Poe urges authorities to send out regular COVID-19 text alerts
MANILA, Philippines — Sen. Grace Poe has filed a resolution calling on health and civil defense authorities to regularly inform the public about the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak through free mobile alerts.
In Senate Resolution No. 349, Poe said text alerts should at least contain a regularly updated summary of confirmed COVID-19 cases, the affected areas of recent cases for the purpose of contact tracing, and a 24/7 hotline to the Department of Health (DOH) to report suspected cases.
In her resolution, Poe urged the DOH to coordinate with the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) and mobile phone service providers to send such text alerts to the public to ease widespread fears and help citizens make informed choices.
The senator said these mobile alerts must also include relevant information on COVID-19, such as measures for preventing the spread of the virus, its known symptoms and when to seek medical attention.
“The initial step to contain a virus is to make information on it viral through all available means,” Poe, chair of the Senate public services committee, said.
“Improving the spread of information will help counter inaccurate reports and prevent mass hysteria,” she added.
Article continues after this advertisementThe senator pointed out that information on COVID-19 could be further strengthened through the use of mobile text alerts under The Free Mobile Disaster Alerts Act (Republic Act No. 10639).
Article continues after this advertisementAccording to her, mobile phone service providers are mandated by law to send out at regular intervals warnings that consist of up-to-date information from relevant agencies in the event of a calamity.
The alerts must include contact information of local government units and other agencies required to respond to the situation, she noted.
“There is no doubt that COVID-19 is a disaster or a calamity under the applicable laws, especially after it was declared a health emergency by the (World Health Organization) and the President, respectively,” she said.
Mobile text alerts would also ensure that the public receives accurate and properly vetted information on the outbreak, Poe added.
On Tuesday, the DOH confirmed nine more COVID-19 cases, bringing the total of cases in the country to 33.
READ: DOH says number of coronavirus case now 33
The spike in the number of infections in a span of a few days compelled local governments to suspend schools and several lawmakers to encourage companies and employers to allow their workers to work from home, Poe noted.
President Rodrigo Duterte has also ready declared a state of public health emergency over the outbreak.
READ: Duterte declares emergency as COVID-19 cases double
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For more information on COVID-19, call the DOH Hotline: (02) 86517800 local 1149/1150.
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