Presidential Peace Adviser Carlito Galvez Jr., the chief implementer of the national action plan versus Covid-19. (Source: Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process)
The chief implementer of the government’s coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) response is discouraging the calls to reopen malls while the threat of the virus is still high saying this might trigger a second wave of infections in the country.
Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. said in an interview on Dobol B sa News TV that he is against the proposed reopening of malls while Luzon is still on an enhanced community quarantine.
“Sa personal opinion ko, kapag binuksan agad natin ang mga mall posibleng magkaroon ng second wave ng COVID-19,” he said.
Presidential Adviser on Entrepreneurship Joey Concepcion earlier proposed to allow malls to gradually operate, especially stores with high consumer demands.
He also proposed to grant the operations of public transport, construction, and all manufacturing activities.
Earlier, business tycoon Teresita Sy-Coson of the SM group also proposed to the government that businesses be allowed to gradually resume at 50% capacity once the lockdown lapses to boost employment opportunities which have been at a standstill due to the pandemic.
“If all the industries can start operating 50% including the transport with all the medical precautions like making test kits more available and disinfecting measures and sanitation safeguards, then we can gradually increase the employment including the returning OFWs who are adding to our number of unemployment,” Sy-Coson said in a statement.
However, Galvez blocked the proposal saying, “Kapag binuksan natin ang lahat ng negosyo maaaring malagay sa [alanganin] ang kalusugan ng mamayan.”
Members of the Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases have decided that “we cannot rush the normalcy,” according to Galvez.
If the government, on the other hand, supported the proposal and adjusted the Luzon-wide enhanced community quarantine to “selective quarantine,” the Cabinet official stated that the “new normal” will be strictly implemented in selected areas.
“New normal is social distancing, wearing [of] masks, protecting elders… and big congregations wala na muna ‘yan,” he noted.
“‘Yung mga i-o-open natin na mga negosyo kailangan responsable sa kanilang mga employee at kanilang mga buyer,” he said.
“Dapat hindi lang government ang nag-a-adjust. Dapat pati ang private sector,” he added.
The Luzon-wide enhanced community quarantine is set to be lifted on April 30. (RJ Espartinez)