Bong Go favors ECQ extension in areas with high COVID-19 cases like Metro Manila; asks public for full cooperation in order to help 'flatten the curve'

Senator Christopher Lawrence "Bong" Go on Tuesday, April 21, said he favors extending the enhanced community quarantine measures to further contain the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in the country. He also asked the public for their full cooperation in order for the country to overcome the crisis soon.

"Lalong tatagal, lalong ma-extend muli, lalong makukulong kayo (sa bahay) kapag tataas ang numero ng positibong cases. Kaya nakikiusap ako, sumunod po kayo. Para rin ito sa kapakanan ng lahat ng kapwa nating Pilipino," he explained.

In a radio interview over DZMM, Go said that President Rodrigo Duterte is still mulling over the possible extension of the enhanced community quarantine, and had already consulted experts and former health secretaries on the best way forward to contain and eventually stop the outbreak.

"Sa ngayon po ay pinag-iisipan pa ng Pangulo ang lahat. Binigyan po n'ya ng pagkakataon ang lahat, walang pulitika, kahit po ang mga dating health secretaries ng iba't ibang administrasyon, para makapagdesisyon siya ng maayos kung dapat bang i-extend ang enhanced community quarantine o ECQ, o dapat na po ba itong i-lift, sa NCR ba o sa labas ng NCR," Go said.

"Kung dapat na itong luwagan ng kaunti, hindi ibig sabihin total na luluwagan na ito. Kung sakaling modified quarantine lang ito at marami pong guidelines at protocol na dapat sundin ang bawat siyudad," he added citing that the administration is considering all possible options in order to overcome the crisis.

Asked about his position on the matter, Go said that he is in favor of extending the quarantine measures in Metro Manila for another fifteen days given that cases are still rising in the metropolis.

"Ako po as a senator, sang-ayon ako na i-extend ang lockdown sa Metro Manila for another fifteen days. Tumataas ang cases natin dito. Napapansin ninyo halos lahat ng high density, 'yung dikit dikit ang bahay," he said.

Go also said that there is nothing wrong with the deployment of military personnel in the event that the enhanced community quarantine measures are extended to ensure strict implementation of the guidelines imposed by the national government.

"Sang-ayon ako d'yan. Giyera na po ito. Giyera na hindi natin nakikita ang ating kalaban. Napakahirap ng sitwasyong ito, kaya kailangan natin ng militar," he said, citing also why the President has tapped the military to help health officials given their expertise in handling crisis situations.

"'Di po ito kaya ng medical workers lang. Kailangan po ng pulis at militar para sa disiplina kasi kapag lumabas tayo, walang katapusang hawaan ito," he added.

The Senator then said that the President will meet with the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) on Thursday to decide on whether or not to extend or modify the existing ECQ.

"Meron pang isang linggo para aralin kung paano maaaring maging modified quarantine sa kani-kanilang lugar," Go said, adding that a stricter implementation of the quarantine in Metro Manila may be considered if Duterte decides to extend it.

As for updates regarding government assistance to vulnerable sectors, Go said that the Department of Social Welfare and Development is prioritizing the provision of the social amelioration program (SAP) assistance to the most affected sectors.

"Ganito po 'yun, 'yung lahat ng inuuna ng DSWD, 'yung SAP na natatanggap ng informal sector. 'Yung ika nga daily wage earner, sila ang inuuna. Kaya lang may ilan pang hindi nabibigyan ng tulong kaya dito na pumasok ang Department of Labor and Employment," Go said.

The Senator is referring to the DOLE's COVID-19 Adjustment Measures Program (CAMP) which provides qualified beneficiaries a one-time financial assistance of PhP5,000 and employment facilitation services.

Go also advised employees of micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) that the government will also implement the Small Business Wage Subsidy (SBWS) program through the Department of Finance and the Social Security System to help the lower middle class.

"Nag-appeal tayo sa Department of Finance para naman sa mga MSMEs na registered. May mahigit three million na may data so makatatanggap din sila," he added.

To avoid duplication and to ensure that more Filipinos benefit from various government programs, Go said that the beneficiaries of the subsidy program for MSME employees must be different from the eighteen million families being assisted by programs under DSWD, and must not also overlap with those affected workers already being assisted by DOLE.

Meanwhile, Go warned irresponsible recipients of the government's social amelioration program to use the assistance conscientiously to benefit their families, otherwise, they will be disqualified from receiving additional aid from the government.

"'Yung mga nahuling nagsusugal, nagsasabong, may pera naman pala kayong pang pusta, marami pala kayong pagkain. 'Yung mga bumibili lang ng shabu, maawa naman kayo. Marami pang 'di nakakatanggap. Kayo ang nabigyan ng una, maawa na lang kayo sa inyong mga anak," Go said.

Go said that while the government is implementing strict measures to make sure that families stay at home, law enforcers will also not hesitate to apprehend those who intentionally disobey the guidelines and put not only themselves but their community at harm.

"Kung baga, kinukulong po natin mga tao sa bahay nila pero sinisigurado rin natin na hindi sila magugutom... para hindi magkagulo. Pero 'yung mga pasaway, pwedeng ikulong talaga sa kulungan tapos ma-disqualify na makatanggap (ng ayuda)," he said.

Go asked the public for their full cooperation in order for the country to 'flatten the curve' and stop the further spread of the virus as soon as possible.

"Nakikiusap ako sa lahat, just stay at home. Huwag na lumabas para 'di magkahawahan dahil the more kayo na lumabas, mas wala pong katapusan ito... tuwing may positive, mas lalong nakakadagdag pa po ito sa trabaho ng health workers. Magmalasakit po tayo sa kapwa nating Pilipino. Magtulungan at magbayanihan tayo para mas mabilis nating malampasan ang krisis na ito," Go said.