The Philippine government is aiming to reduce the number of daily COVID-19 cases in the country by 25% after the implementation of the General Community Quarantine (GCQ) with additional restrictions within the National Capital Region (NCR) Plus “bubble,” effective March 22 until April 4, 2021.
Under this bubble, non-essential trips in and out of the NCR, Bulacan, Cavite, Laguna and Rizal are prohibited. Mass gatherings, including religious events, are also not allowed for two weeks.
“Ang target natin [is] (Our target is) minimum [of] 25 percent reduction, but we are hoping for more,” Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said Monday during his virtual presser.
“Kaya dinadaan na rin natin sa pakiusap bagamat hindi po kayo pinagbabawalaan na lumabas sa inyong tahanan sa loob ng NCR Plus bubble. Sana po kung hindi naman kinakailanagan lumabas ay manatili na lang sa ating mga tahaanan (So we are appealing to you, not necessarily prohibiting you from leaving your homes in the NCR Plus bubble. If there is no need to go out, might as well stay home),” he added.
Why GCQ with additional restrictions, not MECQ
Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque clarified that the reason why government decided to declare GCQ with additional restrictions in the NCR plus bubble, and not the stricter Modified Enhanced Community Quarantine (MECQ), is to balance health and the economy. It is not because of the ‘lack of budget’ to give out new set of cash aid.
“Hindi naman po sa kawalan ng ayuda ‘yan. Kung talagang kinakailangan, nothing is etched on stone,.Kung talagang kinakailangan at ito’y hindi maging sapat eh baka konsiderasyon pa rin iyan (It is not because of the lack of funds for assistance. If there is really a need, nothing is etched on stone. If there is really a need and it is not enough, consideration may still be given),” he said.
In a separate statement, MMDA Chairperson Benhur Abalos echoed the same sentiment.
“I would just like to add ‘no that mayroon pa rin pong lockdown but these are just granular lockdowns which the mayors still [think] are more effective because in a way ‘no, iyon ang clustering of cases ang nalilimitahan mo, bibigyan pa ng ayuda ‘yan ng gobyerno through the mayors and of course the healthy population can still go to work (I would just like to add that there are still lockdowns but these are just granular lockdowns which the mayors still [think] are more effective because in a way the clustering of cases are the ones being limited and given aid by the government through the mayors and of course the healthy population can still go to work ” Abalos explained. – Mela Lesmoras
