By: Villamor Visaya Jr.,Philippine Daily Inquirer Correspondent

CITY OF SANTIAGO, Isabela—The University of La Salette (ULS) on Tuesday (Nov. 16) began its limited in-person classes for medical degree programs after it was permitted by the Commission on Higher Education (CHEd).

ULS is the first university in Isabela province to allow CHEd to resume in-person classes in a limited capacity.

The university has retrofitted their facilities “as protection from COVID-19, and to comply with minimum public health standards as ordered by the authorities,” Estacio said.

Although Isabela province is under Alert Level 2, the second-lowest alert classification that would have allowed a 50-percent indoor capacity, the university said enforcing 30-percent indoor capacity would help them monitor and evaluate the students.

“It is very challenging…Being the first [to resume in-person classes], we strictly monitor [the classes] to ensure the implementation of health protocols and assess how we can improve the system,” she added.

Students taking up medical technology and physical therapy courses were among those who attended their classes.

Dean Marissa Tan of the ULS College of Medicine and Allied Medical Programs said they only allowed six students in each laboratory room for medical technology students, with four rooms used for 24 students.#

Ngayong araw ay nasa 70 na ang aktibong kaso sa lungsod kung saan bahagya itong bumaba kumpara sa 73 na aktibong kaso kahapon.

Sa datos na mula sa City Health Office, 3 ang naidagdag na bagong kaso. 6 naman ang bilang ng mga naka-recover at walang naitalang nasawi.

Bagama’t bumababa na ang kaso ng COVID-19 sa ating siyudad, mariin pa ring pinaaalalahan ang lahat na sumunod sa itinakdang guidelines sa ilalim ng GCQ status with Heightened Restrictions. Patuloy pa rin na obserbahan ang minimum health standards sa lahat ng oras.#

Sa pinakahuling tala ng Municipal Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit (MESU), bumaba na sa 56 ang aktibong kaso sa bayan ng Baggao pero nadagdagan naman ng isang bagong nasawi ngayong araw kaya nasa 171 na ang bilang nga mga namatay kaugnay ng pandemya, Nobyembre 15.

Sa kabuuan, pumalo na sa 3, 257 ang natamaan ng COVID-19 sa Baggao samantalang 3,030 naman sa mga ito ay recovered na.

Nasa 26 na mga barangay naman na ang walang nakatalang kaso ng COVID-19 sa kasalukuyan. #

*New cases are those recorded for November 15, 2021, only based on the latest available data furnished by the Regional Epidemiology Surveillance Unit (RESU), Municipal Epidemiology Surveillance Unit (MESU), and the City Epidemiology Surveillance Unit (CESU) to the Provincial Epidemiology Surveillance Unit (PESU).#

TINGNAN: Bilang ng aktibong kaso sa lungsod ng Tuguegarao, bumaba na sa 69.

Sa datos na mula sa City Health Office, lima (5) lamang ang naidagdag na bagong kaso ngayong araw habang 17 naman ang bilang ng mga naka-recover at walang naitalang nasawi.

Bagama’t bumababa na ang kaso ng COVID-19 sa ating siyudad, mariin pa ring pinaaalalahan ang lahat na sumunod sa itinakdang guidelines sa ilalim ng GCQ status with Heightened Restrictions.

Patuloy pa rin na obserbahan ang minimum health standards sa lahat ng oras.#

CABARROGUIS, Quirino – A 17-year-old student from Diffun town in this province has depicted life’s struggles through a miniature shanty.

Macdaryll Malto, a University of the Philippines-Baguio Fine Arts student, said on Thursday he “painstakingly made and finished the miniature craft” as a course requirement to depict social issues in one of his subjects.

Malto used glue and paint in building his miniature shanty made out of recyclable and indigenous materials.

He said the artwork, which shows a typical dwelling of ordinary folks in the countryside, speaks of the significance of education, unity and responsibility of government leaders.

The miniature craft would serve as “an eye-opener” of the real situation of the poor people in the country, Malto noted.

However, he said he did not intend to inject politics into the artwork that symbolizes poverty.

He asked his fellow students to also show their craft and air their sentiments on social and economic issues to help leaders decide and urge them to become more sincere and diligent in extending services to their constituents. ( Villamor Visaya Jr., Philippine Daily Inquirer News Correspondent/Philippine News Agency News Stringer )

CAMP MELCHOR DELA CRUZ, Isabela – An alleged New People’s Army (NPA) rebel was killed in a 35-minute gunfight between Army soldiers and communist guerrillas in Barangay Bagtayan, Pasil, Kalinga on Saturday morning.

Maj. Jekyll Julian Dulawan, 5th Infantry Division spokesperson, said in a statement on Sunday that the 50th Infantry Battalion soldiers chanced upon the undetermined number of guerrillas under the Platun Guevarra-Kilusang Larangang Guerrilla Baggas.

The body of the alleged rebel, who has yet to be identified, was brought to a funeral parlor.

Seized at the scene of the encounter were an M16 rifle, two magazines with bullets, bandolier, transistor radio, and assorted personal belongings.

Dulawan said they have initiated hot pursuit operations while scene of the crime operatives of the Kalinga police scoured the encounter site.

The Communist Party of the Philippines-NPA is listed as a terrorist organization by the United States, European Union, the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the Philippines.(Villamor Visaya Jr., Philippine Daily Inquirer News Correspondent/Philippine News Agency News Stringer)

TUGUEGARAO CITY – The chairperson of a far-flung barangay in Enrile, Cagayan was arrested for possessing high-powered guns and bullets in a raid at his residence on Friday evening, the police said in a belated report on Sunday.

Lt. Col. Efren Fernandez II, the newly installed spokesperson of the Police Regional Office-2 (Cagayan Valley), said Wilfredo Dueñas, the village leader of Liwan Sur, did not resist arrest.

Seized from him were an M-14 rifle with magazine and 12 bullets, four additional magazines with 45 bullets, a 12-gauge shotgun with a bullet, three rifle grenades, three magazines for .45 caliber handgun with 42 bullets, three homemade shotguns, two bullets for .40-caliber gun, two bullets for 9mm pistol, eight used .45 caliber cartridge cases and a magazine for M-16 rifle.

The operation was jointly conducted by lawmen from the Provincial Intelligence Unit, Provincial Drug Enforcement Unit, Cagayan Police Provincial Office, 1st Provincial Mobile Force Company and Enrile police station. It was witnessed by the suspect’s wife and a village councilor in the area.

The suspect is facing charges for violation of Republic Act 10591, otherwise known as the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act. (Villamor Visaya Jr., Philippine Daily Inquirer News Correspondent/Philippine News Agency News Stringer)