Shorter curfew in NCR starting Sept. 16 —Abalos

Curfew will be adjusted to 10 p.m. to 4 a.m. in the National Capital Region (NCR) when it shifts to Alert Level 4 with the implementation of granular lockdowns starting September 16, Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) chairman Benhur Abalos said Tuesday.

"Ito ho'y inuusad na. Nagbotohan kami (Metro Manila mayors), ilalabas namin ang resolution na ang implementasyon isasabay sa pilot, magiging 10 ng gabi hanggang 4 ng umaga," Abalos said at a Palace briefing.

(These are now being adjusted. The NCR have voted and we will release the resolution together with the implementation of the pilot. Curfew hours will be 10 p.m. to 4 a.m.)

At present, curfew in NCR, which is under modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ) from August 21 to September 15, is from 8 p.m. to 4 a.m.

Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Eduardo Año on Tuesday said mayors in the NCR agreed to implement just one alert level as a whole.

Based on the government's new guidelines, areas under Alert Level 4 -- the second highest alert level in the new scheme -- are those with COVID-19 case counts that are high or increasing while total beds and ICU beds are at high utilization rate. —KBK, GMA News