Angelle De Leon
President Rodrigo Duterte is looking at declaring “modified quarantine” in several areas of the country once the implementation of the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) ends next month.
In his public address on Monday night, Duterte said the government may “partially open” some industry sectors, such as construction, subject to health protocols.
“Malapit na. Iyong iba naka-lockdown pa rin. Tayo, we might open partially — construction workers and things like that. You wait… Lalabas na ho ‘yung modified quarantine,” he noted.
“So we will allow sectors of the society that is not — hindi talaga nagdidikit-dikitan,” he added.
The President warned that the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) would spread if people would not observe social distancing even under a modified quarantine scheme.
“Kasi kung magsiksikan kayo diyan sa LRT na naman, wala ng katapusan ang problema natin. It will never end and it will bring us down and down,” he said.
However, Duterte did not provide specific details on the possible modification of the ECQ, which has been extended until May 15 in Metro Manila, Bataan, Bulacan, Nueva Ecija, Pampanga, Batangas, Cavite, Laguna, Rizal, Oriental Mindoro, Occidental Mindoro, Albay, and Catanduanes.
Areas with moderate or low risk, on the other hand, will be placed under general community quarantine (GCQ) beginning May 1.
Under the GCQ, public transportation may operate at reduced capacity while certain establishments will be allowed to operate subject to minimum health standards.
“Itong sa transportation that would allow movement sa mga tao in areas under general community quarantine… Maghintay kayo sa final orders kasi pinaplantsa pa namin ito,” Duterte said.
The President urged owners of malls, bazaars, and other shopping centers to ensure the health and safety of their workers once the GCQ starts on May 1.
He stressed that since the government has granted the request for “non-leisure stores” in malls to partially open, they should also comply with quarantine protocols.
“Iyong mga tindahan, ‘yung mga bazaars, mga malls — big or small — it behooves upon you to see to it that the workers are protected. Meaning to say that the sanitation of the place must be guaranteed and that the employees are provided with durable and workable masks,” he noted.
“And aside from sanitizing the place every now and then — when you asked us to open, we agreed, but there are the protocols to be followed. Not immaculately clean but just sanitize it for COVID not to thrive,” he added.
The President then thanked the public for following the government’s quarantine regulations to stop the spread of the coronavirus.
“Nagpapasalamat ako sa inyo for heeding the warnings of government na mag-quarantine kayo para ma-protektahan ninyo ‘yung sarili ninyo at ‘yung kapwa tao ninyo kung maglabas kayo at makahawa,” he said.
Duterte also lauded and expressed gratitude to all courageous frontliners, especially the military, for working round the clock.
“Also I’d like to thank — my gratitude to the uniformed services natin dito,” he noted.
“Air Force flying almost with non-stop delivering the medicines and medical kits required and for the army for delivering also in company with the government workers ‘yung mga tulong na pera pati ‘yung mga pagkain,” he added.
In mid-March, Duterte placed the entire Luzon, home to over 50 million people, under ECQ or lockdown to curb the spread of COVID-19.
It was supposed to end on April 13, but he approved a proposal to extend it until April 30 and then up to May 15 to select “high-risk” areas.
Latest records showed that the country has already recorded more than 8,212 cases and a total of 558 deaths from COVID-19.
