Drilon, Gatchalian supports ECQ extension

Last week reports were swirling in media that the national government is gearing up for the extension of the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) since the 1 month ECQ  seems to be not enough to flatten the curve.

Currently at least 2 senators are backing up the idea of a two-week extension of the enhanced community quarantine imposed in the entire island of Luzon.

“We have sacrificed so much to prevent a further spread of the COVID-19 and a total collapse of our health system. It will be a total waste if we lift prematurely the enhanced community quarantine,” Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon said in a statement.

Senator Franklin Drilon
(photo credit to owner)

Drilon wants to get a clearer assessment of the situation, since it is onl now the government are getting the numbers.

“We are only beginning to see the data. I see some data that shows it is effective, but it is too early to tell. An extra two weeks would help,” the senator said.

The opposition senator said that during the two-week extension, the Duterte government must be able to act fast and decisively to ensure enough food supply, assistance to workers displaced by this health crisis and address the depleting health workforce.

“When more than 100 million lives are at stake, any amount of delay in government response is a mortal sin and unforgivable,” Drilon stressed.

“Kawawa naman po ang 18 milyong pinakamahihirap na Filipino (The 18-million poorest Filipinos would go through a miserable life). They are the most affected by this lockdown,” he added.

Senator Sherwin Gatchalian, is also calling for a two week extension of the Luzon wide ECQ.

“With the announcement of the Chief Implementer, Gen. (Carlito) Galvez, that mass testing can only be conducted on April 14, which is still 11 days from now, we are left with no other choice but to extend the ECQ by at least two weeks,” he said in a message to reporters.

“Mass testing of PUMs (persons under monitoring) and PUIs (persons under investigation) is the only way to determine if we are winning the war or not. Without mass testing, we are totally blind. And when we are blind, the risk is higher of spreading the virus again, thereby wasting the 30-day EQC,” he added.

The World Health Organization (WHO) already gave the advice to the Philippine government against lifting the enhanced community too soon.

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Report from PDI

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