Huang Xilian (left), Chinese ambassador to the Philippines, called on Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte at the Malacañan Palace in Manila on March 11, 2020. Also present were Philippine Foreign Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr, Health Secretary Francisco T. Duque III, Senator Christopher Lawrence "Bong" Go, Chief of Presidential Protocol Robert Eric Borje, and Minister Counselor of the Chinese Embassy Tan Qingsheng.
(PHOTO PROVIDED TO CHINA DAILY)
The Philippine government’s decision to impose a 30-day lockdown on Metro Manila is required to contain the spread of COVID-19 and the Philippines president appreciates China’s willingness to help them in the unusual fight.
President Xi Jinping, for all of his goodness to us, wrote me a letter and said that he is willing to help (if needed)
Rodrigo Duterte, Philippine President
“President Xi Jinping, for all of his goodness to us, wrote me a letter and said that he is willing to help (if needed),” Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte said in a briefing held on the night of March 12.
Huang Xilian, Chinese ambassador to the Philippines, in his March 11 call to Duterte, also said China is ready to join hands with the country to overcome difficulties together, and it is willing to extend assistance to the best of its capabilities.
Meeting Huang, Duterte extended sympathies to the Chinese people affected by COVID-19 outbreak, and expressed full confidence that China will defeat the epidemic under the strong leadership of President Xi.
Duterte announced on March 12 that he was putting the Philippines’ capital region of Metro Manila under “community quarantine” in light of the rising number of COVID-19 cases in the country. The country reported 52 confirmed cases and four fatalities as of March 13.
“There is a crisis with no solution in sight. There is no solution unless (scientists can develop) a vaccine,” Duterte said.
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Metro Manila, which spans 16 cities and is home to over 13 million people, will be locked down from March 15 to April 14. Domestic travel to and from the capital region will be prohibited, and all classes will be suspended. Companies are encouraged to allow their employees to work from home.
“Planned or spontaneous” mass gatherings, including concerts and sporting events, will be banned. People have also been advised to practice “social distancing”.
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte (right) and Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Huang Xilian in discussion at the Malacañan Palace in Manila on March 11, 2020. (PHOTO PROVIDED TO CHINA DAILY)
Anthony Leachon, a health reform advocate and former president of the Philippine College of Physicians, supports the lockdown, said it is about “the greater good”.
“You will have saved lives,” he said, referring to the potential outcome after one month.
Though the limits may disrupt regular activities and dampen economic growth, “this challenge will force us to change our routines and require us to modify our behavior,” Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles said in a press briefing on March 13. “We have to understand that it cannot be business as usual if we hope to overcome this public health threat.”
Government officials will assess the situation on a day to day basis and can lift the lockdown anytime they see fit, he added.
We must not underestimate COVID-19. The Philippines is implementing social distancing early because we can't afford a full blown (outbreak)
Edsel Salvana, head of Technical Advisory Group, Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases
Philippine Secretary of Trade and Industry Ramon Lopez said that despite travel restrictions and work disruption, daily business activities will continue in the capital. Companies, banks and malls will remain open, while deliveries of food and non-food items sourced outside Metro Manila will be allowed to enter to ensure adequate supply.
Both officials also urged Metro Manila residents to remain calm, cooperate with the government and dissuade residents who have resorted to panic buying.
The 30-day lockdown was based on a recommendation by the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases. Edsel Salvana, who leads the task force’s Technical Advisory Group, tweeted that a lockdown has to be enforced as the public health system may not be able to handle a surge in COVID-19 cases.
“We must not underestimate COVID-19. The Philippines is implementing social distancing early because we can't afford a full blown (outbreak),” he said.
Ruben Carlo Asuncion, chief economist of Union Bank of the Philippines, said that Metro Manila accounts for nearly 40 percent of the country’s GDP and is the Philippines’ key financial and business center. As such, the month-long lockdown may ease growth.
“But what is really more important, at this point, is how this ‘community quarantine’ or ‘lockdown’ will help slow the spread of the virus and consequently torch the health fears of many people,” Asuncion told China Daily.
If the number of COVID-19 cases continues to rise significantly, it might even shave off more percentage points from the country’s GDP, he added.
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“However, everything is still very fluid and uncertain. Thus, these expectations may still change,” Asuncion said.
During his meeting with Ambassador Huang at the Malacañan Palace in Manila, President Duterte also anticipated to deepen practical cooperation in multiple fields between the Philippines and China, as this year marks the 45th anniversary of diplomatic ties of the two countries.
Huang appreciated the solidarity as well as the valuable support extended by the Philippine government and people amid the epidemic outbreak.
In the same spirit, “China stands ready to join hands with the Philippines to overcome the current difficulties, and is willing to extend assistance to the best of its capabilities in line with the needs of the Philippine side,” Huang told his hosts.
