Cebu solon proposes 'staggered lifting' of Luzon-wide quarantine

A lawmaker is urging the government to employ a "staggered" lifting of the Luzon-wide enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) by implementing localized quarantines instead as a "win-win" solution in the fight against the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

In a statement, Cebu City Representative Rodrigo Abellanosa argued that the ongoing ECQ in Luzon has brought together "clashing issues" on containing the novel coronavirus as well as concerns on massive unemployment, public health and nutrition consequences and the supposed insufficiency of government support to poor families.

"This proposal humbly offers a partial win-win solution. Instead of bugging ourselves with the issue on whether to lift or not to lift the ECQ, may I propose a staggered lifting of ECQ by concurrently transforming it into localized lockdowns or local quarantines," Abellanosa said.

According to Abellanosa, the localized quarantines will be by barangay or clusters or puroks or sitios, and by communities like construction, food production, food processing, manufacturing, call centers, building maintenance, among others.

Under his proposal, Abellanosa said food deliveries and public transportation will be allowed to operate but only within the local quarantines.

Likewise, supermarkets, big grocery stores, and food wholesalers should be urged to hire out-of-work drivers, cashiers, and baggers, and to lease standby jeepneys, trucks and buses to be used as mobile stores so that confusion arising from the issuance of quarantine passes for people to access stores outside local quarantines will be minimized.

At the same time, Abellanosa said police and law enforcers should actively discourage residents from going out of their local quarantines to effectively contain the virus, except for health and medical reasons and the delivery of government assistance.

“We understand the public health and safety is the foremost concern of the government. But we need to come up with more creative solutions to containing this disease while ensuring that our people continue to have access to and afford basic necessities,” he said.

At least five lawmakers from the House of Representatives have expressed their support to extend the ECQ in Luzon, namely Caloocan City Representative Edgar Erice, Albay Representatives Joey Salceda and Edcel Lagman, House Minority Leader Benny Abante Jr., and Agusan Del Sur Representative Eddiebong Plaza.

Erice, for one, said the ECQ should be extended for another 30 days, while Salceda, supported by Abante, said the extension should only be for two weeks.

Lagman, meanwhile, said that the extension of the ECQ is needed for the effective conduct of mass testing for COVID-19.

Amid these proposals from lawmakers, Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles said President Rodrigo Duterte will take into account expert opinions before deciding whether the ECQ in Luzon will be lifted or extended. --KBK, GMA News