MANILA, Philippines — Ifugao province has been added to the list of areas that will be under modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ) from May 1-14 while Puerto Princesa City in Palawan will be under general community quarantine (GCQ) for the whole month of May, Malacañang announced Friday.
This notice was a modification of the earlier pronouncements of President Rodrigo Duterte in which Ifugao province was supposed to be under GCQ while Puerto Princesa City will be under modified GCQ or MGCQ starting Saturday.
Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque explained that reclassification of quarantine status for Ifugao province and Puerto Princesa City was reached after their respective local government units appealed for stricter quarantine categories for their areas.
“Itong mga apela na ito ay para sa mas striktong quarantine classification dahil ang sabi ng mga lokal na pamahalaan ay dumami ang mga kaso at hindi sapat ang mga hospital,” he said in a Laging Handa public briefing.
(These appeals for stricter quarantine status were made because local government units said cases in their localities are increasing and hospitals are not sufficient.)
Duterte on Wednesday said the so-called NCR Plus, which consists of Metro Manila, Rizal, Cavite, Laguna, and Bulacan, will remain under MECQ until May 14 in order to decongest hospitals. Similarly, the President approved the placement of Santiago City in Quirino province and Abra province under MECQ from May 1.
The latest quarantine classifications for other areas beginning next month are the following:
GCQ from May 1 to May 31
Cordillera Administrative Region
Apayao
Baguio City
Benguet
Kalinga
Mountain Province
Region 2
Cagayan
Isabela
Nueva Vizcaya
Region 4A
Batangas
Quezon
Region 8
Tacloban
Region 10
Iligan City
Region 11
Davao City
BARMM
Lanao del Sur
All other areas not mentioned in this list will be placed under the most lenient MGCQ.