ACTIVITY 3:
URL:https://cnnphilippines.com/news/20/
10/15/DILG-mass-gathering-presidential-
aspirants-Batangas.html
Title of Article: DILG looking into mass
gatherings attended by presidential
aspirants in Batangas
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, October
15)— The Department of the Interior and
Local Government (DILG) is now looking
into the mass gatherings attended by some
presidential aspirants in Batangas for
possible health protocol violation.
Interior Secretary Eduardo Año did not
name names in his remarks at GoNegosyo's
Let's Go Bakuna Town Hall on Friday. But
presidential aspirants Manila Mayor Isko
Moreno and Senator Manny Pacquiao had
visited Batangas this week.
The DILG chief flagged the mass gatherings
in the province as potential COVID-19
superspreader events. "I have a report in
Batangas just recently that a running
politician for a national position went to
Batangas and there was a sort of a violation
on the provisions of mass gathering so I will
be looking into that," Año said. Moreno led
a gathering of local leaders at the Claro M.
Recto Event Center in Lipa City Friday
morning.
The event was hosted by one of the
province's well-known politicians, Senator
Ralph Recto, who pledged to deliver votes
to Moreno from vote-rich Batangas.
However, mass gatherings are still
prohibited in Batangas since it is under
general community quarantine with
heightened restrictions until October
31.Meetings, incentives, conventions, and
exhibitions (MICE) and social events in
venue establishments are also not allowed
until further notice. Responding to Año's
remarks, Moreno said: "They are entitled to
do what they have to do. As far as Batangas
is concerned, Senator Ralph Recto and the
group and the leadership of the city
government of Lipa, they have followed all
the procedures."
"All the health protocols as you can see in
the spacing and so on and so forth," he
added. As for Pacquiao, he visited Lipa City
and Balayan town on Thursday, where he
handed out cash and grocery items. A video
he posted on Friday also showed people
gathering at a market in Lipa City without
physical distancing. The presidential
aspirant has yet to issue a statement on the
matter.
The Department of Health is reminding
local governments and politicians to follow
health protocols during events. Health
Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said
it is their responsibility to make sure
election related activities do not become
superspreader events. "Naiintindihan natin
na this is something that our (politicians)
nagkakampanya na kailangan gawin pero
kailangan po meron din tayong
responsibilidad para sumunod tayo sa mga
pamantayan para 'di mapagmulan ng
impeksyon ang mga ginagawang activities,"