Most NCR mayors want GCQ to remain in the region

Most Metro Manila mayors are inclined to maintain the general community quarantine status in the National Capital Region amid the continuous threat of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Interviewed on Dobol B sa News TV, most mayors expressed their concern over the new coronavirus variant, which is believed to be more transmissible.

According to Metro Manila Council chairman and Parañaque Mayor Edwin Olivarez, he is also opposed to easing the age restrictions on those who will be allowed to go out of their homes.

"Itong atin pong binabantayan ngayon itong ating new variant eh, alam naman natin sa ibang probinsiya, mayroon nitong UK variant na bago. Hindi pa tayo puwedeng magluwag talaga, lalo na sa ating age bracket," Olivarez said.

Marikina City Mayor Marcelino "Marcy" Teodoro pointed out that making the decision on whether quarantine status will be eased should be based on scientific data.

"Kailangan malinaw 'yung data natin eh tungkol sa bagay na 'yan, una kung ilan ang active cases, tumataas ba 'yung statistics natin ng COVID-19 cases natin o nagfa-flatten na talaga. Hindi puwedeng speculative tayo diyan eh," Teodoro said.

Teodoro also said it would be better if children will be allowed to go out for school purposes than for leisure activities such as going to shopping centers. According to Teodoro, it is also important that residents will be vaccinated first.

"Alam ko 'yung economic cluster ng IATF ay gustong paluwagin dahil naniniwala sila na 'yung mga bata sa loob ng bahay, kung makakalabas, makakagenerate daw ng economic activity," he added.

"Naniniwala ako na mas mahalaga, kung palalabasin natin ang mga bata eh 'yung makakapag-aral. Pero hindi pa maaari ngayon eh, wala tayong bakuna...," Teodoro said.

Navotas City Mayor Toby Tiangco, for his part, said the safety of the public as well as the economic concerns should be balanced. He is hoping that they could address the issue, during their meeting this Tuesday evening, without compromising the health and safety of residents.

"Titingnan natin kung mayroon bang middle ground, titingnan natin kung paano ba mabalanse ito... Isang sinasabi ko lang, ang dapat kasing maging consistent tayo, ano ba ang ituturo nito sa mga bata...," Tiangco said.

Spikes in cases brought by holiday

On the other hand, Valenzuela Mayor Rex Gatchalian pointed out that doctors in his jurisdiction have advised that GCQ should be maintained in the city as there has been a significant increase in COVID-19 cases after the holiday season.

"Kung tinatanong mo 'yung personal kong opinyon para sa Valenzuela City, para sa Valenzuela City, nag-usap kami ng mga doctor namin dito. Ang opinyon nila sana i-maintain muna 'yung current status kasi 'di pa stable at this point, kakagaling lang natin sa holiday," Gatchalian said.

He said doctors in the city have warned that if quarantine measures would be relaxed, there is a tendency that COVID-19 cases will spike and stricter quarantine measures will later be imposed.

"Baka sa kamamadali natin eh baka magbalik tayo sa mas mahigpit na quarantine," Gatchalian said.

Mayor Francis Zamora shared the same sentiment as COVID-19 cases in San Juan City also increased following the Christmas and New Year celebrations.

"Mas gusto ko po sana manatili tayo sa GCQ lalo na't galing tayo sa Kapaskuhan kung saan naranasan natin ang kaunting pagtaas... very very minimal ngunit tumaas pa rin...," Zamora said.

"Darating na rin naman ho 'yung bakuna, huwag ho sana tayong magmadali... Napakahirap lalo na 'pag nagkaroon ng tinatawag na second spike o pagtaas muli," he added.

He also mentioned that the economy in San Juan is already mobilizing.

Pasig City Mayor Vico Sotto said COVID-19 cases had increased in Pasig City after the holidays, but the number is manageable. 

"Tama po kayo, after ng holidays we already prepared for the big surge. Nagkaroon ng spike pero manageable po 'yung numero natin," Sotto said during the COVID-19 Vaccines CODE Team Visit in Pasig City.  

He said whatever the decision of the national government regarding the new quarantine status, Metro Manila mayors will support it. 

"Ang importante nagkakaisa ang Metro Manila mayors. Pinag-uusapan naman natin 'yan. We recommend, nagbibigay ng suhestiyon sa IATF. Kung ano man ang mapagdesisyonan, we will support," Sotto said. 

Meanwhile, Caloocan City Mayor Oscar Malapitan also prefers GCQ for the safety of his constituents.

He is also opposed to allowing some minors, those aged 10 to 13 years old, to go out. But, Malapitan said those 14 years old and above could already be allowed to leave their homes.

"'Yung present na estado natin 'yung GCQ, siguro mas okay na muna sa akin 'yun dahil ngayon, unti-unti tumataas ho eh... Tumataas ang COVID positive namin ngayon," Malapitan said.

President Rodrigo Duterte has revoked the Inter-Agency Task Force's earlier decision to allow minors aged 10 to 14-years-old to leave their homes in areas under modified GCQ.

Duterte cited the threat of the new coronavirus variant that was already detected in some provinces across the country. 

As of January 25, the Philippines has recorded 514,996 COVID-19 cases, with 475,422 recoveries and 10,292 deaths.

So far, a total of 29,282 active cases are being treated or quarantined, data from the Department of Health has shown.

The DOH also said a total of 17 COVID-19 cases with the UK variant have been recorded in the country and that 12 of these cases were detected in Bontoc, Mountain Province. — RSJ/KG, GMA News