Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said the President gave the order during the Cabinet meeting on Wednesday, Feb. 6.

Duterte’s order came on the day the Department of Health declared a measles outbreak in Metro Manila.

A day later, the DOH expanded its declaration to other areas–Ilocos Region, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, CALABARZON, MIMAROPA and Bicol Region.

“We are expanding the outbreak (declaration) as cases have increased in the past weeks,” Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said in a press conference.

According to the DOH, from Jan. 1 to 19, 575 measles cases have already been reported in CALABARZON, which recorded nine deaths.

Sixty-four cases and two deaths were recorded in Ilocos Region in the same period, while 192 cases and four deaths were registered in Central Luzon, and 70 cases and zero deaths were recorded in MIMAROPA.
In Metro Manila, 441 measles cases were confirmed, and five deaths were registered, according to the DOH.