Palace spokesman Harry Roque
Five weeks into the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) over the whole of Luzon, Palace spokesman Harry Roque reminded local government units (LGUs) to follow the president’s order of strictly enforcing the lockdown in their respective localities.
“Panawagan po ng Presidente sa lahat ng Mayor, sa lahat ng Barangay Captains, ipatupad nyo po ang ECQ sa inyong mga LGUs. May kapangyarihan po ang Presidente na parusahan ang mga Mayor at ang mga Barangay Captain na nagiging pabaya sa ganitong katungkulan,” said Roque.
The Palace official also reminded mayors and governors that Republic Act No. 11469, or the “Bayanihan To Heal As One Act,” penalizes failure to abide by the ECQ, as well as failure to properly impose it at the LGU level.
The Palace spokesman reminded Filipinos to abide and strictly follow the ECQ protocols in place. He emphasized that staying inside homes and following social distancing measures were the only ways Filipinos could help flatten the curve or the spread of Covid-19.
“Nakakalungkot po na bagama’t tayo’y nag extend ng ECQ ay hindi pa rin natin nafa-flatten ang curve. Kaya nga po paulit-ulit nating sinasabi, kinakailangan lahat tayo maging “homeliners,” wala na pong ibang pamamaraan para mapabagal ang pagkalat ng sakit na ito kung hindi po sa pamamagitan ng ECQ at ng social distancing,” the spokesman stressed.
The Philippines has topped the list of Asean countries with the most number of Covid-19 cases, he noted.
Roque cited the government’s efforts to mitigate the impact of Covid-19 on the poor and vulnerable. These include P65-billion worth of Social Amelioration Program given to 1,228 LGUs; the P206-million Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantages/Displaced Workers (Tupad) given to 118,086 workers in the informal sector, and the P840-million Covid-19 Adjustment Measures Program (CAMP) given to 167,941 workers in the formal sector. In the transport sector, 15,854 public utility vehicle drivers have already received cash assistance.
Government employees can also avail themselves of a P20,000 emergency loan from the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS), while those in the private sector can avail of a P20,000 calamity loan. PAG-IBIG Fund members, on the other hand hand, can get a three-month moratorium from their loans. (PressONE.ph)