IATF assigns Cabinet members to help in COVID-19 response of areas with high transmission

by Krissy Aguilar, Philippine Daily Inquirer, 12 Aug 2020

MANILA, Philippines — The government’s COVID-19 task force has designated Cabinet members to Metro Manila cities and other areas with high virus transmission to “provide stronger support” in its pandemic response.

The Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) on Emerging Infectious Diseases’ Resolution No. 62 released Wednesday stated that this is part of its efforts to “operationalize the national government-enabled, local government-led, and people-centered” COVID-19 response.

Members of the IATF assigned to several areas are to “provide stronger support to local government units with areas identified with high community transmission, inasmuch as to strictly monitor health system performance, critical care capacity, and stringent compliance to surveillance, isolation and treatment protocols.”

The following are the Cabinet members’ respective assignments:

National Capital Region:

* Quezon City – Health Secretary Francisco Duque III, Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles

* Pasig City – Education Secretary Leonor Briones, Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat

* Municipality of Pateros – Metropolitan Manila Development Authority Chairman Danilo Lim

* Marikina City – Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III, Commission on Higher Education chairman Prospero De Vera III

* Taguig City – Interior Secretary Eduardo Año, Tracing czar Vivencio Dizon

* City of Manila – Information and Communications Technology Secretary Gregorio Honasan II, Anti-Red Tape Authority Jeremiah Belgica

* Mandaluyong City – Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez

* Makati City – National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon

* San Juan City – National Economic and Development Authority acting Secretary Karl Chua

* Muntinlupa City – Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade

* Parañaque City – National Task Force on COVID-19 chief implementer Carlito Galvez Jr.

* Las Piñas City – Public Works Secretary Mark Villar

* Pasay City – Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque

* Caloocan City – Agriculture Secretary William Dar

* Malabon City – Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III, Commission on Higher Education chairman Prospero De Vera III

* Navotas City – Budget Secretary Wendel Avisado

* Valenzuela City – Science and Technology Secretary Fortunato Dela Peña

* Bulacan – Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra

* Cavite – Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana

* Laguna – Communications Secretary Martin Andanar

* Rizal – Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi

All the aforementioned areas are under modified enhanced community quarantine until August 18. [ac]

The Philippines so far 143,749 confirmed COVID-19 cases with 2,404 deaths and 68,997 recoveries.