Vice President Leni Robredo asked for the basis of the recommendation to place the entire Philippines under the modified general community quarantine (MGCQ), citing the increase of COVID-19 cases.
“Ang tanong ko lang: ano iyong basis, ‘di ba? Ano iyong basis ng MGCQ?” she said.
(My only question is: what is your basis, right? What is your MGCQ basis?)
“Wala namang problema mag-MGCQ kung may basehan tayo roon. Pero kapag tiningnan kasi natin iyong numero, ang taas ng transmission. Wala pa iyong bakuna,” she said.
(There is no problem with MGCQ if we have a basis there. But when we look at your number, the transmission is high. We do not have the vaccine yet.)
Robredo added that even if the country shifts to MGCQ, the public is still afraid to go out and participate in economic activities.
Given the situation, Robredo advised redirecting the efforts to lower the number of transmissions as a way to boost the economy instead of shifting to MGCQ.
“Kahit anong promote natin ng ating tourist spots, mga negosyo, kung mataas iyong transmission, aakyat lang iyan nang kaunti pero hindi natin ma-a-attain iyong desired level,” she said.
(Even if we promote our tourist spots, businesses, if your transmission is high, it will only go up a little but we will not be able to attain your desired level.)
Robredo questions basis of placing entire PH under MGCQ
“Pero kung nandito na iyong bakuna, bumaba na iyong transmission, mas normal na iyong pakiramdam ng mga tao,” she added.
(But if the vaccine is here, your transmission decreases, people feel more normal.)
Last week, presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said President Rodrigo Duterte is likely to approve the proposal to place the entire Philippines under MGCQ.
On February 17, nine out of 17 Metro Manila mayors agreed to place the region under MGCQ by March 1 upon the recommendations of economic managers.
The League of Provinces of the Philippines (LPP) also expressed its support for the proposal of placing the entire country under MGCQ starting March.
However, the governors want the national government to authorize them to change quarantine status or impose lockdowns if needed.