Interior Secretary Eduardo Año. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO / NINO JESUS ORBETA
MANILA, Philippines — The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) on Wednesday directed local government units (LGUs) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) to ensure that non-essential establishments remained closed during the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) over Luzon.
“Make sure that business establishments that are not allowed to operate under the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases guidelines remain closed. The ECQ is still in full force and effect,” Interior Secretary Eduardo Año said in a statement.
“There is no partial lifting whatsoever. Our country will heal as one if and only if the government, the private sector, and the people stick to the strict enforcement of ECQ,” he added.
Año’s order came after the DILG received reports that some commercial establishments offering non-basic services were operating in some localities during the quarantine period, which was extended until April 30.
The DILG, however, refused to specify the commercial establishments that were illegally opened.
Under DILG Memorandum Circular (MC) No. 2020-062, LGUs must ensure the closure of business establishments, except those providing essential services namely, “food, medicine, water, banking and remittance centers, power, energy, telecommunication.”
Establishments that are allowed to operate should also enforce skeleton workforce and social distancing measures, DILG reminded.
DILG also warned that those who will violate protocols of the ECQ will be punished under the Republic Act No. 11332 or the Mandatory Reporting of Notifiable Diseases and Health Events of Public Health Concern Act.