Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque has announced in President Rodrigo Duterte’s Talk to the Nation Address Wednesday night the new community quarantine classifications in various areas in the Philippines.
Secretary Roque has first shared that the University of the Philippines (UP) recommended reverting Metro Manila back to the Modified Enhanced Community Quarantine to control the spread of the Coronavirus Disease-19 (COVID-19). He said that the President has initially agreed with the recommendation. However, National Task Force against COVID-19 (NTF) Chief Implementer Secretary Carlito Galvez and Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Eduardo Año appealed for the president’s reconsideration after Metro Manila mayors promised to strengthen the localized lockdown and their respective testing, tracing, treating measures.
“Binigyan po natin ng pagkakataon ang mga taga-Metro Manila na patunayan na kaya po nilang ingatan ang buhay para sa hanapbuhay. (We have given Metro Manila residents a chance to prove that they can preserve life for livelihood.)”
For the quarantine classifications, only Cebu City remains under Modified Enhanced Community Quarantine with partly eased restrictions.
Areas under General Community Quarantine from July 16 to July 31 are as follows: Metro Manila, Mandaue City, Laguna, Ormoc City, Cavite, Southern Leyte, Rizal, Zamboanga City, Lapu Lapu City, Butuan City Agusan del Norte, Basilan, Talisay, Cebu Minglanilla, Cebu Consolacion, Cebu.
Areas under Modified General Community Quarantine with zoning containment and strict local action from July 16 to July 31 are as follows: Benguet Baguio City, Ilocos Sur, Pangasinan, Ilocos Norte, La Union, Dagupan City, Cagayan, Isabela, Nueva Vizcaya, Bataan, Nueva Ecija, Pampanga, Bulacan, Tarlac, Zambales, Angeles City Batangas, Quezon, Lucena City, Oriental Mindoro, Occidental Mindoro, Puerto Princesa City, Albay, Masbate, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Catanduanes, Sorsogon, Naga City, Iloilo, Negros Occidenta,l Capiz, Antique, Aklan, Guimaras, Iloilo City, Bacolod City, Negros Oriental,,Bohol, Cebu Province, Western Samar, Leyte, Biliran, Tacloban City, Zamboanga del Sur, Zamboanga Sibugay, Zamboanga del Norte, Misamis Occidental, Bukidnon, Lanao del Norte, Cagayan de Oro City, Iligan City, Davao Oriental, Davao del Norte, Davao del Sur, Davao de Oro, Davao City, Sultan Kudarat, Cotabato, South Cotabato, General Santos City, Lanao del Sur, Maguindanao.
The areas not mentioned are under low-risk MGCQ.
Sec. Roque has reminded that the country is still in quarantine so health protocols like wearing of masks, washing of hands and social distancing must still be strictly implemented. – Report from Mela Lesmoras
