Members of KABATAAN party-list criticized the government for suspending the classes in all levels for one month amid the COVID-19 outbreak in the Philippines.
Despite the strong advice of medical experts to the Filipinos to avoid mass gatherings, the said group still held a rally to express their criticisms against the Duterte administration.
According to one of the activist, the administration doesn’t have any plans for the youth during the outbreak.
“Ang mga kabataan na tinatanaw niyong bilang pag-asa ng bayan, saan niyo kami ilalagay sa panahon ng krisis sa kalusugan? Sa paaralan ho ba? Hindi na ho dahil suspended na po ang mga klase. Isang buwan po na hindi na magkaklase ang mga kabataan. Ngunit ano ang problema dito? Napaaga po ang aming bakasyon. Wala man lang plano kung paano namin ipagpapatuloy ang aming pag-aaral sa gitna ng ganitong klase ng krisis,” the activist said.
They also criticized the quarantine measures of the Duterte administration, questioning that they’re not going to succeed in preventing the spread of COVID-19 with their current actions.
“Lima lima lang daw po ang pwedeng sumakay sa tren, pero daan daan nakapila sa labas, napakahusay ng administrasyong Duterte, pangalawa, kumain daw po kami ng masustansya, sa hanay ng maralitang kabataan, saan ho namin kukunin ang pagkain masustansya kung aming magulang mismo ay walang maiuwi,” she said.
“Pangatlo, ang pinakamagaling ng administrasyong ito sa mga kabataan, sumunod daw po kami sa mga militar, sa gitna ng krisis sa kalusugan ang kailangan ng kabataan ay pag o-organisa ng mga health workers, ng mga nurse, ng mga doktor hindi ho namin kailangan ng mga pulis at mga militar,” she added.
The video has gone viral on social media and as of writing already received 4.6-M views.
However, the Kabataan party-list seems didn’t get the support of the public as they received a tremendous amount of criticisms from the netizens.
Netizen Jeffrey Azarcon said that the members of Kabataan should not worry because they could still learn many things at home by using social media.
“Learning doesn’t just happen in the four walls of the classroom. Social media could be our platform to continue learning or shall I say online modality can be an alternative way to continue learning. Your professors are and were already instructed to find alternative ways. Also, instead of spending your allowances in other not so important things, you can use it to buy healthy foods such as veggies and fruits. Please understand what it means by “social distancing”. I am also a youth, a young professional but I don’t rant about and against the issue. Instead, I follow the instructions from the DOH on how I can prevent Covid to attack me and my family. EVERYTHING IN THIS WORLD MATTERS ON HOW WE USE OUR BRAINS!” he said.
Blogger Sass Rogando Sasot also posted a reaction on the video of Kabataan, explaining that nurses and doctors are not fit to enforce law and order during the community quarantine period.
“Anong issue nito? Galit at na-suspend ang klase? GURL WAIT FOR FURTHER INSTRUCTIONS. Bakit ka ba nagmamadali? Saan ba ang lakad?! Ateng sa Italy the security forces are also being mobilised. Anong gusto mo, ang mga doctor at nurse nasa lansangan para i-enforce ang order ng community quarantine?!!?!? Gurl, anong issue?!” Sasot said.
“Nagtatanong iyong kabataan partlylist na nag-rally kung saan daw ilalagay ang mga kabataan given na na-suspend na ang klase ng 1 month. INDAY, SA BAHAY. Yan ang sagot. SA BAHAY KA LANG. San mo ba gusto ka ilagay?! Nakakalokaaaaaaa!” she added.