The Metro Manila Council (MMC) has recommended to the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) the shortening of curfew hours from 12 a.m. to 4 a.m. to help the country in its economic recovery amid the pandemic.
The recommendation covers the National Capital Region (NCR) except Navotas City which asked to retain its 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. curfew hours.
“‘Yung mga APOR naman, kahit na mag-curfew, pwede naman silang lumabas ng bahay. For example, ‘yung Navotas Fish Port, gabi ang trabaho riyan, ‘di ba (APOR [authorized persons outside residence] can go outside despite the curfew. For example, the Navotas Fish Port where people work at night),” Navotas City Mayor Toby Tiangco explained.
“Ang mangyayari lang diyan kapag iniksian ‘yung curfew, ‘yung mga taong hindi naman nagta-trabaho, hindi naman essentials ‘yung kailangang gawin, sila ‘yung lalabas sa oras na ‘yan (What will happen if the curfew is shortened is that those who are not working and those who do not have essential activities will be going out during that time),” Tiangco added.
The MMC said it will discuss before December the possibility of further easing curfew hours to 12 a.m. to 3 a.m. to accommodate the midnight masses. The council also included in its recommendation the raising of minimum age for persons allowed to go out to 18 years-old in the NCR despite the approval of the IATF-EID of the 15 to 65 years old age range.
“At least ‘yung 18 pwede na mag-trabaho. ‘Yung mga 15, 16 mas more sila sa leisure. ‘Yun nga ‘yung sinabi ni Secretary Ed Año, ‘yung leisure iwasan muna natin ‘yan kung hindi naman nakakatulong sa pagtakbo ng ating ekonomiya (Those aged 18 years old can work while those aged 15, 16 are more on leisure. As stated by Sec. Ed Año, leisure activities should be avoided if these are not needed to run the economy),” MMDA GM Jojo Garcia explained. – Report from Patrick de Jesus
