DILG Secretary Eduardo Año. INQUIRER.net file photo / Daphne Galvez
MANILA, Philippines — Barangay officials who will fail to perform their duties in their respective jurisdiction during the enhanced community quarantine will be administratively sanctioned, the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) warned on Wednesday.
In a text message to INQUIRER.net, DILG spokesperson and Undersecretary Jonathan Malaya said they will file administrative charges, specifically, Gross Neglect of Duty, Gross Negligence and Insubordination against barangay officials who are lax in the performance of their duties.
In a separate statement, Interior Secretary Eduardo Año said he ordered all barangay officials to ensure that residents will observe strict home quarantine to combat the further spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19).
“Ito pa ay Total Lockdown. Hindi po ito biro. Tiyakin ninyong hindi pagala-gala ang mga residente sa inyong lugar at walang mga pagtitipon-tipon for we are trying to lessen the movement of people to the barest minimum,” Año said.
(This is a total lockdown, this is not a joke. Make sure that our residents are not loitering around outside their homes and that there is no mass gathering because we are trying to lessen the movement of people to the barest minimum.)
Año reminded that only those who will buy basic needs such as food and medicine and visit hospitals for medication are allowed to go outside.
Community transmission will be stopped if people will not leave their houses for non-essential activities.
Under the guidelines for the Luzon-wide enhanced community quarantine, only one person per household is allowed to go outside to purchase basic needs for their respective families.