News Roundup 31 May 2020
May 31, 2020 • 3 min Read
Amid calls for public ‘discipline’, officials reminded to follow own quarantine rules | PHILSTAR.COM – Business groups on Sunday expressed extreme disappointment over reports of government officials “violating with impunity” rules meant to curb the spread of the novel coronavirus as millions of Filipinos have been out of work and have had their movements restricted by the same rules. The joint statement was signed by the American Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines, the Canadian Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines, FINEX Philippines, the Institute of Corporate Directors, the Institute for Solidarity in Asia, Judicial Reform Initiative, the Management Association of the Philippines and Makati Business Club. “The restrictions under the IATF guidelines have affected millions, in terms of livelihood and freedom of movement. The impact has been much greater on families living near or below the poverty line, despite government’s extension of financial aid. Additionally, the seeming confusion and different interpretations of rules led to numerous quarantine violations,” the groups said. “We are therefore greatly disappointed—even appalled and dismayed—about news reports of public officials violating with impunity the IATF and DOH protocols intended to protect public health.” No officials were named in the statement although violations by public officials have been well documented and officially played down. Sen. Koko Pimentel and Police Maj. Gen. Debold Sinas, for instance, both breached quarantine protocols in the past two months.
‘Don’t fudge the COVID-19 figures,’ Escudero tells DOH | INQUIRER.NET – “Please don’t fudge the figures, fool yourselves and us too,” Sorsogon Gov. Francis “Chiz” Escudero said on Saturday as he criticized the Department of Health (DOH) on its reporting of COVID-19 cases. DOH previously said it would start to separate data of fresh COVID-19 infections from its backlog or “late cases” so that there would be no impression that there was an increase in cases. But Escudero tagged the new scheme an an “ego-saving” move and urged that the DOH to instead find a solution to the increase in cases. “‘Fresh/late’ COVID-19+ cases per the new DOH reporting scheme are mere ‘ego saving devices.’ THE FIRST STEP IN FINDING A SOLUTION TO A PROBLEM IS ADMITTING (to begin with) THAT WE HAVE A PROBLEM,” Escudero wrote on his Facebook post.
OVP, private partners to build temporary shelters for frontliners | Manila Bulletin – As Metro Manila shifts to general community quarantine (GCQ), Vice President Leni Robredo’s office is spearheading a project to build temporary shelters for medical frontliners battling the spread of the novel coronavirus. Robredo said her office, in partnership with the private sector, will put up “cabins” to temporarily house health workers stationed at the Lung Center of the Philippines in Quezon City. Under the Oasis project, the Office of the Vice President (OVP) partnered with the United Architects of the Philippines and some interior designers to build the shelters donated by IKEA Philippines. “Bukas magsisimula nang patayuin iyong mga shelters (The shelters will start going up tomorrow),” Robredo said on her Sunday (May 31) radio show, “BISErbisyong Leni.” “Ang pinaka-target natin dito by June 12, ready na siya for occupancy (Our target is to have them ready for occupancy by June 12).” The OVP earlier received 25 units of IKEA shelters as part of its ongoing assistance drive for COVID-19 frontliners. IKEA, a Swedish furniture company, will open its first store in the country this year. The vice president said they plan to build more temporary housing units on the premises of various hospitals in the capital region. Robredo’s office initiated the Oasis project in anticipation of the transition to GCQ from the stricter enhanced community quarantine.
