What's New

Senator Tolentino seeks to give the DOH power to lock down infected areas during health emergencies

Sen. Tolentino seeks to give the DOH power to lock down infected areas during health emergencies

The Senate Bill No. 1408 or the Health Emergency Lockdown Act filed by  Senator Francis “Tol” N. Tolentino, seeks to expand the power of the Department of Health (DOH) to include the authority, in times of public health emergencies, to lockdown infected areas, to suspend classes, to designate hospitals as a facility for referral of persons under investigation, so as to contain infectious diseases wherever its incidence may have occurred, and not just limited to those that travelled through vessels and aircraft.

As of March 9, 2020, there are 110,098 reported COVID-19 coronavirus cases in 51 countries worldwide, resulting to the death of 3,831 people.

The Philippines has not been spared from this infectious disease, having a total of 35 confirmed COVID-19 coronavirus cases, as of March 10, 2020, including 1 which resulted to death. There currently around 700 patients under observation, of which 48 are admitted and 149 are home quarantined.

doh personnel
Photo: DOH

On March 7, 2020, the Department of Health confirmed the first case of local transmission in the country. In response and in anticipation of probable sustained community transmission, DOH has raised the COVID-19 Alert System to Code Red sub-level 1, which means that 100% of hospital personnel shall report for duty in the facility to render medical and other services. Furthermore, the DOH has recommended to the Office of the President the declaration of Public Health Emergency which will facilitate mobilization of resources and ease processes, including procurement of critical logistics and supplies and intensifying reporting and quarantine measures.

On March 8, 2020, the President signed Proclamation No. 922 which declared the Philippines under the State of Public Health Emergency which ordered ail government agencies and LCDs were enjoined to render full assistance and cooperation and mobilize the necessary resources to undertake critical, urgent, and appropriate response and measures in a timely manner to curtail and eliminate the COVID-19 threat.

Sen. Tolentino said “Just as how viruses are incessantly changing due to genetic mutation, we, as a nation, must also adapt and change our DNA on how we combat infectious diseases.”

He further said that under the existing law, the DOH, through the Bureau of Quarantine, has the regulatory capacity over incoming and outgoing vessels and aircraft, cargoes, passengers, crews, and all personal effects to prevent the introduction, transmission or spread of public health emergencies of international concern.