The Interagency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) is expected to meet with President Rodrigo Duterte in Davao City tonight to discuss various issues and measures to address the COVID-19 pandemic.
Amid concerns on the next step to be taken in the National Capital Region (NCR), the Metro Manila Council (MMC) said it is still early to determine what will possibly happen after the expected end of the Modified Enhanced Community Quarantine (MECQ) on August 18.
“Usually ‘yan, nagkakaroon ng meeting ang MMC, mga 3 days before ng expiration ng ating quarantine. So ang ating quarantine will be until August 18 so most probably mga August 15 magko-convene ang ating Metro Manila Council (MMC usually conducts meeting 3 days before the expiration of quarantine. Our quarantine will be until August 18, so most probably our Metro Manila Council will convene by August 15),” MMC Chair Mayor Edwin Olivarez explained.
“Itong ating past how many days, mula August 4 hanggang August 10, sa Paraῆaque gumanda ‘yung aming ano. Bumaba ‘yung aming cases (These past days, from August 4 to 10, the [situation] in Paraῆaque improved. Our cases decreased),” Olivarez added.
Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said it is “a decision that has to be made by the Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases.”
“It entails a delicate balancing of protecting and saving people’s health to protecting and saving the economic health of the nation,” Roque continued.
Roque earlier shared a photo with Health Secretary Francisco Duque III while on their way to Davao City, but did not mention if the quarantine classification will be discussed in the meeting.
Meanwhile, Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Salvador Panelo confirmed in a separate statement that President Duterte will have a new public address. He appealed to the public to listen as there are still misinformation being propagated regarding government response.
Panelo disproved circulating reports that Metro Manila is currently preparing for President Duterte’s declaration of total lockdown. – Report from Mela Lesmoras
