Metro Manila mayors are collectively calling for an extension of the general community quarantine status in the capital region as they assure the government and public that they are working towards improving the critical care capacity and enforcement of minimum health standards in their localities.
Parañaque Mayor Edwin Olivarez who serves as the Metro Manila Council Chairman said the 17 mayors of Metro Manila recommended to maintain GCQ on September 1.
“Unanimously iyon pong recommendation ng Metro Manila mayors ay to maintain the GCQ status,” he said.
The Inter-Agency Task Force will present their recommendation to President Rodrigo Duterte before he makes his final decision. The president is scheduled to meet with task force and address the nation tonight.
The mayor also said the chief executives of 16 cities and one municipality of Metro Manila agreed to shorten curfew hours starting Tuesday in order to slowly open up the economy. They previously set a unified curfew in the National Capital Region. From 8pm-5am, the new curfew hours will be from 10pm-5am, Olivarez said.
“Isa sa pinagusapan at pinagkasunduan, iyong curfew all over Metro Manila will be extended until 10 in the evening,” he said.
Following their recommendation of GCQ, they said local government units will continue to strengthen their critical care capacity by gradually building isolation facilities to quarantine and treat mild COVID-19 cases and monitor suspected cases. He added they will continue to impose localized lockdowns in areas with clusters of coronavirus transmission.
“Alam natin we have to balance the economy and healthcare… Kailangan nang buhayin ang ating ekonomiya,” he said.
