Kahit sa China nagsimula… Duterte pasasaklolo sa Beijing vs CoViD-19

KAHIT sa Wuhan, Hubei, China nagsimula ang coronavirus disease na prehuwisyo sa iba’t ibang panig ng mundo, magpapasaklolo si Pangu­long Rodrigo Duterte sa Beijing para kontrolin ito kapag lumala ang sitwasyon sa Filipinas.

Sa kanyang public address kagabi sa Pala­syo, tiniyak ni Pangulong Duterte, ang ayuda ng China ang kanyang hihili­ngin kapag nagkaroon ng public disturbance dulot ng COVID-19 imbes mag­deklara ng martial law.

Bago isailalilm sa ‘lockdown’ ang buong Metro Manila kagabi hang­gang 14 Abril, naki­pagpu­long si Pangulong Duterte kay China Ambassador Huang Xilian, at panguna­hing agenda ang pagtutu­lu­ngan ng Filipinas at  China para labanan ang pag­laganap ng COVID-19.

“Ayaw naming gami­tin ‘yan kasi takot kayo sabihin n’yo ‘lockdown.’ But it’s a lockdown. There’s no struggle of power here, walang gera. It’s a matter of protecting and defending you from COVID-19.”

“Huang expressed solidarity with the Philippine government in its efforts to contain the spread of COVID-19. The Chinese ambassador also conveyed China’s readiness to extend assistance,” ayon sa kala­tas ng Malacañang sa pulong nila.

“President Rodrigo Roa Duterte on Wednes­day received China Ambassador Huang Xilian, stressing the importance of continued economic cooperation as well as working together to addresses challenges posed by the spread of COVID-19,” dagdag sa kalatas ng Palasyo.

Nagpahayag ng paki­kiramay si Duterte sa China sa sinapit ng bansa sa COVID-19.

Matatandaan bago nagkaroon ng kaso ng COVID -19 sa bansa ay ibinasura ni Pangulong Duterte ang Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) ng Filipinas at Amerika.

Itinaas ng Pangulo sa pinakamataas na public health alert sa Code Red Sublevel Two ang bansa.

Ibig sabihin, suspen­dido ang mga klase sa lahat ng antas sa Metro Manila hanggang 12 Abril 2020.

Ipinagbabawal ang “mass gatherings, defined as a planned or sponta­neous event where the number of people attending could strain the planning and response resources of the com­munity hosting the event” sa naturang panahon.

Magpapatupad ng self-imposed community quarantine sa buong Metro Manila at lahat ng lokal na pamahalaan ay inatasang ipatupad ang localized community quarantine sa kanilang lugar.

“A barangay-wide quarantine is advised when there at least two positive COVID-19 cases belonging to different households in the same barangay; a municipality/city-wide quarantine is advised when there are at least two positive COVID-19 cases belonging to different barangays in the same municipality/city; and a province-wide quarantine is advised when there are at least two positive COVID-19 cases belonging to different component cities or independent component cities in the same province,” ayon sa binasang resolution ng IATFEID na inaprobahan ng Pangulo at gagawing executive order.

Isinuspendi rin ng Pangulo ang trabaho sa executive branch maliban sa “health and emergency frontline services” na kailangang  magpatuloy “full operation” at mag­mantina ng skeletal force sa ibang mga tanggapan ng pamahalaan.

Hinimok niya ang pribadong sektor na magpatupad ng flexible work arrangement at mag­patupad ng social distancing sa mga mama­mayan.

Magpapatuloy ang operasyon ng LRT, MRT, at PNR at magpapa­tu­pad din ng social distancing sa naturang public transport.

“Land, domestic air, and domestic sea travel to and from Metro Manila shall be suspended after the expiration of forty-eight hours from issuance of this Resolution,” anang Pangulo.

“Balik-manggagawa Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) shall be allowed to travel to mainland China, except to Hubei Province, upon execution of a  ‘declaration’ signi­fying their knowledge and understanding of the risks involved.  Provided , that a health advisory pamphlet shall be handed out to the OFWs upon departure.”

“Entry travel restric­tions shall be imposed upon those travelling from countries with localized COVID-19 transmissions, except for Filipino citizens including their foreign spouse and children, if any, holders of Permanent Resident Visa, and holders of 9(e) Diplomat Visas issued by the Philippine Govern­ment.”

ni ROSE NOVENARIO