Albay lawmaker Salceda bats for 2-week extension of COVID-19 lockdown

 

 

 

MANILA - The government should extend the enhanced community quarantine imposed over Luzon by another two weeks, Albay Representative Joey Salceda said on Sunday. 

Salceda said the Philippines is nowhere near its peak of confirmed COVID-19 cases, and that lifting the lockdown “prematurely” may result in worse problems afterward. 

Vice President Leni Robredo on Sunday also said she supported an extension of the quarantine period.

Some business groups meanwhile said a “calibrated easing” of the lockdown should be considered to cushion the impact of the virus on the economy. 

Salceda however said lifting the lockdown before measures meant to slow the spread of COVID-19 may prove disadvantageous in the long run.

“You lose a lot of lives if you lift the lockdown. You save some money, but in the long term, you lose a lot of money,” Salceda said in an interview with ANC. 

The enhanced community quarantine over Luzon is set to end after April 12.