As coronavirus cases rise, Metro Manila LGUs to implement ‘social distancing’

MANILA, Philippines — “Social distancing” will be implemented in Metro Manila as a way to combat the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), Interior t Secretary Eduardo Año said Tuesday.

“Implement natin yung social distancing, so for the period, ipagpapabawal natin at iiwasan muna yung mga large mass gathering para sigurado ma-contain yung spread ng coronavirus,” Año said during the sidelines of the Metro Manila Council (MMC) meeting.

(We will implement social distancing, so for the period, we will prohibit and avoid for the meantime large mass gatherings to be sure to contain the spread of the coronavirus.)

In a report by the Associated Press, “social distancing” is the process of limiting people to gather and spreading the virus. It is being practiced in some parts of the world with positive cases of COVID-19, such as Italy and Japan.

So far, the Philippines has 33 cases of COVID-19.

Año also urged private companies and the Civil Service Commission to adjust the work schedule as a way of “social distancing.”

“Tapos we are encouraging private sectors and Civil Service Commission (CSC) officers na gumawa ng paraan para maipatupad ang social distancing. Baka pwedeng ayusin nila ‘yung work schedule ng kanilang mga empleyado.”

(Then we are encouraging private sectors and Civil Service Commission officers to come up with a plan to implement social distancing. Maybe they can fix the work schedule of their employees.)

And what about the people using public transportation?  Año said: “Magdala sila ng mask tapos hand sanitizers should be in place, dun sa mga entrance and exit”

(They should bring masks, and hand sanitizers should be in place in entrance and exit.)

MMC to formulate social distancing guidelines 

In a statement, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) said that the MMC—composed of the 17 mayors of Metro Manila—agreed to form a technical working group that will formulate the uniform policies on social distancing measures.

The uniform policies, which will be in a form of a resolution, will be used as basis for the 17 Metro Manila local government units in ensuring “the health and safety of the public amid the spread of the COVID-19.”

“The policies would set standard parameters, like for example, in suspending mass gatherings in the entire [National Capital Region],” Lim said.

“The resolution will come out within the week or before the next inter-agency task force meeting,” he added.