MANILA, Philippines — For Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III, “extreme measures” being suggested to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus can already be considered as “OA” (overeacting).
In an interview over radio station DWIZ, Sotto said one measure that he considers as “extreme” is the temporary banning of flights to and from countries with confirmed cases of the deadly virus aside from China.
“‘Yun ang pinaka-extreme. I’m not recommending it. Pero ang sinasabi ko, dapat may thinking na ganun kung ang thinking mo ay magba-ban ka. Okay na yung i-ban anybody coming from Wuhan muna, i-ban na muna,” he said.
(That’s the most extreme. I’m not recommending it, but what I’m saying is, there should be that kind of thinking if you will impose a ban. It is OK to ban anybody coming from Wuhan.)
Following the novel coronavirus scare, President Rodrigo Duterte ordered the imposition of a temporary travel ban to and from China’s Hubei Province, where its capital city Wuhan is considered the ground zero of the outbreak, as well as other places in China.
Cebu Pacific also canceled flights to and from China. Flights from Hong Kong and Macau, meanwhile, have been reduced.
Another extreme measure, Sotto said, is to advise people to work from home to prevent the spread of the virus.
“Extreme na rin ‘yun. Gusto pa nilang ma-siste pa yung mga nagsa-suggest dyan, idagdag mo pa: Lahat ng may ubo at sipon, pwedeng i-quarantine,” he quipped
(That’s also extreme. For those who are fond of suggesting, they can add this: Those who have cough and cold can go quarantine.)
Moments later, he said: “ What was my point? Why am I saying this? OA na eh. Hindi ko maintindihan kung saan tayo pupunta eh, magpapanic ba o hindi? (I don’t know where we’re going. Should be panic or not?”)
Asked further if he is already satisfied with the current preventive and precautionary measures the government is taking, the Senate President explained: “Ang ibig kong sabihin na nao-OAhan ako, yung mga extreme na mga suggestions, OA naman, ‘yun ang ibig kong sabihin.”
(For me, the extreme suggestions are leaning towards overreacting. That’s what I meant.)
“Kumikilos naman sila kung ano ang dapat gawing aksyon eh. So kung nagkukulangan pa, edi hanapan pa natin ng remedyo kung ano pa yung mga kulang,” he added.
(They are doing the necessary actions. So if the public is still unsatisfied, then let’s find a remedy for it.)