Manila Bulletin
Romualdez supports enhanced quarantine as 'bitter pill' for the nation's survival
House Majority Leader Martin Romualdez supports President Duterte's decision to place Metro Manila and Luzon under enhanced community quarantine (ECQ).
Romualdez described the ECQ as a necessary "bitter pill to swallow" for the nation's survival against the spread of COVID-19.
He urged the public to set aside politics and unite to find solutions to stop the virus's spread and ensure family safety.
Romualdez assured that Congress is in close coordination with the executive branch to identify ways to minimize the economic and social costs of the lockdown scenario.
House ways and means committee chair Joey Salceda said the enhanced quarantine would deny the coronavirus room to spread and help ensure the country's health system is not overwhelmed by cases.
Salceda added that the lockdown would save lives and the economy, stating it could save 1,565 lives while decreasing GDP by only 2.95 percent compared to a no-lockdown scenario which could kill 4.13 percent of GDP.
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President Duterte apologized for the enhanced community quarantine in Luzon but defended it as a necessary measure to combat the COVID-19 outbreak.
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The entire island of Luzon is under an enhanced community quarantine from March 17 to April 13 to curb the spread of COVID-19, with strict home quarantine for over 53 million residents and increased police and military presence at checkpoints.
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Metro Manila is under a 30-day community quarantine from March 15 to April 14, 2020, to curb the spread of COVID-19.
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Senator Panfilo Lacson urged Filipinos to unite and support the Metro Manila community quarantine, viewing it as a necessary government action to combat the COVID-19 crisis.
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President Duterte directed all local government units (LGUs) in Luzon to strictly adhere to the national government's guidelines for the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ), warning that non-compliance could lead to administrative and criminal charges.
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