NEDA chief Chua explains basis of ECQ, GCQ in several provinces

National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) acting secretary Karl Chua on Friday detailed how the Inter-Agency Task Force  arrived at its recommendations to place several areas under enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) and general community quarantine (GCQ).

“Dalawang basehan lang ang ginamit namin kung saan ang mga probinsya ay maisasama sa yellow, green, orange, and red,” Chua said during a Palace briefing.

“Ang unang basehan namin ay ‘yung doubling time at pangalawa ‘yung kapasidad kung sapat ba ‘yung kagamitan,” he said.

The Cabinet official explained that the color codes correspond to risk levels. Red means high risk; while yellow and orange mean moderate, and green means low risk.

“Kung red ang ibig sabihin niyan acceleration lumalala o marami pa ring kaso ng COVID. Kung orange naman o yellow ‘ito yung pababa na o galing sa outbreak,” Chua said.

“‘Yung green ibig sabihin walang kaso o may isang kaso na naitala,” he said.

The NEDA chief said that provinces under red code shall remain under ECQ.

“Ang orange ay pwede ng ilagay sa GCQ,” he said.

“Kung yellow at green naman ibig sabihin nito sila ay nasa ilalim pa rin ng GCQ pero maaari itong tanggalin base sa observation,” he added.

 

President Rodrigo Duterte decided to extend the enhanced community quarantine to stop the spread of COVID-19 in Metro Manila, Central Luzon, and CALABARZON until May 15.

Duterte also accepted the recommendation of the IATF to extend until May 15 the ECQ in similarly high-risk areas Benguet, Oriental and Occidental Mindoro, Albay and Catanduanes.

For four provinces -- Tarlac, Benguet, Pangasinan, and Zambales -- the quarantine status may change by April 30.

Duterte also placed some areas in Visayas and Mindanao under ECQ but subject to reassessment: Antique, Iloilo, Aklan, Capiz, Cebu, Cebu City, Davao del Norte, Davao City and Davao de Oro.

Provinces or areas which are considered moderate- and low-risk in the spread of COVID-19 will be placed under a general community quarantine starting on May 1. These are: Abra, Ilocos Norte La Union, Cagayan, Isabela, Nueva Vizcaya, Marinduque, Camarines Sur, Capiz, Samar, Western Samar, Zamboanga Del Sur, Lanao del Norte, Misamis Occidental, Misamis Oriental, North Cotabato, South Cotabato, Maguindanao, Negros Occidental, Negros Oriental, Siquijor, Davao del Sur, Davao Oriental, Sultan Kudarat, Lanao del Sur, Apayao, Mountain Province, Ifugao, Kalinga, Ilocos Sur, Batanes, Quirino, Aurora, Palawan, Romblon, Camarines Norte, Sorsogon, Masbate, Guimaras, Bohol, Biliran, Eastern Samar, Leyte, Northern Samar, Southern Leyte, Zamboanga del Norte, Zamboanga Sibugay, Bukidnon, Camiguin, Davao Occidental, Sarangani, Agusan del Sur, Dinagat Island, Surigao del Norte, Surigao del Sur, Agusan del Norte, Basilan, Sulu.

For areas placed under general community quarantine, the following will be observed:

•     workers and sectors in category I, II and III may continue to work or operate in phases;
•     the general population may go out of their homes only for purposes of accessing basic necessities;
•     in any case, those with ages below 21 years old and those 60 years old and above as well as those with ages ranging from 21 years old but below 60 years old but who reside with co-morbidities or other risk factors shall stay home;
•     non-leisure stores in malls and shopping centers may partially open;
•     higher education institutions may continue classes to finish the academic year and issue credentials to students in accordance with guidelines as may be issued by the Commission on Higher Education;
•     priority and essential construction projects may resume in accordance with guidelines as may be issued by the DPWH;
•     public transportation may operate at a reduced capacity in accordace with guidelines as may be issued by the DOTr;
•     local government units shall enforce curfew at night for non-workers; and
•     airports and seaports may operate insofar as the unhampered movement of goods.

Areas under ECQ would undergo evaluation if the restrictions can be relaxed starting May 16.—AOL, GMA News