Palace scraps OCTA Research anew; defends easing of distancing rule in PUVs

In this photo taken on September 8, 2020, passengers wearing face shields sit next to plastic dividers, as part of health protocols imposed by authorities on passenger jeepneys against the COVID-19 coronavirus in Manila. (Photo by Ted ALJIBE / AFP)

MANILA, Philippines — Malacañang on Tuesday ditched the OCTA Research’s warning that easing physical distancing rule in public transportation may lead to a spike in COVID-19 infections, insisting that the relaxed protocol was backed by experts.

Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque issued the statement after he first rejected another finding of the research group that the Philippine Red Cross’ stoppage of its coronavirus testing services due to the government’s over P930-million debt led to a 40 to 50 percent drop in the daily testing output of Metro Manila and nearby provinces.

READ: Palace disagrees with OCTA Research: PH not solely reliant on PRC’s COVID testing

“We disagree po. Tingin ko po epektibo ang ating communication na si Presidente ang humihingi sa lahat na mag-mask, mag-hugas, at mag-iwas,” Harry Roque said in a televised Palace press briefing.

“Diyan naman po makikita ang galing ng Pilipino, alam po nila na kinakailangang pag-ingatan ang kanilang buhay para po sila ay makapaghanapbuhay. Again, we disagree with the research group,” he added.

According to Roque, the policy on easing the one-meter physical distancing in public utility vehicles (PUVs) is backed by former Health secretaries Esperanza Cabral and Manuel Dayrit.

“I’m sorry, itong mga doktor na ito ay respetado. Hindi ko po alam kung sino ang doctor ng OCTA Group,” the Palace official said.

He added that the doctors support this as long the so-called seven commandments in PUVs are strictly observed, which include the mandatory wearing of face mask and face shield, the no talking and no eating policy, adequate ventilation, frequent and proper disinfection, prohibiting symptomatic passengers, and the one seat apart rule.

“Ito naman po’y base din sa siyensa na diniscuss sa IATF ni Doctor Dayrit. And I’m sorry, I believe them po,” Roque said.

Recently, the Palace official asked OCTA Research, an independent research group composed primarily of faculty members and alumni from the University of the Philippines, to refrain from publicly making recommendations on the quarantine classification and instead relay them in private to the government.

READ: Palace to OCTA research group: Relay recommendations to IATF in private 

As of October 27, there are 371,630 confirmed cases of COVID-19 nationwide, including 328,258 recoveries and 7,039 deaths. Of the total tally, nearly half or 183,375 came from Metro Manila.

KGA