Lawmakers on Thursday cited the importance for media to give equal prominence to the positive developments with regard to the China virus outbreak to inspire people to unite, contribute to the global fight against the dreaded virus, and help quell panic.
House Majority Leader and Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez, Cavite Rep. Elpidio Barzaga Jr., Deputy Speaker and Batangas Rep. Raneo Abu joined Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano in his appeal to media to be prudent by putting context to COVID-19 report and help quell panic.
“It is very important to give equal prominence to the positive developments especially on patients whose conditions are improving or recovered from COVID-19. We have to bring the people one and united and equal reporting of good news will be an important factor to make a huge difference and ensure the success of our fight against the dreaded virus,” said Romualdez, chairman of the House committee on rules and President of the Philippine Constitution Association (Philconsa).
“Putting emphasis to positive developments will increase people’s hope and optimism that this problem shall pass and better days are coming ahead,” said Barzaga, President of the National Unity Party (NUP) and chairman of the House committee on natural resources.
Abu said good news “will help quell panic among Filipinos and motivate them to contribute to government’s fight against the dreaded disease.”
For their part, Reps. Fidel Nograles of Rizal and Esmael Mangudadatu of Maguindanao appealed calls for compassion for others as well as cooperation and adherence to government directives as the pandemic CoVid-19 continues to spread in Luzon and now parts of Mindanao.
Nograles said all sectors must cooperate with the authorities and abide by the measures imposed to contain the spread of Covid-19 that came from China. He also called on the people of Rizal province to do their part in the wake of President Rodrigo Duterte’s decision to place the whole of Metro Manila under a month-long “enhanced community quarantine” or lockdown.
“I am appealing to the residents of Rizal to cooperate with the measures that the government has implemented. This will all pass,” said Nograles.
Mangudadatu said that while he understands the troubles and woes of informal workers and small business owners, he said “more patience and prayers during this medical crisis is much more needed.”
“While this is the time to strictly follow government warnings, I also appeal for Filipinos to exercise compassion towards others in these very trying times,” he said.
This developed as Assistant Majority Leader and Quezon City Rep. Precious Castelo proposed a one-month waiver of payments people owe government institutions and private establishments.
“Since President Duterte has placed the country under a state of calamity for six months, I am proposing a national payment holiday for 30 days to help our people through the enhanced community quarantine. Desperate times call for desperate measures,” Castelo said.
Castelo said all payments to government agencies like the Social Security System, Government Service Insurance System, Pag-ibig Fund, and Philhealth should be scrapped during the quarantine period.
Such payments should include loan amortizations and premium contributions, she said.
“Those state institutions can afford to forego such remittances because they have hundreds of billions in funds,” Castelo said.
She said there should also be a waiver on rentals for apartments and other dwelling units, and for commercial space in private establishments like malls.
Public utilities like Meralco, Maynilad, Manila Water, Globe, PLDT-Smart, and Internet service providers, as well as operators of toll roads such as the North Luzon Expressway, South Luzon Expressway and the NAIA road network should likewise let go of payments for one month, she said.