‘HINDI PA HANDA’ | Lacking guidelines delays granular lockdowns experiment, admits NTF

September 8, 2021 , 09:33 AM

By Beatrice Puente

(September 8, 2021) – Metro Manila is not yet ready for an experimental system of granular lockdowns due to a lack of clear guidelines on how it will be carried out, the spokesperson of the National Task Force against COVID-19 (NTF) said on Tuesday.

Restituto Padilla, a retired military general, admitted that the technical team formulating the rules has yet to finish its process as local officials and healthcare workers raise concerns over the latest lockdown plan, coinciding with the general community quarantine (GCQ).

“‘Di pa handa ang environment natin para sa pagpapatupad ng isang GCQ with a pilot granular lockdown concept pati na ‘yung alert level na ‘di pa naiintindihan ng marami,” said Padilla on One News’ The Chiefs.

Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque on Tuesday evening revoked the government’s initial decision to ease Metro Manila to GCQ at a time when COVID-19 cases have been rising in record numbers. He said the modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ) will remain in place until September 15.

But Roque added the new lockdown system, which comes with storm-like alert levels, might start any time once details have been ironed out, possibly sparking more confusion from the public.

Asked why it was announced despite unclear guidelines, Padilla said he could not “speak on behalf of the issuing authority.” It was Department of Trade and Industry secretary Ramon Lopez who first announced that the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) has already approved the granular lockdowns.

“What is clear to us is we sought for guidance and we did not get it because it’s not ready. ‘Yun ‘yung sa panig namin kasi ang NTF ang nagpapatupad ng kung anong bumababa galing sa IATF,” said Padilla.

The government wants to experiment with the concept to localize the lockdowns on barangays and streets, passing the responsibilities to local government units which have already been strained for the past year due to the health crisis.

If the new system would push through, the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) already ruled out the possibility of granting cash aid due to possible crowding at distribution centers, “defeating the purpose” of granular lockdowns. DILG will hand out food packs instead.

Doctors and other medical professionals have raised serious concerns about the proposed system due to the overwhelming COVID-19 cases in hospitals. Many fear that the country’s pandemic situation will get worse if the government insists on carrying out the new policy.

Padilla said the appeals from healthcare workers might have also affected the government’s decision to cancel the implementation of the new scheme, at least for now.

“‘Yung katanungan at hiling ng health workers na naglabas ng hinaing, maaring nakarating na rin sa mga kinauukulang dapat makarinig kaya nag-adjust tayo at ito naman ay most welcome kasi ‘di pa handa,” admitted Padilla.

(PM)

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