Metro Manila Council to discuss metropolis' GCQ status –Olivarez

National Capital Region mayors are set to discuss if the present General Community Quarantine in the metropolis will be maintained, or downgraded into a more relaxed status, Metro Manila Council chairman Edwin Olivarez said Wednesday.

"Itong linggo pong ito magmi-meeting po ang Metro Manila Council para i-discuss po 'yan regarding po sa pagda-downgrade o maintaining ng GCQ, or even maging modified GCQ tayo," Olivarez, who is also the Parañaque City Mayor, said in a Dobol B sa News TV interview.

Olivarez said that the COVID-19 trend in the National Capital Region has been in a decline, with fewer new cases.

Olivarez added that active COVID-19 cases in Parañaque is already in a downward trend for the past three weeks.

Thus, on a personal note, Olivarez said that GCQ should be maintained to further curb the number of cases.

"Pero hinding hindi po tayo puwede mag-loose o puwede mag-relax kasi kailangan tuloy-tuloy po 'yung atin pong gagawin na mga protocol at saka po 'yung ating minimum health care na kailangan," he said.

"Sa figure po sa amin, kung ako po ang tatanungin, we should maintain po 'yung GCQ," Olivarez added.

He said the Metro Manila mayors will only have one stand on the status of Metro Manila as its cities are interconnected.

"Hindi po pupuwedeng mag-iba-iba po ang aming quarantine," Olivarez said. "Ang amin pong laging recommendation is unified po 'yung aming quarantine status sa IATF."

Olivarez' comments came as Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez suggested a less stricter quarantine status in Metro Manila.

Olivarez said the Metro Manila Council will also discuss whether to lift the curfew hours  of 10 p.m. to 5 a.m.

He said they will likely have their meeting this coming Sunday. —LBG, GMA News