Presidential adviser Joey Concepcion backs another week of ECQ in NCR Plus

Presidential Adviser for Entrepreneurship Jose Ma. "Joey" Concepcion III backs having another week of the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) in NCR Plus, citing the rising cases of COVID-19 across the country.

In the Kapihan sa Manila Bay forum on Wednesday, Concepcion said he would not mind a one-week extension of the ECQ currently in place in Metro Manila, Cavite, Laguna, Rizal, and Bulacan—collectively called NCR Plus.

"If the infections are not still under control, I wouldn't mind so we don't really waste the one-week lockdown during the Holy Week," he said, saying businesses were not really affected by the ECQ given the holidays.

Malacañang earlier declared Maundy Thursday, April 1, and Good Friday, April 2, as regular holidays.

The ECQ was reimposed in NCR Plus on Monday, March 29, and will last until Sunday, April 4

Prior to the announcement of the ECQ, the government banned the non-essential entry into and exit out of the NCR Plus bubble during the same period.

"If the one week (extension) will ensure the success of the lockdown, then I support it," Concepcion said, but noted that a longer extension would have to be studied.

"The cases are really mounting. This is worse than last year if you were to ask me, in terms of the spread of the virus," he elaborated during the said forum.

The Philippines on Tuesday reported 9,296 new confirmed cases of COVID-19, bringing the total to 741,181. This includes a record-high 124,680 active cases; 603,310 recoveries; and 13,191 deaths. —KG, GMA News