Mayors of the National Capital Region (NCR) were inclined in their meeting on Sunday to recommend another general community quarantine (GCQ) implementation in the region.
Metro Manila Council (MMC) Chairman and Paraῆaque City Mayor Edwin Olivarez disclosed that they want the upcoming quarantine classification in NCR to be a month-long GCQ.
“Kasi kapag 15 days, laging alanganin ‘yung mga negosyante natin. Sa susunod na 15 days, ano ba ‘yung susunod na quarantine? Ano na naman ‘yung hindi papayagan? That’s the problem mula noong nag-MECQ tayo, nagbalikan na naman ‘yung pagsasarado (Our business owners are always facing uncertainties if it’s 15 days. What will be the next quarantine for the next 15 days? What will be allowed? That has been the problem since we went under MECQ, [establishments] had to close again),” Olivarez stated.
The mayors also agreed to shorten the curfew hours to 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. from current 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. They explained that their recommendation is based on the principle of balancing health and economy amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Para humaba ‘yung store hours ng mga restaurant, ‘yung mga commercial spaces natin. Kasi kapag 8 o’clock, ala siete pa lang napa-pack-up na, hindi na tatanggap ng customer kasi aabutin sila ng curfew, ‘yung mga kliyente nila (This is for the extension of restaurant store hours and commercial spaces. If [the curfew hours start at] 8 o’clock, they start packing up at 7 and will no longer accept customers as their clients will get caught up in the curfew hours),” Olivarez explained.
Meanwhile, Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Secretary Ramon Lopez announced on Monday that restaurant dine-in operations, personal grooming services, gyms, and testing, tutorial and review centers will be gradually opened in GCQ areas starting September 1.
“Close coordination po kami with Metro Manila mayors. Every week po nakikipag-meeting ang ilang IATF secretaries sa Metro Manila mayors para mas smooth ‘yung operation po natin, transition into reopening the economy (We have a close coordination with Metro Manila Mayors. IATF secretaries meet with them every week for smoother operations and transition into reopening the economy),” Lopez stated. – Report from Patrick de Jesus
