Manila Bulletin
Philippines
Go: PRRD to issue State of Public Health Emergency due to first case of COVID-19 local transmission
Philippines
Go: PRRD to issue State of Public Health Emergency due to first case of COVID-19 local transmission
Go: PRRD to issue State of Public Health Emergency due to first case of COVID-19 local transmission
Published Mar 7, 2020 12:00 am
By Armando Fenequito Jr.
DAVAO CITY -- President Rodrigo Duterte has agreed to issue a declaration of a State of Public Health Emergency after the confirmation of a case of local transmission of coronavirus disease (COVID-19).
Senator Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go (FACEBOOK /MANILA BULLETIN FILE PHOTO)
This was according to Sen. Bong Go, in an online message sent to Davao media on Saturday.
Go said the President’s declaration came from Go’s suggestion , made as chair of the Senate committee on health, and the recommendation of the Department of Health (DOH).
The senator said earlier today that with the declaration of the State of Public Emergency, the country will be one step ahead and proactive.
Go said the declaration facilitates immediate access to funding to respond to the issue, particularly for local government units (LGU).
“Under Republic Act (RA) No. 10121, such declaration allows the LGUs to utilize their local disaster risk reduction management funds,” Go said.
“The declaration eases processes on procurement, mandatory reporting, mandatory quarantine and travel restrictions, among others.”
He said the declaration will also serve as a basis for a possible price freeze under RA 7581 or the Price Act.
Go also urged all citizens, residents, tourists,and establishment owners to act within the bounds of the law and to comply with the lawful directives and advisories to be issued to prevent the further spread of COVID-19.
The senator added that he will also recommend to the President the creation of a crisis committee through an expansion of the membership of the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) to include other instrumentalities of the government, including LGUs, to fight the possible disease spread more effectively.
“We need a whole-of-society and proactive approach in preventing further spread of the virus,” Go said, saying this is consistent with DOH’s pronouncement raising the alert level to ‘Red-SubLevel 1’ given the confirmation of the first case of local transmission.
Go also said that based on his discussions, President Duterte will hold a meeting with health officials and other concerned agencies, including members of the Inter-Agency Task Force as soon as possible.
Senator Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go (FACEBOOK /MANILA BULLETIN FILE PHOTO)
This was according to Sen. Bong Go, in an online message sent to Davao media on Saturday.
Go said the President’s declaration came from Go’s suggestion , made as chair of the Senate committee on health, and the recommendation of the Department of Health (DOH).
The senator said earlier today that with the declaration of the State of Public Emergency, the country will be one step ahead and proactive.
Go said the declaration facilitates immediate access to funding to respond to the issue, particularly for local government units (LGU).
“Under Republic Act (RA) No. 10121, such declaration allows the LGUs to utilize their local disaster risk reduction management funds,” Go said.
“The declaration eases processes on procurement, mandatory reporting, mandatory quarantine and travel restrictions, among others.”
He said the declaration will also serve as a basis for a possible price freeze under RA 7581 or the Price Act.
Go also urged all citizens, residents, tourists,and establishment owners to act within the bounds of the law and to comply with the lawful directives and advisories to be issued to prevent the further spread of COVID-19.
The senator added that he will also recommend to the President the creation of a crisis committee through an expansion of the membership of the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) to include other instrumentalities of the government, including LGUs, to fight the possible disease spread more effectively.
“We need a whole-of-society and proactive approach in preventing further spread of the virus,” Go said, saying this is consistent with DOH’s pronouncement raising the alert level to ‘Red-SubLevel 1’ given the confirmation of the first case of local transmission.
Go also said that based on his discussions, President Duterte will hold a meeting with health officials and other concerned agencies, including members of the Inter-Agency Task Force as soon as possible.