The Department of the Interior and Local Governments (DILG) has directed barangay officials to identify their residents who have yet to receive Covid-19 vaccines, amid new restrictions on unvaccinated individuals ordered by President Rodrigo Duterte.

In a “Laging Handa” briefing, Interior Undersecretary Jonathan Malaya said the order would help barangays restrict the movement of unvaccinated individuals.

“Para po masiguro iyong datos natin ng mga unvaccinated, nagpalabas po si [Interior Secretary Eduardo Año] ng memorandum circular para magsagawa ng imbentaryo ang lahat ng mga barangay sa buong bansa para malaman iyong mga hindi pa nagpapabakuna sa mga barangay,” Malaya said.

“It all begins with an inventory and then pag mayroon na po tayong imbentaryo doon na po i-implement ng LGU (local government unit) through a ordinance iyong mga restrictions sa movement ng mga unvaccinated individuals,” he added.

Malaya earlier said that the inventories would be submitted monthly to the DILG.

Duterte last week ordered barangay officials to restrain the movement of unvaccinated individuals and only allow them to go outside their homes for essential activities.

“I’m now giving orders to the barangay captains to look for those persons who are not vaccinated and just would request them or order them, if you may, to stay put,” Duterte said in his “Talk to the People” address.

The Philippines on Wednesday recorded 32,246 new Covid-19 cases, the second-most since the pandemic started. John Ezekiel J. Hirro