AS expected, President Rodrigo Duterte has extended the imposition of the modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ) in the National Capital Region (NCR) and adjoining provinces of Rizal, Laguna, Cavite and Bulacan.
The extension of the second most stringent lockdown will last until May 14.
In his televised national address, Duterte cited the urgent need to contain the spread of the virus and decongest nearly saturated hospital facilities in Metro Manila and adjoining provinces collectively referred to as the NCR Plus.
Aside from the NCR Plus, Duterte also announced placing Quirino Province and the City of Santiago, in Isabela, and the province of Abra in the Cordillera Administrative Region under MECQ. The MECQ in these places will cover the entire month of May.
Also for the entire month of May, Apayao, Baguio City, Benguet, Ifugao, Kalinga, Mountain Province, Cagayan, Isabela, Nueva Vizcaya, Batangas, and Quezon Province have been clustered under general community quarantine (GCQ).
Tacloban City in Leyte, Iligan City in Lanao del Norte, and Davao City in Davao Region, as well as Lanao del Sur in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao are keeping its current GCQ status.
The rest of the Philippines will be under the least restrictive modified GCQ.
Areas under the MECQ level restricts the operation of establishments offering personal care services such as beauty salons, parlors, medical aesthetic clinics, and nail spas. Prohibition is also in effect for indoor dine-in services of food preparation establishments such as commissaries, restaurants, and eateries, as well as entertainment venues with live performers including karaoke bars, bars and clubs.
The government would also be closely monitoring the implementation of the suspension on the operations of fitness studios, gyms, spas, and other indoor leisure facilities; gaming establishments except for the draws conducted by the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office; and indoor and outdoor tourist attractions.
Duterte appealed to the public to follow health protocols to prevent the further spread of COVID-19.
“Just please follow the rules because this is for you. I will be the last person who will cause a disturbance in your life. Like I said, I want the people to be comfortable. Sometimes you just have to intervene because it is of national interest,” he quipped.