Robredo questions decision to reopen cinemas, gaming arcades

MANILA, Philippines — Vice President Leni Robredo on Sunday questioned the national government’s decision to prioritize the reopening of cinemas, gaming arcades, and other indoor leisure activities in areas under general community quarantine (GCQ) starting Feb. 15.

“Hindi ko alam kung based sa science ang pinagusapan. Kasi ako parati akong nanonood ng mga feature tungkol sa policies sa ibang bansa. Sila kapag nagbubukas ng activity, laging inuuna ang public transport at eskwelahan,” Robredo said in her radio program, Biserbisyong Leni at RMN DZXL 558, reacting to the government’s move to reopen arcades, cinemas, and theme parks starting Feb. 15.

( I don’t know if this is based on science because I would always watch features about the policies in other countries. In other countries, when they reopen activities, they prioritize schools and public transport.)

https://www.facebook.com/VPLeniRobredoPH/videos/3441611645948518/

“Sa atin, last year pa sinasabi natin, iassess na sa mga lugar na walang community transmission. Baka pwede umpisahan na buksan yung paaralan. Wala talaga,” she further pointed out.

(For us, we already said last year to assess the areas with no community transmission. Maybe we can start reopening the schools but there is still no progress for this.)

“Ang sakin lang uunahin ang sinehan, uunahin yung mga video […] game arcades. Ano ito? Enclosed more than an hour magkasama mga taong nandoon. Hindi ko alam kung based ito sa science,” she added.

(For me, why would we reopen cinemas, video games, arcades. What is the meaning of this? People there will be enclosed in one hour. Is this based on science?)

She added that the move was “controversial” because mayors in Metro Manila were not consulted.

“Nagrereklamo ang mayors na hindi sila kinonsulta, yun ang number one concern doon,” the vice president added.

(The mayors are complaining because they are not consulted. That’s the number one concern.)

The Metro Manila Council on Saturday raised its reservation on the reopening of cinemas, arcades, and other tourist attractions, saying there was no proper consultation with the national government. -to-reopen-cinemas

While Robredo said job loss is a valid reason to reopen movie theaters, she stressed that health remains a concern.

“Narinig ko yung statement ni [Palace spox] Harry Roque na marami kasing nawalan ng trabaho. Yun, valid ang observation na maraming nawalan ng trabaho pero parati nating sinasabi na hindi pwedeng ihiwalay ang health sa economy,” she pointed out.

(I heard Harry Roque’s explanation that a lot of people lost their jobs in those industries. That’s a valid observation but we cannot discount health from the economy.)

She said easing lockdown restrictions is a cause for concern after the Philippines recorded 1,000 to almost 2,000 coronavirus disease infections in the past few days. She also warned that the number of cases of the more contagious variant of Covid-19 in the country is already at 44.

/MUF