QUEZON CITY, (PIA) -- Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Eduardo Año called the local government units (LGUs) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) to implement stricter execution of COVID-19 protocols.

In President Rodrigo Duterte’s Wednesday morning Talk to the People, Año made the directive after the department received reports on the sharp rise of violations across the country, including not wearing of face mask, conduct of mass gathering and no physical distancing offenses.

“Hindi natin papayagan na magkakaroon muli ng COVID surges or spikes dito sa ating bansa kahit na meron pong projection or prediction na maaari pong sumipa ang COVID sa susunod na mga buwan or linggo,” Año said.

Año, noted that no area in the country is under granular lockdown but he is wary about possible spike in cases given the high number of violations recorded.

In addition, Año shared the following statistics about protocol violations from April 15 to 24:

·        Mass gathering violations at 724, or a 5,469 percent increase from the previous week’s 13 incidents;

·        No physical distancing violations at 9,057 or a 201 percent increase from the previous week’s 3,002;

·        Non-wearing of face masks at 84,969, or a 196 percent increase from the previous week’s 28,622

“Dalawa po ang ating pinaka-importanteng depensa o sandata natin dito — ang ating mataas na vaccination rates at pagsunod sa ating minimum public health standards protocols,” Año added.

Meanwhile, Año assured the President and the public that they will enforce stricter minimum public health standards or protocols during the national and local election on May 9. The department are expecting around 60 million Filipinos will cast their votes. (JAFD/PIA-IDPD)