METRO Manila, Kalinga, Abra, Davao Oriental and the cities of Zamboanga and Iligan will shift to general community quarantine (GCQ) on September 8, 2021, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque Jr. said on Monday, September 6, 2021.
These areas will be under GCQ until September 30.
Other areas that will be under GCQ until the end of September are Benguet, Quirino, Isabela, Nueva Vizcaya, Tarlac, Occidental Mindoro, Puerto Princesa, Aklan, Guimaras, Negros Occidental, Zamboanga Sibugay, Zamboanga del Norte, Misamis Occidental, Davao del Sur, Sultan Kudarat, Sarangani, North and South Cotabato, Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur, Dinagat Islands, Surigao del Norte, Surigao del Sur, Lanao del Sur and the cities of Baguio, Dagupan, Santiago, Cebu, Mandaue, General Santos and Cotabato.
Roque said, however, that this GCQ will be “stricter.”
He said the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) for the Management of Emerging Infectious Disease will issue new guidelines for these areas.
The provinces of Ilocos Norte, Pangasinan, Cebu and Zamboanga del Sur as well as Lapu-Lapu City will be under GCQ with heightened restrictions.
Other areas under GCQ with heightened restrictions are Ilocos Sur, Cagayan, Quezon, Batangas, Naga City, Antique, Bacolod City, Capiz, Negros Oriental, Misamis Oriental, Davao City, Davao del Norte, Davao de Oro, Davao Occidental and Butuan City.
To remain under modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ) are Apayao, Bataan, Bulacan, Cavite, Lucena City, Rizal, Laguna, Iloilo province, Iloilo City and Cagayan de Oro City.
The rest of the country will be under modified GCQ, the least stringent quarantine classification.
Roque said the IATF is also finalizing guidelines for the implementation of granular lockdowns in various areas to prevent the spread of Covid-19.
The government earlier said it will do away with the implementation of lockdowns per province to lessen the effect on the economy. (SunStar Philippines)