THE government will be more aggressive in implementing quarantine protocols in areas under general community quarantine (GCQ), Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said on Tuesday.
“Bagama’t ang Manila po ay nasa GCQ ‘no, walang pagbabago. Ang binitawang salita po ng ating chief implementer at saka ni Secretary Año ay mas magiging agresibo tayo sa pagpapatupad ng GCQ,” Roque said, referring to National Task Force Against Covid-19 chief implementer Carlito Galvez Jr. and Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Eduardo Año.
He said localized lockdowns will be imposed in high-risk areas as authorized by the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases.
“At gagamitin natin iyong IATF resolution na nagbibigay kapangyarihan sa mga mayor na magkaroon ng mga local lockdowns on the basis of barangays, zones, roads, subdivisions or building,” Roque said.
“Asahan po natin ang mas malawakang localized lockdown bagama’t ang Metro Manila po ay nasa GCQ. Ito po iyong pamamaraan talaga para mapabagal natin ang pagbagal ng sakit dahil alam naman natin na kinakailangang buksan ang ekonomiya,” he added.
Roque also announced the latest directives given by the IATF.
He said the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) will establish an office that shall receive questions and concerns.
The PPA is responsible for financing, management and operations of public ports nationwide, except the Port of Cebu.
“Una po, ang mga rekomendasyon ng DOTr (Department of Transportation) na magpalabas ng mga sumusunod na direktiba. Ang pagbuo ng complaints office sa ilalim ng Philippines Ports Authority na tatanggap at sasagot sa lahat ng mga reklamo,” Roque said.
The IATF also instructed shipping companies to allot cargo space for agricultural products.
“Pangalawa po, ang paglalagay ng minimum na walong oras na libreng oras na panahon bawat shipping line. Ang paghihikayat sa lahat ng domestic shipping lines na magbigay ng porsyente ng cargo space sa bawat biyahe eksklusibo para sa agrikultura, agricultural and food products and to charge preference rates on such agricultural and food products,” Roque said.
Lawyers or legal representatives are also allowed to travel to represent clients who were charged for violating quarantine protocols.
“Naamyendahan din po ang Omnibus Guidelines para payagan ang transit ng mga abogado na magbibigay ng legal representation sa mga taong inaresto sa panahon ng ECQ,” Roque said.
“So mga abogado po diyan sa Talisay at saka sa Cebu, bagama’t stay at home po ang lahat, pupuwede po ninyong puntahan ang inyong mga kliyente na may problema po sa mga alagad ng batas,” he added.
President Rodrigo Duterte announced late Monday evening that Metro Manila will remain under GCQ until the end of the month, while Cebu City will revert to enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) because of the rising cases of Covid-19.
Other areas that will be under GCQ until June 30 are Isabela, Nueva Vizcaya, Quirino and Santiago City in Cagayan Valley; Aurora, Bataan, Bulacan, Olongapo, Tarlac in Central Luzon; Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon in Calabarzon; Occidental Mindoro in Mimaropa all in Luzon; Bohol, Cebu province, Negros Oriental, Siquijor, Mandaue City, and Lapu-Lapu City in the Visayas; and Davao City and Zamboanga City in Mindanao. (SunStar Philippines)