PHILIPPINE ENHANCED COMMUNITY QUARANTINE IN LIGHT OF

NCOVID-19 PANDEMIC

Written by:
John Raymond Consolacion
Jonas Josh Cabochan

On March 16, 2020 President Rodrigo Duterte addressed the nation and
declared an enhanced community quarantine covering the whole region of
Luzon in an attempt to contain the spread of the Corona Virus Disease
2019 (COVID-19). In line with this, the government instituted different
measures to ensure compliance with the quarantine guidelines most of
which caused differing opinions and responses from the general public.

“Enhanced” Quarantine

When community transmission of the coronavirus disease was confirmed

by the Department of Health, President Duterte immediately implemented
a community quarantine over Metro Manila, the guidelines for the
community quarantine were outlined in a memorandum of the Executive
Secretary dated March 13, 2020. On March 16, 2020, owing to the
increasing number of confirmed cases of the coronavirus disease, the
President implemented an “enhanced community quarantine” covering
the whole Luzon region, the details of which are outlined in the
memorandum of the Executive Secretary dated March 16, 2020.

The General Community Quarantine of the March 13 Memorandum is

defined as one where the movement of people shall be limited to
accessing basic necessities and work; and uniformed personnel and
quarantine officers shall be present at border points. On the other hand,
an Enhanced Community Quarantine is one where strict home quarantine
shall be implemented in all households; transportation shall be
suspended; provision for food and essential health services shall be
regulated; and heightened presence of uniformed personnel to enforce
quarantine procedures will be implemented.

Upon declaration of the enhanced community quarantine, the March 16

Memorandum adopted stringent measures. Classes and all school
activities were suspended until April 14, 2020. Mass gatherings are also
prohibited. Public transport has been suspended while land, air and sea
travel has been restricted. Only businesses catering to essential services
shall remain open during the duration of the enhanced community
quarantine
Curfew Hours

A resolution signed by 17 Mayors stated that they would issue the

necessary ordinance imposing a curfew from 8:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m. in an
effort to make their constituents stay at home as much as possible.
Arrests may be effected for violations of curfew ordinances under the
Revised Penal Code provisions on Assault, Bribery and Slander as
confirmed by the Secretary of the Department of Justice.

Compliance with Quarantine Guidelines

President Duterte also deputized the Armed Forces of the Philippines in

order to augment the personnel of the Philippine National Police who will
be manning the checkpoints during the enhanced community quarantine.
Concerns among the public arose after Regional Police Director Police Maj.
Gen. Debold Sinas stated that violators of the quarantine guidelines
issued will be arrested.

To date, the Quarantine Law of 2004 only penalizes those who fail to
disclose or comply with the mandatory reportorial requirements in cases
involving diseases posing a threat to public health. Thus, people who
persistently fail to maintain the proper social distancing and public
transport that continually offers its services in order to help people travel
within or out of the quarantine zone cannot be arrested.

Critical Assessment

Times of crises have and always will pose difficult questions and
problems, with no one-size-fits-all solution. This pandemic is definitely a
crisis. Police and Army presence at checkpoints will always be questioned,
and will continue to be justified in the name of peace and order (it is
arguable that potential looting and robberies may occur in these trying
times due to the lack of social safety nets, hence the government’s call for
employers to pitch in). Hopefully, at some point in the quarantine, health
related solutions will be more visible, as this is after all a health crisis in its
heart. It is hoped that Humanity will get through this event.

The authors believe that Humanity will survive, but we fervently hope that
our humanity will still be intact when the dust settles.

Times of crises will never be easy, so there is all the more reason for us to
look out for one another.
Sources:

Department of Health Advisory on Alert Levels -

https://www.facebook.com/OfficialDOHgov/posts/3127519987259232

Arrests during Community Quarantine-

https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2020/03/14/2000845/arrests-during-
community-quarantine-doj-says-only-assault-bribe-slander