MECQ extended in NCR+ until May 15

MANILA: In a recorded public address, Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte announced the extension of the modified enhanced community quarantine in the National Capital Region and adjacent provinces — also known as NCR Plus. 

Last March, NCR Plus was placed in MECQ from a general community quarantine (GCQ) with recommendations from the Department of Health after a huge wave of infections.

Earlier this week, Metro Manila mayors proposed a "hybrid MECQ" to replace the current status quo in order to ease the burden on the economy and workers who are forced to halt work due to closed businesses. 

The DOH recommended this extension in order to curb the rise of COVID-19 hospitalizations and to make sure that hospitals have enough capacity to take in patients afflicted by the virus.  At the moment, the total cases have reached a grim milestone, surpassing the one million shortly after marking one year since the virus was first reported in the country. Hospitals are still at critical capacity and cases are still being tallied with daily numbers exceeding the 5,000 mark.

In MECQ until May 14. 2021
Metro Manila	Bulacan
Cavite	Rizal
Laguna

 

In MECQ May 31, 2021
Santiago City	Quirino
Abra

 

In GCQ until May 31, 2021
Apayao	Benguet
Baguio City	Batangas
Cagayan	Davao City
Ifugao	Iligan City
Isabela	Kalinga
Lanao Del Sur	Mountain Province
Nueva Vizcaya	Quezon
Tacloban City

*Rest of Country: Modified GCQ

This means that businesses not deemed essential will remain closed. This has most certainly hurt local car sales with many dealerships temporarily shut down. In a joint report, the Chamber of Automotive Manufacturers of the Philippines, Inc. (CAMPI) and Truck Manufacturers Association (TMA) revealed a more than significant decline of 21.1% in total sales for the month of March with 20,702 units – versus the 26,230 units moved in the previous month. 

In a press statement, CAMPI President Atty Rommel Gutierrez said, “The lockdown also forced dealers to close operations that badly hit the already struggling auto industry.”

In the President’s speech, he did mention that more businesses will be allowed to operate under during this time, but he failed to further elaborate.

Photos from Roy Robles and PNA.gov

Also read: CAMPI, TMA report 21.1% vehicle sales drop in March