Palace: Four provinces no longer under ECQ starting May 1

MANILA, Philippines — Capiz, Aklan, Davao del Norte, and Davao de Oro will no longer be placed under enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) starting May 1, Malacañang said Tuesday.

“Kung naaalala niyo, may mga probinsya na hindi na ngayon nasa ECQ, nung unang anunsyo ay sabi natin subject to verification. May mga probinsyang natanggal po dyan, yung Capiz, Aklan, naalala ko isa yan sa mga probinsyang natanggal. Ang Davao del Norte at Davao de Oro ay natanggal na rin doon sa area ng ECQ,” Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said in an online press conference.

(If you remember, there are provinces that will no longer be placed under ECQ. During the first announcement, we said it was subject to verification. The provinces that were removed from are Capiz, Aklan, Davao del Norte and Davao de Oro.)

Roque said the following areas will remain under ECQ upon the approval of the Inter-agency Task Force (IATF) for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases:

• National Capital Region
• Region III (Central Luzon), except province of Aurora
• Region IV-A (Calabarzon)
• Pangasinan
• Benguet
• Baguio City
• Iloilo
• Cebu
• Cebu City
• Davao City

Areas not mentioned will likewise be placed under general community quarantine or GCQ starting May 1, Roque said.

Under GCQ, partial reopening of non-leisure shops in malls and resume priority and essential construction projects are allowed. Public transportation’s operation may also resume, but at a reduced capacity.

Health officials have so far confirmed 7,777 cases of COVID-19 nationwide, with 511 deaths and 932 recoveries.