Just two days ago President Rodrigo Duterte ordered a “community quarantine” to be effective on March 15 until April 14, 2020 as a measure to control the spread of COVID-19 infection. Along with this, the same measure was also declared by his daughter Mayor Sara Duterte of Davao City but vaguely implemented in the city on March 12, 2020, as seen on the city advisories posted on SunStar Davao Facebook. According to the mandates, Davao residents are discouraged from leaving the city while travelers who are also planning to visit Davao are also advised not to come.
In connection, on Saturday Metro Manila mayors called for nine-hour curfew resolution, from 8pm to 5am, during the community quarantine as part of the infection prevention measures for COVID-19. According to the Metro Manila Council, this was unanimously agreed by 17 mayors in the region and to be started on the midnight of Sunday, March 14 until April 14. Though with some exceptions, this would restrict the movement in public spaces. The exceptions include supermarkets, grocery shops, and pharmacies and to those medical or health workers, food deliveries and other people responsible for essential tasks.
Meanwhile, according to Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra, since this resolution has not yet authorized by ordinances, security personnel cannot yet enforce the said curfew for penalizing violators. This was also backed by the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), saying no arrests can be made if there is no approved law for the curfew. This is why the mayors proposed to legislative councils for immediate approval of the said legislation to take effect on March 15, the beginning of the quarantine.
On the other hand, it is not yet confirmed if this was also recommended by the Department of Health (DOH) since the department acts as the lead agency governing the public health emergency. Also, there is no confirmation yet if members of the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases also recommended the imposition of a metro-wide curfew.
References:
- President Duterte Ordered “Community Quarantine” of Metro Manila from March 15 to April 14, 2020
- Curfew, shutdown of malls in Metro Manila during quarantine
- Curfew Hours, Temporary Closure of Malls in Metro Manila During Community Quarantine but with Exceptions
- Featured image: MMDA declares 8 pm curfew in Metro Manila