OUTDOOR exercise is not allowed while the National Capital Region (NCR) remains under enhanced community quarantine (ECQ), Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Chairman Benhur Abalos said on Tuesday, August 10, 2021.

Abalos said this was the consensus reached by Metro Manila mayors in order to prevent the people from going out. Otherwise, the purpose of an ECQ to curb transmission of coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) would be defeated, he said.

“Hindi mo kasi masabi mamaya nasa labas ka (doing exercise) may dumaan sa ‘yo mahawa ka. Let’s make the most out of this (lockdown),” he said.

“This is also to make the ECQ more effective para maiwasan din ‘yung nag-aabuso nito ‘yung iba nagsisilabasan at nagchichismisan lamang,” he added.

Metro Manila is under ECQ until August 20 because of a sharp increase in Covid-19 cases believed to be caused by the Delta variant.

As of August 9, Abalos said 3,952,912 of the 14 million residents of NCR have been fully vaccinated out of the 5,520,353 who received their first dose. (Third Anne Peralta-Malonzo / SunStar Philippines)