GCQ to be imposed May 1 in areas removed from ECQ list: Palace

ALL AREAS that have been omitted from the list of places under enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) will now be under general community quarantine (GCQ) beginning May 1, Malacañang said on Wednesday.   

This developed after the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) revised the roster of areas under GCQ.

In an interview with ANC, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said Capiz, Aklan, Davao del Norte, Davao de Oro, Iloilo City, and Aurora have been removed from the list of areas that are still under ECQ until May 15.

“I confirm that these areas will be on GCQ effective May 1,” Roque said.

The IATF-EID on Monday approved Resolution 29, which extends the ECQ in Metro Manila; Central Luzon, except Aurora; Calabarzon (Region 4-A); Pangasinan; Benguet; Baguio City; Iloilo; Cebu; Cebu City; and Davao City until May 15.

The original recommendation of IATF-EID, which was approved by President Rodrigo Duterte on April 23, was to place Metro Manila, Central Luzon, Calabarzon, Pangasinan, Benguet, Albay, Catanduanes, Davao del Norte, Davao City, Oriental Mindoro, Antique, Iloilo, Cebu, and Cebu City under ECQ until May 15.

Roque said other areas that are not on the revised list would also be under GCQ from May 1 to 15.

“Of course, all other areas not (on) the list will be on GCQ as well,” he said.

Public movement in areas under GCQ is less restricted.

People living in areas under ECQ are still required to observe strict home quarantine unless they are among the exempted individuals who can go out of their homes.

This is meant to stop the further transmission of the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19), which has so far infected 7,958 individuals in the country.

The imposition, lifting, or extension of the quarantine in provinces, highly urbanized cities, and independent component cities will rest on the IATF-EID starting May 16.

Provincial governors have the authority to impose ECQ in component cities, municipalities, and villages upon the concurrence of their respective regional inter-agency task groups. (By Ruth Abbey Gita-Carlos)