Metro Manila mayors present 3 quarantine scenarios

MANILA, Philippines — After a meeting that lasted for four hours, Metro Manila mayors agreed to let the national government through the Inter Agency Task Force on Managing Emerging Infectious Diseases decide whether or not to maintain the lockdown or allow it to continue in a “modified” form after its scheduled lifting on May 15.

Instead of settling for a “firm” decision, the mayors convened as the Metro Manila Council moved to strike a “balance between economy and health” and presented three scenarios, Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) general manager Jojo Garcia said in a Zoom press conference yesterday.

The three scenarios raised by the mayors were the following: Two-week extension of the Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ), shift from ECQ to General Community Quarantine (GCQ), modified community quarantine or a combination of ECQ and GCQ in particular areas.

Sources said 10 Metro Manila mayors are pushing for ECQ. They are Tobias Tiangco (Navotas), Miguel Ponce III (PATEROS), Carmelita Abalos (Mandaluyong), Rex Gatchalian (Valenzuela), Edwin Olivarez (Parañaque), Francis Zamora (San Juan), Imelda Calixto-Rubiano (Pasay), Vico Sotto (Pasig), Lino Cayetano (Taguig) and Oscar Malapitan (Caloocan).

Five mayors who prefer GCQ are Joy Belmonte (Quezon City), Abigail Binay (Makati), Isko Moreno (Manila), Imelda Aguilar (Las Piñas) and Antolin Oreta III (Malabon).

The stand of two other mayors, Jaime Fresnedi of Muntinlupa City and Marcelino Teodoro of Marikina City, was not revealed.

The mayors did not consider extending GCQ or ECQ until June 15, Garcia said.

“The MMC could only recommend to the IATF. We will them let them decide which they deem more proper and appropriate,” Garcia said.

The mayors may not have had a unanimous decision, they still “unanimously” decided to trust the discretion of the IATF, Garcia said.

“There are many factors here. There is no correct decision here. There is no perfect solution and perfect decision right now. We need to balance health and economics. We can’t be firm in our decision,” Garcia said.

“There was no unanimous decision, only unanimous suggestions,” MMDA spokesperson Celine Pialago said. - Romina Cabrera, Ralph Villanueva