Village officials should ensure that people remain inside their homes during Luzon’s “enhanced” community quarantine, Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Eduardo Año said today, or else they too could face charges.
In a statement on the DILG’s website today, Año described the monthlong quarantine as a “total lockdown” that people should take seriously.
“This is a total lockdown. This is not a joke. You should ensure that residents are not roaming around in your area and people are not meeting up for we are trying to lessen the movement of people to the barest minimum. But if they are going to buy food or medicines or they’re going to the hospital, you have to allow them [to do that],” he said in English and Filipino.
Año sent a memorandum to village officials telling them that they must take the lead in enforcing the quarantine. He said that public events such as fiestas, parades, and religious events should be banned, and venues like cockfighting pits, computer gaming shops, and playgrounds should also be closed.
Village officials who do not strictly enforce the quarantine will be charged with gross neglect of duty, gross negligence, and insubordination, Año warned.
He also encouraged officials to establish Barangay Health Emergency Response Teams (BHERTs) and Barangay Isolation Units (BIUs). The BHERTs should visit the homes of people who exhibit COVID-19 symptoms, and track down those who have just arrived from a coronavirus-affected country. COVID-19 patients can stay at the BIUs in the event hospitals are overwhelmed with patients.
The Philippines currently has 193 COVID-19 cases, with 14 patients dead. Seven patients so far have fully recovered from the disease. The government has estimated that the number of cases could reach as high as 75,000 within three months.
