'The General's Daughter' actress Angel Locsin. ABS-CBN
MANILA — Actress and philanthropist Angel Locsin on Monday came to the defense of workers who are forced to commute amid the government implementation of community quarantine to combat the spread of the new coronavirus disease (COVID-19).
On Instagram, Locsin shared a photo of motorist traffic at what appears to be a quarantine checkpoint, captioned with her sentiments on the situation where commuters are unable to observe social distancing, despite the government urging the practice.
"My thoughts: Sa gitna po ng paglaganap ng CoVid19, walang sinoman na nasa matinong pag-iisip ang magnanais na lumabas sa matataong lugar para mahawa at makahawa ng sakit," she wrote.
"Alam natin na importante ang social distancing at proper hygiene pero hindi po ito sasapat kung may mga kababayan tayo na kelangang maghanapbuhay bawat-araw para makakain at matustusan ang mga basic needs ng pamilya gaya ng pambayad sa renta, kuryente, tubig, at iba pa," Locsin said.
"Marami rin po sa kanila ay mga contractual workers, mga self-employed, maliliit na manininda na walang tiyak na kita sa araw-araw at baon sa utang," she pointed out.
Locsin, 34, urged the government to put in place measures to financially help those whose livelihood are affected by the month-long community quarantine of Metro Manila and other provinces.
"Kung matitiyak lang po sana ng ating pamahalaan na may financial support para sa kanila, hindi nila kelangang sumugal sa labas. Malaking bagay din kung may temporary stop on amortizations and loans o kahit pagtanggal sa interest & penalties," she said.
Likewise, companies and government agancies should allow leeway for delayed payments as usual traffic flow is impeded during the quarantine, Locsin said.
"Sana rin ay magbigay ng consideration ang mga kumpanya ng basic utilities like kuryente at tubig bilang kawang-gawa sa mga mahihirap na apektado ng dislocation sa trabaho," she wrote.
Locsin then called on Philhealth to "shoulder treatment for those who have CoVid19." Earlier, the agency said testing for the disease would be free.
The actress, concluding her post, expressed gratitude to those who are working on the frontlines amid the spread of COVID-19.
"Maraming salamat po sa ating mga public officials, pulis, military, etc na gumagawa at nagpapatupad ng batas para po sa kaligtasan natin. Maraming salamat rin po sa mga totoong IDOL, ang ating mga walang kapagurang health workers. Kaya natin 'to," she said.