Press Secretary Trixie Cruz-Angeles has tested positive for COVID-19, as well as Chairman Carlo Dimayuga III of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority.
“I had a swab test yesterday and the result came out this morning. I tested positive for COVID,” Cruz-Angeles said in a Facebook Live video on Monday. “I will stay at home and work while in isolation.”
MMDA chief information officer Sharon Gentalian said Dimayuga took an antigen test on Sunday after experiencing symptoms of COVID-19.
Dimayuga will continue working remotely and will conduct meetings with MMDA officials via teleconference, she added.
Cruz-Angeles said she is asymptomatic. Asked if she had contact with President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., she said: “The President is fine.”
The Press Secretary also urged the public to get vaccinated and avail of booster shots to get additional protection against coronavirus.
“I will take this opportunity to encourage the public to get vaccinated and avail of booster shots,” Cruz Angeles said.
“Chairman Carlo Dimayuga tested positive. He has a mild (cold) symptom, so he will be in isolation for seven days. He (now) works from home,” said Gentalian.
Gentalian said those who made close contact with Dimayuga also underwent antigen tests and all found negative for the virus.
On August 1, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. appointed Dimayuga as acting MMDA chairman, replacing lawyer Romando Artes.
MMDA officials welcomed Dimayuga’s appointment, saying with his instinctive understanding of operations and managerial perspective, he can steer the agency towards delivering better basic services to the public.
Dimayuga passed the Civil Engineer Licensure Examination in 1997 after studying Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering at the University of Sto. Tomas. He finished both his secondary and primary education at Lourdes School Quezon City in 1987 and 1991.
In January 2021, then MMDA chairman Danilo Lim passed away, more than a week after he announced he tested positive for coronavirus disease.
