Senators are supporting an extension of the Luzon-wide enhanced community quarantine to ensure the containment of COVID-19, but stressed the government should make a decision soon so that everybody can prepare and make adjustments for an extended lockdown. | @PaoloSRomero

The senators say the ECQ—and its possible extension—can only achieve the aim of containing the spread of the dreaded disease if there is mass testing as well as assured delivery of economic aid to vulnerable families and businesses. | @PaoloSRomero

Senate President Vicente Sotto III: “We have to study it (extending ECQ) well. Balance safety and economy. I agree with the thinking, ‘life first, economy later’.” | @PaoloSRomero

Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto is pressing the government to work faster by mass testing all PUIs and PUMs, and those who may have symptoms, and isolate those positive for the disease. | @PaoloSRomero

Recto: “Do mass treatment of the sick. Determine from public health scientist when the infection rate is manageable or less than one. Only then can you transition to relaxing ECQ. How long? Depends on how fast government does its work and be ahead of the virus.” | @PaoloSRomero

Sen. Panfilo Lacson says extending the ECQ is a “most difficult decision to strike a balance between flattening the curve of COVID-19 and the looming economic recession due to a wide swath of business inactivity." | @PaoloSRomero

Lacson: “Just as intelligence information can spell the difference between success and failure in my previous life in intelligence and law enforcement work, data is the key for our policy makers to make the right decisions at this critical time." | @PaoloSRomero

Sen. Joel Villanueva: “I am in favor of extending the quarantine. At the same time, we have to consult our supply chain experts as we need to probably exempt some sectors in this lockdown, especially the food, manufacturing and delivery sector." | @PaoloSRomero

Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon says the government and experts are only beginning to see data of symptoms post-quarantine. | @PaoloSRomero

Drilon: “And I see some data that shows it is effective. But too early to tell. An extra two weeks would help. We have sacrificed so much to prevent a further spread of the COVID-19 and a total collapse of our health system." | @PaoloSRomero

Drilon: "It will be a total waste if we lift prematurely the ECQ." | @PaoloSRomero

Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian: “Mass testing of PUMs and PUIs is the only way to determine if we are winning the war or not. Without mass testing, we are totally blind. When we are blind, the risk is higher of spreading the virus again, thereby wasting the 30-day ECQ." | @PaoloSRomero

Sen. Francis Tolentino says whatever decision the government makes must have empirical basis, “taking into consideration the health of the individual members of society as well as the health of the economy." | @PaoloSRomero

Tolentino: “I leave that decision to the President, however we should have an economic stimulus law to resuscitate the economy in the long term which is likewise a job of Congress." | @PaoloSRomero