MANILA, Philippines — The local government has placed Parañaque City under a state of calamity due to the 2019 coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic.
In a Facebook post on Monday, Parañaque Mayor Edwin Olivarez said the declaration was made by virtue of Resolution 2020-12.
Olivarez urged his constituents to remain alert and stay in their homes to avoid contracting COVID-19, a respiratory illness that is highly contagious.
“Isang paalala sa lahat ng mamamayan ng lungsod ng Parañaque na mag-iingat sa lahat oras, tamang impormasyon ang palaganapin, maging kalmado at alerto sa bawat oras. Kung wala naman pong gagawing mahalaga, ay manatili nalamang po sa inyong tahanan upang mapigilan ang patuloy na paglawak ng COVID-19,” he said.
(Just a reminder to all residents of the city, be safe at all times, spread accurate information, be calm and alert each time.)
Placing a province or city under a state of calamity allows its local government unit access to its quick response funds during emergency situations.
So far, the Philippines has 140 confirmed COVID-19 cases, 12 of whom have died while two recovered.
COVID-19, now considered by the World Health Organization as a pandemic, has infected more than 160,000 people in over 140 different countries and territories, including China where the virus originated. More than 6,000 already died from the illness.