Duterte says sorry for extending strict lockdown in NCR plus

President Rodrigo Duterte on Wednesday apologized for extending the modified enhanced community quarantine over Metro Manila and nearby provinces until the middle of next month.

The MECQ will continue to be implemented in the National Capital Region and the adjacent provinces of Bulacan, Rizal, Cavite, and Laguna or the NCR Plus bubble until May 14, 2021.

Duterte said the extension is highly needed due to the surge of COVID-19 cases and overwhelmed hospitals in the country.

"I will have to talk to the people dito sa modified enhanced community quarantine. Ang pakiusap ko lang kasi is two weeks hiningi ng mga medical professionals including the Secretary of Health (Francisco Duque III). His word mabigat ang salita niya kasi kanyang departamento yan eh linya niya yan, kanya yan (Duque's word bears weight because it is part of his department's mandate)," the President said in his televised briefing, Talk to the Nation.

"So mga kababayan ko nanghihingi lang ako sa inyo ng paumanhin (To my countrymen, I apologize). I'm sorry that I have to impose a longer itong modified enhanced community quarantine kasi kailangan (this is needed)," Duterte further explained.

He also asked for the public to understand that the spread of virus that causes COVID-19 remained a national issue that needs to be addressed.

"Alam ko galit na kayo, magalit na kayo sa akin wala akong magawa iyang virus na yan lumilipad sa hangin...  Iyon ang problema diyan sa COVID-19 virus so sumunod na lang muna kayo tutal para naman ito sa lahat na ako ang pinakahuling tao na magistorbo sa buhay niyo," he said.

(I know you are angry. You can be mad at me, I cannot do anything as the virus is spread through the air. That is the problem with the COVID-19 virus so let us follow (health protocols) this is for everyone and I would be the last person to disrupt your lives.)

"Sometimes you have to interdict or intervene because it is of national interest. Ibig sabihin it is for the good of all so ano yan, tawag nito... yung health hazard," the Chief Executive added.

Meanwhile, Duterte said he was also trusting Health Chief Duque's recommendation to prolong the more stringent lockdown for a week or two. https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/news/nation/785118/duque-favors-extended-mecq/story/

"I am affirming the recommendation of Sec Duque. Siya ang may alam diyan. Siya yung doctor, abogado lang kami dito karamihan so sumunod lang tayo sa lahat at tingnan ko kung ano ang magagawa ko sa paghihirap ng tao so we can mitigate," said Duterte.

ECQ cash aid distribution still incomplete

Even as enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) has lapsed in April, Interior Chief Eduardo Año said they have disbursed 67.6% cash aid for low-income families in the NCR plus bubble. 

Specifically, P15 billion out of P22.9 billion ECQ financial aid has been distributed.

"A total of 67.6 percent, mataas na po ang pag-disburse," said Año during the televised press briefing.

Local government units in Metro Manila has distributed 73.46% of the cash aid, which means over 8 million out of the 11.1 million beneficiaries received between P1,000 to P4,000 each.

Meanwhile, here is the update on disbursed cash aid for the rest of the provinces:

• Bulacan - 61.13% (1.81 million out of 2.967 million total beneficiaries received aid)
• Cavite - 53.24% (1.83 million out of 3 million total beneficiaries got aid)
• Laguna - 76.08% (2.67 million out of 2.71 million total beneficiaries received aid)
• Rizal - 61.63% ( 1.61 million out of 2.612 million  beneficiaries received aid)

Año also reported that they received 23,292 complaints on the distribution of ECQ aid and 15,000 of these are under review and more than 18,000 have been resolved.

Aside from Metro Manila and nearby provinces, the national government also imposed MECQ over the City of Santiago and Quirino and Abra.

The COVID-19 cases nationwide soared to more than a million cases this week, while recoveries reached over 900,000 and death toll surpassed 17,000th mark.  -- BAP, GMA News