QUEZON CITY, (PIA) -- Presidential Communications Secretary Jose Ruperto Martin Andanar said President Rodrigo Roa Duterte’s support to the Palace’s media arm has contributed greatly to its successful COVID-19 information campaign.

It aided the successful implementation of public health measures such as wearing of face masks, social distancing, frequent handwashing and disinfection, among others.

“Malaki po ang papel ng komunikasyon para sa epektibong pagpapatupad ng ating COVID-19 response. Tulad ng inyo pong ‘Talk to the People,’ napakalaking bagay po nito upang mabigyan ang publiko ng tunay na estado at sitwasyon mula noon hanggang ngayon,” he said.

President Duterte first placed Luzon including Metro Manila under enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) in March 2020 to prevent the coronavirus from spreading further. Other cities were also placed in lockdown.

The Duterte government has allotted a total of P200-billion worth of aid for low-income households, farmers, and fisherfolk, affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, which was considered the biggest and widest social protection program in Philippine history.

The Department of Health (DOH) has recorded on March 1 a total of 3,661, 997 COVID-19 cases with 3,553, 367 recoveries and 56,451 deaths. (PIA-NCR)