MMDA appeals for understanding after mayors banned outdoor exercises during ECQ

The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) on Tuesday appealed for the understanding of residents of the National Capital Region (NCR) after the mayors prohibited outdoor exercises during enhanced community quarantine (ECQ).

At a Palace news conference, MMDA chairperson Benhur Abalos said the mayors agreed on Monday to temporarily ban outdoor exercises such as jogging and biking in light of the continued rise in COVID-19 cases and the threat of the highly contagious Delta variant.

Abalos also cited the high healthcare utilization rate in the NCR and the need to make the ECQ “very effective.”

“Sana po maunawaan ninyo ang rason bakit itong polisiyang ito ang ginawa nila [I hope you will understand why the mayors came up with this policy],” he said.

“We have to bite the bullet here. All we’re asking for is 10 days. After that the mayors will review the policy.”

Palace spokesperson Harry Roque said President Rodrigo Duterte deferred to the decision of the local government units, which implement the COVID-19 restrictions.

“Sumunod na po tayo [Let’s just follow],” he said.

The ECQ in Metro Manila took effect on August 6 and will expire on August 20 unless further extended by the national government.

The Department of Health (DOH) earlier in the day said the ECQ in the NCR may be extended due to the increasing number of COVID-19 cases.

Previously, the government allowed outdoor exercises in areas under ECQ — the strictest level of COVID-19 curbs — provided that it is done within the vicinity of a person’s residence or inside the barangay. 

The OCTA Research group on Sunday said the reproduction rate, or the rate at which an infected individual can pass on the virus to others, in NCR went up to 1.80 from 1.56 a week ago.

The number of new COVID-19 cases in NCR breached 2,800 on Saturday, “the highest number since May 2, when the NCR was under MECQ [modified enhanced community quarantine],” the group said. —KBK, GMA News