(File photo)
MANILA – Only six areas in the National Capital Region are currently placed under granular lockdown as the country continues to see a decline in coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) infections, Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Eduardo Año said Monday night.
Speaking to President Rodrigo Duterte during his Talk to the People briefing, Año said Metro Manila has the least number of areas under granular lockdown which has reached a total of 605.
“Sa atin naman pong updates sa ating buong bansa sa pagko-conduct ng ating granular lockdown, makikita po na higit 126,600 po ang ating mga aktibong kaso sa ngayon sa buong bansa. Subalit makikita po natin sa ating alert level system, 26 lamang na city at municipality ang apektado o kabuuan ay 210 barangays at 605 lamang ang under granular lockdown at ang anim dito ay nasa National Capital Region na nakakaaapekto sa 744 households or 1,233 individuals (In our updates throughout the country regarding the conduct of our granular lockdown, you can see that we have more than 126,600 active cases so far throughout the country. But we can see in our alert level system, only 26 cities and municipalities are affected or a total of 210 barangays and only 605 are under granular lockdown and six in the National Capital Region affect 744 households or 1,233 individuals),” Año said.
Last week, the Department of Health (DOH) said Metro Manila is now at "moderate risk" for Covid-19 from a high-risk case classification.
Meanwhile, the Cordillera Administrative Region still has the most number of areas under granular lockdown with 384, followed by the Ilocos Region with 132; Cagayan Valley, 77 and Mimaropa, nine.
“Sabi nga po magandang balita ngayon sapagkat tuluy-tuloy naman ang pagbaba ng ating mga kaso pero asahan po natin na aagapan pa rin natin kung magkakaroon po ng mga transmission sa mga komunidad (it is good news because our cases continue to decrease but we hope that we will still prepared if there will be community transmissions),” he added.
Meanwhile, Año said local government units (LGUs) have been advised to prepare for the third edition of the 'Bayanihan, Bakunahan' on February 10 and 11.
He said the government aims to vaccinate 6 million individuals against Covid-19 during these days -- 2 million with primary doses and 4 million with booster shots.
To vaccinate more individuals, Año noted that walk-ins are allowed in vaccination centers.
“Pumunta ka lamang sa pinakamalapit na vaccination site at ikaw ay babakunahan o bibigyan ng booster (shot). At nakahanda rin po ang ating mga unipormadong hanay upang tulungan ang ating LGUs (local government units) na dalhin ang mga bakuna sa malalayong lugar o hakutin ang ating mga kababayan at dalhin sa vaccination sites (Just proceed to the nearest vaccination site and you will be inoculated or will be given the booster dose. Our uniformed personnel are ready to assist the LGUs in delivering the vaccines in far-flung areas or ferry our countrymen and take them to the vaccination sites),’’ Año stressed.
'Odette' response
In the same briefing, Año disclosed that PHP4.85 billion was earmarked for the 27 provinces in six regions affected by Typhoon Odette.
He pointed out that delivering the assistance to the affected LGUs was severely affected by the poor signal and power interruptions aside from the rising number of Covid-19 cases in the affected areas, specifically those in the Visayas and Mindanao.
Despite these unfavorable circumstances, Año said that local chief executives reported the distribution of around PHP495.5 million worth of financial aid.
He also commended governors Arthur Defensor Jr. of Iloilo, Arthur Yap of Bohol, Gwendolyn Garcia of Cebu, Damian Mercado of Southern Leyte, Francisco Matugas of Surigao del Norte and Arlene Bag-ao of Dinagat Islands for promptly submitting their respective aid distribution reports to the DILG.
Año warned that show-cause orders will be issued against LGUs for their failure to distribute on time the cash aid to their constituents who are reeling from the effects of Typhoon Odette. (PNA)
