By Pearl Gumapos
Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said there will be no lockdown until there is cash aid available to residents in areas under enhanced community quarantine (ECQ).
“Ang assurance ng ating Presidente [ay] hindi talaga tayo maglo-lockdown kung walang ayuda,” Roque said on Monday (August 2) during a public briefing.
“At nakompirma ko po ngayon [na] siguradong-sigurado ibibigay natin ang ayuda na binigay din natin sa Cagayan de Oro, Iloilo province, at Iloilo City [na] P1,000 per person hangga’t P4,000 kada pamilya,” he said.
Roque, however, said it is unsure at the moment where the funds will be taken from.
“Ang hindi lang sigurado ay kung saan kukunin. Pero ang mandato ng Presidente ay humanap kayo ng pera. Ang siguradong-sigurado, walang ECQ kung walang ayuda,” he said.
Roque also said that the best way to ensure proper ECQ lockdown is for the head of the family to impose a “family lockdown.”
“Kung hindi kinakailangan lumabas, mag-order [na] walang lalabas unless bibili ng pagkain o gamot. Kung hindi kinakailangan, lahat manatili sa tahanan. ‘Wag na tayong magrely pa sa mga ECQ. Family lockdown ang solution po dito,” he said.
Roque added that the COVID-19 virus is the “common enemy of humanity.”
“Kalaban po ng lahat ‘yan. Kahit anong nationalidad mo, kahit anong kulay mo, anyo mo–kalaban natin ang COVID-19. Kinakailangan po na magkapit-bisig ang buong daigdig para labanan itong COVID-19,” he said.
“Ang problema po, kapag pinulitika natin, magiging hadlang po ‘yan sa ating pagkakapit-bisig,” he added. – jlo
