Quezon City declares state of calamity due to coronavirus

Loreben Tuquero

This is AI generated summarization, which may have errors. For context, always refer to the full article.

Quezon City declares state of calamity due to coronavirus
Under a state of calamity, the city's 142 barangays may be able to access their Quick Response Fund

MANILA, Philippines – The Quezon City government declared a state of calamity on Friday, March 13, due to the continuing coronavirus outbreak.

Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte said this was the first time in many years that the city was placed under a state of calamity. The city had 6 confirmed coronavirus cases as of posting. (READ: LIST: Confirmed coronavirus cases in the Philippines as of March 12)

The resolution for the declaration of a state of calamity was passed by the city council through a special session requested by the mayor.

Under a state of calamity, the city’s 142 barangays may be able to access the Quick Response Fund. In turn, Belmonte explained, they will no longer be dependent on the city government for their needs. However, Belmonte said the amount that will be available has not been discussed yet.

According to Belmonte, barangays have the task of setting up isolation rooms, disinfecting their areas, monitoring persons under investigation (PUIs) and persons under monitoring (PUMs), and training response teams in their respective communities. 

“It is very important that they are empowered, that I give them all the necessary support that they need to be able to carry out this very sensitive, but important task,” Belmonte said.

The declaration came a day after President Rodrigo Duterte placed Metro Manila under lockdown or “community quarantine.”

Belmonte will be orienting all 142 barangays on Saturday, March 14, on the proper use of the Quick Response Fund and to discuss how to support the efforts of the police in implementing the lockdown. – Rappler.com

 

Add a comment

Sort by

There are no comments yet. Add your comment to start the conversation.

Summarize this article with AI

How does this make you feel?

Loading
Download the Rappler App!
Person, Human, Sleeve

author

Loreben Tuquero

Loreben Tuquero is a researcher-writer for Rappler. Before transferring to Rappler's Research team, she covered transportation, Quezon City, and the Department of the Interior and Local Government as a reporter. She graduated with a communication degree from the Ateneo de Manila University.