The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) announced Saturday, Aug. 21, that outdoor exercises in the National Capital Region (NCR) will be allowed during the duration of the modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ).
However, Metro Manila mayors were given discretion to impose certain limitations to ensure that this will not lead to an outbreak of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) cases in their areas of jurisdiction.
"It is the discretion of the local government units (LGUs) on whether to impose limitations on the movement or the time period when outdoor exercises are allowed in their respective jurisdictions," said MMDA Chairman Benhur Abalos in a statement.
As a general rule under Sec. 3.16 of the Omnibus Guidelines released by the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) on Aug. 19, Abalos said individual outdoor exercises such as outdoor walks, jogging, running or biking "are allowed within the general area of their residence."
It means that these activities can be done within the barangay, purok, subdivision, and/or village provided that the minimum public health standards and precautions such as the wearing of face masks and the maintenance of social distancing protocols are observed.
"The Metro Manila LGUs, however, can set limitations on the movement or the time period of outdoor exercises, in their jurisdiction based on their COVID-19 situation," added Abalos, who also sits concurrently as the head of the Metro Manila Council (MMC).
After a two-week enhanced community quarantine (ECQ), the national government eased the quarantine restriction in NCR to MECQ from Aug. 21 to 31.
This, despite the 17,231 new cases recorded on Friday -- the highest number of new infections tallied in a single-day since the onset of the pandemic last year.