Support For Lockdown Extension Snowballs

Concepcion says business groups want 2 more weeks of quarantine; Robredo, Go, Lopez also back move

- Bernie Cahiles-magkilat, Mario B. Casayuran, And Leslie Ann G. Aquino

Presidential Adviser for Entrepreneurship and Go Negosyo founder Joey Concepcion on Monday said that more than 90 percent of entrepreneurs, business owners, and executives of large and medium conglomerates support the extension of the Luzon lockdown for another two weeks.

The two-week extension of the lockdown may be used to prepare for the implementation of barangay quarantines and provide ample time to develop and establish a more sustainable mitigation system, which will follow the guidelines provided for by the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging infectious Disease (IATF), Concepcion said.

He said the barangay quarantine approach, if successful, can be used continuously until a cure is found. Majority want to avoid a possible relapse and ensure a definitive flattening of the curve.

Concepcion said that among all the recommendations presented, the extension of the enhanced community quarantine in Luzon was deemed the most important in the consultative meeting between the private sector and the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) on April 5, 2020. The meeting was attended by NEDA Secretary Ernesto Pernia, Trade and Industry Secretary Ramon Lopez, and heads of conglomerates and business chambers.

“We have been on enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) for almost 3 weeks. Despite the negative economic impact, it seems that we are left with no choice but to ensure that this current lockdown be worthwhile and successful. Thus, we strongly support the government in its plans of extending the Luzon lockdown for another two weeks to avoid relapse, which may result in more damages,” says Concepcion.

Secretary Lopez said a two-week extension of the enhanced community quarantine in Luzon is necessary to avoid a relapse and lose the gains from the lockdown.