MANILA, Philippines — “If the choice is between health or the economy, I choose health.”
Cavite Governor Jonvic Remulla said this in a social media post on Sunday as a show of his support for medical frontline workers, who have appealed for a “time out” and stricter coronavirus lockdown in Mega Manila.
“We can always regain the economy but we cannot quantify the loss that so many families are going through,” Remulla further said.
I would have closed down Cavite a month ago but I was asked not to by senior members of the administration. If the choice is between health or the economy, I choose health. We can always regain the economy but we cannot quantify the loss that so many families are going through.
— Jonvic Remulla (@jonvicremulla) August 2, 2020
Remulla noted that he was eyeing to “close down” Cavite province but was stopped by some officials.
“I would have closed down Cavite a month ago but I was asked not to by senior members of the administration,” he wrote in a tweet.
Remulla said he stands with the health workers who are already overworked since the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic started.
“They are at a breaking point. They are overworked, underpaid and terribly under appreciated. If we don’t give them even just a little rest, many may choose not to go back to work,” the governor said in another tweet.
Our frontliners are in a breaking point. They are overworked, underpaid and terribly under appreciated. If we do not give them even just a little rest, many may choose not to go back to work and our healthcare system will collapse.
— Jonvic Remulla (@jonvicremulla) August 2, 2020
President Rodrigo Duterte had a meeting with key members of the Cabinet on Sunday to tackle the appeal of the medical community to place Mega Manila which includes Cavite province under an enhanced community quarantine for two weeks.
To date, the Philippines has recorded a total of 103,185 COVID-19 infections with 65,557 recoveries and 2,059 deaths.