Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, August 16) — Local government units do not need “big brothers” that will look over their shoulders as they respond to the pandemic, a member of the House of Representatives said on Sunday.
In a statement, Caloocan Rep. Edgar Erice said local communities have enough manpower already capable of understanding national government initiatives and protocols set forth in addressing COVID-19.
Erice noted that what the local governments need are “clear and sensible policies” such as proper provision of logistics and facilities including testing capacity, isolation facilities, a singular tracing system, and the expansion of healthcare facilities for severe and critical COVID-19 patients.
Last Wednesday, the COVID-19 inter-agency task force assigned Cabinet members to areas under strict community quarantine to help in monitoring their healthcare system and compliance with treatment standards.
The task force’s Resolution No. 62, series of 2020 said that the big brother model was designed to “further streamline” government response, with different Cabinet members assigned to various parts of Metro Manila.
Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles, who co-chairs the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases and assigned to monitor Quezon City with Health Secretary Francisco Duque III, defended the program.
He said its implementation would pave way for a better coordination of policies between the national and local level.
But other lawmakers were not as amused with this approach. Senator Nancy Binay previously called it an “ill-prepared” plan, while Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon warned that assigning Cabinet secretaries to localities may only lead to “overstepping of authority.”
“There is a thin line that separates supervision and control. It is always a subject of overreach by the national government,” Drilon said in a statement on Friday.
The government announced Saturday that Cebu City and some other areas in the Visayas will remain under general community quarantine on August 16 to 31.
President Rodrigo Duterte is set to address the nation on August 17, Monday, to discuss the new community quarantine classification of Metro Manila and nearby provinces.
