PACC flooded with inquiries about Luzon-wide ECQ

PACC Commissioner Greco Belgica said the presidential anti-corruption body has been flooded with inquiries about the policies laid out by the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) to ensure the proper implementation of ECQ in Luzon. (File Photo By Pacc888 – Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0)

MANILA – Many people have been requesting clarification on the protocols of Luzon-wide enhanced community quarantine (ECQ), the Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission said on Wednesday.

PACC Commissioner Greco Belgica said the presidential anti-corruption body has been flooded with inquiries about the policies laid out by the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) to ensure the proper implementation of ECQ in Luzon.

Belgica cited that one of the public concerns is the distribution of emergency subsidies to poor families affected by the ECQ.

“We’ve been receiving a lot of, of course, requests, inquiries po para sa pagpapalinaw ng mga policies na inilalabas ng IATF (so they would understand the policies made by the IATF),” Belgica said during the Laging Handa program aired on state-run PTV-4.

IATF-EID spokesperson, Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles, has been holding daily virtual pressers to update the public about the possible amendments to the existing policies or new directives related to the ECQ in Luzon.

Belgica said the PACC is sending out the statements or resolutions issued by IATF-EID to people who are seeking clarification.

“So, we’ve been interviewing and giving resources iyong (that are) from the Cabinet members and official statements, and releases ng (of) IATF din sa mga tao (to the people),” he said.

Belgica said the public can ask queries to PACC through its electronic mail address pacc.complaints@gmail.com, Facebook page facebook.com/pacc.gov.ph, and mobile number 0906-6927-324.

He ensured that the PACC would bring to proper government agencies the concerns raised by individuals who are confused about the implementation of ECQ.

“Ang staff ng PACC, they are organized to receive reports and endorse it to proper agencies para ho magkatulungan (The PACC’s staff is organized to receive reports and endorse it to proper agencies so we can help each other),” Belgica said.

President Rodrigo Duterte earlier imposed an ECQ on the island of Luzon until April 12 to arrest the spread of coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19). The quarantine was extended up to April 30.

The Philippines now has 5,453 confirmed Covid-19 infections, with 349 deaths and 353 recoveries.

The IATF-EID has yet to make a decision on the possible lifting, partial lifting, or another extension of ECQ in Luzon.