Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 23) — Senator Sonny Angara said Thursday he favors a further extension of the enhanced community quarantine in Luzon as he believes that it is now too late to lift the lockdown a week before it expires.
In a virtual press conference, Angara said that quarantine policy changes should be made at least two weeks before they are implemented.
“I would support the extension to May 10 or May 15 because I feel it’s too late really to announce that there will be a lifting because I don’t think there’s enough time to prepare on the ground,” Angara said.
The senator said based on what happened in the last five weeks, there has to be “some gestation time for policies to be processed.”
While the national government may be ready to implement the changes, Angara argued it takes more time to enforce policies at the local level.
“These local governments need to be prepared and empowered beforehand. Like those local governments where these markets are located. They have to cordon off some areas because if you’ve seen a Philippine market, there’s thousands of points of entry and exit, and that’s just unacceptable in this age of COVID,” Angara explained.
Meanwhile, House Minority Leader Bienvenido Abante Jr. urged the government to continue implementing the enhanced community quarantine in Metro Manila, but implement a modified quarantine in areas with low cases of COVID-19.
“Given the high rate of transmission in some parts of Metro Manila, we need to extend the ECQ in NCR and strictly implement it so no one comes in and goes out,” Abante said.
Abante, however, said that some business establishments in areas within Metro Manila with minimal cases should be allowed to open at least three days a week.
The minority leader also urged the government to lift the quarantine in provinces with zero COVID-19 cases.
Abante said measures to isolate these areas should be undertaken.
“One of our priorities should be to ensure that we prevent the disease from spreading there,” Abante said.
To date, the country has recorded 6,981 cases of COVID-19, 462 deaths and 722 recoveries.
