Binay: IATF Covid-19 decisions sans LGU consultation causes confusion

MANILA, Philippines — Makati City Mayor Abby Binay on Wednesday lamented the national government’s failure to consult the local government units (LGUs) on its planned easing of lockdown restrictions, saying it causes confusion among residents.

“Parang naglilitmus test sila [Inter Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases] kung open ba ‘yung public doon sa idea, which causes confusion. Kasi ‘di ‘ba parang sabi bukas so sasabihin namin hindi pa pwede magbukas so parang kami ang kontrabida. Sasabihin namin na wala pang guidelines,” Binay said over Kapihan sa Manila Bay, reacting to the recent decision of IATF to allow the reopening of cinemas in general community quarantine (GCQ) areas, which includes Metro Manila, a hotspot of Covid-19.

(They are conducting a litmus test if the public is open to the idea which causes confusion. Because they would say this industry is open but we will say that it is not so it makes us look like we are the villains. We will say that there are no guidelines yet.)

“Even sa cinema, even if they announce that cinemas are open, wala pa pong guidelines so nagkakagulo, nalilito lahat ng tao. Tapos kami ang inaaway, ‘yung mga mayor na nagiimplement kasi sila [IATF] ho policy pero kami ang naiimplement kami. Kami ang napapagod, kami po ang napapgalitan,” she added.

(Even for cinemas, even if they announce that it is open, we don’t have guidelines yet so people are confused. Mayors are the ones implementing the policies of the IATF. We are the ones getting tired, and being yelled at.)

Metro Manila Council (MMC) head and Parañaque City Mayor Edwin Olivarez previously said they will defer the reopening of cinemas due to concerns over Covid-19 transmission.

The national government subsequently decided to move the reopening of cinemas in GCQ areas to March, pending the guidelines for its implementation.

Binay, for her part, said Metro Manila mayors find the reopening of movie houses “unnecessary” as watching movies in an enclosed area such as a cinema poses greater health risks.

“As far as the cinemas are concerned, we are 100 percent unanimous that we are against sa opening ng cinemas. We feel na it is unnecessary. Hindi magiging considerable ang pagtulong ng panonood ng sine sa ating ekonomiya. The risk is higher in watching a cinema as to doing something else,” she said.

(We are 100 percent unanimous that we are against the opening of cinemas. We feel that it is unnecessary. It won’t help our economy.)

Aside from the reopening of cinemas, the national government also allowed driving schools, video and interactive-game arcades, libraries, archives, museums, and cultural centers, among others, to resume operations in GCQ areas.

KGA