FILE PHOTO: An area on granular lockdown as such a scheme will be pilot tested in Metro Manila to stop the spread of the more contagious Delta variant of the coronavirus. INQUIRER/NINO JESUS ORBETA
MANILA, Philippines – Former Vice President Jejomar Binay said that the national government should thoroughly weigh the pros and cons of granular lockdowns before implementing them nationwide because such measures might aggravate conditions in local governments (LGUs) less able to cope than Metro Manila.
“The national government should thoroughly study its plan to implement granular lockdowns nationwide,” said Binay in a statement.
“Madali itong gawin sa Metro Manila, pero baka maging dagdag na problema pa ito sa mga local government na kapos sa resources,” it added.
(This is easy to do in Metro Manila, but it may only bring additional problems for local governments that lack resources.)
He questioned whether the national government would be able to compensate and assist local residents if an LGU had inadequate funds.
“No advance notice is given before a lockdown. Is the national government ready to immediately provide food and other basic needs for the entire 14-day lockdown period?” Binay asked.
“Baka naman tirik na ang mata ng mga residente sa gutom, wala pa rin ang ayuda mula sa national,” he added.
(Residents may end up being delirious because of hunger, and yet no help will be received from the national government.)
The imposition of granular lockdowns is currently being tested in Metro Manila, after the national government placed it under Alert Level 4 of the general community quarantine (GCQ).
READ: NCR under Alert Level 4 Sept. 16-30 for granular lockdown tests
In granular lockdowns, only a few homes, or perhaps a whole street, are covered, which come without warning to effectively contain possible carriers.
Residents inside the locked-down area would not be allowed to leave, while those who have left could not return until the lockdown was lifted.
Meanwhile, the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) on Wednesday evening said that it is only about to finish its distribution of social aid for people in areas outside Metro Manila that were placed under enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) last August.
READ: DILG will push LGUs to finish aid distribution within the week – Año
Metro Manila, on the other hand, has already finished disbursing the social aid, which was mandated by the Bayanihan laws for areas under an ECQ status.
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