MANILA – Malacañang said on Friday that the Metro Manila will be placed under the most restrictive enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) from August 6 to 20.
This comes after President Rodrigo Duterte approved the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) recommendation to implement stringent quarantine in Metro Manila.
Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said in a statement aired on state-run PTV-4 that Metro Manila will remain under general community quarantine (GCQ) “with heightened restrictions” from July 30 to August 5, and will transition to ECQ from August 6 to 20.
“Hindi po naging madali ang desisyon na ito. Maraming oras ang ginugol para pagdebatehan ang bagay na ito (It is not an easy decision. We have spent so much time to debate on the proposal [to place Metro Manila under ECQ]),” Roque said.
Metro Manila is currently subject to GCQ with heightened restrictions. Its quarantine period was intended to last until August 15.
Metro Manila mayors, however, have encouraged the IATF-EID to establish a two-week ECQ in the country’s capital to avoid the spread of the highly contagious Delta coronavirus variant.
More restrictions
From July 30 to August 5, Roque said “additional restrictions” would be enforced in Metro Manila.
“The heightened restrictions for NCR are more stringent compared to the GCQ with heightened restrictions of other areas,” he said in a press statement.
According to Roque, indoor dine-in services and al fresco dining are restricted and only take-out and delivery are permitted in Metro Manila.
“For people working in these establishments, operations are allowed to continue and finish within the day,” he said.
Roque stated that the personal care services like beauty salons, beauty parlors, barber shops and nail spas may operate up to 30 percent of venue or seating capacity.
He further said that the Department of Tourism (DOT) indoor sports courts and venues, as well as indoor tourist attractions and specialized markets, are not permitted to run, although outdoor tourist attractions, as defined by the DOT, are permitted to operate at 30 percent venue capacity.
Only Authorized Persons Outside their Residences, according to Roque, will be permitted to travel “into and out” of NCR Plus, which includes Metro Manila, Bulacan, Cavite, Laguna, and Rizal.
Only virtual religious gatherings are permitted. Gatherings for necrological services, wakes, inurnment, and funerals for patients who died from causes other than Covid-19 will be permitted, he claimed, but only for immediate family members.
Avoid panic buying
Roque urged the public not to resort to panic buying following the government’s decision to impose ECQ in Metro Manila from August 6 to 20.
“Meron naman tayong isang linggo para mag-prepara dito sa two weeks na ECQ. Wala pong dahilan para mag panic buying dahil maski ECQ po, bukas naman po ang ating mga groceries (We still have one week to prepare for the two-week implementation of ECQ. There’s no reason for panic buying because despite the ECQ implementation, groceries are still open),” he said.
Apart from Metro Manila, the province of Iloilo and its city, Cagayan de Oro City, and the city of Gingoog in Misamis Oriental have all been declared ECQ from July 21 to August 7.
Roque announced on Tuesday that individuals residing in Iloilo province and its city, as well as the cities of Cagayan de Oro City and Gingoog, will receive cash assistance worth PHP1,000 per individual or PHP4,000 per household.
When asked if Metro Manila residents would receive financial assistance, Roque replied, “Most likely, but would seek confirmation.”
Cebu province, city under MECQ
In the meantime, Roque declared that the quarantine classification in Cebu province and city has been elevated to modified ECQ (MECQ).
“Cebu City and Cebu Province have been added to areas under Modified Enhanced Community Quarantine (MECQ) starting August 1 until August 15, 2021, subject to further appeals by their local government units,” he said.
The MECQ status will be maintained in the provinces of Ilocos Norte and Bataan, as well as the cities of Lapu-Lapu and Mandaue from August 1 to 15, according to Roque.
Other quarantine classifications
From August 1 to 15, Bulacan, Cavite, Laguna, Rizal, Ilocos Sur, Cagayan, Lucena City, Naga City, Aklan, Bacolod City, Capiz, Negros Oriental, Zamboanga del Sur, Misamis Oriental, Davao City, Davao del Norte, Davao de Oro, Davao Occidental, and Butuan City will remain under GCQ with heightened restrictions.
On the other hand, the GCQ classification without restrictions will be enforced in Baguio City, Apayao, City of Santiago, Isabela, Nueva Vizcaya, Quirino, Quezon, Batangas, Puerto Princesa, Guimaras, Negros Occidental, Zamboanga Sibugay, City of Zamboanga, Zamboanga del Norte, Davao Oriental, and Davao del Sur from August 1 to 31.
General Santos City, Sultan Kudarat, Sarangani, North Cotabato, South Cotabato, Agusan del Norte, Surigao del Norte, Agusan del Sur, Dinagat Islands, Surigao del Sur, and Cotabato City in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao will also be placed under regular GCQ for the entire month of August, he said.
The rest of the country will remain under MGCQ next month.
