GOVT TO LOCK DOWN VILLAGES – GALVEZ

THE government may lock down villages instead of placing an entire region under community quarantine, a Cabinet official said.

Presidential peace adviser Carlito

Galvez Jr., the chief implementer of the government’s coronavirus response, said barangay-level lockdowns might be declared depending on the

number of coronavirus disease 201Y (Covid-19) cases in a particular area.

“Angi big sabih in, pal ii tin na lang natin. Ang gagawin po na tin is‘yung ba rang ayn am ayroongcases,‘y on po an gila-lock down na tin para ma-preserve na the

tinpo‘yung [economy] (It means we will make it smaller. What we will do is place a barangay with cases under lockdown to preserve our economy),” he said.

Galvez said the Inter- Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases would give guidance to the local government units (LGUs) on the declaration of barangay-level

lockdowns.

He said they intended to localize the National Action Plan on the coronavirus response through the LGUs.

“For example, mayisang compound na a pat na pa mil ya an gaffe ct ed,iy on po an gila-lock down po natin. At hindi po nating ha hay a an si lana mag karo on ng infections doonsamga economic corridor ponatin. We have

to preserve ang economic corridor po natin (For example, if there is a compound with four families affected, we will place it under lockdown. We will not let the infection spread to our economic corridors. We have to preserve our economic corridor),” he said.

This came as Metro Manila, Laguna, Bataan, Bulacan, Nueva Ecija, Pampanga, Zambales and

Angeles City shifted to a modified lockdown, where the government sought to restart an economy ravaged by the pandemic.

The cities of Cebu and Mandaue in the Visayas remain under enhanced community quarantine, while other parts of the country are under general community quarantine, with loosened restrictions.