Duterte retains ECQ status of NCR, 4 areas until April 4

MANILA – President Rodrigo Duterte has retained the Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ) classification of the National Capital Region (NCR), Bulacan, Cavite, Laguna, and Rizal until April 4, 2021.

This, as he announced the new quarantine classifications in different parts of the country starting April 1 during his regular public address aired over state-run PTV-4 on Monday night.

The ECQ status — the most restrictive status — is, however, subject to further review.

From April 1 to 30, Santiago City in Isabela will be placed under modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ).

Similarly, Quirino Province will be under MECQ from April 1 to 15, 2021.

In Luzon, the entire Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR); Cagayan, Isabela, and Nueva Vizcaya in Region II; and Batangas will be placed under general community quarantine (GCQ) until April 30.

Also under GCQ for the whole month of April are Tacloban City (Visayas); and Iligan City, Davao City, and Lanao del Sur (Mindanao).

All other areas will be placed under modified general community quarantine (MGCQ), the most relaxed quarantine classification, for the month of April.

The country saw at most 10,016 daily infections since new Covid-19 variants have been detected.

As of Monday, the country has recorded 731,894 confirmed Covid-19 cases, 13,186 are deaths, and 603,213 are recoveries.

Malacañang earlier assured that the national government will be providing emergency subsidies to Filipinos in areas placed under ECQ.

Budget Secretary Wendel Avisado said around 22.9 million beneficiaries could be given emergency assistance during the ECQ period.

Around PHP23 billion in unutilized funds will be tapped for the assistance program.

During the ECQ last year, beneficiaries received PHP5,000 and PHP8,000 for the months of April and May. The second tranche of cash aid was also distributed for Filipinos who did not receive the first tranche.