The Metro Manila Council (MMC) is leaving the decision on the new quarantine classification of the National Capital Region to the Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) and President Rodrigo R. Duterte.
Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) General Manager Jojo Garcia related that the 17 mayors of the Metro had a meeting Sunday night and are prepared for the extension of the Modified Enhanced Community Quarantine.
If the quarantine classification reverts to the General Community Quarantine, the MMC is hoping for stricter implementation of health protocols similar to the GCQ implemented on the month of June.
Meanwhile, the University of the Philippines (UP) OCTA Research Team pointed out that the extension of the MECQ in Metro Manila will greatly help in decreasing the number of cases of Corona Virus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). The Team predicted that the number of cases in the NCR may reach around 120,000 by August 31 if MECQ will be extended while the figure may reach 130,000 if the classification will be reverted back to GCQ.
“’Yung tinitingnan lang namin ‘yung numbers in a health care perspective. ‘Yung economy hindi namin natitingnan ‘yan kasi hindi naman kami economic experts. So nasa government ang desisyon, nasa IATF din ‘yun. Nirerespeto namin kung ano ‘yung desisyon nila kasi balancing act ‘yan eh. (We are only looking at the numbers in a health care perspective. We do not look at the economy since we are not economic experts. So the decision depends on the government and IATF. We respect whatever their decision is because it is a balancing act.)” Dr. Guido David continued. – Report from Patrick de Jesus
