NCR ‘ready’ for GCQ transition- Palace

Malacañang Palace said Thursday NCR (National Capital Region) is ‘“ready” to transition from MECQ to GCQ by June 1. 

Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque in a televised briefing, discussed that Metro Manila could shift from modified enhanced community quarantine to general community after May 31.

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“NCR is ready from the data that we have seen, but that really depends on the cooperation of everyone,” he said.

Dr. Tony Leachon, Special Adviser to the National Task Force COVID-19, said the Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) earlier recommended that Metro Manila and Davao City be placed under general community quarantine from June 1 to 15.

Cebu City, meanwhile, will remain under MECQ, Leachon told Dobol B sa News TV on Thursday.

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Interior Secretary Eduardo Año confirmed the IATF’s recommendation. He however, clarified that this could still be changed since some local officials may appeal the recommendation.

“‘Yan ay maaari pang magbago kasi ipinadala natin sa mga LGUs ang recommendation natin at mayroon pa silang kaukulang panahon para mag-appeal kung mayroon silang gustong ipabago at idedepensa nila ‘yung kanilang position,” Año told CNN-Philippines.

(It could still change because we also sent them to LGUs. They have enough time to appeal if they want changes, and they will need to defend their position.)

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Also read: 255 tricycle drivers in Mandaluyong tested positive for COVID-19

Duterte decides tonight if NCR will shift to GCQ

“I don’t want to steal the thunder from the President,” Roque said.

“Kahit anong anunsyo ng Presidente mamayang gabi, pupuwede po tayong bumalik sa ECQ muli kung ang datos ay magpapakita na napakabilis na naman ng doubling rate.”

(Whatever the President’s decision will be, we could go back to ECQ again if the data would show a faster doubling rate.)

Mayors of Metro Manila unanimously agreed and recommended to transition the NCR to GCQ.

A study conducted by the University of the Philippines said that Metro Manila and other high-risk areas for COVID-19 should remain under MECQ, noting the DOH has yet to report over 7,000 additional cases of infections.

Rye said their team discovered that 7,119 patients tested positive for COVID-19 but are not included in the official count of DOH. The number is based on the reports by 36 testing centers nationwide.