Kabataan party-list expressed their opposition over the ‘enhanced community quarantine’ being implemented by the Duterte administration.
On a Facebook post, Kabataan said that the national government should stop the implementation of the community quarantine because it only made the Filipino suffer because of being forced to stay at their homes.
The party suggested that the government should start doing mass testing and distribute financial aid, free medicines and food to the people.
“Itigil ang pangmalawakang lockdown! Sa halip, magsagawa ng mass testing at mamahagi ng financial aid, ng libreng gamot, at ng libreng pagkain!” Kabataan stated.
“Ibigay ang lahat ng pangangailang medikal tulad ng face masks, gwantes, alkohol, at iba pang personal protective equipment ng mga health workers!” they added.
They also launched an online petition titled ‘7-point public health demands: COVID-19 action steps’.
According to their online petition, they’re pushing for:
- Deployment of health workers to the community instead of sending soldiers and police to the streets. Free sanitary items, food, testing kits and clean water to the people.
They also argued that lockdown doesn’t work to prevent COVID-19 from spreading. - More government support to the local scientist, health workers, and other medical professionals.
- Ensure the safety and job security of Filipino workers.
Companies should give the wage of their workers who were affected by the community quarantine and the government should help the people who lost their job by giving them cash transfers. - Transfering the P4.5-B budget from the Office of the President, P36-4-B from the National Task Force, and P546 from the Oplan Tokhang to fund the health sector.
- Declaration of price freeze to all basic needs.
- Ensure that there’s enough food and medicine supply in the country.
- Prevent utility companies to increase their charges to its consumers.
As of writing, the petition already reached 13,300 signs.
Kabataan party-list Rep. Sarah Elago also said that the government should stop any attempts from schools to increase their tuition fees and other charges.
“There must also be a guarantee that no tuition, other fees will increase after the disruption of classes. Moreover, Kabataan Partylist urges the Duterte administration to explore options to likewise cushion the impact of the month-long suspension on private schools,” Elago said.
The administration must undertake ways to still pay the salaries of affected teaching and non-teaching personnel. Adjustments to dates for professional licensure exams must also be made to lessen the pressure to graduate based on the current acad calendar. #SuspendOnlineClasses
— Sarah Elago (@sarahelago) March 18, 2020
Meanwhile, netizens gave their comments on the social media post of Kabataan, telling them that they’re only good at complaining.
“Magaling lang kayong bumatikos, pero pagdating sa pagtulong sa mga Kababayan natin, tulad ng ganitong krisis, nganga kayo!” netizen Garry Inofre said.
“Pahirap kayo sa policy ng bansa,,, naiisip niyo yan. Bakit d kayo manguna magbigay ng mga yan.. Kabataan din ako, pero salamat sa Panginoon kasi d ako kagaya niyo.. May goodness,” netizen Rolyline Mina commented.
“Diba may budget kayo as congressman..bakit hindi niyo gamitin para sa maralita..diba sila ang ipinaglalaban niyo..patunayan niyo ngayon kung talagang makamasa kayo!” Flora Anona remarked.