Senators have favored the decision of President Rodrigo Duterte to extend the duration of the enhanced community quarantine until April 30.
Senator Aquilino Pimentel III said the extension is needed but “essential activities” must be allowed.
“I believe the critical period of time to deprive the virus of a human host is more than 14 days. It may be better to peg it at 21 days. Hence, I agree with the extension subject to earlier lifting if warranted,” Pimentel added.
Senator Joel Villanueva delighted over President Duterte’s move to heed the IATF’s recommendation to extend the ECQ and due to the “government’s rising capacity to conduct tests” for a faster control on the spread of COVID-19.
Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon expressed that the welfare of ordinary Filipinos, particularly those who have lost their work and businesses must also be considered
Meanwhile, Senator Panfilo Lacson reminded that aside from funds, the bigger challenge now is on the distribution process, “First, they should reconcile the wide gap between the DOF/DSWD list based merely on projection and the data generated by the LGUs’ community-based surveys which is more accurate and updated. The gap averages at least 40% nationwide.”
Senate President Vicente Sotto III proposed that the government must consider a national ID system “to resolve all the other problems as far as database is concerned.”
The lawmakers agreed that there is no problem in the extension of the ECQ as long as all citizens have enough food supply. – Report from Eunice Samonte
