NCR mayors want GCQ for Metro Manila until December —MMDA

The mayors in National Capital Region (NCR) have recommended the extension of general community quarantine (GCQ) in their areas up to December, according to Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA).

In a Palace briefing on Monday, MMDA general manager Jojo Garcia said the mayors are eyeing for a gradual easing of restrictions in light of the COVID-19 threat.

“Yung ginawa po natin d'yan na plano is GCQ hanggang end of the year kasi sabi po ng mga mayors natin mas madali 'yung magluwag unti-unti kesa MGCQ kaagad na 100%, saka tayo magbabawas,” he said.

“Ibig sabihin, gradual po lahat ng increase depende po sa sitwasyon. At nakita naman po natin lahat po ng hiniling ng economic team binibigay ng NCR mayors,” he added.

According to Garcia, the mayors only discourage the reopening of cinemas, resumption of concerts, and holding Christmas parties in private sectors.

In response, presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said the Palace respects the position of the Metro Manila mayors.

“We respect that po kasi nakikipag-usap naman po palagi ang mga IATF secretaries sa Metro Manila mayors in particular si [Trade] Secretary [Ramon] Lopez is always engaged in dialogue with the Metro Manila mayors,” he said.

“Ang nangyayari po kasi ngayon bagama’t naka-GCQ ang Metro Manila eh nagkakaroon po tayo nang mas malawak na pagbubukas ng mga industriya na iyan na kinakailangan at iyan po ay kabahagi po noong ating mensahe na kinakailangan pag-ingatan ang buhay para makapaghanapbuhay po,” he added.

Starting this week, Garcia said that Metro Manila areas will impose shorter curfew hours starting as part of the government's move to ease restrictions amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Garcia said that the new curfew hours will be from 12 midnight to 4 a.m

Navotas, however, will still implement the 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. curfew. According to Garcia, Mayor Toby Tiangco has decided to keep the schedule because Navotas has bigger residential areas than industrial sites.

The 17 mayors regularly give recommendation to the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Infectious Diseases (IATF) on their preferred quarantine classification in the region.—AOL, GMA News