Former Vice President Jejomar Binay expressed hope on Friday that the granular lockdown experiment in Metro Manila will be a success in both managing the number of COVID-19 cases and in restarting the country's economy.
"While many experts, including the WHO (World Health Organization) have expressed reservations over the timing of the granular lockdown experiment in Metro Manila, let us all do our share and pray for its success. Our people have suffered so much for the last 18 months, and we hope this experiment will provide them with some form of relief," Binay said in a statement.
"The one positive thing about the granular lockdowns is that it is not the national government that is implementing it but the mayors of Metro Manila," he added.
Binay said mayors know the situation on the ground better than national government officials.
He added that several local government units (LGUs) in the National Capital Region (NCR) have been implementing this type of lockdown for some months now wherein they not only test, trace, and isolate residents in locked down areas but also provide food and other essential goods directly to affected residents.
"In short, the mayors know what to do," Binay said.
"The last thing the mayors need is for the national government imposing policies that are impractical and detached from realities on the ground. The best thing the national government can do is to be ready to provide support if needed, especially in enforcing granular lockdowns and extending aid. But they should let the mayors do their work," he added.
Binay also said that as a general rule, "the national government should leave the mayors alone."
As of September 16, Metro Manila was placed under the General Community Quarantine (GCQ) Alert Level 4 as its pilot area which will last until September 30.