Senator Imee Marcos on Saturday, Nov. 28, urged the government to clarify its quarantine policies to address confusion and encourage compliance among the public.
In an interview, Marcos said she is confused with the protocols and guidelines of the government in responding to the COVID-19 pandemic while restarting the economy at the same time.
For instance, she noted a “big failure” in its information dissemination when the Department of Health (DOH) disowned the reminders blasted by the National Telecommunications Commission regarding the holding of Christmas parties.
“Nagulat din ako… Eh sino ngayon ang paniniwalaan natin? Dahil ‘yong DOH deny to death, ‘yong IATF iba ‘yong patakaran, tapos ‘yong lokal may sariling imposition din kasi iba-iba naman ang sitwasyon sa lokal. So nalilito talaga ‘yong tao, sa kabila ng pagnanais na maging law-abiding at sumunod sa tamang protocols. Nakakalito eh,” Marcos told radio DWIZ Saturday afternoon.
(I was surprised, too… Now who do we believe? Because the DOH was denying the release, the Interagency Task Force has another policy, and even local governments have various impositions since they have differing situations. So people are confused, despite their intention to be law-abiding and follow protocols. It’s confusing.)
“Ano ba talaga ang gusto nating mangyari ? Kaya hindi ko mabintang ‘yong hindi makasunod,” she said.
(What do we really want to happen? That’s why I cannot blame those who can’t follow the protocols.)
Marcos said she does not believe that Filipinos are “pasaway” or stubborn. Instead, they find it difficult to comply with complicated and confusing protocols issued by authorities.
“Sa panahon ng fake news, hahaluan pa ng nakakalitong mga utos, eh talagang hirap ‘yong taong sumunod. So sana makaklaro para masundan nang maigi,” she said.
(In a time when fake news is prevalent, add these confusing orders and people will raealy find it hard to follow. So I hope they are clarified so people will know what to do.)
She added that “ordinary” people should also have a say in the guidelines that are being crafted by the IATF.
“Sana ‘yong pangkaraniwang tao mag-react sa guidelines bago i-issue. Itanong muna sa tao na: ‘Ano, ito okay ba ‘to? Kaya ba natin ‘to? Maliwanag ba ‘to?’” she appealed.
(I hope ordinary people are given the chance to react to these guidelines before they are issued. Ask the people first: ‘Are these okay? Can we do these? Are these clear?’)
On Friday, Marcos questioned the continued closure of schools while non-essential activities, such as cockfighting, spa, and travel, have been allowed by the government.
Citing difficulties in the distance and blended learning methods being implemented by the Education department, the senator pushed for localized and limited face-to-face classes in areas with few or no cases of the COVID infections.