DILG to LGUs: Barangay lockdowns must be ‘based on science’
Published May 13, 2020 6:34:49 PM
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, May 13) — Decisions on placing certain barangays under lockdown during the quarantine period must be based on science, the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) advised local authorities in a Laging Handa virtual briefing on Wednesday.
Under the zoning scheme announced by the government on Tuesday, local government units (LGUs) under modified enhanced community quarantine may declare a lockdown on select barangays or areas depending on the number of COVID-19 cases there to contain the spread of the disease.
DILG Undersecretary and Spokesperson Jonathan Malaya said local government chiefs may declare such restrictions without seeking the approval of the national Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) nor permission from the department.
However, he requested that they consult first with health officials as they make their decision. Provincial authorities, meanwhile, must seek the guidance of the regional IATF, he added.
“Ang gusto po natin mangyari sa ating quarantine, especially if it’s going to be a lockdown of a barangay, eh based po kailangan ito sa science; data-driven,” Malaya said. “So kung ano po ang lumalabas sa datos ng DOH, yun po sana ang maging guide ng ating mga mayor at gobernador.”
[Translation: What we want to happen during our quarantine, especially if it’s going to be a lockdown of a barangay, is that it has to be based on science; data-driven. So whatever comes out from DOH data, I hope that will serve as a guide for our mayors and governors.]
High-risk areas Metro Manila, Laguna province, and Cebu City have been placed under modified enhanced community quarantine from May 16 to May 31.
Moderate-risk provinces are placed under general community quarantine until the end of May, while a modified general community quarantine has been declared on low-risk provinces.
The Philippines currently has 11,618 confirmed cases of COVID-19. A total of 772 have succumbed to the deadly virus, while 2,251 have recovered from it.
