Palace: LGUs may appeal jurisdiction’s quarantine category until May 13

By: Krissy Aguilar - 5 years ago

MANILA, Philippines — Local government units (LGUs) may appeal their respective jurisdiction’s quarantine measure classification to the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases until May 13, Malacañang said Tuesday.

“Now, lahat po iyong mga probinsiya (all provinces), mga Highly Urbanized Cities, iyong mga (those) Independent Components Cities na na-characterize (that were characterized) as low, moderate and high risk; low po iyong (those in the) green, moderate iyong (those in) yellow at ang (and) high-risk ay pula (is red) – may appeal their classification to the IATF Screening and Validation Committee with the concurrence of the Regional IATF not later than 13 May 2020,” Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said in an online briefing.

Metro Manila, Laguna, and Cebu City were placed under a modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ) starting May 16 until May 31.

Under MECQ, the economy will be gradually opened as select manufacturing and processing plants are allowed to resume work with up to a maximum of 50 percent capacity.

The government, meanwhile, placed moderate risk areas for coronavirus transmission under general community quarantine (GCQ) where businesses may resume partial operations, excluding those that are involved in leisure and entertainment.

Quarantine measures were altogether lifted in low-risk areas for COVID-19, but minimum health standards such as wearing masks and physical distancing must still be observed.

KGA