BY GENALYN KABILING
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SENATORS yesterday backed the extension of the enhanced community quarantine in Metro Manila and other regions in the country that are at a high risk for COVID-19 outbreak.
Senate President Tito Sotto deferred to the Executive department in deciding to prolong the ECQ for high-risk areas until May 15, while easing it on areas with less cases of coronavirus infections under a general community quarantine.
“Those were the same reports and messages we were given last Monday,” he said, recalling their April 20 meeting with President Duterte, Cabinet officials, and health experts. “At this point, everything is in the hands of the Executive department,” he added.
Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto, who also expected Duterte’s decision, said the government would have to allow gradual resumption of businesses but at the same time ensure that the pandemic is controlled.
“We will eventually have to allow people to get back to work little by little. Expect a new normal with physical distancing, wearing mask, lack of consumer confidence, worker confidence, and investor confidence,” he said.
Recto reiterated that the need to invest in improving the country’s health care system, particularly in mass testing and the isolation and treatment of confirmed and suspected COVID-19 patients, and incentivizing doctors, nurses, and other health workers.
The government should also “provide worker subsidies, interest-free loans for businesses, and re-purpose industries” during the extended quarantine period, he added.
Sen Joel Villanueva also backed the extended ECQ, saying this is needed to flatten the coronavirus curve.
“We have to remember that these measures are necessary to reduce the stress in our health care system,” Villanueva said.
On the other hand, he said the assistance to residents affected by the extended ECQ must be delivered “without delay.”
Like Recto, Villanueva believed that the government should focus this time on beefing up its mass testing efforts and capacitate local government units to set up their testing centers and conduct testing in their jurisdictions.
Meanwhile, Cubao Bishop Honesto Ongtioco said yesterday the decision of the government to extend the ECQ in Metro Manila and other high-risk areas is for the safety of everyone.
“It is for the good and safety of all,” he said. “I am sure that it was a well thought decision after consulting some important government agencies,” added Ongtioco.
Fr. Jerome Secillano of the Nuestra Senora del Perpetuo Socorro Parish in Manila said the extension of the ECQ was a calculated move on the part of the government.
“The government hasn’t done yet massive contact tracing and isolation of those already infected, hence, the extended quarantine is merely a calculated move to stem the tide of the spread of COVID-19,” he said. (with a report from Leslie Aquino)
