Hybrid MECQ? MECQ Flex?
"'MECQ' is enough."
President Duterte is not keen on having long and cumbersome names for quarantine classifications as the government's pandemic task force worked on making adjustments to allow more businesses to operate during the two-week extension of the modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ) in the National Capital Region-plus (NCR-plus) area.
Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque made the statement Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Chair Benhur Abalos said Metro Manila mayors backed the idea of a "hybrid MECQ" until the middle of May.
In his press briefing Thursday, April 29, Roque said President Duterte does not want long and cumbersome names for quarantine classifications.
"Ayaw po ng Presidente na maraming mga pangalan (The President does not want too many names)," he said when asked about the hybrid MECQ.
"Tama na po yung 'MECQ' ('MECQ' is enough)," he added.
On Wednesday, President Duterte approved the two-week extension of MECQ in Metro Manila, Bulacan, Cavite, Laguna, and Rizal. The City of Santiago in Isabela, Quirino, and Abra are also under MECQ but until May 31.
President Duterte has asked for the public's understanding following his decision to extend for another two weeks the MECQ, saying it was necessary due to the spike of coronavirus (COVID-19) cases.
"Naghihingi lang ako sa inyo ng paumanhin (I would like to apologize). I'm sorry that I have to impose a longer, itong (this) modified enhanced community, kasi kailangan (because it is necessary)," he said.
"Nag-spike, tumaas yung infections at yung ospital natin puno. Kaya sana 'wag niyong dagdagan (We had a spike in infections and our hospitals are already full. So I hope you won't add to that)," he added.
The country logged 6,895 new COVID-19 cases on Wednesday, April 28, bringing the total number of infections in the country to 1,020,495. Of the said figure, 67,769 were still sick.