BY ARGYLL GEDUCOS
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AS the Luzon-wide enhanced community quarantine nears its expiration on April 30, Malacañang said yesterday that President Duterte will consult former Department of Health secretaries to enable him to decide whether or not to extend or modify the lockdown.
Presidential spokesman Harry Roque said Duterte will decide on the fate of the ECQ based on the recommendation of experts and most importantly, based on science.
He, however, said the President will have to make a decision soon.
“Ang desisyon kung ano ang gagawin ni Presidente ay dapat nakabase sa siyensiya. Mamayang hapon ay magkakaroon po ng consultation ang ating Presidente sa mga dalubhasa at mga espesiyalista – mga epidemiologists, mga virologists, at ang mga dating mga kalihim ng Department of Health,” he said.
“Siguro po dahil sampung araw na lang at matatapos na itong ECQ, kinakailangan magdesisyon ang Presidente ngayong linggong ito dahil anuman ang maging desisyon niya ay kinakailangang paghandaan ang implementasyon,” he added.
Roque explained that Duterte wants to make the right decision because he needs to balance the duty of the State to protect public health and safety with the right of the public to make a living.
He added that the President’s options are either to extend the ECQ or modify it based on geographical locations like in provinces, municipalities, or barangays.
Roque said it will be better to extend the ECQ instead of modifying it since it will be harder to contain the spread of the COVID-19.
“Mas safe pero ang problema naman po natin eh paano naman magkakaroon ng hanapbuhay ang ating mga kababayan. Ang naibibigay po nating mga ayuda ay para lang food survival,” he said.
