As Typhoon Quinta made its landfall in the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR), Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said President Rodrigo Duterte is monitoring the situation of the country and assured that the government has enough funds to help victims amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
Roque disclosed that the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has ₱890,596,116.79 for food packs and standby funds to respond to the calamity.
He also reiterated NDRRMC guidelines to local government units for the evacuation of affected individuals despite the threat of coronavirus, including the isolation of evacuees showing symptoms of COVID-19.
“Kinakailangan mayroong preemptive evacuation. Kinakailangan mayroong mask, shields at saka physical distancing sa mga taong nasa evacuation centers, Kinakailangan huwag dadalhin ang mga evacuees sa mga facilities na ginagamit as quarantine sites (There should be preemptive evacuation. There should be face masks, shields, and physical distancing among people in evacuation centers. They should not be brought to facilities being used as quarantine sites),” Roque reminded.
Meanwhile, President Duterte is set to announce tonight the new quarantine protocols for November after his meeting with the IATF-EID.
“We will not be able to join the President because the airport of Davao was closed to all incoming flights. We will proceed to our meeting with him via zoom… A recommendation was made already by the technical working group that normally does the recommendations to the President on the quarantine classifications,” he shared. – Report from Mela Lesmoras
