Churches, businesses slam gov’t ‘flip-flopping’ on quarantine restrictions
Government

Churches, businesses slam gov’t ‘flip-flopping’ on quarantine restrictions

Sep 8, 2021, 12:05 PM
OpinYon News Team

OpinYon News Team

News Reporter

The sudden reversal of the quarantine classifications of Metro Manila from general community quarantine to modified enhanced community quarantine proved to be a burden to many businesses that had prepared for the relaxation of quarantine rules.

THE Inter-Agency Task Force on the Management of Infectious Diseases (IATF) postponed the pilot implementation of general community quarantine (GCQ) with alert levels system in NCR, spokesperson Harry Roque announced late Tuesday (September 7).

Many had to adapt to the sudden news including the San Fernando de Dilao Parish in Paco, Manila who announced that they could not push through with public masses starting September 8

“Dahil po sa pabago-bagong desisyon ng gobyerno, hindi po muna matutuloy ang mga pampublikong misa natin bukas, September 8, at sa mga sumusnod na Linggo hanggang sa maging maayos po ang desisyon ng IATF,” their Facebook post reads.

In celebration of the Feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the parish was set to have two public celebration masses on September 8 with 10% capacity or 80 individuals.

Since its posting, the announcement has garnered over 1,000 comments and has been shared over 10,000 times with netizens applauding the seemingly exasperated tone of the announcement.

“Paco church has no chill but I agree”

“Galit yarn? nakakainis naman talaga kasi, urong-sulong”

“Huwag po tayo maging mainipin.”

“The shade on this post.”

The same irritated tone was followed by other parishes including, but not limited to, Mary Comforter of the Afflicted Parish in Pasay and the Basilica Minore de San Pedro de Bautista in Quezon City.

Even business owners like Inchang Mendoza also aired their frustration on social media.

According to the samgyupsal restaurant owner, they’ve already conducted a general meeting and store cleaning when the IATF ordered that the metro was to remain in modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ).

"Dear goverment, maawa naman kayo sa mga taong sobrang naapektuhan na nagtratrabaho ng maayos," she wrote on her post.

She was more concerned for her 27 employees citing that she can cut her losses through online selling but not all her staff could not work and earn properly.

The IATF and the Palace have been criticized continuously for their late-night Presidential address, flip-flop quarantine implementations, and mandates that only cause confusion and frustration.

The latest flip-flop ruffled even local government officials including Manila City Bureau of Permits chief Levi Facundo who urged the national government to “think thrice” before making announcements.

"Examine before proposing," Facundo said. "See if the plan is bulletproof. Plan ahead... It’s not like all these happened only last night. It’s been 16 months!”

The IATF announced Metro Manila would be placed under GCQ on September 6, despite the increasing number of daily Covid-19 patients.

The agency defended its decision saying they would introduce an alert levels system along with the implementation of “granular lockdowns” at areas with high numbers of Covid-19 cases.

Tags: #IATF, #economy, #business, #lockdown, #MetroManila, #modifiedenhancedcommunityquarantine


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