2 senators back return to ECQ of Metro Manila
Senate President Tito Sotto and Sen. Joel Villanueva backed the government plan to place the National Capital Region (NCR) under more restrictive quarantine rules to curb the increasing number of COVID-19 cases.
Senate President Vicente Sotto III said Thursday that while he leaves the decision to President Duterte and members of the Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases, he would agree to implementing the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) anew in Metro Manila areas that remain high-risk for coronavirus infections.
"I will agree to the suggestion. Ako, personally, papayag ako doon sa sinasabi na ibalik sa ECQ 'yong mga areas lang na malala, na hindi nag iimprove o hindi nagko-cooperate (Personally, I will agree to revert to ECQ the areas that are still severe, that are not improving or not cooperating)," Sotto said.
Echoing the Executive department's repeated appeals for obedience and discipline, Sotto said: "Sa atin nga sinisita lang dahil walang mask, nagagalit pa, 'di ba (People here easily get mad when called out for not wearing masks)? Ang tigas ng ulo ng mga kababayan natin tapos sasabihin huwag i-ECQ (Our countrymen are so stubborn yet they will say no to ECQ)? Doon sa area na matitigas ang ulo, dapat talaga ECQ (Areas with stubborn people should be placed under ECQ)."
Sen. Joel Villanueva concurred with the plan as he noted the continuous surge of infections that have crowded hospitals in Metro Manila.
Several hospitals in Metro Manila have declared full capacity and said they can no longer accommodate COVID-19 patients.
"I am not sure if we are on a way to relaxing this GCQ (General Community Quarantine). In fact, it is also worth considering to go back to ECQ," said Villanueva, who stressed the decisions of the government should always be based on data.
"Looking at the numbers, I will not be surprised if we will go back to ECQ...If we go back there, then I will support it," he said.
NCR remains under GCQ until July 31, but presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said that the government may bring back the more restrictive modified ECQ (MECQ) if the COVID-19 situation worsens.