Paranaque City Mayor Edwin Olivarez said on Friday that Metro Manila mayors have agreed to increase the operational capacity of business establishments in the National Capital Region (NCR) which remains under the General Community Quarantine (GCQ) to help jumpstart the economy.
Olivarez, also chairman of the Metro Manila Council (MMC), said all Metro Manila mayors were initially considering the new UK variant of the coronavirus disease in recommending the retention of the NCR under the GCQ status.
However, Olivarez said, the mayors also considered the recovery of the economy and business establishments by increasing their operational capacity.
He did not mention how much of an increase they are eyeing in the operational capacity that each business establishment may have that will help in their economic recovery.
Olivarez also said that Metro Manila mayors also agreed to continue the implementation of localized lockdown in barangays or areas with reported spikes in COVID-19 cases.
They also agreed that precaution and prevention as well as the forthcoming vaccination rollouts should remain in place in every city.
The MMC lauded the Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) given by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to the vaccine developed by UK-based pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca as well as to other vaccine candidates.
Olivarez said the EUA approval means that Metro Manila mayors may soon implement the vaccine rollout as a major step in stopping the spread of COVID-19.