(Eagle News)–Senior officials of the Department of the Interior and Local Government have gone in self-quarantine after Interior Secretary Eduardo Año tested positive for the coronavirus disease 2019.
In a statement, Interior spokesperson Jonathan Malaya said he and the other officials will “observe symptoms in accordance with DOH (Department of Health) protocols” after coming in close contact with Año.
He gave the assurance Año “is fully in charge and that the operations of the entire Department including the interior sector — the PNP (Philippine National Police), BFP (Bureau of Fire Protection), and the BJMP (Bureau of Jail Management and Penology) — will not in any way be affected by this development.”
In fact, he said Año has been in communication with President Rodrigo Duterte, the senior officials of the DILG, and other government agencies under the department.
“The Secretary will harness the newest technology to communicate, give instructions, and will get the job done,” Malaya said, as he expressed the agency’s hope for Año’s speedy recovery.
He said “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,” he added.
Año, vice chair of the national action plan against COVID-19, announced he tested positive for the virus on Tuesday.