Food rationing for Filipino daily-wage earners amidst coronavirus lockdown

FOOD RATIONING? Early on Tuesday (March 17, 2020) the Philippine government has announced that daily-wage earners and poor communities affected by the "enhanced community quarantine" (ECQ) will be provided with food assistance from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD). The announcement was announced by the official Philippine News Agency (PNA) at 12.37am, on Tuesday. Source: https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1096849

WAGE EARNERS: A scene in Manila showing daily-wage earners waiting for public transport on Monday (March 16, 2020). Under the memorandum signed by Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea on Monday, enhanced community quarantine means that the public will have to strictly remain indoors unless they need to access basic necessities.

RESTRICTED MOVEMENT: Aside from the ban on public transportation, land, air, and sea travel will also be restricted while the movement of cargoes over the entire Luzon would continue unhampered. “The idea is to keep everybody in home quarantine. Mindset should be, in case of doubt, stay at home,” said Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles.

PHILIPPINE SENATOR GETS COVID-19: Senator Juan Miguel "Migz" Fernández Zubiri, has served three consecutive terms in the Philippine House of Representatives for the third district of Bukidnon and as a senator. Local media reported that he had tested positive for COVID-19, making him the Philippines' first national official who contracted the new coronavirus.

WORK FROM HOME: Due to restricted movement, and enhanced community quarantine, the government has issued an order stating that the Executive Branch will implement “a work from home” arrangement except for members of the Philippine National Police, Armed Forces of the Philippines, Philippine Coast Guard and health and emergency frontline services, border control and other critical services. Under the memorandum signed by Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea on Monday, "enhanced community quarantine" (ECQ) means that the public will have to strictly remain indoors unless they need to access basic necessities.

ENHANCED COMMUNITY QUARANTINE: The government has announced early on Monday that all mass transport systems will be suspended under the Luzon-wide “enhanced community quarantine” (ECQ) from March 17 to April 12 to control the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) outbreak.

LUZON-WIDE QUARANTINE: President Rodrigo Duterte early on Tuesday (March 17, 2020) has ordered to place Luzon under an enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) following reports that commuters continue to face long lines and crowds to get to their respective workplaces, defeating the purpose of the prescribed social distancing. The absence of jeeps, buses, trains is expected to minimize the risk of contracting and spreading the highly-infectious disease.

Aside from the ban on public transportation, land, air, and sea travel will also be restricted while the movement of cargoes over the entire Luzon would continue unhampered.

RECOVERY. People form a queue outside a drug store in the Philippines. The Department of Health (DOH) on Monday reported the recovery and discharge of the first Filipino patient infected with coronavirus, bringing the total number of recovered patients in the country to three.

MASS TRANSPORT SUSPENDED: Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles on Monday said the suspension would include all forms of mass transport such as public utility buses, jeeps, taxis, transport network vehicle services, among others.

INTERNATIONAL PASSENGERS: For outbound international passengers traveling from Luzon, he said they will be allowed to leave the country within 72 hours from the start of the enhanced quarantine. “Those who want to leave will leave within that period. We assume that after 72 hours, it is your decision to stay here,” said Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles late on Monday (March 16, 2020) night.

File photo shows policemen patrolling around a slum area. A government announcement on Tuesday (March 17, 2020), states that workers affected by the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) implemented to curb the spread of COVID-19, may avail of a "moratorium" on lease rentals, advanced pro-rated 13th month pay, reprieve in utility bills, and assistance to micro, small and medium-scale enterprises.