Duterte tells LGUs to enlist idle hotels to house COVID-19 patients

As the Philippines continues to grapple with a rise in cases of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday ordered local government units (LGUs) to turn vacant hotels in their locality into facilities for COVID-19 patients.

“‘Yung mga local governments are put on notice that I have directed you to make necessary arrangement with the vacant hotels, motels, na patirahin muna niyo ‘yung mga COVID patients,” Duterte said in his weekly address.

Duterte also promised owners of hotels, motels, and inns that they would be paid by the government for their services.

“I will assume the full responsibility of paying you pagdating ng panahon. I will ask Congress, I will plead sa kanila na hanapan ng paraan bayaran kayo and I will personally see to it that you are paid on time,” he assured.

The government earlier strengthened its campaign against home quarantine, urging COVID-19 patients to go to government-run isolation centers to avoid spreading the disease to their housemates or community members. 

The Philippines has recorded 441,399 cases with 408,702 recoveries and 8,572 deaths as of Monday afternoon. -NB, GMA News