MMDA chief on mute as he presented Metro mayors’ ECQ proposal to Duterte

MANILA, Philippines — Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) chief Benhur Abalos on Thursday revealed that he did not realize that his computer was on mute the whole time he was presenting to President Rodrigo Duterte the proposal of Metro mayors to put the country under Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ).

“Kagabi I was with the president, ngayon ko lang nalaman na ‘yung nagbi-brief pala ako, wala pala akong volume, kaya hindi naisama,” Abalos said in an online news briefing.

(I was with the president last night and I just found out now that my volume was off while I was briefing the president [about the Metro mayor’s position] that’s why the [recommendations] were not included].)

Abalos was referring to the Metro Manila Council (MMC) resolution on Wednesday, which expressed willingness of the 17 mayors to put the National Capital Region under ECQ for two weeks to stem the spread of the Delta variant. MMC serves as the policy making body of MMDA.

Metro Manila mayors, in a resolution, expressed willingness to put NCR under ECQ for two weeks to stem Delta variant spread. Should NCR be put under ECQ, the mayors are asking for 4 million vaccines which they vow to administer in a 2-week period. @inquirerdotnet pic.twitter.com/WT8njP4nH1

— John Eric Mendoza (@JEMendozaINQ) July 29, 2021

MMC also asked the national government for the allocation of four million vaccines “which they commit to be administered during the two-week period”.

The mayors also requested to impose ECQ in Metro Manila only if there are available funds for Social Amelioration Program (SAP) or cash assistance to indigent families.

However, Malacañang on Thursday said it is not sure if the national government has enough funds for SAP distribution.

Meanwhile, Metro Manila, Rizal, Bulacan, Laguna, and Cavite or the so-called NCR Plus was put under general community quarantine “with heightened restrictions” until August 15.

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