Sotto: ECQ should not be lifted in Metro Manila, but modified in other areas

By Vanne Elaine Terrazola

Senate President Vicente Sotto III on Wednesday said he expects President Duterte to extend the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) in Metro Manila and other areas in Luzon that are most affected by the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

In a radio interview, Sotto said President Duterte should not lift the ECQ for largely-affected areas but modify it for others with less or no transmission of COVID-19.

“Ang inaasahan ko at sana ay maging mangyari ay modified. Modified, meaning ‘yong mga biggest hit na areas katulad ng NCR, ay ibang klaseng, hindi pwedeng i-lift. Kailangang i-extend. Pero merong mga modifications (I am expecting, and I hope it will happen, that the ECQ will be modified. Modified, meaning in the biggest-hit areas like the National Capital Region, the ECQ should not be lifted. It should be extended, but there has to be some modifications),” he told radio station DZMM.

He said “enhanced social distancing” may just be enforced in some provinces that recorded low or no coronavirus infections like Palawan and the Ilocos Region, as well some areas in Visayas and Mindanao.

The Senate leader attended President Duterte’s meeting with Cabinet officials and health experts on Monday regarding the government’s game plan after the ECQ lapses on April 30.

Duterte is reportedly set to announce his decision whether to extend, modify, or lift the ECQ on Thursday, April 23.

Sotto agreed with the health experts and said the government cannot abruptly lift the quarantine measures in fear of more COVID-19 infections.

He suggested, however, to let certain sectors and workers to resume operations, like tricycles and other modes of public transport, or construction, while maintaining safe distancing.

This was also the view of his colleagues in the Senate who said essential industries could be allowed to operate to help restart the local economy.

“Those towns that are COVID-free can restart commerce in a limited way. Wearing masks, social distancing etc. It’s more sustainable if the [local government unit] and the private sector can do mass testing, isolation, and treatment of patients,” Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto said in a text message on Tuesday.

Sen. Joel Villanueva also said the quarantine can be lifted in some areas in Luzon “because they are far from having an outbreak.”

“In areas like NCR, Cebu, Bulacan, and Davao City, we can look at economic considerations in exempting some sectors from the quarantine but with the caveat that we will practice social distancing, hand washing, and sanitizing protocols, and of course, conducting regular random testing in these sectors,” he said.

Extending the lockdown in largely affected areas like Metro Manila while easing it in others with less COVID-19 cases “sounds like a reasonable compromise,” said Sen. Juan Edgardo Angara.

He said, however, that ports should remain open and food should be free to move around the country since they are “an absolute essential.”

“Whatever the decision of the President must be announced with some lead time especially if it involves some lifting or relaxation of the ECQ since preparations must be made on the ground,” Angara said.

https://news.mb.com.ph/2020/04/22/sotto-ecq-should-not-be-lifted-in-metro-manila-but-modified-in-other-areas/