Senators raised their concern over the national government's decision to reopen cinemas and further ease the business, cultural and other leisure activities in the country.
"Nakakatakot (It's scary)," Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri said in an interview over radio DWIZ on Saturday, February 13.
A COVID-19 survivor, Zubiri said the Interagency Task Force (IATF) on the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases' (IATF) relaxation of its rules could result in another surge of coronavirus infections in the country, citing what happened in Europe and in the United States.
"Huwag muna siguro 50 percent capacity dahil nakakatakot pa rin yan. Sa sinehan 50 percent capacity medyo puno pa rin yan, kung may umubo dun, may humatsing ay napakadelikado na nyan. Magiging super spreader ang event na 'yan (Maybe we should not allow 50 percent capacity because it's still worrisome. Even if you allow only 50 percent inside the cinemas it will still be crowded, if someone coughs or sneezes inside it will be dangerous. Such events will be super-spreaders of COVID-19)," he said.
"Lalo na sa simbahan mahilig po tayo mag-'Peace be with you'. Iba na pala ipinapasa mo: 'COVID be with you' na pala (Especially in churches where we always say, 'Peace be with you'. You could be passing on something else instead: 'COVID-19 be with you')," he continued.
"Nakakatakot talaga (This is really scary). Feeling ko (I feel), let us speed up the rollout of vaccines muna (first) before we can actually relax our protocols," Zubiri appealed.
Senator Grace Poe also said that she, too, would not be easily enticed to go out without knowing the specific measures being undertaken by establishments to minimize the transmission of the novel coronavirus.
"Ano ang ginagawa ng mga sinehan, meron ba silang bagong filtraton system ng air conditioning? Alam ko social distancing...pero 'yong hangin na hinihinga mo recycled pa rin (What are the cinemas doing, do they have a filtration system for their air conditioning? I know they will enforce social distancing, but the air that people will breath in are still recycled)," she said in a separate DWIZ interview.
"Sa simbahan, siguro marami kasi sa atin nangungulilang makapunta sa simbahan pero dapat siguro 'yong open air, anong mga guidelines nila. Tapos sa mga museum ganon din (For churches, while most of us long to be in church, mass should be held in places with open air, what are their guidelines for that. The same applies to museums)," she added.
The two senators both recognized the need for economic recovery, but Zubiri said the reopening should apply first in areas with less cases of COVID-19 transmission and not in Metro Manila, where a GCQ is still being imposed.
Zubiri said the IATF should listen to Metro Manila mayors who also opposed to the move.
"I think we should listen to their voice kasi 'yong mga mayors sila ang talagang (because the mayors are really the) frontliners on the ground," he said.
The decision, he added, should also put pressure to vaccine czar Carlito Galvez Jr. to speed up the rollout of the vaccination program against COVID-19.
Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said that starting Monday, February 15, cinemas, arcades and tourist attractions such as parks, theme parks and historical landmarks in GCQ areas could reopen.
Operations of other businesses have also been allowed, as well as meetings, conferences and other social events accredited by the Department of Tourism.
Religious gatherings in GCQ areas are likewise allowed up to 50 percent of the seating capacity of the venue.