METRO MANILA WILL REMAIN UNDER MODIFIED ENHANCED COMMUNITY QUARANTINE (MECQ) UNTIL

MAY 14 ACCORDING TO PRESIDENT RODRIGO DUTERTE.

The President heeded the recommendation of experts and the Department of Health to keep Metro
Manila, Rizal, Bulacan, Cavite and Laguna under MECQ to decongest hospitals.
In a pre-recorded briefing, Duterte said Santiago City in Quirino province and Abra province will also be
under MECQ starting May 1.
Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque, in a separate statement, clarified these two areas will be under
MECQ "For the whole month of May 2021.
Meanwhile, the following areas will be under general community quarantine from May 1 to May 31,
2021:

Cordillera Administrative Region:

Apayao
Baguio City
Benguet
Ifugao
Kalinga
Mountain Province
Region 2
Cagayan
Isabela
Nueva Vizcaya
Region 4A: Batangas Quezon
Region 8 Tacloban
Region 10 Iligan City
Region 11 Davao City
BARMM Lanao del Sur

The MECQ declaration in the greater Manila area, also known as NCR Plus, is extended until May 14.
Santiago City in Isabela, and the provinces of Quirino and Abra will also remain under MECQ from May 1
to 31, Duterte added. MMDA Chairman Benhur Abalos said there will be some changes to the MECQ for
May in terms of businesses allowed to reopen, but border controls in the NCR Plus bubble will remain
strict. Metro Manila mayors have recommended a "flexible MECQ," which they believe is the middle
ground between MECQ and general community quarantine so more businesses can operate.

During the start of MECQ in mid-April, travel was limited to accessing essential goods and for those
working in permitted establishments. Businesses that allowed to operate at 50% capacity during ECQ
were allowed to fully open, while other sectors such as media establishments, medical clinics, banks,
and other specific establishments were allowed to reopen at half capacity. While the rest of the country
will be placed under the more relaxed modified general community quarantine for the entire month of
May, but authorities will be giving special attention to high-risk areas in Luzon, Western Visayas and
Zamboanga Peninsula.

As of now the modified enhanced community quarantine status of Metro Manila, and other NCR areas
will remain in place for another two weeks, but with more businesses reopening, President Rodrigo
Duterte announced on Wednesday.