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As President Rodrigo Duterte ordered the areas of Bulacan, Cavite, Laguna, Rizal, and Metro Manila to be under the stricter modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ) as the COVID-19 cases continue to spike, public figures spoke up and tweeted about their worries.
DJ Chacha pointed out that MECQ limits the availability of public transportation again. And with that, she hopes that the LGUs can provide people a way to go to their jobs safely.
Since balik MECQ na tayo, una kong naisip ang commuters dahil mababawasan ang public transpo. Sana makapag-provide ng maayos ang LGUs ng masasakyan ng mga papasok sa trabaho.
— DJ Chacha (@_djchacha) August 2, 2020
In a statement, the Department of Transportation (DOTr) said transport services will remain limited in MECQ areas, in line with the existing quarantine guidelines set by the country’s COVID-19 Inter-Agency Task Force.
The following public transport services will not be allowed under MECQ: bus, jeepney, taxi, trains (PNR, LRT-1, LRT-2, and MRT-3), and Transport Network Vehicle Service (TNVS).
Tricycles will also not be allowed, but with exceptions subject to guidelines of the Interior Department and respective local government units. The agency also assured the public that public shuttles will be provided to the frontliners and workers of permitted industries.
With that, singer Zsa Zsa Padilla hoped that the government would consider hiring jeepney drivers since they’re one of the most affected with the stricter lockdowns.
About the free transportation the government wants to give our health care workers, Sana I employ ang mga walang trabahong jeepney drivers. I pa covid test at gamitin na mag sundo point to point. Mas maraming matutulungan.
— zsa zsa padilla (@zsazsapadilla) August 3, 2020
Gary Valenciano then supported the medical workers’ plea to implement stricter guidelines when it comes to the community quarantine. He stated that he knows that people are struggling to keep their businesses alive but frontliners also need to keep people alive in this situation.
All I know is that many struggling citizens are trying to keep their businesses alive, while the exhausted frontliners are trying to keep people alive and there’s no room left in the hospitals to take any more in. Lord bless us with a compromise that will be good for all🙏🏼😔🙏🏼
— GARY VALENCIANO (@GaryValenciano1) August 3, 2020
Enchong Dee then described the current administration as “arrogant” and “stupid” as he fails to see any progress with the COVID-19 situation in the country.
The dissent & outrage of the Filipino people will continue to grow towards this arrogant & (lack of a better term) Stupid administration, simple…hindi nyo pinakikinggan kaming mga Pilipino na ninanakawan nyo ng progresibo, matiwasay, at ligtas na kinabukasan. Ang yabang nyo!
— Enchong Dee (@enchongdee777) August 3, 2020
Francine Prieto pointed out how other countries seem to be doing better when it comes to handling the pandemic, it’s simply not funny anymore to frame the pandemic as a “war” because it should not be militarized.
https://twitter.com/NorWEIRDgian/status/1289742454258769921
This is after President Duterte stated that he may deploy military medical revisits and will hold COVID-19 vaccinations in police stations.
Actress Agot Isidro also called out the president for his late state addresses and said that he “cannot handle a pandemic. She ended her tweet with #LetLeniLead which encourages Vice President Leni Robredo to lead the country instead.
A President who is always late for his meetings and public addresses CANNOT handle a pandemic.
Nasa showing up pa lang, talo na.
Oh and MECQ na naman. May plano na ba? O mamamaril na lang ng violators?#LetLeniLead
— Agot Isidro (@agot_isidro) August 2, 2020
The MECQ will last until August 18.
