No domestic commercial flights until May 15 — Palace

Domestic commercial flights are still prohibited until May 15, Malacañang said Tuesday.

“Until the 15th po, wala pang commercial flights but I’m sure the relevant transportation authorities will come up with their guidelines pagdating po ng May 16,” presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said in a televised briefing.

Commercial flights have been suspended since March when President Rodrigo Duterte imposed strict confinement measures in Luzon. Other local government units followed suit.

But on April 30, Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade ordered the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) and other airport authorities, to seriously consider the reopening of airports in areas covered by GCQ  to accommodate commercial aviation operations.

Roque announced in his regular press briefing that the government would lift the quarantine in 41 provinces and 11 cities across the country with low risk for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) transmission.

Thirty-eight provinces and 12 cities classified under moderate risk will remain under general community quarantine from May 16 to 31.

High-risk areas Metro Manila, Laguna and Cebu City will be placed under modified enhanced community quarantine also from May 16 to 31. — Virgil Lopez/RSJ, GMA News