President Duterte, along with his cabinet officials and visibly uniformed military personnel, addressed the nation that officially declared the entire Metro Manila under community quarantine & concerns about the COVID-19 outbreak in the Philippines as CODE RED SUB LEVEL 2, the highest national health emergency level is declared last March 12, 2020 at 9 PM in the evening. Karlo Nograles, Cabinet Secretary, clarified that this is “not a lockdown” contrary to the terminology used by Duterte yesterday. Included in the address were also the different stipulations and responsibilities of the inter-agency task force for COVID-19 which will see collaboration between the departments of National Defense, Health, Environment and Natural Resources, Culture, Education, Trade and Industry, Labor and Employment, Transportation, the Philippine Navy, Philippine Air Force, and Coast Guard.

NOTABLE ANNOUNCEMENTS

Notable announcements during the address were the suspension of all land, sea, and air travel in and out of Metro Manila from March 15 (12 mn) until April 12 (2 pm) but MRT, LRT, and PNR will remain operational, as well as the suspension of classes to be extended until April 12, 2020. International travel, however, is still permitted and entry of Filipinos & their immediate family will be allowed, provided they undergo quarantine. Foreigners will also be allowed to enter the entry point of Manila also under quarantine measures, but not allowed to go to continue onwards to domestic destinations. Barangay-wide quarantine is being advised if there are 2 or more COVID-19 cases in the community as well as municipality or city wide quarantine should 2 local barangay/s become plagued with the virus, upon the discretion of the Local Government Units (LGUs).

PNP AND AFP INVOLVEMENT: NOT MARTIAL LAW

Duterte reiterated the military and police’s vital deployment as roles in “assuring compliance with the community quarantine and the interagency taskforce’s measures, as well as enabling Barangay officials to conduct arrests of mass gatherings. He also stressed that such action does not constitute Martial Law. It was also mentioned that the public prevent from neither panicking nor belittling the impact of the virus, and pleaded for compliance from the Filipino people in practicing good hygiene and following the advice of medical professionals

STATE OF WORKERS AND ECONOMIC ACTIVITY IN AND OUT METRO MANILA

In the plight of workers, work in the executive department and national offices will be suspended, with the exception of skeletal teams (volunteers, selected employees). Meanwhile, flexible work arrangement is being encouraged in the private sector. DOLE and DTI will issue guidelines to safeguard workers but also allow the continuation of commerce and economic activity, provided social distancing measures will be observed. Cargo both food and non-food supplies will be unimpeded in their transactions to and fro the metropolitan capital area. Workers from nearby provinces will be allowed to enter Metro Manila provided documents are presented. On the other hand, OFWs will be allowed to travel to Mainland China except to Hubei Province.

PRAISES AND EXASPERATIONS THROUGHOUT THE SPEECH

“Putang itong virus na ito, papasok yan sa katawan mo yan like AIDS, make you weak and allow all germs to go into ur body, usually in Pneumonia. But we are here to serve you, and everyday we are meeting and in contact with the country”

Duterte remarked such as he urged the public to get tested if they manifest symptoms and assures that testing for COVID-19 is free

Ranting about how the youth should comply with authorities and uphold their studies despite the suspension of classes, praising Senator Bong Go’s contributions and President XiJinPing’s offer of aid to the Philippines whilst denouncing “lazy” barangay officials, and responses to criticisms about the administration’s response were also a part of President Duterte’s address of lack of “structure” in emergency response.

“My god yung structure natin is to help, meron yan silang regional all over, at provincial/city health. Yung national yan yung regional center, they are well equipped, nag-aral na yan kung anong gawin nila, so sumunod lang tayo at hihingi ko sa inyo konting pasensya lang for your own good.”

The president also assured the public that such will merely create a public disturbance, urging Filipinos to continue on with their lives, declaring that the inter-agency resolution’s measures will be converted to an executive order to ensure compliance.