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Parts of Metro Manila will remain under ECQ by May 16 —Roque


Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque on Saturday said that not the whole Metro Manila will remain under enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) by May 16.

“Hindi mananatili sa ECQ ang buong Metro Manila after May 16. Hindi rin naman magiging-GCQ. It will be granular, it will be surgical,” Roque said during the Laging Hand public briefing.

This means that some cities in the National Capital Region will remain under ECQ while other cities may already be downgraded to GCQ.

Roque made the remark while the Metro Manila Council is about to make a formal recommendation for another 15-day extension of the ECQ in Metro Manila.

Interior Undersecretary Jonathan Malaya earlier said that the Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) will “strongly consider” the Metro Manila mayors’ recommendation.

Roque said there is no final decision yet on what will happen after the ECQ expires on May 15.

“Sa Lunes po magkakaron ng approval ang ating Presidente kung anong mangyayari sa atin ng May 15,” he said.

According to him, the decision will be based on relevant data available.

“‘Yan po ay ibabase natin sa siyensiya titignan ang dami ng kaso ng COVID sa isang siyudad sa isang barangay at titignan natin ang kapasidad na magbigay ng critical care.” 

Roque earlier echoed the remark of Interior Secretary Eduardo Año that some areas in Metro Manila can be placed under general community quarantine for the sake of the country's economy.

The ECQ was first declared on March 17 covering the entire Luzon. It has been extended in several areas, including Metro Manila, twice and the last extension is supposed to end on May 15.  —Ted Cordero/LBG, GMA News

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