News Roundup 09 May 2020
May 09, 2020 • 3 min Read
COVID-19 task force to meet May 11 to decide fate of ECQ areas | PHILSTAR.COM – The Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases is set to convene next Monday to discuss what will happen to areas currently under enhanced community quarantine after May 15, according to presidential spokesperson Harry Roque. The IATF spokesman also reiterated that the task force has not yet agreed on anything or made a final recommendation to the president. However, he said that areas that continue to see a large number of COVID-19 cases would not be downgraded to a GCQ, citing Interior Secretary Eduardo Año. Meanwhile, Interior Undersecretary Jonathan Malaya said that the recommendation of Metro Manila mayors would be considered in the decision to extend the ECQ in their respective jurisdictions.
QC wants transition period to GCQ, says COVID-19 hurting local economy | INQUIRER.NET – The local government of Quezon City is proposing to implement a “transition period” to a less strict general community quarantine (GCQ) after May 15, saying that the coronavirus disease pandemic had adversely affected the city’s economy. “While the health of our residents remains our primary priority, we also need to look after the local economy, which has been affected severely by the dreaded virus,” Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte said in a statement on Friday. The transition period will impose strict “new normal” protocols for businesses if Quezon City is placed under GCQ after the lifting of the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) next week. “Necessary preventive measures should be in place and the health and safety of workers and customers must be guaranteed before we allow them to operate again,” Belmonte said.
US to help repair PH ship after fire incident — Lorenzana | The Manila Times – Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said on Saturday that the United States (US) would assist in repairing the BRP Ramon Alcaraz after a fire broke out from the ship late last week. Since the BRP Alcaraz was acquired from the US, its Navy’s Naval Systems Command (NAVSEA) would help in the repairs, Lorenzana said. Lorenzana said the Philippines would use diplomatic channels and defense cooperation agreements with India to facilitate and expedite work on the ship. The BRP Ramon Alcaraz returned to Cochin, India after fire broke out on Thursday night, injuring two of its sailors, Lorenzana said.
MM mayors split on ECQ | MANILASTANDARD.NET – Some Metro Manila mayors want a 15-day extension of the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) when it expires on May 15, a move that would take the lockdown to 76 days, just one day short of the shutdown in Wuhan, China, where the novel coronavirus epidemic first broke out. Not all the mayors support an extension, though, as others want their cities taken down to a general community quarantine (GCQ) that would ease some of the restrictions imposed on an increasingly restive population that has been unable to go to work. Members of the Metro Manila Council, composed of 17 mayors and local executives in the National Capital Region are set to hold an online meeting today, Saturday, to discuss a resolution on what to do when the ECQ expires on May 15, said Paranaque City Mayor Edwin Olivarez, who supports an extension.
