Metro Manila Council to discuss NCR's next quarantine status on Jan. 26

The Metro Manila Council will meet on Tuesday, January 26, to discuss if the National Capital Region is ready to be placed under modified general community quarantine (MGCQ), Parañaque mayor and MMC chairman Edwin Olivarez said Monday.

In a television interview, Olivarez said the number of active cases should decrease significanty before Metro Manila can be placed under a more relaxed quarantine status.

"Isa po 'yan sa pag-uusapan po natin sa meeting by tomorrow night. Titingnan po natin 'yung ating UK variant na ito if it will affect our metropolis at kung ano 'yung mga prevention natin na gagawin bago tayo mag-MGCQ," Olivarez told ANC.

Metro Manila is under GCQ until the end of January.

According to Olivarez, the council's recommendation on the easing of age restrictions will also be part of the discussions during the meeting.

Initially, he said the mayors are not in favor of this measure, especially now that the new coronavirus variant is already detected in the Philippines and that vaccines are not yet available.

"Halos lahat po kami, hindi po sumasang-ayon in relaxing this age bracket... Despite of that, humingi pa rin po kami ng recommendation, comment, advice ng ating medical expert katulad ng pediatrics, tinatawag na mga consultant at doon po sa kanilang ibinigay di po talaga advisable na ibaba po 'yung ating age bracket," he said.

Malacañang last week announced that persons aged 10 to 65 years old in areas under MGCQ will be allowed to go out starting February 1.

Presidential spokesman Harry Roque said localities are encouraged to adopt the same relaxation of age-restrictions for areas under GCQ. —KBK, GMA News