The government is preparing in the combat against COVID-19 to last until September to December before everything back to a normal way of living.

This is according to Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (PAPP) and former Armed Forces Chief Staff General Carlito Galvez, Jr.

Galvez said that the discipline and cooperation of the public is the key to keep the infection rate lower down and the basis for the possible gradual lifting of the Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ) in the country.

In interview with dzMM, National Task Force (NTF) COVID-19 Chief Implementer Secretary Carlito Galvez, Jr. said that the war against deadly disease will probably last until September to December.

“To tell you frankly, mukhang ang preparation natin siguro September hanggang December (our preparation may last until September to December),” Galvez said in a radio interview over dzMM.

The Task Force Chief is referring to the supposed rising cases of COVID-19 in the country especially in Manila, Quezon City and San Juan City citing the reason that the public did not response properly to the enforced lockdown in the particular areas.

“Nanawagan po ako sa area ng Manila nakikita namin, sa observation namin, tumataas ang cases hindi talaga faithfully na-a-ano ‘yung lockdown. Nakita natin sa areas ng Quezon City, San Juan ang daming tao pa rin na nagkalat sa kalsada (I appeal to the Manila [government], based on our observation the cases are rising since the lockdown is not being [enforced] faithfully. We have also observed that in Quezon City and San Juan, a lot of people are still loitering the streets),” Galvez said.

“Nananawagan kami na talagang patience at discipline na sumunod tayo. ‘Yung mga lugar na sumusunod, nakita namin na bumababa ang kaso. Dapat sumunod tayo, just stay home at kung hindi kailangan lumabas, huwag lalabas (We call on the public to have patience and discipline to follow the measures. The areas which follow, we have seen that there is a decline in the number of cases. We should all follow, just stay home and if it’s not necessary to go out, do not go out),” Galvez added.

Based on his estimate there are possible cases of at least 200,000 to 300,000 undetected nationwide who are now continue roaming around and engage the community. That is their target for mass testing and contract tracing.

“To be honest, we want to be transparent. Ang assessment ng specialists kung ang namatay ay more than 300 at yung cases now ay more or less 5,000 na ngayon nakikita natin na more or less 75 percent pa hindi natin nakikita na lumalakad at nakakasalamuha natin na most probably potential COVID cases (To be honest, we want to be transparent, the assessment of specialists is that if we have more than 300 deaths and more or less 5,000 cases now, we can see that more or less 75 percent of the cases remain undetected who continue to roam around and engage the communities. Most probably these are potential COVID cases),” he said.

“We have to face reality. Nakita natin hangga’t wala pang vaccine, hindi na pwede ‘yung barkadahan, inuman, ‘yung talagang magkakalat sa kalsada. Hindi na po natin kaya ‘yun (We have seen that until there’s no vaccine yet, we can no longer standby or drink along the streets, or loiter. We cannot afford to do that anymore),” he added.

However, in a similar report, President Roderigo Duterte said if there is no available vaccine, the ECQ remain to be properly observed and in effect.

Now the Philippines is having 5,223 confirmed cases and death toll of 335 as of writing.