By Chito Chavez Metro Manila is not about to be reverted to the more restrictive Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ) status for as long as strict health protocols are followed. In an exclusive interview, DILG Undersecretary and spokesperson Jonathan Malaya said his assessment is based on the case doubling time and critical care infrastructure utilization rate of the National Capital Region (NCR) which he described as “okay.’’ DILG Undersecretary Jonathan Malaya,
(PCOO / FILE PHOTO / MANILA BULLETIN) Despite this, Malaya asked the public never to be complacent and to still adhere to quarantine regulations. Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Eduardo Año provided comic relief in the midst of the pandemic by saying that the public should continue to wear face masks as this will make all people look the same. “Ang maganda diyan, pare-perehas nang guwapo lahat. Level na, wala nang aangat (The beauty about the wearing of face masks is that everyone will be good-looking. All are on the same level. No one is above the other in terms of looks,’’ Año said. When the country transcends to the “new normal’’ and if a COVID-19 vaccine becomes available, Año said that the wearing of face masks may not be a bad idea for the public. Citing the importance of wearing face masks, Año pointed out that Western nurses rejected it even in the midst of the pandemic stressing the inconvenience of having it cover their mouth and nose. “Alam mo naman, parang natatakpan ang kanilang kagandahan, kaya yun ang kultura nila (You know that it appears that their beauty and good looks are concealed. That is their culture),’’ Año added. He said the sad thing about this is that some Filipinos share the same sentiments and have become COVID-19 carriers. The DILG said it is alright not to wear face masks if they cannot infect other people with the virus. He appealed anew to the public to just follow quarantine guidelines and respect the rights of others to be COVID-19 free.