8 regions, 37 provinces, 11 cities under MGCQ

More businesses allowed to reopen under modified ECQ

Eight regions, 37 provinces, 11 cities, including the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) areas with low risk of coronavirus infection will be placed under “modified general community quarantine (MGCQ)” instead being removed from the lockdown rule starting May 16.

Interior and Local Government Secretary Eduardo Año announced this on Wednesday, saying the government task force will amend an earlier resolution that the low-risk provinces and cities would no longer be under community quarantine following appeals raised by concerned local government officials.

Once the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) formally changes the quarantine classification of the low-risk areas, Año said this would mean that every place in country is covered by community quarantine.

“Many local chief executives, governors and mayors made a petition and request that they are not yet ready to remove the community quarantine. We will have an amendment that will be finalized by the IATF meeting so these places – eight regions, 37 provinces, 11 cities including

BARMM – will be placed under modified general community quarantine,” he said in Filipino during a Palace press briefing.

Año expressed concern that there might be a second or third wave of coronavirus infections if the community quarantine is immediately lifted in these areas.

“The local government executives will have guidelines on how to implement the modified GCQ so they will have the authority to contain the spread of the virus. If there is no quarantine, we expect there might be second or third wave (of infection),” he said.

“We have no area in the entire Philippines that is not under community quarantine at different level. These low-risk areas will be under modified general community quarantine and we will have guidelines that will be followed by the local government units,” he said.

Under modified GCQ guideline released by the Palace last Tuesday, there will “permissive socio-economic activities within public health standards.”

The IATF had earlier issued Resolution No. 35 that several low-risk provinces and cities shall “no longer be under community quarantine without prejudice to strict observation of minimum health standards” starting May 16. The same resolution announced the government’s plan to place Metro Manila and two other high-risk areas under modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ) while putting several moderate-risk places under GCQ from May 16 to May 31 to help contain the spread of the coronavirus.

Low-risk areas have more than 30 days case doubling time and less than 30 percent of critical care is utilized. The “containment preparation” strategy includes empowering community and enforcing heath risk standards as well as investing in health system capacity.

Health Secretary Francisco Duque III, however, admitted that there was an “honest mistake” in the issuance of the resolution on the classification of quarantine areas.

Duque, in the same press briefing, said he only agreed to sign the document knowing it will only tackle the “concept” of the transition of ECQ to modified ECQ as well as GCQ to modified GCQ. He said his staff told him that no areas will be mentioned in the document.

“It was an honest mistake. My staff is with me in case an explanation is needed,” he said.

The low-risk areas earlier listed by the task force are:

Region I

1. Ilocos Norte

2. Ilocos Sur

3. La Union

4. Pangasinan

5. Dagupan City

Region IV-B

6. Marinduque

7. Occidental Mindoro

8. Oriental Mindoro

9. Romblon

10. Palawan

11. Puerto Princesa City

Region V

12. Albay

13. Camarines Norte

14. Camarines Sur

15. Catanduanes

16. Masbate

17. Sorsogon

18. Legazpi City

19. Naga City

Region VI

20. Aklan

21. Antique

22. Capiz

23. Guimaras

24. Iloilo

25. Negros Occidental

26. Iloilo City

27. Bacolod City

Region VIII

28. Biliran

29. Eastern Samar

30. Leyte

31. Northern Samar

32. Western Samar

33. Southern Leyte

34. Ormoc City

35. Tacloban City

Region X

36. Bukidnon

37. Camiguin

38. Lanao del Norte

39. Misamis Occidental

40. Misamis Oriental

41. Cagayan de Oro City

Region XII

42. North Cotabato

43. South Cotabato

44. Sarangani

45. Sultan Kudarat

46. General Santos City

BARMM

47. Basilan

48. Lanao del Sur

49. Maguindanao

50. Sulu

51. Tawi-Tawi

52. Cotabato City

More businesses to open

Meanwhile, more businesses will be allowed to partially open – 50 percent onsite, 50 percent work from home – under MECQ. These are:

I. Manufacturing sectors,

Category II

1. Beverages (e.g. alcoholic drinks)

2. Electrical Machinery

3. Wood products, Furniture

4. Non-metallic products

5. Textiles / Wearing apparels1

6. Tobacco products

7. Paper and Paper products

8. Rubber and Plastic products

9. Coke and Refined Petroleum products

10. Other non-metallic mineral products

11. Computer, Electronic and Optical Products

12. Electrical Equipment1

13. Machinery and Equipment

14. Motor Vehicles, Trailers and Semi-Trailers

15. Other Transport Equipment

16. Real estate activities (allowed under ECQ, MECQ)

II. Category III

1. Film, music, and TV production

2. Publishing and printing activities

3. Advertising and market research

4. Computer programming and information service activities

5. Rental and leasing, other than real estate

6. Employment activities

7. Photography, fashion, industrial, graphic, and interior design

8. Wholesale and retail trade of motor vehicles

9. Repair of motor vehicles, motorcycles, and bicycles

III. Malls and commercial centers and non-leisure establishments

1. Dining/Restaurants (dDeliver and take-out only)

2. Hardware stores

3. Clothing and accessories

4. Mall-based government frontline services

5. Hardware stores

6. Bookstores and school and office supplies stores

7. Baby care supplies stores

8. Pet food and pet care supplies

9. IT, communications, and electronic equipment

10. Flower, jewelry, novelty, antique, perfume shops

11. Toy store (with playgrounds and amusement area closed)

IV. Essential and priority public and private construction projects are also allowed under the MECQ but small-scale projects are prohibited.

V. Office administrative and office support like photocopying, billing is partially allowed under the MECQ.

VI. Accommodation for guests is partially allowed in all quarantine zones but only for existing long-term bookings or bookings as of May 1 in Luzon.

VII. Funeral and embalming services, veterinary clinics, and security and investigation activities are likewise partially allowed under the MECQ.

VIII. Also partially allowed are other financial services, legal and accounting, management consultancy activities, architecture and engineering activities, and scientific and research development.

To avoid being stopped in checkpoints, Año urged workers to bring their IDs and certificate of employment when traveling. However, since public transport remains suspended, he said companies should provide a shuttle for their employees.

Exercise and sports Limited outdoor exercises like outdoor walk, jog, run, and bike are now allowed under the MECQ. However, those who will do so should wear a mask at all times and maintain a distance of at least two meters.

Limited contact sports like golf and tennis are now allowed under the GCQ.

Still prohibited

Meanwhile, public transportation and barbershops or salons shall remain closed under the MECQ as the government continued to encourage everyone to stay at home at all times to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

Barbershops and salons remain prohibited under the MECQ.

Presidential spokesman Harry Roque made the statement after it was announced that Metro Manila, Laguna, and Cebu City will be under the MECQ from May 16 to 31.

In his Wednesday press briefing, Roque announced that public transport shall remain prohibited under the MECQ. No domestic flights and only limited international flights will be allowed. Inbound travel of overseas Filipino workers and returning Filipinos shall be controlled.

Biking and non-motorized transport are encouraged.

Only one passenger is allowed for bicycles, motorcycles, and escooters. However, tricycles may be exempted subject to guidelines issued by the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) or the local government unit (LGU).

Public shuttles, on the other hand, are allowed under all quarantine zones but it will only be available for frontliners under the ECQ.

Personal vehicles can be used under the MECQ by persons/workers in permitted sectors/activities but only two passengers are allowed per row.

Mass gatherings

Under the MECQ, gatherings shall be restricted to only five people while 10 people are allowed to gather under GCQ.

Religious gatherings, according to Roque, are still not allowed.

Also not allowed

The following sectors are still not allowed in all quarantine zones:

1. Gyms/fitness studios and sports facilities

2. Entertainment industries (e.g., cinemas, theaters, karaoke bars, etc.)

3. Kid amusement industries (e.g., playrooms, rides)

4. Libraries, archives, museums and cultural centers

5. Tourist destinations (e.g., water parks, beaches, resorts)

6. Travel agencies, tour operators, reservation service and related activities

7. Personal care services (e.g., massage parlors, sauna, facial care, waxing, etc.)