President Rodrigo Duterte has signed an executive order declaring public health emergency due to the threat of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak.
In an interview with GMA News, Presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo said he would release a copy of the order.
Panelo said under such declaration, the government can control prices of basic commodities and can purchase medical equipment needed to combat the dreaded virus without the required bidding process.
Earlier, Health Secretary Francisco Duque recommended the declaration of public health emergency after raising its alert level to Code Red Sub-level 1.
Duque emphasized that the declaration will facilitate mobilization of resources and ease procurement of critical logistics and supplies and intensifying reporting and quarantine measures to curb the spread of COVID-19.
