Millions of Filipinos Attend Christmas Events Amid President Duterte's Warnings

(Photo: Christmas Tree Lighting Activity in Baguio City)

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Shouting at the top of their lungs, more than a thousand residents of Polanco, a small town in the southern Philippines, stood shoulder-to-shoulder at a local park earlier this month to join a Christmas tree-lighting countdown, defying the national government’s social-distancing guidelines.

Some people were not wearing masks while children who are banned from mass gatherings due to the risk of infection, ran around.

The police stood helpless in the middle of the crowd as politicians allied with President Rodrigo Duterte led the ceremony.

Days later, many of the same residents, gathered anew at a church nearby to join the nationwide “Simbang Gabi” – a series of nine nightly rituals commemorating Christ’s birth. Inside, social-distancing protocols were difficult to observe.

Such scenes have been repeated all over the predominantly Catholic nation in the run up to Christmas, which falls on Friday. Amid the threat of the pandemic many of the Philippines’ 86-million faithful are insistent on maintaining a 350-year-old religious tradition that dates back to the Spanish era, and is celebrated in a carnival of festivities that start in September.

Not far from Polanco’s town centre the cockfighting arena is back in business.

After months of lockdown, authorities have allowed it to reopen, attracting crowds of mostly male gamblers. Health protocols are imposed indoors but it is unclear how strictly the rules are enforced there or in similar venues across the country, as spectators routinely shout out their bets, which can be up to hundreds of dollars as they watch the roosters fight to the death.

While it is difficult to establish a direct link between specific events and locations to the rising COVID-19 infections, Philippine health experts say a surge in new cases is “most likely” associated with holiday crowds as well as looser health regulations at the local community level.

At the height of the coronavirus lockdown in July, Duterte issued a stern warning to local officials to strictly adhere to the national guidelines against the pandemic. He even urged authorities to shoot lockdown violators. He also said that by December, the country would be “back to normal” with vaccines made available from China.

But in 285 days since he ordered a lockdown, Duterte’s bluster now appears empty, with none of the vaccines he touted approved by regulators and a new wave of transmission emerging. Even his pledge that he would volunteer to be part of Russia’s vaccine trial has not materialised and local communities from his hometown in Mindanao have been seen openly flouting his orders as they celebrate the Philippines’ most important religious festival of the year.

COVID-19 reproduction rate up

On Tuesday, Octa Research, a group of Filipino experts monitoring COVID-19 cases, warned of a new surge of infections in the capital Manila, with the reproduction rate increasing from 1.06 to 1.15 and beyond.

“It is in this light that we believe, based on our analysis of the data and of the past trends in the NCR (National Capital Region) that a surge in its early stages has already started in the region. This is a serious cause for concern,” the research firm said.

Seven provinces across the country are also seeing a spike, it added, urging the government to “intensify their efforts at testing, tracing, and isolation” to reverse the trend.

The group urged the national and local governments to strictly enforce health protocols and discourage mass gatherings to curb the outbreak. It also alerted the government to increase healthcare capacity as soon as possible.

As of 08:00 GMT on Wednesday, coronavirus deaths in the Philippines have exceeded 9,000, with more than 464,000 cases, of which almost 430,000 have reportedly recovered.

Dr. Butch Ong of Octa Research said in a virtual press conference on Wednesday that with the current trend it was likely that infections would reach 500,000 within days.

He appealed to Filipinos to adhere to health-safety measures in their communities.

Health Secretary Francisco Duque also repeated his appeal on Wednesday to Filipinos to observe minimum health protection standards to prevent the expected surge.

But his latest message was met with public scorn after he openly feuded with Foreign Secretary Teodoro Locsin, who accused him of “dropping the ball” in the delayed negotiations to procure at least 10 million doses of the Pfizer vaccine by early 2021.

Upward trend feared

Dr Joey Hernandez, a Johns Hopkins University-trained epidemiologist and expert in biostatistics, told Al Jazeera that researchers noticed the increase in cases in the country as early as mid-December.

Hernandez, who himself contracted COVID-19 in Manila last March, said that it was “most likely” that the spike in new cases was linked to holiday crowds, as well as more relaxed lockdown regulations.

With no major announcements about stricter guidelines expected in the coming days or a vaccine roll-out imminent, it was likely that the upward trend will continue, he added.

Dr Raymond Naguit, a medic and chairperson of the progressive party, Akbayan Youth, told Al Jazeera that it was already “quite scary to imagine” what cases would be like after December.

“Christmas season is known to be a time where Filipinos gather, shop, and celebrate,” he said, noting that while the festivities this year may not be as crowded as in previous years, the “seemingly harmless gatherings” of friends and family members could still spread the virus.

A daily average of 4,000 new cases is classified as critical by Filipino health experts. The current numbers hover between 1,000 and 2,000 daily confirmed cases.

That means the current pace is still manageable and has not yet reached a point that could potentially overwhelm the health system, Naguit explained.

Still, the statistics should be approached with caution, he said, as each hospital and region may collate the figures differently.

Impact on health workers

As it is, Naguit said, based on his conversations with other health workers, the pandemic has already taken a serious physical and emotional toll on the profession.

“Some of them already consider changing careers completely while some young health professionals consider postponing their entry into the workplace,” he said.

On top of this, health workers generally feel that they are being exploited, with many being overworked and underpaid.

Japeth Dayahan is a senior nurse at a government health facility in the central island of Negros. She says that because the hospital where she works is understaffed, they have had to extend the nurses’ shifts to accommodate the rising number of patients.

“We did not foresee this problem,” she said. “We also have to have enough budget for the hospitals.”

This Christmas season, she says she is praying for the healing of her COVID-19 patients and for the killings in Negros to stop, noting the recent murder of a city health doctor, who was leading her community’s anti-pandemic medical response.

With little sign of a vaccine being widely distributed in the Philippines – the government says it is “still in negotiations” with manufacturers – Naguit of Akbayan Youth, says the further increase in cases is a “likely possibility”.

“I just hope the government is prepared for possible surges and be ready to enforce tighter measures while ensuring that basic needs of the people are met,” he said.

As for Ray Pagulong, a Catholic devotee from Surigao in the eastern part of Mindanao, not even the threat of a potentially deadly virus can stop him from attending the nine days of prayers that culminate in a mass gathering in his church on the eve of Christmas on Thursday night.

“In my church we adhere to social distancing, proper sanitation and even checking of body temperature,” he told Al Jazeera.

“It has always been my promise to complete the nine days of prayer, because it is my way of expressing my utmost thanks to God,” the former overseas Filipino worker added. Aside from the pandemic, his family also had to contend with flooding in their home due to a recent typhoon.

“This advent season somehow is a reminder to myself that we have to reflect and prepare ourselves for the coming of God.”

- AL JAZEERA

The Philippines To Get 30 Million Doses of Novavax By AstraZeneca

The Philippines expects to receive 30 million doses of Novavax Inc’s COVID-19 vaccine by July next year, its foreign minister said on Monday, boosting the country’s effort to secure supplies to inoculate more than 100 million people.

Despite consultations with numerous vaccine makers, the Philippines has so far signed only one supply deal, with the help of its private sector, to acquire 2.6 million shots of a vaccine developed by AstraZeneca.

It plans to buy 25 million doses of a vaccine from China’s Sinovac Biotech for delivery by March and aims to secure between four and 25 million doses of vaccines from Moderna and Arcturus Therapeutics Holdings Inc.

“Thirty million dosages of the Indian-made Novavax vaccines are assured possibly with no cash advance. It will be available by July 2021,” Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin said in an interview with CNN Philippines.
He said the information came from Serum Institute of India, the world’s largest vaccine producer, and that the terms of the supply deal may be signed before the end of the year.

There was no immediate comment from the institute, which in August entered a supply and license agreement with Novavax Inc. for the development and commercialization of its COVID-19 vaccine candidate.

Talks with Moderna, which has been granted emergency use authorization by the US Food and Drug Administration, will begin next week, Locsin said.

With 459,789 infections and 8,947 deaths, the Philippines has recorded the second-highest number of COVID-19 infections and casualties in Southeast Asia after Indonesia.

(Arab News)

DOH Does Not Recommend Face Shields For Some People

There should be exemptions to the rule requiring face shields to be worn on top of face masks when in public areas, the Department of Health said Friday.

People with certain health conditions may experience difficulty in breathing when forced to wear both face mask and face shield, DOH Spokesperson Maria Rosario Vergeire said in a media briefing. It may also put some workers at risk when their vision is impeded.

“Hindi po natin nirerekomenda na gagamitin ang face shield kung ang isang tao ay mayroong specific na karamdaman na magkakaroon siya ng limitasyon sa paghinga,” Vergeire said.

“Hindi rin natin siya nirerekomenda doon sa mga trabahong medyo magiging dangerous siya," Vergeire added. “Baka magreflect doon sa face shield, magkaroon siya ng pagkalabo sa sight niya.”

Early this week, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque, who also speaks for the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases, announced that the policy-making body has made it mandatory to wear face shields together with face masks to prevent further spread of COVID-19. Previously, face shields only have to be worn when riding public transportation and entering malls.

In its latest resolution released on Friday, the IATF said the DOH, along with the departments of Trade, Labor, and other relevant agencies, should come up with a consolidated advisory on the proper use of face shields, “including exclusions or exemptions, if any, as may be appropriate.”

Although other countries managed to flatten the infection curve without requiring face shields, the DOH maintained it would provide additional protection against the virus, which is mainly spread through respiratory droplets and exposure to infected patients.

“What we are recommending right now is for people to use face shields, together with face masks and do physical distancing especially when you are in public places,” Vergeire said.

The Philippines has recorded over 456,000 cases of the coronavirus disease since the outbreak began. It continues to see around 1,000 to 2,000 new infections daily even as the entire country remains under varying levels of community quarantine. (CNN Philippines)

Baguio Was Identified As A COVID-19 Vaccination Test Pilot

The Department of Health (DOH) in the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) said they are ready to implement the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) vaccination here after it was identified as among the pilot areas in the country.

Dr. Ruby Constantino, regional director of the DOH-CAR, in a press briefing on Thursday said they are now identifying specific persons included in the priority sectors such as health workers, front-liners, vulnerable groups, and the poor.

Constantino said they already have the list of those in the public health sector and will simply have to coordinate with the private hospitals for their list.

The list under the vulnerable sector will also be obtained including the “poor” so that it will be available as soon as vaccination starts.

She added that the DOH-CAR has a ready facility for the vaccines aside from the vaccination centers already identified and in place as they have been used in the recent supplemental vaccination activities.

The city government is now in the process of looking for three ultra-low temperature freezers -- one with a temperature level of -12 to -8 degrees Celsius, -40 to -80 degrees Celsius, and -4-to -8 degrees Celsius -- which are ready for any kind of vaccine that the government will procure for the country.

Constantino also said that aside from logistics, the region has ready vaccination teams as it just recently had the supplemental vaccination for measles, rubella, and polio.

The doctor said fixed vaccination centers will be used because vaccinators will not be going house-to-house to administer the Covid-19 vaccines to the identified priority sectors.

“We are not starting blank. This is not new to us because we have had several supplemental vaccinations before,” Constantino said.

She added that during the recently conducted Vaccine Summit, they saw the need to make a communication to motivate the priority sectors to avail of the vaccines.

“We only need to motivate the people,” she said.

The doctor said that people should not be afraid of vaccines as they have been developed to prevent diseases, as protection against acquiring the disease, or the grave negative effect of acquiring an illness.

She said that like any other illnesses which are vaccine-preventable, Covid-19 vaccines being developed still have to be tested in laboratories thoroughly.

The doctor said the locals who will be included in the priority list should be motivated to join for their own safety. (PNA) 

QR Code, What Is It?

What is a QR code?

The QR code term stands for Quick Response Code. QR codes are square barcodes (two-dimensional barcodes) that were first developed and used in Japan. Like any other barcode, a QR code is nothing more than a way to store information in a machine-readable optical label. The data contained by a QR code can be anything from simple text, to email addresses, to phone numbers and so on.

QR codes store data using patterns of black dots and white spaces, arranged in a square grid. These patterns can be scanned and translated into human readable information, with the help of an imaging device, like a camera or a scanner, although the most common way to scan QR codes nowadays is to use your smartphone's camera and a specialized app for reading QR codes.

Why are QR codes useful?

QR codes are easy to generate and use. They are a convenient way to store all kinds of data in a small space. If the data you want to store in a QR code is made of only alphanumeric characters, a single QR code can hold up to 4000 characters.

What are QR codes used for?

As they can store different types of information, QR codes are used for many purposes. QR codes are commonly used for holding data such as:

• Simple text - welcome messages at conferences
• Addresses - personal home address, business address
• Phone numbers - personal telephone number, your company's phone number
• E-mail addresses - personal or business accounts
• URLs - addresses of websites or specific web pages
• Links to apps - found in app stores such as Google Play or Apple's App Store
• Payments - QR codes can store information about your bank account or credit card
• Online accounts authentication - websites can display a QR code which a registered user can scan with his or her smartphone and automatically login
• WiFi authentication - QR codes can be used to store WiFi networks authentication details such as SSID, password and encryption type: when you scan such a QR code using your smartphone, it can automatically join that network
• Other various uses - such as funerary (in Japan, there are tombstones with QR codes that point to web pages that hold information about the deceased), or for transcripts and degrees (used mainly in India, China, Mexico)

The truth is that you can store lots of types of information in a QR code and it all depends only on your imagination. For example, you could also use a QR code to point someone to your Facebook page, or you could use it to display a poem you wrote. It is all up to you.

Where are QR codes displayed?

You can find QR codes in all kinds of locations, but some of the most common places where you can see them are:

• On business cards, containing contact details of all kinds
• On the packaging of smartphones and other gadgets, containing links to apps, the support service for the gadget that you purchased, the product page with information about that gadget and so on
• On TV advertisements, billboards, online ads and other types of advertisements
• On inventory tags in enterprises, containing information like serial numbers, part numbers, hardware specs, inventory dates and so on

In short, you can place a QR code on anything that can be seen and scanned with a smartphone: from a piece of paper to a piece of cloth, to a TV screen or a building facade. The possibilities are endless.

How do you scan a QR code?

The easiest and the most common method to scan QR codes is to use your smartphone and a QR scanning app. There are countless QR scanning apps in Google's Play Store, and there are also plenty of such tools in Apple's App Store. Usually, all you have to do is to point your smartphone's camera to a QR code, and the QR scanning app translates it. If you happen to use an Android smartphone or tablet, an iPhone or iPad, or even an old Windows 10 Mobile smartphone, there are several guides that were published which can help you:

• 5 best apps for scanning QR codes on Android devices
• The best 7 QR code reader apps for iPhones and iPads
• How to use the QR codes shown by Windows 10 BSODs to learn what's wrong
• Top 4 QR code scanners for smartphones with Windows 10 Mobile

How do you create a QR code?

Before creating your QR codes, first, make sure that you know what kinds of information you want to store and where you intend to distribute the QR codes. Once you have that figured out, use your favorite web search engine and look for "QR code generators." There are plenty of such free tools on the internet, and these two are some of the best: QR Stuff and QR Code Monkey.

QR Code History

In 1948, Pennsylvania, USA, Graduate student Bernard Silver overheard his Dean and the President of a local store. The discussion was about creating a technology that could read product information during checkout. This, would cut down human errors and relieve the workers from the pain of manual data entry. After a few tests, Bernard and his friend Norman Joseph Woodland created the first Barcode. By late 70’s, Barcode became an integral part of inventory management. Particularly in retail and automobile manufacturing. 

In the early 80’s, the Universal Product Code (UPC) was released. UPC are unique Barcodes assigned to products. These allow retailers to manage common products with ease. 

The invention of Barcode made lives easy. Yet, it had certain limitations.

Limitations of Barcodes:

• Unidirectional - Barcodes are one dimensional (1D) and store data in one direction only. If the Scanner is not aligned in that direction, the barcode will not scan

• Storage Capacity - Barcodes can store up to 20 characters only

• Size -The more the characters, the longer the Barcode. Printing a long barcode on a small product is a challenge

• Vulnerable - Barcodes stop working when affected by dirt or damage

• Encoding - Barcodes can only encode alphanumeric characters

2D Barcode – Advanced version of Barcodes:

To overcome the limitations of Barcodes, development on 2D Barcodes began. In 1987, David Allais developed the first 2D Barcode. Even this code has its limitations but it was predecessor to the popular PDF417. Soon QR Code, Aztec Code, DataMatrix, Nex Code, and many other 2D Barcodes entered the market. Unlike 1D barcode, these were compact and could store more data. Most 2D Barcodes remain proprietary and thus failed to achieve mass adoption.

The QR Codes:

In 1994, Toyota was not happy with the Barcodes used in their automobile factories. They wanted more speed and an error-free assembly line. The company assigned Denso Wave to come up with a solution. It was Masahiro Hara from Denso Wave who developed the Quick Response Code or QR Code. Denso Wave decided to make the specifications of the code public so anyone was free to use it. The company still holds the patent rights but decided not to exercise them. This move allowed widespread adoption of the technology. QR Code was first used in automobile, pharmaceutical, and retail industries to track inventory. They are now used for marketing, social media, and security applications as well.

Advantages of QR Codes over Barcodes:

• Storage Capacity: QR Codes can store up to 7,089 numeric characters (without spaces). Or 2,953 alphanumeric characters with spaces and punctuation

• Smaller Size: For the same data, a QR Code takes up lesser space compared to a Barcode

• Orientation: A QR Code is scannable from any angle

• Encoding: QR Codes can encode numeric, alphanumeric, binary, and Kanji characters

• Error Correction: QR Codes remain scannable despite wear and tear (upto 30%)

Future of Barcoding:

The good news is that it is possible to design QR Codes, without affecting scannability. This feature allows marketers to add QR Codes to their marketing campaigns. Popular apps like Snapchat and Messenger have taken this to a new level. They have deviated from the QR Code standard and are using codes customized to their brand.

QR Code Alternatives:

Riding on the popularity of QR Codes, Denso Wave has now developed advanced versions. There are Micro QR Code, iQR Code, SQRC, and Frame QR. While these are superior in technology, they are not public domain like QR Codes. Some marketers claim that Augmented Reality and NFC are the future of offline-to-online marketing. No doubt these technologies are superior to the QR Code. But they are neither affordable nor universal. For example, majority smartphones still do not have NFC readers. For every AR campaign, users will need to download a new app. The bottomline is technology has advanced but QR Code has held its fort since 1994.

Source: Search Engine Land, SCANOVA

Paano Makukuha Ng Mga Beneficiaries Ang DSWD SAP Grant (Second Tranche of SAP) Sa Pamamagitan Ng PayMaya?

-           Source:  DSWD | PayMaya

Katulong ng DSWD ang PayMaya para mas mabilis na maihatid ang Social Amelioration Program (SAP) Grant sa mga qualified beneficiaries sa iba't ibang lugar nationwide.​​ Kung ikaw ay isa sa mga napiling makatanggap ng financial assistance via PayMaya, mag-download na ng PayMaya app at mag-register for an account.

Paano i-claim ang inyong DSWD SAP Grant mula sa PayMaya?

1. Makatatanggap ka ng SMS mula sa DSWD.

 

2. 

  

2. Mag-download ng PayMaya app at mag-register gamit ang mobile number na inilagay sa Social Amelioration Card (SAC).

3. Sagutan ang DSWD Validation Form at siguraduhing pareho ang detalye na ibinigay sa SAC.

4. Hintayin ang SMS mula sa DSWD na nagsasabing available na ang inyong SAP Grant voucher sa PayMaya.

5. I-claim ang SAP Grant Voucher sa inyong PayMaya App.

Ang funds na nakuha sa inyong PayMaya account ay maaaring gamitin para:

Ø > I-encash via DSWD QR sa piling Padala Agents

Ang nandito po sa atin sa Quirino Hill area na piling Padala Agents ay ang mga sumusunod:

Tignan pa po sa baba ang iba pang mga piling Padala Agents at ang kanilang locations sa ating lugar dito sa Baguio

Ø > Pambayad ng bills

Ø > Pambayad ng mga bilihin via PayMaya QR

Ø > Pangload na may cashback

FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)

Ano ang dapat kong gawin kapag nakatanggap ako ng text message from DSWD na nagsabing mag-download ng PayMaya?

Ang PayMaya ay nakipagtulungan sa DSWD para sa mabilisang pag-distribute ng second tranche ng Social Amelioration Program (SAP) para sa mga pamilyang apektado ng COVID-19 crisis. Kung nakatanggap ka ng SMS mula sa DSWD, ibig sabihin ay maaaring parte ka ng second batch na makakatanggap ng SAP Grant via PayMaya.

Maaaring tumawag o makipag-coordinate sa DSWD office sa inyong lugar para ma-validate kung kasama ang iyong mobile number sa list of recipients ng SAP Grant mula sa DSWD.

Kapag na-confirm na kasama ang iyong mobile number sa list of recipients at nakatanggap ka ng SMS mula sa DSWD, i-download ang PayMaya app (https://official.paymaya.com/CAK1/f5cf02c) at mag-register gamit ang iyong mobile number na ni-register sa DSWD para ma-claim ang iyong SAP Grant voucher. Kailangan ding sagutan ang DSWD Validation Form na makikita sa loob ng PayMaya app para ma-validate kung tugma ang impormasyon na iyong pinasa sa PayMaya at DSWD.

Anong mobile number ang dapat kong gamitin sa pag-gawa ng PayMaya account?

Ang iyong DSWD SAP Grant voucher ay naka-link sa mobile number na iyong isinubmit sa DSWD para sa iyong SAP Grant. Siguraduhin ang mobile number o numero na iyong gagamitin sa PayMaya ay tugma sa detalyeng nakalagay sa Social Amelioration Card (SAC).

Dapat ko bang sagutan ang form na natanggap mula sa SMS at nakita sa loob ng PayMaya app?

Oo, importanteng sagutan ang DSWD Validation form na natanggap mula sa SMS o makikita sa home screen ng PayMaya app. Ang form na ito ay makakatulong para masiguro ng DSWD na ang makatatanggap ng grant ay ang mismong benepisyaryong nakalista sa kanilang database. Siguraduhing ang impormasyon o detalye na iyong ilalagay ay kaparehas sa kung ano ang nakalagay sa iyong Social Amelioration Card (SAC).

Requirement po ba ang SAC form sa pag-sagot ng online web form? Paano kung kinuha ng barangay ang kopya ko?

Kailangan ang Social Amelioration Card (SAC) form upang masiguro na tugma ang mga impormasyon na iyong pinasa sa DSWD at ginamit para mag-register sa PayMaya. Ayon sa direktiba ng DSWD, kung hindi tugma ang impormasyong isinubmit sa form na ito sa detalyeng nakalagay sa iyong SAC ay maaaring hindi matanggap ang SAP Grant sa iyong PayMaya account. Mangyaring makipag-ugnayan sa DSWD office sa inyong lugar para sa kopya ng iyong SAC form.

Saan ko makikita ang form na dapat sagutan? At ano ang mga dapat ilagay sa form na ito?

Ang DSWD Validation form ay maaring makita sa SMS na natanggap mula sa DSWD o sa banner sa homepage ng iyong PayMaya app.

Sa mga PayMaya users, sundin ang mga sumusunod:

1. Buksan ang inyong PayMaya app.

2. Hanapin sa homepage ang banner ng DSWD Validation form at i-click ito.

3. Ikaw ay mare-redirect sa online form.

4. Ilagay ang mga sumusunod na detalye: first, middle, last at extension name kung mayroon, barangay, city/municipality, province, mobile number, birth date at SAC ID Number.

5. Siguraduhin na ang impormasyong inilagay ay parehas sa detalyeng nakalagay sa iyong Social Amelioration Card (SAC) form bago i-submit ang form.

Nakatanggap ako ng SMS mula sa DSWD ngunit hindi ko makita ang DSWD Banner sa homepage ng PayMaya ko.

Kung ikaw ay nakatanggap ng SMS ngunit di makita ang banner sa homepage ng iyong PayMay app, maaring gawin ang mga susunod:

1. Siguraduhing may stable internet connection

2. i-refresh ang PayMaya app

3. Mag log-out at log-in ulit

4. Siguraduhing nag-agree sa mga Data Personalization sa PayMaya app, para makita ang mga banner.

Hanggang kailan pwedeng sagutan ang DSWD Validation Form?

Mayroon ka lamang 48 hours after ma-receive ang text mula sa DSWD para sagutan ang DSWD Validation Form.

Ilang beses ako pwedeng sumagot ng DSWD Validation Form?

Isang beses lang puwedeng sagutan ng qualified beneficiary ang DSWD Validation form. Siguraduhin na ang impormasyon na ilalagay ay tugma sa detalyeng inilagay sa inyong Social Amelioration Card (SAC).

Ano ang dapat gawin pagkatapos sagutan ang form?

Hintayin ang confirmation text mula sa DSWD once na-validate ang information na iyong isinubmit at kung ikaw ay kasama sa makakatanggap ng SAP Grant via Paymaya. Asahang matatanggap ang confirmation via text message 3 business days pagkatapos makumpleto ang DSWD Validation Form.

Bakit wala akong nareceive na voucher pero may SMS akong natanggap mula sa DSWD?

Kung ikaw ay nakatanggap ng unang text mula sa DSWD at wala kang natanggap na voucher, maaaring:

1. Hindi mo nasagutan ang DSWD Validation Form matapos mag-register sa PayMaya

2. Ang detalye na iyong nilagay sa form ay hindi tugma sa detalye na nakalagay sa iyong Social Amelioration Card

3. Ang iyong ginamit na mobile number ay may kaparehas sa database ng DSWD o PayMaya

Maaaring makipag-ugnayan sa DSWD office sa inyong lugar upang malaman kung paano makukuha ang iyong SAP Grant.

Wala akong smartphone. Paano ko matatanggap ang SAP Grant?

Dahil kinakailangan ang smartphone para matanggap ang SAP Grant via PayMaya, maaaring makipag-ugnayan sa DSWD office sa inyong lugar upang malaman kung paano makukuha ang inyong SAP Grant.

Natanggap ko ang text message tungkol sa DSWD SAP Grant voucher na pwedeng i-claim via PayMaya. Pwede po bang palitan ang mobile number ko para dito?

Ang iyong DSWD SAP Grant voucher ay naka-link sa mobile number na iyong isinubmit sa DSWD para sa iyong SAP Grant. Dahil dito, hindi maaaring palitan ang mobile number na iyong ini-register. Para sa karagdagang impormasyon, makipag-ugnayan sa DSWD office sa inyong lugar.

Anong SIM o network ang pwedeng gamitin para mag-register sa PayMaya?

Pwedeng mag-register sa PayMaya gamit ang inyong Smart, Sun, TNT, Globe, or TM SIM. Tandaan na kailangan gamitin ang mobile number na nilagay sa Social Amelioration Card (SAC) kapag pag-register sa PayMaya.

Hindi ako makagawa ng account o maka-login sa aking PayMaya account. Ano ang pwede kong gawin?

Maaaring tumawag sa PayMaya Hotline (632) 8845 7788 or mag-send ng message sa PayMayaCares sa Facebook Messenger https://www.facebook.com/PayMayaCares/ para ma-check ang iyong concern.

Paano mag-download ng PayMaya? Kailangan ko ba ng internet connection para mag-download at mag-claim ng SAP Grant?

Yes, kailangan ng Internet connection para mag-download at gumamit ng PayMaya app.

Mag-download ng PayMaya app sa https://official.paymaya.com/CAK1/f5cf02c for free sa Google Play Store, Apple App Store, o Huawei App Gallery. Mag-register gamit ang mobile number na ginamit para mag-apply ng SAP Grant mula sa DSWD. Siguraduhing i-download ang PayMaya app sa official app stores para ma-ensure na secure ang iyong account. Siguraduhin may stable internet connection para ma-download at magamit ang app.

Paano mag-register sa PayMaya?

Pagkatapos i-download ang app, siguraduhin mag-register para magamit ito. Sundin ang mga sumusunod:

1. Buksan ang inyong PayMaya app, I-click ang Register.

2. I-enter ang iyong personal information tulad ng iyong kumpletong pangalan, at mobile number, at ang napili mong password. Tandaan: Siguraduhin na i-enter ang mobile number na ginamit para mag-register sa DSWD SAP Grant.

3. I-click ang "Agree"

4. Hintayin ag verification text message na matatanggap sa iyong registered number at i-enter ang code na natanggap.

5. I-click ang "Proceed" para makumpleto ang registration para sa iyong PayMaya account.

Nakatanggap ako ng error message na nagsasabing "duplicate account". Pwede ko bang magamit ang lumang account ko at i-claim ang voucher?

Kung may error na duplicate account, maaring mayroon nang nakapangalan o naka-register na PayMaya account sa ibang mobile number. Para ma-resolve ito, mag-send ng message sa PayMayaCares sa Facebook Messenger https://www.facebook.com/PayMayaCares/ para mag-file ng report at madeactivate ang duplicate account. Kakailanganin mong pumili kung anong account ang iyong i-reretain.

Siguraduhing i-submit ang mga sumusunod kasama ng report:

-Valid ID na kaparehas ng pangalan na naka-register sa iyong PayMaya Account

-Letter of request na nakasulat ang iyong dalawang PayMaya account at ang account na nais mong i-deactivate.

For more info, visit https://cares.paymaya.com/s/article/What-do-I-do-if-my-PayMaya-account-is-tagged-as-a-duplicate-one

Tandaan: Ang iyong voucher ay maari lamang i-claim sa mobile number na iyong pinasa sa DSWD, kaya i-ensure na ito ang number na iyong ire-retain.

Paano kung hindi ko na-claim ang voucher? Pwede ko pa rin bang makuha ang SAP Grant?

Makipag-coordinate sa DSWD office sa inyong lugar, upang malaman ang next steps kung sakaling hindi mo nakuha ang voucher sa loob ng PayMaya app.

Magkano ang SAP Grant na matatanggap ko?

Ang SAP Grant na matatanggap mo ay nakadepende kung saang rehiyon ka nakatira. Narito ang listahan ng mga financial aid na maaaring matanggap via PayMaya sa mga sumusunod na region:

NCR Beneficiaries - PHP 8,000.00

CAR Beneficiaries - PHP 5,500.00

Region I Beneficiaries - P5,500

Region III & IV-A Beneficiaries - PHP 6,500.00

Region VI & VII Beneficiaries - P6,000.00

Paano i-claim ang BAYANIHAN DSWD SAP GRANT VOUCHER sa PayMaya?

Para i-claim ang BAYANIHAN DSWD SAP GRANT VOUCHER, sundin ang mga sumusunod:

1. Buksan ang iyong PayMaya app, hanapin ang “VOUCHERS” tab at i-click ito.

2. I-click ang "Claim" sa Bayanihan DSWD SAP Grant voucher na available para sa iyong account.

3. Matapos ma-claim ang voucher, mapupunta na ang amount sa iyong PayMaya Wallet. Pumunta sa homescreen ng iyong app upang makita ang iyong updated balance.

Maaari mo nang gamitin ang funds sa iyong PayMaya account para ipambili ng load, ipambayad ng bills, i-encash sa Smart Padala agent na malapit sa iyo, at marami pang-iba!

Kailangan bang upgraded ang PayMaya account para makuha ang SAP Grant?

Hindi kailangang upgraded ang iyong PayMaya account para ma-claim ang voucher sa app at mai-encash ang SAP Grant na iyong natanggap. Ngunit kung mag-eencash ng amount na higit sa SAP Grant na iyong natanggap sa iyong account, kailangan nang i-upgrade ang iyong PayMaya account. Para sa malaman kung paano i-upgrade ang iyong account, visit paymaya.com/upgrade.

Hanggang kailan pwedeng i-claim ang BAYANIHAN DSWD SAP GRANT CONFIRMATION VOUCHER?

Maaaring i-claim ang BAYANIHAN DSWD SAP GRANT VOUCHER hanggang sa validity date na nakalagay sa iyong app. Upang makita ang validity date ng voucher, i-open ang app at i-click ang "VOUCHERS" tab.

Anu-ano ang pwede kong gawin sa SAP Grant na natanggap sa aking PayMaya account?

Ang SAP Grant na natanggap mula sa DSWD sa iyong PayMaya app ay maaaring gamitin para:

- Bumili ng murang load (mula sa Smart, TNT, Sun, Globe, at TM). Halimbawa: ang P50 na regular load ay P47.50 na lang kung binili sa PayMaya app dahil makakatanggap ka ng 5% BalikBayad sa iyong account pagkatapos ng transaction. Hanapin lang ang "Load" tab sa homepage ng PayMaya app.

- Magbayad ng bills sa kuryente, tubig, Internet, government agencies, at iba pa nang hindi na pumipila. I-click lang ang "Bills" tab sa homepage ng PayMaya app para malaman ang iba't-ibang billers na puwedeng bayaran.

- Magbayad sa grocery (kagaya ng Robinsons Supermarket) at pharmacy (tulad ng Mercury Drug), at sa libo-libong merchants at tindahan na tumatanggap ng PayMaya QR. Pindutin lang ang "Scan to Pay" button sa homepage ng PayMaya app para magbayad gamit ang PayMaya QR.

- Makasali sa iba't-ibang promos ng PayMaya kung saan maaari kang makatanggap ng BalikBayad sa bawat transaction.

Na-claim ko na ang SAP Grant voucher. May expiry ba ang PayMaya Credits?

Once na-claim na ang SAP Grant voucher, mapupunta na ang amount sa iyong PayMaya wallet at hindi na ito mag-eexpire. Maaring gamitin ang credits sa loob ng PayMaya app para magbayad ng bills, bumili ng prepaid load anumang oras o ipambayad sa tindahan o grocery na tumatanggap ng QR payments. May BalikBayad o cashback ka pang pwedeng makuha.

Paano ko mae-encash ang SAP grant na natanggap sa aking PayMaya account?

Kung nais i-encash ang iyong SAP Grant mula sa DSWD, humanap ng Smart Padala agent na malapit sa iyo at itanong kung pwedeng mag-claim ng pera gamit ang DSWD QR code. Ang Smart Padala agent na tumatanggap ng SAP Grant encashment ay may QR code na may merchant name na "DSWD" kasunod ang pangalan ng kanilang tindahan (ex.: DSWD MANG JOEL STORE).

Kapag na-confirm na pwedeng mag-claim ng SAP grant sa Smart Padala agent na iyong napili, sundin ang mga sumusunod:

1. Siguraduhin na na-claim mo na ang DSWD voucher sa "VOUCHERS" tab ng PayMaya home page.

2. Matapos i-claim ang DSWD voucher, bumalik sa home screen ng iyong PayMaya app at i-click ang "Scan to Pay" button.

2. I-scan ang QR code ng Smart Padala Agent. Siguraduhin na ang lalabas na pangalan ng merchant sa iyong screen ay nagsisimula sa "DSWD" kasunod ang pangalan ng tindahan ng Smart Padala agent (ex. DSWD MANG JOEL STORE), at hindi personal name.

3. Ilagay ang amount na nais mong i-encash sa box provided.

4. I-click ang CONTINUE. Basahing maigi at i-check ang mga impormasyon na iyong inilagay para sa encashment. Kapag sigurado na, i-click ang PAY button.

5. Kung successful ang encashment, may lalabas na confirmation message sa PayMaya app kasama ang details ng transaction. Makakatanggap rin ng text message mula sa PayMaya with details ng iyong transaction.

6. Mag-fill out ng transaction slip mula sa Smart Padala agent kasama ang reference number na iyong natanggap.

7. Ibigay ang transaction slip kasama ang iyong valid ID (government-issued, photo-bearing, unexpired) sa agent para ma-claim ang inyong SAP grant. Para sa listahan ng IDs na tinatanggap, visit https://smartpadala.ph/faqs/#faq5

8. Ang P50.00 fee ay ibabawas na ng Smart Padala agent sa perang ibibigay sa iyo para sa encashment.

Tandaan: Ang Php 50.00 Flat encashment fee ay available lamang sa Participating Padala Agents, valid para sa one-time DSWD SAP Grant encashment transaction at mag-aapply lang sa amount na up to P8,000. Ang susunod na encashment transaction ay may charge na 1.5% fee. Isiping mabuti kung magkano ang pera na kailangang i-encash para masulit ang encashment fee.

Nagpunta ako sa Smart Padala agent pero hindi daw sila tumatanggap ng DSWD SAP encashment. Ano ang pwede kong gawin?

Kung ang Smart Padala Agent na malapit sa inyo ay walang DSWD QR code, maaari pa ring mag-encash mula sa PayMaya app gamit ang Send Money option to Smart Padala, ngunit may kaukulang 1.5% service fee ang option na ito na ibabawas sa total amount na nais mong i-encash.

Bago mag-encash, kunin ang 16-digit account ng Smart Padala agent na iyong napili. Pagkatapos, sundin ang mga sumusunod:

1. Mag-log in sa iyong PayMaya app at pindutin ang SEND MONEY.

2. Sa unang box, i-enter ang 16-digit Smart Padala account number na nakuha mula sa agent.

3. Sa susunod na box, ilagay ang amount na nais mong i-encash. Tandaan na ang encashment sa Smart Padala na hindi via DSWD QR ay may bayad na 1.5% encashment fee na automatic na macha-charge sa bawat transaction. Hindi dapat ito ibawas ng agent sa ibibigay na cash sa iyo.

4. Matapos i-enter ng details, i-click ang CONTINUE. Basahing maigi at i-check nang maigi ang mga impormasyon na iyong nilagay. Kapag nasigurong tama na ang mga ito, i-click ang SEND button.

5. Kung successful ang transaction, may lalabas na confirmation sa iyong PayMaya app na naipadala na ang pera sa account ng Smart Padala agent. May matatanggap ka ring text message kung saan nakalagay ang reference number na ibibigay sa agent.

6. Mag-fill-out ng transaction slip mula sa Smart Padala agent, kasama na ang reference number na natanggap via text message.

7. Ibigay ang filled-out transaction slip kasama ang iyong valid ID (government-issued, photo-bearing, unexpired) para ma-claim ang iyong SAP grant mula sa agent. Para sa listahan ng IDs na tinatanggap, visit https://smartpadala.ph/faqs/#faq5

Magkano ang encashment fee sa Smart Padala?

Ang encashment ng DSWD SAP Grant sa piling Smart Padala agents via DSWD QR ay may flat service fee na P50.00. Ang fee na ito ay for one-time encashment lang at applicable hanggang August 31, 2020. Ang maximum amount na maaaring i-encash with this flat service fee ay depende sa SAP Grant na matatanggap per region:

Metro Manila: P8,000

Region I: P5,500

Region III: P6,500

Region IV-A: P6,500

Region VI: P6,000.00

CAR: P5,500

Kung mag-e-encash ng SAP Grant na hindi via DSWD QR, ito ay magkakaroon ng standard service charge na 1.5% of the amount na nais i-encash.

Saang Smart Padala pwedeng mag-encash?

Para malaman ang pinakamalapit na Smart Padala agent na tumatanggap ng encashment via DSWD QR, i-check ang listahan sa taas

May limit ba ang pag-encash at pag-Send Money to Smart Padala via PayMaya app?

Ang beneficiaries ng DSWD SAP Grant ay maaaring mag-encash gamit ang PayMaya app via Smart Padala agents. Ang P50 service fee ay isang beses lang maaaring mag-apply during encashment via DSWD QR at applicable lamang hanggang August 31, 2020. Ang maximum amount na maaaring i-encash ay kung magkano ang natanggap na SAP grant mula sa DSWD.

Kung hindi nai-encash ang full amount mula sa SAP Grant, maaari pa ring mai-encash ang remaining amount sa Smart Padala agent ngunit magkakaroon na ito ng service fee na 1.5% of the total amount.

Kung nais namang mag-encash o mag-Send Money ng pera na mas higit sa P8,000, kailangan mo nang i-upgrade ang iyong PayMaya account.

DEALING WITH COVID-19: FIGHT AGAINST SCIENCE OR BE HERD IMMUNITY OR BOTH IN ORDER TO TURN R NAUGHT TO LESS THAN 1

Baguio will try to turn the R naught to less than 1 (R0<1) against COVID-19.

The basic reproduction number (R0 or R naught) of COVID-19 is between 2 and 3 which means 2 or 3 persons can be infected by 1 COVID-19 positive. Ways to turn the R naught to less than 1 are primarily:

1. The herd immunity. It is a sacrificial mitigation tool to control this disease (COVID-19) while the vaccine or medical cure is still a year away, a place may try not to succumb to COVID-19 by boosting the many's immune systems and then them all become shields of others against the COVID-19 virus. With the herd immunity able to produce antibodies against the virus, the former may also cause benign mutation of the latter for its containment.

2. Quarantine. Applying quarantine may control the spread of the virus by locking down a specific area where COVID-19 is positive. Inside the locked-down area, a lot of protocols, rules, and policies must be implemented such as social distancing, wearing of facemask / PPE's, washing hands with soap and/or applying disinfectant from time to time, isolation, targeted mass testing, contact tracing, and etc. in view of containing the spread of the virus.

3. The combination of the two. Both building herd immunity and quarantine can be applied at a time with some reservations of factors to make measures workable or more effective and efficient.