After easing quarantine rules, gov’t now eyes lockdowns per barangay

MANILA, Philippines — After relaxing some community quarantine restrictions, the government may impose lockdowns per barangay and do away with locking down areas by regions,National Task Force Against COVID-19 chief implementer Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. said Tuesday.

“Ibig sabihin, papaliitin lang natin. Gagawin natin is ‘yong barangay na mayroon cases, ‘yon ang ilo-lockdown natin para ma-preserve natin ang economy,” Galvez said in a meeting with President Duterte and other Cabinet members.

Several sectors were allowed to partially operate starting Saturday, May 16 in areas under modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ) including Metro Manila — the country’s economic center —  in a bid to restart the country’s economy heavily battered by the COVID-19 pandemic.

All other areas in the country—except for the cities of Cebu and Mandaue in the Visayas which remain under enhanced community quarantine—are placed under general community quarantine with eased movement restrictions.

Metro Manila accounts for the majority of the country’s total COVID-19 cases, which currently stands at 12,942, including 2,843 recoveries and 837 deaths.

EDV