Metro Manila, other provinces stay under GCQ in November

FIRST FRIDAY- People gather outside the Quiapo church in Manila for the first Friday mass of September, as the government allows religious activities to resume under the GCQ but only up to 10 percent of the church’s capacity. INQUIRER/ MARIANNE BERMUDEZ

MANILA, Philippines — There will be no changes in the quarantine classifications in November as initially announced by President Rodrigo Duterte, despite appeals from local government units, Malacañang said Friday.

This means that Metro Manila, Batangas, Iloilo City, Bacolod City, Tacloban City, Iligan City, and Lanao del Sur will remain under general community quarantine for the entire month of November.

Areas not mentioned above will be under the most lenient quarantine status or modified GCQ, presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said.

“Nasa pinal na rin po ang ating mga quarantine classifications matapos po ang takdang panahon na binigay sa mga lokal na pamahalaan upang mag-apela,” Roque said in a televised briefing.

(Our quarantine classifications are now final after the allotted time for local government units to appeal.)

“Wala pong nagbago doon sa inanusyo na quarantine guidelines ng ating Presidente,” he added.

(There are no changes in the quarantine guidelines earlier announced by the President.)

The Department of the Interior and Local Government spokesperson Jonathan Malaya had confirmed there were appeals against the classifications initially announced by the President on Monday.

But he opted not to disclose which local government units wanted a change in their quarantine status.

The GCQ status has become less restrictive after the government allowed hotels to operate at full capacity and malls to hold sale events, eased age restrictions, and authorized more businesses to reopen.

EDV