DAVAO CITY (April 1) — Interior and Local Government officials who came in close contact with Secretary Eduardo Año have gone on self-quarantine after the later was tested positive for coronavirus disease (COVID-19) on March 31.
Año in a public statement on March 31 admitted he was tested positive of the virus but he vowed to continue working within the confines of his home as he stated: “The result of my test will not in any way dampen my spirit and energy to do my job.”
Undersecretary Jonathan E. Malaya in a statement Wednesday, April 1, said he too goes on home quarantine given his close contact with Año, “Senior officials of the Department who were in close contact with the Secretary, including myself, are now in self-quarantine and will observe symptoms in accordance with DOH protocols,” Malaya in a statement stressed.
Malaya is the official spokesperson of the DILG.
Despite the situation, Malaya added “We wish to assure the public that the Secretary is fully in charge and that the operations of the entire Department including the interior sector — the PNP, BFP and the BJMP — will not in any way be affected by this development. The Secretary has constant access to the President, the senior officials of the Department and is in constant communication with the IATF-MEID, NTF-COVID-19, DILG Emergency Operations Center, JTF COVID Shield, and the PNP Command Center. The Secretary will harness the newest technology to communicate, give instructions, and will get the job done.”
The entire Department of the Interior and Local Government, including all uniformed personnel and Local Government Units nationwide, joins the nation in praying for the speedy recovery of Secretary Eduardo M. Año who tested positive for COVID-19 yesterday.
As the country enters the 3rd week of the Enhanced Community Quarantine, Malaya said “the Secretary urges the entire Department to double its efforts in fighting COVID-19. As frontliners in this war, the public depends on us to be relentless in this battle to ensure their safety and well-being. As we gear towards providing the largest direct financial assistance to poor families in the history of our country, the DILG will be there to support our partner agencies and monitor Local Government Units.”
At this time of public health emergency, the DILG will not fail the public and with your support, we will be victorious in the end, it added.
