The Department of Health (DOH) Region 4A is warning the public against fake news circulating in the region regarding the coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

DOH 4A Director Dr. Eduardo Janairo said a group has been distributing pamphlets containing false and inaccurate  claims about the infectious disease that has gripped the world.

“A certain group of individuals, identified as members of the ‘Gising Maharlika,’ a so-called local independent news and media alternative source, reportedly distributed pamphlets to residents in Liliw, Laguna on August 23, 2021, informing them that masks and swab tests do not work, and that no person could die of COVID-19,” he said.

Janairo urged local government units in the region to take action and implement measures to prevent the further spread of misinformation. AAC

MANILA, Philippines — The National Task Force (NTF) against COVID-19 on Wednesday denied rumors that the entire Calabarzon region will also be placed under the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) level to curb the further spread of COVID-19 cases.

“Wala pong desisyon na ganyan,” NTF deputy chief implementer Vince Dizon said in a televised public briefing when asked about the circulating posts on Calabarzon being placed under the strictest lockdown status.

Based on the latest announcement of the Inter-Agency Task Force on the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-MEID), only Metro Manila would be placed under ECQ from August 6 to 20.

In Calabarzon, only the province of Laguna will be placed under modified ECQ, while Lucena City in Quezon province, Cavite, and Rizal will be under general community quarantine with heightened restrictions until August 15.

Batangas and the whole province of Quezon, meanwhile, will be under GCQ from August 1 to 31.

The summary of the latest quarantine classifications has been posted in the NTF’s official social media account.

MANILA, Philippines—The Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, and Quezon) police are placed on alert in case of possible evacuation of residents living in the vicinity of Taal Volcano, the Philippine National Police (PNP) said on Thursday (July 1).

PNP Chief PGen. Guillermo Eleazar placed the Calabarzon police on alert in case residents near and in the surrounding areas of Taal Volcano need to evacuate.

This is to keep the residents safe as Taal Volcano continues to emit sulfur dioxide (SO2). The PNP Chief said local police offices and units should start coordinating with local government units to find out if there are residents in need of assistance.

“Ngayon pa lamang po ay simulan na natin ang pakikipag-coordinate sa mga lokal na opisyal para agad tayong makapagbigay ng tulong sa mga residenteng apektado nitong kasalukuyang activity ng bulkan,” he said.

(As early as now, let us  begin coordinating with local officials so we can immediately provide assistance to residents affected by the current volcanic activity.)

Alert level 2 remains over Taal Volcano. Based on the latest bulletin of the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs), high levels of volcanic sulfur dioxide (SO₂₎ gas emissions and steam-rich plumes that rose as much as 2,000 meters high and drifted southwest have been observed from the Taal Main Crater. SO2 emission averaged 6,685 tonnes per day on June 30. AAC