Many senators favor modified lockdown in post-April 30 ECQ
MANILA, Philippines — To balance the country’s economic and public health interests, several senators believe a modified enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) should be enforced once the Luzon-wide lockdown has been lifted.
“My suggestion is a modified ECQ, that is still compliant with social distancing, para mai-balanse ang isyu ng pampublikong kalusugan sa epekto sa ekonimiya ng bansa,” Senator Panfilo Lacson said in a message to reporters on Monday.
“While we value the primacy of life and public health, it cannot be denied that the country’s economy should not be ignored,” he added.
Lacson said the Department of Health (DOH) should “accelerate massive rapid testing” in order to cover a “considerable number among our population, thus getting a more accurate infection rate.”
To do this, the senator said the DOH could deputize private health practitioners and health workers “under the auspices of a public-private collaboration wherein the business sector can help by subsidizing or spending for the deployment of those health personnel.”
“As it is, DOH is doing a too controlled and centralized and testing which they can’t undertake on a massive scale anyway for reasons known only to them,” Lacson said.
He also proposed that a risk assessment and action plan be conducted to produce a “clearer picture of the impact of an extended lockdown moving forward to a post-April 30 scenario or even after.”
Lacson cited data from the UP School of Economics, which showed that 70 percent of the country’s workforce are in the micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), which accounts for at least 30 percent of the economy.
The senator noted that in Metro Manila alone, at least 250,000 people from that sector are suffering from lost income.
“Government may consider covering the revenue losses of MSME’s in addition to the social amelioration funds extended to daily wage earners,” he said.
Senator Joel Villanueva likewise said that keeping Luzon under quarantine “for a very long period” would not be sustainable.
“Looking at the analysis produced by the UP COVID-19 response team, there are areas in Luzon that are quite far from having a COVID-19 outbreak,” he said.
The government should consider lifting the quarantine in these areas “with the caveat that social distancing, proper wearing of masks and hand washing are strictly practiced,” he added.
“I would also recommend that we balance economic and public health interests,” the senator said.
He said industries which are big economic contributors like construction and manufacturing should be allowed to operate provided that regular randomized testing of workers, social distancing, sanitizing and face mask protocols are implemented.
“We should also ensure transportation of workers. Other social and economic activities like schools and malls, can remain closed,” he added.
60-day modified ECQ
Once the Luzon-wide lockdown is lifted, Senator Sherwin Gatchalian proposed the enforcement of a modified ECQ for another two months.
“Ang nakikita ko kasi dito, lumalaki yung testing capability natin. Ibig sabihin mas maraming ospital ang kakayahang mag-testing,” he told reporters in a virtual press conference.
(What I see here is that the country’s testing capability is improving. This means more hospitals can conduct testing).
“Importante kasi ang testing. Magte-test tayo para pag nahanap natin yung may positive, ika-quarantine natin siya, hindi na kailangang i-quarantine ang buong siyudad o buong Metro Manila,” he added.
(Testing is important. With testing, we can determine who is positive for the virus, we would quarantine the patient and we no longer have to place the entire city, or the whole Metro Manila under quarantine).
But the enforcement of a modified ECQ should still depend on the analysis and recommendations of public health and medical experts, as well as scientists, and the flattening of the country’s COVID-19 curve, Gatchalian said.
Modifying the ECQ should also depend on whether or not the country’s testing capacity nationwide could reach from 15,000 to 20,000 per day.
“If less, then we have (to) carefully study if modified ECQ is still possible,” he added.
Meanwhile, Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto said he expects that the ECQ could be extended while areas that do not have any transmission of the disease can be placed under a modified community quarantine.
“Hopefully we [can] contain its transmission by reducing its infection rate. This can only be done by massive testing, isolation and treatment in all LGU with cases,” Recto said.
“Lifting the lockdown in certain areas with low or no transmission will allow people to work, earn and provide for their families. That will help in restarting our economy,” he added.
On the other hand, Senate President Vicente Sotto III said an extension of the ECQ would be possible if mass testing would not be implemented immediately.
“Unless we are to undertake mass testing (as soon as possible), a possible extension of the ECQ is looming, especially in areas where contamination because of [the] thick population is present. But then, it’s just a thought as of now,” he said in a message to reporters.
Like Sotto, Senator Manny Pacquiao said the lifting of the ECQ would depend on the country’s mass testing capacity.
“My personal opinion hanggang hindi nagkakaroon ng mass testing sa mga kababayan natin mas makakabuti na ma-extend pa ito ng konti para sa safety ng ating mga kababayan,” Pacquiao said.
(My personal opinion is unless we have conducted mass testing among Filipinos, it would be better to extend the ECQ even just a little longer for the safety of the public).
Senator Sonny Angara, meanwhile, said preparations should be done before the relaxation or lifting of the quarantine.
“We should do things gradually to prevent any large scales outbreaks; allow certain more essential services and industries to operate. Some (with) public transport, some stores and smaller establishments but (with) strict guidelines,” the senator said.
“This must be done after fully preparing local (governments) down to the (barangay) level for the do’s and don’ts,” he added.
To date, Philippine health officials have confirmed 6,459 COVID-19 cases in the country.
Of the number, 428 have died, while 613 patients have recovered.
President Rodrigo Duterte earlier placed the entire Luzon under an enhanced community quarantine as the number of COVID-19 cases in the country continued to increase.
The quarantine became effective on March 17 and was initially set to be lifted on April 13.
The quarantine period, however, has been extended until April 30.
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