Albay Rep. Joey Salceda, House ways and means committee chair, stated last Mar. 9 that the national government should consider a Metrowide lockdown in order to stop the growing transmission of the disease.
“The lockdown of NCR should not be off the table if needed to slow down the transmission of COVID-19,” he told reporters. “During epidemics, everyone is a suspect, thus the need for isolation shock.” He argues that China quarantined Wuhan where the virus started, and that Italy is also placing the Lombardy region under lockdown.
“In NCR, where all cases are, aside from no classes, there should be work stoppage for at least one week. No bus trips, no domestic flights, close [South Luzon/North Luzon expressways] and railways, and therefore, everybody in Metro Manila should have a grand staycation,” he adds.
While these suggestions may prove ideal in order to stop the spread of the coronavirus, other elements of society may be affected by this drastic proposal. The economy would be greatly affected as businesses are already experiencing the toll of the virus since customers are no longer going out to shop or dine. Political processes will be put on a halt which will cause inconvenience for the number of legal cases that have to be handled as soon as possible.
Workers, especially those who have their own businesses, will have to experience a drought in their income as there will be no people to buy their products or avail their services. While those working white-collar jobs may find this proposal helpful, workers who earn through an hourly wage, street vendors, public transportation drivers and others of the like will not have any earnings for the week and may not be able to provide the necessary food, medicine, and other precautions for themselves and their families.
The growing number of coronavirus cases is indeed something that we should be profoundly cautious of. However, a Metro Manila lockdown, no matter how ideal, may not be as effective here in the Philippines. With the need to earn in the face of poverty and other economical and political factors, pushing for a “staycation” (as privileged as that may sound!) in the Metro must follow a comprehensive and strict set of rules that would take too long to implement.
In the meantime, it’s best to stay vigilant individually. Take all the precautions from the World Health Organization to avoid the virus such as washing your hands regularly, wearing a face mask or staying at home if you are sick, and virus-proofing your house. It is also best to maintain a strong immune system and proper hygiene.
Header photo courtesy of Marianne Bermudez from Inquirer.net
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Writer: THEA TORRES
