Gradual lifting of lockdown backed
Published Apr 1, 2020 12:00 am
By Genalyn Kabiling
Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez is amenable to the proposed gradual or phased lifting of the Luzon-wide enhanced community quarantine to restore more essential businesses and allow workers to return to their jobs.
Lopez has agreed with the sentiment of some business leaders on the modified lifting of the Luzon lockdown but recognized the "new norm" of health precautions such as social distancing measures must still be followed.
Trade and Industry Secretary Ramon Lopez (ALFRED FRIAS/PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO / MANILA BULLETIN)
The enhanced community quarantine over Luzon, that compels residents to stay at home to curb the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), was ordered by President Duterte last March 16. It remains in effect until April 12.
“Talking to the business community, actually sila rin nagsasabi na mag-ingat din sa total lifting. Tama siguro ang term na 'yung modified or phased, gradual lifting (Talking to the business community, they actually cautioned about total lifting. The term modified, phased or gradual lifting is correct),” Lopez said during the “Laging Handa (Always Ready) public briefing over People's Television network Wednesday.
“Gradual muna. Importante maibalik ang mga negosyo na kailangan na magtuloy para may hanapbuhay ang ating mga kababyana again following the new norm yung mga social distancing (It should be gradual for the meantime. It is important to bring back the businesses to ensure the employment of our countrymen again following the new norm of social distancing)," he added.
Lopez, however, said the phased lifting of the quarantine regulations should not mean it will be “business as usual” like before.
Who will operate?
He said the modified lifting of the quarantine should focus on “more essential, more basic businesses” and their supply chain.
“Ibig sabihin pati ‘yung mga gumagawa ng inputs para sa food, sa mga essential products, hygiene products, medical products, 'yung supply chain nito, 'yung mga supplier ng packaging, mga inputs and raw materials, kasama agriculture sector kaya lahat yan bubuksan na (It means those involved in inputs for food, essential products, hygiene and medical products, the supply chain including suppliers of packaging, inputs and raw materials. The agriculture sector is included. All of those will be opened),” he said.
“Pati yun essential items sabihin na natin yung next important 'yung mga hardware and other services,” he added.
Even if the Luzon quarantine is partially lifted, Lopez also insisted that mass gathering of people such as in concerts and theaters should still be prohibited.
“Tama ho yan phased lifting na 'yan or gradual lifting dahil sa palagay ko even mga kababayan rin natin takot din sila mag-total lifting in the sense na 'yung mga crowded places hindi pa rin encourage 'yun (Phased and gradual lifting is the proper move because I think even our countrymen are afraid of total lifting in the sense crowded places should still not be encouraged),” he said.
Mass gathering still prohibited
“’Yung mga mass gathering tulad ng konsyerto, mga big events, theaters. hindi pa siguro samahan na mababalik 'yun (Mass gatherings like concerts, big events, theaters should not yet be restored),” he said.
Employees reporting for work must also still undergo thermal checks and practice social distancing measures as a precaution against the coronavirus, according to the trade chief.
“Mayroon na tayong na tinatawag new norm sa pagte-test, pag-scan ng mga workers. Siguraduhin na walang sakit. Mayroon tayong new norm in terms of social distancing kaya kahit magbalikan sa trabaho mayroon tayong new culture, new norm We have a new norm on testing, scanning workers, making sure they are not ill. We also have a new norm in terms of social distancing so even people return to work, we have a new culture, new norm),” he said.
President Duterte placed Luzon under lockdown to contain and stop the spread of the new coronavirus. The quarantine regulations include strict home quarantine for residents, suspension of public transport, travel restrictions, alternative work arrangements in most companies, and suspension of classes.
Establishments providing basic necessities, however, have been allowed to operate during the quarantine period. Among those allowed to stay open are hospitals, public markets, groceries, drug stores, banks, money transfer services, power, energy, water and telecommunications supplies and facilities.
The Luzon-wide quarantine will last until April 12 unless earlier lifted or extended as circumstances may warrant, according to the Palace.
Factors to consider
Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles maintained that “science” will be the government's basis in determining whether to lift, extend or expand the ECQ in Luzon.
Nograles, in a virtual press conference Wednesday, said the technical working group led by the DOH has been directed to convene and finalize the parameters for deciding on the eventual total or partial lifting of the quarantine in Luzon, or the possible extension of its duration or its expansion to other areas. The parameters will be subject to the approval, amendment or modification by the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases.
He said National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) has also been tasked to a new group that will craft strategies on forward economic planning, including restoring business confidence and "strategic stockpiling."
Asked if the barangay-based lockdown is an option for the government, Nograles said he does not want to preempt the decision of these technical working groups.
“It will be based on science, it will be numbers, facts and figures. And it will totally depend on the cooperation of everything of everybody,” he said.
Mass testing ideal
As this developed Finance Secretary Carlos G. Dominguez III said on Wednesday that mass testing is “a must” for COVID-19 containment, but the government needs time to build capacity for this large-scale detection program.
Right now, Dominguez said, the national government does not have the capacity to ramp up the nation’s mass COVID-19 testing initiative in combating the pandemic.
“It's a must,” Dominguez told reporters in a mobile phone message when asked about his thoughts on calls for COVID-19 mass testing.
Dominguez admitted that mass testing is not yet feasible at the moment based on the discussions of the Inter-Agency Task Force and Department of Health (DOH) officials.
“If we don't have it now, we shouldn't despair but rather build up the capacity to do so,” the finance chief explained.
The health department had said that targeted mass testing remains the best option for now due to the still limited testing kits and laboratory capacity of the government and private sector.
But Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire assured that as capacity expands, the DOH will contentiously amend its testing policy and include more persons who exhibit flu-like symptoms.
On Tuesday, Vergeire announced that healthcare workers exhibiting symptoms of COVID-19 can now be tested for possible infection.
Likewise, high risk people or those with weakened immune system like elderly, pregnant women and immunocompromised persons will be tested once they show mild symptoms.
“While we already have 100,000 testing kits, we expect more to arrive, these are not enough to conduct mass testing,” Vergeire said in a televised press briefing last Tuesday.
Seniors are top priority
Meanwhile, Lopez said senior citizens must be given top priority in supermarkets and drugstores.
He said this is the essence of Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) issued Memorandum Circular (MC) No. 20-09, “Pagpapahalaga sa mga Senior Citizens,” issued on March 28, 2020. The memo was issued following the appeal of the elderly to be given priority when purchasing basic necessities and other essentials in retail stores and other similar establishments.
“Through this policy issuance, we are requiring the business establishments to provide them with assistance and give due preference to ensure that they secure their needs quickly, thus making their stay outside their homes kept at the absolute minimum,” he said.
While senior citizens must strictly follow the “stay at home” order, those who live alone are compelled to go out for their basic necessities – a situation recognized by the government. (With reports from Chino Leyco and Bernie Cahiles-Magkilat)
Trade and Industry Secretary Ramon Lopez (ALFRED FRIAS/PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO / MANILA BULLETIN)
The enhanced community quarantine over Luzon, that compels residents to stay at home to curb the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), was ordered by President Duterte last March 16. It remains in effect until April 12.
“Talking to the business community, actually sila rin nagsasabi na mag-ingat din sa total lifting. Tama siguro ang term na 'yung modified or phased, gradual lifting (Talking to the business community, they actually cautioned about total lifting. The term modified, phased or gradual lifting is correct),” Lopez said during the “Laging Handa (Always Ready) public briefing over People's Television network Wednesday.
“Gradual muna. Importante maibalik ang mga negosyo na kailangan na magtuloy para may hanapbuhay ang ating mga kababyana again following the new norm yung mga social distancing (It should be gradual for the meantime. It is important to bring back the businesses to ensure the employment of our countrymen again following the new norm of social distancing)," he added.
Lopez, however, said the phased lifting of the quarantine regulations should not mean it will be “business as usual” like before.
Who will operate?
He said the modified lifting of the quarantine should focus on “more essential, more basic businesses” and their supply chain.
“Ibig sabihin pati ‘yung mga gumagawa ng inputs para sa food, sa mga essential products, hygiene products, medical products, 'yung supply chain nito, 'yung mga supplier ng packaging, mga inputs and raw materials, kasama agriculture sector kaya lahat yan bubuksan na (It means those involved in inputs for food, essential products, hygiene and medical products, the supply chain including suppliers of packaging, inputs and raw materials. The agriculture sector is included. All of those will be opened),” he said.
“Pati yun essential items sabihin na natin yung next important 'yung mga hardware and other services,” he added.
Even if the Luzon quarantine is partially lifted, Lopez also insisted that mass gathering of people such as in concerts and theaters should still be prohibited.
“Tama ho yan phased lifting na 'yan or gradual lifting dahil sa palagay ko even mga kababayan rin natin takot din sila mag-total lifting in the sense na 'yung mga crowded places hindi pa rin encourage 'yun (Phased and gradual lifting is the proper move because I think even our countrymen are afraid of total lifting in the sense crowded places should still not be encouraged),” he said.
Mass gathering still prohibited
“’Yung mga mass gathering tulad ng konsyerto, mga big events, theaters. hindi pa siguro samahan na mababalik 'yun (Mass gatherings like concerts, big events, theaters should not yet be restored),” he said.
Employees reporting for work must also still undergo thermal checks and practice social distancing measures as a precaution against the coronavirus, according to the trade chief.
“Mayroon na tayong na tinatawag new norm sa pagte-test, pag-scan ng mga workers. Siguraduhin na walang sakit. Mayroon tayong new norm in terms of social distancing kaya kahit magbalikan sa trabaho mayroon tayong new culture, new norm We have a new norm on testing, scanning workers, making sure they are not ill. We also have a new norm in terms of social distancing so even people return to work, we have a new culture, new norm),” he said.
President Duterte placed Luzon under lockdown to contain and stop the spread of the new coronavirus. The quarantine regulations include strict home quarantine for residents, suspension of public transport, travel restrictions, alternative work arrangements in most companies, and suspension of classes.
Establishments providing basic necessities, however, have been allowed to operate during the quarantine period. Among those allowed to stay open are hospitals, public markets, groceries, drug stores, banks, money transfer services, power, energy, water and telecommunications supplies and facilities.
The Luzon-wide quarantine will last until April 12 unless earlier lifted or extended as circumstances may warrant, according to the Palace.
Factors to consider
Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles maintained that “science” will be the government's basis in determining whether to lift, extend or expand the ECQ in Luzon.
Nograles, in a virtual press conference Wednesday, said the technical working group led by the DOH has been directed to convene and finalize the parameters for deciding on the eventual total or partial lifting of the quarantine in Luzon, or the possible extension of its duration or its expansion to other areas. The parameters will be subject to the approval, amendment or modification by the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases.
He said National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) has also been tasked to a new group that will craft strategies on forward economic planning, including restoring business confidence and "strategic stockpiling."
Asked if the barangay-based lockdown is an option for the government, Nograles said he does not want to preempt the decision of these technical working groups.
“It will be based on science, it will be numbers, facts and figures. And it will totally depend on the cooperation of everything of everybody,” he said.
Mass testing ideal
As this developed Finance Secretary Carlos G. Dominguez III said on Wednesday that mass testing is “a must” for COVID-19 containment, but the government needs time to build capacity for this large-scale detection program.
Right now, Dominguez said, the national government does not have the capacity to ramp up the nation’s mass COVID-19 testing initiative in combating the pandemic.
“It's a must,” Dominguez told reporters in a mobile phone message when asked about his thoughts on calls for COVID-19 mass testing.
Dominguez admitted that mass testing is not yet feasible at the moment based on the discussions of the Inter-Agency Task Force and Department of Health (DOH) officials.
“If we don't have it now, we shouldn't despair but rather build up the capacity to do so,” the finance chief explained.
The health department had said that targeted mass testing remains the best option for now due to the still limited testing kits and laboratory capacity of the government and private sector.
But Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire assured that as capacity expands, the DOH will contentiously amend its testing policy and include more persons who exhibit flu-like symptoms.
On Tuesday, Vergeire announced that healthcare workers exhibiting symptoms of COVID-19 can now be tested for possible infection.
Likewise, high risk people or those with weakened immune system like elderly, pregnant women and immunocompromised persons will be tested once they show mild symptoms.
“While we already have 100,000 testing kits, we expect more to arrive, these are not enough to conduct mass testing,” Vergeire said in a televised press briefing last Tuesday.
Seniors are top priority
Meanwhile, Lopez said senior citizens must be given top priority in supermarkets and drugstores.
He said this is the essence of Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) issued Memorandum Circular (MC) No. 20-09, “Pagpapahalaga sa mga Senior Citizens,” issued on March 28, 2020. The memo was issued following the appeal of the elderly to be given priority when purchasing basic necessities and other essentials in retail stores and other similar establishments.
“Through this policy issuance, we are requiring the business establishments to provide them with assistance and give due preference to ensure that they secure their needs quickly, thus making their stay outside their homes kept at the absolute minimum,” he said.
While senior citizens must strictly follow the “stay at home” order, those who live alone are compelled to go out for their basic necessities – a situation recognized by the government. (With reports from Chino Leyco and Bernie Cahiles-Magkilat)