HIV advocacy group asks government support re: COVID-19

Wazzup Pilipinas!

The LoveYourself, Inc., a community-based non-profit primary health care facility for people living with HIV (PLHIV), appeals for the support of the government for the continued and uninterrupted access of PLHIV to anti-retroviral (ARV) drugs.

Primarily, LoveYourself asks for the help of concerned national agencies, the local government units, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority, the Philippine National Police, and the Armed Forces of the Philippines to ensure smooth delivery of health services to the PLHIV community.

The organization understands the government's precautions, and fully abide with the directives of the Department of Health (DOH) to help contain the spread of Corona Virus Disease 2019 (COVID-19), but the continued delivery of its services is crucial in addressing another kind of pandemic, which is HIV.

Pagtakhan explained that "People living with HIV have become more vulnerable to contracting any diseases due to limited access to their life-saving medication, following the imposition of Enhanced Community Quarantine and declaration of the entire Philippines under a state of calamity amidst the COVID-19 situation."

"On behalf of all our clients and even other HIV treatment facilities, we humbly request the government authorities to help us deliver our services not only to our clients but also to anyone who needs to take their ARVs. These life-saving medicines support their health requirements because missing out on taking ARVs poses a danger to their health and in achieving an undetectable status," said Pagtakhan, who is also a Ten Outstanding Young Persons of the World for Humanitarian Leadership awardee in 2018.

In responding to this public health crisis, LoveYourself already shifted its HIV treatment services from onsite to online processing called Xpress Refill program with the delivery of life-saving medication or ARV drugs through couriers that are currently operational.

Clients enrolled in LoveYourself treatment services and even PLHIV who have not enrolled in its treatment services but near to any of its centers are catered through the Xpress refill program: go.loveyourself.ph/XpressRefill. Clients can also call any of these hotlines:

· Anglo (Mandaluyong): 0920 502 1007 | 0999 529 2330 | 0956 615 1230 | 0915 310 7336

· Victoria (Pasay): 09995292399 | 09153107339 | 0915 831 8715

· Lily (Parañaque): 0917 155 5955 | 0928 689 6422

· Welcome (Manila): 0967 207 1976

· Hero (Bacoor, Cavite): 0956 490 3747 | 0906 483 9040

· White House (Cebu City): 0961 573 6493

LoveYourself can also be reached through e-mail at info@loveyourself.ph. Other hubs across the country can be accessed through this: go.loveyourself.ph/txhubs.

Based on the latest report of the DOH, there were 3,029 newly confirmed HIV cases in the Philippines from October to December 2019. The new cases brought the total cases of HIV in the country to 74,807 since January 1984.

LoveYourself is serving more than 5,000 PLHIV for their life-saving medications.

Together with its partner community-based organization, LoveYourself hopes for all clients to be served for their life-saving medications unimpeded while ensuring the maximum health and safety measures in availing of these services.

Finding a Trusted Online Paper Writing Service Is Easy

Wazzup Pilipinas!

It may not matter the college that you are attending or the class that you are majoring in – essays and other kinds of papers need to be written. While some students are great writers, no matter the subject of the paper or the essay – others are struggling with writing a simple passage. Luckily the era that we live in provides us with many services that students couldn’t have imagined before. A reliable online paper writing service, such as AdvancedWriters, is one of those modern miracles that many students are incredibly grateful for. However, if you do not trust us, you may think, “Is there another way to determine if an online service that you are referring to is a legit one?’ That is precisely what we are going to try to help you with. We are going to point out the main factors that define an excellent service and an expert writer on offer.

Why the Mistrust Issue Exists?

The truth is that the popularity of custom writing services is both a blessing and a curse. The fact is that the number of cases when a professional company providing quality writing services have turned out to be a scam website is vast. That is why, even when a student is in a great need of online professional assistance, there is that fear that the choice he or she makes would not be the expected one. so, here is a list of things to consider before ordering an essay or paper from any online custom writing service:

The subjects on offer. When you are looking for a pro writing service to help you out with your written assignment, the first thing to look for is the number of subjects that the service claims to provide skilled writers in. If there are only a few subjects to choose from, that should be the primary warning that you need to keep on looking. All the trusted sources provide a great variety of subjects so that no student feels left out.

Paper types. Just like in the case with subjects, so it is with examples of papers that service can assist you in. The best custom service would be the one to cover all existing paper types.

The format. Every paper requires not only a particular structure but also citing format to be written in. This means that if you come across a company that claims to be proficient in MLA style or APA style only – you should not entrust your task to its writers. Only the services that know well all the formatting styles are the reliable ones.

The deadlines. A self-respecting writing service would provide a vast range of available deadlines for a student to choose from. Starting with 1 hour and going up – that is the deadline range that you should search for.

The volume. If it is your first time ordering a paper online, you need to be aware of the fact that most companies charge by volume of the written assignment. That is why you need to pay a lot of attention to the correspondence between the price and the volume. Keep in mind that those websites that offer lower rates for higher loads of text are usually the ones to be avoided.

As you can see, there are not so many details to be aware of when looking for a custom writing service, but those that we have mentioned are the essential ones. Besides, once you find the company that you can trust, the chances are that you are not going to look for another one for a long time!

DOTr releases guidelines on social distancing, community quarantine vs COVID-19 spread

Wazzup Pilipinas!


The Department of Transportation (DOTr) has released its guidelines on the community quarantine and social distancing measures yesterday, 14 March 2020, following the earlier order of President Rodrigo Duterte to place the National Capital Region (NCR) under community quarantine to stop the spread of the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19).

"We all have to bear the burden, carry personal inconveniences and sacrifices for the common good and our nation's interest. These protocols are temporary. The deeper we cooperate and unselfishly carry our share, the faster we shall overcome!" Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade stressed.

During the quarantine period, the aviation sector has announced that there will be no general aviation flights within Metro Manila. As such, flights will be diverted to Sangley Airport in Cavite or to the Clark International Airport in Pampanga.

However, cargo flights; air ambulance and medical supplies; government/military flights; weather mitigation flights; and maintenance and utility flights will still be permitted.

For international flights, the aviation sector stressed that there will be special airport-to-airport trips arranged by the airlines in coordination with airport authorities.
The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) will also encourage local airlines to operate sweeper flight/s out of Manila and into other airports.

The aviation sector will also implement the one (1) meter social distancing measure. Signages reminding its stakeholders to observe proper social distancing will also be posted in strategic points.

Moreover, the sector adds, only passengers and essential personnel can enter and exit the airport terminals.

The rail sector meanwhile announced that trains will be loaded at reduced capacity to minimize the concentration of passengers per train.

Train station personnel will also regulate the entry of passengers into stations, and will implement measures for orderly and distanced queuing both inside and outside stations.

A passenger showing COVID-19 symptoms or having a body temperature of 38 degrees centigrade and above will be refused entry to the stations and trains. This is pursuant to the guidelines imposed by the Department of Health (DOH).

The women’s and senior citizens section of train cars will be further separated, designating a subsection for senior citizens.

The rail sector added that PNR operations from Alabang to Calamba and vice versa will be suspended during the community quarantine period.

For the road sector, it has reminded Transportation Network Vehicle Services (TNVS), including airport taxis, to transport not more than four (4) passengers.

Multiple bookings for a single trip provided by the TNVS, and the pilot implementation of Motorcycle Taxis will be temporarily suspended, it added.

As for the UV Express, the road sector stressed that it should not have more than six (6) passengers; while old units of Public Utility Jeepneys (PUJs) should carry not more than half of their regular capacity; and as for Omnibus Franchising Guidelines (OFG) compliant units (Class 2 and 3), they should not have more than half of the seating capacity, without standing passengers;

Public Utility Busses (PUBs), meanwhile, should not have more than 25 passengers, which includes the driver and conductor, and without any standing passenger.

The guideline further states that terminal operators will not allow any person to enter their premises if that person is showing any COVID-19 symptoms.

For all PUVs entering and exiting Metro Manila, drivers and conductors will have to request passengers to present one (1) valid ID (which indicates the address of work place, and residence) to comply with the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) and Philippine National Police (PNP) procedures and protocols at all entry/exit points.

Meanwhile, Point-to-Point (P2P) buses from the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) to Clark International Airport and Sangley Airport will be allowed to operate as scheduled.

For the maritime sector, crew members of cargo vessels originating from COVID-19 affected ports identified under relevant IATF Resolutions will be subjected to stringent quarantine procedures and will not be allowed to disembark.

Passenger traffic in all ports going in and out of the National Capital Region (NCR) will be suspended during the period of community quarantine. However, ferry services within the NCR will continue its operations provided that it will follow the 50% reduced capacity as prescribed by the Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA).

Ships normally plying routes within the NCR will be allowed to call at ports outside of the same on application for the issuance of a Special Permit with the MARINA during the period of the community quarantine.

The maritime sector meanwhile has assured that movement of cargo to and from the NCR will be unhampered. All cargo trucks/vans going in and out of the Port of Manila shall secure a Cargo Entry/Withdrawal Permit (CEWP) from the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA), which shall be presented for validation at designated checkpoints.

Meanwhile, there will be a "No Sail” policy for all vessels carrying passengers calling to and from any ports of Metro Manila except foreign ships subject to CIQS procedures and domestic cargo, fishing and government vessels subject to health screening pursuant to DOH advisories and guidelines.

The maritime sector adds that posting of materials regarding the observance of the one (1) meter social distancing measure in ports, terminals and onboard vessels and water craft will be in place.

There will be an establishment of entry and exit controls in ports and other maritime areas and waters as identified by the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG).

The DOTr also pointed out, that the policy will be subjected to daily review and revision, as necessary.