9 out of 17 Metro Manila mayors want MGCQ by March, says Navotas mayor

MANILA, Philippines — Metro Manila mayors appeared to be closely divided with nine out of 17 local executives voting in favor of the shift to the least stringent community quarantine by March, Navotas Mayor Toby Tiangco said Thursday.

Tiangco said that during the meeting of the Metro Manila Council (MMC) Wednesday night, nine mayors moved for the shift to the modified general community quarantine (MGCQ), which allows those 15 to 65 years of age to leave their homes.

“Kakatapos lang ng botohan, yung nanalo is yung […] MGCQ. Pero ang pinapili  sa amin kasi is MGCQ na 15-65 [ang ipapalabas] or GCQ [general community quarantine] na 15-65 [ang ipapalabas] ayan yung pinapapili sa amin,” Tiangco said in an interview with dzBB when asked about the voting of Metro Manila mayors on easing the quarantine status in the capital region.

(We just finished voting and MGCQ status won. But we were asked to choose MGCQ that allows out 15 to 65 years old, or GCQ that lets 15 to 65 years old out of their residence.)

The mayor, however, stressed that the final decision for the quarantine status by March is still up to President Rodrigo Duterte.

“Final decision pa rin si Presidente. Si task force [Inter Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases] magrecommend to President and presidente will decide,” he said.

(President Rodrigo Duterte has the final decision. Task force will recommend and the President will decide on their recommendation.)

To date, the Philippines recorded 553,424 confirmed cases of Covid-19 including 512,033 recoveries and 11,557 deaths.

EDV