By Alec Go
The government has placed the National Capital Region and its neighboring provinces under general community quarantine (GCQ) and 21 areas under modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ) until June 30.
Based on President Rodrigo Duterte’s announcement on Monday evening (June 14), NCR and Bulacan will be under GCQ “with some restrictions,” while Rizal, Laguna, and Cavite will have “heightened restrictions.”
Other areas under ordinary GCQ are Baguio City, Kalinga, Mountain Province, Abra, Benguet, Isabela, Nueva Vizcaya, Quirino, Batangas, Quezon, Iligan City, Davao del Norte, General Santos City, Sultan Kudarat, Saragani, Cotabato, South Cotabato, Lanao del Sur, and Cotabato City.
Those under MECQ are Santiago City, Cagayan, Apayao, Ifugao, Bataan, Lucena City, Puerto Princesa, Naga City, Iloilo City, Iloilo, Negros Oriental, Zamboanga City, Zamboanga Sibugay, Zamboanga del Sur, Zamboanga del Norte, Cagayan de Oro City, Davao City, Butuan City, Agusan del Sur, Dinagat Islands, and Surigao del Sur.
“Itong mga areas under MECQ, ito ang parang record of sorts na pinakamarami so far na naideklara,” Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said.
Roque said 50% of venue capacity for al fresco dining is allowed under MECQ, while indoor dining is only up to 10%. Contact sports, indoor sports, indoor visitors and tourist attractions, libraries, archives, museums, galleries, and outdoor tourist attractions remain prohibited.
For ordinary GCQ, indoor sports and venues and indoor tourist attractions are 50% allowed. The indoor dining for GCQ with “heightened restrictions” in Rizal, Cavite, and Laguna is limited to 30%.
GCQ with “some restrictions” imposed in NCR and Bulacan will allow gyms to operate at 30% capacity, with an additional 10% capacity if the establishment has a safety seal. -jlo
