Ex-Neda chief Pernia: Best to retain GCQ status in ’high risk’ Metro Manila areas

MANILA, Philippines — For former socioeconomic planning chief Ernesto Pernia, it is best to retain the general community quarantine (GCQ) status in areas in Metro Manila that are considered “high-risk” for Covid-19 infections.

“Para sa akin, dapat selective siguro yung MGCQ (modified general community quarantine). Hindi pwedeng lahat na lang,” Pernia, the former secretary of the National Economic Development Authority (Neda), said in an interview over radio station DZBB.

(For me, the MGCQ status should be selective. It shouldn’t be imposed in all areas.)

“Meron pa ring mga high-risk areas, GCQ pa rin dapat,” he added.  “Yung mga low-risk areas na, low risk towns or cities of Metro Manila, pwede silang mag-MGCQ.”

(There are still high-risk areas. These should still be under GCQ. The low-risk areas, the low-risk towns or cities of Metro Manila, they can shift to MGCQ.)

Pernia’s successor, acting Neda secretary Karl Kendrick Chua, first recommended to President Rodrigo Duterte to place the entire country to MGCQ, as this would allow industries previously prevented from operating by a strict lockdown to reopen.

Chua’s recommendation was backed by the majority— nine out of 17— of the Metro Manila mayors.

Palace spokesman Harry Roque said the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases would also recommend to President Rodrigo Duterte to further relax quarantine restrictions nationwide.

Roque said that Duterte might make his decision on Monday, Feb. 22, or before the end of February.

JE