MANILA – Metro Manila mayors are hoping to retain the general community quarantine (GCQ) status over the region until the end of the year but with eased business, travel and curfew restrictions.
Metropolitan Manila Development Authority General Manager Jojo Garcia said the possible GCQ extension was discussed during the meeting of 17 local chief executives and several members of the Inter-Agency Task Force.
According to Garcia, Trade secretary Ramon Lopez agreed that GCQ with more relaxed rules is the safest way to jumpstart the country’s economy.
“‘Yung ginawa po nating plano is GCQ until end of the year, kasi sabi ng mayors natin, mas madali mag unti-unti kaysa MGCQ agad na 100 percent tapos dun tayo magbabawas,” Garcia said during Monday’s virtual presser.
“MMDA and the metro mayors will still meet regularly, but hangga’t wala pong bagong development, ‘yun pa rin po ang napagkasunduan. It still depend ano mangyayari, pero sabi nga nila, sumusunod naman tayo sa economic team,” he added.
Malacañang, meanwhile, welcomed the suggestion of the mayors but spokesperson Harry Roque said President Rodrigo Duterte will have the last say on it.
“‘Yan po ang parang nabubuong consensus pero hindi po ‘yan pwede pangunahan because this is a collegial decision,” Roque said. “We respect that, but I think they also agree to a more relaxed GCQ implementation.”
Metro Manila has been under lockdown since March. Classifications were gradually eased as more people are now allowed to leave their homes for leisure trips.
Metro Manila cities and municipalities, except for Navotas, are set to shorten curfew hours this week to 12 a.m. to 4 a.m. It is expected to be trimmed further to 12 a.m. to 3 a.m. by December to cater those who will attend Simbang Gabi./PN
