Despite influx of shoppers in malls, Palace says easing lockdown rules not a mistake

MANILA, Philippines — Malacañang said Monday that the government’s decision to loosen its two-month strict lockdown measures is “not a mistake” even as hordes of people trooped to shopping malls supposedly ignoring safety protocols on the very first day of the eased quarantine rules.

Several sectors were allowed to partially operate starting Saturday, May 16 in areas under modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ) including Metro Manila—the country’s economic center— in a bid to restart the country’s economy heavily battered by the COVID-19 pandemic.

However, photos and videos showing mall-goers in some malls in the metropolis violating physical distancing rules went viral on Saturday, drawing widespread criticism and alarm.

But during a House committee hearing, Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez labeled the reports as “fake news”, presenting pictures of their inspection of several malls in Metro Manila on Sunday.

In defending the transition to MECQ, presidential spokesperson Harry Roque insisted that the decision is both “scientific” and “economic” and was reached based on the current situation of the pandemic in the country.

“Talagang after two months—kagaya ng buong daigdig— kinakailangan naman nating buksan ng kaunti ang ating ekonomiya,” Roque said in a televised press briefing in Malacañang.

(After two months, just like the rest of the world, we need to open our economy just a little.)

“Kaya nga lang ang inaasahan natin dahan dahan, unti unti, hinay hinay. Kaya lang, ang nangyari po talaga nagdagsaan,” he added.

(We expect it to be slowly, little by little. However, what happened was a sudden rush.)

Roque then reiterated the government’s appeal to the public not to be complacent and to follow health protocols set up to prevent the further spread of the coronavirus disease—which has already infected 12,513 people nationwide.

He warned that authorities may once again implement strict movement restrictions if violations of MECQ guidelines continue.

“So kaya nga po nagbigay tayo ng babala, unang-una hindi po yan permanente. Dahil obligasyon ng estado na pangalagaan ang kalusugan, pwede po taying bumalik sa ECQ,” Roque said.

(That is why we gave a warning; first of all, this isn’t permanent. Because the state’s obligation is to care for the public’s health, we can still go back to ECQ.)

“At patuloy po tayong nakikusap, kailangan po natin ng kabuhayan kaya binuksan natin ang ekonomiya. Hindi po yan dahilan para mag-malling,” he added.

(We need livelihood, that’s why we opened the economy. It’s not a reason to go out to the malls.)