Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Chairperson Benhur Abalos said today (April 25) they may recommend placing the National Capital Region (NCR) under general community quarantine (GCQ) in May, if the downward trend in the region continues.
Abalos said he believes the two weeks of enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) and modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ) from late March to the present has greatly helped decrease the number of Covid-19 cases in Metro Manila. However, the economy must also reopen to help Filipinos in the area get back on their feet.
“Isang malaking factor na lang dito to consider…ay sana bumababa na rin ang critical care natin for the ICU (intensive care units), kasi sa bawat bansa naman ‘yan ang importante — na bawat may sakit ay mabigyan ng tamang medical care,” he said.
Meanwhile, Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Undersecretary Jonathan Malaya confirmed that the government task force on Covid-19 will meet on Tuesday (April 27) to discuss the quarantine classification in NCR and its neighboring provinces.
The OCTA Research team initially warned against relaxing the quarantine restrictions in the region, because the reproduction number is still unstable, with several areas showing no decrease in their number of Covid-19 cases. The team explained that the reproduction number must be maintained below 1 for a few weeks.
The current reproduction number of the NCR is at 0.93.
Abalos also appealed to the public to observe the minimum health protocols despite the downward trend in cases.
Report from Ryan Lesigues/NGS-jlo
