MECQ ‘not a sustainable strategy’ as it affects people’s livelihood — Galvez

MANILA, Philippines — For National Task Force on COVID-19 chief implementer Carlito Galvez Jr., stricter lockdown or a modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ) is “not a sustainable strategy” against the pandemic as it greatly affects the public’s livelihood.

Galvez issued the statement after Metro Manila, Rizal, Laguna, Cavite, and Bulacan shift from MECQ to a more lenient lockdown or a general community quarantine (GCQ) starting August 19 until August 31.

“Nakita po namin na MECQ is not a sustainable strategy,” Galvez said in an online Palace briefing.

(We saw that MECQ is not a sustainable strategy.)

“Ang way forward talaga po ay ‘yung granular implementation ng lockdown kasi po pag nag-MECQ po tayo, ang laki po ng collateral sa livelihood po ng mga tao po natin,” he explained.

(The way forward is for us to utilize the granular implementation of lockdown because MECQ has huge collateral on our people’s livelihood.)

By empowering local government units (LGU) to implement the lockdown of small areas in a city or barangay, Galvez said response and interventions will become more effective.

“Yung tinatawag po natin na MECQ on a regional basis, talaga pong hindi sustainable economically,” Galvez added.

(The MECQ on a regional basis is not sustainable economically.)

/MUF