DTI: Further delay on shift to MGCQ will leave more people hungry amid COVID-19

The easing of quarantine restrictions in Metro Manila and other general community quarantine (GCQ) areas cannot wait until the COVID-19 vaccination starts or else more people will go hungry, Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez said Friday.

Lopez issued his remark after presidential spokesperson Harry Roque announced that President Rodrigo Duterte is likely to place the entire country under modified general community quarantine by March 1.

“We can imagine, each day na walang pagkain iyong iba nating kababayan,  each day na nagugutom na nagugutom sila, na-mamalnourish sila, ano ‘yung gagawin natin sa kanila? Sasabihin nila sa atin, hindi na namin maaantay ng one week o tatlong buwan,” Lopez said during the Laging Handa briefing.

“Kasi kahit dumating [iyong bakuna] ngayong February…ang report ni Secretary Galvez, Iyung bulk ng vaccine natin ay darating ng second or third quarter. Each day po na lumalampas na walang makain ang iba nating kababayan, iyon po ay problema natin,” Lopez added. 

Lopez said that such easing of quarantine restrictions will aid a lot of families, including the 1.6 million Filipinos who have yet to return to work that they had prior to the pandemic.

“It is no longer between health and economy. It is between health and other health issues brought by hunger, malnutrition, stunting of children, iyong katalinuhan ng mga bata…iyong mga dulot ng kahirapan dahil ay kanilang mga magulang ay walang trabaho,” Lopez pointed out.

Groundwork for vaccination program

Senator Grace Poe said pending the arrival of the vaccine,  concerned government agencies should be laying the groundwork for a smooth implementation of the inoculation program.

This includes ensuring the preparedness of hospitals and other designated vaccination sites, training of personnel and vetting of master list of sectors and individuals who will be prioritized to get the doses, she said.

"A strong vaccination program should accompany the reopening of businesses," Poe stressed.

Poe is the author of Senate Bill No. 1994 or the Vaccine Passport Act that seeks to issue free vaccine passports to individuals who have gotten the shots, including students, local workers and overseas Filipino workers.

The document that will serve as the individual’s proof of vaccination will help expedite the return to work of workers, including OFWs sidelined by the pandemic.

Cinemas

The Trade chief also argued that the reopening of cinemas and other leisure areas does not mean that COVID-19 cases will automatically increase because health protocols will still be strictly observed.

“Hindi naman po ito bigla-bigla. Nag-MGCQ na po ang buong Pilipinas except sa few areas, nagbukas naman po ang mga sinehan pero wala naman tayong nakitang nag-spike [ang number of COVID-19 cases],” Lopez said.

“Iyong pag-reopen [ng mga industriya], hindi ibig sabihin, hindi tayo mag-iingat. Tinutuloy lang po natin ang gradual reopening. Kung hindi po kumportable, puede po gawin munang 20%, 30% ang pagbukas ng cinemas,” Lopez added.

Lopez said the mayors have been also asked for their inputs on opening cinemas safely on top of the guidelines set by the Department of Trade and Industry and Health Department.

“So, iyong mga pangamba po natin na magkakalat ang ano… huwag kayong mag-aalala dahil the experts po have looked into this, iyong Technical Working Group, hindi ko po ito inimbento,” Lopez said.

“Ito po iyong pagsuot pa rin ng mask habang nanunood, iyong pag-sanitize noong buong sinehan in between shows, iyong pagbigay ng magandang ventilation para iyong air circulation ay may pumapasok, may lumalabas, hindi nakukulob doon sa sinehan. These are just some of the extra protocols that we are requiring sa mga cinemas,” Lopez added.

The remaining areas under GCQ include: the National Capital Region (NCR), Davao City, Batangas and Cordillera Administrative Region which includes Abra, Apayao, Benguet, Baguio City, Ifugao, Kalinga, and Mountain Province for Luzon; Tacloban City in Leyet, ; Davao del Norte, Lanao del Sur and Iligan City — RSJ/LDF, GMA News