Zamora wants two more weeks of ECQ despite San Juan's gains vs. COVID-19

San Juan Mayor Francis Zamora wants his city to remain under enhanced community quarantine for two more weeks despite Interior Secretary Eduardo Año's observation that it could already be placed under a less stringent general community quarantine.

Interviewed on Super Radyo dzBB, Zamora said he wanted to make sure that there would be no second wave of the disease.

"Ako personally, hindi ho muna. Base sa nakikita natin araw-araw, maganda ang lumalabas na resulta natin, nagmamass testing tayo at sa bilang ng minamass testing natin ay napakaliit ng porsiyento ng nagpopositive," Zamora said.

"Ngunit ayoko ho kasing sayangin 'yung pinaghirapan natin sa loob ng dalawang buwan, grabe hong sakripisyo ang pinagdaanan nating lahat," he added.

"Ako ho ay hihiling ng kaunti pang extension. Kung bumababa, maganda ho 'yun. Pero mas maganda para sa akin, magandang tuluyan na bumaba ito. 'Yung sustainability ho kasi 'yan eh," Zamora said.

Zamora said that the pandemic had adversely affected the economy but was confident that the whole country could recoup its losses.

"Para saan 'yung kikitain mo, kung mamamatayan ka naman... eventually mababawi naman natin 'yung economic losses natin," Zamora said.

Still, Zamora thanked Año for considering San Juan City to be placed under GCQ.

"Ako po ay nagpapasalamat kay DILG Secretary Eduardo Año sapagkat ang San Juan ay isa sa dalawang lungsod sa Metro Manila na binabanggit ho niya na posibleng maging GCQ na sa May 15. Nakakataba ng puso ang kaniyang binanggit sa San Juan," Zamora said.

Valenzuela

Aside from San Juan, Año also mentioned Valenzuela as one of the places that could be placed on GCQ after May 15.

Mayor Rex Gatchalian welcomed the development but he also expressed concern with the setup if Valenzuela City will be placed under GCQ as it is the nearest city to Central Luzon.

He also pointed out that some of the residents of Valenzuela are working in Quezon City and Manila.

"Parang medyo mahirap naman na Valenzuela lamang, oo it's a welcome news na kinoconsider kami dahil ibig sabihin 'yung ginagawa namin sa Valenzuela, 'yung pagtutulungan ng mamamayan ay effective," Gatchalian said in a separate Super Radyo dzBB interview.

"Pero, ang Valenzuela ang gateway to the North, lahat kayo dadaan papuntang Bulacan so ibig sabihin, pag oopen ang Valenzuela, titigil lang sa Valenzuela, paano naman 'yun? 'Yung flow ng traffic from Central Luzon papuntang ibang lugar sa Metro Manila," he added.

Gatchalian, however, said he would abide once the national government has its final decision on whether to extend ECQ in Metro Manila.

"Ako nakikita ko na kung ano ang maging pasya ng Metro Manila and IATF, makikisama ho ang Valenzuela. Ang sa akin, kung ano ang mapagpasyahan ng IATF para sa buong Metro Manila, hindi pupuwera ang Valenzuela, makikiisa kami," Gatchalian said.

If Valenzuela City will really be placed under GCQ, Gatchalian assured the public that the city government is prepared for it.

"Ready na, handa kaming tumugon sa hamon na 'yun, at the same time hindi namin irerelax 'yung measures namin," he said.

The Metro Manila Council may recommend to the government another 15-day extension of the ECQ in Metro Manila, according to Parañaque Mayor and council chairman Edwin Olivarez.

The council, together with Año and MMDA chairman Danilo Lim, will have a virtual meeting on Saturday to discuss the matter. -NB, GMA News