MANILA –Palace ruled out the possible extension of the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) in the “National Capital Region Plus” beyond its second extension that will lapse on April 11.
According to Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque, Metro Manila and four other adjacent areas Rizal, Bulacan, Cavite, and Laguna will likely shift to a weeklong and more lenient modified ECQ (MECQ).
“I don’t think ECQ for a third week is actually a possibility in the NCR Plus,” Roque told ABS-CBN’s News Channel’s Headstart on Tuesday.
“Given what [Budget] Secretary [Wendel] Avisado said that we have no more funds for ayuda, and Congress currently is on recess so in case we need a supplemental budget, we would have to request for a special session,” he added.
Roque added that the Department of Health only recommended two weeks ECQ and another week of bubble to be followed by a week of MECQ.
With the implementation of ECQ, the Palace expects that cases of coronavirus disease 2019 to go down to “4,000 a day by May 15.”
Independent research group OCTA, meanwhile, said easing Metro Manila’s quarantine level is “possible” next week as the virus reproduction rate is expected to slow to 1.2 after two weeks of ECQ.
“Possible naman…Kung ganun, pag malapit na siya sa one, kahit mag-MECQ tayo pwede natin mapapababa ‘yan sa one within the following week,” OCTA Research’s Guido David said.
“‘Yung projection natin mukhang aabot naman tayo ng 1.2 reproduction number or even less. Baka hindi na necessary i-extend ang ECQ,” he added./PN
