Follow protocol on nCoV, LGUs urged

MANILA, Philippines — President Duterte has ordered local government units, especially barangay officials, to follow the Department of Health (DOH)’s protocols in handling the threat posed by the 2019 novel coronavirus as the first batch of repatriated Filipinos arrive on Saturday from Hubei province in China.

Presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo revealed the President’s directive discussed at last Tuesday’s Cabinet meeting.

Officials who fail or refuse to follow protocols set by the DOH would suffer severe sanction.

“The Chief Executive then noted that officials on the ground, particularly barangay captains, should act in accordance with the tempo dictated by the national government or face charges for non-feasance,” Panelo said yesterday.

Duterte also directed Health Secretary Francisco Duque III to personally make sure that the needs of the repatriated Filipino workers would be taken care of while they are on quarantine at the 10,000-bed capacity drug rehabilitation center constructed at Fort Magsaysay in Nueva Ecija, where about 5,000 beds have been set aside for the quarantine area.

“The arrival of the initial batch of repatriated Filipinos will be on Saturday at the Clark Airport and transportation to Fort Magsaysay has already been prepared. The President instructed the health secretary to go to the site to properly address the people affected in detail,” Panelo said.

“President Duterte expressed his concerns about the welfare of the Filipinos flying from China or its Special Administrative Regions to the country. Secretary Duque reported that they are now preparing Fort Magsaysay in Nueva Ecija as a quarantine area, which can accommodate 10,000 individuals,” Panelo added.

The first batch of repatriated Filipino would come mostly from Wuhan, epicenter of the mysterious disease.

During the Cabinet meeting, Duterte also directed the Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) to strengthen the information campaign to allow more people to understand the new strand of coronavirus.  

Duterte also stressed the need to caution the public the virus, instructing the PCOO to scale up its information drive on preventive measures.

“The President commented that the Filipino public must observe the protocols and rules designed to combat the virus,” Panelo said.

“To this end, he instructed the PCOO to spend more time in informing the public of the health advisories and guidelines laid out by our health experts with an assurance that if the public will just observe the same, then they should be safe from being infected by the virus,” Panelo said.

During the Cabinet meeting, Panelo said Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade reported on the quarantine measures of the government especially at air and sea ports.

Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra reported that the Bureau of Immigration is implementing a general restriction of entry for individuals coming from China.

For his part, Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Ernesto Pernia discussed the economic impact of the travel ban and how it could result in a global economic slowdown.

Education Secretary Briones gave assurance that they are committed to protect the interest of students and learners. She said the Department of Education would strictly follow the DOH protocol, adding her department has issued advisories discouraging school activities requiring close interaction.