MANILA, Philippines — Some senators on Thursday frowned on the policy prohibiting senior citizens from leaving their homes in areas placed under a general community quarantine (GCQ), with one slamming it as “downright insensitive.”
“Many senior citizens are far healthier and have stronger immune systems than their younger counterparts. To indiscriminately prohibit them from going out of their homes is not only arbitrary. It is downright insensitive,” Senator Panfilo Lacson said in a statement.
“Just to give credence to my argument: Ang ibang male Senate staff ko nga na ‘di hamak na mas bata kesa sa akin, hindi makasabay sa akin pag gumagamit ako ng stairs paakyat sa sixth floor office ko,” he added.
(Just to give credence to my argument: Some of my male staff, who are far younger than me, could not keep up with me when I use the stairs to go to my office on the sixth floor).
At the age of 71, Lacson said his immune system remains unlike some of his younger staff who often get sick.
The lawmaker further said those behind “such a blanket age-based restriction” should “have their heads examined first” before “coming out with inconsiderate ideas like this latest one.”
“The Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases may need to rethink this policy such that it does not impose unfair restrictions on seniors, especially those who are physically fit,” Lacson said.
“The dire question is: When will we see other sweeping and irrational moves?” he added.
Meanwhile, Senator Sonny Angara said he received a lot of complaints from irate seniors after they learned about the GCQ guidelines which includes allowing the operations of certain businesses to resume but requires individuals below 21 and those 60 years and above to stay at home.
“Many seniors are also living alone or separate from their families so prohibiting them from going out of their homes to buy essential goods such as food and medicine will lead to a lot of problems on their part,” he said in a separate statement.
“We understand that older adults have a higher risk of contracting severe diseases due to COVID-19 and we should ensure they are given the proper care and protection. But we should also address their basic needs during this critical period. Let us strike a balance between these two concerns,” he added
Even under the ECQ or GCQ, he said the basic needs of senior citizens would remain the same and they would still have to purchase essential items one way or another.
Angara suggested that the authorities may consider implementing special hours and priority services at establishments such as groceries and drug stores for seniors.
Businesses should also allow online transactions using senior citizen cards for discounts to essential goods, he added.
“Dapat i-relax ang rules sa mga online transactions ng seniors. Pwede na pagbigyan ang paggamit ng photo o screen shot ng senior ID. Gusto natin na manatili sila sa bahay kaya gawan na natin ng paraan na hindi na sila kailangan lumabas pa para bumili ng pagkain o gamot,” Angara said.
(The rules on seniors’ online transactions should be relaxed. A photo or a screen shot of the senior ID should suffice. We want them to stay inside so we should us find ways for them to no longer need to leave their homes to buy food or medicine).
For his part, Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon said the rule would prevent him, Senate President Vicente Sotto III as well as Senators Richard Gordon, Lito Lapid and Lacson from attending Senate sessions.
Drilon, who is 74 years old, said the policy would also bar President Rodrigo Duterte, Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea, and Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III to leave their homes.
“(Health Secretary Francisco Duque III) himself should not leave his house under this rule,” the senator added.
Like Drilon, Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto pointed out that most of the country’s policy makers and business leader are senior citizens.
“They should be allowed to work and be mobile,” Recto said in a message to reporters.
Some congressmen and senior citizens have earlier appealed to the country’s COVID-19 task force to reconsider the said quarantine rule on seniors.
Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez has since clarified that seniors working as employees, executives or business owners will be allowed to go to work during the GCQ.
Lopez added that the government is not imposing a “house arrest” on the elderly. He said the restriction was simply an “overall policy” since their age group is more vulnerable to the virus.
The entire Luzon is currently under an ECQ until April 30 in a bid to contain the spread of the virus.
The President extended the the ECQ in Metro Manila and other “high-risk” areas until May 15 while the GCQ will be imposed in moderate to low risk provinces beginning May 1.
LIST: Provinces, areas under ECQ and GCQ