Actress and director-general of Film Academy of the Philippines (FAP) Vivian Velez took to social media her rants about some individuals who are not following the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) rules and guidelines like social distancing and staying at home.
This after several pictures where people are seen crowding in some areas unminding the possibility of contracting the COVID-19 virus surfaced online.
It’s been a month since President Rodrigo Duterte declared the entire Luzon area to be under enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) which means a total lockdown, restricting people from coming out of their houses except for the frontliners while observing social distancing, in response to the growing number of Filipinos contracting the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in the country.
People are strictly advised to stay at home with at least one person per household allowed to go out to buy food and other goods.
However, despite the government’s efforts to contain the spread of the virus and provide assistance to those who are affected by the Luzon-wide lockdown, there are still hard-headed citizens who refuse to follow the quarantine rules.
No matter what the reason is, violating the ECQ rules can impose threats not just to the life of the violator but to other people’s lives as well.
Through her Facebook account on April 14, Velez expressed her concern for the health workers whose lives are threatened because of the reckless and mindless people who don’t observe social distancing and cannot stay at their homes.
The actress also suggested to just lift the ECQ in Luzon and close the hospitals for COVID-19 cases to keep the doctors and other medical workers from the possible danger since the government cannot discipline its people.
“If we cannot control these kind of crowds, might as well lift the ECQ. Close the hospitals for Covid 19 cases para di maubos doctors and health workers natin. Matira matibay nalang. Tutal marami ang hindi sumusunod sa ECQ,” she said.
“As taxpayers, we’re sacrificing our business and freedom, and for what? Para ipamigay ang pera sa mga di marunong sumunod sa batas.
“Nasaan ang mga dapat magpatupad ng batas?” she added alongside a few pictures showing heavy traffic situation in some areas, crowding communities, and many people outside despite the on-going total lockdown in Luzon.
https://www.facebook.com/vivianvelez888/posts/3197848680249782?_rdc=1&_rdr
In another post, Velez wrote: “Every ECQ violation is a frontliner’s sacrifice gone to waste.”
https://www.facebook.com/vivianvelez888/posts/3202878026413514
Nonetheless, the government is giving its best effort to help and serve its people, but the government needs its people to follow and abide by the rules.