Since the vaccine for COVID-19 is still on the works, the World Health Organization has advised the public that proper handwashing and hygiene practices, as well as social distancing, remains to be the best defense against the virus. Experts also agree that a strong immune system can keep you healthy and give you a sense of control in an uncertain time.
Eat right and keep a balanced diet
One of the most effective ways of keeping a healthy immune system is eating right. Begin by filling your plate with immune-boosting fruits and vegetables such as carrots, kale, oranges, strawberries, and broccoli. Eggs, milk, nuts, and mushrooms can also provide necessary vitamins and nutrients to keep your immunity up during a pandemic.
Get active and exercise
Physical activity can give your immune system a great boost in a myriad of ways. Researchers have shown that exercise improves immune systems. Exercising regularly improves your body’s natural production of antibodies that help in fighting viruses and infection.
Relax and try meditation
Living through a pandemic is a very stressful circumstance that it can negatively affect the immune system and take a toll on a person’s mental health. A recent study involving more than 1,600 people has suggested that meditation boosts their immune system. Meditation can be as simple as taking time in the morning or at night, relaxing, and breathing properly and emptying your mind.
Stress and anxiety management
Numerous studies have linked stress and the immune system. In fact, a study has proven that psychological stress increases susceptibility to illness. According to health experts, prolonged or chronic stress can negatively impact the immune system as it reduces the body’s natural ability to fight viruses and bacteria. Moreover, people under a lot of stress are more likely to develop poor coping strategies such as excessive alcohol consumption, cigarette smoking, poor diet, or lack of sleep which also negatively impact the immune system.
The connection between health and the environment becomes increasingly defined as the world learns more about the COVID-19 pandemic. According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, this new coronavirus strain can be spread in three main ways:
Person-to-person via direct contact;
Person-to-person via airborne respiratory droplets produced when an infected person cough or sneezes;
Surface-to-person via contact with surfaces or objects that hold the virus, followed by an individual touching their mouth, nose, or eyes.
Buildings and public spaces play a huge role in disease prevention and control. From its design to operations, buildings contribute to the battle against the spread of viruses in workplaces and offices.
Here are some modifications and optimizations buildings can adapt to prevent another pandemic in the future:
Promote High-quality Indoor Air
Buildings and commercial establishments should promote high-quality indoor air quality and follow a set of standards that focuses on the ventilation and air-conditioning system. This effectively provides clean air into the building and to the office spaces. Research suggests that filtration of recirculated air may be effective in reducing the transmission of airborne infectious diseases. Filters remove dust, vapors, bacteria, and fungi, and also effectively capture viral particles spread by droplet nuclei.
Ventilating with outdoor air also plays a vital role in diluting airborne contaminants and decreasing disease transmission rates within establishments. According to studies, increasing the ventilation rate can effectively reduce the cross-infection of airborne transmitted diseases by removing or diluting pathogen-laden airborne droplet nuclei. It can dilute the contaminated air inside the space more rapidly and decrease the risk of cross-infection
Maintained Optimal Humidity
Evidence suggests that viruses survive better in low-humidity environments. One optimization buildings can implement after the pandemic is to increase humidity via heating and ventilation systems and maintain an optimal range to 40 to 60%. This can also be achieved by installing humidifiers inside the building premises.
Improved cleaning and maintenance protocols
Another aspect that buildings can focus on when optimizing for disease prevention is highlighting the importance of its property management teams. Workplace policies, guidelines, and protocols must also be restructured to adapt to the “new normal” as the world observe changes this pandemic brings. The modifications and strict enforcement of these procedures should be one of the most essential responsibilities of a building’s property management team during, and even after the crisis.
A healthy building contributes to a healthy community, which, in the long run, play a central role in creating a healthy world. In addition to everyday precautions taken by individuals and employees, the real estate industry, building owners, and developers should be aware of these optimizations that can greatly contribute to virus outbreaks in the future.
The current pandemic has brought a 180-degree change in the way people live and work. Some of these changes may be temporary, but some might be permanent adjustments that will help in preventing another outbreak or at least improve the community’s preparation for one.
Due to COVID-19, buildings will give more emphasis to the health and wellness of their tenants. While other offices will only start implementing such changes to adapt, commercial establishments that were already certified by programs such as LEED have long been uplifting the quality of the work environment and promoting the health and well-being of their tenants—amid a pandemic or not.
Here are some ways LEED certification can help prevent diseases in the future:
LEED-certified buildings, like JEG Tower, were designed, constructed, and operates to high standards that prioritize the health of its tenants. Green buildings regulate water quality, air quality, and antibacterial functions to promote their occupants’ health and reduce the risks of getting diseases and viruses.
The LEED certification also ensures these buildings have increased ventilation which also improves the health and wellbeing of the tenants and drastically improves their work performance.
In addition to providing the basic functions, LEED-certified buildings also reduce the risk of infection and prevent cross-infection inside the workplace. The US Green Building Council (USGBC) requires establishments to include measures that will control the collusion of air and pollutants, exhaust backflow of bathrooms, Green buildings are designed to set up effective water seals to reduce the risk of virus transmission through drainage pipes. Under the LEED certification, buildings should optimize the space and plane layout to enhance the effectiveness of natural ventilation. They should also be able to regulate and control air conditioning systems by zones and have a well-designed site wind environment for the dissipation of viruses and harmful gases.
Moreover, LEED ensures that the cleanliness of the environment is greatly prioritized. Strengthened cleaning policies are followed using sustainable and safe cleaning products. Proper waste management is also observed, which plays a big role in disease prevention.
Following the ‘People’ aspect of the triple bottom line of LEED, (People, Planet, Profit), certified buildings ensure that they are safe and healthy environment for their occupants.
The vaccine against the new coronavirus is yet to be developed, which means the best protection one can have against it depends on the body’s immunity and the community’s cleanliness.
Promoting physical activity among building tenants while creating a safe and welcoming environment is the top priority of LEED-certified green buildings. These goals help in ensuring that building occupants are healthy year-round, not just during a global pandemic.
The current COVID-19 outbreak is reemphasizing the importance of prioritizing one’s health and proper hygiene. It also reminds how easily diseases can spread in the workplace. Office buildings can either help in its prevention or aid its spread and proliferation. Building certification programs such as LEED recognize the importance of certain aspects of building design and maintenance that play an important role in disease spread and prevention of outbreaks in the future.
The COVID-19 outbreak may be stressful for some people. As the world continuously witness the world change, fear and anxiety can affect their mental health and take a toll on their general well-being.
According to studies, stress and anxiety can greatly affect one’s health and well-being. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has reported many manifestations of stress amid the pandemic including difficulty of sleeping, changes in sleeping or eating patterns, worsening of chronic health and mental health problems, and increased use of alcohol and tobacco. According to the Mayo Clinic, it is common to experience stress, anxiety, fear, sadness, and loneliness during this difficult time. However, it is important to manage it by learning different strategies and coping mechanisms.
Taking care of your mental health will make you, the people you care about, and your community stronger. Here are some ways and strategies that can be helpful to practice during the outbreak:
Take sanity breaks
The news from the media and social networking site feeds can be overwhelming and stressful. Practice taking mini breaks from watching, reading, or listening to the news, especially if it is about the statistics of the virus. Being informed about relevant information is always helpful but getting anxiety from too much exposure to crisis-related news can also increase stress levels.
It is advisable to limit your time scrolling on your social media accounts. Aside from mental stress, excessive use of phones and tablets can also cause eye strain and body aches.
Take care of your mind by limiting your screen time. It is also a good practice to turn off any electronic device for some time each day including 30 minutes before projected bedtime.
Stick to Routines
Changes may be stressful for your mind. Experts suggest developing and maintaining a regular schedule is very beneficial for mental health. Stick to routines such as regular bedtimes, consistent times for meals, bathing and getting dressed, preparing for work or studying, and exercising. The predictability can make you feel more in control and would ease the brain.
Stay busy
Use this time to enjoy hobbies that you can do home, learn a new skill or two, develop healthy habits, and start a project that you have been planning to do. Staying busy can be a healthy distraction from negative thoughts. This can get you away from the cycle of negative thoughts that feed anxiety and depression.
Focus on positive thoughts
Focusing on the positive side of things is a healthy way of coping with stress and anxiety. While this can be hard for some, doing little things such as listing the things you are thankful for daily can mean a lot to your mental health. Instead of dwelling on how bad things are going, focus on the things you can control and keep problems in perspective.
Connect with others
Now more than ever, the need for connection is very important. Since everybody is away from each other due to social distancing and the community quarantine, hone virtual connections by video chats, phone calls, text messaging, and other similar apps. If you are working remotely from home, ask your co-workers how they are doing and talk about things outside of work.
It would be also helpful for your mental health to voice out your concerns and how are you feeling with people you trust.
Working with different sectors, the World Green Building Council (WGBC) has long been combatting global air pollution by developing and setting standards for buildings and infrastructures. According to the World Green Building Council, now more than ever, green buildings play a very significant role in preventing and controlling viruses within communities and work environments.
“Indoor air quality is one of the important criteria of LEED. It focuses on designing the ventilation and air-conditioning system to provide clean air into the building,” Michael Glindro, LEED AP BD+C said. “One of the ways to improve indoor air quality is to install high-MERV filters to reduce indoor air pollutants. This criterion focuses on the People aspect of the triple bottom line of LEED; People, Planet, Profit.
LEED-certified buildings, like JEG Tower, were designed, constructed, and operates to high standards for health and cleanliness, they reduce the risk of exposing its tenants to infection, effectively preventing the spread of the virus within the building.
USGBC requires green buildings to control the collusion of air and pollutants as well as the exhaust backflow of kitchens and bathrooms. Green buildings are also designed to set up effective water seals to reduce the risk of virus transmission through drainage pipes, optimizes the building space and plane layout to enhance the effectiveness of natural ventilation. Green buildings can also regulate and control air conditioning systems by zones and have a well-designed site wind environment for the dissipation of viruses and harmful gases.
As regulated by the WGBC, green buildings are designed to regulate the water and air quality, fitness and antibacterial function building materials to promote occupant’s health to reduce the risk of getting the disease and enhance the ability to resist viruses.
JEG Tower in Cebu uplifts the health and wellness of its tenants. Committed to revolutionizing work and life balance, the building has designed office spaces to maximize the use of natural daylight, allow better airflow within the space, and organize initiatives to encourage healthier living for everyone.
Aside from protecting its tenants from virus cross-infection and improving their health, better indoor air quality also upgrades the working environment for office buildings.
“Improving indoor air quality has been shown to increase business productivity through being a factor in reducing absenteeism due to health issues,” Glindro said. “After all, we do spend a majority of our day in the office so taking steps into creating a healthy work environment will benefit the triple bottom line.”
Premium green buildings emphasize the importance of uplifting the quality of life of its tenants by ensuring that the highest standards for health and safety are observed and followed.
One of the key tasks of a property management team is to be prepared and protect their tenants in the event of a health crisis. The COVID-19 pandemic has not only tested the existing protocols and guidelines of commercial and residential establishments, but it has also redefined some of the ways real estate developers and companies weigh the importance of the health, well-being, and safety of their occupiers.
The enhanced community quarantine was implemented to limit movement and effectively decrease the rate of the spread of the virus. Moreover, it is important to declare all recent travel for respective self-quarantine measures and contact tracing purposes.
The Property Management Team of Tomodachi Premium Residences has encouraged its residents to declare any recent travels-domestic or international, to aid in the efforts of controlling the exposure of others with the virus. Residents are also being encouraged to stay indoors and limit their movement outside the premises. Moreover, residents are also asked to refrain from inviting guests and visitors following the community quarantine. Social gatherings are also prohibited until the ECQ has been lifted.
2. Close all common areas
To stop the spread of the virus and limit interaction, properties are advised to close down all common areas that are accessible to their tenants such as gyms, function rooms, roof decks, etc.
Tomodachi Premium Residences has advised its residents that the pool area will be closed as a measure and reminder for them to remain indoors.
3. Postpone renovation and repair
All the renovation inside homes and units should be prohibited in the meantime. Emergency repairs that can potentially harm the residents or damage the property should be reported to the management of the property.
4. Be up to date with verified and relevant news
JEG Development Corporation ensures that the tenants in our existing properties are safe and protected against COVID-19. Its Property Management Team is in full alert to assess the situation and follow news developments about the virus that will help fight its spread in our communities.
5. Communicate and coordinate with your Landlord
During a crisis, it is important to keep the communication lines open between you and your landlord. Now more than ever, staying connected is crucial in overcoming such an event. The management may offer initiatives that can help you during the crisis and provide additional measures for your convenience. Some may even offer rent concessions as a consideration and help with what is currently happening.
The local government and the whole community of Cebu City come together to fight the spread of COVID-19 within the city and in the whole region. Mayor Edgardo Labella announced that they are ready for mass testing after acquiring 30,000 test kits.
According to his press conference, 20,000 kits were handed over to the Cebu City Health Department (CCHD) and to the Cebu City Medical Center (CCMC), while the remaining 10,000 test kits were donated to the Department of Health in Central Visayas (DOH-7).
As of April 14, Cebu City has recorded 31 COVID-19 positive patients. Mayor Labella said that they expect this number to rise once they begin with the mass testing. DOH has reported six new cases today after a few days streak of no positive cases.
“The WeTrace app has been developed to accurately trace and monitor, with utmost privacy and confidentiality, persons living in the Province of Cebu who have Severe Acute Respiratory Infections, Influenza-Like Illnesses or have been classified as Persons Under Monitoring or those symptomatic of the COVID-19,” the EO read.
WeTrace supports a “report” feature wherein the public can disclose information given the chance that they have interacted with a COVID-19 positive patient, or those persons under investigation (PUI) and monitoring (PUM). It will prompt them to input their full name, contact information and details of their report.
The app was developed by a homegrown talent, a Cebuano scholar of the Department of Science and Technology. This project was initiated right after the spread of the virus in the country was first reported.
Apart from its report feature, WeTrace will also serve as a database and valid source of information of the Department of Health for statistics. The government unit can also release and disseminate information and health tips through the app.
JEG Development Corporation is one with Cebu and with the country in its fight against the COVID-19 virus. Being a company that gives utmost importance to the wellness of our employees and tenants, we are implementing a more flexible work arrangement to minimize exposure and possible harm to the members of our community.
JDC is currently operating on a work from home scheme until further notice. Rest assured that the company’s ongoing services are being upheld with necessary contingency measures and protocols.
For any concerns, kindly contact Lorenzo Rodriguez through (+63) 917-825-6884 or send an email at info@jegdevelopment.com
March 2020 will always go down as one of the hardest times in the country’s history. The Novel Coronavirus 2019, or now officially called COVID-19, has entered the Philippines after the DOH confirmed its first case on March 5, 2020. Merely two weeks after, the Philippines records over 200 positive cases and was put under a state of public health emergency and under community quarantine.
More than just looking at the bright side of things (which is also one of the nation’s positive traits), Filipinos have stepped up and displayed a modern-day version of its centuries-old tradition of Bayanihan. As they call it, it is Filipinos for Filipinos—doing what they can to help their fellow countrymen.
COVID-19 Testing Kits
A team of UP scientists, led by Dr. Raul V. Destura, was able to develop a low-cost diagnostic kit for COVID-19 two weeks after the whole genome sequence was released by China. Before this initiative, testing kits used by the DOH were imported from South Korea and would cost around Php. 8,000 per test.
Photo from CNN Philippines
Dr. Destura, who is a microbiologist and infectious disease specialist and deputy executive director of the Philippine Genome Center, said that this project is their contribution to their pledge of finding sustainable and equitable solutions to disease of poverty as local scientists. This is their way of serving the country and giving back to their fellow Filipinos.
DIY Disinfectant Booths
Just a few days after Marikina City has started using disinfectant booths to help with the city-wide sanitation efforts, a team of industrial designers and engineers have collaborated to design a DIY disinfectant booth.
Photo from August Patacsil on Facebook
Since not all Local Government Units have the budget and resources to acquire this technology, a UP alumnus posted on his social media account that they are providing free design of an affordable and easy to build sanitation tent. The group has also called for help from the netizens to provide the contact numbers of LGUs who might find this project helpful.
Since the outbreak of COVID-19, face masks have been out of stock from pharmacies and suppliers, even leaving some affecting the supply for medical professionals and frontliners. Because of this crucial need, scientists from the DOST-Philippine Textile Research Institute have developed reusable facemasks which can be used up to 50 times.
The masks will use a PTRI textile-coating technology for treatment and finishing. It will also collaborate with the Power Fashion Inc. to produce masks using local fiber textiles which will be donated by the latter. This is not only beneficial for medical professionals but also a win for the environment as well.
Life Cycles – Transport Initiative
The implementation of the enhanced community quarantine in Luzon left many of the frontliners and medical professionals without transportation options for them to get to work. A cycling enthusiast netizen pitched an alternative and organized an initiative that is eco-friendly and sustainable.
Photo from Life Cycles Facebook page
Life Cycles is an initiative formed by a group of bicycle riders and owners as an effort to provide an alternative for the employees during the suspension of mass transportation. Currently, they have gathered over 100 bikes for rent and loan for those commuting to hospitals and other government institutions. In just two days, the online community has grown with over 2,000 likes on Facebook and has raised over Php. 300,000 in cash to acquire more bicycles.
Locally-grown company Visayan Electric Company also gives back to their province and announced through a statement that they will be implementing a 30-day payment extension for the bills due on March 15 to April 14, 2020. To continue providing excellent service especially during times of crisis, the company also promised that scheduled interruptions will only be limited to customer requests to ensure that there will be uninterrupted service.
More than giving proof that the Bayanihan Spirit is truly alive, Filipinos have also demonstrated how resourceful and creative they are especially during times of crisis. Filipinos have shown that they’ve got each other’s backs, regardless of how big or small their contribution to the society is.
Over the past two decades, Cebu City has been considered the boom-town of the Visayas in terms of growth and development. Indeed, the city has gone beyond tourism to become one of the country’s leading technology hubs, and is now recognized as one of the world’s top destinations for business process outsourcing (BPO) firms. Likewise, this southern metropolis has also been recognized as one of the most livable cities in the country, prompting an influx of new residents moving in from neighboring islands in search of a better and more comfortable way of living.
As a result, this has led to a number of big-ticket infrastructure initiatives and a pressing need to provide premium office space to suit the needs of both local and international corporations that want to set up shop in the Queen City of the South. For this, companies like homegrown Cebu firm JEG Development Corporation (JDC) are designing and building new structures to meet the needs of the city’s rapidly expanding corporate community.
JDC’s JEG Tower at One Acacia is one such development — and it is a structure that may very well revolutionize Cebu’s real estate and development industry, particularly where sustainability and environmental compliance are concerned.
Raising The Standards For Excellence
Green technology: The JEG Tower lobby will feature Mitsubishi DOAS lifts, pass-card turnstiles for security, as well as a plant-covered wall for a verdant touch.
“JEG Tower is one of a new crop of office developments in Cebu that are raising the standards of buildings in our city,” JDC estate and business development manager Stefan Garcia explains. “Our company has placed a lot of resources to build the best workspace in the city.”
Occupying 1,360 sqm. of a total area of 1,700 sqm., JEG Tower stands at 22 floors high, making it one of the tallest structures in Metropolitan Cebu. Its overall design is reminiscent of one of the world’s most iconic architectural landmarks, New York City’s Flatiron Building, when viewed from the corner of Archbishop Reyes Avenue and Acacia Street. Yet, its spirit is uniquely Filipino thanks to the visionary minds at JDV who worked on the structure in partnership with the Cebu arm of CASAS+Architects.
Each of its working floors was designed with an efficient and maximized use of space in mind. There is a total floor efficiency of 92 percent, with 950 sqm. of usable space and a 215 sqm. common area on each of the structure’s floors.
All in the family: JDC COO Marko Sarmiento, Estate and Business Development manager Stefan Garcia, and brand manager Ayla Gomez
Aside from raising the bar when it comes to usable space, JEG Tower is also equipped with state-of-the-art technology. Traveling from the lobby to one’s office floor — or even floor-to-floor, for that matter is made easier and faster with the installation of Mitsubishi’s Destination-oriented Allocation System (DOAS) elevators which use pass-cards coded to specific floors. The use of Mitsubishi DOAS also doubles as a security measure: it discourages loitering as passengers, whether they’re tenants or guests, may only get on or off the lift at their assigned floors.
In addition, the building is cooled throughout by the energy-efficient Daikin VRV air-conditioning system which is considered the best possible choice for the structure, given Cebu’s tropical climate.
Going Green In The 21st Century
Speaking of energy efficiency, JEG Tower also has the distinction of being one of Cebu City’s very first Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED)-certified structures.
Currently pre-certified at the Silver level for building design and construction (LEED BD+C), the efficient and proper use of resources is at the very core of JEG Tower’s design and development. Once completed, it is expected to use less water and electrical power than many of the structures currently in the city’s central business district, and is expected to emit less in terms of dangerous greenhouse gases.
In order for all these to be possible, JEG Tower is equipped with 100 percent back-up power that can run 24-7. Likewise, floor to ceiling windows made with specially-treated glass don’t just present magnificent views of the city below and the surrounding environs; these also go a long way in reducing the use of electrical power throughout the structure, as ambient natural lighting illuminates workspaces in the daytime. Indeed, it is expected that JEG Tower will save energy by at least 12 percent and, thanks to efficient plumbing, reduce its total water usage by about 32 percent.
One interesting design detail that also doubles as a sustainability measure is the use of greenery in the JEG Tower façade, as well as a beautifully landscaped rooftop garden that can be used as an events space for corporate or social functions.
As JDC brand manager Ayla Gomez puts it, “We are also excited about the rooftop garden, which we are sure our future tenants will appreciate as well. It is a great area for events and is a perfect green space that we need for a quick afternoon respite, as it overlooks the sea and the mountains, fueling and inspiring the rest of the workday.”
In addition, JEG Tower was designed in such a way that tenants are also encouraged to lead a more sustainable lifestyle for themselves. While there are ample parking spaces over six floors, it is close enough to public transport terminals for the commute to and from home. Its location is also in close proximity to key commercial areas, enabling tenants to walk to a wide variety of retail and service establishments as well as restaurants. Bike racks are also provided for those who will opt to pedal their way to and from work, along with shower rooms where they can freshen up for the workday.
Gomez adds, “As the building is getting closer to turn over, locals can look forward to now having the option to choose better work environments for their companies and most especially for the people that work for them. The city will have a grade-A building that fosters community and the work-life balance that every Cebuano deserves.”
A Tower Founded On A Storied Heritage
Gomez’s words resonate with the Cebuano public not only because these buoy up their hopes for a more progressive city, but because she is part of a family that has long played a role in the province’s rapid growth: the Escaño-Garcias who not only are the driving force behind JDC but are also the people behind Vivant, one of the leading companies of the Philippine energy industry through the Visayan Electric Company Inc. (VECO), the country’s second largest electricity utility operation.
While JEG Tower is JDC’s first large-scale corporate structure, it has also made its name in the real estate and development industry through elegant strip malls like One Acacia Place and The Gallery, as well as Tomodachi Premium Residences, a Japanese-inspired cluster of townhouses that have become the home of choice for members of Cebu’s growing expatriate community. As with the developments that preceded it, JEG Tower was created to suit the changing needs of a city that continues to evolve along with its people.
JDC officially topped off JEG Tower last November, and, as it draws closer to completion by the second quarter of this year, it has become a symbol of Cebu’s pride in its history, its dynamic present, and what promises to be a prosperous future.
