LGUs allowed to implement ‘granular’ lockdown in case of surge in COVID19 cases
December 7, 2020, 6:56 PM
Presidential spokesman Harry Roque explained that granular or localized lockdown has become the policy enforced by the government’s pandemic task force to strike a balance between safeguarding public health and revitalizing the economy.
Roque made the clarification after blaming government critics and detractors for allegedly spreading false information about a supposed nationwide lockdown this Christmas season. Rumors on the alleged holiday lockdown from Dec. 23 to Jan. 3, 2021 circulated on social media over the weekend.
“Alam naman natin na unti-unting binubuksan ang ating ekonomiya at sa pagbubukas na ito, kinakailangang balansehin ang kaligtasan ng mamamayan at economic health ng bansa. Kung may pagtaas man ng mga bagong kaso, ipatutupad ang isang granular or localized lockdown. ‘Iyan na po talaga ang polisiya ng IATF (Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Infectious Diseases). Ang magpapatupad nito ay ang local government units (We know that we are gradually opening up the economy and with the reopening, we must balance the safety of our people and the economic health of the country. If there is an increase in new cases, a granular or localized lockdown will be implemented. That’s the policy of the IATF. It will be enforced by the local government units),” Roque said during a televised press briefing.
“Ano ba ang ibig sabihin ng granular o localized lockdown? Iri-restrict ang isang specific area tulad ng isang household, isang compound o isang kalye kung saan ang mga residente ay na-expose o maaaring na-expose sa coronavirus (What does granular or localized lockdown mean? A specific area like a household, compound or a tree where residents have been exposed or can be exposed to the coronavirus will be restricted),” he said.
Roque maintained that the rumors about the supposed nationwide lockdown this Christmas season was far from the truth. He said President Duterte has already announced the country’s quarantine classification status for the month of December. The next quarantine status will be for January 2021.
From Dec. 1 to 31, the country is largely under the modified general community quarantine, the most relaxed of the four risk classification implemented by the government.
Metro Manila, Batangas, Iloilo City, Tacloban City, Iligan City, Lanao del Sur, Davao City, and Davao del Norte are currently under general community quarantine (GCQ) in the same period. Local government units are authorized to declare a localized community quarantine in critical areas with COVID transmission.
“Labing-walong tulog na lang at Pasko na, ngunit ang mga kritiko at detractors ng administrasyon ay patuloy sa pagkakalat ng pekeng balita para sirain ang Pasko ng mga Pilipino. Isang fake news ang kanilang pinakalat nitong weekend kung saan sinabi na magkakaroon daw ng nationwide lockdown ngayong Kapaskuhan – malayo po ito sa katotohanan (It’s 18 days before Christmas and yet the critics and detractors of the administration continue to spread false news to ruin Christmas for Filipinos. They peddled fake news on the alleged nationwide lockdown this Christmas. It is far from the truth),” Roque said.
Roque said the Palace understands the concern of some people about a potential surge in cases due to the presence of holiday shoppers in flea markets and malls. He stressed that the nation must learn to live with the coronavirus by observing health protocols, such as physical distancing, to curb the spread of the disease.
Roque also called for public vigilance against false information about the country’s quarantine level. “Para hindi tayo ma-fake news, kinakailangang suriin natin ang ating nakukuhang impormasyon lalo na kung ito ay magdudulot ng alarma, pangamba, takot at stress (To avoid falling for fake news, we must verify the information especially if it will cause alarm, fear and stress),” he said.
The government has decided to relax the country’s movement restrictions in a bid to revive the business activities and employment. The local economy has been hit hard by the strict lockdown implemented early this year to slow down the spread of the disease.
SOURCE: https://mb.com.ph/2020/12/07/lgus-allowed-to-implement-granular-lockdown-in-case-of-surge-in-covid-19-cases/
