Palace: 6 areas across PH want stricter coronavirus lockdown measures

MANILA, Philippines — Malacañang revealed Monday that the Inter-agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) is currently studying the appeal of local officials from six areas across the country to be placed under a stricter quarantine classification.

Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said this as the nation waits for President Rodrigo Duterte’s announcement on the fate of the different quarantine measures imposed nationwide to curtail the further spread of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

In his regular televised press briefing in Malacañang, Roque bared that Cebu City, which is currently under the general community quarantine (GCQ) until June 15, appealed to be placed back into the stricter modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ).

Quezon Province, Abra, Apayao, Caraga Region, and  Lanao del Sur also appealed to be placed back under GCQ from the most lenient modified GCQ, Roque added.

Meanwhile, a total of 14 areas appealed for a more lenient lockdown measure.

Local officials from the following asked the IATF to place their areas under the most relaxed modified general community quarantine:

– Pangasinan
– Angeles City
– Nueva Ecija
– Zambales
– Pampanga
– Cavite
– Cebu province

Meanwhile, the following areas asked for a “de-escalation” of the prevailing community quarantine protocols in their areas:

-Dagupan City
-Batanes
-Davao de Oro
-Davao del Norte
-Davao Occidental
-Davao Oriental,
-Davao del Sur

The Palace official also said there was no appeal from Metro Manila mayors.

Lockdown restrictions have been eased nationwide since June 1, with Duterte placing the capital region and other “high-risk” areas including Central Visayas under GCQ to gradually reopen the economy that was heavily battered by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Currently, there are 25,930 COVID-19 cases nationwide, including 5,954 recoveries and 1,088 deaths.