Duterte to decide anew on shift to MGCQ upon vaccination rollout

MANILA, Philippines — President Rodrigo Duterte asked for more time and will decide again on the proposed nationwide shift to the modified general community quarantine (MGCQ) once the vaccinations against coronavirus are in place, a Palace official said.

“The President is just asking for a little more time,  because again, ang step-by-step process para sa kanya, is vaccination rollout muna. Let’s wait and see a good and successful rollout of the vaccination,” Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles said in an online briefing.

(The President is just asking for a little more time, because again, the step-by-step process for him is to first through the vaccination rollout. Let’s wait and see a good and successful rollout of the vaccination.)

“Makita lang na magsimula ang vaccination program, na may nakakuha nang bakuna, then he will make the decision on MGCQ for the entire country,” he added.

(Once he sees that the vaccination program starts, that we already have vaccines, then he will make the decision on MGCQ for the entire country.)

In the meantime, Nograles said the government’s economic managers will look for ways to boost the economy even if some areas remain under general community quarantine (GCQ).

“The economic cluster, our economic managers will have to work within the context and framework ng pag-retain, sabihin natin ng GCQ sa ibang areas,” he said.

(The economic cluster, our economic managers will have to work within the context and framework of a retained GCQ status in some areas.)

Nograles also said it is a “possibility” that some industries will further be allowed to reopen in GCQ areas.

“Within the framework ng GCQ, there are ways and means for us to safely reopen the economy some more,” he added.

Malacañang earlier said Duterte was already growing impatient over the delay in arrival of Covid-19 vaccines in the country.

But with the vaccine of China’s Sinovac already securing an emergency use authorization from local regulators, at least 600,000 doses donated by the Chinese government are expected to arrive in the coming days.

EDV