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League of provinces opposed to face-to-face classes, lowering age restrictions, opening cinemas
The League of Provinces of the Philippines (LPP) is opposed to having face-to-face classes in low-risk areas, lowering the age restrictions on authorized persons outside residence (APOR), and opening cinemas, its president said on Wednesday.
"Kami po ay opposed diyan sa face-to-face ng mga bata. Alam niyo po, napakahirap kontrolin 'yung mga bata. At alam niyo po dito, ang transmission [ng novel coronavirus] ay nangyayari sa bahay-bahay. Kahit po 'yung mga bata ay nai-infect," LPP president and Marinduque Governor Presbitero Velasco Jr. said in an interview on Super Radyo dzBB.
"Palagay ko hindi pa po panahon ngayon eh. Lalo po may variant na lumalakas po ang paghawa, 'yung UK. Meron pa daw doon sa Amazon sa Brazil na lalong, three times ang infection rate," he said.
"Eh natatakot po kami diyan. Hindi pa po panahon 'yang face-to-face dito sa atin dahil masama pa po 'yung paghawa, 'yung transnmission," Velasco added.
The National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) on Monday proposed resuming the pilot-testing of face-to-face classes and expanding the age groups allowed to leave their homes from 15 to 65, to five to 70.
It also proposed putting the entire country under modified general community quarantine, the least stringent measure, starting March.
Young children
Velasco said the LPP is also not in favor of including children as young as five years old among the APOR.
"Opo, tutol po kami diyan dahil kasi nga po wala pa nga pong sufficient na wisyo itong mga five years old. Mga galawgaw po 'yan eh. 'Di niyo kayang kontrolin po 'yon eh," he said.
"Atsaka po io-open 'yung economy. Although 'yung parents kasama, 'yan ang isa... Pero ang risk na mahawa... Eh doon sa amin may nahahawa 4 years old, 7 years old, nahahawa po," Velasco said.
"Hindi po 'yon siguro. Mga hanggang 12 years old, 'yan, puwedeng ibaba. Puwede pong ibaba hanggang 12 years old. Below that, huwag na muna ho at dadami lang ho 'yung mahahawa," he said.
Cinemas
Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque also announced that traditional cinemas, among other establishments, will be allowed to reopen
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However, the LPP is also opposed to this, Velasco said.
"Opposed din po kami doon dahil sa sinehan po ay more than an hour diyan eh at enclosed po 'yan, umiikot ang ere," he said.
"At parang conflict po 'yan doon sa omnibus rules eh. Hindi puwede 'yung movie screening pero dito sa baba, ina-allow 'yung traditional cinema," Velasco said.
"Pangalawa po, may mga implementing guidelines for oversight at operational capacity. Hindi pa po nilalabas 'yon. Kaya hindi pa po puwedeng i-implement pa 'yan," he said.
"Atsaka kami po opposed po diyan. 'Yung cinema naman po puwedeng manood sa Netflix o sa YouTube eh. Bakit ho kailangang buksan 'yung cinema?" Velasco said.
"Well, inilalaban po namin 'yan at gumawa na po kami ng position paper at ire-request namin na i-defer na po muna 'yon," he added.
Pilot areas
Velasco also proposed that the national government first implement a policy or resolution in pilot areas before imposing it nationwide right away.
"Mag-iimplement po ang IATF ng mga rules, bagong sistema po. Sana po ay gumawa muna ng pilot areas para makita nila ang resulta. Hindi 'yung implement kaagad. Buong Pilipinas agad eh," he said.
"Puwede naman implement muna sa first class at isang fourth class province, o isang city ganito ho at isang component city para makita ho 'yung epekto. Iba-iba ho ang sitwasyon sa teritoryo eh," Velasco said.
"Mas mabuti 'yong ine-experience at inoobserbahan muna bago i-implement agad," he added. —KG, GMA News