President Duterte announced last Thursday that Metro Manila, along with other areas, will shift to the general community quarantine starting June 1 as the country continues to grapple with the coronavirus disease.
“You know, the National Capital Region will now be placed under the general community quarantine or the GCQ starting June 1. Davao City will remain GCQ,” Duterte said.
Duterte likewise announced the other regions that will be placed under the GCQ starting next week:
– Region II
– Region III
– Region IV-A
– Pangasinan
– Albay
“’Yan sila, until we have reviewed the general situation,” he said. “We are not happy to put you in this place but after review maybe we can,” he added.
In a text message, presidential spokesman Harry Roque said Mandaue City will also shift to GCQ. Cebu City, on the other hand, is appealing to be classified under the GCQ. Both Mandaue City and Cebu City were that last two cities in the country under the enhanced community quarantine until May 31.
Duterte said the rest of the country will be placed under the modified GCQ starting June 1.
“The rest of the country will be placed under modified general community quarantine. That is very clear now,” he said.
Duterte said other places in the country will still be reviewed depending on their capability to provide critical care to suspect, probable, or confirmed COVID-19 cases.
“In other areas, it will be, again, on a piecemeal basis depending on the viability of the place to meet the challenges of COVID-19,” he said.
“But from time to time, Secretary Roque (presidential spokesman Harry Roque) will give us the places where there will be changes,” he added.
Malacañang has yet to release a copy of the guidelines approved by the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases on the upcoming quarantine period.
Duterte reminded the public to wear face masks in order not to spread the dreaded virus while slowly transitioning to the so-called “new normal.”
The new normal is the next step after a certain area in the country graduates from the MGCQ.
Duterte explained that law enforcers will strictly implement the wearing of face masks to protect the public.
“Alam mo, remember, the COVID-19 microbes are still in the air that you breathe, that you pass on to your fellowmen if you are not ready or willing to wear the mask,” he said.
“It is the precisely… this is the protection not for you but for the other guy. That is why the State has every right to control your movement if you pass on a contagion to the other population,” he added.
Roque defended Duterte’s decision to approve the shift of Metro Manila to GCQ, saying the government was balancing its duty to protect the people and uphold their right to make a living.
“Saka ang katotohanan, hindi naman pupwede mabigyan ng ayuda ng gobyerno ang halos lahat ng hindi nakakapag trabaho nang lalo pang mas mahabang panahon,” he said.
The Palace official said the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases will surely rise in the next few weeks but claimed that the country is capable of providing the appropriate healthcare to those affected.
“Ina-anticipate natin mas maraming magkakasakit pero meron tayong kakayahan para bigyan sila ng attention,” he said.
Roque said Metro Manila can always go back to its previous quarantine level if the doubling rate of COVID-19, which is now around 30 days, will go back to two to seven days.
“’Pag bumalik po ‘yan sa dati na two days o seven days, tanging quarantine pa rin ang solution para mapabagal po ang sakit,” he said. (Argyll Cyrus B. Geducos)