Some senators believe the enhanced community quarantine must be extended beyond April 14.
The lawmakers said the move is to make way for the mass testing to start even before people will be allowed to go out. This will help prevent the increase in the number of COVID-19 cases.
Senator Sherwin Gatchalian explained a two-week extension may be needed to ensure the mass testing for PUMs, and that the 30-day ECQ may be put to waste if people are allowed to go out while a solution is yet to be found.
“With the announcement of the Chief Implementer, Gen. Galvez, that mass testing can only be conducted on April 14, which is still 11 days from now, we are left with no other choice but to extend the ECQ by at least two weeks,” Gatchalian said.
Senator Joel Villanueva seconded the extension but added supply chain experts must be consulted to exempt some sectors during the period to ensure the sufficiency of supplies in food and basic necessities.
Senator Franklin Drilon expressed , “an extra two weeks would help. We can consider relaxing ECQ during May 1 to May 30. Still no travel to/from Luzon. Still no malls, churches, mass gatherings. Hence, open to more manufacturing (especially food, but also nonfood and supply chain) and critical construction (power plants, infrastructure). This way, more people have income.”
Senator Ralph Recto has agreed to mass testing as “this will reduce the transmission rate of the disease and will save more lives. Then after, we can relax Luzon quarantine shutdown.”
Meanwhile, Senator Vicente Sotto III reacted to Manila Mayor Isko Moreno’s statement urging senators to step up and help the people.
“Batid namin na hindi ito panahon ng pasikatan o pagalingan. Lahat tayo ay dapat panalo sa laban na ito. Walang Pilipinong maiiwan. Ibuhos ang lahat ng kakayanan at lakas sa totoong serbisyo publiko, may nakatingin man o wala (We are aware that this is not the time to compete or prove who is better. We should all be winners in this fight. No one should be left behind. We should give everything we can with all our might for public service, with or without anyone looking),” Sotto said.
Senator Panfilo Lacson in Twitter also denounced Moreno’s allegation and that senators have spent their time to pass the Bayanihan Act.
