ECQ extension: Poe calls for utmost ‘restraint’ in enforcement; colleagues want faster mass testing
MANILA, Philippines — With the extension of the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) in several “high risk” areas due to the coronavirus pandemic, senators are calling on the government to fast track its mass testing, with one appealing to authorities to “exercise the highest degree of restraint” in enforcing the lockdown.
“The best approach is to reduce the risk of spread and flatten the curve. We have to remember that these measures are necessary to reduce the stress in our healthcare system,” Senator Joel Villanueva said in a message to reporters on Friday.
“The government has to focus on improving our monitoring and surveillance capacity by beefing up the capacity and resources of our LGUs (local government units) to set up their testing centers and conduct testing,” he added.
Senator Francis Pangilinan also pushed for more mass testing and “massive” contact tracing.
“Does the government have a national or local testing capacity target, expressed in the number of tests per population? How close are we to this target, if any?” he said in a separate statement.
“We note that this information is critical for officials at the national and local levels of government as they decide whether or not to extend or lift community quarantines by May 16,” he added.
Pangilinan also said the government should ensure that the number of health care workers, facilities, medical equipment, and isolation facilities are “sufficient to address the expected surge in COVID-19 related cases.”
He added that health frontliners should be well-protected, cash aid to affected families are distributed and food supply is sufficient “while our farmers are well-supported and given assistance.”
Without these, any extension of the ECQ will be rendered “ineffective,” Pangilinan said.
President Rodrigo Duterte earlier placed the entire Luzon under an ECQ as cases of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in the Philippines continued to increase.
Initially, the quarantine was supposed to lapse on April 13 but the President extended the lockdown period to April 30.
It was then extended for another 15 days in Metro Manila and several “high risk” areas.
Extending the ECQ in areas that are more at risk was a “necessary” decision, according to Senator Panfilo Lacson.
“Admittedly, we are still a thousand miles away from flattening the curve. Regardless of some missteps and shortcomings of some government agencies, it cannot be denied that ECQ has contributed its share in minimizing the spread of the virus,” he said in a message to reporters.
“That said, an extension is necessary in highly infected areas as identified by the president in order to sustain social distancing as an indispensable aspect of our country’s fight against COVID-19,” he added.
Lacson also expressed confidence that the government would adopt measures to help the economy from the impact of the pandemic.
“Unfortunately, the virus dictates when to end the lockdown, not the other way around. It doesn’t mean though that government will not adopt other measures to save our economy from imminent recession, in case we are not there yet,” he said.
Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto, meanwhile, said the extension was “expected” and pointed out that the government would eventually need to allow the public 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,” Recto said.
He also said the government needs to prepare for more mass testing, isolation of cases, and treatment of patients.
“Invest more in health care infrastructure. Incentivize health workers, nurses, doctors, etc,” he said.
“Provide worker subsidies, interest-free loans for businesses, and repurpose industries. Plan for the next 3 years,” he added.
For her part, Senator Grace Poe appealed to the police, military, and local government personnel “to exercise the highest degree of restraint as they enforce the lockdown.”
“People must stay at home for their safety, but authorities should also listen to reason in situations that clearly call for greater understanding,” she added.
Like her colleagues, Poe also pushed for more testing and for increased medical capacity in the country.
“The lockdown extension only buys us time. To really defeat the virus, we reiterate our call for massive testing and increased medical capacity,” Poe said.
“We have to be discerning on our next steps so as not to squander whatever gains we have achieved,” she added.
She also said that relief assistance should be given to the vulnerable sector expeditiously.
“Poverty has been exacerbated by this pandemic, thus, concerned agencies should work double-time so that all forms of assistance reach target families who are in need,” Poe said.
Meanwhile, Senator Sonny Angara said LGUs should be guided on the implementation of the general community quarantine in the coming days.
Duterte extended the enhanced community quarantine in Metro Manila, Region 3, Calabarzon and other high-risk areas while a general community quarantine was placed in areas listed as low-risk for the coronavirus
“Between now and (April 30), the government, hopefully, aided by media, should advise LGUs, especially barangay officials on the dos and don’ts of this new animal called the GCQ or general community quarantine,” Angara said in a statement.
“Otherwise baka hapi hapi ulit and magkahawaan. Important to remember that we are only as strong as our weakest links,” he added.
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