Duterte places Lanao del Sur under MECQ; NCR, five others on GCQ

President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday placed Lanao del Sur under modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ) and retained the general community quarantine (GCQ) over Metro Manila and several other areas.

In Duterte’s weekly address to the nation, the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) on Emerging Infectious Diseases recommended the extension of GCQ over the National Capital Region, Batangas, Tacloban, Iloilo, Bacolod, and Iligan.

“Iloilo City, meanwhile, is placed under GCQ starting October 1. The members of IATF earlier put Iloilo City under MECQ, and it will remain such until September 30, 2020,” presidential spokesman Harry Roque said.

The rest of the country will be under modified GCQ.

The latest quarantine classifications will be in effect until October 31.

Iloilo City, meanwhile, is placed under General Community Quarantine (GCQ) starting October 1.  The members of the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) earlier put Iloilo City under MECQ, and it will remain such until September 30, 2020.

Metro Manila mayors and experts from the University of the Philippines-OCTA Research team earlier urged an extension of the GCQ over the capital region to sustain the gains made against COVID-19.

The Philippines has logged 307,288 COVID-19 cases as of Monday afternoon, still the highest across Southeast Asia.

Guidelines

Presidential spokesman Harry Roque has explained that MECQ involved strict limits on transportation and regulation of operating industries.

Under this classification, the provision of food and essential services are loosened and “the heightened presence of uniformed personnel becomes less necessary.”

Under the less stringent GCQ, more industries are allowed to open.

Religious gatherings are also allowed under GCQ but only 10 percent of the venue capacity may be occupied. -NB, GMA News