Bong Go: Vaccination must precede placing entire country under MGCQ

Senator Bong Go said Sunday that Filipinos should first be vaccinated against COVID-19 before the government relaxes further the quarantine restrictions in Metro Manila and the rest of the country.

Go made the remark in reaction to proposals to place the country, including Metro Manila, under modified general community quarantine (MGCQ) in March to help jumpstart the country's economy.

"Para sa akin, personally, bakuna first. Vaccine rollout first bago natin luwagan ang ating ekonomiya,” Go said in an interview last Friday.

According to the senator, the country continues to be in a perilous situation considering that the government's COVID-19 vaccination program has yet to be implemented.

“Dahil delikado pa po ang panahon. Importante po ang buhay ng bawat Pilipino. Ulitin ko, ang pera po ay ating kikitain. Pero ‘yung perang kikitain po natin ay hindi po nabibili ang buhay,” he said.

“Kaya importante sa akin ang kalusugan, buhay ng bawat Pilipino bago natin unti-unting luwagan,” he added.

Navotas Mayor Toby Tiangco earlier said that a majority of the mayors in Metro Manila are in favor of putting the region under MGCQ next month.

Tiangco said nine mayors voted for MGCQ, while eight voted for GCQ during their meeting last Wednesday.

The result of the voting will be the official position of the Metro Manila Council that will be submitted to the Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF), which will then make the recommendation to President Rodrigo Duterte for his consideration.

Earlier, the League of Provinces of the Philippines had said it is in favor of placing the entire country under MGCQ by March provided that governors are authorized to impose lockdowns or change their quarantine status if the need arises.

Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said it is likely that the President will approve such recommendation.

Go said he is open to downgrading quarantine restrictions if this will be further studied and suggested once the vaccination program begins.

“Pag-uusapan ni Pangulong Duterte with the cabinet on Monday, sa February 22, kung papayagan nilang luwagan na at gawin na pong MGCQ po ang buong Metro Manila o buong bansa,” he said.

“Pero para sa akin, rollout first before natin luwagan ang ating quarantine restrictions. Remember, importante po ang buhay ng bawat Pilipino. Period,” he added.

The National Economic Development Authority has proposed placing the entire Philippines under the MGCQ starting March 1 supposedly to balance the country's response to stop the spread of COVID-19 and the need of Filipinos to start earning and spending.

However, Dr. Guido David of the OCTA Research Team said Wednesday the government could be taking a costly risk if the entire Philippines would be  placed under MGCQ. —LBG, GMA News