MANILA, Philippines — The use of granular lockdowns to stem the spread of COVID-19 may be started in early September, Interior Secretary Eduardo Año said Friday.
Malacañang on Thursday announced the shift of policy towards granular lockdowns instead of the prevailing community quarantine classifications.
From strictest to the most relaxed, the quarantine classifications range from an enhanced community quarantine (ECQ), modified (ECQ), general community quarantine (GCQ), to a modified GCQ.
“Tinitignan natin ang either petsa ng September 8 or September 13,” Año said over Teleradyo when asked when the new policy implementation will take effect. (We are looking at either September 8 or September 13.)
Año noted that the year-long state of calamity declared by President Rodrigo Duterte would expire on September 13.
“So mas maganda na maja-jive natin dito, and at the same time, makapag-prepare din ‘yung ating LGUs dito sa bagong shift ng policy.” Año added.
(So it was better that we jive it in accordance with this, and at the same time, the LGUs could prepare for the new policy shift.)