President Rodrigo Duterte will be donating his salary for one-month to help the country in its fight against the coronavirus-disease or COVID-19.
The move was announced by Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo on Sunday. This comes after Duterte’s cabinet members pledged to donate 75 percent of the salaries, some even for the whole year, to help the government in its coronavirus fight.
“The Palace confirms that many of the members of the President’s cabinet have pledged to cut 75% of their monthly salaries from the month of April to December of this year,” Panelo said in a statement.
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Panelo added that others have volunteered a salary deduction for the whole duration of the state of public health emergency in “solidarity with our countrymen and to help in the government efforts to halt the spread of the coronavirus”.
“Assistant Secretaries of the Offices of the Chief Presidential Legal Counsel and Presidential Spokesperson have likewise committed to donate at least 10% of their income directly to the Office of Civil Defense this month,” Panelo added.
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Panelo also revealed the possibility of a lockdown by saying there is an emerging consensus coming from medical experts, businessmen, government officials and other well-meaning individuals that an extension of two weeks for the enhanced community quarantine or lockdown is necessary as lifting it could be premature as it might wipe out the gains we have so far achieved in containing the virus.
“The President is all ears and eyes on this unfolding reality and expert opinions. He is evaluating the best option to take that will effectively insure the success of our war against this wily and faceless global enemy. He will make his decision in due time,” Panelo said.
