DILG exec urges politicians to defer pol meetings amid Delta variant threat
MANILA, Philippines — Ahead of the 2022 national elections, a Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) official on Tuesday urged politicians to defer its meetings that could become “superspreader” events amid the threat of the COVID-19 Delta variant.
“Meron kaming mga nare-receive na report na nagma-mass gathering o nagsisimula na po yung mga pa-meeting ng mga pulitiko. Sana po yung ating mga pulitiko, magdalawang isip muna at wag muna ituloy itong mga pa-meeting nila dahil mass gathering din po ito,” DILG Undersecretary Epimaco Densing III said in a televised briefing.
(We have received reports of mass gatherings or the politicians have started to hold meetings. We hope that politicians think twice and defer these meetings because these are mass gatherings as well.)
“Posibilidad na ito’y maging superspreader lalo na’t kung merong COVID-19 sa kanilang lugar,” he added.
(It’s a possibility that this becomes a superspreader event especially if there are COVID-19 cases in their area.)
Densing issued the call after the Philippines detected local cases of the COVID-19 Delta variant, said to be highly transmissible.
As the Delta variant continues to pose a threat to the country, President Rodrigo Duterte himself said stricter restrictions may be reimposed to prevent mass gatherings and prevent superspreader events.
