By Mario Casayuran Opposition Senator Francis N. Pangilinan said on Tuesday there would be unlimited lockdowns in Metro Manila unless there is an aggressive and continuing free mass testing and contract tracing, isolation and treatment of those tested positive of coronavirus disease (COVID-19). Sen. Kiko Pangilinan
(Senate of the Philippines / MANILA BULLETIN) The lockdown, described as ‘’enhanced community quarantine’’ (ECQ), enters its 56th day today, Pangilinan said, observing that the initial ECQ and the subsequent extensions should have bought the administration time to conduct the testing, as experts find the cure. ‘’Naiintindihan natin ang pangangailangan na luwagan na ang quarantine sa ilang bahagi ng bansa dahil kailangan ng mga kababayan natin ang trabaho at hindi umasa lang sa food packs at SAP mula gobyerno. Lalong tumatagal ang quarantine, lalong nauubos ang konting naipon, lalong nababaon sa utang, lalong lumalaki ang takot at pangamba. Para sa mga kapos na kapos, lalong nagugutom,’’ he added. (We understand the need to loosen quarantines in some parts of the country because of the need of our countrymen for jobs and they should not rely on food packs and social amelioration program (cash allocation) from the government. Extended lockdowns mean fast drawdowns of savings, indebtedness continues and fears increase. To the needy, hunger continues.) ‘’Pero alam natin na dala ng pagluwag ng quarantine ang posibilidad na mas dumami pa lalo ang kaso ng COVID sa bansa,’’ he said, (But we know that increased cases of COVID-19 infections follow loosening of quarantine rules or protocols.) "Simula March 17 pa tayo naka-ECQ. Nasaan na ang mga aksyon para masugpo ang pandemya? Nasaan na ang mas agresibong mass testing at contact tracing para agarang ma-isolate ang mga kinakailangang i-isolate at gamutin ang dapat gamutin?’’ he asked. (ECQ started on March 17. Where is the solution to eliminate the viral threat? Where is that aggressive mass testing and contact tracing for the early isolation and treatment of those who need to be treated?) "Kung ang South Korea nga na napababa na ang kaso ng COVID ay nagkaroon ng second wave dahil sa pagluwag ng quarantine, paano pa kaya sa Pilipinas?’’ he pointed out. (If South Korea was able to reduce the COVID infection rate but is now having a second wave, how about the Philippines?) ‘’Kailangan tuloy-tuloy din ang suporta sa ating mga ospital at health care workers (International Nurses Day nga pala ngayon. Pagpupugay sa mga front-liner nating nurse). Tuloy-tuloy ang pag-iingat. Lumabas lamang kung kailangan. Suotin ang face mask. Ipatupad ang libreng mass testing at contact tracing – ang pundasyon ng anumang hakbang kontra-pandemya,’’ Pangilinan said. (There is an urgent for the continued support for hospitals and health care workers (Today is International Nurses Day. Congratulations to our frontliners). Take care always. Go out of your house only when necessary,)