Malacañang has urged Filipino families to not rely on the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) and to impose their own household lockdown to save their loved ones from the dreaded Delta variant of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque made the statement ahead of Metro Manila's scheduled shift to ECQ on August 6 to 20, 2021.

In his press briefing on Monday, August 2, Roque said the best way for the country to get what it wanted to achieve was for the head of the family to declare family lockdown.

"Kada pamilya na po. Kung hindi kinakailangang lumabas, yung pinuno ng pamilya, mag-order: Walang lalabas unless bibili ng pagkain o gamot (It should be on a per-family basis. If there's no need to go out, the head of the family should order that no one should go out unless to buy food or medicine)," he said.

"Kung hindi kinakailangan, lahat manatili sa tahanan (If it is not necessary, stay at home)," he added.

The Palace official said families should not rely on ECQ declarations because the solution to the problem was having their own household lockdown.

'Wag na tayong mag-rely pa sa ECQ-ECQ. Family lockdown ang solution po dito. Family heads, mag-declare na po kayo ng lockdown (Let us not rely on ECQ anymore. Family lockdown is the solution. Family heads, declare your own lockdown)," Roque said.

"'Wag niyo nang palabasin ang inyong mga mahal sa buhay dahil baka mamatay pa 'yan dahil sa Delta variant (Do not let your loved ones go out because they might die from the Delta variant). By order of the head of the family," he added.

Metro Manila will be placed under ECQ from August 6 to 20 as a preemptive response to the spread of the more contagious Delta variant.

The Department of Health (DOH) has so far recorded 216 cases of the Delta variant in the country.