Philippine president Duterte to announce new quarantine policy by June 29

MANILA, Jun 26, 2020, Manila Bulletin. In his Friday presser, Presidential spokesman Harry Roque said the Inter-agency Task Force (IATF) for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases already made its recommendation to the President for review, Manila Bulletin reported.

“May rekomendasyon na po pero (There is already a recommendation but) this is subject to review by the President. Anyway, the President will announce on or before the 29th, I believe,” he said.

Roque said the different local government units (LGUs) will be the first to be informed about it in case they want to appeal their new quarantine classification with the IATF.

“Pagkatapos po nito, isasapinal po ang rekomendasyon ng IATF sa Presidente at ang Presidente po mismo ang mag-a-anunsyo (After that we will finalize the recommendation for the President and he will make the announcement himself),” he added.

Roque, meanwhile, asked the public anew not to believe any supposed IATF resolution that may come out before June 29.

“‘Wag po kayong maniniwala sa kahit anong fake news. Dahil yung mga fake news na kumalat noong dalawang linggong nakalipas, maling-mali po. (Don’t believe in any fake news because the information that was spread two weeks ago were very wrong),” he said.

“Ibang-iba sa desisyon ng ating Presidente. Kaunting hintay lang po .(It was very different from what the President announced. So please wait a little longer),” he added.

Before Duterte announced the current lockdown measures on June 15, a copy of a supposed IATF resolution saying that Metro Manila will be placed under the modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ). The public, however, did not notice that it was an old resolution.

Cemeteries

Meanwhile, Roque said the IATF has allowed visitation in open memorial parks and cemeteries in areas under the general community quarantine (GCQ) but said that each group should be limited to 10 persons.

He, however, said the number of people inside the open memorial parks or cemeteries shall be left to the discretion of the management as long as visitors will adhere to minimum public health standards and practice physical distancing.

Restaurants, cafes

Roque said the IATF has allowed restaurants and cafes inside hotels in areas under the GCQ to operate until 9 p.m. but shall be limited to 30 percent of its seating capacity. They are also required to implement physical distancing protocols and must follow the guidelines of the departments of Tourism (DOT), Trade and Industry (DTI), Labor and Employment (DOLE), and Health (DOH).

Restaurants and cafes inside clubhouses for outdoor non-contact sports and other forms of exercise are now allowed to operate until 9 p.m. but only at 30 percent of its capacity, and should follow distancing protocols and guidelines set by the DTI.