By Mario Casayuran
Opposition Senator Leila de Lima said Saturday that the enhanced community quarantine implemented by local government units (LGUs), especially within the national capital region (NCR), has been relatively successful.
Senator Leila de Lima (MANILA BULLETIN FILE PHOTO)
‘’Not everything is going well, but step by step and day by day, the LGUs and the private sector joined in a bayanihan spirit are making things work,’’ she said in a statement sent from her detention cell at Camp Crame in Quezon City.
‘’Salamat sa mga magagaling at masisipag na mayor na katulad ni Vico Sotto ng Pasig, na pilit namang sinisiraan ng mga trolls ng administrasyon sa social media, unti-unti nating nakikita ang mga solusyon at pamamaraan kung paano natin malalampasan ang pagsubok na ito,’’ she said.
(Thanks to the capable and hardworking mayors like Pasig City Mayor Vico Sotto, who is being hit by pro-administration trolls, we are now gradually seeing their solutions and methods on how to overcome this crisis.)
‘’The question is— Given their limited resources, would the LGUs be able to sustain their laudable efforts if, God forbid, this becomes a protracted crisis?’’ she added.
‘’National government must step up. Tulungan dapat nang todo ang LGUs. Tulungan, hindi takutan. Bayanihan, hindi pabayaan na lang. Kalinga, hindi kasuhan o ikulong na lang,’’ she pointed out. (LGUs must be fully supported. They must be helped and cared for, not threatened or charged or jailed.)
"Sumainyo pong lahat ang biyaya ng Panginoon na maayos na kalusugan at diwa ng pagtutulungan sa panahon ng kalamidad,’’ she added. (May the Lord bless us, keep us healthy, and keep alive the spirit of community cooperation in this time of calamity.)