Metro Manila to have curfew from 8 p.m.-5 a.m. beginning March 15

The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority will impose a curfew in the National Capital Region as part of community quarantine measures to contain the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) spread.

In press conference, MMDA General Manager Jojo Garcia announced on Saturday that all the mayors in Metro Manila agreed to issue a resolution to impose a curfew from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m., starting March 15 until April 14.

Garcia, however, clarified that those covered by the curfew are non-essential activities such as “‘yung mga gumigimik lang, kung saan-saan nagpupunta, nakikibarkada, nakiki-party. Lahat ‘yan bawal na muna.”

Exempted from the curfew are all workers.

The MMDA official also said no arrest will be done, but only verbal apprehension.

“Hindi naman po dadamputin ito. Pagsasabihin lang,” Garcia said.

The government raised the Code Red Sub-Level 2 alert on Thursday due to the rising number of COVID-19 infections in the country.

President Rodrigo Duterte announced tougher measures to combat the spread of COVID-19, including work and class suspensions as well as travel restrictions, as part of a "community quarantine" in Metro Manila.

The Palace released on Saturday the guidelines on social distancing and community quarantine in Metro Manila covering class cancellations, travel restrictions, transportation guidelines, among others. —KG, GMA News