By Hannah Torregoza
Senate Minority Leader Sen. Franklin Drilon on Tuesday supported the government’s move to extend the general community quarantine (GCC) in Metro Manila due to rising cases of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) but urged the government not to let its guard down.
Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon
(Senate of the Philippines / MANILA BULLETIN)
“I support the decision to extend the general community quarantine (GCQ) in Metro Manila,” Drilon said.
“The upward trend in the number of confirmed cases each day necessitates that we continue to place Metro Manila under GCQ,” he further said.
President Duterte announced Monday night that he is extending the GCQ in Metro Manila until June 30. Cebu City, however, shifted back to enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) after the national government monitored a spike in COVID-19 cases in the city.
The Department of Health’s (DOH) latest report shows that the number of COVID-19 infection in the country is now at 26, 420.
“If this upward trend continues, it behooves the government to pause and recalibrate its strategies,” he said.
“Take a second look and ask: are we winning the war against COVID-19 pandemic? Are the three Ts (testing, tracing, and treatment) being implemented? Where are we lacking?” he pointed out.
Drilon said the government should take this into account and to be vigilant about new COVID-19 infections being reported.
“We cannot and should never let our guard down against this virus,” he said.