DUTERTE TO REVIEW MGCQ TRANSITION – GO

WITH the arrival of the first batch of coronavirus vaccines, President Rodrigo Duterte will review the proposal for a nationwide shift to modified general community quarantine (MGCQ), Sen. Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go said on Monday.

Go said the President had been regularly reviewing the government’s quarantine policy, relying on the advice of experts.

“The President will be carefully studying with the help of experts. Based on good science [ang] decision ni Pangulo (the decision of the President),” he added.

Once the President has seen the start of the vaccine rollout, he would be more open to the idea of further easing quarantine restrictions to reopen the economy, the senator bared.

Duterte has approved the recommendation of the InterAgency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases to place Apayao, Baguio City, Kalinga, Metro Manila, Mountain Province, Batangas, Tacloban City, Iligan City, Davao City and Lanao del Sur under GCQ until March 31.

The rest of the country will be under MGCQ.

Some Cabinet members on Monday also expressed hope that the National Capital Region would be under MGCQ starting next month.

Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez 3rd said the national and local governments were working together for a successful vaccine rollout.

Trade and Industry Secretary Ramon Lopez also expressed optimism that Metro Manila would be under MGCQ next month.

“We respect his (Duterte) decision to wait for the vaccine before further opening up,” Lopez said during the Laging Handa briefing.

“The start of the vaccine rollout can only bring heightened optimism to all of us,” he added.