Shorter curfew hours may be tackled in next IATF meet

Guevarra said considering the policy shift approved by the President and his Cabinet from total risk avoidance to risk management, all measures that will increase market demand and enable the economy to recover fully “should be supported”. (File: PNA photo by Oliver Marquez)

MANILA – Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra on Tuesday said proposals to shorten curfew hours and other measures to revive the economy amid the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) crisis may be tackled in the next meeting of the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) this week.

“It may be discussed at the IATF meeting on Thursday.

This issue on curfew hours should be taken up in relation to other measures, such as allowing more business categories to open, as well as increasing transport capacity,” he said in a message to reporters.

Guevarra said considering the policy shift approved by the President and his Cabinet from total risk avoidance to risk management, all measures that will increase market demand and enable the economy to recover fully “should be supported”.

“Stricter enforcement of health protocols, rather than ratcheting lockdowns up and down, should henceforth be the norm,” Guevarra added.

The city of San Juan was the first local government unit in Metro Manila to shorten its curfew hours effective Monday, which is now from midnight to 5 a.m. from the previous 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. which was earlier adopted by all mayors in the region under the general community quarantine.

On Monday, the President and Cabinet officials met to discuss steps on the further reopening of the economy amid the Covid-19 pandemic.