MANILA – As the Department of Health (DOH) raised the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) alert level to 2, President Rodrigo Duterte placed Metro Manila on “community quarantine” for at least 30 days.
In an address to the nation last night, the President said people in Metro Manila will not be allowed to travel out by land, local air travel and local sea travel beginning March 15 until April 14. Travel to the region will also be prohibited.
He, however, refused to call it a lockdown.
“Hindi ito martial law. It’s not even something extraordinary,” Duterte said. “If you are advised, just obey. It’s for your own good. I hate it but you have to do it because there’s a crisis engulfing the country right now.”
The lockdown covers 16 cities and one municipality of Metro Manila, as recommended by the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) on the coronavirus outbreak.
The Light Rail Transit, Metro Rail Transit and the Philippine National Railways, however, will continue operation, with the Transportation department tasked to issue guidelines to ensure social distancing on the trains.
Under Section 6 Article III of the Constitution, the government has the power to limit the right of people to travel if it is “in the interest of national security, public safety, or public health, as may be provided by law.”
The recommendation also imposed “community quarantine” over the entire Metro Manila where mass gathering are prohibited. Suspension of classes has also been extended until April 12, Easter Sunday.
Even with class suspension, students are still required to fulfill their academic requirements. The local government is tasked to ensure that students remain at home during the period.
Work in the executive branch is also suspended until April 12, except for a skeletal workforce to ensure continuous delivery of services to the public.
The legislative and judicial branches of government are encouraged to implement the same.
Work in the private sector continues, but the government encourages flexible work arrangements. All manufacturing, retail and service establishments are advised to remain in operation.
The IATF also allowed community quarantine for other areas, with the following guidelines:
* barangay-wide quarantine – when there are at least two positive coronavirus cases living in different households
* municipality or city-wide quarantine – when there are at least two positive coronavirus cases living in different barangays
* province-wide quarantine – when there are at least two positive coronavirus cases living in different municipalities, component cities, or independent component cities in the province
“Let’s help each other. Delikado talaga, totoo ang crisis na ito kasi walang gamot,” President Duterte said. “Kaunting pasensya lang, this is for your own good.”
The Philippines currently has a total of 52 confirmed cases, including two casualties. Most of the patients are admitted in various hospitals in Luzon, mostly Metro Manila, but a hospital in Dumaguete City and Cagayan de Oro City each have one patient./PN
