As the country strives to contain the coronavirus spread, it is essential that people just stay home as much as possible.
Presidential spokesman Harry Roque made the fresh public appeal to become "homeliners," admitting that living in lockdown was tough but the situation won't be for forever.
The stay-at-home rule, except for getting food and other essential goods and going to work in permitted establishments, is among the restrictions implemented in Metro Manila and three other areas under enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) this month to help ensure public health from the Delta threat.
"Ang anyo po ng ECQ, lahat dapat homeliners, except kung bibili o kukuha ng pangangailangan (Under ECQ, everyone should be homeliners except if buying or getting essentials)," Roque said during a televised press briefing Thursday, August 5.
"Ang objective po natin, hayaan lang po natin iyong absolute necessary na industries na magpatuloy, otherwise, homeliners tayo (Our objective is to let the absolute necessary industries to continue otherwise we must be homeliners)," he said.
Apart from allowing the operations of essential industries, Roque said the government would keep a skeleton force to ensure uninterrupted public service.
The National Capital Region has entered into a two-week enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) staring Friday, August 6, to prevent the further spike of coronavirus cases fueled by the Delta variant. ECQ, the most restrictive of the four quarantine classifications, will also be implemented in Laguna, Iloilo City and Cagayan de Oro from August 6 to 15.
"Io po’y para sa kabutihan ng lahat. Masakit alam ko po iyan, mahirap, magastos pero kinakailangan po natin iyan para mapangalagaan po natin ang kalusugan ng lahat (This is for everyone’s welfare. I know it is difficult, costly but is necessary to protect the health of everyone),” Roque said.
Despite reimposing the movement controls, Roque said the vaccination program will continue even in areas under ECQ subject to safety and health protocols. The government, he noted, aims to inoculate half of Metro Manila's population by the end of the lockdown to attain population protection.
"So, huwag po kayong mag-alala dahil hindi naman po forever na ganito ang buhay natin dahil iyong bakuna nga po iyan po ang susi para sa pagbabalik buhay natin (So do not worry because our lives won't be like this forever because the vaccines are the key to the return to our normal lives)," he said.