President Duterte places NCR Plus under GCQ with heightened restrictions from May 15 to 31
President Rodrigo
Roa Duterte talks to the people after holding a meeting with the Inter-Agency
Task Force on the Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) core members at the
MalacaΓ±ang Golf (Malago) Clubhouse in MalacaΓ±ang Park, Manila on May 13, 2021.
ROBINSON NIΓAL/ PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO
President Rodrigo Roa Duterte approved on Thursday the recommendation of the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) to loosen the restriction in Metro Manila and its nearby provinces placing them under general community quarantine (GCQ) with heightened restrictions from May 15 to May 31.
In
an announcement during President Duterte’s Talk to the People, National Capital
Region (NCR), Bulacan, Rizal, Laguna and Cavite will be placed under general
community quarantine with heightened restrictions.
Other
areas that are put under GCQ includes Apayao, Baguio City, Benguet, Kalinga,
Mountain Province, Abra, Cagayan, Isabela, Nueva Vizcaya, Batangas, Quezon,
Puerto Princesa, Iligan City, Davao City, and Lanao del Sur.
Meanwhile,
Santiago City in Isabela, Quirino, Ifugao and Zamboanga City will be under
modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ), while modified GCQ was imposed
for the rest of the Philippines.
Presidential
spokesperson Harry Roque clarified that although the quarantine restriction has
loosened up, some prohibitions will remain to contain the spread of the
coronavirus disease.
Individuals
aged 18 to 65 years old can leave their household in GCQ areas but for
essential purposes only.
Indoor
dine-in services are allowed but with 20 percent seating capacity only, while
outdoor or al fresco dining will be permitted at 50 percent capacity.
Outdoor
tourist attractions, personal care services such as salons, parlors, and beauty
clinics are allowed at 30 percent capacity.
Religious
gatherings and necrological services can be conducted at 10 percent venue
capacity.
Also
in his address, President Duterte warned everyone not to ignore the minimum
public health protocols especially during this time of fiestas in the country.
“I
do not attribute it in any other particular religion or what but there are a
lot of fiestas kasi predominantly Catholic country ito. So ang hinihingi ko is
that you only not tone down but forgo kasi may batas. Forgo to congregate, to
crowd and to hold,” he said.
“Eh
walang problema alam ng Diyos na love natin siya pero ang problema ang --- the
unnecessary consequence of it all. So be mindful of that because we are still
in the pandemic and there is no way of knowing how long this would last in this
planet,” he added.
The
President reiterated that he would not allow any violations in the government-mandated
guidelines, warning local officials that he would hold them accountable.
“So,
you have to enforce it because if you want this country to recover from the
onslaught of COVID-19, you have to be mindful of the what is going on and how
to prevent it,” he said. PND
