President Rodrigo Duterte made a surprise inspection of a government checkpoint at the Valenzuela-Meycauyan border early on Tuesday. He visited the checkpoint manned by uniformed personnel to monitor the implementation of the enhanced community quarantine in Luzon, Manila Bulletin reported, citing  his spokesperson Salvador Panelo.

Duterte arrived past 4am and reportedly directed the troops to help the stranded commuters who could not cross the border because of the quarantine. Panelo said the president was “setting the example” of rising to the challenge amid these dangerous and difficult times.

Duterte on Monday ordered an community quarantine covering more than half of the 107 million population to stem the spread of the coronavirus.

The Philippines’ Health Ministry on Tuesday reported 45 new confirmed cases of coronavirus, bringing the country’s total to 187, all but three of those in the past 11 days, Reuters said.