METRO Manila and some provinces of Central Luzon and Calabarzon will be placed under a more restrictive modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ).
In an online public briefing on Sunday, President Duterte approved the recommendation of the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF), which heard an urgent appeal by medical workers to reimpose stricter quarantine measures in the National Capital Region (NCR) to arrest the soaring Covid-19 cases in the region and its surrounding provinces.
“I have heard the call of different groups from the medical community for a two-week enhanced community quarantine in Mega Manila,” Duterte said.
In a statement, Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said NCR, Laguna, Cavite, Rizal and Bulacan effective midnight August 4, 2020, up to August 18, 2020.
Prior to the declaration, NCR, Cavite, Laguna, Rizal were under general community quarantine (GCQ).
Duterte said he understands the plight of the “bone-weary” medical workers because of the Covid-19. However, he noted they could have opted to just relay it to the government rather than airing it to the public first.
“I fully understand why you health workers would like to ask for such a timeout period. They have been in the frontlines for months and are exhausted,” he added.
To limit the movement of people, Roque said quarantine passes will once again be implemented.
Likewise, he said local government units (LGUs) will also be mandated to impose strict localized lockdowns as well as isolation of Covid-19 patients.
“The guidelines for minimum health standards will also be strictly enforced and intensified while giving 20 million face masks for the poor,” Roque said.
The Palace official said the President also approved the recommendation to provide healthcare workers a P10,000 to P15,000 benefit if they get sick, life insurance, free accommodation, free transportation, free and frequent testing.
Duterte, however, said the funding for these additional benefits will depend on the approval of the pending Bayanihan II bill in Congress.
Image credits: Robinson Ninal Jr./Malacañang Presidential Photographers Division via AP
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