Duterte Places Entire Luzon On Enhanced Community Quarantine

Written by Marc Adrian

The entire Luzon is now placed on “Enhanced Community Quarantine” to contain the spread of the COVID-19, as announced by President Rodrigo Duterte earlier today at Malacañang.

According to Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo, President Duterte just announced an enhanced community quarantine in the entire Luzon after he met with several government officials at the presidential palace to discuss developments on the COVID-19 situation in the country.

President Duterte convenes the IATF-EID to discuss developments in the COVID-19 situation in the country. 📷: Sen. Bong Go @gmanews pic.twitter.com/AMPFqmsA9x

— Virgil Lopez (@virgillopez) March 16, 2020

During the enhanced community quarantine, a strict home quarantine will be implemented in all households, transportation will be suspended, provision for food and essential health services will be regulated and the presence of uniformed personnel to enforce quarantine procedures will be heightened.

This decision by the government was precedented by Senator Sherwin Gatchalian, Interior Secretary Eduardo Año, and Speaker Salvador Panelo’s recommendation to lock down Metro Manila completely after the 2nd day of the general community quarantine in the region. 

In his interview, Panelo told reporters that it’s now a matter of national survival. 

This is a matter of national survival, we have to be resigned to that fact. This is a matter of life and death. The only way to stop this is for us to help ourselves.

The Philippines has so far recorded 140 COVID-19 cases, including 12 deaths, according to the Department of Health.

Meanwhile, Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano and House Minority Leader Benny Abante proposed for the expansion of the community lockdown to the Greater Manila Area. According to them, it is a step forward in containing the coronavirus. He expressed his support for the quarantine and hopes that it will also be implemented throughout greater Metra Manila and to be a little bit more strict. 

Cayetano also cited the challenges with the implementation, given how huge the volume of people in Metro Manila is. He assured that some adjustments will be done along the way and hopes that the rest of the country is paying attention to Metro Manila so that their own local governments can learn from their mistakes and make the adjustments. 

The number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in the Philippines is currently 140, with 12 deaths and 5 recoveries, according to the Department of Health (DOH).

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