Metro Manila mayors want 'stricter' GCQ, says MMDA exec

Metro Manila mayors want a "stricter" general community quarantine (GCQ) if ever the protocol is downgraded from modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ) after August 18, Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) general manager Jojo Garcia said on Monday.

"We will recommend na yung GCQ po ay yung kung ano ginawa natin nung July 1, 'yung first GCQ, yung madaming restrictions," said Garcia at a virtual press briefing.

"Alam naman natin nangyari nung July 1, after a few days or after a few weeks, nagdagdag tayo ng mga pagbubukas. Of course we understand that, para sa ating ekonomiya," he added.

"Pero kung tatanungin yung mga mayors talaga, tanggap namin kung magji-GCQ man, we want a stricter GCQ. Meaning, ano yung guidelines nung una, nung July 1, yun na lang muna."

Lockdowns, curfew

Garcia said the mayors specifically pushed for the continued implementation of localized lockdown in areas with widespread community transmission of COVID-19 and “standard” curfew hours, which will begin at 8 p.m.

Garcia said this was discussed during the meeting of the Metro Manila Council on Sunday.

“Ang gusto talaga nila one for all, all for one, meaning isang [quarantine status] lang, hindi paiba-iba,” he said.

President Rodrigo Duterte  is expected to announce on Monday if the MECQ will be retained in Metro Manila, Cavite, Bulacan, Rizal and Laguna or it will be downgraded to GCQ.

Garcia said the mayors are also amenable to remaining under MECQ.

"Kumbaga balanse, meaning kahit na ano man diyan (MECQ o GCQ), siyempre may pros and cons. Yun yung hinihimay namin," he said when asked on the definite stand of the mayors regarding the next quarantine protocol in Metro Manila.

He said they are leaving the decision with the Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases or IATF, the government's policy-making body in addressing the COVID-19 pandemic.

MECQ

Duterte placed Metro Manila and nearby provinces under MECQ or stricter lockdown from August 4 to 18 following pleas from the medical community for a “timeout” amid rising COVID-19 cases being admitted to hospitals and recalibration of strategies to combat the virus.

The number of COVID-19 cases in the Philippines breached the 160,000 mark on Sunday after the Department of Health announced 3,420 new infections, raising the total to 161,253.

The bulk of the newest cases still came from epicenter Metro Manila with 2,091 new infections, followed by Laguna with 263, Cavite with 149, Batangas with 137, and Rizal with 106.

MECQ extension recommended

Meanwhile, experts from the University of the Philippines recommended a 15-day extension of the MECQ in Metro Manila and nearby provinces, warning that a "premature" lifting may lead to an "uncontrolled" growth of COVID-19 cases.

In their latest report, the UP OCTA research team said there could be 210,000 COVID-19 cases in the country by the end of the month if the MECQ stays imposed over certain areas.

Enforcing the MECQ only until August 18 may lead to 230,000 cases, while a general community quarantine may lead to 250,000, the researchers said.

They said a 15-day MECQ extension will allow local government units to improve tracking, quarantine, and isolation procedures and the public and private sectors to ensure workplaces are safe. —KBK, GMA News