2 calamity-hit provinces told to lift COVID restrictions

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) ordered the Cagayan and Isabela provincial governments to lift their community quarantine restrictions to give rescuers, relief workers and media teams easier access to flooded communities reeling from the damage wrought by Typhoon Ulysses (international name: Vamco).

In a statement on Saturday night, Interior Secretary Eduardo Año said “existing (local government) requirements related to the management of the COVID-19 pandemic should not hamper or delay the entry, passage, or operations of all government and private sector humanitarian assistance and response personnel.”

Año said he issued the order following reports that relief and media organizations were being barred at Cagayan’s borders due to strict quarantine restrictions imposed by the provincial government.

“The situation in Cagayan requires unhampered disaster response and recovery operations by rescue and relief organizations. Therefore, all LGUs (local government units) in Cagayan and Isabela should ease up access in their areas to facilitate disaster operations,” he added.

Año also called on the regional arm of the Inter-Agency Task Force on the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases to “exercise its sound discretion in lifting the restrictions.”

But he reminded responders and journalists to observe minimum health standards, such as the wearing of face masks and face shields while in the area.

—Patricia Denise M. Chiu