New granular lockdown system to involve more manpower

MANILA – The general community quarantine (GCQ) with Alert Levels will require more manpower in the implementation of granular lockdowns.

Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr., chief implementer of the National Task Force (NTF) Against Covid-19, said Monday the government will make sure all local government units are well-prepared for the full implementation of granular lockdowns.

“At the same time, ‘yung ating security forces na kailangang gamitin sa paglatag ng granular lockdown, kailangan prepared at saka available kasi ‘pagka nag-granular lockdown tayo, mas malaki ang resources na kailangan natin in terms of manpower (our security forces that we need in implementing the granular lockdowns have to be prepared and available, because we need a huge number of resources in terms of manpower),” he said in an interview.

Galvez said the government’s Prevent, Detect, Isolate, Testing, Reintegration (PDITR) strategies will be sustained in the implementation of granular lockdowns.

More contact tracers will be hired to reach at least a 1:15 tracer-contacts ratio, he added.

Aside from isolating the infected, Galvez said expanded massive testing in particular areas under lockdown will be done.

Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque announced over the weekend that the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) provisionally approved the guidelines on the pilot implementation of granular lockdowns that will have four alert levels.

The modified enhanced community quarantine status in Metro Manila is supposed to end on September 15, pending the release of new guidelines.

During his Talk to the People aired on Saturday morning, President Rodrigo Duterte appealed for patience and understanding as the government takes a new approach in dealing with the Covid-19 pandemic.

Duterte said the planned shift to localized lockdowns is seen as a more effective solution to stop the further transmission of infections.

“I ask for a general public’s continued understanding and patience on this matter,” he said. “I know that many of you are raring to go to work and conduct your business already but we have to make sure that we cover any contingency so that we may reduce the risk of infection. But the problem is buhay eh (we’re talking about life). Iyan ang mahirap (That’s the problem). And I would not want to be remembered as one who caused the death of so many.”