By Christine Fabro
Metro Manila mayors agreed to retain the earlier set curfew hours in the region until end-August, Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) said Monday (Aug. 23).
In a public briefing on Monday, MMDA Chairman Benhur Abalos said curfew hours in the National Capital Region (NCR) will still be enforced even after the two-week lockdown had ended on Aug. 20.
“Actually, napagkasunduan ito ng mga alkalde na i-maintain muna… hanggang katapusan [ng Agosto] lang naman ito,” Abalos said.
Abalos said the move to maintain longer curfew hours from 8:00 p.m. to 4:00 a.m. was due to the continuous rise of COVID-19 cases in the region, even after a two-week lockdown in the region.
“Tumataas pa rin po ang kaso, at ang ating ICU (intensive care unit) at ang ating mga beds ay hindi pa rin po mababa, medyo mataas pa rin,” Abalos said.
Meanwhile, residents in Metro Manila can exercise outside their homes from 6:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. during the modified enhanced community quarantine. -rir