YOUTH groups on Monday urged the government to provide concrete strategies to end the Covid19 crisis in the country.

The National Union of Students of the Philippines said that a pro-people Covid19 response should be implemented instead of “a militaristic lockdown.”

“Their concern for human health comes only after another variant has already affected more than a hundred lives. As they impose ECQ yet again, no plans have been laid out as to how they will support the masses especially those within the marginalized sector,” NUSP President Jandeil Roperos said in a statement.

“They have yet to heed the call for monetary assistance as well as lay any concrete plans on how they will handle the new variant,” she added.

Roperos said that another lockdown only prolongs the closure of schools.

“With no concrete plans on reopening and pushing for safe resumption of classes, another enhanced community quarantine just pushes our hopes back as it clearly defines how the government has acted in its ‘struggle’ against the pandemic,” she added.

The College Editors Guild of the Philippines lamented that the manner by which quarantine measures are implemented is not new.

“Ang muling pagpapatupad ng ECQ ay hindi na bago, ngunit tila walang pagbabago. Militar pa rin ang inuna ng pamahalaan para kontrolin, aniya, ang bagong bayrus na Delta variant sa bansa,” CEGP said.

“CEGP, together with Filipinos, reiterates its resounding call that instead of unnecessary lockdowns, Duterte must provide essential assistance to the Filipino people, rechannel the unused funds of his office and other intelligence funds to the health sector, and conduct a free and systematic mass testing and vaccination,” the group said.