NCR mayors recommend further easing of restrictions —Abalos

Days before the general community quarantine (GCQ) status in NCR Plus expires on May 31, mayors in the National Capital Region (NCR) are proposing the further easing of restrictions amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Interviewed on Unang Balita on Thursday, Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) chairperson Benjamin Abalos Jr. said the Metro Manila Council met on Wednesday night and agreed to propose to the national government that more businesses be allowed to open and to increase the allowed capacity in establishments.

"Ang napag-usapan po kagabi ay to open more businesses or activities at kung puwede ay lakihan ang capacity ng mga activities, ng mga negosyo [What was discussed last night was to open more businesses and activities and, if possible, to increase the capacity in these activities and businesses]," he said.

Abalos said they will meet with the IATF, or the Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases, the government's policy-making body in addressing the COVID-19 problem, on Thursday to discuss their proposal.

"We will always be guided by the IATF," Abalos said.

NCR Plus, composed of Metro Manila and the provinces of Laguna, Cavite, Bulacan and Rizal, is under GCQ "with heightened restrictions" from May 15 to May 31, 2021.

Under this classification, indoor dine-in services are allowed at 20% venue or seating capacity while outdoor or al fresco dining shall be at 50% venue or seating capacity.

Outdoor tourist attractions in the NCR Plus, on the other hand, may be opened at 30% with strict adherence to minimum public health standards.

Public transportation shall remain operational at such capacities and protocols in accordance with the Department of Transportation guidelines while the use of active transportation shall be promoted.

Abalos said the mayors also want capacity in religious gatherings to be increased to 50% from the current 30%.

On Wednesday, the OCTA Research group recommended retaining the GCQ status of NCR Plus in June, saying while COVID-19 cases in these areas have decreased, “the numbers are still high.”

“While we believe that we can relax restrictions, we think that we should try to retain the GCQ at this time because the cases are still significant,” said OCTA fellow Prof. Guido David in an online forum.

Vaccine express lanes

Meanwhile, Abalos also said NCR mayors back the proposal of the National Economic Development Authority (BI) for the opening of "express lanes" for persons belonging to the A1 to A3 and immediately start the vaccination for A4 priority group or essential workers.

He said they are also proposing that A4 be reclassified to all workers except those working from home.

"Ito (NEDA proposal) ay fully supported ng mga alkalde at gusto nila ma-implement agad [This proposal has the full support of the mayors and they want it implemented immediately]," Abalos said.  —KBK, GMA News