Overall Situation
• On March 7, the Department of Health raised the COVID-19 Alert System Code to Code Red Sublevel 1.
• On March 8, with the recommendation of the DOH, the Office of the President declared a State of Public Health Emergency.
• On March 12, a Presidential Press Conference was conducted announcing the raising of the Philippines’ COVID-19 Alert Level System to Code Red Sublevel 2.
• On March 16, a Memorandum from the Executive Secretary was issued regarding Community Quarantine Over the Entire Luzon and Further Guidelines for the Management of the COVID-19 Situation.
• On March 16, the entire Philippines was placed under a State of Calamity.
• On March 25, a State of National Emergency was proclaimed, and President Duterte was granted Special Powers to resolve the COVID-19 outbreak.
• On April 7, the Enhanced Community Quarantine was extended until April 30.
Reports on Affected Populations
• As of April 20, a total of 6,259 cases (from the previous 6,087) were confirmed in Regions I,II, III, CALABARZON, V, VI, VII, X, XI, CARAGA, CAR, and NCR. Of which, 409 from the previous 397) were reported dead and 572 (from the previous 516) have recovered.
• 14.4 million non-regular workers and informal earners, or 3 out of 5 employed person in Luzon, are most at risk of lost wager and earnings due to the Luzon-wide lockdown. Many low-income Filipinos in poor-quality jobs or precarious work – or work that is insecure, low-paying, and lack benefits – face lost wages and earnings during the lockdown.
• There are already reports of workers faced with reduced work hours or forced leave due to limited operations of business establishments. Others, like small business owners and their employees have had significant loss of earnings due to the drop in customer traffic.
• Of the P27.1 billion spending plan for COVID-19 rolled out by the government, on P2 billion has been allotted as wage subsidy or financial support for displaced workers and P1.2 billion for social security unemployment benefits. Non-regular workers may not be able to avail of this cash assistance because of their irregular or informal status. (Source: IBON Foundation)
• Former Anakpawis Rep. Ariel Casilao and several others who were on their way to deliver relief goods were detained in Norzagaray, Bulacan.
• Student publications from various De La Salle University campuses echoed calls for their school administrators to suspend online classes, in a solidarity statement.
• The Department of Foreign Affairs reported 116 new COVID-19 cases involving Filipinos abroad, bringing the total number to 984.
• After weeks of long lines outside markets and pharmacies due to physical distancing measures in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, the interior department ordered local government units to stop setting window hours for people to buy food and medicine.
• The 9 inmates at the Quezon City Jail who tested positive for COVUD-19 are showing “positive progress,” said the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology.
• The government is set to deploy more troops to areas in Metro Manila and other localities that are most affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Erik Belfrage, the Philippines’ honorary consul general in Stockholm, Sweden, succumbed to COVID-19. (Rappler)
Update from Regions (STPRC, PCDR, CORDIS, CPRS, CVDRC, CREST, ABI, LCDE, CRRC, DIRECT, and TABI):
Province Confirmed Cases Suspected Cases Probable Cases Death
Cavite 48 213 3,028 6
Laguna 37 717 5,644 3
Batangas 20 175 4,396 2
Rizal 98 1,113 3,401 8
Quezon 9 207 2
Subtotal 212 2,425 16,469 21
Mindoro Occidental 2 150 1,406 1
Mindoro Oriental 1 42 1,659
Marinduque 3 75 744
Romblon 1 100 1,680
Palawan 1 58 282
Subtotal 8 425 5,771 1
Aklan 6 27 4,123
Antique 1 15 3,707
Capiz 3 16 3,347
Iloilo Province 10 32 6,968
Bacolod 6 1
Iloilo City 3 20 1,438
Negros Occidental 1
Subtotal 30 110 19,628 1
CAR 13
Central Visayas 95 1,417 17,000 2
Cebu City 77 154 8,996
Mandaue City 3
Cebu Province 3
Negros Oriental 4
Bohol 1
Cagayan Valley 21 338 18,389
Manila City 266 298 32
Quezon City 550 34
Makati City 141 14
Pasig City 140 22
San Juan City 136 24
Paranaque City 104
Mandaluyong City 98
Taguig City 69
Muntinlupa City 60
Marikina City 48
Pasay City 46
Caloocan City 45
Las Pinas City 45
Valenzuela City 18
Malabon City 10
Pateros 6
Navotas City 19 6
Subtotal 1,801 298 132
Pampanga 16 140 14,446 5
Tarlac 9 421 17,494
Bulacan 39
Nueva Ecija 17
Subtotal 81 561 31,940 5
Region 11 86
Region 1 48
La Union 12 3
Pangasinan 36
Subtotal 12 3
Region V 25 203
Albay 19 2
Total 2,423 4,614 101,193 150

Status of RC’s Mobility
Impact of ECQ in operations
• STPRC’s activities were postponed, including relief delivery operations for Taal Volcano eruption. Two of the project staff from Mindoro Occidental who attended activities in NCR and CALABARZON were required to undergo self-quarantine for 14 days. Three staff stranded in the office. Staff with asthma and other medical considerations were required to stay inside the office or at home. On March 30, they consulted the LGUs in Batangas with pending RDO activities in areas affected by the Taal Volcano eruption. LGUs in Laurel and Talisay are willing to accept cash-base assistance and goods. But they mentioned they would designate a place where goods can be dropped off due to the limitations because of the lockdown. But they asked of we can provide for the the whole community because they worry that those who will not get relief goods will be mad at them.
• Before the community lockdown, all ICRED staff are not in the office. All of them were in their homes when the ECQ was implemented. Because of this, all were stranded in their respective communities due to ban of public transport. As ECQ was implemented, private vehicles were also banned from travelling. It was impossible to meet up. Even online meeting was not possible. Only their ED has stable internet connection.
• The ECQ affected TABI’s regular operation. The project staff and 1 DPC member, who attended CDRC’s activity, underwent home quarantine for 14 days, as per policy being implemented in the whole province of Sorsogon for people coming back from Manila and other areas with recorded local transmission of COVID-19. Some staff are working at home with many limitations. Consequently, planned activities for the months of March and April were suspended.
Conduct of needs assessment
• STPRC gathers data thru texts and chats. They are a member of the research and monitoring group for COVID-19 in Southern Tagalog. Fedbacking is via chat. They gather data on medical situation, health workers and hospitals situation, water supply, support from the government, and human rights.
• As soon as ECQ was declared, ICRED implemented emergency protocols. A group chat with their local partner organizations were made in order to update the situation on the ground. However, due to internet connection instability, they were not able to get SitRep in some areas.
• TABI has no capacity to conduct actual assessment in the field. They are monitoring situations and needs of different areas through texts and calls to DPCs, POs, and BDRRMCs.
Vulnerable towns:
• Quezon, Mindoro Occidental, Mindoro Occidental, and Batangas since they have not fully recovered from Typhoons Tisoy and Ursula and the Taal Volcano eruption.
• Caba, La Union where are 2 positive cases. La Union (interior parts of San Fernando City, Bauang, Aringay, Caba, Agoo, Naguilian, and Bagulin); Ilocos Sur (Sinait, Cabugao, Magsingal, San Juan, Vigan, Santa, Candon, Narvacan, Sta. Maria, Sta. Lucia, Salcedo, Sta. Cruz, Tagudin, Suyo, Sigay); Ilocos Norte (Adams, Pagudpud, Vintar, Nieva Era, Dumalneg, Marcos, Piddig, Pinili, Batac, Currimao, Badoc, Laoag)
• Catanduanes; Masbate; Milaor, Gainza, Camaligan, San Fernando, Pasacao, Pamplona, Pinambac, Calabanga, Siruma, Bula, Sangay, Tiwi, Daraga, Manito, Libon, Polangui, Irosin, Juban, Gubat, and Bulan.
Operation of Local Markets
• In Southern Tagalog, not all stores are open. There is a scheduled day to go to the market, and people can only buy limited supplies.
• In Ilocos, all local markets are open from 6am-6pm. In some places like San Fernando City and Bauang in La Union, there are satellite markets in barangays. Market schedules mechanisms were also installed. In some areas, local markets are only open 5 days a week to give way to disinfection. However, due to travel restrictions, people are forced to walk to the market places, pharmacies, banks, and remittance centers.
• In Bicol, there are municipalities with no local markets, so they are relying on the nearby municipality or city. If the city or municipality imposes total lockdown, neighbouring towns will suffer, especially the indigent families, who will depend on sari-sari stores which sell products at higher prices compared to markets, and with limited supplies. Aside from that, each barangay is assigned a day for its residents to go to the market. There are municipalities, like Daraga, where residents from remote barangays are only given 3 hours to go to the market. In other municipalities, like Milaor and Camaligan and other neighbouring towns of Naga City, who have no public markets, and are only allowed to send 10 whole sellers each town to enter the cities in their respective schedules, to purchase essentials for their whole municipality.
Remittance Centers and Banks
• In Southern Tagalog, BDO, Metrobank, and Palawan Pawnshop are closed. Banks in cities are open but not all branches. Only 1 branch of Palawan Pawnshop is open in Los Banos. Other banks like PNB and BPI are only open up to 1:30pm.
• In Ilocos, remittance centers and banks are open but are very far from their location. Access to banks are limited due to lockdown in San Fernando City, La Union, and Ilocos Norte.
• In Bicol, remittance centers and banks are open but they are located also in the town centers or in big municipalities and cities. Smart Padala is popular in small barangays.
Public Transport
• In Southern Tagalog, there is no more public transportation since March 17. Some LGUs provide free ride for people going to the market, but physical distancing is also observed.
• To date, the following areas are in lockdown due to positive cases of COVID-19: province of Ilocos Norte; Brgy. Magsaysay, Tagudin; San Fernando City, La Union; Brgy. Nagrebcan, Bauang; Agoo, La Union; Naguilian, La Union.
• Since the declaration of ECQ, public transportation in major terminals in Bicol were already halted. Even in the island barangays, public boat transport is also suspended. In Masbate, only one boat, which can only accommodate only one person per day, can travel to purchase essentials for the residents.
Handling of Authorities on Patients, PUIs, ad PUMs
Situation in Hospitals
• A couple from Manila who were stranded in Baguio City during the Luzon-wide lockdown were finally reunited after they both recovered from COVID-19. (Rappler)
Assessment by Authorities
• Gov. Denni Pineda took up the cudgels of his Lubao hometown, telling residents to just pray for persons infected with COVID-19 instead of “forcing” the municipal government to disclose the villages where the patients live.
• A vlogger in Cagayan de Oro City was reprimanded by the city government’s Regulatory Compliance Board after he posted a video on Facebook urging people to defy the local government’s General Community Quarantine.
• A Cebu film writer and owner of a local bar was arrested over a sarcastic Facebook page she made in relation to the COVID-19 “contamination” of Sitio Zapatera in Cebu City. (Rappler)
Awareness-raising Measures by Authorities
• In Mindoro, information dissemination is thru radio and TV, while in Quezon, they are giving out flyers.
• In Ilocos, social media pages of government agencies and LGU are active in providing information on the situation of COVID-19 in their respective areas. However, no widespread information dissemination measures have been made on the ground level except for tarpaulins in local markets. Disinfection tent for vehicles were set up only in Bauang Public Market, in front of ITRMC, San Fernando City Plaza, and in Ili Sur, San Juan-San Fernando City diversion road boundary.
• In Bicol, there is almost no local efforts on info dissemination on COVID-19 or conducting awareness raising. People rely on media/social media. Authorities are busy implementing the curfrew and monitoring violations of the ordinances related to ECQ implementation. Only 1 province, Camarines Sur, made an effort by including in the relief packs information on COVID-19.
Disinformation about COVID-19
• In Southern Tagalog, there is misinformation about the extension of the lockdown, drinking of alcohol as medicine, and closing of markets that resulted to crowded markets.
• In Bicol, the common misinformation is on data released by the media regarding positive cases of COVID-19. The information released by the city and 1 municipality does not match with the information released by the DOH regional office.
Assistance Received from LGUs and CSOs
Assistance from LGUs
• The Pasig City government passed an ordinance penalizing the discrimination or suspected or confirmed COVID-19 patients and frontliners, as it began distributing the national government’s subsidy to poor families. (Rappler)
Social Welfare Programs
• In San Narciso, Quezon, 4Ps payout only resumed on March 27, with only 80 persons per day allowed to get their money.
• In Ilocos, 4Ps programs are not suspended.
• In Bicol, there are no reports on disruption of 4Ps assistance.
Assistance from CSOs
• Sisters Julia, Dani, and Claudia Barretto announced that they have raised more than P600,000 from their Para May Bukas fund drive, to construct a quarantine facility dor COVID-19 patients in a Quezon City hospital. (Rappler)
Vulnerable Groups
ECQ Situation of Vulnerable Groups
• In Mindoro, classes were suspended since March 16. In areas affected by the Taal Volcano eruption in Batangas, classes just resumed in February 3. Classes were suspended again starting March 13 due to the COVID-19 outbreak.
• As of now, all classes are suspended in Ilocos. Most state universities and colleges and private higher educational institutions have resorted to online classes. However, most of their students does not have the capacity to participate in online classes due to lacks of internet connection and laptops/computers.
• In Bicol, since the start of the ECQ in March 17, classes at all levels were already suspended all over the region. No alternative activities were given to children/students. Almost all of the PUMs are quarantined in their own home together with the rest of their families without “exclusion.” Monitoring of PUMs in some areas are conducted by BHWs. But there are communities where they do it by themselves. The worst case reported by the DPC in the municipality of Panganiban in the province of Catanduanes is the absence of thermometers or medical kits to be used by the BHWs while monitoring. PUI monitoring and consultation in Panganiban is conducted through texts or calls by the RHU nurse/doctor. LGUs have no specific plans/programs for vulnerable sectors.
Food Security
Farming and Fishing Activities
• In Rizal, there reports that IPs cannot bring their produce to the market. Their produce are carried by jeepneys every 3 days while jeepney drivers take turns in getting the produce and selling it in the City. IPs are staying in their “kaingin” for fear of the virus. In Bacoor, Cavite, fisherfolks are not allowed to go to their mussel and oyster farm. In Mindoro Oriental, only those who own farms are able to continue farming. In Mindoro Occidental, fisherfolks are not allowed to go fishing. Even the “pangilaw” is not allowed.
• In Ilocos, farming and fishing are permitted in all areas. However, they are having problems selling their goods. In Agoo, La Union, they were not able to sell their products in Baguio City and nearby provinces due to the travel restriction. Their produce was not even sold in the public market due to limitations in public transport and decrease in sold commodities like fish in the public market. Those who were not able to secure permits in selling fish in their own barangay resorted to house-to-house selling. The same is true for tobacco farmers. They were told to sell their produce in their own barangays. However, tobacco leaves are not for consumption and trading centers are far from their barangays. Some tobacco farmers resorted to selling their produce secretly by carrying large quantity of their produce and walking to trading centers which are kilometres away from their homes. Communities are now in distress due to lack of food because of the hampered livelihood. There are reports that in some areas, people resorted to eating mango, bagoong, and vinegar with rice.
• In Bicol, farming and fishing are regular activities in different towns and communities. However, they are limited by some provisions in the ECQ policy. The produce of farmers and fisherfolks are sold in their own communities, but at a lower price. Selling their product in the town center or in other areas is already hassle for them due to the lengthy process and many requirements in accessing permit. This results to an imbalance in supply: while there’s an ample supply of certain products in a community, there is lack or no available supply of other daily basic commodities.
Price of basic commodities
• In Sto. Tomas, La Union, watermelon produce of farmers were bought by the MLGU at P20/kilo. The original price of watermelon is P50-P60/kilo. Prices have increased even if LGUs declared a price freeze on commodities. For example, the price of half a cavan of rice have risen to P930-P950 from P780-P830 in Agoo, La Union. Vegetable prices have increased by P5-P10/kilo. In some areas, prices of some commodities like rice and vegetables have risen. Supply of rice differ in communities. In most municipalities, only a few sacks of rice were harvested and traded.
• In Bicol, prices of some basic commodities have relatively increased especially retail goods purchased within the communities. On the other hand, some products of farmers and fisherfolks are sold at a lower price.
Access to Food
• In Mindoro Occidental, farmers could not sell their farm produce outside their barangays. In Batangas, residents rent a tricycle to get to the market. Those who do not have enough money have to walk. In Lemery, they are only given window hours to buy food in the market. In one barangay, residents are only given an hour to go to the market despite its far location and only after a barangay certification is secured.
• In Ilocos, food transportation from barangays are being restricted.
• In Bicol, transportation of food and other essentials is not hampered but some fishermen and farmers are just tired of the lengthy process in securing business permit. Thus, they prefer to sell their products in their own community though they cannot demand for a better price.
Sufficiency of LGU’s food assistance
• In Occidental Mindoro, PUMs in quarantine received 10 kilos of rice. Most residents received 2 kilos of rice.
• In San Jose, Occidental Mindoro, they were given 5 kilos rice, 6 pcs canned goods, and 6 sachets 3-in-1 coffee. In other municipalities, those who received relief packs were those who are near the highway. Those living in interior barangays may not receive goods especially the IPs who are afraid to go out.
• In Laguna, not all barangays received food packages.
• In Palawan, not all residents received relief goods.
• In Quezon, the relief distribution started on March 24 in 3 barangays in Sang Francisco, Quezon (2 kilos rice, coffee, 5 pcs canned goods). Relief distribution started on March 25 in San Narciso and march 27 in San Andres.
• In Ilocos, LGUs won’t be able to hold for more than 1 month. Small municipalities won’t be able to provide food for more than 3 weeks. Other necessities like face masks, disinfectant, alcohol and thermal scanners are all sold out since January.
• In Bicol, BLGUs need assistance.
WASH and Medical Assistance
Water Supply Interruption
• In areas affected by the Taal Volcano eruption, water is not yet potable.
• In Ilocos, there is no reported interruption in the water supply.
• In Bicol, commercial water system is available only in the town centers/poblacion barangays. As of now, there is no water interruption recorded. However, in many barangays where drinking water is from deep wells and mobile trucks, many people are exposed to contamination and other health-related problems.
Hygiene Kits
• In Brooke’s Point, Palawan, barangay officials created and distributed disinfectant solutions to residents due to lack of stock of alcohol and hand sanitizer. In other areas, no hygiene kits were provided.
• In Ilocos, only 1-2 bars of soap are provided by the LGU.
• In Bicol, food assistance is received from the barangay, municipal, and provincial level. In many barangays, hygiene kits are not included in the relief packs distributed to them.
Information campaign on COVID-19
• In Southern Tagalog, there are information campaigns on COVID-19 online.
• In Ilocos, there are no reported cases of information campaigns except for social media posts of government agencies and LGUs, and posting of publication materials in public markets.
• In Bicol, the information campaign on proper hygiene and other issues related to COVID-19 are mostly through the facebook page of LGUs and/or information from the media. LGUs have no extra effort on educating/informing the general public, especially those who have no access to media or social media.
Medical Assistance
• In La Union, a doctor launched an online consultation.
• In Bicol, different RHUs are conducting their regular service but there are no available medicines. Other than that, no medical assistance provided by LGUs has been reported.
Areas Designated for Quarantine
• In Sofronio Espanola, Palawan, they identified classrooms that can be used as quarantine areas as a preventive measure. In Marinduque, they are preparing PTADC (Tamayo, Sta, Cruz) for possible use as Isolation Treatment Center.
• In Ilocos, there are no clear designated quarantine areas.
• In Bicol, in the first 2 weeks of the ECQ, most of the LGUs have no concrete plans on what to do with their identified PUM and PUI. Most of them are quarantined in their own homes without consideration of the present condition or circumstances of each family.
Shelter/Displacement Incidents
Community Displacement
• There are still families in evacuation centers in areas affected by the Taal Volcano eruption – Laurel: 43 families, Talisay: 175 families.
• In Ilocos, there are no reported cases of displacement.
• In Bicol, there are no reports on displacements or migration to other towns.
Temporary Shelter for Street Dwellers
• There are no reported cases of LGUs providing temporary shelter for street dwellers.
Livelihood
Main Source of Livelihood
• In Southern Tagalog, the main source of livelihood is farming and fishing. There are also many daily wage earners.
• In Ilocos, the main source of livelihood is fishing, farming and petty trading. Majority of them are not able to work.
• In Bicol, the main sources of livelihood are farming and fishing. There is also a significant number involved in construction and vending. During the lockdown, they are one of the worst affected sectors.
Disruption of Livelihood
• In Silang, Cavite, only a few peasant families were given agricultural loans. Fisher folks are not allowed to go to their mussel and oyster farm in Bacoor. Since the Cavite LGU has no jurisdiction over the PEZA, some companies have gone on voluntary production shutdown. Exposure risk for workers as they travel to and fro is very high.
• In Mindoro Oriental, only those who own farms are able to continue farming. In Mindoro Occidental, farmers could not sell their farm produce outside their barangays.
• In Batangas, contractual workers are not sure if they will be given financial assistance package from DOLE or if they will be provided with free shuttle services with PPEs or will be terminated for being unable to report for work. A sugar mill in Nasugbu provided shuttle services only to regular employees.
• In Ilocos, fishing and farming are permitted. However, their main problem is selling their produce. Only those in the public sector are the ones that have steady work aside from the non-frontline jobs.
• In Bicol, livelihood of fisherfolks and abaca farmers in Catanduanes is disrupted. Since abaca is the main product of the province, majority of the population is affected. Due to the ECQ, farmers are not given travel pass to transport their products. According to LGUs, abaca is not part of the essential products that are given priority. Compradas also stopped buying abaca fibers. The same also happened to the abaca weavers, mostly women, in Tiwi, Albay. Their source of income was cut off when the buyer declared “stop buying” of the finished products. A similar incident happened in Masbate. Buying of marine products such as dried posit and dried dilis are also suspended.
Alternative Sources of Income
• In Southern Tagalog and Ilocos, there are no alternative sources of income identified.
• In Bicol, in the first 2 weeks of ECQ, people have no plans yet for alternative sources of income since relief goods continue to arrive. Now, based on the statement of farmers, they will continue planting and increase their production. In case of prolonged lockdown, they will have something to harvest.
Negative Coping Mechanisms
• In Southern Tagalog, most people turn to loan and mortgage. Incurring debts from individual usurers and micro-financing company are now common.
• In Bicol, due to interruption of their livelihood, residents are becoming too dependent on the little relief assistance that the government promised.
Protection Issues
Increased presence of uniformed personnel
• In Southern Tagalog, military operations continue in all areas. People ask why operations continue after declaring ceasefire.
• ICRED’s staff, Marissa Pugyao, was visited by the military on March 15 and 16.
• In Bicol, since the start of the ECQ on March 17, uniformed men: police and military were deployed in the main entrances and exits of each province or municipality. In the barangays, the barangay police are in charge. But in the following week, uniformed men are already the ones manning the checkpoints even in barangay entrances.
Curfew
• A curfew from 8:00pm to 5:00am is imposed.
Crime and Harassment Incidents
• On March 20, local officials in Sta. Cruz, Laguna put 5 youth who violated curfew in a dog cage. Another was arrested for spreading fake news in social media.
• In Bicol, there are crime an harassment incidents but they are not highlighted much by the authority and media.
Emergency Response Efforts
• On April 18, a total of 150 individuals from Baseco Compound, Manila received meals thru CDRC, CREST, Gabriela Baseco, and volunteers. The resources used were from individual donors
• On April 19, CDRC and CREST delivered hot meals to 800 individuals in Begy, 105, Hapilan, Tondo, Manila. The resources used were from individual donors.
Resources Available
• Standby emergency funds
• Prepositioned goods at the CDRC warehouse
Expressed Needs
• For responders and front liners – N95 masks, latex gloves, personal protective equipment, alcohol, humanitarian pass, vehicles, medical support
• For families in need – food relief pack, hygiene and protection kit, vitamins
• For communities – disinfection tents, alternative livelihood
Coordination
• Citizens’ Disaster Response Network
Contacts
• Kim Augiline Leduna, Executive Director, (insert cellphone number), info@cdrc-phil.com
• Malen Serato, Field Operations Department, 0916-499-1410, fod@cdrc-phil.com
• Hanna Fiel, Research and Public Information Department, 0945-8355589, hanna.fiel.cdrc2019@gmail.com
• Cora Jazmines, Local Partnerships Department, 0928-182-4969, lpd@cdrc-phil.com