Metro Manila mayors propose 3 options to IATF regarding ECQ fate

FILE: Army personnel enforces strict quarantine checkpoint at the entrance of Molino 3, Bacoor, Cavite on Wednesday (April 29, 2020). April 30 is the last day of total lockdown imposed by Bacoor Mayor Lani Mercado Revilla to prevent the spread of Covid-19. (PNA photo by Avito C. Dalan)

Instead of coming up with a decision on whether or not they will recommend the lifting of the lockdown, Metro Manila mayors have formed options that they will present to the Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) regarding what will happen to the National Capital Region (NCR)  after the second extension of the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) expires on May 15.

Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) General Manager Jojo Garcia said in a virtual press briefing on Saturday, May 9, the Metro Manila Council (MMC), which is composed of 17 Metro Manila mayors, agreed to propose three options to the government’s COVID-19 task force.

The first one is to extend the metro-wide ECQ for up to two weeks or until the end of the month, while the second option is to downgrade the ECQ in Metro Manila to a general community quarantine (GCQ).

The third recommendation, on the other hand, is to transition to a “modified” GCQ, but local government units (LGUs) will be allowed to impose lockdowns on barangays with high coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases.

Garcia said they will let the IATF decide which option is best for the NCR, and whatever the decision of the task force will be, he assured that the mayors will fully comply with it.

“Kailangan ng Metro Manila, isa lang ang galaw. Hindi pwedeng iba-iba per city. Kailangan, kung ito ang NCR, isa lang ang desisyon sa NCR at isa lang ang magiging guidelines natin. Kasi tandaan natin ‘yung connectivity ng cities natin eh (In Metro Manila, there should only be one action to be taken. It cannot be different per city. There has to be one decision and a set of guidelines in the NCR. We have to remember the connectivity of our cities),” the official said.

“Sixteen cities and one municipality ‘yan. Hindi pwedeng ‘yung isa naka-lockdown, ‘yung isa naka-GCQ. Hindi pwede gawin ‘yan sa city kasi nga hindi lahat ng tiga-city na ‘yon, doon nagtra-trabaho, doon nakatira (There are 16 cities and one municipality. It cannot be that the other city is on lockdown, while the other one is under GCQ. We cannot do that in the city because not all people in that particular city are working or living there),” he added.

Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque, also on Saturday, said President Rodrigo Duterte is expected to decide on Monday about what will happen after May 16.

“Bagamat wala pang pinal na desisyon, sasabihin ko po na ang desisyon kung ano ‘yung mga lugar na mananatili sa ECQ (Although there is no final decision yet, I will say that the decision on what places will remain under ECQ) will be granular at it will also be surgical,” he said.

The President’s mouthpiece explained that some cities in the NCR will remain under ECQ, while other cities may be allowed to transition to GQC.