President Duterte is prepared to tighten movement curbs in communities if warranted especially in the face of the threat of the more contagious coronavirus variant.
According to Presidential spokesman Harry Roque, the President won't hesitate to place an area under the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) in a bid to protect the "total health" of the people especially after the Delta coronavirus variant has been detected in the country.
Health authorities earlier reported the rising cases of the highly transmissible Delta variant in the country, including three deaths. The latest virus threat comes amid the government's aggressive vaccination drive.
"Ang Presidente naman po ay nagri-rely sa mga expert opinion ng mga dalubhasa na taga-DOH (Department of Health) at mga taga-NTF (National Task Force against COVID-19) and will not hesitate, in fact, to increase iyong community quarantines if there are grounds to do so; at napakita na po niya iyan (The President relies on the opinion of experts from the DOH and NTF and will not hesitate, in fact, to increase community quarantines if there are grounds to do so and he has already shown this)," Roque said during a televised press briefing Monday, July 19.
READ: DOH says death toll among Delta variant cases now 3
The President earlier placed Iloilo province and three other places under enhanced community quarantine (ECQ, the most restrictive of the four lockdown levels, until the end of July to curb the virus spread. Also placed under ECQ are Iloilo City, Cagayan de Oro and Gingoog City in Misamis Oriental.
Metro Manila and several other areas remained under the more relaxed quarantine restrictions for the rest of July.
Roque recognized that enduring ECQ classification was difficult but the President has appealed for the cooperation of the concerned local government units and the public to ensure protection from the virus spread.
"Ang hinihingi lang po ng ating Presidente, lalung-lalo na sa mga lokal na pamahalaan ay ang kanilang kooperasyon. Hindi naman po tayo mag-i-impose ng ECQ kung wala pong dahilan (All the President asks from local government units is their cooperation. We will not impose ECQ without any reason)," he said.
"Mas matagal po iyong naging ECQ at MECQ dito po sa NCR Plus 8, but when we have to resort to it under the goal of promoting total health ay hindi po nag-aatubili ang ating Presidente (NCR Plus 8 went through ECQ and MECQ for a long time but when we have to resort to it under the goal of promoting total health, the President did not falter)," he said.
Roque also renewed his appeal to public to get vaccinated as soon as possible to boost the protection against the coronavirus. The public is also encouraged to continue to follow health protocols, including physical distancing, to limit the virus spread.