Modification or extension? Duterte decision on lockdown out this week

MANILA, Philippines —  President Rodrigo Duterte will decide this week what action the government will take regarding the extended enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) of the entire Luzon, which is set to lapse on April 30.

According to Duterte’s spokesman Harry Roque, the President is now entertaining two options: to extend the lockdown or modify it to be implemented in select local government units heavily affected by the novel coronavirus.

Roque said Duterte will base his decision on his meeting with health experts on Monday and the recommendation of the Inter-Agency Task Force handling the government’s response to the COVID-19 crisis.

“Dahil sampung araw nalang at matatapos na ang ECQ, kinakailangan magdecide na ang Presidente ngayong linggong ito dahil anuman ang desisyon niya ay kinakailangan paghanda ang implementasyon,” Roque said in an online press briefing Monday.

The Palace official said the government is now looking to “balance” its obligation to protect its people and the Filipinos’ right for livelihood.

“Because the decision is one of the most difficult decisions the President has to make, he will be guided by science. Siyensya po ang gagamitin ng Presidente sa desisyong ito,” Roque noted.

Duterte placed the entire Luzon under a month-long enhanced community quarantine to halt the spread of COVID-19, which has so far infected 6,259 people nationwide, 409 of whom died while 572 recovered.

The Luzon lockdown was supposed to lapse on April 13 but Duterte approved the proposal to extend it until April 30.

The order restricts the movement of people who are only allowed to leave their homes for the provision of food and other basic necessities and in cases of emergency.

EDV