Covid-19 in the Philippines is a serious case. A lawmaker at the House of Representatives on Thursday said implementing a decision-making mechanism with minimum health requirements as a guide would result in “more rational, science-based solutions” when evaluating quarantine lifting plans.
House ways and means committee chair Joey Salceda commended the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) on Emerging Infectious Diseases for its innovative decision method, which would specifically take into account minimum health requirements when deciding whether to remove, change or expand restrictions under the enhanced community quarantine in Luzon.
“The health results of all dictate. Any temporary recovery occurring when we prematurely remove the ECQ is illusory. We need sustainable recovery because the cornerstone of successful economic recovery is certainty. That is why I support the IATF’s implementation of the decision method, “Salceda said.
Meanwhile, House Minority Leader Bienvenido Abante Jr. indicated that the government would continue to enforce the ECQ strictly in Metro Manila. In addition, it goes for the other areas with a high concentration of cases of Covid-19. Therefore, the isolating areas that have recently reported zero community transmission.
“There are 27 provinces that have zero cases of Covid-19 today. Then, one of our goals should be to ensure that we do not spread the disease there,” Abante said.
Abante said this would include limiting the movement of vehicles carrying freight. And then, the critical goods in and out of areas with Covid-19.
He said that the newest of ECQ can implement towards areas within NCR with limited instances. Therefore, business establishments and industries can open at least three days a week.
President Rodrigo Duterte is supposed to determine whether to extend the ECQ following a meeting on Thursday with experts and IATF leaders.
