HEEDING the appeal made by its local officials, Malacañang has declared Ifugao province under modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ), the second most stringent lockdown level until mid-May.
Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque likewise hinted at the government’s decision to impose general community quarantine in Puerto Princesa for the entire month of May.
According to Roque, it was actually their local officials who have asked for an upgrade in their respective lockdown levels following a spike in COVID-19 cases in their area. He added that the local officials would not want the situation to worsen or see their hospital overwhelmed with patients.
On Thursday, Duterte approved the recommendation of the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases.
Placed under MECQ from May 1 to May 14, 2021 are:
- Cordillera Administrative Region: Abra and Ifugao provinces
- Region 2: Santiago City and Quirino province
- Region 3: Bulacan
- Region 4A: Cavite, Laguna, and Rizal
- Metro Manila
Areas under GCQ from May 1 to 31 include:
- CAR: Apayao, Baguio City, Benguet, Kalinga, and Mountain Province
- Region 2: Cagayan, Isabela, and Nueva Vizcaya
- Region 4A: Batangas and Quezon
- Region 4B: Puerto Princesa City
- Visayas: Tacloban City
- Mindanao: Iligan City, Davao City, Lanao del Sur
The remaining parts of the country shall be placed under the loosest modified general community quarantine in May.
“Naintindihan po natin talaga na kapag hindi nakapagtrabaho ang mga tao, talagang ang resulta ay kagutuman. Kaya nga po gustuhin man nating pahabain pa talaga ang lockdown na ito, napakahirap po ng desisyon dahil tinitimbang din natin iyong kahirapan na magiging bunga ng lockdown,” Roque averred.
The Philippines has tallied 1,037,460 coronavirus infections, of which 73,908 remain active as of Friday, April 30, 2021. Death toll has climbed to over 17,234.