President Rodrigo Roa Duterte on Tuesday placed the entire Philippines under a state of calamity due to the coronavirus disease or COVID-19 threat. This comes in a day after an enhanced and expanded quarantine was declared not just for the 13 million residents of Metro Manila but for the 53 million Filipinos who live on Luzon Island.

Proclamation 929, signed by Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea by authority of the President, effectively enjoins “all government agencies and local government units (LGUs) to render full assistance and cooperation and mobilize the necessary resources to undertake critical, urgent, and appropriate response and measures in a timely manner to curtail and eliminate the threat of COVID-19.”

The measure will now allow LGUs and the national government ample space to use appropriate funds including the Quick Response Fund in the disaster response and mitigation efforts to contain the spread of the highly infectious disease, which based on recent reports has claimed 12 lives throughout the country, so far.

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“Despite government interventions, the number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 continues to rise,” the declaration read, with latest confirmed cases totaling close to 200.

The effectivity will last for a period of six months unless lifted earlier or extended as circumstances warrant.

This also translates to more restrictions in the movement of citizens until April 12 but some vital establishments, however, will be allowed to continue their operations.

“There is hereby imposed an enhanced community quarantine throughout Luzon, beginning 12 midnight tonight until 12 April 2020, unless earlier lifted or extended as circumstances warrant,” it added.

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The declaration also directed “all law enforcement agencies, with the support from the Armed Forces of the Philippines, are hereby directed to undertake all necessary measures to ensure peace and order in affected areas, as may be necessary.”

Meanwhile, despite the heightened presence of uniformed personnel to enforce isolation procedures, the chief executive clarified that this is not a declaration of martial law.

“But let me make this clear this is not martial law under the Constitution martial law is declared when there is invasion rebellion or public safety requires it,” Duterte said earlier.

READ: COVID-19 pandemic reached 200,000 cases globally

The President also warned, that grappling with police officers who are tasked to enforce a quarantine may amount to public disturbance, disobedience to lawful authority, or even direct assult, and will be dealt with accordingly.

On the other hand, authorities who will fail to enforce tougher restrictions may be liable for dereliction of duty.


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