Quezon City declares state of calamity amid coronavirus threat

MANILA, Philippines — The Quezon City government declared a state of calamity in the city due to the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte made the announcement in a press briefing a day after President Rodrigo Duterte placed Metro Manila under community quarantine.

“The most important thing is this is the first time in many many years for as long as I can remember that Quezon City actually declared a state of calamity but this was something we believe is important,” Belmonte said.

“First and foremost because the President has himself has declared a state of public health emergency here in the Philippines so this gives us now a basis to declare a state of calamity here in our city,” she added.

Empowering barangays

A declaration of a state of calamity allows the government to use its quick response fund.

Belmonte said the declaration is important so that the city government and the local barangay would be able to take measures in response to the disease such as disinfection of barangays, monitoring of persons under monitoring (PUMs) and persons under investigation (PUIs), and setting up of isolation rooms, among others.

“[The declaration of a state of calamity] is not something I would like to do, but I think it is something that has to be done in order for us to adequately empower our barangays to address the issues in their respective jurisdictions,” Belmonte said.

Travel suspension

Duterte announced Thursday that domestic travel to and from metropolitan Manila will be suspended for a month and authorized sweeping quarantines in the crowded capital to fight the new coronavirus.

He also banned large gatherings in the metropolis, suspended most government work in the executive department and extended the suspension of classes by a month in new restrictions announced in a nationwide TV address. Domestic travel by land, air and sea to and from the capital region will be suspended starting Sunday.

An entire city or province could be placed under quarantine if there are at least two confirmed infections in two different villages or towns, the president said.

With police and military generals sitting behind him, Duterte warned that violators and officials who refuse to enforce the temporary restrictions will face arrest and possible imprisonment.

“This is not martial law. It’s not even something extraordinary,” Duterte said, stressing that the restrictions are only aimed at fighting the virus.

But he warned that “if things deteriorate, the military and police will maintain order.”

The actions will be reviewed daily by an inter-agency force dealing with the viral outbreak, Duterte said.

It’s really a lockdown

The new restrictions amounted to “a lockdown” but Duterte said officials did not want to use the publicly intimidating term.

“This is not a total lockdown,” Interior Secretary Eduardo Ano said, suggesting that law enforcers would be considerate.

The sweeping restrictions immediately sparked questions about whether food shipments or large numbers of commuters from the provinces would be allowed to enter or leave the capital. Officials said more specific enforcement guidelines will be issued to avoid confusion.