Duterte warns COVID-19 crisis could last two years

President Rodrigo Duterte warned that the COVID-19 crisis could last up to two years.

He urged landlords and lessors to temporarily halt rent collection due to job losses and income reductions caused by the pandemic.

Duterte also stated in a previous speech that he had warned Filipinos about the threat of COVID-19 from the start, despite earlier downplaying its severity when cases were low.

Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo clarified that Duterte relied on WHO advisories initially but expressed concern as the situation escalated.