Overall Situation
• On March 7, the Department of Health raised the COVID-19 Alert System Code to Code Red Sublevel 1.
• On March 8, with the recommendation of the DOH, the Office of the President declared a State of Public Health Emergency.
• On March 12, a Presidential Press Conference was conducted announcing the raising of the Philippines’ COVID-19 Alert Level System to Code Red Sublevel 2.
• On March 16, a Memorandum from the Executive Secretary was issued regarding Community Quarantine Over the Entire Luzon and Further Guidelines for the Management of the COVID-19 Situation.
• On March 16, the entire Philippines was placed under a State of Calamity.
• On March 25, a State of National Emergency was proclaimed, and President Duterte was granted Special Powers to resolve the COVID-19 outbreak.
• On April 7, the Enhanced Community Quarantine was extended until April 30.
• On April 24, Pres. Rodrigo Duterte announced that the following areas will remain under ECQ until May 15: Metro Manila, Benguet, Pangasinan, Bataan, Nueva Ecija, Pampanga, Tarlac, Zambales, Batangas, Laguna, Cavite, Rizal, Quezon, Albay, Island of Mindoro, Catanduanes, Antique, Iloilo, Cebu, Cebu City, Davao del Norte, Davao de Oro, and Davao City.
• On May 12, the President placed 3 areas under “modified” enhanced community quarantine from May 16-31 – Metro Manila, Laguna, and Cebu City. Regions placed under GCQ are: Region II, Region III, Region IV-A (except Laguna), CAR, Region VII, except Cebu City, Region IX, Region XI, and Region XIII. Regions placed under modified GCQ: Region I, Region IV-B, Region V, Region VI, Region VIII, Region X, Region XII, and BARMM.
• On May 28, Pres. Rodrigo Duterte approved the downgrading of Metro Manila to General Community Quarantine starting June 1. The other parts of the country that will be in GCQ are Davao City, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, CALABARZON, Pangasinan, and Albay. The rest of the country will be under modified GCQ, the lowest form of community quarantine enforced by the government.
Reports on Affected Populations
• As of May 29, a total of 15,558 cases (from the previous 15,049) were confirmed in Regions I,II, III, CALABARZON, V, VI, VII, X, XI, CARAGA, CAR, and NCR. Of which, 921 (from the previous 904) were reported dead and 3,598 (from the previous 3,506) have recovered.
• 14.4 million non-regular workers and informal earners, or 3 out of 5 employed person in Luzon, are most at risk of lost wager and earnings due to the Luzon-wide lockdown. Many low-income Filipinos in poor-quality jobs or precarious work – or work that is insecure, low-paying, and lack benefits – face lost wages and earnings during the lockdown.
• There are already reports of workers faced with reduced work hours or forced leave due to limited operations of business establishments. Others, like small business owners and their employees have had significant loss of earnings due to the drop in customer traffic.
• Of the P27.1 billion spending plan for COVID-19 rolled out by the government, on P2 billion has been allotted as wage subsidy or financial support for displaced workers and P1.2 billion for social security unemployment benefits. Non-regular workers may not be able to avail of this cash assistance because of their irregular or informal status. (Source: IBON Foundation)
• With the easing of quarantine measures, the Department of Transportation sees more international flights landing in and departing from international airports outside Metro Manila.
• The Department of Foreign Affairs recorded 157 additional Filipinos overseas infected with COVID-19, marking a spike in cases mostly recorded in the Middle East. (Rappler)
Update from Regions (STPRC, PCDR, CORDIS, CPRS, CVDRC, CREST, ABI, LCDE, CRRC, DIRECT, and TABI):
Province Confirmed Cases Suspected Cases Probable Cases Death
Cavite 48 213 3,028 6
Laguna 37 717 5,644 3
Batangas 20 175 4,396 2
Rizal 98 1,113 3,401 8
Quezon 9 207 2
Subtotal 212 2,425 16,469 21
Mindoro Occidental 2 150 1,406 1
Mindoro Oriental 1 42 1,659
Marinduque 3 75 744
Romblon 1 100 1,680
Palawan 1 58 282
Subtotal 8 425 5,771 1
Aklan 6 27 4,123
Antique 1 15 3,707
Capiz 3 16 3,347
Iloilo Province 10 32 6,968
Bacolod 9 1
Iloilo City 3 20 1,438
Negros Occidental 4
Subtotal 36 110 19,628 1
CAR 22
Central Visayas 568 1,417 17,000 3
Cebu City 2,000 154 8,996
Mandaue City 3
Cebu Province 4 1
Negros Oriental 4
Bohol 1
Cagayan Valley 21 338 18,389
Manila City 266 298 32
Quezon City 2,000 34
Makati City 141 14
Pasig City 140 22
San Juan City 136 24
Paranaque City 104
Mandaluyong City 98
Taguig City 69
Muntinlupa City 60
Marikina City 48
Pasay City 46
Caloocan City 45
Las Pinas City 45
Valenzuela City 18
Malabon City 10
Pateros 6
Navotas City 19 6
Subtotal 3,251 298 132
Pampanga 16 140 14,446 5
Tarlac 9 421 17,494
Bulacan 39
Nueva Ecija 17
Subtotal 81 561 31,940 5
Region 11 114
Region 1 48
La Union 12 3
Pangasinan 36
Subtotal 12 3
Region V 77 18 3 7
Albay 69 10 1 5
Camarines Sur 7 2 1
Catanduanes 1 1
Sorsogon 6
Camarines Norte 2
Region 9 59
Zamboanga City 59
Region 10 10
Cagayan de Oro City 10
Total 6,031 4,429 101,196 156

Status of RC’s Mobility
Impact of ECQ in operations
• STPRC’s activities were postponed, including relief delivery operations for Taal Volcano eruption. Two of the project staff from Mindoro Occidental who attended activities in NCR and CALABARZON were required to undergo self-quarantine for 14 days. Three staff stranded in the office. Staff with asthma and other medical considerations were required to stay inside the office or at home. On March 30, they consulted the LGUs in Batangas with pending RDO activities in areas affected by the Taal Volcano eruption. LGUs in Laurel and Talisay are willing to accept cash-base assistance and goods. But they mentioned they would designate a place where goods can be dropped off due to the limitations because of the lockdown. But they asked of we can provide for the the whole community because they worry that those who will not get relief goods will be mad at them.
• Before the community lockdown, all ICRED staff are not in the office. All of them were in their homes when the ECQ was implemented. Because of this, all were stranded in their respective communities due to ban of public transport. As ECQ was implemented, private vehicles were also banned from travelling. It was impossible to meet up. Even online meeting was not possible. Only their ED has stable internet connection.
• The ECQ affected TABI’s regular operation. The project staff and 1 DPC member, who attended CDRC’s activity, underwent home quarantine for 14 days, as per policy being implemented in the whole province of Sorsogon for people coming back from Manila and other areas with recorded local transmission of COVID-19. Some staff are working at home with many limitations. Consequently, planned activities for the months of March and April were suspended.
Conduct of needs assessment
• STPRC gathers data thru texts and chats. They are a member of the research and monitoring group for COVID-19 in Southern Tagalog. Fedbacking is via chat. They gather data on medical situation, health workers and hospitals situation, water supply, support from the government, and human rights.
• As soon as ECQ was declared, ICRED implemented emergency protocols. A group chat with their local partner organizations were made in order to update the situation on the ground. However, due to internet connection instability, they were not able to get SitRep in some areas.
• TABI has no capacity to conduct actual assessment in the field. They are monitoring situations and needs of different areas through texts and calls to DPCs, POs, and BDRRMCs.
Vulnerable towns:
• Quezon, Mindoro Occidental, Mindoro Occidental, and Batangas since they have not fully recovered from Typhoons Tisoy and Ursula and the Taal Volcano eruption.
• Caba, La Union where are 2 positive cases. La Union (interior parts of San Fernando City, Bauang, Aringay, Caba, Agoo, Naguilian, and Bagulin); Ilocos Sur (Sinait, Cabugao, Magsingal, San Juan, Vigan, Santa, Candon, Narvacan, Sta. Maria, Sta. Lucia, Salcedo, Sta. Cruz, Tagudin, Suyo, Sigay); Ilocos Norte (Adams, Pagudpud, Vintar, Nieva Era, Dumalneg, Marcos, Piddig, Pinili, Batac, Currimao, Badoc, Laoag)
• Catanduanes; Masbate; Milaor, Gainza, Camaligan, San Fernando, Pasacao, Pamplona, Pinambac, Calabanga, Siruma, Bula, Sangay, Tiwi, Daraga, Manito, Libon, Polangui, Irosin, Juban, Gubat, and Bulan.
Operation of Local Markets
• Convenienc store Family Mart launched its “Farm on Wheels”, a rolling store that sells essentials and Family Mart goods. (Rappler)
Remittance Centers and Banks
• In Southern Tagalog, BDO, Metrobank, and Palawan Pawnshop are closed. Banks in cities are open but not all branches. Only 1 branch of Palawan Pawnshop is open in Los Banos. Other banks like PNB and BPI are only open up to 1:30pm.
• In Ilocos, remittance centers and banks are open but are very far from their location. Access to banks are limited due to lockdown in San Fernando City, La Union, and Ilocos Norte.
• In Bicol, remittance centers and banks are open but they are located also in the town centers or in big municipalities and cities. Smart Padala is popular in small barangays.
Public Transport
• Public transportation will resume once Metro Manila is placed under general community quarantine – but not as we know it, pre-pandemic.
• The Metro Manila council has suggested that should the metro transition to GCQ, buses and jeeps will still be prohibited from operating, and private cars will follow modified coding, Metropolitan Manila Development Authority Gen. Manager Jojo Garcia said.
• Commuters will have to take a maximum a maximum of 3 bus rides to travel to and from opposite ends of Metro Manila under a proposed single route system being eyed by authorities, the MMDA said. (Rappler)
Handling of Authorities on Patients, PUIs, ad PUMs
Situation in Hospitals
• The provincial government of Cebu urged doctors to avoid referring patients to hospitals located in Cebu City to help prevent the spread of COVID-19. (Rappler)
Assessment by Authorities
• The Department of Health is aiming to clear its COVID-19 testing backlogs.
• Bicol region now has 2 testing facilities for COVID-19 following the restoration of the Bicol Regional Diagnostic and Reference Laboratory in Legazpi City and the launch of the Bicol Medical Center in Naga City, said the Department of Health in Bicol.
• The United States embassy in Manila announced it has cancelled all scheduled interviews for immigrant and non-immigrant visas set until June 11 due to the ongoing community quarantine in Metro Manila.
• A House committee gave its thumbs up to a bill that would include among those prioritized for testing members of certain sectors “vulnerable” to COVID-19 but do not necessarily show symptoms.
• The Dagupan City government has begun its risk-based testing for COVID-19 on some 600 of its frontliners.
Awareness-raising Measures by Authorities
• At a time when government communication on the COVID-19 pandemic has become critical, one politician has managed to consistently appear in COVID-19 broadcasts – Sen. Bong Go. (Rappler)
Disinformation about COVID-19
• Media executives and journalists urged the public to balance their media diet and rely only on facts amid the COVID-19 pandemic. (Rappler)
Assistance Received from LGUs and CSOs
Assistance from LGUs
• The Legazpi City government reiterated its rules against the discrimination and harassment of frontliners, repatriated overseas Filipino workers, and suspected and confirmed COVID-19 patients. (Rappler)
Social Welfare Programs
• The Department of Social Welfare and Development said it plans to make processes faster for the 2nd wave of cash aid distribution under the emergency subsidy program meant to help those affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. (Rappler)
Assistance from CSOs
• Miss Universe 2018 Catriona Gray has helped raise P2.3 million to feed over 6,000 families in Smokey Mountain in Tondo who have become even more vulnerable during the COVID-19 crisis.
• Actress Bea Alonzo announced that I am Hope, the organization which she co-founded, has raised P9 million for the frontliners in the COVID-19 pandemic. (Rappler)
Vulnerable Groups
ECQ Situation of Vulnerable Groups
• At least 6 convicts in the custody of the Bureau of Corrections have died of COVID-19, the Department of Justice said.
• As a preparation for school opening on Aug. 24, the Department of Education said that enrolment for basic education will be done remotely during the COVID-19 pandemic. (Rappler)
Food Security
Farming and Fishing Activities
• Farmers around the country sold P1.6 billion worth of agricultural products to local government units that opted to distribute relief packs that included healthy alternatives to the usual canned goods. (Rappler)
Price of basic commodities
• In Sto. Tomas, La Union, watermelon produce of farmers were bought by the MLGU at P20/kilo. The original price of watermelon is P50-P60/kilo. Prices have increased even if LGUs declared a price freeze on commodities. For example, the price of half a cavan of rice have risen to P930-P950 from P780-P830 in Agoo, La Union. Vegetable prices have increased by P5-P10/kilo. In some areas, prices of some commodities like rice and vegetables have risen. Supply of rice differ in communities. In most municipalities, only a few sacks of rice were harvested and traded.
• In Bicol, prices of some basic commodities have relatively increased especially retail goods purchased within the communities. On the other hand, some products of farmers and fisherfolks are sold at a lower price.
Access to Food
• Negotiations are under way to bring 4,000 metric tons of pork from Mindanao to various parts of the country including Metro Manila, according to the Department of Agriculture. (Rappler)
Sufficiency of LGU’s food assistance
• Hundreds of families at a relocation site in Naic, Cavite, were dismayed when local government workers took back sacks of rice given to them as aid hours after these were distrivuted.
WASH and Medical Assistance
Water Supply Interruption
• In areas affected by the Taal Volcano eruption, water is not yet potable.
• In Ilocos, there is no reported interruption in the water supply.
• In Bicol, commercial water system is available only in the town centers/poblacion barangays. As of now, there is no water interruption recorded. However, in many barangays where drinking water is from deep wells and mobile trucks, many people are exposed to contamination and other health-related problems.
Hygiene Kits
• In Brooke’s Point, Palawan, barangay officials created and distributed disinfectant solutions to residents due to lack of stock of alcohol and hand sanitizer. In other areas, no hygiene kits were provided.
• In Ilocos, only 1-2 bars of soap are provided by the LGU.
• In Bicol, food assistance is received from the barangay, municipal, and provincial level. In many barangays, hygiene kits are not included in the relief packs distributed to them.
Information campaign on COVID-19
• In Southern Tagalog, there are information campaigns on COVID-19 online.
• In Ilocos, there are no reported cases of information campaigns except for social media posts of government agencies and LGUs, and posting of publication materials in public markets.
• In Bicol, the information campaign on proper hygiene and other issues related to COVID-19 are mostly through the facebook page of LGUs and/or information from the media. LGUs have no extra effort on educating/informing the general public, especially those who have no access to media or social media.
Medical Assistance
• In La Union, a doctor launched an online consultation.
• In Bicol, different RHUs are conducting their regular service but there are no available medicines. Other than that, no medical assistance provided by LGUs has been reported.
Areas Designated for Quarantine
• The city government of Isabela in Basilan promised to improve its quarantine facilities after 2 returning overseas Filipino workers complained about the temporary lodging where they would have to stay before being allowed to return to their respective homes. (Rappler)
Shelter/Displacement Incidents
Community Displacement
• Three years since the Marawi siege in Lanao del Sur, more that 120,000 residents are still displaced from their homes, leaving them vulnerable to the COVID-19 pandemic. (Rappler)
Temporary Shelter for Street Dwellers
• There are no reported cases of LGUs providing temporary shelter for street dwellers.
Livelihood
Main Source of Livelihood
• In Southern Tagalog, the main source of livelihood is farming and fishing. There are also many daily wage earners.
• In Ilocos, the main source of livelihood is fishing, farming and petty trading. Majority of them are not able to work.
• In Bicol, the main sources of livelihood are farming and fishing. There is also a significant number involved in construction and vending. During the lockdown, they are one of the worst affected sectors.
Disruption of Livelihood
• With no dine-in customers during the COVID-19 lockdown, Jollibee Foods Corp. reported a net loss of P2.07 billion in the 1st quarter of 2020, representing a 253% plunge. (Rappler)
Alternative Sources of Income
• In Southern Tagalog and Ilocos, there are no alternative sources of income identified.
• In Bicol, in the first 2 weeks of ECQ, people have no plans yet for alternative sources of income since relief goods continue to arrive. Now, based on the statement of farmers, they will continue planting and increase their production. In case of prolonged lockdown, they will have something to harvest.
Negative Coping Mechanisms
• In Southern Tagalog, most people turn to loan and mortgage. Incurring debts from individual usurers and micro-financing company are now common.
• In Bicol, due to interruption of their livelihood, residents are becoming too dependent on the little relief assistance that the government promised.
Protection Issues
Increased presence of uniformed personnel
• More soldiers are heading to the front lines of the battle against COVID-19, this time as non-medical support staff at one of the government’s “mega swabbing centers.” (Rappler)
Curfew
• Baguio Mayor Benjamin Magalong appealed to the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases to exclude his city among the local government units that would remain under general community quarantine until June 15. (Rappler)
Crime and Harassment Incidents
• Unable to charge them yet, the Philippine government has settled for an immigration alert on the 2 Chinese operators behind the illegal COVID-19 clinic in Pampanga, but this cannot stop them from leaving the country. (Rappler)
Emergency Response Efforts
• On April 24, CDRC and CREST provided relief goods to 187 persons with disability in Manggahan, Pasig City.
Resources Available
• Standby emergency funds
• Prepositioned goods at the CDRC warehouse
Expressed Needs
• For responders and front liners – N95 masks, latex gloves, personal protective equipment, alcohol, humanitarian pass, vehicles, medical support
• For families in need – food relief pack, hygiene and protection kit, vitamins
• For communities – disinfection tents, alternative livelihood
Coordination
• Citizens’ Disaster Response Network
Contacts
• Kim Augiline Leduna, Executive Director, (insert cellphone number), info@cdrc-phil.com
• Malen Serato, Field Operations Department, 0916-499-1410, fod@cdrc-phil.com
• Hanna Fiel, Research and Public Information Department, 0945-8355589, hanna.fiel.cdrc2019@gmail.com
• Cora Jazmines, Local Partnerships Department, 0928-182-4969, lpd@cdrc-phil.com