Mayor Vico throws support behind Oplan Kalinga

Pasig City Mayor Vico Sotto on Thursday appealed to the public, especially his constituents, to cooperate and not be worried about the Oplan Kalinga program of the government or the house-to-house search for mild and asymptomatic COVID-19 cases.

At a Palace press briefing, Sotto said mild COVID-19 cases would not be locked up once they are placed in quarantine facilities.

"Huwag po sila mag-alala. In close cooperation with our national government, ipapatupad po ito ng Pasig, gaya po ng nabanggit ko kanina, we try to make our centralized quarantine as lively, as comfortable for our patients," Sotto said.

"Hindi po ito parang ikukulong 'yung mga pasyente natin. In fact, this is for their benefit kaya sana mag-cooperate po ang lahat at rest assured this is for the benefit, not only for the patients, but for the community in general," he added.

He cited that the local government of Pasig City is making efforts to provide leisure activities for those staying in quarantine facilities so that they will realize that it is better to stay in these areas.

"We try to make it 'yung magaan para sa kanila. May mga entertainment din kami... may pa-zumba, may movie night kami para sa kanila para malaman din ng asymptomatic and positive na 'Ay okay pala diyan, okay pala macentralized quarantine.' Hindi man super saya dahil nalayo ka sa pamilya mo... pero naaalagaan ka," Sotto said.

Local health officials will lead in going house-to-house to search for mild and asymptomatic cases and later transfer them to isolation facilities. These medical personnel are being assisted by police officers to ensure an orderly transfer of patients.

Some have expressed concern over this practice as they likened it to the Oplan Tokhang of the police force. The National Union of Peoples' Lawyers has pointed out that the house-to-house search could be prone to abuse.

Interior Secretary Eduardo Año, however, insisted that this practice is in accordance with Republic Act 11332 or "An Act Providing Policies and Prescribing Procedures on Surveillance and Response to Notifiable Diseases, Epidemics, and Health Events of Public Health Concern." — RSJ, GMA News