Angelle De Leon
President Rodrigo Duterte has extended the implementation of the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) in the National Capital Region, Central Luzon, CALABARZON, and other “high-risk” areas until May 15.
In a televised briefing aired Friday, presidential spokesperson Harry Roque Jr. said the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) for Emerging Infectious Diseases recommended the extension to Duterte to stop the spread of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
Roque said provinces considered high-risk include Bataan, Bulacan, Nueva Ecija, Pampanga, Batangas, Cavite, Laguna, Rizal, and Quezon.
He noted that Oriental Mindoro and Occidental Mindoro were also deemed high-risk, as well as Albay and Catanduanes.
Roque said the situation in Benguet, Pangasinan, Tarlac, and Zambales may change if cases will go down by April 30.
He noted that the situation in Antique, Iloilo, Aklan, Capiz, Cebu, Cebu City, Davao del Norte, Davao City, and Davao de Oro will also be rechecked.
Roque said regions and provinces, which were considered moderate- and low-risk in the spread of COVID-19 will be placed under a general community quarantine (GCQ) starting on May 1.
These areas were: Nueva Vizcaya, Marinduque, Abra, Ilocos Norte La Union, Cagayan, Isabela, Camarines Sur, Capiz, Samar, Western Samar, Zamboanga Del Sur, Lanao del Norte, Misamis Occidental, Misamis Oriental, North Cotabato, South Cotabato, Maguindanao, Negros Occidental, Negros Oriental, Siquijor, Davao del Sur, Davao Oriental, Sultan Kudarat, Lanao del Sur, Apayao, Mountain Province, Ifugao, Kalinga, Ilocos Sur, Batanes, Quirino, Aurora, Palawan, Romblon, Camarines Norte, Sorsogon, Masbate, Guimaras, Bohol, Biliran, Eastern Samar, Leyte, Northern Samar, Southern Leyte, Zamboanga del Norte, Zamboanga Sibugay, Bukidnon, Camiguin, Davao Occidental, Sarangani, Agusan del Sur, Dinagat Island, Agusan del Norte, Basilan, Sulu, Surigao del Norte, and Surigao del Sur.
According to Roque, moderate-risk areas would be under GCQ until May 15, also subject to further evaluation.
Low-risk areas, on the other hand, will also fall under GCQ until May 15, and the quarantine would be relaxed leading to normalization if there is no deterioration.
Roque noted that workers in areas previously under ECQ but remain under GCQ would be allowed to go out and work in phases.
“Pu-puwede pong mag-trabaho ang mga manggagawa sa sector I, II and III. Ito po’y gagawin on a work in phase,” he said.
“Iyong mga bata po edad 0 hanggang 20 at ‘yung mga matatanda 60 and up and high health risk, mananatili po sila sa kanilang mga tahanan,” he added.
Roque noted that restricted mall opening covering non-leisure shops would also be allowed in GCQ areas.
“Papayagan po ang mall opening covering non-leisure shops, papayagan po ‘yung mga priority and essential construction projects na mag-resume. Papayagan po ang non-workers to go out to buy goods and services except those pertaining to sector category IV, ‘yung leisure at mga kabataan.” he said.
“Papayagan din po ang public transport na mag-operate at reduced capacity at ang LGU po to enforce curfew at night doon po sa mga hindi manggagawa,” he added.
Roque further noted that higher education institutions (HEI) may continue classes to finish the academic year and issue credentials to students in accordance with guidelines as may be issued by the Commission on Higher Education.
“Iyong mga GCQ areas consider to allow na po ‘yung high school — higher education institute school year to finish and give credentials to students,”
“Sa ECQ and GCQ areas, bubuksan po ang mga paliparan at ang mga puerto para sa mga goods lamang,” he added.
Roque said areas under ECQ would undergo evaluation if the restrictions can be relaxed starting May 16.
The Luzon-wide quarantine or lockdown was originally scheduled to end on April 13, but the President extended it until April 30.
Latest records showed that the country has already more than 7,000 cases and 494 deaths from COVID-19.
The numbers are among the highest in Southeast Asia.
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