Benitez to critics: offer actual solutions

By Dolly Yasa

 

BACOLOD City- Former Negros Occidental congressman Alfredo Benitez told critics of the “Timeout Weekend” to offer actual solutions to the upsurge in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases in this city and the province of Negros Occidental.

“If our direction serves, in your mind, a greater good, then join us. If not, then speak out and offer actual solutions,” according to Benitez, economic consultant of the provincial government.

“Timeout Weekend” or the four-day mass testing in Bacolod City and selected localities in the province of Negros Occidental from Aug 28-31, 2020 was the brainchild of Benitez to address the rise in COVID-19 local transmissions.

Benitez has earlier proposed for a lockdown both in Bacolod and the province of Negros Occidental which was approved by the regional Inter-Agency Task Force against COVID-19 but failed to get the nod of the national IATF.

Critics on social media scored Benitez for reportedly assuring the approval of the NIATF and was asked not to “dip his fingers in Bacolod affairs.”

But Benitez said the time-out weekend was meant “to facilitate mass testing for everyone’s benefit, not for any one’s personal gain.”

“Local government units (LGUs) mobilized resources to make this happen. Healthcare workers have answered our call to swab and test people despite the risk from exposure. Businesses have also voluntarily suspended operations,” he added.

Benitez also said “to our critics, may you emulate our frontliners. Instead of maligning us, help us.”

“I am not competing with anyone nor have any personal agenda out of this. COVID-19 is our common enemy,” he added.