Duterte to lift community quarantine if antibody vs. COVID-19 becomes available

 

Duterte said there are pharmaceutical companies around the world that are rushing to come up with the treatment.

 

“Mayroon nang medisina, anti-body ang isang giant pharmaceuticals. Tapos naghahabulan sila … kung mayroon na ‘yan tapos makita ko na ginagamit na ng tao, i-li-lift ko. Tutal kung magka-sakit kayo may anti-bodies naman tayo mabili. I will lift the quarantine,” Duterte said. 

 

As part of the conditions under the “Bayanihan to Heal as One Act” or Republic Act No. 11469, Duterte is required to provide regular updates on the government’s response against COVID-19.

 

In his speech on Monday, Duterte took a swipe at lawmakers who opposed the proposed implementation of the national ID system.

 

He said the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) is facing difficulties in identifying the beneficiaries of the Social Amelioration Program (SAP).

 

“Nagkakaroon tayo ng problema. Kung may ID system lang tayo, we could have – naiiwasan natin itong mga ‘to because all we have to do is ask the DILG, ilang tao ‘yang barangay na ‘yan, then ipadala yung pagkain at kunin na lang ninyo doon sa tindahan niyo or the disposal point,” he said.

 

“Inaayos na namin ‘yan. Gusto ko lahat mabigyan. Ayaw kong may mamatay ni isang Pilipino na gutom. Kaya may another survey tayo madalian,” he added.

 

Duterte said the government is now distributing P18 million to low-income families who were affected by the enhanced community quarantine in Luzon. He added though that beneficiaries will still have to undergo re-evaluation or revalidation.

 

Reacting to the issue surrounding the overseas deployment ban on Filipino health workers, Duterte said he can understand why Filipino health workers would prefer to go abroad to serve people other than their countrymen. 

 

Duterte also called on the public not to discriminate against medical frontliners who are working double time to contain the COVID-19 pandemic after receiving reports that some of them are being harassed by their neighbors.

 

“I’d like to order the police. If there’s a report of somebody harassing or facing a discriminatory act, you arrest the person. Huwag mong bitawan hanggang hindi ko sinabi na bitawan. Tawagan ko lang kayo kung panahon na,” he said.