Vice President Leni Robredo said Monday Metro Manila's third lockdown in 17 months will succeed only if it's 15-day stretch is used to ramp measures against COVID-19.
Often criticized by President Rodrigo Duterte for offering alternatives to pandemic response, Robredo said the government should keep an open mind so that suggestions don't get "lost in propaganda".
Lockdowns shouldn't be the "end-all" solution, the Vice President said. Without ramped up testing and contact-tracing, things are bound to remain the same after restrictions are loosened.
"The ECQ from August 6 to 15 will be good but it will be good only if the agencies or the people involved will make sure all the things they have to do during quarantine will be done. Kung wala naman, totoong nacontrol mo yung transmission to a certain degree, pero 'pag [ni-lift] mo yung ECQ, ganon pa rin," she said in an episode of Wake Up with Jim and Saab podcast.
"Halimbawa when we did the first ECQ last year, nung March, I was all for it. Pero kasi para sakin 'yung ECQ sana it was the time for the government to ramp up testing, ramp up contact tracing, make sure that our hospitals are equipped not just with medical supplies and medical equipment but with the human resources necessary," she added.
Robredo said the Philippines should've long taken after other countries like Taiwan and Vietnam, wherein no lockdowns were implemented to contain the virus.
The curve can only be flattened completely if those in-charge can stop being "stubborn" about it and open their minds to these suggestions.
"Andami nang lessons around us eh na titignan mo nalang. 'Yung testing, pag napakataas ng positivity rate natin, lagi kami nagsasabi na ramp up testing pero nandun na kaagad sa argument na 'yung mass testing, 'di natin kaya kasi kailangan itest lahat which is not that at all," she said.
"Parang yung suggestion gets lost in the propaganda," she added.
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