Año orders cops, Metro Manila officials to keep students away from public places

March 10, 2020

Interior Secretary Eduardo Año on Tuesday directed all local government officials in Metro Manila and the Philippine National Police (PNP) to keep students away from public places after the Department of Education (DepEd) allowed suspension of classes from March 10 to March 14.

In a statement, Año said students should not go around especially on malls, movie houses, public markets, and any other crowded places to stop and contain the spread of novel corona virus or COVID-19.

“The President (Rodrigo Duterte) has directed all local officials in NCR from mayor down to punong barangays as well as all units of the Philippine National Police to ensure that no children are seen loitering around and, if they are seen, they are to be immediately sent home to do their homework,” he said.

“In the Task Force Meeting last night in Malacañang, the DepEd said that they will give home assignments or performance tasks to all students so that they will have something productive to do during this period,” he added.

Año asked the cooperation of all parents to discipline and supervise their children and ensure they stay home and do their homework.

He explained that if the students will be allowed by their parents and by the government to go to public places, it will defeat the purpose of the class suspension which is pre-emptive social distancing to slow down the spread of the virus.

“Our police officers and the barangay officials will serve as truant officers to ensure that kids stay at home. I have also directed all our Metro Manila Mayors to personally direct their respective chiefs of police to implement the presidential directive so that local governments and the police will jointly implement this policy of the government,” he said.

In an interview with reporters Monday night, Duterte said students who will be found in public places will be escorted to their parents.

“And for the parents to be lectured on their responsibilities of being a parent, that the children should study even while they are detained in their respective homes,” Duterte said.

The interior secretary also ordered for the suspension or postponement of all mass gatherings for the meantime as another pre-emptive social distancing measure.

“I cannot overemphasize the role of the punong barangays in NCR. They have to be pro-active in their respective barangays,” he said.

“We have no choice but to undertake these measures because public health demands it. Together with sustained hygiene (like regular handwashing, coughing etiquette, thermoscans and face masks), suspensions of classes and mass gathering will enable us to defeat this virus faster,” Año added.

He also said the DILG and local government units will enforce the home quarantine measures for those suspected of having contracted the virus.

Interior Undersecretary and spokesperson Jonathan Malaya said these measures are applicable only in the National Capital Region (NCR).

“There is no decision yet about other places in the country. That would be dependent on the findings and recommendations of the DOH,” Malaya said.

Malaya reiterated there is no need for a lock down as the country is still under Code Red Alert Sublevel 1.

“We are still at Sublevel 1 and this type of alert level does not require a lockdown but only enhanced hygiene and preemptive social distancing measures,” he said.

“We are now under public health emergency. All Filipino citizens, residents, tourists should comply with the lawful directives and advisories of the DOH and other government agencies to ensure the safety and well-being of all,” he said.  Ella Dionisio/DMS