The government on Wednesday recalled its decision to lift the community quarantine in areas that have “low risk” of coronavirus transmission and decided to put the under modified GCQ instead, Wednesday.
Department of Interior and Local Government Secretary Eduardo Año said an amendment on the resolution of the Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) implementing different levels of quarantine in all areas in the Philippines would be made today.
Año said the so-called “low-risk” areas, which the government initially removed from being under either ECQ or GCQ, would be placed under a modified general community quarantine (MGCQ).
“Wala na po tayong areas sa buong Pilipinas na hindi under ng community quarantine. Iba-iba lang po ng level,” Año said in a televised press briefing.
(There will be no areas in the Philippines which is not under community quarantine. There will be just different levels.)
Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said Tuesday that there are areas that will no longer be under ECQ or GCQ starting May 16.
Año, who is also the vice-chair of IATF, said the decision was made after some local government units said they are not yet ready to lift the lockdown in their areas of jurisdiction.
Department of Health Secretary Francisco Duque, however, said that the signing of the resolution was an “honest mistake.” He said he signed because he was told the decision would not identify the areas where the lockdowns would be lifted.
Also read: GCQ frequently asked questions and answers
Low risk areas under modified GCQ
- Region 1: Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, La Union, Pangasinan, Dagupan City
- Region 4-B: Marinduque, Occidental Mindoro, Oriental Mindoro, Romblon, Palawan, Puerto Princesa City
- Region 5: Albay, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Catanduanes, Masbate, Sorsogon, Legazpi City, Naga City
- Region 6: Aklan, Antique, Capiz, Guimaras, Iloilo, Negros Occidental, Iloilo City, Bacolod City
- Region 8: Biliran, Eastern Samar, Leyte, Northern Samar, Western Samar, Southern Leyte, Ormoc City, Tacloban City
- Region 10: Bukidnon, Camiguin, Lanao del Norte, Misamis Occidental, Misamis Oriental, Cagayan de Oro City
- Region 12: North Cotabato, South Cotabato, Sarangani, Sultan Kudarat, General Santos City
- BARMM: Basilan, Lanao del Sur, Maguindanao, Sulu, Tawi-Tawi, Cotabato City