President Rodrigo Duterte designated his peace adviser Carlito Galvez Jr. as the chief implementer of COVID-19 response operations through a memorandum issued Mar. 24. Sent by Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea to the Inter-Agency Task Force for Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF), the appointment takes effect immediately.
According to the memorandum, the former Armed Forces chief-of-staff “has been directed to ensure the strict compliance and adherence of everyone (public and private sector) to the guidelines and protocols issued by the Inter-Agency Task Force” in his newest role in the government.
“He was further tasked to protect and promote the safety and welfare of the public at all times, and ensure the efficient and expeditious distribution of government assistance to the public, with particular attention to our citizens who are in most need,” the memorandum also stated.
Announcement of Galvez’ designation comes after the president has been granted special powers through the Bayanihan to Heal as One Act in overseeing measures against the current COVID-19 crisis.
With the country currently in a state of calamity, this Act and its provisions will be implemented in full force for three months unless extended by Congress or withdrawn earlier by either Congress or the president.
As of writing, there are already 707 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the country after seeing a huge spike earlier in the week with 90 cases recorded in just one day. Although 28 patients had already recovered, the COVID-19 death toll sits at 45 despite the implementation of the Luzon-wide lockdown.
Header image courtesy of Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process
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