By Genalyn Kabiling The country's security forces have been directed by President Duterte to "ramp up" the government’s "National Action Plan" to contain the coronavirus outbreak. President Rodrigo Roa Duterte
(ALFRED FRIAS/PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO / MANILA BULLETIN FILE PHOTO) The President said the government's action plan for the coronavirus emergency will be chaired by Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana and co-chaired by Interior and Local Government Secretary Eduardo Año. "The Department of National Defense and the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), along with the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine National Police, are now ramping up the implementation of the National Action Plan (NAP) to reinforce the efforts of the Department of Health in containing COVID-19," he said in a taped public address Tuesday night. "Alam mo, tatlo lang ‘yan sila eh: Department of National Defense, Department of Health, Department of --- ‘yung kay Rolly (Bautista) -- DSWD, and the DILG --- some of the most important departments that are now in action," he said. Duterte said he expects Lorenzana and Año to give regular reports on the progress of the national action plan. The President, meantime, assured the public that the government remains on top of the situation in addressing the public health emergency. "To the Filipino people, rest assured that your entire government is working hand-in-hand to safeguard your health, safety, and well-being in the face of the threat posed by COVID-19," he said. "We will address all the different issues brought about by this pandemic as well as ensure the protection of all of our people, especially those who are serving in the frontlines." The President has placed the main island of Luzon under enhanced community quarantine that calls for strict home quarantine, suspends public transportation, and forces companies to allow workers to work from home, among others. The Luzon-wide lockdown aims to quell the spread of coronavirus infections in the country.