Palace to OCTA research team: Don’t publicize suggestions to gov’t

Malacañang on Tuesday appealed to experts studying the COVID-19 pandemic in the Philippines not to publicize their recommendations to the government on the possible quarantine measures aimed at curbing the spread of the virus.

This comes after the OCTA research team urged the government to consider reimposing a stricter quarantine classification or implementing localized lockdowns in Bauan in Batangas, Calbayog in Western Samar, and General Trias in Cavite due to the continued rise in infections.

Speaking at a news conference, presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said the OCTA research team may submit their recommendations “privately” to the policy-making Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF).

“Ni-request ko na po sa kanila na to desist from making recommendations on classification kasi talaga pong trabaho naman po iyan ng mga eksperto at I understand although they have one or two epidemiologists, it’s still not the same number of experts working with the IATF, hindi lang po sa DOH [Department of Health],” Roque said.

“They can probably endorse or course their recommendations privately to the IATF nang hindi naman po napapangunahan, highlighting the fact that classifications are normally announced no less than the President himself,” he added.

President Rodrigo Duterte often makes his decisions on the country’s COVID-19 response, including the imposition of a sweeping lockdown, based on the inputs of the IATF, which is headed by Health Secretary Francisco Duque III.

Provincial governors, meanwhile, have the power to implement localized lockdowns in consultation with the regional IATF, according to Roque.

Recently, the IATF said the escalation of community quarantine levels should be reserved as a "last resort" to prevent the further spread of the virus as the government sought to revitalize the economy.

The Philippines has so far reported 344,713 COVID-19 cases, including 293,383 recoveries and 6,372 deaths.—AOL, GMA News