Metro Manila remains under GCQ until July 31

MANILA, Philippines – President Rodrigo Roa Duterte approved the recommendation of the Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) Wednesday putting Metro Manila under general community quarantine (GCQ) from July 16 to 31.


Metro Manila, the epicenter of the coronavirus outbreak in the country, was placed under GCQ to help kick start the economy as the country battles the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic.

University of the Philippines (UP) COVID-19 Pandemic Response Team recommended to revert Metro Manila to modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ) to slow down the spread of COVID-19 cases.

The president initially agreed on UP's proposal but after long discussions with COVID-19 task force chief implementer Carlito Galvez, Jr. and Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Eduardo M. Año, the consensus was to extend GCQ status in central region.

"Noong una, sumang-ayon po ang ating presidente pero nag-apila po ang ating chief implementer at Secretary of Interior Local Government dahil nangako po ang mga mayors sa Metro Manila na paiigtingin ang localized lockdown, tracing and testing and treatment. Pumayag po ang presidente na 'wag muna ibalik ang Metro Manila sa MECQ sa susunod na dalawang linggo," Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said.

"Kapag hindi pa rin napabagal ang pagdami ng kaso ng COVID-19 sa Metro Manila, posible pong mabalik sa MECQ," Roque emphasized as he encouraged residents of NCR to follow the protocols.

Aside from the National Capital Region, Laguna, Cavite, Rizal, Lapu Lapu City, Mandaue City, Consolacion City, Minglanilla (Cebu), Ormoc City, Southern Leyte, Zamboanga City, Butuan City, Agusan del Norte and Basilan are under GCQ.

Cebu City will be placed under the less stringent MECQ.

The rest of the country is under low-risk modified general community quarantine (MGCQ).

As of July 15, the Philippines has logged 58,850 cases of novel coronavirus along with a death toll 1,614 and 20,976 total recoveries.

Earlier, Department of Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said that the country's infection curve was ‘bent’ and not ‘flattened’ since April.

— The Summit Express



Add a comment here (0)
Previous Post Next Post