As part of steps to gradually ease restrictions brought about by the COVID-19 outbreak outbreak, Metro Manila, Laguna province, and Cebu City will be placed under a modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ) from May 16 until May 31. This was according to Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque, speaking in a televised press conference earlier.
What does the 'modified' ECQ in Metro Manila, Laguna, Cebu City mean? | Teleradyo
Information as to which specific industries can be reopened under the MECQ is still pending as of this writing. Roque explained that the list is still being finalized, and that more details will be disclosed tomorrow.
A state of MECQ is not as restrictive as the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ), although it falls short of the general community quarantine (GCQ) in terms of which activities are permitted to the public. How will this affect the transport sector?
With MECQ in place, people will be allowed to move within their respective cities, but only for the purposes of getting essential goods and services. Work-related travel will also be permitted but on a limited basis, as only certain industries can resume operations with a maximum of half of their workforce allowed on-site.
>>> Related: DOTr issues updated GCQ guidelines for land transport
Not quite the kind of quarantine that everyone’s been expecting
Public transport is still restricted to delivering essential goods and services, while class suspensions for all levels are still in effect.
In contrast, under the widely-expected GCQ, government and private industries can restore operations up to 75 percent, except for amusement activities and those involving mass gatherings. Transport services will be restored on a limited basis with passengers observing social distancing, while alternative learning methods will be implemented in schools.
>>> Related: New Normal: How the general quarantine will affect our drives
Areas that will be placed in GCQ until May 31 include the following:
- Region II
- Region III
- Region IV-A
- Region VII
- Region IX
- Region XI
- CAR
- CARAGA
While provinces in the following regions will have all quarantine restrictions lifted:
- Region I
- Region IV-B
- Region V
- Region VI
- Region VIII
- Region X
- Region XII
- BARMM
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