Palace calls for cooperation as PH shifts to GCQ, MGCQ

FILE: A personnel of the San Juan City Traffic Parking and Management Office (TPMO) checks the body temperature of a tricycle driver with a thermal scanner at the Agora Terminal in San Juan City, Metro Manila on Thursday (May 28, 2020). (PNA photo by Joey O. Razon)

MANILA – Malacañang is urging the public to cooperate with the government authorities by following quarantine protocols as parts of the country, including Metro Manila, transition to more relaxed community quarantines on Monday (June 1).

Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said that since there is still no cure or vaccine for the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19), the public, especially those who physically report for work, should observe minimum public health standards that apply to workplaces, employers and workers.

Roque pointed out that the government cannot fight Covid-19 alone, it needs “the concerted effort of everyone.”

“As more sectors and industries begin to operate, let us continue cooperating with authorities in enforcing quarantine protocols,” Roque said in a statement on Sunday.

He lauded the sacrifices of Filipinos in more than two months and enjoined them to keep practicing quarantine guidelines particularly physical distancing and wearing of face masks.

“The sacrifices of our people in the past 70 or so days are laudable and we must not put these to naught. It maybe difficult for some, especially those who will physically report, but we live in extraordinary times and situation,” he said.

He also reminded the public to practice precautionary measures to minimize the risk of catching and spreading the deadly virus.

“Let us take care of each other by wearing face masks/face shields, maintaining physical/social distancing, staying at home if/when need be and avoiding crowded places, and the like.

Only then we can heal and rise as one,” he said.

Metro Manila as well as Pangasinan, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, Calabarzon, Central Visayas, Zamboanga City, Davao City, Cebu City and Mandaue City will be placed from modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ) to less strict general community quarantine (GQQ) from June 1 to 15.

People’s movement, public transportation, and the operations of some industries are still limited in places where GCQ is imposed.

Police presence remains necessary in areas under GCQ to enforce community quarantine protocols.

The rest of the country will be under modified GCQ (MGCQ).

MGCQ refers to the transition phase between GCQ and the so-called “new normal,” which the public can only experience once quarantine restrictions are lifted.

There are currently 17,224 confirmed cases of Covid-19 in the country, of which 950 are deaths and 3,808 are recoveries as of Saturday (May 30).