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.
• On April 24, Pres. Rodrigo Duterte announced that the following areas will remain under ECQ until May 15: Metro Manila, Benguet, Pangasinan, Bataan, Nueva Ecija, Pampanga, Tarlac, Zambales, Batangas, Laguna, Cavite, Rizal, Quezon, Albay, Island of Mindoro, Catanduanes, Antique, Iloilo, Cebu, Cebu City, Davao del Norte, Davao de Oro, and Davao City.
Reports on Affected Populations
• As of April 30, a total of 8,212 cases (from the previous 7,958) were confirmed in Regions I,II, III, CALABARZON, V, VI, VII, X, XI, CARAGA, CAR, and NCR. Of which, 558 from the previous 530) were reported dead and 1,023 (from the previous 975) 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)
• One of Pres. Rodrigo Duterte’s advisers proposed the resumption of construction work to revive the economy despite health risks amid the COVID-19 pandemic, adding that the poor may have “better immunity” than “sheltered” people.
• The Department of Foreign Affairs announced 40 more Filipinos living overseas were infected with COVID-19, pushing the total number of confirmed cases to 1,644.
• Cebu Air, the operator of budget airline Cebu Pacific, posted a net loss amounting to P1.8 billion in the 1st quarter of 2020, as the COVID-19 pandemic restricts domestic and international travels.
• Despite temporary store closures due to the COVID-19 pandemic, earnings of Robinsons Retail Holdings Inc. jumped in the 1st quarter of 2020.
• The Philippine Sports Commission announced that the country will not hold sports activities until a COVID-19 vaccine becomes available.
• Universal Robina Corp. saw its earnings drop by 32% in the 1st quarter of the year, mainly due to non-operating foreign exchange losses along with the COVID-19 pandemic.
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 9 1
Iloilo City 3 20 1,438
Negros Occidental 4
Subtotal 36 110 19,628 1
CAR 22
Central Visayas 568 1,417 17,000 3
Cebu City 549 154 8,996
Mandaue City 3
Cebu Province 4 1
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 11 114
Region 1 48
La Union 12 3
Pangasinan 36
Subtotal 12 3
Region V 38 203 7
Albay 30 5
Camarines Sur 7 1
Catanduanes 1 1
Total 2,952 4,614 101,193 156

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
• Convenienc store Family Mart launched its “Farm on Wheels”, a rolling store that sells essentials and Family Mart goods. (Rappler)
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
• The Department of Health said that the Baguio General Hospital and Medical Center has already conducted 5,335 unique individual tests, the third biggest number of tests done after the Research Institute of Tropical Medicine in Muntinlupa City and the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center in Cebu City. (Rappler)
Assessment by Authorities
• The city government of Cagayan de Oro purchased 2 Reverse Transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction machines to equip a local tuberculosis testing center that is undergoing assessment for COVID-19 testing.
• The Philippines is likely to miss its target of 8,000 COVID-19 tests per day by the end of April, as the Philippines’ current testing capacity stood at just more than half of that number, the Department of Health said. (Rappler)
Awareness-raising Measures by Authorities
• A Smart service is being used in several provinces to disseminate key COVID-19 information in their localities.
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 Caraga region in northeastern Mindanao has been the fastest in distributing COVID-19 emergency subsidies, based on the tracker of the Department of Social Welfare and Development. (Rappler)
Social Welfare Programs
• Local officials who fail to fully release emergency subsidies to poor families in their areas are in danger of facing criminal charges, Malacanang announced. (Rappler)
Assistance from CSOs
• Actor Christopher de Leon donated his plasma to the St. Luke’s Medical Center-Global City weeks after he tested positive for and later, recovered from COVID-19. (Rappler)
Vulnerable Groups
ECQ Situation of Vulnerable Groups
• Cebu province recorded an additional COVID-19 cases, 17 of whom are inmates from the Cebu Provincial Detention and Rehabilitation Center, while the 3 others are from other municipalities in Cebu province.
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
• Negotiations are under way to bring 4,000 metric tons of pork from Mindanao to various parts of the country including Metro Manila, according to the Department of Agriculture. (Rappler)
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
• Anxiety has swept proinces nationwide as COVID-19 quarantines begin to ease. Many will also lift lockdowns as enhanced community quarantine measures are lifted to make way for a general community quarantine. (Rappler)
Crime and Harassment Incidents
• The Quezon City local government suspended its officials caught on video mauling and dragging fish vendor Michale Rubuia for failing to wear a face mask and not bringing a quarantine pass while outside. (Rappler)
Emergency Response Efforts
• On April 24, CDRC and CREST provided relief goods to 187 persons with disability in Manggahan, Pasig City.
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