Lawmakers on Wednesday appealed to the national government to reconsider banning everyone over 60 years old from going outside their homes during the imposition of the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) and general community quarantine (GCQ).
House Committee on Labor and Employment Chairman Enrico Pineda and House Committee on Senior Citizen’s Affairs Chairman Francisco Datol Jr. issued the joint statement after the ECQ guidelines, as well as GCQ guidelines released by the government disallow senior citizens from going out of residence.
“Many of our senior citizens are still strong and gainfully employed, or are active in business. We don’t need to completely disallow them from leaving their homes just because of their age,” said Pineda.
“Senior citizens also need to go outside, [or], to move around, as long as they are practicing social distancing. Especially those who live alone, we should not isolate them in their homes, as such may be detrimental to their health. They should be allowed to do their errands and work if they are still able,” added Datol.
Pineda also noted no less than the President, most members of the Supreme Court and Cabinet officials, as well as chairpersons of most companies, belong to this category.
“Key executives in corporations are seniors. Majority of Cabinet members are over 60, even President Duterte is a senior citizen. More than 100 congressmen are over 60 years old. I’m not saying that everyone should be allowed out, because many seniors do have health problems— but there should be exemptions, maybe allow those below 70 years old without any high-risk health conditions,” Pineda said.
Pineda said mandatory quarantine of senior citizens even beyond the lockdown period may be deemed inhumane at worst or ill-thought of at the least. Protecting them from Covid-19 does not justify complete disregard of their civil liberties, as well as their right for gainful employment and practice of their profession.
For his part, Kabayan Rep. Ron Salo also urged the national government to respectfully reconsider this provision to ensure that their rights are not unduly curtailed, but still ensuring the protection of their health and safety.
“They should be allowed to enjoy their freedom, subject to strict adherence to health protocols such as wearing of masks, hand sanitation, social distancing, and the like whenever they are outside their homes,” said Salo.
However, Ako Bicol Rep. Alfredo Garbin Jr. said encouraging older adults to stay at home is based on science.
“Data suggests older people are twice as likely to have serious illness from the novel coronavirus, according to the WHO,” he said.
“This ought to be top of mind for people over 60, and those with underlying health problems, such as heart or lung disease, diabetes, or compromised immune systems. The single most important thing you can do to avoid the virus is reduce your face to face contact with people,” Garbin added.
In fact in some countries like UK one of the measure they adopted is to quarantine the elderly, he said.
“People over 70 were instructed by their government to stay in strict isolation at home or in care homes for four months, under a ‘wartime-style’ mobilization effort by the government,” Garbin added.
Jovee Marie N. Dela Cruz