Angara backs barangay-based quarantine instead of extended ECQ

Angara, a COVID-19 survivor, said he hopes that the Inter-Agency Task Force for Emerging Infectious Disease (IATF-EID) would consider a barangay-based quarantine instead of enforcing the ECQ which is set to end on Thursday next week.

But he said it is important for the government to ensure there would be an extensive information campaign regarding a barangay-based quarantine in order to avoid public confusion.

“It’s important that the people know the do’s and don’ts about this,” Angara said in an interview over DZRH. “I think before they impose it, the DILG should conduct a massive information campaign first before doing it.”

Apart from the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), Angara said the Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO), Department of Health (DOH), and other government agencies should utilize their budget for this information campaign.

Under a barangay-based quarantine, village officials would be tasked to strictly implement quarantine procedures and more importantly, social distancing.

“Tapos very strict implementation on the ground. Kasi, kumbaga ang mga sundalo mo rito yung mga barangay officials, mga tanod (The implementation on the ground must be very strict. Because your soldiers here would be the barangay officials),” Angara said.

Angara warned that having a long-term ECQ would pose a huge problem for the whole country, especially the economy.

That is why, he said, he hopes Filipinos would strictly heed the call of the government to strictly stay indoors while the Luzon-wide ECQ is in place.

“Yung long term quarantine, medyo mahihirapan tayo. Pero yung sinasasbi ni Pangulo, maaaring mangyari yan sa ibang lugar at sa ibang mga barangay kung talagang very poor ang enforcement ng mga barangay and local government officials (Having a long-term quarantine would be difficult for all of us.

But, as the President has said, this can be imposed in some parts of the country and in barangays where there is poor enforcement of the ECQ),” he said. “Pwede na dyan pumasok ang national government para i-enforce yung maayos na pamamalakad ng quarantine (At that time, the national government can take over to enforce better quarantine procedures).” (Content reposted from Manila Bulletin)

 IN PHOTO: Senator Sonny Angara ( From FACEBOOK/MANILA BULLETIN) 

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