COVID-19 CASES

Wrong to compare Davao City with Quezon City, says Palace

Malacañang on Tuesday said it is "wrong" to compare Davao City with Quezon City in terms of latest average daily COVID-19 cases, noting the quarantine classifications in place in the two areas.

“Quezon City is part of the NCR bubble and Davao City has been under GCQ (general community quarantine) for a long period. Hindi tama ang comparison, hindi apple to apple [The comparison is wrong. It is not apple to apple],” presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said in his press briefing.

Roque made the comment after OCTA Research reported that Davao City has overtaken Quezon City

“Quezon City has been under ECQ, MECQ for almost two months. That did not happen in Davao,” Roque added, referring to enhanced community quarantine and modified enhanced community quarantine — the two strictest quarantine classifications.

ECQ only allows essential trips and services/businesses to open, while MECQ only allows essential trips and partially resumes operation of non-essential business/services.

GCQ, on the other hand,  allows leisurely travel in a downscaled capacity and subject to compliance with local government guidelines.

Roque also said people in the entire Davao Region tend to go to Davao City to seek medical assistance, putting bigger responsibility to the city.

“Since many people go to Davao for medical assistance, so their COVID-19 cases include those in neighboring areas,” he said.

Davao City, whose mayor is President Rodrigo Duterte's daughter, Sara Duterte, has been placed under MECQ from June 5 to 20 to curb COVID-19 transmission. —KBK, GMA News