Sen. Imee R. Marcos said lessons learned in the months-long lockdowns are not the answer to the festering COVID-19 pandemic.
“Tunay na sagot (the real answer) is how to live with the virus and the challenge is to create space particularly to people staying in densely-populated areas,’’ Marcos said during a DWIZ radio interview Saturday.
“Takot na takot ang ating mga mayor sa MGCQ gusto nila GCQ pa rin, I think mayors would know better ang problema talaga ang mga local government hirap na hirap na. I know where Secretary Mon Lopez is coming from gusto na niyang buhayin ang mga negosyo dahil marami nang MSME ang nagsara marami na nalayoff. napakahirap ng sitwasyon,’’ she explained.
(Mayors are afraid of the modified general community quarantine (MGCQ) and they want their areas still classified as GCQ. I think mayors know better. Local government units (LGUs) are in a tight spot. I know where Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez is coming from. He wants to revive the economy as many micro, small, medium enterprises (MSMEs) have stopped operations, many have laid off their workers. The situation is difficult)
‘’Paano itutuloy ang buhay na sumusunod naman sa protocols,’’ she said.
(How can you continue living despite abiding by health protocols)
Marcos, a former Ilocos Norte governor, said the most difficult is physical distancing as people live in shanties that are very close to one another.
‘’Ang tingin ko importante talaga the challenge is really to create space, bubuksan natin ang mga kalye ang mga public spaces natin,’’she added.
(The challenge is to create space, open the streets and the many public spaces)