MANILA – President Rodrigo Duterte refused to place Metro Manila on lockdown despite a rise in cases of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
“We haven’t reached that kind of contamination. There will be a time I suppose, I hope not. I hope God will have mercy on the Filipino people. It is too early for that,” the Chief Executive said.
Earlier Monday, Albay representative
Joey Salceda suggested putting Metro Manila under a lockdown since most of
the cases are in the National Capital Region (NCR).
However, even with his refusal for a Manila lockdown, Duterte announced the
suspension of classes in all levels in NCR from March 10 to 14 to protect
schoolchildren from the disease.
Health Secretary Francisco Duque III, in the same media briefing, has seconded President Duterte, saying that it might be premature to declare a lockdown this early.
“We will have to wait until evidence of sustained community transmission is presented,” Duque said.
Despite statements from President Duterte and Duque, Salceda on Tuesday has insisted that lockdown should be imposed amid the rising COVID-19 cases in the country.
Salceda said the government should not formulate public policy that depends on the current severity of viral transmission.
“Di puwedeng mangyari na ang public policy ngayon is being decided by the virus. The virus is deciding for us. Sa anong punto ka ba magsasabi na kailangan na?” Salceda told GMA’s Unang Balita.
“’Di ba dapat mag-decide ka ngayon para hindi siya maging viral. Hindi viral saka magde-decide?” he added.
Salceda also said that he doubts the DOH has the capability to manage a sudden influx of patients, citing the supposedly slow pace of testing of persons under investigation and monitoring in February.
“The costs of mass community transmission far outweigh the economic losses arising from preemptive actions. Zero casualty doctrine should extend to all emergencies, especially health emergencies,” Salceda said./PN
