, identifiers, such as employment information or specific addresses may be removed, but variables such as onset of symptoms, exposure history, co-morbidities, and whether they were medical front-liners or not are key inputs for modelers and statisticians to map the progress of our fight against COVID-19. We are also aware that the DOH is already sharing government data with selected groups from the private sector. These organizations are bound by Non-Disclosure Agreements (NDA), as required by law. However, while it may be legally right, it does not serve public interest in this time of great need for accurate and timely information. For example, DOH restricts the analytics involved with patient statistics, even for some aggregates, which have implications on understanding IATF’s recommendations for placing some provinces under ECQ. The COVID-19 pandemic requires a science-based approach, and science cannot exist in a vacuum. Any scientific output would benefit from cross-validation from peers, and if findings do not converge, we might be standing on shaky grounds. Such scientific rigor can only happen in an environment where data, especially government data, is made available to all relevant stakeholders. Entrusting government data to select private entities is inimical to public interest. Call for Open Data and Scientific Cooperation We understand that some data can only be shared internally (i.e. within the government) and are not fully open to the public. In this regard, we call on other agencies, to share relevant data that can help capable institutions make scientific assessments for discussions on the evolving crisis to come up with better peer-reviewed science. Regardless of technology, it is important that the reporting system be standardized and regularized, integrated into the existing data tracker as much as possible, and made open to the public. We also call on private institutions to contribute to the COVID-19 related data already shared in the COVID-tracker Data Drop. We believe there are private corporations who possess data that can benefit all researchers cooperating in this fight. Making all data sources open, while also being mindful of the same data privacy protocols that DOH is following, can further empower both official and unofficial stakeholders (i.e., commissioned and independent scientists and researchers, local governments officials, IATF/NTF decision-makers) in the battle ahead. This is important not only to inform our plans, but also to tell us how we are doing in the fight against COVID-19. This is particularly so in light of recent announcements by DOH and its private partners that we have already flattened the curve. Without access to full government data entrusted to select private sector groups, the task for an independent corroboration—the hallmark of any scientific undertaking—becomes impossible, to the detriment of public welfare and interest. This call for open data is in line with the UNESCO call for open science and reinforced scientific cooperation. According to UNESCO, it is imperative now more than ever to strengthen/build international inter-continental and national scientific cooperation between scientists, decision/policy makers, private practitioners, industries and health professionals and civil society for a multi-dimensional approach to tackling the pandemic. This calls for open access to scientific knowledge and know-how, data sharing and evidence-based policy and decision-making. Nowhere is the need for Open Data as clearly manifested than in the current COVID-19 crisis. In preparing for, responding to, and recovering from the impacts of health hazards or any natural hazard for that matter, data must be used to generate knowledge. If we keep our information in silos, our collective efforts and perspective of the situation narrows and so do our chances to maintain and preserve public health and security. Ultimately, because the battles ahead will no longer be just about health, this call for more open data sharing is a call to other sectors as well. We need to resolve our data issues posthaste to secure public trust in the plans, decisions, and pronouncements of the government and its private partners. For questions or clarifications related to the technical or other aspects of this policy note, please send an email to upri.covid19＠up.edu.ph. Scientific reports related to this statement will be posted in the endcov.ph site. Download a copy of the Policy Note No. 6 here. |
https://up.edu.ph/davao-city-should-consider-extending-community-quarantine-beyond-april-19-and-conductmore-tests-for-covid-19-up-mindanao-researchers/ | Davao City should consider extending community quarantine beyond April 19 and conduct more tests for COVID-19—UP Mindanao Researchers – University of the Philippines | Davao City should consider extending community quarantine beyond April 19 and conduct more tests for COVID-19—UP Mindanao Researchers Davao City should consider extending community quarantine beyond April 19 and conduct more tests for COVID-19—UP Mindanao Researchers April 16, 2020 | Posted by UP Media and Public Relations Office From left to right: (1) Fit of model to recorded cumulative confirmed data, from 15 March to 29 March 2020. New data points (from 30 March to 4 April 2020) are embedded to show model precision. (2-6) In other panels, projected population size of each subpopulation, in logarithmic scale, are derived by solving the model equations numerically to show different testing scenarios. SOURCE: Mata et al. (2020a) A recent study by the Interdisciplinary Applied Modeling (IAM) laboratory of the University of the Philippines (UP) Mindanao recommends that “the local government should consider extending the community quarantine” beyond the April 19 end date of the community quarantine in Davao City. The IAM lab is part of the UP COVID-19 Pandemic Response Team – Bioinformatics and Modeling Group, which is mainly composed of mathematicians across the different UP campuses. The team headed by Dr. May Anne Mata, an associate professor in applied mathematics specializing in mathematical biology, simulated a model to predict the effect of lifting the community quarantine on April 19 and July 1 based on parameter estimates obtained by fitting an epidemiological model to the cumulative confirmed cases in the Davao Regionfrom March 15 to April 4. The model has five population categories, namely, Susceptible (at risk to contract the disease), Exposed (infected but not infectious), Asymptomatic Infectious (without symptoms but infectious), Confirmed Cases (assumed isolated and will not infect the susceptible), and Unreported Infectious (includes only those with symptoms). “When CQ [community quarantine] is lifted on April 19, the infected population will continue to persist . . . For instance, we see that the exposed population is stable from May to July after it peaks during the last week of March,” the study finds. “However, if we maintain CQ at the status quo’s rates of transmission and confirmation, we observe a decreasing trend in the number of exposed individuals around mid-May.” Dr. Mata, however, cautions that the model estimates are dependent on various assumptions and only show a possible, more likely scenario. Hence, predicting the appropriate lifting dateis difficult and can only be accurately obtained by increasing the number of observations and updating parameter estimates. “Lifting the quarantine prematurely is very risky. To be safe, perhaps we can extend the community quarantine for 14 days. If we get 0 new cases and 0 new PUIs [persons under investigation] within that period, then we can lift the community quarantine,” Dr. Mata suggests. The next phase of the study will fit the model on data within the duration of the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) from April 4 to 19, covered by EO no. 23A series 2020, to see if the strategy is effective. Extending the community quarantine, however, has an economic tradeoff, one that is difficult to model at this time. “We just don’t have data on logistics like total budget of Davao City government for COVID-19 response, breakdown per barangay, cost of goods distribution, budget per household, just to name a few, to do a model on this. Also, this will require a different modeling strategy.” From left to right: (1) Fit of model to recorded cumulative confirmed data, from 15 March to 29 March 2020. New data points (from 30 March to 4 April 2020) are embedded to show model precision. (2-4) In other panels, projected population size of each subpopulation, in logarithmic scale, are derived by solving the model equations numerically to show different testing scenarios. Note that the untested infectious population is the sum of asymptomatic infectious and unreported symptomatic infectious populations. SOURCE: Mata et al. (2020b) Using the same data, another study by the team shows the importance of testing persons under monitoring (PUMs) and persons under investigation (PUIs). “We recommend that the government should consider testing more PUMs and/or PUIs in the region for early detection of infected population so that these individuals will be isolated immediately from the susceptible pool,” the study states. This point is particularly important for asymptomatic individuals who may show no signs of disease but may freely and unknowingly spread the disease to the population. In another study, researcher Zython Paul Lachica and other members of the IAM lab team collated available information from COVID-19 positive cases from the Department of Health within a 40-day observation period to assess the risk factors that increase a patient’s hazard rate. The study yielded the following preliminary findings: “Male COVID-19 positive patients are estimated to face a hazard rate of 12.79 times the hazard faced by female patients. Coughing patients face a hazard that is 28.35 times the hazard of those who have no cough. Furthermore, a patient with pre-existing condition”—such as hypertension, kidney problem, and/or diabetes—“may have a hazard rate of 2,838 times the hazard rate of patient without any preexisting conditions. On the other hand, patients who are 55 to 64 years old and 65 to 74 years old face hazard rates that are less than patients who are 75 years and older.”It should be noted that these results are based on preliminary data, and the hazard estimates will be fine-tuned once more data becomes available. Based on these findings, the study recommends prioritizing for testing patients who are 75 years and older and those with preexisting medical conditions once they experience coughing, persons under monitoring who might be asymptomatic patients, as well as those with high exposure to the COVID-19 positive patients such as health workers. Estimated survival curves of COVID-19 positive patients in terms of test result duration. SOURCE: Lachica et al. (2020) Setting up more testing centers in the different regionsis vital to contain COVID-19 cases asthe study shows that “having test results within 1 to 3 days after the onset of symptoms reduces hazard rates to almost 0%.” Survival rates decrease dramatically as the number of days before getting the test results increase. The IAM lab was initiated by researchers from UP Mindanao’s Department of Mathematics, Physics, and Computer Science to help the government in making science-based decisions. The three studies by the lab were already sentfor review to the UP COVID-19 Pandemic Response Team and are freely shared to local decision makers as input for strategies. Since last March, UP Mindanao through the Philippine Genome Center (PGC) Mindanao has entered into talks with the Department of Health XI, Davao del Norte LGUs, and the private sector to establish a COVID-19 testing laboratory that will be attached to the Davao Regional Medical Center (DRMC) in order to supplement the testing capacity of the Southern Philippines Medical Center (SPMC) in the Davao Region. SOURCES Mata MAE, Lachica ZPT, Ligue KDB, Almocera AES, Evangelio SA. 2020a. Shall the community quarantine be lifted soon in Davao City? A reflection based on model estimates from early cumulative confirmed COVID-19 cases in Davao Region, Philippines. Link: https://bit.ly/3b8rQU2 Mata MAE, Lachica ZPT, Ligue KDB. 2020b. Testing PUMs and PUIs: What can it do about the spread of COVID-19 infected population in Davao Region, Southern Philippines? Link: https://bit.ly/2RzUiX7 Lachica ZPT, Mata MAE, Kobayashi VB, Alviola IV PA. 2020. Learnings from Survival Analysis of Early COVID-19 Positive Cases in the Philippines. Link: https://bit.ly/2JZlx9D For more information about the UP COVID-19 Pandemic Response Team: https://www.up.edu.ph/covid-19-updates/#pandemic Download the PDF version here. CONTACTS Michael Noel R. Bonghanoy Rene A. Estremera Chair, University Information Committee Public Relations Officer mrbonghanoy@up.edu.ph pro.upmindanao@up.edu.ph |
https://up.edu.ph/modified-community-quarantine-public-health-framework-in-reponse-to-covid-19-for-iloilo-and-western-visayas-after-april-30-data-analysis-and-recommendations/ | Modified Community Quarantine Public Health Framework In Reponse To Covid-19 For Iloilo And Western Visayas After April 30: Data Analysis And Recommendations – University of the Philippines | Modified Community Quarantine Public Health Framework In Reponse To Covid-19 For Iloilo And Western Visayas After April 30: Data Analysis And Recommendations Modified Community Quarantine Public Health Framework In Reponse To Covid-19 For Iloilo And Western Visayas After April 30: Data Analysis And Recommendations April 28, 2020 | Posted by UP Media and Public Relations Office MODIFIED COMMUNITY QUARANTINE PUBLIC HEALTH FRAMEWORK IN REPONSE TO COVID-19 FOR ILOILO AND WESTERN VISAYAS AFTER APRIL 30: DATA ANALYSIS AND RECOMMENDATIONS* By Helena Marie Lagon Alvior, MD, Mary Camille Samson, RMT, and Philip Ian Padilla, MD, PhD Download full text here. |
https://up.edu.ph/a-sectoral-view-of-lifting-the-lockdown-and-the-use-of-sample-based-random-testing/ | A Sectoral View of Lifting the Lockdown and the Use of Sample-based Random Testing – University of the Philippines | A Sectoral View of Lifting the Lockdown and the Use of Sample-based Random Testing A Sectoral View of Lifting the Lockdown and the Use of Sample-based Random Testing April 27, 2020 | Posted by UP Media and Public Relations Office Discussion Paper 2020-06: “A Sectoral View of Lifting the Lockdown and the Use of Sample-based Random Testing” Orville Jose C. Solon, Toby C. Monsod, Maria Socorro Gochoco-Bautista, Emmanuel S. de Dios, Joseph J. Capuno, Renato E. Reside Jr., Ma. Joy V. Abrenica, Agustin L. Arcenas, Sarah Lynne Daway-Ducanes, Ma. Christina Epetia, Laarni C. Escresa, Karl Jandoc, Cielo Magno, Carlo Irwin A. Panelo Download full text here. |
https://up.edu.ph/up-resilience-institute-introduces-covid-chatbot/ | UP Resilience Institute introduces COVID chatbot – University of the Philippines | UP Resilience Institute introduces COVID chatbot UP Resilience Institute introduces COVID chatbot April 8, 2020 | Posted by UP Media and Public Relations Office Meet Yani, the newest AI member of the UP COVID-19 Pandemic Response Team! Yani, short for baYANIhan and named in honor of our heroes in the fight against COVID-19, is ready to help you find the information you need. If you’re looking for the nearest hospitals, psychosocial support, or policy information, Yani has got you covered: m.me/YaniEndCovBot Yani is ready to chat every time you visit https://endcov.ph/ and can converse both in English and Filipino (dapat!) Related: UP launches web portal, map for COVID-19 responders |
https://up.edu.ph/yani-the-endcovbot-learns-lgbt-slang/ | Yani, the EndCovBot, learns LGBT slang – University of the Philippines | Yani, the EndCovBot, learns LGBT slang Yani, the EndCovBot, learns LGBT slang May 26, 2020 | Posted by UP Media and Public Relations Office Yani, the EndCovBot, learns LGBT slang. You can talk to Yani through Facebook messenger: m.me/YaniEndCovBot LGBT slang or the Beki language option is now available when you converse with Yani! If you’re looking for COVID-19 statistics, the nearest hospitals, links to therapy and counseling, or information on policies, you can talk to Yani through Facebook messenger: m.me/YaniEndCovBot Yani, the UP COVID-19 Pandemic Response Team’s chatbot designed to talk to humans and answer questions related to COVID-19, is also in the process of “learning” different Philippine languages to be able to reach and converse with more Filipinos in an open and engaging way. Aside from creating a multilingual AI chatbot, the UP Team has also produced social media flashcards in various Philippine languages, such as Filipino, Aklanon, Bahasa Sug, Bikol Sentral, Cebuano, Chavacano de Zamboanga, Hiligaynon, Ilokano, Itawis, Kapampangan, Meranaw, Waray Leyte, and Waray Samar. Access these information materials via the UP Resilience Institute’s Facebook page. |
https://up.edu.ph/social-interactions-and-post-ecq-school-opening-and-mobility-of-older-people-analysis-and-recommendations/ | Social Interactions and Post-ECQ School Opening and Mobility of Older People: Analysis and Recommendations – University of the Philippines | Social Interactions and Post-ECQ School Opening and Mobility of Older People: Analysis and Recommendations Social Interactions and Post-ECQ School Opening and Mobility of Older People: Analysis and Recommendations May 7, 2020 | Written by UP COVID-19 Pandemic Response Team POLICY NOTE NO. 5 / 05 May 2020 Problem Situation The novel coronavirus (SARS-COV-2) feeds on social interaction. It spreads from one person to another through droplets that may remain contagious for hours or days, depending on the setting of transmission. This is why the government’s core response to the evolving pandemic is anchored on social distancing and community quarantine. The idea is simple enough: limit people’s social and physical interactions to slow down, if not eliminate, COVID-19 spread, and at the same time, protect vulnerable groups. Following the government decision to extend the ECQ in selected areas and identify GCQ areas with attendant regulations, how can we ease up restrictions on people’s mobility while minimizing risk? Particularly, how do we respond to the needs of two sectors on both ends of the population spectrum, namely, children and older people? It must be noted that the State is obligated to provide continued learning for the former, and ensure fundamental rights and freedoms of the latter at all times. To shed light on the matter, the UP COVID-19 Pandemic Response Team looked into the country-wide total age-group interactions per day and its implications on school opening and the mobility of older people. The results from our models complement existing knowledge on the probability of outbreak for cities and municipalities of the country (read Policy Note No. 2) and the situation in nearby cities and municipalities (i.e. transport links; border control policies) to help the IATF and LGUs make science-based decisions. Overall, when combined with knowledge on identified areas with a chance of outbreak, testing and isolation capacity, provincial health care capacity, quarantine policy, and capability to detect without delay COVID-19 symptomatics and asymptomatics, the analysis and recommendations we made here can be used for government strategy as we transition from ECQ to GCQ. Age-Group Interactions The Philippines has a generally young population. In light of this, we simulated how children and teenagers interact with older adults who are 65 years old and above, cognizant of the reality that older Filipinos usually live with their children and grandchildren under one roof. Our models show that 56% of interaction with all age groups are amongst the 0-20 years of age, compared to only 1% among those aged 65 and over. Moreover, 49% of the interaction of seniors 65 years and above happens with the age group of 0-20 (Figure 1). This essentially means two things: 1) social interaction is highest among the young; and 2) the same group accounts for the greatest amount of interaction with older people. Relaxing restrictions on physical interactions of children does not bode well if matched with empirical data from DOH. As of 1 May 2020, more than 97% of those who tested positive for COVID-19 among those aged 5-20 years old are asymptomatic, have mild symptoms or have recovered indicating that this age group may be more resilient to COVID-19 compared to older groups (Figure 2). The number of deaths from COVID-19 generally increases with age, rising noticeably starting at age 50-54 and steadily increasing rather steeply thereafter. In all, 70% of the total deaths are from cases age 60 and over. Putting together what we know about interactions by age group, the relative resilience of the young and the likelihood of severe disease among the old, the conclusion is that the young aged 0-20 who have the most interactions with all age groups, and especially with the old, have a high likelihood of bringing home the infection from school and from their other social contacts, being mostly asymptomatic or only showing mild symptoms, to the more vulnerable members of their households. Figure 1. Results of interaction models on age interaction amongst all age groups and interaction with age group 65 years and above (https://psa.gov.ph; https://journals.plos.org/ploscompbiol/article?id=10.1371/journal.pcbi.1005697). Figure 2. COVID-19 data per age group for mild, recovered, asymptomatic, severe and critical cases included the deceased. Implications on School Opening To estimate the effects of school opening, we tested different scenarios for the National Capital Region (NCR). Assuming 90% of businesses open on 15 May, higher education institutions (HEIs) physically open on 15 August, and elementary and secondary schools physically open on 1 September, all in 2020, the following were modeled: 1) All schools physically open; 2) 50% HEIs, elementary and high schools physically open; 3) all schools physically open and there is increased detection of COVID-19 cases with about 30,000 tests per day; 4) 50% HEIs physically open but all elementary and high schools closed; and 5) all schools at all levels physically closed (Figure 3). Figure 3. Mean result of simulations for different scenarios of physical school opening in NCR using default protection level of 10%; 10k tests per day and effective surveillance to find 30-50% of the infected individuals; prevalence in the environment and nearby communities of 1/10,000; and assumption that individuals with mild and asymptotic condition are 20-50% less infectious than symptomatic cases (https://science.sciencemag.org/content/early/2020/04/09/science.abb6936). The models reveal that with the current testing detection rate and the scenario with 10,000 tests per day, physically opening all schools in NCR may increase the transmission of COVID-19 to R values greater than 1 (gray, blue and yellow curves, respectively). On the other hand, continued physical closure of all schools up to the end of the year, considering the model assumptions, may continue to lower the R value to near, but not necessarily equal to zero values by the end of 2020 (orange curve). The two other scenarios show varying rates of decline in R value, but all close to or below 1. As we have explained in Policy Note No. 2, the ultimate goal of the government is to bring the reproduction number Rt value to less than 1 or closest to 0 until a vaccine is discovered. Implications on Mobility of Older People The transmission potential of senior citizens, defined as age 60 and above, was analyzed and compared with people of age below 60 using the time-varying reproduction number or Rt. With respect to the transmission potential, older adults were relatively less transmissive of the disease within their group than the younger individuals. However, senior citizens had been highly transmissive before the March 15 enhanced community quarantine with Rt greater than 1. During the quarantine period, older persons were less transmissive to other `younger counterparts (Figure 4). Figure 4. COVID-19 infection, death, and reproductive number for older adults and younger population (as of 30 April 2020). The computation assumed that younger individuals, as imported cases, transmit the disease to the senior citizens for the Rt of age 60 and up, and vice-versa for Rt of age less than 60. The reproduction number for senior citizens would describe their transmission potential within their group after subtracting the effect of transmission from the younger group, while the Rt for age less than 60 would be vice-versa. Figure 4 above also shows that as of 30 April 2020, older people account for about three-fourths of total COVID-19 fatalities. However, there is also evidence that it is not just advanced age per se that is associated with the higher risk of dying from COVID-19 but also the presence of comorbidities such as hypertension, heart disease, chronic respiratory illness, and other diseases that compromise the immune system. Since older people are more likely to have these comorbidities, they have the highest case fatality rates of all ages. The Philippine data shows that comorbidities, such as hypertension, diabetes and asthma, raises COVID-19 total mortality by as much as 30%. The increase in mortality is evident at all ages. Children (age 0 to 19) with co-morbidities are also very vulnerable to dying from COVID-19 (Figure 5). The mortality rates mentioned here refer to the probability of dying once infected with COVID-19. COVID-19 mortality rates are compared to the Philippine-specific WHO 2016 (from government data), SSS 2012 (mostly from employees of private companies) and Philippine Intercompany Mortality Table 2017 (PICT; from insured population) mortality rates to provide an idea on how much COVID-19 raises regular mortality. Figure 5. COVID-19 mortality with and without co-morbidities by age-group The New Normal beyond the ECQ Results from our models support the plan of the government to carefully study the reopening of schools. Now, more than ever, we need to adapt to a new normal of delivering learning with limited physical interaction. The right to education should not stop simply because schools are closed. Schools under ECQ must remain closed, while areas under GCQ should consider a flexible schedule that limits physical interaction of children. School activities that entail a gathering of crowds must be postponed. To ensure continuity, various forms of distance learning must be explored, and in areas where such is not possible, low-cost technologies (e.g. IoT-based systems) can be put in place to facilitate connectivity. The foregoing analysis also lends support to the IATF’s Resolution No. 30, which takes into account the issue of co-morbidity and specific vulnerabilities in the enforcement of the stay-at-home rule. Under the new guidelines, pregnant women, those who have co-morbidities and senior citizens are required to stay at home. Cognizant of the heterogeneity of the senior citizen population, exemptions to the stay at home order has been made for older people who need to go out “[to obtain] essential goods and services or [to] work in permitted industries and offices,” including those who are living alone. This sends the message that senior citizens should limit their mobility and do their part to help contain the spread of COVID-19. The IATF needs to issue clear operational guidelines as to how these stay at home orders are to be implemented on the ground. The outcome of the analysis is only as good as the quality of available data. For questions or clarifications related to the technical or other aspects of this policy note, please send an email to upri.covid19＠up.edu.ph. Scientific reports related to this statement will be posted in the endcov.ph site. Download a copy of the Policy Note No. 5 here. |
https://up.edu.ph/preparing-for-a-post-ecq-scenario-analysis-and-recommendations/ | Preparing for a Post-ECQ Scenario: Analysis and Recommendations – University of the Philippines | Preparing for a Post-ECQ Scenario: Analysis and Recommendations Preparing for a Post-ECQ Scenario: Analysis and Recommendations April 7, 2020 | Written by UP COVID-19 Pandemic Response Team Since Day One, the UP COVID-19 Pandemic Response Team has done simulations on the spread of SARS-COV-2 in the country. Our bioinformatics group—composed mostly of mathematicians from different UP campuses—estimate a peak by end of April to June with approximately 140,000 to 550,000 people infected in Metro Manila. A significant proportion of this estimate will not be detected unless they are tested. Hence, these estimates can guide testing capacity requirements for the succeeding months. Hospital bed capacity requirements among other healthcare metrics, can also be reasonably projected based on the proportion of severe cases (5%). Epidemic duration estimates can help decision-makers make informed decisions and craft appropriate strategies to calibrate interventions over the short- to long-term. To this end, we are publicly releasing the results of our projections, with the hope that this can guide government action (Table 1). Other groups have conducted their own simulations using different parameters and assumptions, which reveal much higher numbers of infected persons ranging from 1.5 to 4 million for Metro Manila and 23-29 million for the whole country. Table 1. COVID-19 Epidemic models from UP and other modeling groups Figure 1. Scenario analysis for post-ECQ measures relative to healthcare capacity (Source: UP and Ayala Analytics group) Our simulations also show that non-medical interventions included in the extended community quarantine such as work and school shutdown, requirement of face masks (even homemade masks with filter), washing of hands, and social distancing, can reduce the spread of the virus and flatten the curve for our healthcare system to cope with cases on infected individuals (Figure 2). Community quarantine buys us time to beef up our healthcare system’s capacity, while limiting the reach of the disease. Thus, a modified, location-specific quarantine scenario can be explored in light of public healthcare realities on the ground (e.g. number of ventilators, hospital beds) and possibly different peak periods across LGUs throughout the country. Simulations can be improved further with more detailed information gathered using online survey forms where each LGU can input data at barangay level on a daily basis (Figure 2a). Hospital information on the number of people tested, recovered and other critical data for modeling should also be collected without delay to improve the analysis of the situation and expose areas where local community quarantine can be implemented (Figure 2b). Contact tracing should also be implemented with the aid of technologies that can do rapid collection of data. Such information system should be implemented now. UP and its partners have built this kind of system using its infrastructure and is ready for deployment. Figure 2a (left) Metro Manila cities hotspots of cases for COVID-19 Figure 2b (right) Hotspots of cases in Quezon City defined at the barangay level The general welfare of the public is of utmost consideration to us. Filipinos living below the poverty line and those who cannot work under the current circumstances require adequate support to minimize economic hardship. Government should continue to pursue these actions for the country. We also urge the government to get detailed real-time information for improved science-based decisions to address our current crisis. COVID-19 is not an invisible enemy. It leaves behind traces of itself, which we can use to get ahead of the curve and stop it in its tracks. But to get there, we have to gather—and share—as much data as possible, apply the best science available, and ultimately listen to what the numbers could tell us. Download the report here. View the infographics here. |
https://up.edu.ph/estimating-local-healthcare-capacity-to-deal-with-covid-19-case-surge-analysis-and-recommendations/ | Estimating Local Healthcare Capacity to Deal with COVID-19 Case Surge: Analysis and Recommendations – University of the Philippines | Estimating Local Healthcare Capacity to Deal with COVID-19 Case Surge: Analysis and Recommendations Estimating Local Healthcare Capacity to Deal with COVID-19 Case Surge: Analysis and Recommendations April 20, 2020 | Written by UP COVID-19 Pandemic Response Team The Challenge: Estimated Severe and Critical Cases at Peak The rising number of cases of COVID-19 infections on a daily basis is a serious concern as there are limits to hospital care capacity for patients with serious symptoms (e.g. difficulty in breathing). Should the number of infected people rapidly rise, there may come a time when the hospital care resources will be overwhelmed. The UP COVID-19 Pandemic Response Team, in its latest model run, estimates the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases to reach 9,000 to 44,000 by the end of April 2020. As of April 16 DOH reports a total of 5,660 confirmed cases. Majority (around 81%) of Filipinos who contract COVID-19 will exhibit uncomplicated or mild illness. These patients do not require hospitalization, but isolation is necessary in order to prevent viral transmission. Approximately 14% will develop severe illness requiring oxygen therapy, while the remaining 5% will require intensive care unit (ICU) treatment. Estimates on the number of Filipino COVID-19 patients who will require hospitalization is shown in Table 1. In a scenario at the peak of the COVID-19 crisis, where a COVID-positive person can infect two others (R0=2), our simulations show that about 51,933 Filipinos will need hospitalization, approximately 13,194 of whom will need ICU treatment. Outside of Metro Manila, the biggest bulk of severe and critical patients would come from Regions III (Central Luzon), IV-A (CALABARZON), VI (Western Visayas), and VII (Central Visayas). Can Local Healthcare Systems Absorb the Surge? There are 456 hospitals in the country classified either as Level 2 or 3. Altogether, excluding those classified as specialty hospitals, these hospitals combined will have a total bed capacity of 67,119. Approximately 41% of these beds are in government-owned hospitals while the remaining 59% are in private hospitals. Figure 1 shows the proportion of hospital beds according to ownership. In this analysis, it is assumed that 80% of these beds would be used for treating people with other illnesses. In 2012, the average bed occupancy rate among Level 3 hospitals in Metro Manila was 77.2%. DOH-retained hospitals across the nation had an average bed occupancy rate of 105% in 2013. For the treatment of critical cases, there are a total of 2,335 critical care beds in 450 intensive care units in the Philippines. This corresponds to 3.1% of the total approved bed capacity of Level 2 and 3 hospitals in the country. We estimate, based on our projections (Figure 2) and assuming a scenario with a reproductive rate (R0) of 2, that three provinces adjacent to NCR, namely, Bulacan, Cavite, and Rizal, may face a serious shortage of hospital beds for handling severe and critical cases. COVID-19-related patients alone would fill up the total bed capacities in these areas. We also identify 25 provinces and two cities in Metro Manila, namely, Malabon and Navotas, which do not have Level 2 or 3 hospitals within their geographic bounds. Thus, it is imperative to capacitate Level 1 hospitals in these areas to address the situation. On the projected availability of ICU beds corresponding to critical COVID cases at the provincial and regional levels (Figure3), we estimate that it is beyond the capacity of most provinces to handle the surge of the COVID-19 crisis in the Philippines at its peak. There is a lack of available critical care beds because across the country, there are only a little over 2,000 ICU beds to cater to the projected 8,800 to 19,800 critical COVID-19 cases. If we are not able to “flatten the curve” or significantly reduce the transmission of the COVID-19 virus in the Philippines through the enhanced community quarantine ECQ, the healthcare system will be overwhelmed way beyond their capacity as clearly seen in the relatively low number of hospital and ICU beds. Approximately 35,000 additional beds are required to accommodate the peak number of cases in a scenario wherein the reproductive number (R0) is 2. Certain regions (I, III, IV, V, VI and VII) may need to stretch their capacities to accommodate the cases during the peak. Health human resource is another key determinant to the capacity of the healthcare system to absorb the surge of patients. To handle critical patients, there should ideally be one attending physician for every two patients, and one-on-one nursing. Additionally, there should be one intensivist, one pulmonologist, and one infectious disease specialist for every five patients. At R0=2, this roughly corresponds to 14,500 doctors and 13,200 nurses. As of 2018, there are 40,775 doctors and 90,308 nurses in the country. Peak-time critical COVID-19 cases alone would require the attention of approximately 21% of our healthcare workers. Note that this is over and above the already heavy regular workload of our health human resource. There are, on the average, 3.7 doctors per 10,000 population in the Philippines. This is below the World Health Organization-prescribed ratio of 1 doctor for 1,000 persons (or 10 per 10,000). Moreover, there is a wide discrepancy across regions of the country. For instance, the ratio is 10 per 10,000 in NCR while it is 0.8 per 10,000 in BARMM. Furthermore, there are 8.2 nurses per 10,000 nationwide compared to the WHO-prescribed ratio of 1:1,000. The enhanced community quarantine reduced the Reproductive Number, R, (Figure 4), which helped get the hospital care system to deliver services to those in need. We attribute this downward trend mainly to the ECQ. As of 19 April 2020, the Reproductive Number, R, for the Philippines is at 1.072. Should the ECQ be lifted on 30 April 2020, we expect the number of Covid19-related cases and the value of R to again rise. We should prepare early for this expected surge of Covid19 patients once the quarantine is lifted. The estimates provided in this document can be used as a guide for planning. These include: the number of hospital beds, ICU beds, and human resource availability. The number of medical equipment and supply of PPEs will also need real-time monitoring to guide administrators, decision-makers, and donors on the allocation of resources and triaging services. Download the PDF of the report here. Notes: The outcome of the analysis is only as good as the quality of the available data. There is also a need for more refined information on the actual bed occupancies, critical care bed numbers, and number of healthcare workers. For questions or clarifications related to the technical or other aspects of this policy note, please send an email to upri.covid19＠up.edu.ph. Scientific reports related to this statement will be posted in the endcov.ph site. |
https://up.edu.ph/modified-community-quarantine-beyond-april-30-analysis-and-recommendations/ | Modified Community Quarantine beyond April 30: Analysis and Recommendations – University of the Philippines | Modified Community Quarantine beyond April 30: Analysis and Recommendations Modified Community Quarantine beyond April 30: Analysis and Recommendations April 13, 2020 | Written by UP COVID-19 Pandemic Response Team Problem Situation The extension of the Luzon-wide Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ) raises the question on how effective the ECQ has been to contain the spread of COVID-19. If it is, how should it be implemented after April 30 without unnecessarily paralyzing local economies over a long period of time? It is important to tackle this question at this time because LGUs rely upon national directives for policy and decision-making. Crafting of guidelines for an extended ECQ requires foresight, one that is informed by scientific data on estimates of the effectiveness of pandemic control strategies. It requires key metrics that are primarily epidemiological in nature and must be infused with as many scientific points of view as possible. Here, we show the effect of differences in population density of communities in the analysis of the transmission of COVID-19 to help national and local officials make informed decisions whether to extend, lift, or relax community quarantine. Is the Luzon-wide ECQ effective? Time-series analysis shows it now takes a little longer for the number of confirmed cases to double in number. What took 3 days for the total number of cases to double now takes about 6 days to happen (Figure 1). Based on these trends, one can estimate about 9,000 to 44,000* possible cases reported by the end of April 2020. In general, this indicates the relative success of the ECQ–along with other interventions–in containing the spread of the virus. However, we must not simply rely on the number of cases as a means to project courses of actions. Figure 1. Simple time-series analysis showing typical trends in the DOH reported positive cases (latest data: 10 April 2020). The current trend shows that the number of reported cases doubles about T2 = 6 days, while there has been a linear trend for the past 10 days (since 01 April). The color bar represents the data range used to estimate the linear projection. Note: Represents confirmed cases and does not include undetected, asymptomatic and mild cases. Another metric that can be used to test effectiveness of the ECQ is the case fatality rate. Based on best available data as of 10 April 2020, we report an estimated case fatality rate of 5.38% and a reproduction number of 0.6398, which means that the ECQ has been effective (Figure 2). The goal is to keep bringing the reproductive number down to lower than 1 through continued medical and non-medical interventions. Quantifying the effectiveness of the ECQ, however, is highly dependent on efforts in discovering new cases. Specifically, there are situations in which countries were able to bring their reproduction numbers down close to 1, but later testing pulled the number up, such as the case of Singapore. In the case of Korea, consistent increased testing coupled with contact tracing facilitated the detection and management of the epidemic, lowering the reproduction number of COVID-19. Figure 2. Time-Dependent Reproduction Number Rt of the Philippines, Singapore, and South Korea, with 95% Confidence Intervals for March 9 to April 10, 2020 Proposal on how to implement community quarantine after April 30 Successful as it may seem, an ECQ covering a wide area may not be sustainable over the long run. Prolonged restriction on the movement of goods and services over a large area (i.e. region-wide) can unnecessarily paralyze local economies. In light of this reality, our best recourse after April 30 is to implement graduated activation of ECQ depending on the level of risk in certain areas at a given time. Under this set-up, provinces (or even lower-level LGUs) may be put under ECQ depending on how close or far they are to an estimated outbreak threshold. This suggestion is made based on our analysis on the trajectory of spread and the severity of its impacts across LGUs, which varies depending on the onset of local transmission, population density, and age-group distribution. To aid decision-making on this matter, our team continued to explore epidemiological approaches in disease mapping at the provincial level using population density as proxy measure of “outbreak spread potential” (Figure 3). By getting the ratio of the number of cases against the estimated outbreak threshold, we can determine which level of community quarantine to implement (Table 1). For instance, a province whose number of cases is at least equal to the estimated outbreak threshold should implement ECQ measures. On the other hand, a province whose number of cases is less than 75% of the estimated outbreak threshold may not declare a community quarantine at all, but only need to sustain information campaign efforts, general physical distancing, testing and contact tracing, home quarantine for probable cases, and hospitalization for patients needing care and treatment. Figure 3. Example map showing the probability of cases/outbreak threshold (with reproductive number of 2) of the Philippines computed per province from best available data as of 9 April 2020. Map layout by Feye Andal of UPRI Youth Mappers. Table 1.Example of a Decision Matrix for Graduated Community Quarantine Implementation Data considerations to improve decision-making The approach presented here depends entirely on the quality of official reports, testing accuracy, monitoring, and faithful accounts of fatalities, among others. There have been reports of discrepancies between the official fatality count and those reported from the ground and must be addressed to ensure quality and timeliness of data used in any analysis. Furthermore, model estimates would improve much if nationwide barangay-level COVID-19 related data are available daily. We recommend the employment of an automated LGU data collecting system. One of the possible applications to be used for this purpose has already been developed by our team and is ready for use by LGUs through the endcov.ph dashboard. By getting near real-time data, it becomes easier to project the rate of spread and identify locations of hotspots and outbreaks on a daily basis The findings and suggestions outlined here are proposed to help the country’s efforts to curb the adverse impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. Soon we will have to decide when to restart economic activities, and these localized metrics, which can be done up to barangay level may aid policy decisions on the preservation of both lives and livelihoods. For questions or clarifications related to the technical or other aspects of this Policy Note, please send an email to: upri.covid19@up.edu.ph. Download this report here. |
https://up.edu.ph/ecq-doing-good-graduated-activation-recommended-after-april-30-up-pandemic-response-team/ | ECQ doing good, ‘graduated activation’ recommended after April 30—UP pandemic response team – University of the Philippines | ECQ doing good, ‘graduated activation’ recommended after April 30—UP pandemic response team ECQ doing good, ‘graduated activation’ recommended after April 30—UP pandemic response team April 20, 2020 | Written by Jo. Florendo B. Lontoc The enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) imposed over Luzon, along with other interventions, has indeed slowed down the spread of COVID-19 virus, based on “the best available data”, according to a team specially formed by the University of the Philippines to help government make informed interventions against the pandemic. Summarizing a five-page policy note by the UP COVID-19 Pandemic Response Team, the UP Resilience Institute (UPRI) said: “What took three days for the total number of cases to double now takes six days.” [Read the policy note here.] It added that, compared to Singapore and South Korea, COVID-19 related deaths in the country has not increased significantly. This means that the ECQ has been “relatively successful” given the estimated case fatality rate of 5.38 percent and a reproduction number of 0.6398, which is lower than 1. “After April 30, the best thing to do is to implement a graduated activation of ECQ. Provinces and lower-level LGUs should decide whether to extend, lift, or relax community quarantine based on how far they are to an estimated outbreak threshold,” according to the summary. Figure 3. Example map showing tPolicy note’s example map showing the probability of cases/outbreak threshold of the Philippines computed per province from best available data as of April 9, 2020. The team’s policy note added that model estimates would improve much if nationwide barangay-level data on COVID-19 were made available daily, preferably through an automated LGU data collecting system. The team volunteered to help LGUs track and monitor their data through its endcov.ph dashboard. Policy note’s example of a decision matrix for Graduated Community Quarantine implementation based on the probability of outbreak. The web portal was launched shortly after the creation of the team on March 19, 2020. It features a highly detailed map of the general locations and numbers of COVID-19 cases, hospitals, quarantine checkpoints, and other usable data inputted by UPRI staff. The map doubles as a color-coded “heat map” showing which localized areas have the most and the least number of confirmed COVID-19 cases. The portal has pages for COVID-19-related policies, advisories, resources, symptoms of the disease, charts, statistical data, and profiles of patients investigated, tested, admitted, and treated in hospitals, including those who have died or recovered. Endcov.ph features profiles of patients who have been investigated, tested, admitted, and treated in hospitals, including those who have died and those who have recovered from the disease. The UP COVID-19 Pandemic Response Team is composed of UP Executive Vice President and former Health Undersecretary Teodoro Herbosa and UPRI Executive Director Alfredo Mahar Lagmay as team leaders; with UPRI directors and experts on public health, medicine, the arts and sciences, engineering, education, governance, and related fields as members. They are tasked with design and implementation of research and dissemination of findings relevant to the pandemic. The response team made two other points, as summarized by UPRI: • Quantifying the effectiveness of ECQ is highly dependent on discovering new cases. South Korea managed the spread of the virus and lowered their reproduction number through consistent increased testing and contact tracing. • A region-wide ECQ may not be sustainable over the long run and can unnecessarily paralyze local economies. Endcov.ph’s map view has a color-coded “heat map” showing which localized areas have the most (darker areas) and the least (brighter areas) number of confirmed COVID-19 cases. Resiliency expert Alfredo Mahar Lagmay (top) and former Health Undersecretary Teodoro Herbosa (bottom) lead UP’s COVID-19 Pandemic Response Team. Photos by the UP MPRO. |
https://up.edu.ph/addressing-the-immediate-needs-of-all-especially-the-most-vulnerable-sectors-analysis-and-recommendations/ | Addressing the Immediate Needs of All, Especially the Most Vulnerable Sectors: Analysis and Recommendations – University of the Philippines | Addressing the Immediate Needs of All, Especially the Most Vulnerable Sectors: Analysis and Recommendations Addressing the Immediate Needs of All, Especially the Most Vulnerable Sectors: Analysis and Recommendations April 28, 2020 | Written by UP COVID-19 Pandemic Response Team Addressing the Immediate Needs of All, Especially the Most Vulnerable Sectors: Analysis And Recommendations Download the PDF copy here. |
https://up.edu.ph/up-launches-web-portal-map-for-covid-19-responders/ | UP launches web portal, map for COVID-19 responders – University of the Philippines | UP launches web portal, map for COVID-19 responders UP launches web portal, map for COVID-19 responders April 2, 2020 | Written by Fred Dabu Endcov.ph features profiles of patients who have been investigated, tested, admitted, and treated in hospitals, including those who have died and those who have recovered from the disease. The University of the Philippines COVID-19 Pandemic Response Team created the web portal http://endcov.ph/ to provide the public with vital information for fighting the coronavirus 2019 or COVID-19 in the country. The website features a highly detailed map wherein users can zoom in or zoom out to see street or satellite views of the general locations and numbers of COVID-19 cases, hospitals, quarantine checkpoints, and other usable data inputted by UP Resilience Institute (UPRI) staff. The easy-to-use map also has a color-coded “heat map” showing which localized areas have the most (darker areas) and the least (brighter areas) number of confirmed COVID-19 cases. Endcov.ph’s map view has a color-coded “heat map” showing which localized areas have the most (darker areas) and the least (brighter areas) number of confirmed COVID-19 cases. Other pages of the website show COVID-19-related policies, advisories, resources, symptoms of the disease, charts, statistical data, and profiles of patients who have been investigated, tested, admitted, and treated in hospitals, including those who have died and those who have recovered from the disease. Screenshot of endcov.ph’s dashboard view as of 8:19 PM of April 1, 2020. The team was created on March 19 through an administrative order as one of the University’s response in support of the ongoing efforts to address the COVID-19 pandemic, with UP executive vice president, Dr. Teodoro J. Herbosa, and UPRI executive director, Dr. Alfredo Mahar Lagmay, as team leaders. The members of the team are: Director Kristoffer Berse, Research and Creative Work, UPRI; Director Genaro Cuaresma, Institution Building, UPRI; Director Emmanuel Luna, Education, UPRI; Director Rolando Tolentino, Knowledge Sharing, UPRI; Prof. Carlene Pilar-Arceo, College of Science, UP Diliman; Prof. Carlos Primero Gundran, College of Public Health, UP Manila; Prof. Emmanuel Baja, National Institutes of Health and College of Medicine, UP Manila; Prof. Jomar Fajardo Rabajante, College of Arts and Sciences, UPLB; Prof. Diocel Harold Aquino, College of Engineering, UP Diliman; and Prof. Noriel Christopher Tiglao, NCPAG, UP Diliman. According to the administrative order signed by Dr. Herbosa, members of the team include UPRI directors and experts on public health, medicine, the arts and sciences, engineering, education, governance, and related fields. The document also stated that this team shall be involved in the design and implementation of research and dissemination of findings in areas related to the pandemic. The team may also involve more resource persons and identify other activities as needed. In a post by Dr. Lagmay on social media, he stated that team members will be adding more information and functions to the website as more information becomes available to them. The UPRI serves as “a proactive hub of benchmark innovative information vital to the nation’s efforts in climate change mitigation and adaptation.” As of 4:00 PM of April 1, the Department of Health reported that the total number of cases of COVID-19 in the country is now at 2,311. The DOH also reported the total number of recoveries to 50. |
https://up.edu.ph/up-pgh-launches-tele-kumusta/ | UP-PGH launches ‘Tele-kumusta’ – University of the Philippines | UP-PGH launches ‘Tele-kumusta’ UP-PGH launches ‘Tele-kumusta’ April 15, 2020 | Posted by UP Media and Public Relations Office The University of the Philippines-Philippine General Hospital launched its ‘Tele-kumusta’ program on April 14, 2020 for their COVID-19 positive patients. COVID-19 patients can now talk to their families via video calls for free. Para sa pasyente, para sa pamilya. [VIDEO] Tele-kumusta sa PGH |
https://up.edu.ph/up-covid-19-pandemic-response-team-launches-new-features-on-endcov-ph/ | UP COVID-19 Pandemic Response Team launches new features on endcov.ph – University of the Philippines | UP COVID-19 Pandemic Response Team launches new features on endcov.ph UP COVID-19 Pandemic Response Team launches new features on endcov.ph July 7, 2020 | Posted by UP Media and Public Relations Office The UP COVID-19 Pandemic Response Team (UP PRT) launches new features in endcov.ph, a web portal created to provide the public with vital information and tools in the fight against COVID-19. Since it’s launch in April, the UP PRT has contributed new resources to the dashboard including features that show Case Projections, the State of Transmissions in NCR based on LGU data, Municipal/City Density Map based on current active cases, and a Policy Sourcebook on COVID-19. COVID-19 Case Projections Through the Case Projections feature, anyone can view projections of the “Cumulative number of COVID-19 cases in the Philippines”, by date up to the end of August. These projections are under the assumption of medium risk. Users can easily set the date through the calendar provided or through advanced options such as “this year” and “this quarter”. The feature uses models developed by the UP Los Baños group of the UP PRT, led by Dr. Jomar Fajardo Rabajante, who shares their notes within the feature. COVID-19 Transmissions in Metro Manila Endcov.ph can now show the State of COVID-19 Transmissions in the NCR through the “Compendium of COVID-19 Statistics” located in the “Quick Count” section of the dashboard. The compendium provides information on how LGUs are faring in the fight against COVID-19 in terms of their time-varying reproductive number (Rt), case fatality rate, and recovery rate, for a specific period of time. The Rt indicates the number of people that one COVID-19 positive case can infect. The case fatality rate is the percentage of the total number of cases that account for deaths, adjusted in consideration of delays in onset and deaths. While the recovery rate is the percentage of the total number of cases that account for recoveries. The compendium is based on the Quick Count database that sources information from LGUs and their local disaster risk reduction and management offices (LDRRMOs) and health offices. This feature also contains “special reports” highlighting LGUs that require more attention, showing their reproductive number, case fatality rate, recovery rate, and a brief analysis on whether these numbers have gone up or down, and by how much. The special reports, written in Filipino, provide easy-to-understand interpretations and explanations of the data to help LGUs make informed decisions. Local Density Map of Active Cases To visualize the state of COVID-19 at the local level, a new layer has been added to https://endcov.ph/map. The COVID-19 Density Maps are visualizations of the density of cases for every 100,000 people in an area. This is meant to account for the differences in population size in COVID-affected LGUs. The categorization of areas builds on the zoning guidelines of the COVID-19 National Task Force (NTF). It shows which municipalities and cities are (1) highly critical zones with at least 10 cases per 100,000 population; (2) critical zones with at least 5 cases relative to size; (3) zones to contain the spread for areas with at least 1 case; (4) buffer areas for those with no case but are susceptible because they are contiguous to containment areas; and (5) clear areas far from zones with cases. Policy Sourcebook Other than COVID-19 statistics, projections, and trackers, Endcov.ph also has a collection of information resources and advisories available to the public. The latest addition is UPRI’s annotated compilation of COVID-19 policies titled, “Managing the COVID-19 Pandemic in the Philippines: A Policy Sourcebook”. The sourcebook, which will be updated every month, consists of two volumes: Volume I covers national issuances while Volume II, which will be released at a later date, will focus on local government policies. Volume I can now be accessed through the endcov.ph dashboard, under the Policies tab. These resources are meant to help Filipinos keep track of the government’s policy responses as they try to cope with the current crisis. The UP COVID-19 Pandemic Response Team remains steadfast in serving the people and in helping the nation in its fight against COVID-19. For questions or clarifications related to endcov.ph, please send an email (upri.covid19@up.edu.ph) to the UP PRT. |
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