Palace confident in public’s compliance on quarantine measures

MANILA, Philippines — Malacañang on Thursday expressed confidence that Filipinos in Metro Manila will comply with quarantine measures should it be relaxed after May 31.

“The level of confidence is very high. Unang una, napatunayan ng mga Pilipino na kaya nilang sumunod,” Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said Thursday in an online Palace briefing.

(The level of confidence is very high. First, the Filipinos have proved that they know how to obey.)

Roque issued the statement as the public awaits the new directives of President Rodrigo Duterte on quarantine measures in various areas starting June 1.

The President is expected to announce his decision Thursday night.

“At tingin ko alam ng mga Pilipino na mas malaki yung magiging banta sa kanilang buhay at kabuhayan kung sa puntong ito, matapos nawalan tayo ng 70 days tayo at nakakulong tayo sa ating mga pamamahay, ay babalik sila sa dati,” Roque said.

(I think Filipinos already know the threat to their lives and livelihoods if at this point, when we already lost 70 days inside our homes,  if they return to normal.)

Whatever the President’s decision may be, Roque stressed that the country will remain under community quarantine, including the existing preventive measures against the coronavirus’ spread.

“Meron pa rin tayong mga checkpoints, meron pa rin tayong mga curfews. Hindi po completely mawawala yung ating mga existing responses to make sure na hindi naman po tayo balik sa normal so patuloy pa rin po yan habang tayo ay merong community quarantine,” he said.

(There will still be checkpoints, curfews. Existing responses will not be removed to make sure that we will not return to normal. That will continue as long as we’re under community quarantine.)

The Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases recommended to ease restrictions or impose general community quarantine (GCQ) in Metro Manila, Interior Secretary Eduardo Año said.

Metro Manila mayors made the recommendation to the task force, citing economic issues in their respective jurisdictions.

/MUF