Metro mayors divided over proposed lockdown amid COVID-19 threat

Metro Manila mayors expressed differing views on the possibility of a lockdown to control the spread of the coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19).

The Philippines has 33 confirmed cases of the virus as of March 10.

San Juan City Mayor Francis Zamora and Makati Mayor Abby Binay declined the possibility of a lockdown as of now.

Marikina City Mayor Marcelino Teodero, howeever, expressed openness to a lockdown, but which will only be a city or barangay-wide.

"If necessary, we should take that into serious consideration. The lockdown maaaring hindi sa buong Metro Manila. Maaaring mag-lockdown sa isang barangay...siyudad," he told reporters after attending a meeting with fellow Metro Manila mayors Tuesday.

"Not necessarily i-paralyze yung buong Metropolitan Manila. Tukuyin lang mabuti," he added.

The Department of Interior and Local Government gathered the local chief executives to discuss measures that they could implement in their respective municipality  or city to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

Teodoro highlighted the importance of transparency of information on COVID-19 cases from the Department of Health.

“Ako, ang sinasabi ko bilang mayor... magkaroon ng maayos na impormasyon kung ilan talaga ‘yung infected, kung saan talaga, ano ‘yung extent ng transmission,” he said.

The DOH earlier said a lockdown is premature to be imposed as a precautionary measure at this point, noting that only a sustained community transmission may prompt this protocol.—LDF, GMA News