Some Metro Manila cities to be under GCQ after May 15

MANILA, Philippines — Some areas in Metro Manila will remain under enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) after the May 15 scheduled lifting of the Luzon-wide lockdown, while others will be under a more relaxed general community quarantine (GCQ), presidential spokesman Harry Roque Jr. said yesterday.

“Hindi lahat mag GCQ areas ang MM (Not all areas in Metro Manila will be under GCQ) after May 16, it will be granular, surgical,” Roque said over the “Laging Handa” program on state-run PTV-4.

He said President Duterte is set to give his “approval” tomorrow of what kind of quarantine the public can expect after May 15.

Metro Manila mayors yesterday discussed the matter through video-conferencing.

The Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) on the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases is reviewing the health situation across the country ahead of the lifting of the lockdown.

Roque stressed that Metro Manila will not be treated collectively as there is a need to assess the healthcare, testing and treatment capacity of each town and city.

“That we will base on science – determining the number of COVID-19 cases in every city, every barangay, as well as their capacity to provide critical care,” Roque said in Filipino.

The IATF is set to meet with the President tomorrow.

Roque said the IATF has adopted a resolution allowing the resumption of construction activities involving health infrastructure, emergency repairs, disaster risk reduction, among others, in areas under ECQ.

The IATF has amended the omnibus guidelines for resuming infrastructure projects after almost two months of temporary suspension due to COVID-19.

“The private and public construction projects, infrastructure projects are now allowed in ECQ,” Roque said.

To be allowed is construction work on facilities for isolating COVID-19 patients, for housing construction personnel involved in emergency tasks and for flood control and other risk reduction and rehabilitation programs, sewerage projects’ and water service projects; and digital works.

Priority public and private infrastructure projects related to food production, agriculture, fishery, fish port development, energy, housing, communication, water facilities, manufacturing and business processing outsourcing (BPO) shall also be allowed.

“Construction workers accredited by DPWH (Department of Public Works and Highways) would be allowed to proceed to their work places,” he said.

Jumpstarting economy

While Metro Manila mayors can make recommendations regarding quarantine scope, it’s still the national government that will make a final decision, according to the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG).

“We respect the recommendation of mayors. But while they are our partners in the enforcement of ECQ, their decision or proposal is simply recommendatory,” said DILG spokesman Undersecretary Jonathan Malaya over radio dzBB.

He said a final IATF decision, expected to be issued around May 13, will be largely based on data analytics from its technical working group.

DILG Secretary Eduardo Año earlier said that they were eyeing more lenient general community quarantine over some areas in Metro Manila like San Juan and Valenzuela. He said “high-risk” cities may have to remain under ECQ.

“The IATF is studying the possibility of modified – that some areas will proceed to GCQ and others to remain under ECQ,” Malaya said.

He said the government is balancing the need to spur the economy and protect public health. “It’s a very difficult decision,” he said.

Meanwhile, Sen. Richard Gordon voiced support for the position of the Metro Manila Council (MMC) for an extension of ECQ in the National Capital Region.

“Many testing centers are now in operation. Philippine Red Cross has one center, but we have a big population so I am not yet comfortable that we can fully open businesses. Slowly but surely, we have to choose which should open first so our people can go back to work,” Gordon said.

“I would be very selective, Metro Manila is still dangerous because there are many cases. There are many areas that we have yet to check. That’s why we are trying to fast track the setting up of testing centers. Many OFWs are also coming home and they should be tested,” he said.

For Sen. Ralph Recto, the decision whether to lift the ECQ should be left to the experts, but that whatever decision they make, social and physical distancing should be maintained to prevent possible spread of COVID 19.

“I don’t know if it is safe right now. But if we will reopen businesses, we should maintain social distancing and observe personal hygiene,” Recto said. – Janvic Mateo, Cecille Suerte Felipe, Romina Cabrera