ASEANEWS COVID-19: HEADLINE MANILA- ‘Arrest lockdown violators’
LOCKDOWN DRY RUN. Police from the Manila Police District conduct a dry run of a lockdown in the capital city, where individuals are prohibited from entering and leaving Metro Manila from March 15 to April 14 to prevent the spread of coronavirus. Norman Cruz
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Cops to impose order as metrowide quarantine rolls out midnight tonight
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The Regional Mobile Force Battalion of the National Capital Region Police Office will man all checkpoints in entry and exit points of the metropolis during the implementation of a community quarantine beginning Sunday, NCRPO chief Maj. Gen. Debold Sinas said.
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This developed as the government on Friday said it will issue guidelines for the suspension of travel to and from the National Capital Region (NCR) to avoid confusion once the community quarantine in Metro Manila takes effect.“We will arrest those who will not follow the guidelines,” Sinas said, adding that if somebody violates the quarantine and enters the region, the person would be charged with violation of quarantine law and the Revised Penal Code.“So that they know that if you violate it, you will be apprehended.
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Ano ang gagawin naming dialogue? [What dialogue?] Those who will violate will be arrested. We will file charges once they violate,” he warned.Sinas assured mediamen that all policemen to be deployed would have protective gear and their police cars would be sanitized and disinfected.He added that roads to be closed were already identified and would be recommended to Philippine National Police chief, Gen. Archie Francisco Gamboa, for approval.
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“We have already identified these roads. Recommending it to Camp Crame. If they will approve, then we will implement this. Those roads going to Region 3 or Region 4, all of them were identified,” he stressed.
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In a press briefing in Malacañang, Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles said there will be exemptions to the rule, particularly on cargo, goods, produce, patients seeking medical attention in Metro Manila, and workers in NCR living outside the quarantined area.The Palace official also assured Metro Manila residents they need not worry about the supply of produce, food, and other supplies in groceries as the transport of goods will continue, subject to guidelines.“We will give out the details on exemptions for the patients, cargo, workers, and even government officials who are going to different places,” he said.Nograles said workers living outside Metro Manila will need to show some kind of ID to get through checkpoints.Nograles said private motorists will also be covered by the travel ban, noting that police will be posted along the borders of Metro Manila.“You cannot enter or leave Metro Manila unless you show proof to law enforcers that you’re [covered by the] exemptions,” Nograles added..
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The Palace official also said that the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) will remain open for international flights, but travelers flying to Metro Manila once the community quarantine starts on March 15 will have to stay within the metropolis until the domestic travel restriction is lifted.“Regarding international flights, flights from Metro Manila going to and coming from abroad will be allowed, subject to travel restrictions that are currently in place,” Nograles said.The Cabinet official also urged travelers whose destination is in the provinces to fly into the country through Clark and other airports outside Metro Manila.
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“Anyone flying in from abroad via NAIA will remain in Metro Manila until the domestic travel ban is lifted,” Nograles said.“If the ultimate destination is in the provinces, we suggest you fly in via Clark, Cebu and other airports not under quarantine so you can proceed to your ultimate destination in the provinces,” he added.During the emergency, President Rodrigo Duterte will stay in Manila to preside over Cabinet meetings daily for the duration of the community quarantine, Palace spokesman Salvador Panelo said.Earlier, Duterte and his constant companion, Senator Christopher Go, underwent testing for COVID-19, but the Palace has not released the results.“We are not doing this because we have symptoms of COVID-19. We are doing this to ensure that we are fit and healthy to engage the public and perform our duties in the coming days and weeks,” Go said.Panelo said that Metro Manila is under a community quarantine that will suspend land, domestic air, and domestic sea travel to and from Metro Manila from March 15 to April 14, 2020.
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“The President chose to remain in the capital despite a plea from his partner, Honeylet Avanceña, to fly to his hometown Davao City, where he usually spends his weekends,” Panelo said.“He’s the President. And he says no because the face of the country is Manila and the President had to be here so I’ll be here,’” Panelo said in a television interview.“The quarantine will be implemented by the local government units assisted by the law enforcement agencies. And also the response will be swift because all the heads of departments are there to be apprised of any disturbing development and give an immediate and appropriate response,” Panelo added.Duterte placed Metro Manila under community quarantine after the Department of Health (DOH) upgraded its alert on COVID-19 from Code Red 1 Sublevel 1 to Sublevel 2, due to evidence of community transmission and prevalence of cases beyond what the government can address.
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The World Health Organization (WHO) now considers COVID-19 a pandemic, which describes sustained outbreaks in multiple regions of the world.The Bureau of Immigration (BI) said it will bar foreign visitors coming from countries with localized COVID-19 outbreaks starting next week as part of the government’s program to stop the spread of the deadly virus.BI spokesperson Dana Sandoval also urged Filipinos to postpone non-essential travel, but said Filipino citizens, their foreign spouse and children and holders of permanent resident and diplomat visas will be allowed to enter the country in any international airport and seaport in the country.
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She said it is best to defer travel for leisure.“This issue is already bigger than individuals, communities, or our country. It’s a worldwide concern. Hence we all do our part, and make sacrifices to prevent the further spread of this virus,” Sandoval said.President Rodrigo Duterte on Thursday night announced an entry ban on persons coming from countries with localized COVID-19 transmissions, except for Filipino citizens, their foreign spouse and children, and holders of permanent resident and diplomat visas.She said persons from Metro Manila can leave for abroad before the imposition of any travel ban and that they will be undergone an assessment from the Bureau of Quarantine upon their return.“An advisory will be released once we clarify the scope of the ban,” she said.
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The Armed Forces of the Philippines said it is ready to assist the Philippine National Police to implement community quarantine measures in Metro Manila.AFP chief of staff Gen. Felimon Santos Jr. said the AFP has enough personnel, including emergency medical teams, who can be deployed in different areas implementing the community quarantine.Meanwhile, the Philippine National Police is still awaiting specific guidelines from the IAFT on how to enforce the community quarantine.The PNP will be setting up checkpoints in different areas in Metro Manila to prevent travel to and from the National Capital Region.Meanwhile, the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) suspended work Friday to give way for the disinfection of the entire building.The Department of the National Defense, for its part, said they will maintain a skeletal civilian workforce for its frontline services and other critical office functions.
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“Our other civilian bureaus, specifically the Philippine Veterans Affairs Office, Office of Civil Defense, National Defense College of the Philippines and Government Arsenal are encouraged to adopt their own workforce measures to ensure the continuity of frontline and essential services, such as the processing of veterans claims and production of materiel,” Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said in a statement.Lorenzana also directed the implementation of the guidelines issued by the IATF including social distancing measures, enforcement of proper workplace hygiene, and early medical treatment when symptoms appear.Despite the implementation of community quarantine and travel ban in Metro Manila, Nograles said the government’s frontline services will continue.Nograles said skeletal staffing patterns and telecommuting may be considered to ensure that public services remain uninterrupted.In a memorandum circular released Wednesday, the Civil Service Commission encouraged all government offices to adopt “either or both” the four-day workweek and shifting work schedules.
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Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez said the operations of private companies in Metro Manila would not be stopped.Lopez said banks, offices, and factories would continue to operate during the community quarantine in Metro Manila.Nograles said the private sector, too, can also adopt flexible work schemes.“For the private sector, we urge employers to adopt the (flexible) work arrangements that were outlined in a labor advisory that was issued by the Department of Labor and Employment,” he said.Nograles also urged media not to use the term “lockdown,” as this could alarm the public and fuel panic. Senate President Vicente Sotto III echoed this sentiment.
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Senator Panfilo Lacson supported the community quarantine despite the inconvenience it brings.“[The] government must lose no time in coming up with practical but effective ways of implementing it to serve its real purpose for our country to survive this unprecedented crisis that we are facing,” Lacson said.He said the inter-agency task force headed by the Department of Health should issue clear, simple and concise guidelines on how to deal with COVID-19 to prevent confusion among the public.
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NATIONAL
COVID roundup
There will be no Masses in all churches under the Archdiocese of Manila, which covers five cities in Metro Manila, for six days starting on Saturday after the alert on COVID-19 was raised to Code Red Sub-level 2.“We are enjoined to avoid large gatherings of people to avert the further spread of the virus. We heed this call not with panic but with care for charity to others and the common good,” said Apostolic Administrator and Bishop Broderick Pabillo in a Pastoral Letter dated March 13.“Hence in the Archdiocese of Manila, I dispense all the faithful from the obligation of going to Mass this Sunday,” Pabillo said of the area that covers the cities of Manila, Makati, San Juan, Mandaluyong and Pasay. “There will be no public celebration of the Holy Mass and no public activities in all the churches in the Archdiocese for seven day, starting Saturday, March 14, till Friday, March 20,” he added.
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Attendance in Masses discouraged
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Health Secretary Francisco Duque III has urged the public to stop attending Masses and to stop going to cinemas.“We will stop it for now because that is where the virus will come from. It is like a petri dish,” said Duque when asked if the Health department will recommend a stop to attending Masses.
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Two optionsThe Health department is eyeing two options to ensure a continuing learning in schools following the month-long COVID-19 quarantine in Metro Manila.The agency is working on a “transmutation formula” for students in Metro Manila and in other cities with class suspension, where the grades in the first three quarters will be averaged, Education Undersecretary Alain del Pascua said in a briefing.Online tests and learning through mobile devices is also being considered, he said.
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Coverage expanded
The Bureau of Corrections on Friday expanded the coverage of the suspension of visitation rights of inmates from the New Bilibid Prison in Muntinlupa City and its six other penal colonies to control the spread of COVID-19.Earlier, the bureau implemented a suspension of the visitation for families and loved ones of inmates that started on March 11 and to last for one week.
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Continuous delivery The Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development on Friday assured the public of a continuing delivery of public service despite the COVID-19 scare.Secretary Eduardo del Rosario issued a number of guidelines, including enforcing a four-day work week, to ensure the continued delivery of public service as well as the agency’s policy-making functions.“There will be a continuing public service, normal functions of the department will be done with enough workforce in the office to adequately address the concerns of our stakeholders,” Del Rosario said.
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Plea for workersThe labor group Partido Manggagawa on Friday urged the government to ensure the workers’ welfare and civil liberties once the so-called community quarantine is imposed in Metro Manila starting March 15. “President Duterte’s order to lock down Metro Manila for 30 days opens the way for workers’ rights and civil liberties to be violated. Freedom of assembly should not be sacrificed since community organizations and civil society groups should be able to meet and deliberate on urgent matters including a proper covid response,” Rene Magtubo, PM national chairman, said in a statement.“We wanted to hear President Duterte mobilize public and private resources, especially health personnel, to combat COVID 19, but instead all we heard was the mobilization of police and soldiers. Will checkpoints be manned by health workers with test kits or just police with guns?” With Macon Ramos-Araneta, Rey E. Requejo, Willie Casas and Vito Barcelo/ by Manila Standard
