By Chito Chavez
The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) said on Saturday that the Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) is inclined to consider the 15-day extension of the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) proposal of the Metro Manila Council in the National Capital Region (NCR).
DILG Undersecretary Jonathan Malaya,
(PCOO / MANILA BULLETIN FILE PHOTO)
In an earlier pronouncement, Metro Manila Council (MMC) chairman and Parañaque City Mayor Edwin Olivarez said that the NCR mayors will formalize its recommendation through a resolution in a meeting on May 9.
Malaya in an interview over GMA News expressed high regard for the Metro Manila mayors citing that they are one with the national government in fighting the COVID-19 pandemic.
Even if the MMC’s resolution is only recommendatory, Malaya said the IATF will carefully study the mayors’ proposal.
He explained the IATF gives strong weight to the recommendation of the local government units (LGUss).
Depending on the COVID-19 related statistics as the expiration of ECQ draws near, Malaya said the IATF may come up with its final decision on May 13 or 14 on whether to impose stricter quarantine measures in Metro Manila in the event the ECQ is extended.
Millions are depressed and stressed out due to the enforcement of the ECQ but government authorities have emphasized the urgency of imposing strict quarantine rules to prevent the possible second wave of COVID-19 from occurring.