UP Film Institute suspends events due to COVID-19

MANILA, Philippines — The University of the Philippines Film Institute (UPFI) on Tuesday suspended its public events to prevent the risk of COVID-19 contamination.

In a Facebook post on Tuesday, the film institute said the following events are canceled:

• Cinemalibre
• Sinemaestra Masterclasses
• Daang Dokyu: A Festival of Documentaries
• Indo-Ph Cultural Festival
• Sinag Maynila 2020

And all programs listed here:

https://www.facebook.com/upfifilmcenter/posts/1248165978712058?__xts__%5B0%5D=68.ARA-OkVWxs-PJtt4I-kERmY4QHLCqsaGzlUcX_aRjPMyT9qzgvX3d1liWxr1bdGnnWRriis88pQLj7wKWnMR6VFq3Zl4nPwlHfQOLqK_qTO2MSKpVLjlncTNRPD9zDRn2R7MAt88riJYvvfL_wh9mR_Dya1ODe0eE_tom2nrJFleGYNWGKwqWFDZDxMveXdi7dBxLGwRNAr61SxYP-hA072d1QVwD3I3pobhOdASaZDV98oePqGnU-Gka8aP_HQKepyvNQJsw13zF0Z2s3Lt1OriK0iCXWlQ5huN1V_xQRqKt2iAoUFmc3AjZcRjl_umIOh0m71PKdiDlqrpGT-O14vFoInCqov6Ijsn1H1GLiXuxUCNvFDrtkK7loQPCUbiS2X_0KMtiss6WkygiFj4VfBUhkW-PcytenVnK6NLZ5ELWKF38xP3wzBhsXS1-WSRrqc6pPDhqIyb7LQp6IKLGFdHhJAkL7D1MtHTk71WtN_S8P1eyzVx4_EhxQ&__tn__=-R

This development came after President Rodrigo Duterte declared a state of public health emergency in the Philippines, which orders all local government units and law enforcement agencies to assist the Department of Health in addressing the COVID-19 scare.

Cancellation of events will also follow public health protocol including social distancing and avoiding large crowds, UP Film Institute said.

UP Diliman Chancellor Fidel Nemenzo also ordered to postpone public events due to Duterte’s directive.

Philippines has 33 confirmed cases of COVID-19, which is caused by the novel coronavirus or SARS-CoV-2. Of the number, one patient, who is a Chinese national, already died due to the disease.

/atm