MMC chair Olivarez not in favor of placing NCR under MGCQ due to new coronavirus variant

Parañaque Mayor and Metro Manila Council chairman Edwin Olivarez is not in favor of enforcing a more eased quarantine status in the National Capital Region due to the detection of a new coronavirus variant.

"Personally... hindi po ako favor sa maging MGQC (modified general community quarantine) tayo, itong strain na 'to unfamiliar pa po tayo eh," Olivarez told Dobol B sa News TV.

"We cannot afford a second spike or third dito sa Metro Manila," he added.

Olivarez said local officials in the National Capital Region are already tasked to monitor overseas Filipino workers who came from other countries, especially those with recorded infections of the new coronavirus variant.

"Nag-issue na po kami ng executive order sa aming barangay captains dito sa city pati po mga LGU na babantayan po 'yung mga balikbayan na manggagaling sa Europe at South Africa pati po sa United Kingdom," Olivarez said.

Metro Manila was placed under general community quarantine until December 31, Thursday.

President Rodrigo Duterte has warned that the national government might be forced to place again the country under lockdown in case the new coronavirus variant first detected in the United Kingdom enters and spreads in the Philippines.

Interior Secretary Eduardo Año said the COVID-19 situation in the country remains manageable, but added the government should monitor the country's international borders.

Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire has said cross-border transmissions of the new coronavirus variant from the UK will be the basis in recommending travel ban from countries with reported infections. —KBK, GMA News