4 Provinces in Metro Manila to be Placed Under MECQ on August 4

The provinces of National Capital Region (NCR), Bulacan, Rizal and Laguna will be placed under Modified Enhanced Community Quarantine or MECQ starting tomorrow August 4, 2020. Public transportation will no longer be allowed and will be suspended during the time of MECQ in the said areas. Health workers and front liners and “burnt out”.

The four provinces of Metro Manila are placed under MECQ by Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte. It will take effect on August 4, 2020, and will last for 15 days. Read the Omnibus Guidelines on the Implementation of Community Quarantine in the Philippines here!

Public Transportation Suspended – MECQ

Trains (PNR, LRT1, LRT2, MRT3), bus, jeepney, taxi, TNVS, and tricycle with exceptions subject to guidelines of DILG & LGU are not allowed during the time of MECQ. Only public shuttles are allowed as public transportations for front liners and workers in industries allowed to operate during MECQ.

For private transportations, the following will be allowed:

• Company shuttle (rented shuttles will need special permit from the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board), with 50% capacity only
• Personal vehicle (for person/workers in permitted sectors/activities), with 2 persons per row
• Bicycle, 1 person
• Motorcycle, 1 person
• E-scooted, 1person max subject to existing traffic regulations

Health Workers & Frontliners are “Burnt Out”

In an August 1 letter, the medical community said the country’s healthcare system is already overwhelmed, and that frontliners are already “burned out.” It recommended that the two-week “timeout” be used to address “healthcare workforce deficiency, failure of case finding and isolation, failure of contact tracing and quarantine, transportation safety, workplace safety public compliance.”

Metro Manila accounted for 2,737 of these newly announced cases. Over the past two weeks, the region logged over 12,000 new cases — topping the list of regions nationwide, according to the Department of Health’s COVID-19 tracker.

As mandated by law, any person below 21 years old, 60 years old and above, those with immunodeficiency, comorbidity, or other health risks, and pregnant women are required to remain in their residences, except when obtaining essential goods and services, as well as reporting to work.

#STAYSAFE #STAYHOME