The government is currently monitoring the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic situation in the National Capital Region (NCR) Plus Bubble before it makes a decision on whether or not to extend the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) in the area beyond April 4, Senator Christopher “Bong” Go on Friday, April 2.
“Kasalukuyang minomonitor ang mga kaso ng COVID-19 sa bansa lalo na sa critical areas ng NCR, Bulacan, Cavite, Laguna, at Rizal (Government is currently monitoring COVID-19 cases in the country, particularly in critical areas such as NCR, Bulacan, Cavite, Laguna and Rizal),” Go said in a statement.
“Iniiwasan po nating tumaas pa lalo ang bilang ng mga kaso at kumalat pa lalo ito sa ibang lugar kaya tayo nag-impose ng ECQ hanggang April 4 (We are trying to prevent the spread of COVID-19 cases to other areas …that is why we imposed ECQ until April 4),” he added.
Go, chairman of the Senate Health Committee, stated that the Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) will have a meeting on Saturday, April 3, to discuss if there will be a need to recommend to President Duterte the extension of the lockdown.
‘’Umaapela ako sa IATF na pag-aralan ito ng mabuti at magkaroon ng cost-benefit analysis sa kanilang rekomendasyon (I appeal to the IATF to study it carefully and subject their recommendation to a cost-benefit analysis),” he said.
Go warned, however, that there might be a need to extend ECQ in order to fully achieve the desired results of controlling the rise in COVID-19 cases.
“Sikapin nating hindi na sana habaan pa ang ECQ dahil malaking dagok ito sa kabuhayan ng mga Pilipino. Pero kung patuloy pa rin ang pagtaas ng kaso ng COVID-19, wala tayong choice kundi maghigpit pa rin dahil babagsak naman ang ating health system kapag mapuno pa lalo ang mga ospital at isolation facilities (We are trying our best that the ECQ lockdown should not be extended because an extension means a big blow to the lives of Filipinos…we have no choice but to be strict because there will be a health system failure when our hospitals and isolation facilities are full),’’ he said.
“Ayon rin sa mga eksperto, kailangan matapos ang 14-day cycle para masigurong ma-isolate ang mga may sakit at maiwasan ang lalong hawahan (Experts say a 14-day cycle is needed to determine whether or not to isolate those infected and prevent its spread),’’ he added.
The rapid rise in COVID-19 cases has reportedly been straining capacities of hospitals in the NCR-Plus areas due to the deluge of patients seeking medical attention.
The Department of Health (DOH) has been expanding modular health facilities in Metro Manila to cope with the spike in new cases.
For one, bed capacities in modular health facilities, such as the Lung Center of the Philippines (LCP) in Quezon City and Dr. Jose N. Rodriguez Memorial Hospital in Tala, Caloocan City, have all been increased.
Go stressed that saving the lives of Filipinos, which includes addressing hunger and poverty, was the primordial concern of the government.
With this, Go urged concerned agencies, particularly the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), to expedite the distribution of assistance to the poor population affected by the ECQ.
Go said there were about 22.9 million considered as poor that comprise 80 percent of the population of NCR-Plus that should be given social amelioration funds (SAF).
The senator from Davao urged implementing agencies to fast-track the distribution of the assistance with the help of local government units to ensure that those who need government aid the most benefit from this program.
Go said he was assured by Budget Secretary Wendel Avisado that he will be monitoring the immediate release of funds to local government units (LGUs).
Regardless of quarantine restrictions, Go emphasized the need for discipline, vigilance and cooperation from the public to curb the spread of the virus.
Go reiterated that the country must continue to balance the economy and the protection of the health of the people amid the surge in COVID-19 cases.
“But between the two, our primordial concern now is to save lives,” he added.