The League of Provinces of the Philippines (LPP) expressed its support to the proposal of placing the entire country under modified general community quarantine (MGCQ) starting March.
“Alam niyo po ‘yan, meron talagang mga lugar na mataas ang infection rate o ‘yung attack rate o transmission. Okay naman ‘yan na lahat gawing MGCQ at nakikita naman natin ang policy ng gobyerno na pagalawin ang ekonomiya,” said LPP president and Marinduque Governor Presbitero Velasco Jr. said in Super Radyo dzBB.
However, the governors want the national government to authorize them to change quarantine status or impose lockdowns if needed.
“Pero ito lang pong sa amin po, bigyan awtoridad ang LGU [local government units] na bigla pong mag-lockdown o ibalik sa GCQ [general community quarantine] o ECQ [enhanced community quarantine] kasi nga po iba-iba po ang mga sitwasyon sa kani-kaniyang teritoryo, probinsiya o city,” Velasco said.
“So okay po ‘yung ibalik [sa MGCQ]. Actually, buksan at buksan na po ang mga businesses,” Velasco said.
The governor also agreed on easing public transport restrictions, particularly provincial buses.
League of provinces backs MGCQ for entire country
“‘Yang public transport po, dapat ibalik na ang provincial buses. Eh binibigyan pa po ng special route ng LTFRB [Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board],” Velasco said.
“Dapat po diyan, ‘yung usual ruta nila, i-allow na po ‘yan,” he added.
“Kahit po ang mga jeepneys, ‘yan po ang kailangan sa pagpapatakbo ng ekonomiya,” he said.
“Pero dito po sa gusto nilang MGCQ, okay po sa akin ‘yon. Okay po sa LPP ‘yan. Kaya lang po ‘yung karapatan ng LGU na biglang pumasok po ‘pag nakita nilang biglang nagkakaproblema ay kaagad kahit wala pang approval ng IATF [Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases] o regional IATF ay gumalaw na po,” Velasco said.
He added that the IATF did not consult them in the past when the task force issues resolutions.
“‘Pag lumabas na lang po ang resolusyon doon na lang kami umaakto o doon kami hihingi ng consideration o amendment. Kailangan makita ang lahat ng pananaw ng iba’t ibang mga sektor lalo ang mga local government pati provincial government,” Velasco said.