Malacañang said plans for the Holy Week will have to be postponed as non-essential travel outside the general community quarantine (GCQ) bubble is prohibited until April 4 to arrest the spike in coronavirus (COVID-19) cases.

Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque made the statement after the Inter-agency Task Force (IATF) for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases placed Metro Manila, Bulacan, Cavite, Laguna, and Rizal under a GCQ bubble for two weeks starting March 22.

In his Sunday presser, Roque said that only essential travels outside the bubble will be allowed during the Holy Week.

"Bawal na po ngayon lumabas ng Metro Manila simula bukas hanggang Holy Week. Kinakailangan essential travel lang po (We cannot go out of Metro Manila starting tomorrow until the Holy Week. Only essential travel is allowed)," he said.

Roque explained that the IATF decided to implement this in order to prevent the spread of new COVID-19 variants outside the GCQ bubble, saying it may have caused the number of cases to reach an all-time high of 7,999 in one day on Saturday.

The Palace official, however, hoped that the public will understand this decision of the IATF.

"So sana po maintindihan ng lahat na (I hope everyone understands that) this is for the common good," Roque said.

"Alam po natin na nagplano na kayo at talagang you are looking forward to this Holy Week break. Pero kung papayagan po tayo ng unimpeded travel ngayon, eh talagang mas mapapabilis po ang pagkalat ng mga new variants, sa iba't ibang parte pa ng Pilipinas (We know that you already made plans and are looking forward to this Holy Week break but if we allow unimpeded travel now, we will speed up the spread of the new variants in different parts of the country)," he added.

To prevent going out of the bubble, Roque said even air travel will not be allowed unless the passenger will show proof that the trip is for essential purposes.

"Hindi po kayo pwedeng sumakay ng eroplano kung hindi po kayo babyahe ng essential travel (You will not be allowed to board the plane if your travel is non-essential)," he said.

"Kung hindi niyo po maipapakita na kayo ay magtatrabaho sa lugar na pupuntahan ninyo o kayo ay health worker na nagtatrabaho sa lugar na iyon, hindi rin po kayo mapapayagang sumakay ng eroplano (If you can't prove that you are working in that area or you are a health worker in that area, you will not be allowed to board the plane)," he added.

"Turismo po (Tourism) is a non-essential activity," he continued.

Roque, however, said outings within the bubble are still possible, noting that people inside the bubble are free to travel within Metro Manila and the four nearby provinces.

"Well, hindi naman po pinagbabawal ang travel within the bubble itself pero hindi na kayo makakalabas ng beyond Cavite. Normally, kasi ng mga beaches eh beyond Cavite (travel within the bubble is not prohibited but you cannot go outside Cavite. Normally our beaches are beyond Cavite)," he said.