Breaking News
President Rodrigo Roa Duterte has approved placing the entire Metro Manila (National Capital Region), the provinces of Bulacan, Laguna, and Cavite under a Modified Enhanced Community Quarantine (MECQ) effective 0001H of Tuesday, 04 August 2020 until 2359H of Tuesday, 18 August 2020.
The announcement was made late Sunday evening (Manila time) following the plea of medical frontliners for a “timeout” amidst the worsening health situation in the nation’s capital. The Chief Executive also approved the hiring of additional healthcare workers to augment the current workforce, including the hiring of 10,000 medical professionals and the calling to active duty and enlistment to the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).
During the public address, the President said that healthcare workers would also be provided additional benefits, such as risk allowance for private sector healthcare workers treating COVID-19 patients ranging from PHP10,000 to PHP15,000 for every medical frontliner that gets sick, and other benefits like life insurance, free accommodation, free transportation, and free frequent testing.
The Cabinet’s recommendation to issue work and quarantine passes to minimize movement of people in areas under MECQ was likewise approved. The local government units (LGUs) and the COVID-19 CODE Teams are directed to intensify the localized lockdown strategy and the implementation of Oplan Kalinga.
According to Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque, the guidelines for minimum health standards will also be strictly enforced and intensified, while the poor will be given some twenty (20) million face masks for free. It was also agreed that the use of RT-PCT testing remains as gold standard.
Transportation During MECQ
For areas placed under the MECQ, public transportation is not allowed, and some transportation services will remain limited. If your residence is under MECQ, these are the public and private transport options that are ALLOWED and NOT ALLOWED to operate:
- For public transport, public shuttles will be ALLOWED for frontline workers or those who will return to work in allowed industries under the MECQ.
- Bus, jeepney, taxi, TNVS, are NOT ALLOWED.
- Tricycles are also NOT ALLOWED, but with exceptions, subject to the guidelines set by the DILG and respective LGUs.
- Under the rail sector, operations of the PNR, LRT-1, LRT-2, and MRT-3 will remain SUSPENDED.
- For private transport, company shuttle is ALLOWED to operate with a passenger capacity of 50%, and a special permit from LTFRB for rented shuttles.
- Personal vehicles owned by persons/workers in permitted sectors are also ALLOWED, with two (02) persons per row.
- Further, the use of bicycles, motorcycles, or e-scooters by APORs (Authorized Persons Outside Residence) are also ALLOWED, with a maximum passenger capacity of one (only the rider is allowed). Moreover, e-scooters are allowed, subject to existing traffic regulations.
