The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) and Metro Manila Council (MMC) created a technical working group (TWG) that will formulate uniform policies on social distancing measures to reduce and prevent coronavirus disease (COVID-19) transmission in the National Capital Region (NCR).
MMDA Chairman Danilo Lim, who presided over the MMC meeting, said the uniform policies – in the form of a resolution – would be used as basis for 17 Metro Manila local government units as one region in ensuring the health and safety of the public amid the spread of the COVID-19.
“The policies would set standard parameters, like for example, in suspending mass gatherings in the entire region,” said Lim, during the MMC meeting held at MMDA headquarters in Makati City.
The TWG is composed of all members of the MMC, including representatives of concerned national government agencies, Lim said.
“The resolution will come out within the week or before the next inter-agency task force meeting,” said Lim.
“Keep students away from shopping malls and other crowded places particularly during the period of class suspension from March 10 to 14.”
During the meeting, Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Eduardo Año also enlisted the help of the Metro Manila mayors in ensuring that students are away from shopping malls and other crowded places to contain the spread of the COVID-19, particularly during the period of the Metro-wide class suspension from March 10 to 14.
Dr. Corazon Flores, Regional Director of the Department of Health (DOH) NCR for Health Development, reported that of the 24 confirmed cases in the country as of March 9, 19 are from Metro Manila.
For his part, MMDA General Manager Jojo Garcia also encouraged everyone to employ social distancing protocols in light of the increasing number of COVID-19 confirmed cases in the country.
“Let us avoid crowded areas as preventive measure.”
“Let us avoid crowded areas as preventive measure. At this point, the government is not considering lockdown of Metro Manila but we are ready for all the possibilities,” said Garcia.
Present during the meeting are Parañaque Mayor Edwin Olivarez, Navotas City Mayor Toby Tiangco, Makati City Mayor Abigail Binay, Pasig City Mayor Vico Sotto, Valenzuela City Mayor Rex Gatchalian, Pasay City Mayor Emily Calixto-Rubiano, Muntinlupa City Mayor Jaime Fresnedi, Taguig City Mayor Lino Cayetano, Marikina City Mayor Marcelino Teodoro, Las Piñas City Mayor Imelda Aguilar, Mandaluyong City Mayor Carmelita Abalos, and San Juan City Mayor Francis Zamora, and other members of the MMC which is the governing and policy-making body of the MMDA.
Meanwhile, former MMDA officer-in-charge Tim Orbos presented to the media – the energy-saving “Mistykool” air-cooling systems and Sanitary Anti-Viral Entry Point or SAVEPOINT – as new technologies that can help combat the virus.
Orbos encouraged the private sector to help the government in its effort to prevent further spread of COVID-19.
Filipino inventor Edgardo Vasquez invented the energy-saving “Mistykool” air-cooling systems which is being used in sanitizing operations. This technology sprays ultra-fine microns of water to cool off an area. It also repels insects, dusts, smoke, and pollen.
The Sanitary Anti-Viral Entry Point or SAVEPOINT, on the other hand, is working on misting tents and tunnels and mobile indoor / outdoor disinfectant teams to address the spread of COVID-19 in the communities.