Taguig Mayor Lino Cayetano said on Monday he voted to relax Metro Manila’s status to Modified General Community Quarantine (MGCQ) by March because his city is ready for it.
During a meeting of the Metro Manila Council (MMC) last Feb. 17, mayors voted 9-8 for a shift to MGCQ that will allow those 15 to 65 years old to go out of their residence by March.
Cayetano was one of the nine out of 17 mayors who voted in favor of MGCQ.
"I confirm that the City of Taguig was one of those that voted for the transition to MGCQ,” he said in a video posted by the Taguig City government on Sunday, Feb 21.
He said he consulted his brother, Rep. Alan Peter Cayetano, and his wife, Rep. Lani Cayetano, Vice Mayor Ricardo Cruz, and councilors and it was agreed that if health protocols are maintained, “it is also important that the economy should eventually open to allow more Taguig residents to go back to their jobs.”
“It is not only COVID-19 that is our problem. Many were already affected when it came to their livelihood. In the City of Taguig, we believe that because it is safe in the City of Taguig, we will be able to lead in the transition in the new normal. We believe that we are ready to transition to MGCQ and to the new normal,” said Cayetano.
“Regardless of the rules of the community quarantine, let’s maintain distance. Wear our face masks, wash our hands,” he added.
The bulk of active COVID-19 cases in Taguig are those between ages 18 to 44, majority of whom are those who go to work, he said.
As of Feb. 20, Taguig has 11,828 confirmed COVID-19 cases, 67 of which are active cases, 11,581 recoveries, and 180 deaths.