The Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) and local government units (LGUs) are preparing the uniformed implementation of the standard health protocol.
DILG Secretary Eduardo Año has suggested imprisonment for 10-30 days and a fine of Php 1,000 to Php 5,000 as penalties for violating protocols, to ensure that the public will abide by the health standards and prevent the further spread of Corona Virus Disease 2019 (COVID-19).
According to Sec. Año, the number of violators of quarantine protocols have reached 200,000 in the past few months. Most of the violators were only given a warning.
However, in a survey conducted by Yougov and Institute of Global Health Innovation of the Imperial College of London, the Philippines ranks second among countries where most citizens wear masks. The survey revealed that 91% of Filipinos follow the rule on wearing masks.
Meanwhile, pending a decision on the new community quarantine to be imposed starting August 1, the DILG is continuously coordinating and consulting with the LGUs on which level of community quarantine will be presented by the Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) to President Rodrigo R. Duterte. – Report from Patrick De Jesus
