Albay Rep suggests 1-week NCR lockdown

Albay Representative Joey Salceda proposed a one-week lockdown of the National Capital Region (NCR) to curb the spread of COVID-19, including suspending classes and work nationwide, and halting bus trips and domestic flights.

He also suggested closing major expressways and railways within the NCR, with exceptions for food, medicines, and health professionals.

Salceda emphasized the need for "isolation shock" during epidemics, stating that "Everyone is a suspect now."

He argued that the costs of mass community transmission far outweigh economic losses from preemptive actions and advocated for a "zero casualty doctrine" in emergencies.

The proposal followed reports of COVID-19 cases in Quezon City, Marikina, and Pasig.

As of the article's update, the Philippines had 20 confirmed COVID-19 cases, with two recoveries and one fatality.

President Rodrigo Duterte has declared a state of public health emergency throughout the Philippines due to the first known local transmission of COVID-19.