Duterte signs EO placing 9 areas under ECQ
Published May 1, 2020, 8:20 PM
President Duterte has issued Executive Order (EO) No. 112 placing nine geographical areas under enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) until May 15 in a bid to prevent the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19).
The following high-risk geographical areas, as recommended by the Inter-agency Task Force (IATF) for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases, are under the ECQ:
- National Capital Region
- Central Luzon except for Aurora Province
- Calabarzon
- Benguet Province
- Pangasinan Province
- Iloilo Province
- Cebu Province
- Bacolod City
- Davao City
Meanwhile, a general community quarantine (GCQ) is imposed on all other areas in the country, provided that minimum health standards are achieved and continuously observed in those areas.
The IATF may lift the GCQ in low-risk areas after May 15, provided that there will be no deterioration in their risk level.
In his EO, President Duterte said the decision was made based on the trends on the COVID-19 epidemiological curve; health systems capacity of local government units (LGUs); and economic, social, and security considerations.
He likewise called on LGUs to fully and sincerely cooperate with the government in the fight against COVID-19.
“Unilateral decisions to close off territorial boundaries and restrict the movement of workers and cargoes compromise the collective interests of all Filipinos and the country as a whole,” the President said in his order.
“There is a need to build on the existing response measures of the government relative to the COVID-19 outbreak, maximize the gains we have achieved thus far, and complement efforts to strengthen the health systems capacity of hospitals, medical facilities, and LGUs,” he added.
The IATF on Thursday released the omnibus guidelines for the implementation of the extended ECQ and GCQ, which includes the resumption of big-ticket infrastructure projects.
