NCR Plus eases to GCQ ‘with heightened restrictions’ from May 15-31

FILE PHOTO: More passengers ride the MRT Line 3 in North Avenue, Quezon City.  Niño Jesus Orbeta/Philippine Daily Inquirer

MANILA, Philippines — The so-called NCR Plus comprising Metro Manila, Rizal, Bulacan, Cavite, and Laguna will be downgraded to general community quarantine (GCQ) starting May 15 until May 30, Malacañang announced on Thursday night.

In a taped meeting with President Rodrigo Duterte, presidential spokesperson Harry Roque however noted that this is going to be a GCQ “with heightened restrictions.”

Other areas under GCQ are the following:

Cordillera Administrative Region

• Apayao
• Baguio City
• Benguet
• Kalinga
• Mountain Province
• Abra

Region 2

• Cagayan
• Isabela
• Nueva Vizcaya

Region 4-A

• Batangas
• Quezon

Region 4-B

• Puerto Princesa

Region 10

• Iligan City

Region 11

• Davao City

BARMM

• Lanao del Sur

Meanwhile, Santiago City in Quirino province, Ifugao province, and Zamboanga City will remain under the stricter modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ) until the end of the month.

All other areas will be under the most lenient modified GCQ until May 31.

GCQ ‘with heightened restrictions’

In NCR Plus where there are heightened restrictions, Roque said movement is limited to essential travel and that public transportation will remain operational.

Indoor dine-in services in NCR Plus will be allowed at 20 percent venue or seating capacity while outdoor or al fresco dining will be allowed at 50 percent capacity.

Roque said outdoor tourist attractions can reopen, but only at 30 percent capacity and provided there is strict adherence to minimum public health standards.

Moreover, personal care services that do not require removal of face masks like salons, parlors, and beauty clinics can operate at 30 percent capacity.

However, still barred from reopening under GCQ with heightened restrictions are establishments involved in leisure, such as:

• entertainment venues, such as bars, concert halls, theaters, etc;
• recreational venues, such as internet cafes, billiards halls, arcades, etc;
• amusement parks, fairs, playgrounds, kiddie rides;
• indoor sports courts and venues and indoor tourist attractions;
• venues for meetings, conferences, exhibitions

Religious gatherings, necrological services, wakes, inurnment, and funerals for those who died of causes other than COVID-19 in NCR Plus are allowed only at 10% of the venue capacity.

Roque said individuals aged 18 to 65 are allowed to leave their places of residence in GCQ areas with heightened restrictions.

The NCR Plus already underwent a two-week enhanced community quarantine from March 29 until April 11 following a surge in new COVID-19 cases.

It was later downgraded to MECQ from April 12 to April 30 and extended until May 14.

KGA