The Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases wants cooperation to rule amid issues between the national and local government units (LGUs) in responding to the CoVID-19 situation.
IATF Spokesperson and Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles reminded that it is not the time for finger-pointing those who follow and defy enhanced community quarantine guidelines, and that is it best to move forward and walk hand in hand.
“By setting their own individual standards, LGUs will make this quarantine more difficult than it already is,” Nograles said.
“Hindi po hiwa-hiwalay na republika ang mga LGU po natin. Iisa lang po ang republika dito: ang Republic of the Philippines (Our LGUs are not separate republics. There is only one republic here: The Republic of the Philippines),” he added.
Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Eduardo Aῆo pointed out that some local officials might have different interpretations of the rules, but added that they are already working to make the guidelines clear.
Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra also said in a separate statement that prosecutors have been instructed to monitor LGU compliance on the national guidelines set by the IATF.
The IATF and President Rodrigo Duterte have been closely monitoring the situation for an immediate response.
Meanwhile, Department of Health (DOH) USec. Maria Rosario Vergeire has clarified if the chief executive needs to be retested for COVID-19 since he had previous interaction with DOH Secretary Francisco Duque III.
“Kung si Presidente po ay kailangan nating i-test, tandaan po natin, pag gumagawa po tayo ng contact tracing, mayroon po tayong initial contacts or direct contacts (Does the President need to be tested? Remember that if we are doing contact tracing, we have initial or direct contacts),” Vergeire said.
“‘Pag lumabas po ang resulta ni Sec. Duque at kung sakali po ay ito po ay huwag naman sana, magpositibo siya, saka po natin bibigyan ng abiso ang ating presidente para mag-test ulit at mag-quarantine. (Once the test result of Sec. Duque is out and if ever he tests positive, only then can we advise the president to undergo retest and quarantine),” she explained.
