By Jeffrey Damicog
The Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) did not consider doing massive forced quarantine, assured Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra on Wednesday.
Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra (TOTO LOZANO/PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO /MANILA BULLETIN)
“No such plans for a forced internment have been discussed in the IATF,” said Guevarra who is a member.
The Secretary reacted to reports which cited that Presidential Peace Adviser and chief implementer of the national plan against COVID-19 Carlito Galvez, Jr. as saying that there may be a need to have massive forced quarantine for persons under investigation (PUI) and persons under monitoring (PUM).
Guevarra clarified that what the IATF-EID has been doing is provide spaces to house COVID-19 patients and where PUIs and PUMs could be quarantined.
“What has been discussed is the conversion of certain big structures and buildings like the PICC (Philippine International Convention Center) when regular hospitals reach their maximum room capacity,” Guevarra said.
“LGUs (local government units) have also been required to provide quarantine or isolation centers in their respective jurisdictions to address the needs of families with not enough space in their homes,” he added.
Aside from the PICC, the government has identified the Rizal Memorial Coliseum, World Trade Center, and Cultural Center of the Philippines as quarantine areas.
Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra (TOTO LOZANO/PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO /MANILA BULLETIN)
“No such plans for a forced internment have been discussed in the IATF,” said Guevarra who is a member.
The Secretary reacted to reports which cited that Presidential Peace Adviser and chief implementer of the national plan against COVID-19 Carlito Galvez, Jr. as saying that there may be a need to have massive forced quarantine for persons under investigation (PUI) and persons under monitoring (PUM).
Guevarra clarified that what the IATF-EID has been doing is provide spaces to house COVID-19 patients and where PUIs and PUMs could be quarantined.
“What has been discussed is the conversion of certain big structures and buildings like the PICC (Philippine International Convention Center) when regular hospitals reach their maximum room capacity,” Guevarra said.
“LGUs (local government units) have also been required to provide quarantine or isolation centers in their respective jurisdictions to address the needs of families with not enough space in their homes,” he added.
Aside from the PICC, the government has identified the Rizal Memorial Coliseum, World Trade Center, and Cultural Center of the Philippines as quarantine areas.