OCTA sees 'significant' increase in new COVID-19 cases in 3 cities outside NCR
Independent research group OCTA has observed "significant increases" in new cases of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Cagayan de Oro City, Davao City, and Iloilo City over the past week.
OCTA's monitoring report released on Wednesday, May 19, showed that the average daily recorded cases in Iloilo City grew 99 percent.
The average daily new COVID-19 cases in Cagayan de Oro City went up by 52 percent, and by 36 percent in Davao City.

OCTA said that Zamboanga City still recorded the highest number of new COVID-19 cases over the past week, but only increased by 4 percent.
The group also noted that Puerto Princesa City in Palawan continued to register a high positivity rate at 87 percent as of May 16.
Meanwhile, the reproduction number in the entire country continues to improve at 0.80.
With an average of 5,834 daily new COVID-19 cases, the number of cases has gone down by 11 percent compared to the previous week.
The COVID-19 reproduction number in the National Capital Region (NCR) also continues to improve at 0.54, as against the 1.54 at its peak in late March to early April.
"Most LGUs (local government units) within the NCR bubble are on a downward trend in new cases," OCTA said.
As of May 11 to 17, the NCR has a daily attack rate of 9.91 per 100,000 population, and is now classified as "moderate risk" for COVID-19 transmissions.