(‘Pag ipinatupad ang modified ECQ) AGRI, RETAIL BUSINESS BUKSAN

DAPAT gamiting basehan ang mga naging karanasan at idinulot na aral ng pagpapatupad ng enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) sa pagbuo ng mga alituntunin sa inaasahang pagka-karoon ng ‘modified version’ ng huli sa pagpasok ng buwan ng Mayo.

Ito ang inihayag ni Marikina City 2nd District Rep. Stella Luz Quimbo, na naging professor at Department chair ng University of the Philippines School of Economics at kinatawan ng minority bloc ng Kamara sa House Committee on Economic Affairs at makapangyarihang House Appro-priations Committee.

Ayon kay Quimbo, ang ekonomiya ng bansa ang pinakamalaking epektado sa nararanasang national health crisis dulot ng patuloy na pagkalat ng coronavirus disease 2019 o COVID-19, da-hilan para ipairal ang ECQ sa buong Luzon, habang may iba ring lalawigan at lungsod sa Visayas at Mindanao ang sumunod dito.

“The economic costs of a lockdown  are substantial… we lose an average of P18-B per day in unearned wages and corporate income. And the last 40 days have taught us how to manage risks. I propose that we use lessons learned and implement a modified lockdown after April 30 on an experimental basis,” sabi pa ni Quimbo.

Una sa ilalim ng iminumungkahi ng kongresista ang pag-aalis ng ECQ sa mga lalawigang COVID-free para manumbalik  sa normal ang lahat ng economic activities doon.

“But that is subject to strict border control to prevent entry of potentially COVID infected individ-uals, continued ban of mass gatherings and implementation of social distancing protocols,” dug-tong ni Quimbo.

Para naman sa ‘not COVID-free provinces’, nais ng solon na payagang magbukas o makapag-operate ang ilang piling negosyo.

Allow selected businesses to operate provided they can create COVID-free work sites, using a mix of social distancing protocols, 14-day quarantine of workers who are housed at work site prior to commencement of work, and mandatory testing of workers if not housed at work site; subject to worker’s consent and proper protection and compensation,” sabi pa niya.

Sa ilalim ng modified ECQ,  naniniwala si Quimbo na ang mga sektor ng construction, agricul-ture at retail o wholesale businesses ay dapat nang payagan na muling makapag-operate.

“Industries that can provide worker housing include construction. Industries that can practice so-cial distancing include farming. Retailers and wholesalers that can sell through online platforms can proceed, if cargo is allowed.” dagdag pa ng kongresista. ROMER R. BUTUYAN