By Mario Casayuran
Senator Christopher Lawrence ‘’Bong’’ Go joined on Monday calls for the extension of President Duterte’s enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) policy for a few more weeks until the number of COVID-19 cases starts to drop substantially.
Senator Christopher Lawrence “Bong’’ Go
(Office of Senator Bong Go / MANILA BULLETIN)
The political opposition led by Vice President Leni Robredo and Senator Francis N. Pangilinan, president of the Liberal Party (LP), had urged the administration to extend the scheduled April 13 lifting of the ECQ.
‘’The government’s capacity to conduct testing has increased and it would be best to extend the ECQ so we can effectively isolate the positive cases from the rest of the community and eventually get rid of the disease,’’ Go, chairman of the Senate health and demography committee, said.
‘’Let me remind everyone that we are up against an invisible deadly enemy. Going out of your house remains dangerous at this time. Habang patuloy na lumalabas ka ng bahay na hindi naman kinakailangan, patuloy mo namang inilalapit ang pamilya at kapwa mo tao sa peligro,’’ he added. (You increase the possibility of your and your family being infected if you continue to leave your house when it is not necessary.
‘’Kaya nakikiusap ako sa lahat ng mga Pilipino---stay at home and follow the protocols. Ang kooperasyon ninyo at ang pagkakaisa ng bansa ang tanging panlaban natin sa COVID-19,’’ he added. (That is why I appeal to my countrymen – stay at home and follow the protocols. Your cooperation and unity are strong deterrents in fighting COVID-19.)
Go also appealed to the Executive branch to once again act swiftly in providing the necessary assistance to all Filipino families affected by this crisis.
‘’As a member of the Joint Oversight Committee overseeing the implementation of the’ Bayanihan to Heal as One Act,’ I urge all concerned agencies to perfect the distribution system on this first month of ECQ since we still do not know how long this crisis will last,’’ he said.
‘’Pinilit natin silang manatili sa bahay kaya siguraduhin natin na makarating sa kanila sa lalong madaling panahon ang food and cash assistance mula sa gobyerno. Umaksyon na tayo agad at bilisan ang tulong para sa mga kababayan nating pinaka-mahihirap at pinaka-nangangailangan,’’ he stressed. (Government must ensure that food and cash assistance are given to our countrymen after they had been asked to stay home.)