Photo from Senator Bong Go’s office
MANILA, Philippines — Senator Bong Go has appealed to the Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) and National Task Force (NTF) on COVID-19 to strictly implement necessary measures to prevent the further spread of COVID-19.
In particular, he recommended that local government units must intensify the localized lockdown strategy as well as the implementation of “Oplan Kalinga” to help health workers trace COVID-19 cases.
“We should also strictly enforce guidelines for minimum health standards and provide free masks for the poor, “ Go said, adding that “buying locally-made masks can save or even create jobs, while providing the right kind of masks to those who cannot afford their own will help save lives.”
“Kahit gustuhin man nating tuluyang magbukas na ang ating ekonomiya, paigtingin pa muna natin lalo ang mga patakaran na kailangan upang maprotektahan ang mga tao. Buhay at kapakanan ng bawat Pilipino ang dapat nating palaging unahin,” he stressed further.
Go also made an appeal to the general public to cooperate and strictly follow health and safety protocols, keeping in mind that compliance can save lives and that “the fight against this pandemic begins in us and in our homes. It all starts by properly wearing the right face masks, observing physical distancing and proper hygiene, and avoiding non-essential travels.”
“Gusto na natin matapos ang krisis na ito. Pero hindi po ito matatapos kung hindi tayo magmamalasakit sa ating kapwa. Kung hindi naman kailangan, huwag na po tayo gumala at iwasan nating magkumpol-kumpol sa pampublikong lugar. Kung may kailangang bilhin, mas mabuting isang tao nalang ang lumabas para mabawasan ang posibilidad na magkahawahan at para rin maprotektahan pa ang ibang kasamahan sa bahay,” he said.
“Bagamat dahan-dahang binubuksan ang ekonomiya, huwag po muna tayo magkumpyansa. Alalahanin natin palagi na sa bawat paglabag sa mga patakaran, buhay ng kapwa ang nakokompromiso dito,” he added.
Meanwhile, Go likewise encouraged the IATF to consult more subject-matter experts from various fields and involve groups who are willing to share their expertise. He emphasized that a whole-of-nation approach is needed to overcome the ongoing crisis.
“Bukas po tayo sa mga suggestions mula sa mga doktor, ekonomista, at iba pa dahil marami naman pong gustong tumulong. Pakinggan po natin ang mga hinaing ng iba’t ibang grupo tulad nitong mga nasa medical community,” he stressed, adding that as an elected representative of the people, he will continue to engage with various sectors and assure them that their voices will be heard by the government.
Regarding the suggestions of some groups that there is a need to go back to an Enhanced Community Quarantine, Go said that officials must balance various national interests and consider the capability of the government to provide assistance to the poorest of the poor and other vulnerable sectors.
“Wala naman pong may gusto na bumalik tayo ulit sa ECQ pero kung hindi po tayo magtutulungan, mapipilitan po na higpitan muli ang mga patakaran para mapigilan ang lalong pagkalat ng sakit. Ikonsidera rin natin kung kaya pa ng ating pondo at kung may maibibigay pa ba tayong ayuda kung sakaling kailanganin nating patigilin muli sa trabaho ang mga tao at magsara nanaman ang mga negosyo,” Go explained.