The police’s tiny bubbles will still be in effect in Metro Manila despite the downgrading of the quarantine status to the Modified Enhanced Community Quarantine (MECQ) until the end of this month.
The tiny bubbles refer to the 17 Local Government Units (LGUs) in Metro Manila—each of them is secured with border control points to protect their respective residents from outsiders who may be carrying coronavirus disease (COVID-19).
Gen. Guillermo Lorenzo Eleazar, chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP), said the tiny bubbles are layers of defense within Metro Manila to contain the non-essential travels of people, especially those classified as non-APOR (non-Authorized Persons Outside Residence).
“The concept of tiny bubbles will still be applied in Metro Manila (even under the MECQ status),” said Eleazar.
Metro Manila was placed under MECQ from August 21 to August 31 immediately after the lifting of the August 6-20 ECQ.
Not much of changes
Eleazar explained that the are no significant changes in the set up under MECQ when it comes to restrictions.
The only difference, according to Eleazar, is that there are more permitted industries and businesses that are allowed to operate under MECQ, compared to the ECQ—which means that there are more Worker-APOR who would be allowed to travel.
The same for consumers
Eleazar stressed that the restrictions are still the same for Consumer-APORs, saying they are only allowed to go out during non-curfew hours and should avail of the goods and services in their respective localities or cities.
The curfew hours in Metro Manila are from 8 p.m. to 4 a.m.
“The PNP will not allow Consumer-APOR to cross borders just to avail of the goods and services of the permitted industries and businesses that are allowed to operate under the MECQ. Instead, they should do so within their respective localities or cities,” said Eleazar.
Stricter
Eleazar explained that unlike the MECQ which was implemented in Metro Manila in April this year, today’s MECQ implementation is stricter especially when it comes to mass gathering.
“If alfresco dining or outdoor dining services were allowed under MECQ before, these are not allowed this time. And if religious activities are allowed before with 10 percent capacity in the venues, there too are not allowed this time,” said Eleazar.
Eleazar said he reiterated the additional rules on MECQ in order to avoid confusion and misunderstanding as some people would misinterpret the new quarantine status to mean that they could already cross borders.
He then appealed for understanding on the restrictions, saying it is the decision of the IATF that the PNP has to implement for the sake of public safety.