Imposition of NCR-wide curfew up to Duterte: Palace

FILE: President Rodrigo Roa Duterte presides over a meeting with the Inter-Agency Task Force on the Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) at the Malacañan Palace on March 12, 2020. RICHARD MADELO/PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO

MANILA — The implementation of a curfew in Metro Manila to contain the spread of 2019 coronavirus disease (Covid-19) will still be subject to President Rodrigo Duterte’s approval, Malacañang said on Saturday.

This comes after Metro Manila mayors sought a nine-hour curfew to prevent further infections of Covid-19.

Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said Duterte has yet to act on the proposed region-wide curfew.

“The Metro Manila Mayors’ recommendation to impose a curfew in Metro Manila is subject to the approval of the President. The President has yet to consider it,” Panelo said in a statement.

Metro Manila mayors agreed to implement the daily curfew during the implementation of community quarantine in the region from March 15 to April 14.

Panelo said that in the meantime, each local government unit (LGU) can pass an ordinance to impose curfew within their respective territories.

“The LGUs can impose curfew within their territories if an ordinance is passed imposing it,” he said.

Mayors in Metro Manila wanted to impose a daily curfew for one month as part of the government’s efforts to fight Covid-19.

The plan is to place Metro Manila under curfew from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. until the community quarantine ends to restrict movements in public spaces.

The curfew, however, exempts doctors, health personnel, and people delivering food.

Malacañang on Friday signed a memorandum, mandating all local government units in Metro Manila to strictly implement “general” community quarantine in their respective jurisdictions from March 15 to April 14.

A “general” community quarantine limits people’s movement to “accessing basic necessities and work” and orders uniformed personnel and quarantine personnel to be present at border points.

The Philippines now has 98 confirmed cases of Covid-19.