8 regions, 37 provinces, 11 cities under MGCQ
Published May 13, 2020 12:00 am
By Genalyn Kabiling and Argyll Cyrus Geducos
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.
DILG Secretary Eduardo Año (Philippine Information Agency / MANILA BULLETIN FILE PHOTO)
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 1
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 (Deliver 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.)
DILG Secretary Eduardo Año (Philippine Information Agency / MANILA BULLETIN FILE PHOTO)
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 1
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 (Deliver 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.)