Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Chairman Benhur Abalos gave a low-key but stern reminder for barangay (village) officials Sunday, March 28 to help authorities in enforcing the restrictions of the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) in "NCR-plus".
"Within Metro Manila asahan niyo rin po ang mga pulis na umiikot, maninita po yan. Hindi lang police, it should also be the barangay (Expect police to make rounds and do apprehensions within Metro Manila. Not only police, it should also be the barangay)," Abalos said in an interview over DZBB radio.
'Kaya nga ho tayo nag-enhance community (quarantine) to restrict...mobility na ang mga lalabas lang ay for essentials. Klaro naman po yun (The reason why we will impose ECQ is to restrict mobility, except for those who will go out to buy essentials. That is clear)," he added.
The country is reeling from the sudden jump in active coronavirus disease (COVID-19) this month, particularly in the National Capital Region (NCR) or Metro Manila.
As a result, Malacañang announced that NCR and the nearby provinces of Bulacan, Laguna, Cavite, and Rizal (NCR-plus) will be placed under ECQ--the most stringent lockdown protocol--from March 29 to April 4, or the entirety of Holy Week.
Abalos reminded the public that a curfew of 6 p.m. to 5 a.m. will be observed during that period. This is four hours longer than the curfew imposed in Metro Manila last week.
The MMDA chief asked the public to comply with the restrictions and cooperate with authorities in order to halt the rise in daily infections and "give our hospitals breathing room."
He noted that several major hospitals in the metropolis have reached full COVID bed capacity already.