The government may shift to implementing lockdowns at the barangay level instead of placing an entire region under community quarantine, chief implementer of the government’s coronavirus response Carlito Galvez announced Tuesday.
In a bid to protect the country’s “economic corridor,” Galvez said barangay-level lockdown may be declared depending on the number of coronavirus cases in the area.
“Ang ginagawa po natin ngayon, Mr. President, baka hindi na tayo mag-declare ng lockdown per ano — per region, but ang lockdown na lang natin nito by barangay,” he said during a public briefing with President Duterte aired on state television.
He said the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) will give the guidance to the local government units on the declaration of barangay-level lockdowns.
He said they intend to localize the National Action Plan on the coronavirus response though the local government units.
“For example may isang compound na apat na pamilya ang affected, iyon po ang ila-lockdown po natin. At hindi po nating hahayaan sila na magkaroon ng infections doon sa mga economic corridor po natin. We have to preserve ‘yung economic corridor po natin,” he said.
The government moved to gradually relax the lockdown measures in several places, allowing partial opening of more businesses in a bid to jumpstart the economy affected by the coronavirus pandemic.
Only two places, namely Cebu City and Mandaue City, are under enhanced community quarantine until the end of the month to stem the spread of the coronavirus.
Metro Manila, Bataan, Bulacan, Nueva Ecija, Pampanga, Zambales, Angeles City and Laguna have been placed under modified ECQ wherein public transportation remain suspended but more businesses are allowed to partially open.
All moderate and low risk areas will be under the more relaxed general community quarantine. (Genalyn Kabiling)