Metro Manila will be shifting to a more relaxed general community quarantine on June 1, according to a recent announcement from President Rodrigo Duterte.
“You know, the NCR (National Capital Region) will now be placed under the general community quarantine or the GCQ starting June 1,” he said in his public address aired over state-run PTV4 on Thursday night, May 28..
Duterte also placed Davao City, Region II, Region III, Region IVA, Pangasinan, and Albay under GCQ starting next week.
“‘Yan sila (That’s all of them), until we have reviewed the general situation,” he said, adding “We are not happy to put you in this place but after review maybe we can.”
Meanwhile, the rest of the country will be placed under modified general community quarantine.
“In other areas, it will be, again, on a piecemeal basis depending on the viability of the place to meet the challenges of COVID-19,” Duterte said.
“But from time to time, Secretary Roque (Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque) will give us the places where there will be changes,” he added.
Under the GCQ, mass transportation will be operating on a limited capacity. Train systems, as well as shuttles of private companies, transport network vehicle services, and point-to-point buses will be allowed to run; meanwhile, bus and jeepney operations will still be suspended.
Residents of GCQ areas will be allowed to go out of their houses, except for those aged below 21 and those 60 and older to limit infections.
Mass gathering activities will remain prohibited, however.
Duterte reminded everyone to wear face masks, stressing that law enforcers will strictly implement it to protect the public.
“Alam mo (You know), remember, the COVID-19 microbes are still in the air that you breathe, that you pass on to your fellowmen if you are not ready or willing to wear the mask,” he said.
“It is the precisely… this is the protection not for you but for the other guy. That is why the State has every right to control your movement if you pass on a contagion to the other (members of the) population,” he added.
