MANILA – Opposition senator Franklin Drilon is pushing to extend the ongoing 30-day enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) in Luzon to prevent the further spread of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
The Ilonggo lawmaker said in a statement over the weekend that the extension of the ECQ is just needed in order to get a clearer and more accurate assessment of the situation.
“We have sacrificed so much to prevent a further spread of the COVID-19 and a total collapse of our health system. It will be a total waste if we lift prematurely the enhanced community quarantine,” Drilon said.
“We are only beginning to see the data. I see some data that shows it is effective, but it is too early to tell. An extra two weeks would help,” added the Senate Minority Leader.
Secretary Carlito Galvez has said on Saturday that, if ever the enhanced community quarantine being implemented as a measure to prevent the further spread of COVID-19 is extended, it may possibly only be for a maximum of 15 days.
According to Drilon, the government must be able to move fast and decisively in order to prevent the scarcity of food, feed around 18 million poorest of the poor, assist those who lost livelihood, and take care of the depleting health workforce during the extension.
“When more than 100 million lives are at stake, any amount of delay in government response is a mortal sin and unforgivable,” Drilon said. “Kawawa naman po ang 18 milyong pinakamahihirap na Filipino. They are the most affected by this lockdown.”
Vice President Leni Robredo also expressed her support on the possible extension of enhanced community quarantine as she stressed the need for government to make the people understand such measure and to fast track assistance.
“Sang-ayon ako dahil ‘yung nakikita nating projections. Pero crucial para mag-cooperate ang mga tao, crucial na naiintindihan nila kung bakit kailangan gawin,” she said in an interview with ABS CBN News Channel.
“Kung hindi nila naiintindihan bakit kailangan gawin, ‘yung resistance nandyan… Information at pag-asikaso ng pangangailangan nila ay napakahalaga,” the Vice President added.
The Vice President also stressed the importance of enforcing a maximum tolerance following Duterte’s earlier order to shoot troublemakers dead if policemen’s lives were on the line.
“Okay na maging istrikto sa enforcement, pero kailangan humane pa rin ang treatment sa tao,” she said.
The Philippines has recorded 3,094 coronavirus cases, based on Department of Health’s data of Saturday afternoon, including 144 fatalities and 57 recoveries./PN
