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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider Granular lockdown experiment in NCR 'counter-intuitive, defies common sense' --- Former VP Binay

Granular lockdown experiment in NCR 'counter-intuitive, defies common sense' --- Former VP Binay

Published Sep 13, 2021 01:44 pm

Former Vice President Jejomar “Jojo” Binay slammed the national government's “granular lockdown experiment in Metro Manila,” describing the policy as “counter-intuitive.”

Former Vice President Jejomar “Jojo” Binay

Binay underscored that in other countries, granular lockdowns are imposed only when cases are low.

“We are experiencing a surge, and experts say the proper strategy is to contain the virus, which means restricting movements for a certain period. The granular lockdown experiment is not only counter-intuitive. It defies common sense,” the former vice president said in a statement issued on Monday (Sept. 13).

The pilot testing for the national government's new COVID-19 response scheme in the National Capital Region (NCR) will be from Sept. 16 - 30, 2021. The new policy includes the implementation of granular lockdowns and an alert level system.

Binay also questioned the effectiveness of the granular lockdown given the current number of COVID-19 cases in the country.

“Experts agree that the current surge in COVID cases is higher and deadlier than April last year. Even the Department of Health (DOH) projects the number of active cases to reach 30,000 by the end of September,” he said.

“Yet, despite the surge, the national government is determined to push through with its granular lockdown experiment in Metro Manila. Sabi nila, effective daw ito. Pero paaano naging effective kung ngayon pa lang gagawin? (They said it’s effective. But how is it effective when it is only being implemented now?),” he added.

OCTA Research fellow Dr. Guido David, in a Twitter post last Sept. 4, said “granular lockdowns in the face of a massive surge have not been effective.”

Binay added that the national government is being “unfair to local governments of Metro Manila” which will declare which areas will be placed under granular lockdown.

“Pagod na ang mayors at ang frontliners pero ipapasa sa kanila ng national government ang problema (The mayors and frontlienrs are already tired, but the national government will still pass the problem onto them),” he said.

“The national government is not only passing the burden of containing the spread of the virus and providing ayuda (aid) to their constituents to the LGUs. By making the LGUs take the lead, the national government can now wash its hands of any blame for possible lapses or missteps. Yan ang tinatawag sa kalye na iwas-pusoy (That’s what they call in the streets as ‘iwas pusoy’),” he added.

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DEFIES COMMON SENSE COUNTER-INTUITIVE FORMER VP JEJOMAR BINAY GRANULAR LOCKDOWN EXPERIMENT
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