CBCP laments ”lockdown” of entire Luzon

March 17, 2020

An official of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) Tuesday said the enhanced community quarantine in Luzon is a concept for first world countries, not for the country which has many living in slum communities,

In a statement, CBCP Vice President Bishop Pablo David said: "First World countries can easily declare 'lockdowns' and 'community quarantines' because they presuppose that their citizens have decent, relatively spacious homes with bedrooms where they can self-quarantine themselves and maintain 'social distancing.

"If the poor are ordered to 'stay home' than loiter in the streets, are those who come up with such directives even aware that most of the urban poor live like sardines in their little shanties? As a matter of fact, they would rather stay outside precisely because there is a little more space out there in their street alleys, their covered courts, their 'talipapas'," he added.

David said the concept is unacceptable for those belonging to the poor.

"In First World countries, their governments can declare paid no-work days because they presuppose that most of their citizens are employed. The unemployed and people with disabilities receive welfare subsidies. The retired ones receive their pensions. In short, even if they stop working they are assured that they will not go hungry," he said.

''I thought of the casuals and contractuals who had to be sent home—no work, no pay. Those who have no day-offs, no maternity/paternity leaves, no vacation, no paid leaves. It’s always 'no work, no income' for them. And no income means no food on the table. Period," added David.

"When people in government come up with measures and directives that impact the whole citizenry, who will speak out for the sectors that are practically regarded as non-entities in our huge metropolis?" he asked.

"As usual, it is the poor who suffer the most when a first world concept is applied in a third world setting," said David.

On Monday night, President Rodrigo Duterte placed the entire island of Luzon on lockdown to contain the spread of the COVID-19. DMS