ByArgyll Cyrus Geducos The national government has ordered all local government units (LGUs) in the country to identify facilities that may be temporarily designated for isolation or quarantine purposes amid the threat of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in the Philippines. Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles
(PCOO / MANILA BULLETIN) In a public address late Friday, Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles said LGUs in the provincial, city, municipal, and barangay levels, as well as those in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), have been directed to identify government facilities that may be temporarily converted into isolation or quarantine facilities. The same directive of the Inter-agency Task Force (IATF) for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases likewise applied to government-owned and -controlled corporations. Nograles, who is also the IATF spokesman, added that the Department of Tourism (DOT) and other government agencies were also directed to coordinate with entities under their respective regulatory authorities, as applicable, in identifying facilities that may be temporarily designated for isolation or quarantine purposes. According to the Palace official, all identified facilities shall be reported to the National Incident Command of the National Task Force (NTF) on COVID-19, and the Task Group on Resource Management and Logistics. " shall classify identified facilities into those that can be utilized for the isolation of Patients Under Investigation, and those where positive COVID-19 cases with mild symptoms may be managed," Nograles said. In addition, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWD) was directed to conduct site inspections and commence works on the identified facilities as approved by the NTF. For this purpose, Nograles said the DPWH shall accredit construction workers who will work on the facilities identified for purposes of quarantine or isolation. "Such accredited workers shall be exempted from the strict home quarantine requirement," he said. Luzon has been under enhanced community quarantine due to the rise of COVID-19 cases. Based on the government's COVID-19 portal, there have been 803 confirmed cases as of March 27. It has also recorded 54 deaths and 31 patients that have recovered from the disease. The Department of Health's tracker, meanwhile, said there were 744 persons under investigation and  6,321 being monitored. The country has conducted 2,287 tests so far. https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x7szcs4