MANILA, Philippines — Senators on Monday questioned the government’s decision to allow the reopening of leisure establishments like cinemas but not the resumption of face-to-face classes.
“Government should listen to our health experts in determining how and which type of establishments should be allowed to open,” Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto said in a statement.
“In addition, I can’t understand the IATF decision to allow cinemas, etc. to open but not our schools. Education is an essential service compared to amusement that is not essential,” he added, referring to the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID).
Senators Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan and Imee Marcos echoed Recto’s sentiments.
“Tatalino kaya ang mga batang Pilipino kung ang tanging matututunan na lang nila ay manood ng sine at ang paglalaro ng games sa mga arcade?!” Marcos said in a separate statement.
(Will Filipino children get smarter if they would only learn from movies and playing games in the arcades?)
“Ngayon napatunayan na sadyang mas importante pala ang sinehan at game arcades kesa sa eskwela o pagbubukas ng mga paaralan.”
(It’s been proven now that cinemas and game arcades are more important than reopening of schools.)
“Kung ibubukas pala ang mga sinehan at palaruan, dapat munang unahin ang pagbabalik ng mga estudyante sa face-to-face classes na inoobserbahan ang maximum health protocols,” she added.
(If cinemas and playground would be allowed, then we should first prioritize the return of students to face-to-face-classes while observing maximum health protocols)
Marcos welcomed and supported, however, Malacanang’s latest decision to move the reopening of cinemas to March 1.
Meanwhile, other businesses like driving, video, and interactive-game arcades, museums, exhibitions, and limited tourist attractions, such as parks, theme parks, natural sites, and historical landmarks located in GCQ areas have been allowed to reopen starting February 15.
Like Recto, Pangilinan urged the government to listen to experts and those on the ground.
Health experts have already expressed their reservations about reopening enclosed leisure establishments while many Metro Manila mayors are opposed to it.
“Lahat tayo gusto nang bumalik sa normal, ang makasama ang mga mahal sa buhay IRL (in real life), ang makapag-celebrate na ng mga birthday, ang magkaroon na ng sinehan at arcade, ang makapunta na sa simbahan,” Pangilinan said.
(We all want to return to normal, to be with our loved ones IRL [in real life], to celebrate our birthdays, to be able to go to cinemas and arcades as well as the church.)
“Ito yung sinasabi natin paulit-ulit simula’t-simula pa, hindi makakabalik sa dati o makakaahon ulit ang ekonomiya kung walang maayos na testing, tracing, isolation, at ito ngang huli ang vaccine rollout. Kung hindi maayos ang mga ito, lalo lang ding dadami ang Covid cases sa bansa.”
(We’ve been saying this from the start that we can’t go back or have economic recovery without efficient testing, tracing, isolation, and vaccine rollout. If we don’t fix it, then we will have more Covid cases in the country)
The senator again hit the government’s confusing statements on the implementation of health protocols.
As for Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III, he would rather leave the decision to IATF.
“It’s the IAFT’s call,” Sotto said in another statement. “They are balancing safety with economy and it’s no easy task. Good luck!”