Metro Manila mayors weigh in on MECQ, GCQ; want stricter GCQ


Local government executives have drafted recommendations to the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) should Metro Manila remain under modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ) or eased to general community quarantine (GCQ).

MMDA General Manager Jose Arturo Garcia during online press briefing (Screencap via Jel Santos / MANILA BULLETIN)

"If NCR will be under GCQ, our Metro Manila mayors want a stricter GCQ," Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) General Manager Jose Arturo Garcia said during an online press briefing Monday (August 17).

The Metro Manila Council (MMC), composed of 17 Metro Manila mayors held a meeting Sunday night where they discussed the situations in their respective areas of jurisdiction and steps they would take should NCR remain under MECQ or lowered to GCQ.  

In an interview over DZBB Monday, Navotas Mayor Toby Tiangco said at least nine mayors want GCQ imposed over the National Capital Region (NCR) because of the issue of mobility.

Garcia said the mayors also agreed to recommend an 8 p.m. curfew once NCR is placed under GCQ.

Garcia said they took all the salient points of mayors who prefer GCQ and MECQ.

"We are getting the ideas of mayors that want GCQ, and those who prefer MECQ. We will present these ideas to the IATF. It will then be up to them," he said, referring to IATF.

Garcia stressed that MMC is just a recommendatory body, and has no final say on the matter.