Erice wary of proposed partial lifting of Luzon quarantine

Caloocan City Representative Edgar Erice on Thursday expressed concern over the proposal to gradually lift the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) in Luzon to allow businesses and workers to return to their jobs.

In a Dobol B sa News TV interview, Erice said he would agree to such a proposal only if the employees would shoulder the hospital and medical expenses of their workers should they contract the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

"Okay sa akin yun, yung mga negosyante gusto nila magpatuloy ang negosyo nila. Papasukin nila ang kanilang empleyado pero kapag nahawa sila ba ang magpapagamot? Sasagutin ba nila yung hospitalization?" he said.

"Baka papabayaan na lang nilang mamatay yung mga ordinaryong manggagawa," he added.

Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez reportedly said that he is amenable to lifting the ECQ partially, but strict measures against the spread of COVID-19, like social distancing, should still be followed.

But Erice insisted that the ECQ should even be extended for another 30 days, especially since the spread of COVID-19 has not been fully contained yet.

"Kung papasok ito sa mga kasaluksulukan ng mga kalungsuran dito sa Metro Manila, napakaraming masasawi, napakaraming kawawa," he said.

"Kung aalisin natin ang community quarantine na ito, makakasalamuha ng mga manggagawa, lahat magpapaikot-ikot, sa public transportation, sigurado ako kung ano yung dinaranas ng New York, kung anong dinaranas ng Italy, kung anong dinaranas ng United Kingdom, at sa mga iba pang lungsod, mas masahol pa ang aabutin natin dahil mas densely populated ang Metro Manila," Erice added.

Erice even said that should the government decide to lift the ECQ by April 13, it will most likely be restored if the virus continues to spread.

"Sa ngayon wala pa talagang ibang salag sa COVID-19 kundi yung community quarantine at social distancing. Wala pang gamot. Kaya kinakailangan ituloy natin ito," he said.

However, for Sergio Ortiz-Luis Jr., honorary chairman of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the decision to extend or partial lift the ECQ will still depend on the situation on the ground.

"I think ang dapat nating gawin ngayon ay tignan muna natin kung magpa-plateau. Dahil ngayon masyadong maraming lumalabas, nakakatakot na lumalaki talaga yung numbers. Pero I think tama naman yung imbestigahan natin after one week, nakikita ba natin na kumokonti, nai-identify na ba natin yung area," he said.

He said local government units should be more proactive and provide better quarantine facilities to persons under investigation and under monitoring for COVID-19.

"May mga LGU diyan, nagla-lockdown sila, pero wala naman silang facility para sa PUI at PUM nila. Anong gusto nilang mangyari? Haharangan nila para huwag dumaan, pero sa loob naghahawaan lalo na yung mga informal settler community," Ortiz-Luis said.

"Dapat especially yung mga lugar ng LGU na naglo-lockdown, meron silang sariling facility na decent para yung mga PUM at PUI, they will be willing to go there," he added.

As of Wednesday, there are a total of 2,311 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the Philippines, with 96 deaths and 50 recoveries, according to the Department of Health. --KBK, GMA News