PRESIDENT Duterte rejected a proposal by economic managers to lower the community quarantine classification in Metro Manila and other areas under general community quarantine (GCQ) until the government starts its novel coronavirus disease (Covid-19) vaccination drive.
Duterte made the decision during his Cabinet meeting on Monday amid the reported increase in infections in the National Capital Region and other parts of the country.
“The Chief Executive recognizes the importance of re-opening the economy and its impact on people’s livelihoods. However, the President gives higher premium to public health and safety,” Presidential spokesman Harry Roque said in a statement.
Last week, the National Economic and Development Authority (Neda) proposed to place the entire country under modified GCQ (MGCQ) by March to address the growing hunger rate, poverty and income loss arising from the pandemic.
The encompassing MGCQ declaration, Neda said, would allow more businesses to resume their operations.
Duterte said he first wants the government to start deploying Covid-19 vaccines before he considers the proposal of Neda.
The inoculation drive is expected to start this month once the donated 600,000 doses of Covid-19 vaccine of Chinese pharmaceutical firm Sinovac arrives in the country.
As of this month, areas which remain under GCQ include the NCR and Davao City.
Other areas placed under GCQ until the end of February were Batangas and Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR), which includes Abra, Apayao, Benguet, Baguio City, Ifugao, Kalinga, and Mountain Province for Luzon; Tacloban City for the Visayas; Davao del Norte, Lanao del Sur and Iligan City for Mindanao.
The rest of the country is already under MGCQ.
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