Palace defends easing of NCR quarantine amid rising COVID-19 cases

Malacañang on Friday defended the government's decision to ease quarantine measures in Metro Manila despite the fact that more than 60% of the COVID-19 cases recorded on May 28 are in the National Capital Region.

Interviewed on GMA Network’s Unang Hirit, presidential spokesperson Harry Roque reiterated the need to jumpstart the economy, saying the government cannot let its citizens stay out of work for too long.

“Binalanse po natin ang karapatan ng mga mamamayan na magkaroon ng kabuhayan,” Roque said, a day after President Rodrigo Duterte approved the recommendation to   put Metro Manila under general community quarantine.

“Hindi rin po natin kakayaning bigyan ng ayuda ang lahat ng hindi nakakapagtrabaho sa mas mahabang panahon,” he added, alluding to the cash grant ranging from P5,000 to P8,000 per month for two months given to low income families based on the prevailing regional minimum wage rates.

Under GCQ, 10 to 50% of mass transport are allowed as well as 75% of the workforce per company to physically report back to work.

Luzon has been placed under enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) from March 16 to May 15, a measure that prohibited mass gathering to prevent COVID-19 transmission, resulting in work stoppage in many industries. The ECQ was extended in several areas including Metro Manila on April 12, April 30, May 15 and ultimately May 31.

On May 28, the day Duterte approved the recommendation to ease quarantine restrictions in Metro Manila, over 500 new COVID-19 cases were recorded — the highest tally in a single day.

Health Undersecretary Rosario Vergeire explained that the increase is not necessarily new cases but due to the Health department’s increased capacity in validating COVID-19 cases submitted by 36 various laboratories.

At the Laging Handa briefing on Friday, Vergeire said the increase in reported cases would continue in the coming days.

“Nagva-validate po tayo ng ating mga numero at papasok po nang papasok ang mga kaso from the previous days,” she said.

“Ang kailangan lang lagi natin tandaan ay atin tignan po lagi kung ano po ‘yung nakikita natin for our health system, ‘yung kapasidad natin.”

Roque, for his part, said that the majority of the COVID-19 cases recorded are mild cases, and that only 60% of the country’s critical care units are utilized thus far based on DOH records.

“Kung meron pong [dagdag na] magkakasakit, meron po tayong kakayahan bigyan sila ng atensiyon,” he added.

‘New wave of COVID-19 transmission’

But for opposition Senator Risa Hontiveros, the imminent shift of Metro Manila to a general community quarantine on June 1 may usher in a new wave of COVID-19 transmission.

"Reading the data available to us, it seems that we have not yet flattened the curve. Instead, this easing of the lockdown may expose thousands of Metro Manila workers and residents to a new wave of community transmission that will definitely overwhelm our already-embattled health system," Hontiveros said in a statement.

Hontiveros said that as Metro Manila shifts to the GCQ, precautionary initiatives such as COVID-19 testing, provision of personal protective equipment to frontliners, and work-from-home arrangement for those who are able must continue.

Vergerie, meanwhile, said stricter quarantine measures could be reimposed should there be a surge in new infections.

“That is a measure of government na kung sakaling may makikitaan tayo ng totoong pagtaas ng mga kaso sa bawat lugar, maaari po nating ibalik ‘yang mga sinasabi nating mga stricter measures for community quarantine,” she said.

“‘Yan ho ay pag-aaralan ng ating mga eskperto at pagde-desisyunan ng IATF natin.” — with Virgil Lopez/KBK/RSJ, GMA News