COVID-19 Updates: President Rodrigo Roa Duterte Press Briefing | September 7, 2020

September 8, 2020

As of September 7, 2020, 07:45 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:

• PRRD shared that the country has flattened the COVID-19 curve.
  • This means that there are now less people with the virus.
  • He shared that quarantine measures played a big part in flattening the curve.
  • Another thing that contributed to flattening the curve is the public’s awareness on the minimum health protocols that must be followed.
  • PRRD also recognized how local government officials played a vital role in the implementation of health measures in their localities.
• PRRD reminded the public that though the flattening of the curve is good news, they still have to remain vigilant as COVID-19 is still present in the country.
  • He shared that the key to winning the fight against COVID-19 is the collective resolve of the people to continue practicing minimum health protocols and look after their health.
• PRRD said that a number of vaccines from other countries should be ready by this month.
  • The Philippines will purchase the vaccine that arrives first, provided that it has an affordable price.
• PRRD shared that the country’s COVD-19 recovery rate is high, with 184,906 recoveries as of September 7, 2020.
• Regarding the pardon of US Marine Joseph Scott Pemberton, PRRD said he is favoring neither Pemberton or Jennifer Laude’s family.
  • PRRD said that he must be fair when it comes to Pemberton’s case, and that the decision to pardon Pemberton was based on his good conduct.
  • Context: In December 2015, Pemberton was convicted of homicide by the Olongapo Regional Trial Court and was sentenced to 12 years imprisonment, following the death of transwoman Jennifer Laude in Olongapo City in October 2014.
• Department of Justice (DOJ) Secretary Menardo Guevarra shared that in terms of the ongoing investigation of alleged PhilHealth anomalies, all hearings will be concluded by September 7, 2020.
  • For the rest of the week, the DOJ will be consolidating and analyzing all of the information and evidence from the seven hearings.
  • By September 14, 2020, the DOJ will submit their report and recommendations, including the possible filing of administrative and/or criminal cases against persons in Philhealth, should the Department find them to be responsible for any anomalies.
  • The DOJ will be working with the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC), the Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission (PACC), and Commission on Audit (COA).
• Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary Delfin Lorenzana shared that COVID-19 cases in the Philippines have decreased in number.
  • He said that some places like Caloocan have been improving, with an average of ten cases a day from its previous 90 caes a day.
  • He also said that other places, such as Bacolod, Iloilo, and General Santos have seen spikes in the numbers of their cases, and are being closely monitored by the DND.
• Department of Health (DOH) Secretary Francisco Duque III reported on the COVID-19 cases in NCR.
  • Sec. Duque shared that cities in NCR such as Quezon City, Manila, and Caloocan have seen a big decrease in cases in the past two weeks, and estimated the decrease to be at 30%.
  • He also said that PRRD’s decision to place NCR under modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ) in the earlier weeks of August greatly helped in reducing the transmission rates of the virus.
  • PRRD expressed his full trust in Secretary Duque.
• PRRD says that though a new US Ambassador will soon be deployed to the Philippines, he hopes that the country’s alliance with the United States will stay the same.
• Lanao del Sur and Bacolod City are now placed under MECQ after Presidential Adviser and COVID-19 Chief Implementer Carlito Galvez Jr.’s recommendation. Lanao del Sur and Bacolod City have recently seen an increase in COVID-19 cases.
• PRRD concluded his address by reiterating that the government will not tolerate corruption.

DOH Advisory

As of September 07, 2020, 4:00 PM, the Department of Health (DOH) reported a total of 238,727 confirmed COVID-19 cases, 49,931 of which are active cases. Recoveries have been recorded to reach 184,906 while the local death toll has reached 3,890. Overall, the DOH also reported to have tested 2,840,157 individuals.

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For consultations, you may reach the DOH via hotline: ​(02) 894 – COVID (26843) ​or​ 1555 ​(for PLDT, Smart, Sun, and TNT subscriber)

For announcements and public advisories, you may visit the following official DOH channels:

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