Two lawmakers from the House of Representatives are proposing to put the entire Metro Manila on lockdown due to the rising number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Metro Manila.
House Minority Leader Bienvenido Abante Jr. said that the government should consider implementing “drastic measures” to prevent further spread of the virus.
“At this point, all options should be on the table given that the National Capital Region is the most densely populated area in the country,” Abante in a statement.
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House Committee on Ways and Means chairperson Joey Salceda also agrees that the city should be on lockdown.
“Yung 10 cases sa Metro Manila eh. So kung may mangyari magkaroon ng case outside Manila, galing yun sa Metro Manila. Napaka-simple lang naman niyan. Sara mo SLEX, NLEX, yung railways, no domestic flights, no bus trips,” Salceda said.
Since the government already placed the country under a state of public health emergency, mandatory quarantine can now be enforced.
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“It also says that outbreaks of disease are more frequent and more severe when the population density is high, which happens to be the case in Metro Manila, particularly my district,” Abante said.
“Whatever precautions we take, while guarding the health of the public, should not result in the paralysis of the country,” he added.
Salceda, on the other hand, warns about the economic impact of COVID-19.
“You may also declare work stoppage in Metro Manila. Kasi nandoon ang congregation ng mass transmission,” he said.
“Mas mahal sa ekonomiya kung magkaroon tayo nito,” he added.
