State of calamity in QC over spread of COVID-19

A state of calamity has been declared over Quezon City amid the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) threat, Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte announced Friday.

At a news conference, Belmonte said she immediately requested the city council to pass a resolution declaring a state of calamity after Metro Manila was placed under "community quarantine" on Thursday night.

"Ang pagkaintindi ko, to be very blunt about it, is what the government wants to do is to contain the virus within Metro Manila," Belmonte said.

"Kumbaga, we are protecting the rest of the country from this virus by making sure that kami 'yung naka quarantine. 'Yan 'yung pagkaintindi ko," she added.

Belmonte said boundaries between cities were not important as Metro Manila should "be operating as one unit."

The mayor further said that the state of calamity would enable her constituents to carry out their mandate as this gave them access to the quick response fund.

"For them to be able to carry this out, they have to have the necessary resources. And it is only under a state of calamity that they would be able to utilize their respective functions," Belmonte said.

She said Quezon City was the biggest city in Metro Manila

"Ang lungsod Quezon po ang pinakamalaking lungsod sa Metro Manila, comprising 25% of the Metropolis... Sa laki at lawak po ng aming lungsod ay kinakailangan ko po talaga ang support ng, actually, 142 barangays," Belmonte said.

Belmonte said she would issue an executive order tightening countermeasures against the COVID-19.

"Kasama na rin diyan 'yung issues ng hoarding, ng panic buying, lahat ng mahahalagang issues na lagi niyo itinatanong sa akin," Belmonte said.

The number of confirmed cases in Quezon City climbed to five on Thursday

The Philippines' tally of confirmed cases rose to 52 on the same day.

The Philippines has also raised Code Red Sub-Level 2 over the COVID-19 threat. —NB, GMA News