Manila Mayor Francisco "Isko Moreno" Domagoso believes that the Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ) prevailing in the National Capital Region Plus (NCR-plus) can be extended if it is needed to curb the alarming increase of COVID-19 infections in the Greater Manila area.
"Kung kinakailangan (If we need it to) i-extend based on data, dapat natin (we must) i-extend because we value life," Domagoso said when he was asked if the ECQ should be extended in the NCR.
"Buhay o kabuhayan (Life or livelihood)? these are the questions that should be answered by leaders," Domagoso said in an interview with CNN Philippines on Monday (March 29).
"Ngayon, binabalanse pa natin. Kailangan yung buhay at kabuhayan patuloy pa ring tumatakbo because kapag nawalan ng opurtunidad ang tao kumita magugutom (For now, we are still balancing it. Life and livelihood should both continue because if people have lost the opportunity to earn, they will starve)," he added.
On March 27, Malacañang announced that the NCR, Bulacan, Rizal, Cavite, and Laguna will be placed under ECQ from March 29 until April 4 due to the sudden spike in coronavirus disease (COVID-19) cases in the country.
If the ECQ will be extended in the NCR, the national government should allow several businesses to operate to cater to the basic needs of the people, which will also allow several people to work, according to Domagoso.
He added that some sectors of society will be needing a "little help" from the national government should the ECQ be extended in the NCR.
The local chief executive said there will be nothing to govern if people's lives are at risk amid the COVID-19 crisis.
"What matters most is life. Of course, there is no such thing as government kung patay na ang lahat ng tao (if all people are dead). There's nothing to govern," he said.