NCR, CAR, 6 other areas under GCQ in February

MANILA, Philippines — The National Capital Region and Davao City will remain under general community quarantine for the entire February, while the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) will revert to GCQ during the same period as the country continues to grapple with rising cases of COVID-19.

The pandemic has affected 519,575 people in the country as of Thursday, based on data from the Department of Health. CAR covers the provinces of Abra, Apayao, Benguet, Baguio, Ifugao, Kalinga and Mountain Province.

Batangas province, Tacloban City, Davao del Norte, Lanao del Sur and Iligan City are also included in the GCQ classification for February, presidential spokesman Harry Roque said yesterday.

“President Duterte on Friday, Jan. 29, 2021 retained the general community quarantine classification of the National Capital Region (NCR) and Davao City,” Roque said.

He said the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) based its decision on the current number of COVID-19 cases, the daily attack rate and hospital bed utilization rates, among others, as reviewed by the government and private experts.

Roque said the reported transmission of the UK variant was not yet factored into the latest quarantine classifications because concerned agencies have not provided conclusive
 information regarding the transmission of the new variant.

“There is no conclusive data yet on the prevalence of the UK variant in the Philippines,” Roque said.

The DOH earlier announced cases of the new UK variant in Bontoc province, following the first case that involved a male realtor who arrived from Dubai early January after a brief business trip.

Also upon recommendation of the IATF, Malacañang has placed Santiago City, Ormoc City and all remaining areas in the country under modified general community quarantine (MGCQ).

“The abovementioned risk-level classifications will take effect starting Monday, Feb. 1 until Feb. 28, 2021,” Roque said.

He said the government sees increased economic activities in MGCQ areas, which account for almost 75 percent of the economy.

Meanwhile, IATF and National Task Force Against COVID-19 officials inspected early this week the readiness of the local government units in Makati and Quezon City for the eventual vaccine rollout.

Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles, IATF co-chair, said the team aims to synthesize COVID-19 synergies and programs to ensure the comprehensive rollout of the national vaccination program.

“We want proper coordination with our local governments to ensure the success of our vaccine rollout,” Nograles said.

“There needs to be full alignment of strategies, interventions and best practices because the national government wants no less than a smooth implementation of this important program,” he said.

Nograles lauded Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte and Makati Mayor Abby Binay and local officials for their quick action and efficient response to complement the national government’s vaccination efforts.

He also noted how the two LGUs moved promptly to approve related city ordinances on the implementation of a vaccination program.

The two cities have allocated P1 billion each to purchase COVID-19 vaccines for their constituents.

Nograles said the national government’s commitment is to fill in whatever shortages there would be in the local governments’ acquisition of vaccines to ensure that everybody gets vaccinated.

“Every Filipino – whatever the economic status, whatever the age – deserves to be treated and spared from this deadly scourge that has affected the lives of our citizens directly and indirectly,” Nograles said.