MANILA – Lawmakers are mulling to extend the month-long enhance community quarantine in Metro Manila and Luzon to contain the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak.
Caloocan City 2nd District Rep. Edgar Erice told the government on Wednesday that lifting the quarantine on April 12, as initially planned, could lead to a resurgence of the virus in urban centers.
“I have been to more hundred villages in my city the past 2 weeks and I am afraid that if COVID-19 reach[es] these areas, all hell will break loose,” Erice said.
Erice have also urged the local governments to funnel funds for community development and special activities into stockpiling and food and medical supplies.
“These are the least we can do to protect our citizenry as we are at war against a very invisible powerful enemy,” he said.
Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles earlier said that a technical working group led by the Department of Health will formulate recommendations for the possible lifting or extension of the month-long Luzon enhanced community quarantine.
The group, under the government inter-agency task force on COVID-19, will “finalize the parameters” that will serve as a guide for the possible lifting or extension of the enhanced community quarantine.
“Aaralin pa po ng DOH kung i-extend ito o hindi. Sa usapin na ito, Science is in charge. Sana po malinaw ito sa ating lahat,” Nograles said in a virtual press conference.
Luzon was placed on lockdown from March 17 until April 12 to control the spread of COVID-19. People were told to stay at home as government suspended mass transportation, regulated access to food and basic necessities, and heightened the presence of state troops to enforce isolation procedures.
The Philippines as of Tuesday confirmed 96 deaths out of its total 2,311 cases of the novel coronavirus. The tally is expected to increase further with the recent delivery of test kits and the accreditation of additional screening laboratories./PN
