NDRRMC clusters to be used in nat'l action plan vs. COVID-19 -DILG

Clusters of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) would be utilized to implement the national action plan against the 2019 coronavirus disease (COVID-19), an official from the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) said Wednesday.

According to Undersecretary Jonathan Malaya, the government is using a calamity approach in addressing the current public health emergency.

"The IATF (Inter-Agency Task Force) is the policy-making body of the NAP. Ang magi-implement ngayon ng lahat ng regulasyon na manggagaling sa IATF ay itong structure na ito. This team utilizes the NDRRMC structure," Malaya said during a press briefing.

"'Yung mga clusters ng NDRRMC will be utilized here. So talagang kalamidad po ang approach ng ating pamahalaan... We are under state of public health emergency... the President has already declared a state of calamity for the entire country so we're now utilizing the structure of the NDRRMC," he added.

Malaya said the DILG is still waiting for the guidelines about the enforcement of the national action plan.

In a televised address aired late Tuesday night, President Rodrigo Duterte said the Department of National Defense and the DILG will lead the implementation of the national action plan which aims to contain the spread of COVID-19 in the country.

The President said the NAP would make regular reports regarding the matter.

Luzon is placed under enhanced community quarantine until April 13 as the number of COVID-19 in the country continues to increase.

Duterte assured Filipino citizens that the government would provide them with essentials throughout the quarantine period.

As of March 24, the Department of Health already recorded 552 confirmed COVID-19 cases. Of that number, 35 already died while 20 others have recovered. --KBK, GMA News