Former Vice President Jejomar Binay on Tuesday lauded President Rodrigo Duterte for making the right decision not to relax the community quarantine restriction level in Metro Manila.
“The national leadership deserves to be recognized for making the right decision,” Binay said in a statement.
The National Economic and Development Authority earlier recommended to place the entire country under Modified General Community Quarantine status to reopen the economy, saying it would mitigate hunger, poverty, and unemployment.
Duterte, however, on Monday said the shift to MGCQ will have to wait until the vaccine rollout starts.
Binay said the public’s health and welfare should always be the priority of the government.
“If only the administration acted with the same focus, efficiency and resolve early last year, we would not be in the sordid situation we are in now,” he said.
Binay said the record-high hunger, poverty and unemployment rate can be attributed to the administration’s failure to immediately contain the virus early last year.
“The ideal scenario is for government to relax quarantine restrictions alongside an infusion of economic relief and the mass vaccination of citizens,” he said.
The former vice president said Bangladesh, Nepal, Pakistan, Cambodia have already started vaccinating their citizens.
“They may be poorer than us, but obviously they are more efficient and adept at handling the crisis and making the welfare of their people as a priority. Tayo, nganga pa rin,” Binay said.
“The handling – or mishandling – of vaccine procurement joins the long list of examples of poor management during this pandemic,” he added.