By Ellson Quismorio

Calling it a necessary move to contain the COVID-19 pandemic, House Minority Leader Bienvenido "Benny" Abante Jr. backed on Tuesday the Palace's decision to extend the existing Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ) in Luzon up to April 30, 2020.

"Given that we have yet to conduct mass testing to fully determine the extent of the infections in our communities, keeping everyone home is the safest route for all at this point," said Abante, Manila's 6th district congressman.

Late Monday night, President Duterte said that he was inclined to extend the ECQ from the original deadline of April 13 to April 30. The Luzon-wide quarantine period was supposed to last one month.

Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases spokesperson, Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles later bared that the IATF had recommended the extension of the ECQ. And that the President subsequently approved it.

Abante said the extension "makes it imperative for the government to make sure that financial assistance is immediately extended to those who need it."

The pastor-turned-legislator lamented that residents in many areas in Metro Manila alone have yet to receive their Emergency Subsidy Program (ESP) funds from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD). The cash aid amounts to P5,000 to P8,000, depending on region.

"Alam ko challenge ito logistically para sa ating mga LGU (local government unit) at sa DSWD, pero kailangan nilang tutukan ito dahil maraming hindi nakakapagtrabaho dahil sa ECQ (I know this is a logistical challenge for the LGUs and the DSWD, but they need to focus on this since a lot haven't been able to earn a living because of the ECQ)," said Abante. 

The House leader said government should help businesses stay afloat to avoid possible layoffs and retrenchment by businesses hit hard by the effects of the quarantine.

He proposed the creation of a stimulus package for micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) to allow them to continue paying the salaries of employees who could not report for work.

"Giving a 30-day grace period for commercial rents of MSMEs within the period of the ECQ is a step in the right direction but it may not be enough," Abante pointed out. 

Let's soldier on

As if anticipating President Duterte's announcement on the ECQ extension, Agusan del Sur 2nd district Rep. Eddiebong Plaza advised Filipinos during Monday morning's "Laging Handa" press conference over state-run PTV4 to "soldier on."

"With my observation, tutal naghirap at nagdusa na rin tayo at ito naman ay natanggap ng taumbayan sa ngayon, ay ituloy napo natin ito nang sa gayon ay talagang ma-contain po ang COVID-19. Magiging futile po yung ating ginawang quarantine kung haphazardly i-lift natin," Plaza said.

(Since we've toiled and suffered with it already and the people has accepted it so far, let's just extend the ECQ so we may truly contain COVID-19. Our efforts so far in this quarantine would be futile if we haphazardly lift it.)

Plaza warned about the possible surge in COVID-19 cases if the ECQ is lifted along with social distancing measures and the suspension of mass transportation.

"This would be unfair to the people and the government. Kasi ang sisi nito mapupunta lahat sa gobyerno (All of the blame will fall squarely on the government's shoulders)," he said.

"So sana ito'y maintindihan ng taumbayan at maintindihan ng lahat, lalong lalo na yung sa business sector dahil nakikita ko na gusto na nila ipa-lift yung quarantine (So I hope everybody will understand the situation, especially the business sector because I think they want the quarantine lifted)," Plaza added.