Allow senior citizens to go out during GCQ —solons

Lawmakers from the House of Representatives on Wednesday appealed to government to reconsider its move to ban senior citizens from going outside during the imposition of the general community quarantine.

In a statement, Senior Citizens party-list Representative Francisco Datol Jr. and 1PACMAN party-list Representative Eric Pineda argued that many senior citizens are still strong and employed or are active in business, thus, do not need to be completely barred from going out of their homes due to their age.

“Senior citizens also need to go outside to move around, as long as they are practicing social distancing. Especially those who live alone, we should not isolate them in their homes, as such may be detrimental to their health," Datol said.

"They should be allowed to do their errands and work if they are still able,” he added.

According to GCQ guidelines issued by Malacañang, persons 20 years and below and 60 years old and above, as well as those with health risk factors, must stay at home.

But Pineda pointed out that key executives in corporations are senior citizens, as well as the majority of congressmen and even President Rodrigo Duterte.

"I’m not saying that everyone should be allowed out, because many seniors do have health problems — but there should be exemptions, maybe allow those below 70 years old without any high-risk health conditions," he said.

For his part, Kabayan party-list Representative Ron Salo said the mandatory quarantine of senior citizens even after the lockdown period may be "inhumane at worst or ill-thought at best."

He argued that protecting senior citizens from contracting COVID-19 does not mean that their civil liberties and their right to gainful employment and practice of their profession should be disregarded.

"We call on the IATF to respectfully reconsider this provision to ensure that their rights are not unduly curtailed, but still ensuring the protection of their health and safety," Salo said.

"They should be allowed to enjoy their freedom, subject to strict adherence to health protocols such as wearing of masks, hand sanitation, social distancing, and the like whenever they are outside their homes," he added.

President Rodrigo Duterte recently announced that the Luzon-wide enhanced community quarantine will be extended in some high-risk areas in the country until May 15.

According to the revised list announced by presidential spokesperson Harry Roque on Tuesday, these areas include the National Capital Region, Central Luzon except Aurora, CALABARZON, Pangasinan, Benguet, Baguio City, Iloilo province, Cebu province, Cebu City, Davao City.

The rest of the country, meanwhile,  will be under a general community quarantine provided that “minimum health standards are achieved and continuously observed," according to the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases.  —LDF, GMA News