Government opts to ease lockdown in densely populated capital region and other areas
MANILA – President Rodrigo Duterte approved the recommendation of the Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases to ease the enhanced community quarantine effective Monday June 1. The tight lockdown was declared last March 16 when COVID-19 positive cases rose to alarming levels.
More businesses will reopen with lesser restrictions in the people’s movement in the region with 16 cities and one municipality with a population of 12.5 million listed five years ago. However, police and military checkpoints will still be implemented together with the9:00 P.M. to 5:00 A.M. curfew.
“We are not happy to put you in this place, but after review, maybe we can,” President Duterte told a nationwide audience as he assured the people that places under quarantine will be looked into on a regular basis. He reminded everyone that the whole country is will under quarantine.
“Let us move to the so-called new normal,” he added. Food and manufacturing industries and utilities will be allowed to operate. Banks and financial institutions, medical facilities and veterinary clinics and retail stores as well as supermarkets will be allowed to operate.
However, leisure-related facilities where people usually gather like theaters, libraries and museums will remain close.
Fifty percent of public utility buses will be allowed to ply routes as transport officials said they will slowly increase transport facilities in the coming days. (Melo M. Acuña)
President Rodrigo Duterte. (Screen grab from PTV4)
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