THE Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) on Wednesday, March 11, ordered the postponement of the barangay assembly as part of the social distancing strategy to prevent the spread of the coronavirus disease (Covid-19).

“While the holding of the barangay assembly day is important, we need to think of the greater good and ensure the general welfare of our people,” DILG Secretary Eduardo Año said in a statement.

“Sa harap ng banta ng Covid-19, mas mainam na iwasan natin muna ang mga malakihang pagpupulong para hindi na dumami pa ang mga kaso ng covid-19,” he added.

The barangay assembly is a biannual meeting held on any Saturday and Sunday of March and October as mandated by Section 397 of the Local Government Code of 1991.

Barangay chairpersons deliver the State-of-the Barangay Address to report his/her accomplishments and plans and programs for the year, as well as discuss with his/her constituents the problems of the barangay and proposed solutions.

The DILG chief said the increasing number of Covid-19 cases warrants decisive measures from the government such as postponing barangay assemblies and the cooperation of the public that would help avert a more serious scenario.

“Sa panahong ito, kailangan natin ng mabilisang aksyon at kooperasyon ng lahat ng sektor at publiko sa mga ipinapatupad na hakbang ng pamahalaan dahil ito naman ay para sa kapakanan din nating lahat,” said Año.

As part of preventive measures against Covid-19, the DILG earlier urged the public and the LGUs to postpone all mass gatherings as a social distancing measure as recommended by the Department of Health Expert Advisory Group to lower the number of people exposed to the virus, the risk of transmission per contact, and the average viral load.

There are 33 cases of Covid-19 in the country as of Wednesday. The DOH raised Code Red sub-level 1 shortly after local transmission was confirmed.

This also prompted President Rodrigo Duterte to declare a State of Public Health Emergency. (SunStar Philippines)