Palace tells public: Continue cooperating during GCQ, MGCQ

Malacañang on Sunday urged the public to continue cooperating with authorities as many areas in the country transition into general community quarantine (GCQ) and modified general community quarantine (MGCQ) starting June 1.

President Rodrigo Duterte earlier announced that Metro Manila will be placed under GCQ beginning June 1, along with Regions II, III, IV-A, and the provinces of Pangasinan and Albay and the cities of Davao, Baguio, and Iloilo.

Cebu City and Mandaue City, meanwhile, previously announced to shift to modified enhanced community quarantine on June 1 will also be under GCQ, together with Region VII and Zamboanga City, Malacañang announced on Saturday. 

The rest of the country will be on modified general community quarantine.

"The administration with its whole-of-government approach has put in place interventions and measures following minimum public health standards to ensure the safety of Filipinos. We have issued guidelines that apply to workplaces, employers, and workers," said presidential spokesperson Harry Roque in a statement.

"As more sectors and industries begin to operate, let us continue cooperating with authorities in enforcing quarantine protocols. Let us take care of each other by wearing face masks/face shields, maintaining physical/social distancing, staying at home if/when need be and avoiding crowded places, and the like," he added.

The GCQ will pave the way for more businesses to reopen and for a percentage of workers to return to work provided that health protocols like social distancing and wearing of face masks are observed.

Leisure establishments like cinemas as well as gyms and fitness studios and operations by travel agencies must remain closed under GCQ.

The road, rail, maritime and aviation sectors of public transportation are allowed to operate at a reduced operational and vehicle capacity provided that social distancing is observed.

Mass gatherings such as but not limited to movie screenings, concerts, sporting events and other entertainment activities, community assemblies and non-essential work gatherings are still prohibited.

Meanwhile, concerts, movie screenings, sporting events and religious gatherings will be allowed in modified GCQ areas, subject to conditions. Barbershops, salons and other personal care service establishments as well as dine-service in food establishments will be allowed to operate at a maximum 50% of venue or seating capacity.

Other establishments such as gyms/fitness studios, travel agencies and tour operators can reopen at a maximum 50% operational capacity. Accredited diplomatic missions and international organizations may resume operations while indoor and outdoor non-contact sports and other forms of exercise are allowed.

Roque urged the public to help in the government's response against COVID-19.

"The coronavirus disease 2019, as we have said, in numerous occasions, is an invisible enemy and the world, including the Philippines, has witnessed its adverse impacts across all sectors, as there is still no miracle cure or vaccine for this dreadful virus," he said.

"The government cannot fight COVID-19 alone. We need the concerted effort of everyone. The sacrifices of our people in the past seventy or so days are laudable and we must not put these to naught," he added. —KG, GMA News