NCRPO to enforce ‘stricter’ health protocols amid possible surge
NATIONAL Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) Director Major General Felipe R. Natividad on Wednesday said they are further stepping up their enforcement of minimum public health safety protocols to prevent the spread of the dreaded COVID-19 virus and its variants in Metro Manila.
The official said the move is needed amid the observed daily rise in virus cases in the metropolis, which many have blamed on the public’s “failure” to wear face masks and practice physical distancing.
As of Monday, Maj. Gen. Natividad said his men warned a total of 1,920 violators of existing minimum health and safety standards, while 409 others were ordered to pay fines imposed by local government units (LGUs).
He said that the over 2,000 violators are an indication that some people have already been “disregarding” existing government policies to prevent the transmission of the killer virus since two years ago.
“We should have learned to live with this virus by now. These policies were in place to ensure that our communities are safe and our citizenry, especially the children and the elderly, are protected. I urge everyone to [reinforce] your commitment and strengthen our unity against this deadly disease,” the NCRPO chief said.
From June 20 to June 26, the Department of Health (DOH) National COVID-19 Case Bulletin reflected a total of 4,364 new cases or an average of 662 cases per day, which was 53% higher than that recorded from June 13 to 19.
Relatedly, 591 of these cases were categorized as severe, resulting in 14.9% ICU bed utilization and 18.1% non-ICU bed utilization.
“It seems that the public needs reiteration that the virus is still around us, and there is no guarantee that we are already ‘victorious’ in this battle against the unseen. Let us not put our guards down. We have already invested a lot in this fight and are winning as a nation,” Maj. Gen. Natividad said.
“But our efforts must be sustained and institutionalized. Let’s keep ourselves and our families reminded of our obligation to continuously observe minimum health and safety standards in place to protect us against this disease. Sa mga hindi pa nagpapabakuna, nananawagan po tayo na hindi pa huli ang lahat. Habang may oras pa, tayo ay magpabakuna at magpa-booster,” he added.
Since the onset of the pandemic in 2019 and despite losses in manpower and resources, Maj. Gen. Natividad said that the NCRPO remained “steadfast” in its mandate to serve and protect the people of Metro Manila amid the challenges brought about by the “new normal”.
