Metro Manila mayors have recommended to extend the general community (GCQ) status in the National Capital Region (NCR) until the yearend, Paranaque City Mayor Edwin Olivarez bared Monday.
Aside from extending the GCQ in the NCR, Olivarez also said that the 17 Metro Manila mayors will issue orders to shorten curfew hours from the current 12 midnight to 4 a.m. to 12 midnight to 3a.m. for the traditional Simbang Gabi which will start on Dec. 16.
“We have to avoid overcrowding in churches during Simbang Gabi. If we shorten the curfew hours, the church can hold more Masses,” Olivarez told the CNN in an interview.
Olivarez said that during the meeting of Metro Manila Council last Sunday, 17 mayors met with members of the Inter-Agency Task Force regarding plans to combat the spread of COVID-19 during Christmas season.
He said the task force will forward its recommendation to President Duterte who expected to announce his final decision on Monday night.
The mayor added that all Metro Manila mayors will also issue an executive order to prohibit the holding Christmas parties in public places and government offices.
Olivarez said that private companies will also be discouraged to hold Christmas celebrations due to the mass gathering restrictions that limit assemblies to less than 10 people.
He also said that all metro mayors agreed to allow children under 15 years old to dine in restaurants with their parents.
The mayor said that under the IATF health guidelines, those under 15 and over 65 years old are not allowed to go out for non-essential travel. (Jean Fernando)