The Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) is authorized to monitor COVID-19 patients undergoing home quarantine, an official of the Department of Health (DoH) said.

“Dati pa natin pinapatupad ito na ang ating DILG through their local governments -- thru local officials, the barangay health emergency response teams, may authority sila na mag monitor ng ganitong pangyayari sa kanilang mga lugar (We have been doing this -- that our DILG through their local governments -- through local officials, the barangay health emergency response teams -- they have the authority to monitor such developments in their areas),” said Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire.
“Itong (The) barangay health emergency response teams -- they are in charge of monitoring these patients who are going in home quarantine,” she added.
Vergeire made the pronouncement after DILG Secretary Eduardo Ano said that local government unit personnel and policemen are set to do house-to-house search for mild or asymptomatic COVID-19 patients undergoing home quarantine and transfer them to government isolation facilities.
The Health official said that home quarantine is still allowed as long as the strict guidelines set by the DoH are met to avoid transmission of the virus.
Patients who would opt for home quarantine should have their own bedrooms, own bathrooms, absence of vulnerable individuals -- such as elderly people and pregnant women -- in the house, and can be monitored by the local government units.
“Kung hindi mo mami-meet kahit isa lang sa requirements na ito, it is better and it is recommended na doon ka dapat sa temporary treatment and monitoring facilities (If you do not meet even one of these requirements, it is better and it is recommended that you should be transferred to temporary treatment and monitoring facilities),” said Vergeire.