By 12 noon, in the press briefing of Presidential Spokesperson Atty. Harry Roque, the public finally learned of the fate of whether their areas of residence will still be part of the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) or the general community quarantine (GCQ) or “new normal”, a more relaxed version of the lockdown. A new term was introduced, however, where Metro Manila, Laguna and Cebu City was placed under “modified enhanced community quarantine” (MECQ) until May 31. The second extension of the ECQ in Metro Manila was supposed to end on May 15.

The guidelines for the MECQ is yet to be announced tomorrow, but the general rule is “stay at home” while some businesses and parts of the economy will be opened up and classes are still suspended.

Anakbayan Metro Manila decried the lockdown and its extension as anti-poor or anti-people and that it has so far has only aggravated the problems of the people.

They decried the still incomplete distribution of “selective” (only 30% of families at city/province level but only around 20% at the barangay level) and first “meagre” (less than a month’s minimum wage) financial aid from the government.

The group said, “Instead of our problems being solved, the government’s failing response to the pandemic has given rise to more and more problems to the people and the country. Loss of jobs, incomes, opportunities, lives lost, and a whole lot of foreign debt, to name only a few.”

The group also asserted that the imposition of the lockdown was not based on scientific findings to begin with.

“The imposition of the lockdown to begin with did not proceed from scientific findings and exhaustion of medical interventions after which if they found needing, a cordon sanitaire may be thought to be imposed to “prevent the spread of the disease” and not just “prevent the movement of people.” Just social distancing and isolation have been attributed to “flattening the curve.”, said the group.

The group said the government chose to impose a lockdown sans exhaustion of medical interventions because they knew the long-neglected health system cannot handle the pandemic.

“Just 0.1% of the population getting infected would surpass the number of beds in the country—not ICU beds, but hospital beds. The lockdown was imposed when we had around 52 cases, 3 deaths and 1,000 tests. Now we have 11,086 cases and 726 deaths,” they added.

The group said the government is inclined to extend the lockdown as long as it will not conduct mass testing.

“Roque kept on harping that the decision was made on “scientific basis.” How can that be? There is still no mass testing, and the government continue to lead people on testing and lab targets they continue to miss. And then they would eventually decide to extend, extend, extend, because there is not anything else they can do to not completely fail and lose control?” said the group.

Many found the MECQ or lockdown extension useless as long as there is no mass testing after three and a half months after the first COVID-19 case in the country and almost two months of lockdown.

 

Some again also hit at government making up terms with the introduction of MECQ.

 

Government said they have reached the 8,000 target testing capacity yesterday; 10 days later than their target date. Next government testing target is at 20,000 by May 15 and 30,000 by May 30. Roque said in his press briefing that this target can be achieved if the government reaches its target of more than 70 labs this month. There are currently only 26 testing labs in the country; only three added since last week when such target was announced.

Many likened the wait for the government decision on who remained under total lockdown  as that of a pageant and those who remained in the strictest version of the lockdown the “winner.”

 

Presser to announce presser to announce presser 

Malacañang announced days ago that the government will announce on Monday whether ECQ will be extended or lifted or modified.

Going into midnight on Monday, no president speech was aired at it was announced to air today at 8am.

President Rodrigo Duterte’s speech aired at 8am, lasted for more than 45 minutes, but did not say which areas will remain under ECQ and mostly rambled about the New People’s Army (NPA), drawing public ire.

They announced again that the decision will be announced by Roque at noon. But another virtual presser is needed and scheduled tomorrow to announce the MECQ guidelines.

The extension was usually announced the extension a week earlier to give people more time to adjust and prepare.

 

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