Statement of DILG on Public Transportation in Metro Manila amid the ECQ
DILG – The Department of Interior and Local Government spoke on public transportation amid the ECQ in Metro Manila.
Metro Manila is set to be placed under Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ) from August 6 to August 20. It is in the pursuit to stop the spread of the Delta variant of COVID-19.
Experts believe that another lockdown will greatly affect the economy of the Philippines as billions may be lost daily. Even President Rodrigo Roa Duterte in his last State of the Nation Address (SONA) expressed that another lockdown may bring “irreversible damage”.
However, hospitals need to prepare and many are worried over the possible spread of the Delta variant in the Philippines. This variant of concern brought India into a devastating situation.
As to experts, the loss in the economy may be balanced in a way that vaccination must go on during the lockdown period. Thus, Filipinos who are set to receive their vaccine would be allowed to go out during the ECQ.
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Based on a report on ABS-CBN News, the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) also expressed that public transportation will remain amid the ECQ in Metro Manila.
According to DILG Undersecretary Jonathan Malaya, the people need to get to the vaccination centers that is why public transportation will remain in Metro Manila amid the ECQ. Based on the report, the Department of Transportation (DOTr) has yet to advise the agency on whether or not there would be limitations in allowing public transportation to continue.
Reportedly, the DILG assured that they will see to it that the policemen deployed in checkpoints will have a negative COVID-19 test result.
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