(UPDATED) The Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases on Wednesday, May 27, passed a resolution downgrading risk-level classifications and quarantine status of each local government unit (LGU) for June 1 to 15.
IATF Resolution 40 has yet to be approved by President Rodrigo Duterte, who is expected to announce his decision Thursday evening, according to Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque.
Based on the resolution, the cities of Cebu and Mandaue, which are currently under the most stringent classification of enhanced community quarantine (ECQ), would shift to modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ) and general community quarantine (GCQ), respectively, beginning June 1.
"MECQ ang Cebu City dahil sila ang (Cebu City will be under MECQ because it is the) second epicenter," Tony Leachon, special adviser to the National Task Force on Covid-19, said in a radio interview Thursday.
Metro Manila and the seven other areas under MECQ until May 31 would transition to the less stringent GCQ. These are Bataan, Bulacan, Laguna, Nueva Ecija, Pampanga, Angeles City and Zambales.
Twenty-five other provinces and cities classified as having moderate risk of infection will remain under GCQ.
The rest of the country is classified as low-risk and would further relax restrictions under a modified GCQ.
Localized ECQ may still be implemented in areas with a high number of coronavirus infections, the task force resolution stated.
As of Thursday morning, Malacañang has not confirmed the IATF resolution, a copy of which is posted on an information portal that was created in cooperation with the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) and supported by The Asia Foundation and the Australian government.
Aside from Metro Manila, other areas that will be under GCQ for June 1 to 15 are the following:
LUZON
* Baguio City
* Pangasinan
* Cagayan Valley (Batanes, Cagayan, Isabela, Nueva Vizcaya, Quirino and Santiago City)
* Central Luzon (Aurora, Bataan, Bulacan, Nueva Ecija, Pampanga, Tarlac, * Zambales, Angeles City, Olongapo City)
* Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, Quezon, Lucena City)
* Albay
VISAYAS
* Iloilo City
* Central Visayas (Bohol, Cebu, Negros Oriental, Siquijor, Mandaue City, Lapu-Lapu City)
MINDANAO
* Zamboanga City
* Davao City
Areas not listed here, aside from Metro Manila and Cebu City, would be under modified GCQ.
In Metro Manila, the IATF resolution said high-risk barangays will be subject to the zoning concept to be implemented by the National Task Force on Covid-19.
Metro Manila mayors earlier said they were in favor of a shift to GCQ, but opposed the resumption of bus and public utility jeepney operations.
Covid-19 special teams will be activated in Quezon City, Manila City, Parañaque City and Cebu City for surveillance and action in high-risk barangays.
Local government officials may still appeal their classification before the IATF screening and validation committee before 12 noon Friday, May 29. (MVI with TAPM/SunStar Philippines)