House Minority Leader Benny Abante Jr. on Thursday urged the government to continue the strict enforcement of the Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ) in Metro Manila and other areas with a high concentration of COVID-19 cases while isolating areas that have recently recorded zero community transmissions.
“There are 27 provinces that today have zero cases of COVID-19 and one of our priorities should be to ensure that we prevent the disease from spreading there,” said the lawmaker from Manila.
“Given the high rate of transmission in some parts of Metro Manila, we need to extend the ECQ in NCR.”
“Perhaps we can consider lifting the ECQ in these provinces so businesses can reopen and residents there can go back to work.”
According to Abante, this would require the restriction of movement in and out of areas with COVID-19 cases and only permit vehicles transporting cargo and essential goods.
“Given the high rate of transmission in some parts of Metro Manila, we need to extend the ECQ in NCR (National Capital Region) and strictly implement it so no one comes in and goes out,” stressed the solon.
The legislator said that a modified ECQ may be adopted in areas within the NCR with minimal coronavirus infection cases, so that business establishments and industries can open at least three days in a week.
Abante reiterated that the implementation of the ECQ “must also go hand in hand with efforts to immediately distribute subsidies to underprivileged families.”
“Our people want to cooperate with the ECQ, but without livelihood they must be given financial support and essential goods to tide them over while we work to contain the outbreak.”
President Rodrigo Duterte is expected to decide on whether to extend the ECQ after meeting experts and members of the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases on Thursday.