President Rodrigo Duterte has placed Metro Manila under community quarantine from March 15 until April 12, 2020 to stop the spread of COVID-19 or also known as coronavirus.
Right on the first day of the quarantine both GMA and ABS-CBN personalities have shown concern towards poor families.
Actress Rita Avila is worried about the less fortunate families who still need to pay utility bills, rental fees and hope that everyone with excess stocks could share their blessings to these people, as they are the ones who need thorough aid.
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Kapuso star Kiray Celis was worried about people who peddle goods on the street to make a living.
Yung mga nasa office, pwede magwork at home. Yung ibang trabaho, kahit hindi magwork.. bayad sila ngayong lockdown. Paano kaya yung mga taong nagtitinda ng taho? Ng binatog? Naglalako ng mga panlinis, pabango sa sasakyan? Paano yung mga nagtratrabaho sa lansangan? Paano kaya? 🙁
— Kiray Celis (@kiraycelis) March 15, 2020
Filipino-indie singer Bullet Dumas stated that the lockdown and social distancing are only applicable to upper and middle classes who worry about which series on Netflix to watch, unlike the lower class who struggle every day to put food on the table for their families.
Lockdown and social distancing are for the middle and upper classes only. How about the lower class? We need mass testing. Akala ko ba ayaw natin sa elitista rule? Nag-aalala ka sa susunod mong tv series habang sila nag-aalala sa kakainin bukas.
Ah, wala daw namamatay sa gutom.
— Bullet Dumas (@bulletdumas) March 15, 2020
Filmmaker Antoinette Jadaone and Atom Araullo stressed out that “privileged” people should be thankful as the lower class has no options but to make ends meet despite the Metro Manila lockdown, just like what happened to motorbikers, delivery personnel who have been in line for 3 consecutive hours just to get through San Jose Del Monte.
Make no mistake about it: social distancing is a privilege. Kung kaya nating lumagi sa bahay, kumain pa rin nang tama, mag-Tiktok pa nga minsan, maswerte tayo. Ipagpasalamat natin ang pribilehiyong ito. Pero ganun na lang ba talaga? Pag okay tayo, okay na? Paano naman sila? https://t.co/EHBCKhDb7D
— Toñet (@tonetjadaone) March 16, 2020
Checkpoint situation in San Jose Del Monte, Bulacan. Definitely not ideal for social distancing. Some people have been in line for 3 hours. Only 3 thermal scanners are being used here. pic.twitter.com/kltLTW0ZfD
— Atom Araullo (@atomaraullo) March 16, 2020
Meanwhile, Juan Miguel Severo who is known for being outspoken, suggests employers to provide an emergency allowance to avoid employees risking their lives just to make a living, and remind people to stay out of the street and keep themselves locked inside of their homse.
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Angel Locsin explained why there are still people who risk their lives on the streets to go to work despite the Metro Manila lockdown and social distancing policy given by the President. According to Angel, those people consist of contractual workers, self-employed with no assurance of earning sufficient funds to put food on the table for their families. Angel also emphasized that if only the government can provide financial support, these workers no longer need to risks their lives of being infected by the virus.
She emphasized the importance of putting a temporary stop on amortizations and loans, as people can use these funds to buy food and other necessities.
Angel said: “Marami rin po sa kanila ay mga contractual workers, mga self-employed, maliliit na manininda na walang tiyak na kita sa araw-araw at baon sa utang.
“Kung matitiyak lang po sana ng ating pamahalaan na may financial support para sa kanila, hindi nila kelangang sumugal sa labas. Malaking bagay din kung may temporary stop on amortizations and loans o kahit pagtanggal sa interest & penalties.
“Sana rin ay magbigay ng consideration ang mga kumpanya ng basic utilities like kuryente at tubig bilang kawang-gawa sa mga mahihirap na apektado ng dislocation sa trabaho. Sa mga companies na tumulong sa mga empleyado, sana bigyan po ng tax break para wag malubog ang mga kumpanya.”
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