The City of Mati LGU will soon downgrade from Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ) to General Community Quarantine (GCQ) as ordered no less by President Rodrigo Duterte in a televised announcement aired Friday morning, April 24.
Malacaรฑang ordered the downgrade to GCQ on provinces that has not exhibited any increase on the number of Covid-19 infections in their areas.
In the Davao Region, the provinces of Davao Occidental, Davao del Sur and Davao Oriental are downgraded to GCQ while the provinces of Davao del Norte, Davao de Oro, and Davao City remain under ECQ.
But a day before the Palace pronouncement, Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte however declared that her city will go from ECQ to Modified Community Quarantine after April 26.
According to Palace spokesperson Harry Roque, the GCQ will be the new normal. Social distancing, wearing of face masks, frequent handwashing and other health measures will still be observed under GCQ.
Areas previously under ECQ but remain under GCQ will allow workers to go out and work in phases. Young people, senior citizens and high health risk would stay at home.
For GCQ areas, restricted mall opening covering non-leisure shops would be allowed. There will be mandatory temperature check, mandatory wearing of masks, mandatory alcohol use. Limited number of people, particularly those with age 21 to 59, with ID and not looking sickly, would be allowed to go inside.
Priority and essential construction projects would likewise be allowed to resume, subject to minimum health standards, physical distancing, and barracks for workers. Public transport modes would likewise be allowed to operate at reduced capacity. Local government units (LGUs) would enforce curfew at night for non-workers.
City of Mati Mayor Michelle Nakpil Rabat meanwhile welcomed the Palace declaration.
“The people of Mati welcomes the Palace directive placing the province of Davao Oriental under the General Community Quarantine.This is the new normal and we will abide by whatever guidelines the national government will impose. We have been under community quarantine for more than a month now and this GCQ declaration is our much needed breather,” Mayor Michelle said.
The mayor urges every Matinians to maintain observing the health measures in place to prevent the spread of Covid-19 in our community while under GCQ.
“Keep wearing your face masks, maintain social distancing, frequently wash your hands, disinfect your homes. The war against Covid-19 is far from over,” she said. (CIO MATI)