Metro Manila mayors prefer further easing of COVID-19 restrictions next year —Galvez

Metro Manila mayors want the region to remain under general community quarantine this upcoming holiday season, National Task Force Against COVID-19 chief implementer Carlito Galvez Jr. said Thursday.

Galvez said the mayors were “very cautious” when it comes to the option of shifting to a modified general community quarantine (MGCQ), which is the least restrictive in the government’s four-tier quarantine classification system.

“Ang recommendation po nila ay just in case magkaroon man ng easing of restriction ay maybe next year after the holidays,” the Cabinet official said at a Palace news conference.

There was a recent uptick in virus cases in Metro Manila, with experts warning against complacency and surmising that disruptions by the recent typhoons may have caused a lag in delivering test results from health centers.

“So, iyon po ang pinapaalala po namin na even though iyong iba naka-MGCQ, we are calling the attention of the LGUs through our [Interior] Secretary [Eduardo] Año na sana medyo higpitan natin kaunti iyong ating mga restrictions sa mga unnecessary, non-essential movements,” Galvez said.

President Rodrigo Duterte is expected to announce the quarantine classifications for December on November 30.—LDF, GMA News