Palace calls Pinoys ‘disciplined,’ says they will continue to observe COVID-19 protocols

FILE: STRICTER DISTANCING. Authorities implement stricter physical distancing at the Balintawak Market in Quezon City. The Department of the Interior and Local Government recently ordered a stricter implementation of the social distancing measure to control the spread of the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19). (PNA photo by Joey O. Razon)

Malacañang has expressed a “very high” confidence that Filipinos will still observe quarantine protocols implemented to curb the spread of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), even if the government decided to ease up some of it after the end of May.

“Unang-una napatunayan ng mga Pilipino na kaya nilang sumunod [sa protocols] dahil naman, by and large, itong more than 70 days na tayong nagkaroon ng ECQ (enhanced community quarantine) at MECQ (modified enhanced community quarantine), ay pinatunayan natin na disiplinado po ang mga Pilipino (First of all, Filipinos have proved that they can follow protocols because, by and large, being under ECQ and MECQ for more than 70 days, we have proved that we Filipinos are disciplined),” Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said in a televised briefing on Thursday, May 28.

“Tingin ko alam ng mga Pilipino na mas malaki ‘yung magiging banta sa kanilang buhay at kabuhayan kung sa puntong ito, matapos nawalan tayo ng 70 days tayo at nakakulong tayo sa ating mga pamamahay, ay babalik sila sa dati (I think Filipinos know that there is a big threat on their lives and livelihood if at this point, after we lost 70 days being stuck inside our homes, they will just return to the old ways),” he added.

This comes after the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases recommended to President Rodrigo Duterte to place Metro Manila under general community quarantine or GCQ from June 1 to 15.

This was confirmed by Interior Secretary Eduardo Año in an interview with CNN Philippines’ The Source, saying, “For Metro Manila, ang rekomendasyon ay maging (the recommendation is to be) under general community quarantine, except for high-risk barangays (villages).”

Should Metro Manila be placed under GCQ from MECQ, Año said mayors can still declare a “total lockdown” in high-risk villages, but the order will still have to be reviewed by the regional IATF.

He said the recommendation can still be changed as local chief executives may still appeal.

“Mayroon pa silang kaukulang panahon para mag-appeal kung mayroon silang gustong ipabago at idedepensa nila ‘yung kanilang position (They have ample time to appeal if they want something to be changed and defend their positions),” he said.

The Chief Executive is expected to decide on the fate of the National Capital Region on Thursday night. Roque, however, emphasized that whatever the decision the President will make, Metro Manila will still be under community quarantine.

“Mayroon pa rin tayong mga checkpoints. Mayroon pa rin tayong mga curfews. So, hindi naman po completely mawawala ‘yung ating mga existing responses to make sure na hindi naman po balik sa normal tayo. So patuloy pa rin ‘yan habang tayo ay merong community quarantine (We still have checkpoints. We still have curfews. So, it does not mean that our existing responses will be completely lifted to make sure that we won’t go back from the old ways.  So, it will continue while we still have community quarantine),” he stressed.

On Thursday, the Department of Health (DOH) recorded its highest daily increase in COVID-19 cases with 539 new infections, topping the previous record high of 538 cases last March 31.