The majority of local government units (LGUs) in Metro Manila have allowed the 24-hour operations of food establishments for delivery services, Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) General Manager Jose Arturo Garcia said.

“Ang ating pong mga mayors ng Metro Manila, majority of them pinayagan na po magbukas ‘yung ating mga restaurants fast-food chains ng 24 hours sa delivery (The majority of our mayors of Metro Manila have allowed restaurants and fast-food chains to operate 24-hour delivery),” Garcia said in a virtual press briefing on Thursday (Aug. 20).

“Karamihan po ng ating mga LGUs sa Metro Manila, naglabas na po sila ng mga EO (executive order) allowing 24/7 restaurants na pwede ang delivery (Most of our LGUs in Metro Manila have already issued executive orders allowing 24/7 restaurants to deliver),” he added.

For one, Manila Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso has issued a memorandum order allowing the 24-hour takeout and delivery services of food establishments in the country’s capital.

Other guidelines

Garcia said most of the LGUs have also agreed to enforce unified curfew hours from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. the next day as the quarantine status in the National Capital Region (NCR) was reverted back to general community quarantine (GCQ).

“‘Yung ating curfew po sa NCR, halos lahat po naka-adjust na ng 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. Waiting na lang po kami sa Manila and Pasig kasi meron silang (Our curfew in NCR, almost everyone has already adjusted to 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. We are just waiting for Manila and Pasig because they have) local ordinances which they will amend, I think, today,” he said.

He also said workers considered authorized persons outside residence (APOR) are exempted from the unified curfew imposed in the metropolis.

“Just bring na lang po ‘yung ID nila at ‘yan naman po ay hindi huhulihin (They just have to bring their IDs so they will not be apprehended),” the MMDA official explained.

According to Garcia, the curfew was primarily for the purpose of enforcing the strict home quarantine.

“Pero of course ang ating mga manggagawa, lalong-lalo na ang ating medical frontliners, ‘yan po lahat ay exempted (But of course our workers, especially our medical frontliners, are all exempted),” he said.

The number coding scheme for vehicles on major thoroughfares in the metropolis also remains suspended, Garcia said.

The MMDA official added that the metro mayors convened on Wednesday night to harmonize the measures imposed in their respective localities as the region continues its fight against the threat of coronavirus disease (COVID-19).