Metro Manila’s quarantine status known today

MANILA, Philippines — Will the 12 million residents of Metro Manila celebrate the holidays under the most lenient quarantine status?

The answer to this question is expected to be known today as President Duterte is scheduled to deliver a public address to announce the quarantine classifications of the sprawling capital region and other areas.

Last week, presidential spokesman Harry Roque said the President would make known his decision on the recommendation of the government’s pandemic task force with regard to the quarantine classifications on Nov. 30.

Sen. Bong Go, former presidential aide, confirmed in a text message yesterday that Duterte would deliver a public address today.

The Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) had completed its recommendation on the quarantine groupings for the month of December and had given local governments opportunities to appeal their classifications.

The appeals submitted by local officials will be discussed by task force members before the President comes up with a decision.

Metro Manila, which contributes about a third of the Philippines’ economic output, is the site of nearly half of the more than 429,000 COVID-19 cases. The capital region has been under general community quarantine (GCQ) since June.

The government, however, has eased some measures in GCQ areas to allow more people to return to work and to revive the pandemic-battered economy. More businesses are allowed to increase their operating capacities and malls are permitted to hold sale events, but establishments are required to strictly enforce health standards.

Last week, National Task Force against COVID-19 chief implementer Carlito Galvez Jr. said Metro Manila mayors were “very cautious” about downgrading the capital region’s quarantine status from GCQ to the most lenient modified general community quarantine. – With Helen Flores, Neil Jayson Servallos, Paolo Romero

“(Mayors’) recommendation is that just in case there would be easing of restrictions, it should be done maybe next year after the holidays,” Galvez said at a press briefing last Thursday.

Cabinet Secretary and IATF vice chairman Karlo Nograles admitted that Filipinos may not be able to observe some Christmas traditions because of the pandemic.

“It will be a new experience for everybody. There are many traditions that will not be observed. Let’s just come up with new traditions and new practices, but we have to ensure that everybody is safe,” Nograles told state-run People’s Television over the weekend.

The Department of Health had previously said it is preparing for a possible surge of COVID-19 cases after the holidays and is advising the public to continue observing physical distancing and proper hygiene to avoid catching the virus. –  Helen Flores, Neil Jayson Servallos, Paolo Romero