DTI: Shift to MGCQ of all LGUs ‘doable’ by Q1

The shift of the entire country to the loosest quarantine classification is achievable within the first quarter of this year, Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez said Friday.

“Very much doable 'yan, nagkaroon lang ng new COVID-19 variant kaya talagang mas nag-extra pag-iingat ang mga decisions recently even on the age restrictions and possible movement to MGCQ (modified general community quarantine),” Lopez said in a virtual presser.

The government is targeting to relax restrictions to the lowest community quarantine level across the entire country come the first quarter of 2021. 

MGCQ is the most relaxed of all quarantine classifications.

Under MGCQ, most businesses are allowed to resume operations at full capacity while mass gatherings are also allowed, albeit at 50 percent venue capacity.

Metro Manila and the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) will be under general community quarantine (GCQ) for the whole month of February.

Aside from the two regions, Batangas, Tacloban City, Davao City, Davao del Norte, Lanao del Sur, Iligan City would also be placed under GCQ.

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

Lopez said the government is carefully studying the shift to MGCQ amid the threat of the UK COVID-19 variant.

“Pagaaralan muna at malalaman natin depende sa mga numero. Nakita natin wala naman nakitang malaking surge,” he said.

“Kaya lang may storya na naman ng new variant, at i-postpone muna kahit one month or ilang linggo. We will go there. Kailangan lang ng pagbabalanse ng health and economy,” he added.

Aside from relaxing quarantine levels, the Trade chief said the government is also looking into opening more sectors in GCQ areas.

“Pinagaaralan kung may pwedeng i-allow na i-open sa GCQ... Maliliit na lang ito, na open lang sa MGCQ. [Ito] 'yung mga museums, tourists places na hindi matao pero considered as non-essential for now,” Lopez said.

“Pagaaralan pa. Wala pang definite,” he said.—LDF, GMA News