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.
Reports on Affected Populations
• As of March 23, 593 Patients Under Investigation (from the previous 506) are currently admitted in different facilities in Regions I, II, III, CALABARZON, VI, VII, VIII, X, XI, XII, CARAGA, CAR, and NCR.
• A total of 501 cases (from the previous 380) were confirmed in Regions I,II, III, CALABARZON, VI, VII, X, XI, CARAGA, CAR, and NCR. Of which, 33 (from the previous 25) were reported dead and 19 (from the previous 17) have recovered.
• A total of 1,539 cities/municipalities in all regions declared suspension of classes.
• On March 17, a work from home arrangement was implemented in the government’s Executive branch, except PNP, AFP, PCG, and health and emergency frontline services, border control and other critical services, which shall ensure a skeletal work force.
• Work in all government offices in the provinces and Ilocos Norte and La Union were declared suspended on March 14 and March 16, respectively.
• Work suspension at the Provincial Government of Occidental Mindoro and Oriental Mindoro were declared on March 17.
• Work of Municipal Government of Pinamalayan, Oriental Mindoro was suspended on March 17 except the frontline offices.
• Work in the City Government of Butuan, Agusan del Norte was suspended effective March 16 and in Buenavista, Agusan del Norte on March 23 until April 3.
• Land, domestic air, and domestic sea travel to and from Metro Manila is suspended from March 15 to April 14 as declared by President Rodrigo Duterte during the Presidential Press Conference on March 12.
• The following areas were also declared under State of Calamity prior the declaration of the National State of Calamity:
REGION/PROVINCE/CITY/MUNICIPALITY DATE
REGION II
Isabela March 10
Region III
Balanga, Bataan March 17
Tarlac City March 16
Province of Pampanga March 16
Baler, Aurora March 18
MIMAROPA
Rizal, Palawan March 19
Culion, Palawan March 20
Calapan City, Oriental Mindoro Marcn 17
CAR
Ifugao March 17
Mt.Province March 17
NCR
Mandaluyong City March 15
Manila City March 12
Muntinlupa City March 16
Pasig City March 15
San Juan City March 15
Las Pinas City March 15
Malabon City March 15
Navotas City March 17
(Source: NDRRMC)
• Shortage of medical masks was reported in various parts of the country due to concerns over the pandemic.
• 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 theor 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)
• On March 16, the Department of Foreign Affairs announced that the Philippines will stop issuing visas to foreigners worldwide to prevent the further spread of COVID-19 in the country.
• Since March 16, Bulacan farmers reported that their vegetable produce were blocked from entering Quezon City markets. Trucks carrying sacks of rice from Batangas were also blocked. Fisherfolk organizations also reported that some Cavite and Central Luzon fish suppliers and vendors were barred from entering Metro Manila. Due to the long queue of vehicles at checkpoint areas, many food and supply deliveries were also delayed. (Source: Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas)
• On March 18, some markets in NCR reportedly closed because of the impeded movement of food from the provinces. These are Novaliches market in Quezon City; San Juan market and Dagohoy market in Manila.
• On March 20, a group of hospitals in Metro Manila issued an urgent call to the government for help as COVID-19 cases continue to rise. At least 11 private hospitals are asking the government to centralize all efforts and resources into 1 or 2 COVID-19 hospitals, adequately equipped and invested upon by the government.
• There were reports from Cagayan Valley that farmers and farm workers were prohibited or prevented from harvesting rice especially since there is no public transportation to take them to the rice fields. Even those who need to buy farm inputs or sell vegetables, fruits, and rice cakes to augment their income, were not able to do so.
• In Tumauini, Isabels, vegetables rotted when farmers were not allowed to sell these to the market.
• Even the harvest and milling of sugar cane in Batangas is affected. Mill workers who do not have motorbikes cannot go to work because of lack of transportation.
• Also in Batangas, there is rice shortage in Calaca town. In Nasugbu, people are prevented from going to the market in the town center. Even sari-sari store owners who want to replenish their stocks are not able to do so. In Lemery, people are allowed to go to the market for only an hour, even if most of the barangays are far from the market. In all these places, the government has not provided food for the residents.
• There is a reported case in Lemery, Batangas when the LGU prevented sick people from going to the hospital for checkup and treatment. In Calaca, a 73-year old woman with respiratory illness was made to walk for 3 km to seek medical attention. (Source: Unyon ng Manggagawa sa Agrikultura)
• On March 21, at least 144 nurses and doctors at The Medical City in Pasig City are under self-quarantine due to exposure to the corona virus.
• On March 22, communities reported no updates or contact from government officials, with many fearing they won’t have the ongoing support needed to cope. (Source: Rappler)
• The Bureau of Immigration appealed for help for its personnel. Their staff need donations of masks, gloves, and alcohol, adding that these supplies are vital for frontline personnel manning airports and seaports across the Philippines.
• Laid against population data, numbers show that the Philippines has been conducting around only 12 tests for every million people.
• All over the Philippines, people are waiting in agony to learn if they really do have COVID-19. Many individuals already showing symptoms are being turned down by cramped hospitals struggling with lack of space and dwindling supplies. Worse, others die long before they could confirm it was COVID-19 that had killed them.
• Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte said that at least 3 Quezon City residents who have tested positive for COVID-19 were asked by hospitals they turned to in different parts of Metro Manila to stay home.
• The Medical City asked patients seeking treatment at the hospital to look for other hospitals, as it has already exceeded its capacity due to the COVID-19 outbreak in the country.
• On March 24, Barangay San Isidro in Paranaque City has been reported to punish curfew violators caught during the Luzon lockdown by forcing them to sit under the sun, even if the penalty was not prescribed in the city’s curfew ordinance.
Emergency Response Efforts
• On March 12 and 13, CDRC conducted staff meeting to discuss initial response plans.
• On March 16, employees were advised to work from home.
• Regular publication of situational reports.
• Published statement on COVID-19
• Regular information sharing and awareness-raisin on social media platforms.
• Launched Call for Donation online.
• Efforts to raise funds continue.
• Regular updates to funding partners.
• Initial communication with partners (CARE Philippines and World Jewish Relief)
• Coordination with CREST.
• Acquired humanitarian pass from Quezon City
Resources Available
• Standby emergency funds
• Prepositioned goods at the CDRC warehouse
Expressed Needs
• Immediate needs of the affected population include face masks, hygiene kits, food packs and cash assistance for poor families who do not have income because of the quarantine.
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