COVID-19 Updates: President Rodrigo Roa Duterte Press Briefing | August 31, 2020

September 1, 2020

As of August 31, 2020, 10:00 PM, President Rodrigo Roa Duterte addressed the nation through a recorded speech to provide updates on the COVID-19 situation. Below are the highlights of the briefing:

• Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque mentioned that for the different restriction classifications like Modified Enhanced Community Quarantine (MECQ), General Community Quarantine (GCG), and Modified General Community Quarantine (MGCQ), people should continue to stay at home and must only go out for essential trips or if they will be working under industries that are permitted to operate.
  • Those under 21 years old, 60 years old and above, and pregnant women must remain indoors as they are more susceptible to contracting COVID-19.
• Sec. Roque explained that in MECQ, only 25% of industries were open including banks, supermarkets, business process outsourcing (BPOs), and other export-oriented industries.
  • Public gatherings such as mass assembly and religious services are only allowed up to five people.
  • Mass transportation is suspended and operational industries must provide private shuttles and point-to-point transport services.
  • Overly populated areas remain closed such as cinemas and parks.
• Under GCQ, Sec. Roque shared that transportation is allowed but with 20% to 50% capacity.
  • Government offices are slowly resuming work.
  • Almost all industries are allowed to operate except those that gather large groups of people.
  • Gatherings are limited to 10 people, including religious assemblies.
• Under MGCQ, Sec. Roque mentioned that public transportation is already allowed and public gatherings like religious assemblies, concerts, and sporting events are permitted but only at 50%. The tourism sector is also allowed to operate under this classification.
• Department of Health (DOH) Secretary Francisco Duque III reported the latest numbers of the pandemic in the country:
  • As of August 31, 2020, 3,446 new cases have been recorded — 2,965 are fresh or have been confirmed in the last three days, while 481 are late or have been confirmed beyond three days.
  • He shared that the country’s rate of confirmed cases on a daily basis has increased and thus, stricter preventive measures must be in place.
    • When the MECQ was implemented again, there was a decrease in the number of cases from the 7-day doubling time to the 12-13-day doubling time.
    • Sec. Duque thanked the health workers for their continued commitment and service, and have commended their improved care especially for severe and critical cases, keeping death rates relatively low.
    • He also said that their health and safety are continuously monitored by the Department.
    • Sec. Duque thanked PRRD for granting their health allowance under the Bayanihan Act 2 which includes life insurance, accommodation, transportation, and the provision of Php 15,000 for those who have contracted the disease but are classified under mild cases.
  • An additional 21,934 health personnel have also been deployed for the COVID-19 response. Priority health facilities that are in need of health staff were provided 378 post-residency physicians, 1,396 redeployed nurses under the DOH HRH Deployment Program, and 7,388 health personnel were hired through the emergency process.
• Based on the recommendation of the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF), there have been adjustments to the restrictions of cities across the country.
  • Iligan City has been placed under MECQ.
  • The National Capital Region (NCR), Bulacan, Batangas, Tacloban City, and Bacolod City are under GCQ.
  • The rest of the Philippines is placed under MGCQ.
• Presidential Adviser on Peace Process and National Task Force COVID-19 Chief Implementer Carlito Galvez, Jr. reported that they currently have focus areas in monitoring the pandemic and these include:
  • NCR with 17 local government units (LGUs)
  • Region IV – Cavite, Laguna, Rizal, and Batangas
  • Central Luzon – Bulacan, Pampanga, Bataan, and Zambales
  • Western Visayas – Iloilo City, Iloilo, Negros Occidental, and Bacolod.
• Sec. Galvez also visited Northern Luzon and Northern Mindanao and coordinated with their respective LGUs to help monitor their cases along with the Metro Manila LGUs.
• There are also plans to improve the capacity of hospitals to accommodate 1,000 additional beds and these include the Philippine General Hospital, Rizal Hospital, Quezon Institute, and other hospitals in Metro Manila.
• Sec. Galvez expressed his appreciation for the continuous work being done by health workers and shared that Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary Delfin Lorenzana shared a statement in support of these workers in celebration of National Heroes Day.
• On reports of health workers being dismissed from their respective residences due to fears of exposure and contraction of COVID-19, PRRD said that the government can provide lodging for these frontliners through the hotels and other accommodations that are nearest to their hospitals.
• PRRD introduced retired National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Director Dante Gierran as the new head of PhilHealth and explained that the next two years will be devoted to fighting against corruption. He also requested for a reshuffle of personnel in the different regional offices of PhilHealth in the coming days.
  • The Department of Justice is ramping up its investigation to show proof and come up with an indictment for wrong-doers.
• DND Secretary Lorenzana reported on the number of repatriated Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs).
  • Since April, 174,000 OFWs have already returned.
  • A third batch of 72 OFWs who died in the Middle East have arrived over the weekend — 62 of which were COVID-related.
  • 379 OFWs from Sabah have also arrived and have been tested before they left. Most of them live in Tawi-Tawi, Jolo, and Basilan while some are from Zamboanga.
• PRRD said that the government needs to intervene, especially for returning OFWs who have lost their jobs.
• Department of Education (DepEd) Secretary Leonor Briones reported that there are a total of 23.9 million enrolled learners despite the pandemic. This surpassed the Department’s initial target of 80% of 2019’s enrollment, now amounting to 86.8%.
  • 97% of the enrollees are from public schools.
• Sec. Briones also shared how DepEd went about the implementation of blended learning.
  • Dry-runs are being conducted to simulate the different learning modalities including online platforms, TV, radio, and printed materials. A total of 516 schools across the country have undergone dry-runs and the Department was also to provide assistance to improve challenges encountered.
• DepEd’s current challenge is the number of students from the private sector since only 43% were able to enroll this year so far.
  • Sec. Briones believes that as the economy opens up, OFWs will be able to secure jobs and also enroll their children in private schools.
  • She also shared the slow growth of those enrolling in alternative learning since the pandemic has prevented them to secure jobs to support their education.
• Sec. Briones acknowledged PRRD’s call to strengthen efforts to address the mental health of the youth and the teachers and the inclusion of DepEd in his national budget proposal to capacitate educators to help children and teachers when it comes to basic health literacy skills.
  • DepEd is already changing the health education curriculum to include health literacy and the DOH’s Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) Program to develop good hygiene practices.
  • The Department is also looking at expanding the School-Based Feeding Program since it is only directed at undernourished children and is working with LGUs to further strengthen this initiative.
  • As they are also related to nutrition and wellness, the Department is actively campaigning against smoking and drug use.
• Sec. Briones discussed the challenges that DepEd is facing with regards to the psychosocial problems of children, in relation to the ongoing pandemic, and raised that anxiety if one of the main mental health issues.
  • Sec. Briones shared that managing the anxiety of teachers, learners, and parents is a bigger challenge for the Department compared to suicide since they were only able to record and trace one incident.
  • The Mental Health and Psychosocial Support Services was initiated by DepEd from the onset to increase the physical and mental health resilience of learners, teachers, parents, and other citizens.
  • DepEd partnered with the Psychological Association of the Philippines to address this concern. They are also working with Save the Children, UNICEF, Philippine Academy of Occupational Therapists, Humanity & Inclusion, and the NORFIL Foundation of the Philippines.
• In the spirit of National Heroes Day, Sec. Briones nominated people in government as heroes for their tireless work in facing various challenges, especially during this pandemic.
• PRRD had a short banter with Sec. Briones on how families should function, discussing many dysfunctional aspects, and even shared his own family experiences. Ultimately, he wanted to highlight the importance of mental health and how DepEd’s health literacy can be an avenue to improve these relationships.
• Newly-appointed PhilHealth Chief Dante Gierran shared updates on the investigation being done by the Senate and the House of Representatives where a report will be released and cases will be filed. He shared that the NBI is also investigating PhilHealth and that he is committed to doing right by his appointment as its new head.
• PRRD tasked Bureau of Customs (BOC) Commissioner Rey Leonardo “Jagger” Guerrero to be more aggressive when it comes to the flow of illegal drugs in the country.
• PRRD and Chief Gierran also discussed the credibility of Eric Distor who currently serves as the NBI’s Officer-in-Charge.
• PRRD further discussed the impact of the PhilHealth corruption on Filipinos especially in the long run if it continues, endangering the financial assistance that they can access should the need arise.
• PRRD highlighted how the children of OFWs can also be supported through the Tertiary Education Subsidy, particularly those of deceased OFWs due to COVID-19.
  • This education subsidy will be given to one college level beneficiary from a qualified OFW enrolled or is intending to enroll in state universities and colleges, local universities and colleges, and Commission on Higher Education (CHED)-recognized private higher education institutions in this school year 2020.
  • There will be a one-time grant of Php 30,000 and the total project will be allotted Php 1 billion to benefit about 33,000 students from OFW families.
  • This is part of CHED and the United Financial Assistance System for Tertiary Education (UniFAST) in collaboration with the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE). Details may be accessed through CHED, DOLE, and the Overseas Workers’ Welfare Administration (OWWA).
• PRRD concluded his speech by reminding the public to continue staying safe, wear masks, and exercise proper hygiene and physical distancing.

DOH Advisory

As of August 31, 2020, 4:00 PM, the Department of Health (DOH) reported a total of 220,819 confirmed COVID-19 cases, 59,699 of which are active cases. Recoveries have been recorded to reach 157,562 while the local death toll has reached 3,558. Overall, the DOH also reported to have tested 2,417,360 individuals.

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