President Rodrigo Duterte is not willing to lockdown the Metro Manila for now in spite of the increase of coronavirus cases in the country.
Yesterday, March 9, 2020, President Duterte declared the country under a state of public health emergency due to the coronavirus outbreak that also strikes in the country with 24 confirmed cases and one recorded fatality of a Chinese national from Wuhan China but died in the country.
In response to the call of public health emergency, the two giant television network in the country, the ABS-CBN Network and GMA Network has suspended the live studio audience. Another option to contain the spread of the virus, Albay 2nd District Joey Salceda proposes to lockdown Metro Manila.
However, report from ABS-CBN News, President Duterte do not agree to lockdown the Metro Manila as of this time. He said it’s too early for the government to lockdown as he noted that the country does not reach that kind of contamination.
“We have not reached that kind of contamination. Iisa-isa lang. With this transmission, you want to close down the economy at this time?” he said.
“There will be a time I suppose. I hope not. I hope God will have mercy on our — the Filipino people. There might be a time. Pero at this time, you want me to… It’s too early,” the president said.
According to the report, President Duterte would insure the balance between the health of the public and the economic aspect.
“Hindi ko sinasabi na bakit hintayin mo ba magkasakit lahat? It’s not that. But you have to balance…Eh wala na magpasok ng bigas, walang magpasok ng mga gasolina, i-lock down mo, patay ang…”
