MANILA, Philippines – Vice President Leni Robredo has urged both government and the private sector to adopt a work-from-home scheme as the number of COVID-19 cases continuously increased since the weekend.

According to Robredo, it might be the proper time to implement such measures, to ensure the safety of workers and their families.

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“Nananawagan din po tayo sa ating mga kasama sa gobyerno, pati na rin sa pribadong sektor: Baka panahon na para i-consider ang work-from-home na areglo, basta hindi masasakripisyo ang mga serbisyong ipinaaabot natin sa publiko,” she said in a statement on Wednesday.

(We are calling on our co-officials in the government, including the private sector: Maybe it is time to consider a work-from-home scheme, as long as it would not mean sacrificing the service we are giving the public.)

But aside from a work-from-home system, the Vice President also advised the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) to impose a price freeze on sanitary products and disinfectants, to avoid profiteering in such times. She also asked building owners to manage their spaces and disinfect offices and residences.

“Sa DTI: Ipatupad na po sana natin ang price freeze para sa mga produktong may kaugnayan sa pag-iwas sa COVID-19. Maging mas mahigpit din sana tayo laban sa mga profiteers na nagho-hoard ng mga produktong ito,” Robredo said.

(For DTI: Let us implement a prize freeze for products that would help people avoid COVID-19. We hope there would be stricter measures against profiteering and people who hoard such products.)

“Sa mga building at condo administrators, at sa mga nagpapatakbo ng negosyo: Gawin po natin ang lahat, lalo na ang mga basic preventive measures, para maiwasan ang pagkalat ng sakit sa ating mga lugar. Ipaalala natin sa mga tumatangkilik sa atin ang tamang hygiene. Mag-disinfect ng ating mga establisimyento,” she added.

(For building and condominium administrators, and those who run businesses: Let us do everything taht we can, especially basic preventive measures to avoid the spread of the disease. Remind people of the proper hygiene, and disinfect your establishments.)

COVID-19 cases in the Philippines soared from just three in February to 10 over the weekend. They went up again to 24 since President Rodrigo Duterte’s briefing on Monday night, to then 33 on Tuesday.

This spike has prompted Duterte to place the country under a state of public health emergency, while suspending classes until March 14. Other lawmakers, meanwhile, have urged a lockdown of Metro Manila to prevent the spread of the virus.

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Robredo previously questioned whether the Department of Health (DOH) data on the number of COVID-19 cases was accurate, given that there are over 117,000 cases and 4,288 deaths worldwide.

However, she also assured the public that there is no need to panic, as health workers are doing everything they can to solve the health issue.

“Maraming mga eksperto ang handang tumulong sa pagsasaliksik at sa pagsisiwalat ng tamang impormasyon. Nakikita rin po natin: handang tumulong ang pribadong sektor, lalo na ang mga ospital. Tinanong na nga po natin ang mga ahensya at eksperto, ano ba ang mga bagay na dapat matugunan agad? Ang sabi nila: Sapat na protective gear para sa mga frontliners, at sapat na kagamitan tulad ng ventilators para sa mga lokal na hospital,” she added.

(A lot of experts are also willing to help in researching and revealing true information. We are seeing the private sector’s willingness to help. We asked agencies and experts on the things that the public needs to know. They said that adequate protective gear is needed for frontline, and ample equipment like ventilators in local hospitals.)

COVID-19 is a respiratory disease caused by the novel coronavirus that first emerged in China’s city of Wuhan in Hubei province in late 2019.

The International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses named the novel coronavirus as SARS-CoV-2.

Coronavirus is a family of viruses, which surfaces have a crown-like appearance. The viruses are named for the spikes on their surfaces.

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For more news about the novel coronavirus click here.

What you need to know about Coronavirus.

For more information on COVID-19, call the DOH Hotline: (02) 86517800 local 1149/1150.

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