IATF recommends ECQ extension in Albay, Zamboanga City; Roque says it's up to Duterte to approve

The Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases has approved the extension of the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) in Albay and Zamboanga City but presidential spokesperson Harry Roque on Saturday said this would be up for approval by President Rodrigo Duterte.

"Yes. Yesterday by the IATF," Department of the Interior and the Local Government (DILG) Undersecretary Jonathan Malaya told GMA News Online when asked if the group has already approved the extension of ECQ in the two areas.

Roque said the IATF recommendation has already been transmitted to the President.

“‘Yung rekomendasyon ng IATF para sa Albay at Zamboanga [City] ay ipinadala na sa Presidente para sa kanyang approval,” Roque said during the Laging Handa briefing.

“Kinakailangan pa po ‘yan ng approval ng Presidente,” Roque said.

The national government released a revised list of areas that will remain under enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) from May 1 to 15. The list included the National Capital Region, Central Luzon except Aurora, CALABARZON, Pangasinan, Benguet, Baguio City, Iloilo and Cebu provinces, and the cities of Cebu and Davao.

Several local government units, including that of Albay and Zamboanga City, have requested for an extension of ECQ in their areas after the government placed them under a more relaxed general community quarantine.

Legazpi City, Albay Mayor Noel Rosal said the entire province was not yet ready to be placed under general community quarantine, as pointed out by mayors in a recent discussion.

"May resolution ang local task force ng COVID-19 and mga Albay mayors na 'di pa kami ready. Hindi sa against kami pero 'di pa ready," Rosal said.

"Mahirap mag-risk baka magaya tayo sa ibang countries na nag-open sandali. Nagpadala po kami sa IATF Bicol and ipapadala 'yan sa national but that was addressed to the President," he added. —KG, GMA News