IATF to discuss recommendation for PRRD on ECQ lifting or extension
Published Apr 5, 2020 12:00 am
By Genalyn KabilingÂ
A government task force overseeing efforts against the coronavirus will discuss on Monday whether to lift, extend, or expand the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) in Luzon and submit a recommendation to President Duterte for his decision.
According to Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles, the recommendation on the Luzon-wide quarantine will be based on five parameters recently approved by the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases.
Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles (Photo from Karlo Nograles / Facebook page / FILE PHOTO / MANILA BULLETIN)
The parameters are the trends in the coronavirus epidemiological curve that include the acceleration or deceleration or new cases; capacity of the health care system such as availability of quarantine centers and testing capability; and social, economic, and security factors.
"Kasama 'yan sa pag-uusapan namin bukas para makagawa na kami ng rekomendasyon kay Pangulong Duterte, dahil ultimately, si Pangulong Duterte ang magde-desisyon. Kami sa task force, magre-rekomenda ng aming recommendation base sa scientific data at evidence at findings mula sa ating mga eksperto," Nograles said in an interview over DZBB radio on Sunday.
(We will discuss it on Monday so we can craft a recommendation to President Duterte, because ultimately, President Duterte will make the decision. The task force will make a recommendation based on scientific data, evidence, and the findings of our experts.)
"Hopefully by tomorrow -- and tingnan baka by tomorrow -- may ma-recommend na kami kay Pangulo."
(Hopefully by Monday, we will have a recommendation for the President.)
Nograles was commenting on the possible 15-day extension of the quarantine mentioned by Presidential peace adviser Carlito Galvez. The chief implementer of the government's national action plan for the COVID response earlier said there may be a big possibility of an extension of 15 to 20 days amid the increase in the cases of infections.
The ECQ in Luzon, which started last March 17 to contain the coronavirus outbreak, will last until April 12. The country's cases of coronavirus continue to rise daily despite the stringent quarantine measures that include home quarantine for residents, suspension of public transport, alternative work arrangements, travel restrictions, ban on large gatherings, and class suspension.
The IATF recently adopted the parameters for deciding on the eventual total or partial lifting, or the possible extension or expansion, of the quarantine in Luzon. The health department has also been ordered to convene concerned agencies to finalize the analysis of relevant data subject to the IATF deliberation and final decision by the President.
In his remarks Sunday, Nograles recognized the urgency to issue a government decision if the quarantine will be lifted, extended, or expanded to other areas. He said it was important to announce a decision "as soon as possible" and not wait for April 12 to give the public enough time to adjust.
"Siyempre, we are mindful of the fact na hanggang April 12 na lang ang enhanced community quarantine. Tapos mag- Maundy Thursday at Good Friday this coming week," he said.
(Of course we are mindful of the fact that the ECQ is until April 12. And Maundy Thursday and Good Friday are this coming week.)
"Importante, as soon as we can, kailangan maka-decision na ang IATF, pati ang Pangulo makakadesisyon kung ano gagawin sa ECQ."
(It is important that as soon as we can, the IATF can make a decision, and also the President can decide on what to do about the ECQ.)
The government earlier tasked a technical working group led by the Department of Health to finalize the analytical model for deciding on the eventual total or partial lifting, or the possible extension or expansion, of the Luzon quarantine.
The group includes the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA), the Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS), the Department of Science and Technology, technical experts, the academe, and such other representatives from the health, economic, and security sectors.
Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles (Photo from Karlo Nograles / Facebook page / FILE PHOTO / MANILA BULLETIN)
The parameters are the trends in the coronavirus epidemiological curve that include the acceleration or deceleration or new cases; capacity of the health care system such as availability of quarantine centers and testing capability; and social, economic, and security factors.
"Kasama 'yan sa pag-uusapan namin bukas para makagawa na kami ng rekomendasyon kay Pangulong Duterte, dahil ultimately, si Pangulong Duterte ang magde-desisyon. Kami sa task force, magre-rekomenda ng aming recommendation base sa scientific data at evidence at findings mula sa ating mga eksperto," Nograles said in an interview over DZBB radio on Sunday.
(We will discuss it on Monday so we can craft a recommendation to President Duterte, because ultimately, President Duterte will make the decision. The task force will make a recommendation based on scientific data, evidence, and the findings of our experts.)
"Hopefully by tomorrow -- and tingnan baka by tomorrow -- may ma-recommend na kami kay Pangulo."
(Hopefully by Monday, we will have a recommendation for the President.)
Nograles was commenting on the possible 15-day extension of the quarantine mentioned by Presidential peace adviser Carlito Galvez. The chief implementer of the government's national action plan for the COVID response earlier said there may be a big possibility of an extension of 15 to 20 days amid the increase in the cases of infections.
The ECQ in Luzon, which started last March 17 to contain the coronavirus outbreak, will last until April 12. The country's cases of coronavirus continue to rise daily despite the stringent quarantine measures that include home quarantine for residents, suspension of public transport, alternative work arrangements, travel restrictions, ban on large gatherings, and class suspension.
The IATF recently adopted the parameters for deciding on the eventual total or partial lifting, or the possible extension or expansion, of the quarantine in Luzon. The health department has also been ordered to convene concerned agencies to finalize the analysis of relevant data subject to the IATF deliberation and final decision by the President.
In his remarks Sunday, Nograles recognized the urgency to issue a government decision if the quarantine will be lifted, extended, or expanded to other areas. He said it was important to announce a decision "as soon as possible" and not wait for April 12 to give the public enough time to adjust.
"Siyempre, we are mindful of the fact na hanggang April 12 na lang ang enhanced community quarantine. Tapos mag- Maundy Thursday at Good Friday this coming week," he said.
(Of course we are mindful of the fact that the ECQ is until April 12. And Maundy Thursday and Good Friday are this coming week.)
"Importante, as soon as we can, kailangan maka-decision na ang IATF, pati ang Pangulo makakadesisyon kung ano gagawin sa ECQ."
(It is important that as soon as we can, the IATF can make a decision, and also the President can decide on what to do about the ECQ.)
The government earlier tasked a technical working group led by the Department of Health to finalize the analytical model for deciding on the eventual total or partial lifting, or the possible extension or expansion, of the Luzon quarantine.
The group includes the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA), the Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS), the Department of Science and Technology, technical experts, the academe, and such other representatives from the health, economic, and security sectors.