Approaching the beginning of the one-month ‘community quarantine’ of the whole Metro Manila, the hashtag #MMLockdown was trending on social media platform Twitter.
Also called popularly as a lockdown since government officials talked in the last week about whether or not a lockdown will be implementend following confirmation of local transmission of COVID-19 and a Philippine National Police conference notice citing ‘lockdown in certain areas in NCR’ as agenda went rounds on social media on March 13.
Tweets were divided between those who are airing their concerns and questions, tweets of those who are in favor and those against the ‘lockdown.’
Some tweets give out information, ask questions, air concerns or make memes on the ‘community quarantine.’
Just this morning, while I was on my way from the hospital, saw this manong letting his daughter facemask, tapos siya WALA. ??
THIS IS MISSING FROM DIGONG'S SPEECH! He forgot to mention how the govt can assist the poor and the homeless in this time of #Covid_19PH ?#MMLockdown pic.twitter.com/Q71bFDpZ7F— ??? ????? ? (@ceegreeen14) March 15, 2020
How can government officials say that the “curfew” report is ‘fake news’, when it came from them too? #covid19 #mmlockdown
— Karen Davila (@iamkarendavila) March 14, 2020
I’m still worried for those who left Manila before the community quarantine, what if may dala silang virus e umuwi sila ng province? Self quarantine guys, don’t risk your loved ones and even the people sa province. Huwag tayo maging selfish. #MMLockdown
— deʍigod¹⁹⁹⁶ (@ultkjn16) March 15, 2020
Pinoys trying to escape Metro Manila on Day 1 of #MMLockdown and landing at a checkpoint on the border of Laguna pic.twitter.com/RxN4vLPug5
— Ganns Deen (@ganns) March 15, 2020
I thought the lockdown was supposed to qurantine the carriers in the Metro, but everyone's panicking to go back to their provinces. No one is containing the virus!!!! ???#MMlockdown
— Jowneeey (@jowneeey) March 14, 2020
Masuwerte tayong pupuwedeng mag-work from home.
Kawawa ang mga kababayan nating “no work, no pay”.#Covid_19PH #MMlockdown
— James Art Enciso (@JmzEnciso) March 14, 2020
While waiting for bus in Cubao
May lumapit sa aminAte: ate, pahingi po ng pambili ko ng facemask ng anak ko, kahit barya lang po, huhulihin daw po kami ng mga pulis pero pano po yan wala po kaming bahay at mask.
Fuckn’ heartbreaking Scenario!#lockdown #MMlockdown
— xxyzahxx (@GxxYp) March 14, 2020
Hindi lang COVID-19 ang dapat katakutan sa mga taong sa probinsya’y nagsisiuwian dahil hindi natin alam kung may trabaho pa silang mababalikan.
Keep safe everyone! #COVID19 #MMLockdown
— James Art Enciso (@JmzEnciso) March 13, 2020
Wow. Just realized that the term “social disctancing” was also used in this movie.
Similarities are eerie.#CoVid19 #WuhanCoronavirus #MMLockdown #NcoV #Contagion
— cottonmouth85 (@cottonmouth85) March 13, 2020
the striking difference #MMLockdown pic.twitter.com/ARmKsDRp0S
— jsh (@johnjoshcarillo) March 15, 2020
That is so… out of touch #MMLockdown https://t.co/rqQRD51Ibn
— Quarantina Aguilera #WashYourHands (@yogawithben) March 13, 2020
Ang worry ko lang if malls will be closed. Madaming mawawalan ng trabaho.
They will be on no work, no pay. Paano ang pagkain ang bills nila???!!! #MMLockdown— Angelo Gallardo (@gelogallardo) March 14, 2020
My concern on #MMLockdown :
1. Yung mga kababayan natin na hinahanap pa yung pangkain nila sa pang-araw-araw, paano na?
2. May aide ba from the local and national government?
— Roj Razon 그래서 사랑 (@rojrazon) March 13, 2020
There are those in favor of the ‘lockdown’ as the means to curb the spread of COVID-19.
Mother earth is healing from all of us, Humans ? #PrayForPhilippines #Covid_19PH #MMLockdown pic.twitter.com/D51WVUVONR
— Nad Corella (@NadCorella) March 15, 2020
No more "dada" our government needs our cooperation more than our opinions.
Praying for everyone! It'll be over soon. In Jesus name! #MMLockdown
— ✨ (@blssrpntg) March 14, 2020
hard lesson learned by Italy amid covid-19 virus crisis.
“Don’t make the same mistakes like we did here in Italy.” — Milan-based Pinay writes open letter to Filipinos back home#MMLockdown #Covid_19PH pic.twitter.com/zveySKG5Gk
— JS (@jashmeow) March 14, 2020
There are those who find the ‘lockdown’ useless or are against it as so far the biggest or widest implemented measure of the government against the COVID-19 spread.
MASS HYSTERIA
PANIC BUYING
MORE DEATHSSOLUTIONS
—Deploy GUN-WAVING men
—Conjure up images of MARTIAL LAW, WARRANTLESS arrests, EJKs
—Use #MMLockdown as FREE RECRUITMENT AD for AFP/PNP
—IMPOSE CURFEW
—TAKE CURFEW back
—more CONFUSIONCOVID19 WON'T KILL US—GOVT INACTION WILL!?
— Francis Baraan IV (@MrFrankBaraan) March 14, 2020
The lockdown is useless. THOUSANDS of potential carriers have fled to the provinces already. But you can't really blame them. Why are they panicking in the first place? #MMLOCKDOWN ? https://t.co/QwLcNw9f6G
— Marco (@zaplanmarco) March 14, 2020
I’m honestly so scared. It never crossed my mind that I’ll live to see the day that our freedom to do anything will be limited like this. We don’t know what will happen for the next couple of months, but I hope this ends the soonest. Please take care. ? #MMLockdown
— Patty (@pattyvinculado) March 14, 2020
There are also tweets criticizing government response to COVID-19 that has now led to the ‘lockdown’ and others suggest an alternative to the ‘lockdown.’
This govt clearly doesnt know shit and also has no plan, structure or kahit ano pa
Curfew then no curfew
Checkpoint tas police visibility na lang pala
Come on man! Step up naman. Shit.
Goodluck talaga #mmlockdown #ncov_19 #Covid_19PH— Peter (@p_victorious12) March 14, 2020
PROACTIVE: ACTING EARLY—taking steps to PREVENT a thing from BECOMING a BIG prob.
REACTIVE: ACTING LATE—taking steps ONLY AFTER a thing is already a BIG prob.PROACTIVE is registering to vote for 2022 to prevent ANOTHER REACTIVE DUTERTE/ALLY from becoming a BIG PROB.#MMLockdown
— Francis Baraan IV (@MrFrankBaraan) March 15, 2020
At first the they say it's a community quarantine not a lockdown but in their presscons they all use the word lockdown and start screaming. Curfew is imposed but no guidelines yet. Why do a presscon without guidelines? This will only make the citizens panic. #mmlockdown
— Gina A. Policarpio (@gapolicarpio) March 14, 2020
If we just use 1/3 of Duterte's Intelligence Funds (1.5/4.5B), we will produce more than 1M U.P. #Covid19 test kits good for 100 days @ 10k tests/day like what they did in South Korea, a more effective solution than #MMLockdown. #CoronaVirus #Covid_19PH https://t.co/s8M28NGwOL pic.twitter.com/mQ9ifLsoWO
— Dino Manrique ? (@filipinowriter) March 15, 2020
Curiously, THE PURGE was also trending on Twitter in relation to the ‘lockdown’ in Metro Manila.
wow may countdown ano to the purge https://t.co/WMSV8FAID3
— angry girl (@jasmists) March 14, 2020
And so the purge begins. May the odds be ever in your favor. Char! #MMLockdown
Ingat po kayong lahat. Obey and Pray! GOD BLESS MAHAL KONG PILIPINAS! pic.twitter.com/MPWX6agj9P
— officialfuranko (@officialfuranko) March 14, 2020
Dude why is 'The purge' trending in PH this is creepy lol#MMLockdown #Covid_19PH pic.twitter.com/SrhM1VikVe
— #恋つづ ?? (@Lyoonhan) March 14, 2020
The ‘community quarantine’ started at March 15 12am and will end on May 14 11:59pm. Twelve million people residing in Metro Manila will be restricted from leaving the region during this period, while three million workers in the capital region residing in nearby provinces will be allowed entry with presentation of their ID and proof of employment.
Many questions about the ‘lockdown’ have yet to be answered. All the guidelines from various agencies have yet to be collated. Various local government unit councils in Metro Manila are expected to issue an ordinance on curfew of 8pm to 5pm for the duration of the community quarantine, following the recommendation or resolution of the Metro Manila Council (MMC). The MMC is the governing board and policy making body of the Metro Manila Development Authority, composed of the mayors of the cities and municipalities.
Questions about the movement of those who wish to fetch loved ones arriving in the international airport in Manila since international flights are still allowed have been repeatedly asked over various media platforms. Questions about government aid and economic effects to all those who will lose work, income or business due to the one month ‘community quarantine’ have also yet to be addressed.
