Press Release

Palace confident Filipinos will follow protocols as nation awaits for PRRD’s address



Malacañan on Thursday, May 28, expressed confidence that Filipinos will follow quarantine protocols should President Rodrigo Roa Duterte decide to ease restrictions.

“The level of confidence is very high. Unang-una, napatunayan ng mga Pilipino na kaya nilang sumunod dahil naman by and large ‘no, itong more than 70 days na tayo ay nagkaroon ng ECQ at MECQ ay pinatunayan natin na disiplinado po ang mga Pilipino,” Secretary Harry Roque said.

The Palace spokesman added that Filipinos know that stricter quarantine rules could be reimposed should there be a sharp increase in the number of coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) cases.

“Tingin ko alam din ng mga Pilipino na mas malaki iyong magiging banta sa kanilang buhay at kabuhayan kung sa puntong ito, matapos na nawalan ng 70 days tayo at nakakulong lang tayo sa ating mga pamamahay ay babalik sila sa dati,” Roque stressed.

Case doubling time or the time it takes for the number of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases to double in number, along with the critical care capacity and economics are the top considerations that experts and the IATF are looking at in basing recommendations with regard to community quarantine decisions.

“At siyempre po importante rin, balansehin natin iyan, iyong ating ekonomiya ‘no dahil kung buhay naman tayo sa COVID pero wala naman tayong hanapbuhay ‘no, eh ganoon din po ang suma-total,” Roque added.

As of May 27, data from the Department of Health show that there are now 15,049 COVID-19 cases in the country, with 3,506 recoveries and 904 deaths.

“Let me put it this way, habang walang bakuna, habang wala pong gamot, talagang tataas ang numero ng COVID-19 [cases].”

On whether the NCR and other areas will be placed under the GCQ come June 1, the Presidential Spokesperson said that the Chief Executive himself will make the announcement tonight, May 28.

“Haharap pong muli ang ating Presidente Rodrigo Roa Duterte mamayang gabi para malaman na natin kung anong mangyayari sa atin pag dating ng a-uno ng Hunyo.”

The Chief Executive is expected to announce later in the day the fate of cities and provinces that were placed in various community quarantine phases for more than 70 days now since Luzon was placed under an enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) on March 16, 2020.

“Lilinawin ko lang po, kahit anong anunsyo ng Presidente mamayang gabi, pupwede po tayong bumalik sa ECQ muli kung ang datos ay magpapakita na napakabilis na naman ng doubling rate,” Secretary Roque underscored. ### OPS-PCOO