LP hopeful gov’t will consider ‘reasonable appeal’ for ECQ in Mega Manila

LP hopeful gov’t will consider ‘reasonable appeal’ for ECQ in Mega Manila

MANILA, Philippines — The Liberal Party (LP) on Sunday said it is hopeful that the government will “seriously consider” the “reasonable appeal” raised by health workers to place Mega Manila under an enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) for two weeks.

“Risonableng apela ito, na may malinaw na dahilan: Last line of defense ang mga medical professionals,” the party said in a statement. “Naghihikahos na sila. Kapag bumagsak sila, wala na tayong ibang matatakbuhan.”

(This is a reasonable appeal with a clear reason: This is the last line of defense of medical professionals. They are tired. If they fall, we cannot run to other experts.)

“Umaasa tayong pag-iisipan pa ng mas malalim ng pamahalaan ang desisyong ito. Na irerespeto nila ang karanasan ng mga nasa frontline, mag-eempathize sila, at makikita nila ang halaga ng hinaing sa mas malaking konteksto ng pandemic response,” the LP statement added.

(We expect that this will be thought of carefully by the government, that they will respect the experience of those in the frontline, they empathize with them, and look at the importance of grievances in a bigger context of pandemic response.)

A group of medical frontliners’ on Saturday urged the government to return Mega Manila to stricter lockdown measures.

The two-week ECQ period will serve as a “time out to recalibrate the government’s COVID-19 response.”

President Rodrigo Duterte is set to meet with key Cabinet members on Sunday to discuss the plea of medical frontliners.

“Kung talagang mananatili tayo sa kasalukuyang status quo ng [general community quarantine] GCQ, nais naming idiin: Walang ECQ, pero hawak pa rin natin ang ating mga kilos,” the LP said.

(But if we remain under the GCQ status quo, we would like to make it clear:  There is no ECQ, but we are still responsible for our actions.)

The party then called on its chapters and likewise appealed to the public to observe health protocols to help defeat the disease.

/MUF