Duterte adviser says businessmen want one-week quarantine extension after April 30

Most of the businesses in the Philippines want another round of “reset” for the Luzon-wide enhanced community quarantine to ensure that efforts of the government in containing COVID-19 paid off, Presidential Adviser for Entrepreneurship Joey Concepcion said Tuesday.

Concepcion made the statement after President Rodrigo Duterte extended the Luzon-wide enhanced community quarantine until April 30.

“Ang dalawang reset ay puwede na, pero ang gusto ng maraming negosyante para sigurado ay gumawa pa tayo ng isa pang reset,” Concepcion said.

The third “reset” may be for another week of extension after April 30.

“Ito ay para ‘yung nagawa nating dalawang reset ay hindi masasayang,” Concepcion said.

Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles said an extension was necessary in order for the government to determine the impact of the ECQ and further increase health capacity in Luzon and other areas, including ramping up COVID-19 testing to 8,000 to 10,000 tests per day with a turnaround time of 24 hours.

Business leaders earlier proposed a shift to selective quarantine at the barangay level. -NB, GMA News